Back in the day when Palms and PDAs ruled the portable electronics market, you could get several designs of folding or mini keyboards to connect to your PDA to turn it from a ‘consumptive’ device (that mostly displays content) to a ‘creative’ one (one that allows you to easily create new content). Sure, you could use the other input options, but they had their limitations.

Now we have these cool, powerful Android smartphones and tablets, and have been mostly frustrated in finding good keyboards for them because they use a Bluetooth format called SPP instead of the HID format that Apple and other devices use. I finally found a keyboard I like that uses the SPP format for my Android stuff!  Let’s give a close look at the Freedom Pro Keyboard from Freedom Input. 

Note – this review will focus on how the keyboard works for me on my Toshiba Thrive tablet and Sprint Samsung Epic 4G (a Galaxy S phone). Results would almost certainly be different on other operating systems, carriers, and even other Android devices.

To over-simplify the issue – SPP stands for Serial Port Protocol and emulates data coming over a serial port, like the old Palms used to do before Bluetooth or even USB.  HID stands for Human Interface Device and provides support for a variety of input devices including gaming controls. It is commonly used by gaming systems as well as Apple and some other devices. Some devices can use either format, including some newer Android devices, but most of us need a SPP device. (The Epic is a Galaxy S phone, listed by Freedom Input as a HID phone, but I have not been able to connect using HID. They do point out that some carriers or plans limit the HID format, so perhaps that is what is going on.)

The Freedom Input Freedom Pro Keyboard has a switch so it can do either. Physically, it is identical to the Verbatim 97537 Keyboard without the SPP/HID switch (and the Verbatim unit is about $10 cheaper) and very reminiscent of several Palm keyboards, such as the venerable iGo Stowaway. (Just FYI, older iGos were SPP format. Those available now seem to be HID).

The specs include:

• Size Opened: 319.2 X 102.9 X 9.6 mm (12.6 X 4.0 X 0.38 ins.)
• Size Closed: 162.5 X 102.9 X 19.2 mm (6.4 X 4.0 X 0.75 ins.)
• Weight: 258g (including batteries)
• Formats: SPP, HID
• Power: Uses 2 AAA batteries (included). Over 90 hours use and 3000 hours standby
• Included in Box: Keyboard, leatherette case, batteries, instruction manual, ‘cheat sheets’ for some devices
• Compatible With: Pretty much everything:  Android, Apple, Blackberry, Palm, Symbian, and Windows devices

Open keyboard and folding device stand

Other points worth noting include:

• Full 5 row keyboard with 75 keys.
• 6 Dedicated keys to: Answer Call, End/Reject call, Open Messages/email, Open Address book, Open task and Open Calendar.
• 6 Additional ‘SK’ keys emulate on-screen controls or commands
• 12 user-defined quick launch keys.
• Control and function keys allow complete control of your mobile device from the keyboard.
• Separate LED indicators to show power and connection status.
• Pull-out folding device stand.

The unit is well-built and designed. It passes the Gadgeteer Creak Test and feels like it would survive the real world nicely. Once you open the keyboard, you can lock it with a sliding pin. There is a cleverly designed pop-up folding stand tucked into one side that can hold a phone at a convenient angle. The keyboard is flat, but the locking pin means you can prop it up safely. It even comes with a decent case.

I tried to set it up with both my phone and tablet. The phone was a bit easier, but following the directions on the site exactly eventually got them both going. You are going to need the slightly hidden on-line directions.   The manual did not help much; for some reason it seems to be missing an import pairing step – after telling the phone the code, you also need to enter it into the keyboard.  You also need to download a free app.

Folded- Samsung Epic phone for comparison

There are several customizable and ‘quick launch’ keys.  Twelve you can program for a variety of things and six that do specific things once configured; six other keys (labelled ‘SK’) emulate on-screen buttons or commands such as menu, back, and search bar. Additional keys can, on some devices, open the web browser or control playback. It is very important to note that not all of these button and keys work on all devices. In fact, many of them do not work on the Android, but those that do are easy to set-up, either in a pop-up menu or in the app.

