Thran Tech

One of the biggest benefits of owning an Apple product is that you belong to a massive community of users, developers and manufacturers. While it’s great that you get a lot of choice in your accessories, it can also be a bit tiresome to keep track of all the new arrivals. In this article, I’ll share some of the best new accessories for the iPad and iPad Mini.

Two new iPad Mini cases

 

Aluminium Bluetooth Keyboard Stand

One of the nicest iPad or iPad Mini accessories is Apple’s Wireless Keyboard. If you’ve ever wanted to get that same awesome Bluetooth keyboard in a handy case for your iPad Mini, then this is just the accessory for you. The keyboard includes a stand that will keep your iPad Mini in that classic laptop orientation, perfect for writing an email or even an article like this one!

 

Kubxlab Ampjacket

One of the few weaknesses of the iPad Mini is that its speaker is somewhat anaemic - quiet at most levels and distorted when pumped to the max. The Ampjacket goes a long way towards fixing those complaints, using specially sculpted sound channels in order to maximise the volume, allowing you to easily hear your music or movies without distortion. It’s a weird idea, but it totally works. The only downside is that the case is quite bulky due to those sound channels, so it’s not one that you’ll want to have on all the time for travelling.

 

Three new iPad 2/3/4 cases

 

iPega Life Battery Charging Case for iPad 4

Battery cases are popular for most phones, but they’re only rarely attempted for tablets, which typically offer much longer battery life. The iPad 4 is particularly capacious, at 11,560 mAh! That’s what makes the iPega Life awesome - it adds an extra 9,000 mAh, bringing you up to over 20,000 mAh - ten times that allotted to most smartphones. With that, you’ll get unmatchable battery life, for days and days of use between charges.

 

Otterbox Reflex Case

Otterbox is a trusted brand in the smartphone space, and now they’re beginning to focus more heavily on tablets. One of their latest efforts is the Otterbox Reflex, which covers the full size iPad in an impact-resistant shell. Like crumple zones in cars, the Otterbox Reflex is designed to take the impact so that your tablet doesn’t have to. The case also includes a handy viewing stand with multiple orientations.

 

LifeProof Nuud Case

This is the ultimate everything-proof iPad case. While it costs a pretty penny - over £100 - it ensures that your iPad won’t be damaged from pretty much any common danger - you can shrug off drops, deflect scratches, absorb knocks, keep out water and stay dust-free. It’s got an IP68 military specification rating and is one of the most durable cases for the iPad in the world. Despite these protective elements, the Nuud case is still relatively lightweight and can easily be used on the iPad at all times.

Conclusion

I hope you found these selections useful. Thanks for reading and be sure to let us know what you think of the article in the comments below. Have a good weekend!

This is one beautiful handset, carefully crafted from aluminium. It is sleek and will reshape your whole smartphone experience.  (according to HTC)

Despite this I am noticing too many people, especially younger smartphone users not using a case.  It is crazy to take a risk with such a high value item. An accident could break the device, scratches will significantly reduce the resale value of the phone. The HTC One will not be the best handset available next year, if you are like me then you will be looking for the latest and greatest.  Selling a phone on eBay, for example, it’s great to say that there are no scratches. The interest, bidding activity and price are so much higher.

So lets think about this!

• Consider the Genuine HTC One Double Dip Flip Case - HC V841

Protection, Practicality and Perfect looks!

Flip Case with folio stand for easy viewing

The HTC One Flip Case with Folio stand gives you everything you need when on the move. The HTC One is an impressive phone including its 4.7” HD screen, so its nice sometimes to enjoy these features. The HTC Flagship Double Dip Flip Case allows you to do just that, open the case fold it back and you have the perfect stand to watch your favourite films, browse pictures or to keep an eye on it when you’re sitting at your desk.

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• Then there is the Otterbox Defender Series for HTC One to think about

Rugged, Robust and Rubberised!

The Otterbox Defender Series wraps your device in 3 layers of protection. The first layer is a strong polycarbonate shell which caresses your HTC One, which provides added protection against drops and bumps. The shell features cut outs which are designed to give you access to all of your devices ports and features.

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• The super classy Noreve Tradition Leather Case for HTC One in Brown

Beautiful, Boastful and Brown!

Created in the capital of fashion and luxury, St. Tropez, the Noreve brand manufacture cases using only the finest quality materials and methods. Conceived in top quality handcrafted, fine-grain leather, the Noreve Tradition Leather Case for HTC One is both incredibly sophisticated and superbly durable. Just look at the attention to detail in making this HTC One Case

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• Can’t decide what colour of cover you want, then choose 10-in-1 Silicone Case Pack for HTC One

Colourful, CaseMagic, Custom!

