Yep, I've succumbed. After waiting since 2007 for the iPhone to come to T-Mobile or Verizon, I've pulled the trigger and ordered a shiny new iPhone 3GS during the first wave last week. Never mind that it took until Wednesday of this week to get to me, but that's another story.
I acquired a few holster-style cases from various sources, and I can tell you this: the Compass/Magnetometer in the iPhone 3GS does not like magnetic closures on the cases. I first used Speck's odd but very protective SwitchWay case, and after using it, I found that I had to recalibrate the compass every time I took the iPhone out of the case. I also used a no-name holster that I'd used with an iPod Touch, and that also garnered the same results.
The no-name case uses two magnets to keep itself shut, and the SwitchWay uses four magnets (it can be worn vertically or horizontally). Apple's support docs have warned against using magnetic cases since the iPhone 3G last year, but I'd used the no-name case with the first generation iPhone while I tried it out back in 2007 with no ill effects.
According to a review on iLounge.com, the SwitchWay was redesigned with a Velcro closure, and I'd certainly recommend one if you like a holster for convenience. In any case, I'm off to the Apple Cube to get a DLO HipCase, which I know has Velcro.
I should point out that calls, emails, and text messages came through fine in any of the cases, magnetic or not, so that's not an issue, but it is exceedingly annoying to have to re-calibrate the Compass everytime I needed to use it (including in maps). It also took progressively more time to reclaibrate the Compass the longer I kept the iPhone in the magnetic cases. Buyer Beware!
The Apple iPod Shuffle has always been a model of simplicity. The latest version includes a clip, but no controls, on the Shuffle itself. You need to use buttons built into the earbud cord to change volume or advance the song.
That's a clever system, but it's not for everyone. That's why Scosche introduced the TapStick case. Not only does it protect your Shuffle's surface with a polycarbonate shell, but it also adds three buttons, letting you play, pause, and adjust volume from the Shuffle itself. One upside to that is that you're no longer forced to use the Shuffle's included earbuds, and are free to use whatever headphones you prefer.
The TapStick comes only in black or white. I'd like to see more colors and patterns in the future. Just because the Shuffle comes in only two color options doesn't mean cases have to follow suit. It sells for $29.99, which is on the steep side, especially since the Shuffle itself costs only $79.00. The TapStick also includes a three-foot audio cable, to connect your Shuffle to your stereo.
The iPhone 3G S was announced just yesterday, and already one company has produced a line of accessories for it. iLuv today announced its iPhone 3G S accessories, including cases, a windshield mount kit, and an armband.
The iCC77 Flexi Clear Thermoplastic Polyurethane Case is a lightweight, flexible case for the iPhone 3G S that's both tear- and damage-resistant. It will come in four color choices (pink, blue, clear, or black) and will be on sale for $24.99 in mid-June.
Other protective cases include the iCC705 Graphic Silicone Case ($24.99, July), iCC79 Hard Case with Stand ($29.99, available now), iCC74 Clear Crystal Hard Case ($24.99, available now), and the iCC75 Holster with Stand and Cover ($34.99, available now).
Road warriors will find a use for iLuv's iCC781 Windshield Mount Kit with Power Combo Pack. Since the new iPhone is now capable of turn-by-turn directions, this kit will come in handy for mounting the iPhone to your dashboard, so you can view the screen easily . The kit also features a car charger for powering the iPhone. Look for it in July for $34.99.
Health nuts can take their iPhone 3G S along with them on runs and to the gym, thanks to iLuv's iCC212 Armband for iPhone 3GS. You can purchase it now for $34.99.
The DRI Technical Notebook Sleeve is the newest addition to the DRI Technical luggage collection from Kena Kai. The rugged-chic bag is gray with an orange outline and comes with a removable shoulder strap.
The DRI is made from a tarpaulin material with heavy-duty nylon webbing for strength and durability. A welded seam technology helps protect whatever you put inside it from water, and the bag's roll-top closure further protects your notebook. Inside is a padded inner lining that keeps your notebook safe and in place.