A ten pack of high quality protective silicone cases for your HTC One to suit your style or mood.  Made from a high quality flexible silicone, this case improves the feel of your HTC One while also increasing the grip. The soft-touch material helps you slip your phone in and out of your pocket or bag.  As this is a silicone case, it is incredibly thin and light so doesn’t add much bulk to your device, but still offers excellent protection against scratches and minor impacts.

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• Want a case that is really, really thin? Let me introduce the Belkin F8M570 Micra Fine Ultra Thin Case for HTC One 

Thin, Tough and Threadlike

Made from a toughened polycarbonate, the Belkin Micra Fine Case provides full-body coverage for your HTC One. The case effortlessly absorb shocks and impacts and its soft interior is moulded seamlessly with the textured finish and outer shell for added shielding. The raised front side also keeps your screen clear from possible damage if placed or dropped face down onto a surface.

It offers the minimum amount of bulk to your handset. It is custom made for the HTC One, the shell is tough and ultra thin. This allows the shell to follow the sleek contours of the handset therefore adding hardly any bulk at all to your phone.

Conclusion

That is for my top choices of HTC One cases, you know it makes perfect sense. I would love to hear from you, comment below or share the article.

I’m a big fan of the iPad Mini, despite never having bought one. I always see the iPad Mini on trains and planes, and it seems totally useful. I’m a total resolution whore though, so I’m waiting for a Retina-display iPad Mini 2, which will hopefully come out this year so I can finally rejoin the Apple ecosystem. In the meantime, here are four awesome iPad Mini covers from the very same ecosystem. Enjoy!

 

4. Aluminium Bluetooth Keyboard Stand for iPad Mini

The one failing of tablets is that while they’re great for consuming media, they’re not so well suited to actually creating it. I write articles for a living, so having a physical keyboard is almost essential. With that in mind, my first selection is this combination case and keyboard for the iPad Mini. The keyboard is made of aluminium, just like the Apple Wireless Keyboard, and connects over Bluetooth for a rather effective typing experience.

 

3. Kubxlab Ampjacket Case

Here’s another small failing in the iPad Mini: its internal speakers. We’re only just seeing more manufacturers put their speakers on the front - so they’re actually pointed at you and aren’t as easy to cover up - so for now the only thing to do is make them louder and redirect them forward. That’s exactly what this iPad Mini case does, resulting in a noticeably louder iPad. Of course, it’s a bit bulkier but that’s OK. This case also provides a good amount of protection and serves as a kickstand, making it a heck of a functionality aid for the Mini.

 

2. Create & Case Wanderlust Leather Folio Case for iPad Mini

Of course, perhaps you don’t need a keyboard or a speaker enhancement system in your case. Perhaps you just want a good looking case. In that case (heh), have a look at this Wanderlust case from Create & Case. It’s got a cool natural design, with soft white stitching and a clever magnetic locking mechanism. If you want to look good while reading in the forest (and who doesn’t?) this is the case for you.

 

1. Melko Premium Leather Case for iPad Mini

Of course, sometimes you need to look good in places other than the forest. For example, if you worked in an office, then you might want a professional looking leather cover for the iPad Mini, such as this one from Melko. This has a soft inner lining to prevent scratches to the screen, a multi-level viewing stand for showing off your tiny presentations and a magnetic clasp.

Conclusion

And with that, we come to an end of our ‘coolest iPad Mini covers’ story. I hope you’ve found it entertaining and the selections useful. If you have any questions or comments, feel free to share them below. Thanks for reading the article and have a great weekend!

or stuff you didn’t know about one of the world’s top (and newest) handset!

It would be remiss of me if I didn’t refer you, first, to a post I did last week of the massive range of accesories available for the S4 already: Samsung Galaxy S4 accessories, so many, a feast!

Now, on to this article.  There has been so much written about the S4 since it was announced and prior to the actual release date. I am going to have a look at some of the stuff you may not have seen already.

First, and perhaps the most incredious is entitled Samsung Galaxy S5 and a look to the future.  Never happy with the latest and greatest, Phones Review, tweak and enhance the current specs to guess what the S5 will feature. Although interestingly they include a concept photograph of the S5

Gizmodo state that S4 has been rooted before it’s even available. They warn however: 

If you’re so inclined, you can find the necessary files over at XDA Developers. As ever, though, be careful, and probably don’t bother if you’re not at least vaguely confident about seeing the process through—because a bricked phone isn’t much fun to play around with.

The actual thread at XDA Developers makes for interesting reading for technically astute readers.

Yahoo talk about the differences between the Global Samsung Galaxy S4 vs. the US version.  This is because the United States and Europe will receive the smartphone with a quad-core Snapdragon 600 processor, while the global model will be equipped with an eight-core Exynos 5 Octa CPU.  The original report was produced by Sammobile who further explained that there are, currently, 3 variants of the Galaxy S4:

GT-I9500 – Exynos 5 Octa 1.6 GHz without LTE

GT-I9505 – Snapdragon 600 1.9 GHz with LTE

SHV-E300S – Exynos 5 Octa 1.8 GHz with LTE

Our insider’s Galaxy S4 (GT-I9500) scored a whooping 28018 points on Antutu. The Snapdragon equipped Galaxy S4 (GT-I9505) scored 23607 points, as benchmarked by the folks at GSMArena. We expect the Korean variant (SHV-E300S) to score 30000+ points and one thing is for sure, the Korean Galaxy S4 SHV-E300S will be the fastest device on the planet.

The British press have been known to make a mountain out of a molehill more than once!  The Daily Mail headline is: ”British users will get ‘crippled’ version of Samsung Galaxy S4 with downgraded chip”. Whilst technically correct, more savvy articles will explain, the difference in performance will be for the average user, indistingusable.  In fact there are likely to be battery savings with the quad core version.

One of the worlds best camera review sites DPReview have tested and compared the cameras with a Super Shootout: Samsung Galaxy S4 vs HTC One vs Apple iPhone 5 vs Nokia Lumia 920.  DPReview have been reliable professional and semi professional camera testers for many years, so its great to see them tuning their skills to testing phone cameras.

Here are four images taken with the four different phones, identical shots.  See if you can work out which image is from which phone.  If you can’t, head along to their website for the full test and to see who the winner is.

Fancy using your new Samsung Galaxy S4 handset as a remote, check out this article: How to Use Your Samsung Galaxy S4 as a TV Remote, its from LaptopMag, they state that the Samsung Galaxy S4 has an infrared port so you can use it as a TVremote. With its built-in WatchOn application, the Galaxy S4 can browse channels and see what’s on, search Netflix for streaming titles or query Samsung’s Media Hub to find movies and TV shows you can buy. 

I had forgotten that some phones still have an IR transmitter, am I the only one?  So many Samsung Galaxy S4 accessories are available, in addition to the built in IR, which makes it an extremely versatile device.  For example the MHL HDTV adaptor is an excellent TV watching adaptor:

Is there a Samsung Galaxy S4 waterproof and dustproof variant incoming? According to the TechView it may well be.  It maybe worth waiting to see if this is the case, thats if you work in a damp or dusty environment.   The Otterbox defender case is due in 2 weeks which will fit an existing, no ruggedised S4.  It wraps the S4 in various layers of protection.

With recent announcements of a slow down in Apple profits Techive state that: Amid high hopes for Galaxy S4, Samsung profits soar on phones, tablets, they go on to report:

The Korean company said Friday its net profit was a record 7.15 trillion won (US$6.4 billion) in the period, up from 5.05 trillion won in 2012. That beat its even performance from the fourth quarter of last year, during the lucrative holiday shopping season. Overall sales were up 17 percent to 52.87 trillion won.

The company said global smartphone demand declined slightly in the January to March quarter, but its core products allowed it to increase market share. Samsung said it expects the Galaxy S4, which went on sale today in South Korea, to outperform its predecessor.

“Our company plans to focus on increasing smartphone shipments with the launch of our new flagship smartphone, the Galaxy S4,” said Hyunjoon Kim, vice president of Samsung’s mobile division. “We are working hard to make the Galaxy S4 an even greater success than the Galaxy S3.”

The company aims to sell 10 million units of the S4 each month, and has already received that number in pre-orders for the device, according to Korean news reports. The smartphone features a 4.99-inch screen, quad-core processor and a host of advanced hardware features including wireless charging and even a barometer.

Finally, although many of you may have seen this, iFixit are giving the Samsung Galaxy S4 a repairability score of 8/10

Samsung Galaxy S4 Repairability Score: 8 out of 10 (10 is easiest to repair)

• The battery can be replaced in seconds, without any tools.
• Very easy to open and access internal components.
• There are only 11 screws in the entire device, all standard Phillips #0 (no proprietary or security sizes).
• Most of the smaller components are modular and can be replaced individually, but several of them are adhered in place, increasing replacement difficulty.
• The glass is fused to both the display and the display frame, increasing repair costs.
• You’ll have to go through the entire phone in order to replace the front panel, since everything is built into the back of it

If you have any feedback please drop me a line or comment below.  Like on Facebook or Tweet this article to keep up the conversation.