I carried the 15.4-inch DRI around for a while, mostly on rainy days, to test out the waterproof claim, and it did the job. The notebook stayed dry and safe in the bag. One issue I had was that the shoulder strap was uncomfortable; it's too thin. As its name implies, the bag is best used as a sleeve.
The DRI Technical Notebook Sleeve is available in three sizes: Netbook, 13.3-inch, and 15.4-inch--priced at $34.99, $39.99 and $44.99, respectively, at Kena Kai.
Laptop sleeves are the perfect thing to protect your laptop without adding bulk, but San Francisco bag manufacturer Chrome underestimated how popular its new line of rugged laptop sleeves would be. They were just introduced, and they're already out of stock. Check here to get on the notification list for when they're back in stock on June 9th.
The reason Chrome's sleeves were an instant hit is because the company is already known for its stylish yet tough messenger bags. The sleeves offer an abrasion-resistant neoprene and vinyl shell with a fleece inner lining. Elastic clips hold your notebook in place. The sleeves come in four sizes and sell for $40.
The Muzetto laptop bag from Waterfield is quite possibly the most attractive notebook accessory I've used--ever. Far from the black, horizontal stereotype that saturates the notebook transport market, the Muzetto is pure beauty, with some function thrown in for good measure.
Until recently, I was perfectly content walking around town with my ordinary black messenger. There was never any question of its purpose--I trekked around town for months with that plain-looking black beast on my shoulder. But after watching two seasons pass by in NYC, I decided that change was overdue.
Easily dubbed a "man purse," the Muzetto is part function, part fashion accessory. Large enough to accommodate a 13-inch notebook, the 14- by 11- by 2.5-inches (LWD) Laptop Muzetto isn't cheap ($239 direct), but the vertical leather messenger bag is just as well made as its price would imply. Waterfield bags aren't manufactured in bulk in a factory in rural China--they're made right here in the USA, near the company's headquarters in San Francisco. You're paying for quality, and you definitely get your money's worth.
If you need to carry a laptop along with a bunch of camera gear, Crumpler and LowePro are two names to count on. Well-built bags last a lifetime; I have a Domke camera bag that's been in my family for four decades. You'll probably get the same service out of the Crumpler Brazillion Dollar Home bag ($295 street) and LowePro Classified 250 AW ($230). They'll hold a 15- to 17-inch notebook, cameras, lenses, and flashes, or you can take out the dividers and just carry stuff for a day trip: water bottles, sun block, windbreaker. Here's a comparison.
WaterField Designs, a company specialized in bags and carrying cases, has come out with the Muzetto bag. It is available in two sizes: the Personal size, for carrying all your essentials, and the Laptop size, which fits up to a 13-inch laptop (including accessories).
The bag is mainly distressed dark brown cowhide leather, but you can choose from six color accents. The Personal size bag is currently $179.00 and the Laptop size bag is $239.00.
If you're in a heavy-duty line of work, or you simply have butterfingers and drop your cell phone on the sidewalk twice a day, you might want to think about protecting your electronic investments. The OtterBox Defender Series cases are built just for that.
Made for smartphones, iPods, and the like, the Defender cases run from $14.95 to $49.95, depending on the device you'll be protecting. Nestled safely inside a high-impact polycarbonate skeleton and impact-absorbing silicone skin, your phone will suffer fewer superficial scratches on the outside and fewer jarring knocks on the inside. Each case also features a clear membrane that offers both protection and functionality for touch screens.
The OtterBox Web site notes that the Defender line will "provide some added protection against drop, bump and dust," but is "not intended for protection against water intrusion." So if you drop it in the john, you're on your own (OtterBox does offer waterproof cases, but not in the Defender Series). Defender cases are available for Apple, Blackberry, Palm, HTC and HP devices.
Is my $200 BlackBerry Curve (and its $80 data plan) worth another 25 bucks to me? If that extra cash means I can avoid (more) scuffing to its plastic casing, then sure, I'd happily oblige. It'd also be nice if RIM wasn't quite so fond of glossy finishes that get so easily mucked up, but that's another story.