Hey, listen up iPad photographers! Yeah, I know you’re out there - I see you at museums and parties all the time! If social constraints and physical burdens haven’t yet outweighed the advantages of having a massive viewfinder, then I’ve got just the thing for you: a set of telephoto lenses for the iPad and iPad Mini.

These lenses will make it possible to get closeups of remote subjects, with 10x optical zoom on the full-size iPad and 12x zoom on the iPad Mini. While you’ll get a “low-fi look” complete with “slight vignetting”, that’s probably ideal for Instagram anyway.

It’s certainly miles better than relying on digital zoom, which quickly make any image look absolutely terrible, particularly on low megapixel sensors like the 5 megapixel ones used in the iPad (and double for the incredibly bad 0.7 megapixel sensor in the iPad 2). 

In any case, the telephoto lenses attach to your tablet via an special iPad or iPad Mini cover, which fits over the whole tablet (iPad Mini) or just the top quarter (iPad) to provide a stable shooting platform. While the iPad one has been dubbed a ‘photo-bra’ by Cult of Mac, it looks to be a relatively reasonable design, offering the continued ability access ports and buttons while maximising the area covered (and therefore the stabilisation offered). 

These telephoto lenses come via Photojojo, makers of all kinds of weird and wonderful iPad accessories. You can order either lens for 25 dollars - not bad, given the good looks and uniqueness of the product.

What do you make of these - wholly unnecessary or tablet photography taken to the next level? I sure hope you’ll let me know in the comments below!

Thanks for reading and have a good evening - and remember to put down that iPad occasionally so the people behind you can see!

There are so many accessories already available for the S4, before release. In this article I will have a look at ten must haves for the new Samsung Galaxy S4 owner. I have included more than one case as I am a believer in having  a case for every occasion!

I have never experienced so many accessories for a new phone; in fact well before release of the actual handset.

While some UK Mobile Phone chains are advertising pre order availability from 26th April, this is the word according to Samsung: 

“The Samsung Galaxy S4 will launch in the UK and around the world on the 27th April at 10AM GMT with all major operators. In the UK, the device will be available an hour earlier on the 27th April at 9AM GMT from the Samsung Experience Store at Westfield Stratford City. There is demand for the Galaxy S4 globally and Samsung wants to make it available to all of its customers at the same time.”

If you thought that the S3 and S4 are the same, think again:

Samsung Galaxy S4 vs. Samsung Galaxy S3: Spec comparison. Read more from the IT Portal. Essentially, the S4 dimensions are 136.6 x 69.8 x 7.9mm (4.99” screen) vs. the S3 136.6 x 70.6 x 8.6mm  (4.8” screen)

Despite the fact that the S4 has a different form factor this UK accessory supplier has, at time of writing, 158  Samsung Galaxy S4 Cases listed on their website, check it out.

Here we go, with my Ten, not necessarily in order of merit.

1. The Official Samsung Flip Cover

This is the case that many iPhone users would love Apple to produce.  It looks and feels great, very polished and available in many colours. This cover clips onto the back of your device thanks to a flexible rubber bumper without adding any bulk, and then folds over the front when not in use.

2. The Samsung ‘view’ cover

This case is essentially a Samsung flip cover with a hole in the front, which displays the key information. See what time it is (who needs an iWatch?!), who is calling and key data.

Why would I pick both cases for my Top 10?  It isn’t always the case where information is needed on view; indeed the view case does reduce privacy from the complete flip cover.  For example, in a meeting, in work, I wouldn’t want a private message sender being visible. 

3. The Piel Frama iMagnum

This is a seriously high quality hand crafted case:

“Hand made case in a stunning design, with meticulous attention to detail that has been Piel Frama’s hallmark for over 60 years. Every Piel Frama case is assembled by hand, to create designs that perfectly complement your device’s form and curves. A perfect unison of style and elegance.”

If you are charged with providing mobiles to your Chief Executive’s team, surely this is the one you would choose to compliment the Samsung Galaxy S4. 

4. Pama Hard Frame Case

Weighing in at only £6.99, S4 cases can be very affordable. This is the sort of case I would use whilst gardening, DIY etc. A location where I am not worried about scuffing a case but were good phone protection is essential.

“The Hard Frame Case from Pama is made to fit the Samsung Galaxy S4 perfectly. With a leather interior the S4 slides easily into the hard case for amazing protection and hold. Once the S4 is in place the faux-leather cover shuts securely around the phone with a magnetic clasp that secures easily- even when you’re in a rush.”

5. Sports Armband Case

Need to take your new S4 to the gym?  Here is the perfect case. 

“Lightweight and stretchable neoprene material

Made from a durable but light neoprene material, the Samsung Galaxy S4 Armband is a comfortable solution for listening to your music during the perfect workout routine. The armband is thin and stretchable, so when coupled with the amazingly light Samsung Galaxy S4 it will not impede your movement.

Adjustable bandwidth fits comfortably

The Samsung Galaxy S4 Armband features a fully adjustable strap so that it can be designed to be used by anyone. It is fastened by a velcro strip, which not only keeps it securely held on your arm but also makes it quick and easy to fit and remove.”

6. Samsung S4 Extra Battery Kit

Until battery technology is radically improved, getting a whole day from a well used smart phone isn’t going to happen.  It is vital to have a contingency plan in place, especially if you aren’t going to be near a wall socket all day. 

This is an official Samsung Galaxy S4 Battery and Battery Charger

- Make sure your spare battery for the Galaxy S4 is always fully charged.

7. Car Cradle Mount for the S4 

A car mount is essential to keep legal!  Don’t hold that mobile when driving. Keeping the S4 fully charged and in view, great when using Google Maps. 

• Sturdy plastic construction with suction cup mechanism securely holds your S4
• 360° rotation allows you to position your tablet at the optimum angle
• Integrated car charger keeps your S4 fully charged while you drive
• Made for Samsung S4

8. Anti Finger Print Screen Protector

I never used to have much time for screen protectors until I bought a quality protector. I spent the time, after reading copious instructions, sitting in a steamy environment to avoid dust, to fit the protector.  I now challenge anyone to detect its existence.  Vital, in my view.

9. Desktop Charging Cradle with HDMI out

Now, this looks really cool! Charge your Samsung Galaxy S4 and also play videos from your phone onto your TV with the HDMI out port.  So very, very useful.

Click on the cradle photograph for more images of the cradle.  Ideal for the office.

10. A Fast Micro SD Card

One of the advantages of the Samsung Galaxy S4, expandable memory. This is a full-HD compliant Class 6 performance Micro SD Card.  Speed is vital to ensure consistent data read write performance.

So, the ten are my essential accessories for the Samsung Galaxy S4.  Please feel free to comment, agree, disagree, compliment etc!

Steven

With MobileFun!

http://www.mobilefun.co.uk/blog/win/

You can earn entries by Tweeting, sharing etc.

Please see the competition page or our Facebook page for more info.

“It’s Smartphone Surgery time here at Mobile Fun, and as part of the festivities we’re giving away a brand new Nexus 4. The Nexus 4 is packed with more features than you can shake a stick at with the latest version of Android on-board, and has powerful specifications too with a 1.5 GHz quad-core processor and a beautiful 4.7″ display. It’s an impressive phone that’s a favourite amongst Android fans. Entering to win the Nexus 4 is really easy and will take you less time than updating your Facebook status. You can enter via Facebook or with an email address, and then you’ll be in with a shot to win! After you’ve done that you get more chances to enter too – the more things you do, the more chance you have of winning the shiny new Nexus 4! We won’t use your email address unless you win, but if you like you can sign up for our newsletter here. The giveaway closes at 12:00 PM BST on May 1st. Get entering and good luck!”

Tested by Steven, Thran Blog in the ‘real world’.

I have always considered this kind of shell cover for a MacBook a useful addition, but only if I was out and about a lot.  I am not, my mobile use, since iPad, is limited to bringing the MacBook to local community events and to a radio station.

At the local community events, I connect a projector, on most occasions, carrying the MacBook in a pouch to and from the event.  I must say that I am always concerned about the desktop that the MacBook is placed on, it is easily scratched which affects the resale value on upgrade. 

At the radio, it is again carried to and from using a pouch. It is propped on the corner of the mixing desk.  It is quite close to the studio door, I have been concerned that if I moved the MacBook a few centimeters to the left, it would hit a rather heavy studio door.  

So, there are two reasons that come to mind, why I think this MacBook Case would be useful. One to protect the bottom of the computer when placing on surfaces and the other to protect the top cover of the computer to avoid accidental knocks.

Not exactly a heavy use case but this case isn’t designed to protect against hard knocks but for everyday use.  

The Speck comes well packaged:

And a diagram on the back of the packaging shows how to fit to your MacBook:

Here is a video from Speck on how easy it is to fit the case:

Pretty straightforward!

I cleaned the Macbook Pro first, as per instructions from Speck. They recommend taking the case off every few weeks to avoid dust build up.

The case comes in two parts, its very obvious what bits go where:

The bottom half has a vent, I have no idea why!  Maybe it is for an older MacBook as mine does not have any vents in that location:

And, click, its on, here we are, top:

And click, the bottom:

I love the fact that when the MacBook is turned on the Apple logo is still visible:

It is a bit dusty, the case can pick up dust easily.  The dust is visible under bright light.  I guess a wipe with a damp cloth would reduce the amount of visible dust.