Speck's $25 SeeThru Hard Shell Case is a god-send for a single reason--It protects your LCD screen--and not-such-a-good-idea for a few others, not least of which it thickens the phone by about half. Still, though, if you're mean to your phone (as so many of us are), it's a sound investment.
My problems with the Hard Shell are 100 percent shallow, this I can admit. The glossy, clear plastic scratches easily, but better the case than your phone. It also comes with a detachable holster clip, which was handy for securing the 'Berry to the inside of my bag; if you're one of those who confuses phones with fashion accessories, then you can, naturally, secure it to your belt or pants' pocket.
Speck's SeeThru lineup includes cases for a variety of phones, portable devices, and laptops. Check out SpeckProducts.com to browse them all.
If you're looking for a backpack that carries both a laptop and camera gear, check out the memorably named Think Tank Streetwalker Hard Drive backpack bag ($180 street). It's a worthy competitor to the Lowepro Vertex 200 AW (see review). Both carry a 15-inch laptop and a ton of camera gear. My first impression of the Hard Drive was unfavorable because there's less padding in the Hard Drive backpack. Over time, I came to prefer the compromise: The thinner padding (not no padding) allows for more camera gear yet you're still protected from routine bumps and jostling. There are other advantages:
Like the netbooks it was designed to transport, the Mobile Edge Netbook Briefcase ($40 street) is very compact and reasonably priced. Netbooks are often significantly smaller than their notebook brethren, making a small bag a much better fit than a large notebook messenger.
Measuring 10.5- by 14- by 4.5-inches (HWD), the 1.6-pound Briefcase can accommodate netbooks up to 13-inches (the 12-inch Dell Mini 12 is currently the largest netbook available), with an adjustable divider creating a second pocket when paired with a smaller netbook. The bag's largest zippered compartment contains the netbook sleeve, and offers enough space for a few small books and accessories.
From the French company Be.ez (which is meant to be pronounced "be easy") comes a stylish line of netbook sleeves for your favorite portable. The LArobe line comes in either 10.2-inch or 8.9-inch sizes and should fit a variety of netbooks. The sleeves are available in nine colors, some all-business and some that look like they'd glow when the lights are off.
The 10.2-inch LArobe sleeves comes in the more electric shades and fit MSI WIND, ASUS 1000, ASUS S101, Medion Akoya mini E1210, ECS G10IL, Samsung NC10, and Samsung 310 netbooks. The 8.9-inch sleeves come in more conservative tones and fit the Aspire One, Dell Inspiron 910, Fujitsu Amilo MiniSize and HP2133 netbooks. All the sleeves list for $19.99. You can purchase them on Amazon or learn more from the Be.ez site.
Don't let the Speck AftPack Backpack's simple exterior fool you. This laptop backpack was carefully designed to accommodate all your gadgets and gear with pockets galore.
The AftPack is not unlike its cool messenger bag cousin, the Speck Portpack. For starters, both come in a stylish brown plaid or blue-and-black pinstripe (like mine). While the Portpack can handle laptops only up to 15 inches, though, the AftPack fits laptops up to 17 inches. My black MacBook stowed comfortably in the backpack's padded micro-fleece notebook compartment. And Speck added an extra zipper right under the shoulder straps for quick and easy access to the laptop sleeve.
The backpack itself is light and, even fully loaded, it wasn't much of a burden. The straps and back panel are nicely padded too, for extra comfort.
today announced a series of cases for the Nintendo DSi, coming in May. My favorite is above: The T-Crystal Case and Tray (just $9.99 list). I really like that tray idea! The T-Crysal Case also comes sans tray but with an extra stylus, for $8.99. Both are made of a protective polycarbonate.
Also coming are Metal Cases, in a range of colors--black, silver, blue, pink, and green. You can keep the DSi in these cases while you play, which is nice. One will cost you $12.99; see a picture of the Metal Cases after the jump.
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Don't let the Speck AftPack Backpack's simple exterior fool you. This laptop backpack was carefully designed to accommodate all your gadgets and gear with pockets galore.