It fits really well, beautifully so:

I can’t get the little button on the side of the MacBook which indicates battery condition to work with the case on, there seems to be a little nib on the case but I can’t push it:

None of the connectors are affected, important with the angled Mag Safe connector.

and the CD, no problem:

Why buy the Speck SeeThru Satin Hard Shell Case for 13” MacBook Pro - Black? (from here)

• Custom-made, form fitting with wrap around edges for maximum protection
• Fits 13” MacBook Pro (mid 2009 up to present Thunderbolt MacBook Pro)
• Smooth yet grippy rubberized exterior texture
• Separate pieces allow MacBook to open all the way
• Fully vented for safe heat disbursement
• Totally removable - easy to install and remove
• Cleaning cloth included
• Cut-outs for easy access to all ports
• Rubberised feet stops slips and slides

In summary:

I really like the case, check out the full specs here. The Speck SeeThru satin case changes the look and feel of the MacBook from a shiny, easily scratched computer to a semi rubberised, soft, protected device. 

Will I keep using it? Yes! 

Should you get one? I think you will like it, that assurance of the protection that the Speck can provide.

If you have any questions please shout!

Today we’re going to be looking at Bluetooth speakers. These, as the name suggests, are just speakers that connect wirelessly to phones, tablets and computers over Bluetooth. They often include their own rechargeable batteries, allowing them to be used wherever without needing to be plugged in. I’ve selected five Bluetooth speakers here - encapsulating the low, medium and high ends of the market. As well as one representative each of these categories, I’ve included two speakers that provide additional functionality for certain devices.

 

Veho 360 M4

The Veho 360 M4 is a light and portable Bluetooth speaker, which is mostly notable for its low price after a few years on the market. The speaker is cylindrical, with controls on the top. It includes a 600 mAh battery that’s good for six hours of music playback. Sound quality is improved compared to a smartphone or tablet’s internal speakers, but doesn’t compare as favourably to larger and more expensive Bluetooth speakers. The M4 also includes a microSD slot for direct music playback, as well as a line-in port for non-Bluetooth devices.

 

Beacon Audio The Phoenix

The Phoenix is a well-reviewed cube-like Bluetooth speaker that provides a good mix of sound quality and portability. As well as being high quality, The Phoenix is able to comfortably hit high volumes. The speaker also looks fantastic, in black, red and blue colour options. The 850 mAh internal battery lasts for eight hours. A line-in port is also provided.

 

Jawbone BIG JAMBOX

This is the largest and most expensive Bluetooth speaker in the round-up, but it provides the correspondingly best sound and longest battery life - up to 15 hours, thanks to the 2600 mAh battery. The speaker also includes a microphone for hands-free calls, large spongy buttons and a ‘3D sound’ mix that provides noticeably wider sounding music.

 

Nokia JBL Playup Portable Wireless Speaker

The Nokia JBL Playup’s unique feature is the inclusion of NFC, allowing a Nokia Lumia 820 or 920 smartphone to automatically turn on Bluetooth, connect to the speaker and begin streaming music with just a touch. Bluetooth and line-in connections also work for non Nokia devices. Sound quality is impressive, but not as good as the BIG JAMBOX.

BlackBerry Mini Bluetooth Stereo Speaker

This is a small Bluetooth speaker designed for use with BlackBerry smartphones like the Z10 and Q10. It features a thin folding design, allowing it to be clipped to belts and bag straps. The speaker also includes an integrated microphone. Sound quality is good, but the speaker isn’t particularly loud.

Conclusion

I hope you’ve found these selections useful. Thanks for reading and have a good one! If you’ve got any questions or comments, feel free to share them with me and your fellow readers below.

I am testing, this case which is available in the UK. I have never seen anything like this case before. Its a Hybrid, its innovative.

I have used another battery case previously, tested and reviewed it here on this blog, Power Jacket Case 2000mAh for iPhone 5 in White. I will be comparing the two case in this article.

The Specs of the PowerSkin case are:

• Attaches firmly to your iPhone 5
• 2000mAh integrated battery gives you up to 100% more power from your phone
• LED battery status lights let you know current charge capacity at a glance
• Smart battery technology ensures safe charging of your phone
• Made for iPhone 5

The Specs, to compare of the Power Jacket Case are:

• Protects your iPhone 5 from scratches and damage
• Holds and delivers up to 2000mAh of charge when needed
• LED battery level indicators
• Includes integrated kickstand for viewing of media
• Cut-outs for all ports

The PowerSkin iPhone 5 case comes nicely packaged, its a pity that the packaging is disposable. A hard plastic case would be a better option to store the case in.

Opening the pack:

As you can see the case has a number of suckers on it. The suckers are very soft and grippy. It means that this case attaches to the phone or the phone with case. The little angled connector assembly is flexible, this can adjust to fit any thickness of iPhone with an existing case.

Here it is attached to my iPhone 5:

and with a clear case:

Here is the rear view of the case and iPhone 5:

I don’t think its meant for this!

The case actually charged my iPad 4!

Here are the two cases together, compared:

To switch the case on and start charging push the recessed button on the rear. To stop charging and turn the case off hold the same button for two seconds. I liked the fact that, with this case it doesn’t matter what type of jack my headphones used. With the Power Jacket case, they recessed headphone socket didn’t accommodate all headphone hacks.

Protection, the Power Jacket case provides protect to the back, bottom and part of the sides of the iPhone 5. The PowerSkin doesn’t provide much protection, so its best to use the hybrid with an existing case.

It’s a very useful case, light to carry, unobtrusive to use and very fast to charge the iPhone. I am at a conference today, @bizcampbelfast - knowing that I have this case with me takes a lot of the stress out of all the day. It is a heavy technology use day. I am confident that I won’t run out on the day and on the way home.

I would absolutely recommend the PowerSkin, it’s a quality device, innovative design and attractive. It isn’t the cheapest add on but what good devices are?

If you would like me to test the PowerSkin, apart from running over it in my car(!) let me know.

Official Galaxy Note 8.0 Book Cover

Gearzap will offer the Official Samsung Galaxy Note 8.0 Book Cover which isn’t too dissimilar to the book covers that we’ve seen for previous Galaxy tablets; offering good protection against scratches, scrapes and damage, as well as offering a front cover that flips backwards to give two different viewing angles. One of the angles is perfectly suited for more comfortable on-screen typing, whilst the other is great for watching videos, movies or chatting on video calls.

This Galaxy Note 8.0 case also allows you to stylise your Note 8.0 and add some personality, available in dark grey and white, as well as more vibrant colour options such as berry pink, lime green and garnet red.

 

Official Samsung Galaxy Note 8.0 Pouch Stand

Again proving Samsung’s ability to innovate we will be stocking the Official Galaxy Note 8.0 Pouch Stand.

Many people don’t like a case permanently attached to a device, they like to keep it protected whilst out of use and then use the device naked whenever they take it out of a pouch or sleeve. This case allows you to do that, but also adds extra functionality should you need it.

Converting into a stand, this pouch will offer two different viewing angles (similar to the Flip Cover) for typing and watching videos.

Official Samsung Galaxy Note 8.0 Screen Protector

The Official Samsung Galaxy Note 8.0 Screen Protector will provide scratch resistance to the phablet‘s screen, ensuring that the most important part of the device remains looking as good as new for as long as possible.

Also designed to offer crystal clear clarity, providing 99% transparency, you will still be able to see the sharp vivid colours of the Note 8.0 screen.

Official Samsung Galaxy Note 8.0 Vehicle Dock

This Galaxy Note 8.0 car holder is the Official Samsung Vehicle Dock. It will affix to your car dashboard or windscreen, and allow you to mount your Galaxy Note 8.0 in horizontal or vertical orientations. This can be extremely useful if you are using a SatNav, or if you have a passenger that wants to use the tablet more comfortably.

Thanks to a cleverly designed layout, you can also charge your Note 8.0 as there is easy access to the charging port at all times, and the dock has a charger included to make full use of this feature.

 

Official Samsung Galaxy Note 8.0 S-Pen

What distinguishes the Note range from the rest of the tablet and smart phone market is its exceptional stylus functionality, brought to the devices by stylus experts Wacom; who teamed up with Samsung to develop the S-Pen.

If you aren’t familiar with the S-Pen, it is like no other stylus on the market. It allows smart features such as gesture control, ‘air view’ which can bring up new options when hovering the stylus above the screen, automatically opening note taking app when the S-Pen is removed, and much more.

 

Today we’ll be looking at five of the best metal iPhone 5 cases on the market. While metal has taken a back seat to polycarbonate and silicone in the construction, it has quite a few advantages - namely rigidity and style - that can’t be matched by softer materials. Let’s get right into the selections.

5. Ultra Thin Brushed Aluminium Case

This is perhaps the simplest example of a metal case on the market, offering full protection of the iPhone with simple and sleek brushed aluminium. The case’s simplicity is reflected in its price too, making this one of the most cost-effective metal cases out there.

4. SwitchEasy Bonds Hybrid Case

This case shows what can be accomplished with the fusion of metal and other traditional case materials - in this case, aluminium and TPU. The case showcases the metallic exoskeleton nicely, while keeping a simple design elsewhere that looks good. The case also comes with three protective films to keep the front and back untarnished.

3. Cygnett UrbanShield Case

The iPhone 5 still has a fairly breakable back, so many iPhone 5 covers ensure to place extra protection here. Cygnett have perhaps done the most in this area, covering the entire back with a pane of aluminium to really make it impervious to a rear knock or drop, even a severe one.

2. SwitchEasy FreeRunner Hybrid

Our number 2 case this week is the SwitchEasy FreeRunner Hybrid. Like its stablemate the Bonds Hybrid, this case uses a reinforced metal exoskeleton to provide rigidity and resist impacts, while wrapping the phone in comfortable TPU with a whimsical bubble design. A great looking hybrid case, no doubt.

1. Draco Design Aluminium Bumper

There’s one name that’s synonymous with “metal case” in the accessories trade, and that’s Draco Design. The Japanese firm have produced a succession of award-winning designs, and none has received more attention than their Aluminium Bumper. The bumper is made of aircraft-grade aluminium, providing excellent impact resistance and rigidity while leaving the back and front of the phone easily accessible. While many metal cases look good, the Draco Design is the one that adds the most to the iPhone 5’s already considerable design.

Conclusion

That’s all we have time for. Thanks for reading and be sure to share your own favourite in the comments below!

 

This is another real world test of an iPhone 5 case, the Twelve South SurfacePad Luxury Leather iPhone 5 Case in White.

It was packaged very well with some friendly cards and words inside the packaging.

The case, without the phone felt light but well made.

Here was my first surprise. I thought this was a normal, slip on case so I unpacked it, put it in my pocket, I was going to fit it on the bus journey into Belfast on a snowy morning. However, fitting the case isn’t a bus journey kind of job. That’s because the case requires careful alignment, it is actually stuck onto the back of the iPhone!

However, I waited for a still moment, in traffic, stuck it on, fairly carefully. The problem was that I forgot I had a MediaDevil back protector on the iPhone. The protector immediately became unstuck from the phone and onto the SurfacePad case. The back protector now has to be binned. This didn’t affect the adhesive qualities of this iPhone 5 case.

My first tip, remove any back protectors from the iPhone before fitting the SurfacePad.

The iPhone 5 feels and looks great in the case. Initially the front cover keeps popping up, I guess that will flatten with time. A interesting feature are volume control indentations on the case, odd but very clever.

It has got to be said that the stuck in case setup is a disadvantage to a user like me. I have around 11 cases and like to swap them regularly.

Does the case protect the iPhone? It protects the back (apart from the camera) and front. It also protects the volume control edge. However it won’t protect the other three edges from a drop.

The cover folds to enable viewing the iPhone in landscape. There are a limited amount of apps that actually work in landscape in the iPhone. There are many more iPad apps that work in landscape.

I will be reporting back over the next week on my findings with this case, call back!

Update 24th March 2013

After two days of using the case, I am loving it. The case feels like it should have been made by Apple as an actual official part of the phone.

I did, however drop my phone, the case opened and it landed on its face. Luckily it fell a small distance and I have a screen protector on my phone.

Update from Glengarriff, County Cork!

I have been using the case solidly. Loving how the iPhone feels in the case. Slides in and out of my pocket easily. Protects the front and back of the phone in the pocket. I did notice an issue when taking photographs with the case on. The case has to be held open, taking a photograph is a two handed operation, much steadier, yes. Fast snaps are a bit impeded. Maybe I will come up with a solution. Watch this space!

Update from Bantry, County Cork

I have been using the case in my hotel room to watch one of my favourite podcasts:

The SurfacePad logo from twelve south is visible to remind me what make the case is when watching a podcast. The viewing angle is good, its a great idea to have a case that is enables the iPhone to sit at this angle.

Other observations:

The case is white, it will get grubby in a jeans pocket. It does get more ‘authentic’ looking after opening and closing a number of times. The leather turns into a nice, used look and feel.

I am not sure about the edges of the case and their durability. Lets wait and see, could peeling be apparent after a period of in pocket use?

I wouldn’t use this case in a very dirty, high attrition environment. Great for an office worker / business man or woman. It looks classy and feels classy.

I would be interested to know if anyone has found a nightstand clock which doesn’t, by its very nature, disable Apple’s ‘Do not disturb’. It seems many of the digital landscape clocks which suit the Twelve South case iPhone 5 case disable the DND service by being an active application on the iPhone.

Buy it, yes!