How the keys line up and size comparison- typical USB keyboard on top, Freedom Pro on bottom

The open size can easily make you think that the keyboard is much smaller than a standard QWERTY board, but when you line it up as in the photo you see the keyboard sections are very close to being the same size. They do cheat a bit by making some of the keys narrower than usual, and the split space bar is narrower than you are used to. This throws off touch typing just a bit, but not being much of a touch-typist myself, it is not a big deal. I do keep missing certain keys though – backspace and shift seem to be my personal foibles on this one.

This is a decent keyboard in actual use. As mentioned, it is not quite ‘touch type’, but not bad. For basic text entry, tolerating errors that I could clean up later, I actually got nearly what I can do on a regular keyboard. There is little feedback for pressing keys – a bit of stiffness and a sort of a ‘flat’ response, but no vibration or noise. The keys are a tiny bit ‘stiff’, so just touching a key does not activate it. Holding a key causes repeats, just like my full-sized keyboard.

Turning off the keyboard does not automatically remove it as the preferred input method, but a couple quick taps on the Android disables it nicely… except that on my tablet, I keep getting an error message saying that it is not responding and must be forced closed. Stopping it in the application manager usually stops it.

As you read this review you may be uncertain of my real feelings for this device. Let me make it very clear. I like this keyboard. It is a nice compromise between keyboard size, packing size, functionality and cost. There are other options if you want a smaller board with smaller keys for better portability, or a more normal board for easier typing, but this is a great option that does both fairly well.

I could wish that the board itself had a few features – feet for propping it at an angle and a more visible on/off switch – or that the manual was more clear or the website easier to navigate, but overall this is a good product. I can accept some of the issues with it (non-functioning keys, etc.) as the price to pay for a device that is designed to play with so many different devices – as long as it plays with my devices nicely!

Filed in categories: Android related, Bluetooth Gear, iPhone, iPad, iPod related, Reviews, Tablet Computers and Gear

Tagged: Bluetooth keyboard, folding keyboard

Freedom Input’s Freedom Pro Bluetooth Keyboard Review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on February 9, 2012 at 11:00 am.

I really NEED this handmade leather cover for my iPad 2!  These covers are made by an Etsy seller who calls his store punkassjim.  Jim was inspired by the cover of an 1940s electrical handbook.  He hand-carved the embossing plate, embosses the leather using his car as the weight, and then constructs these covers himself.  They are stiffened with a book board and lined with microfiber fabric.  He scavenged the attachment post and magnets from cheap knock-off smart covers and uses them in his Electric Library covers, so the covers can sleep/wake your iPad 2.  The covers won’t fold into the triangular stand like the official Smart Cover, though.  The Electric Library covers are available in British racing green, navy blue, black, dark brown, and a red/brown leather for $89.99 each.

Filed in categories: iPhone, iPad, iPod related, News

Tagged: iPad 2 cover

Embossed Leather “Electric Library” Smart Cover for iPad 2 originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on February 9, 2012 at 8:59 am.

We all know that a screen protector will help keep your iPhone’s display as pristine as the day you bought it. But installing one can be a huge pain in the butt. First you have to make sure the screen is clean so you don’t install the protector over dust particles. That’s actually the easy part. The difficult part is getting it lined up correctly and bubble free. There are many screen protector brands on the market. Some require water to install and some are dry apply. But none of them are as easy to apply as the PureGear PureTek Roll-On Screen Shield Kit for iPhone 4/4S. Their install method is pure genius.

Note: Click the images in this review to see a larger view.

First of all, this is how my iPhone 4S looked before I installed the PureGear PureTek Roll-On Screen Shield. You will notice that I have a screen protector installed (I don’t recall the brand – it probably came with a case I reviewed), but there are bubbles. Those dreaded bubbles. Argh… No matter how careful you are it’s almost impossible to avoid them. With the PureGear protector, bubbles are a thing of the past.

The packaging is actually a fixture that has been designed to align your iPhone and the screen protector for perfect installation.

Just tear the paper tab on the back and pull off the outer cover / instructions.

What you’re left with is a plastic tray that has the screen protector attached to it. Also included is a microfiber cloth to polish the phone’s screen and a special roller.

The protector lifts up to reveal a tray that holds an iPhone 4/4S. PureGear also offers versions of this kit for the Motorola Droid 4 and Motorola Droid Razr.

Included with the kit is a dual roller that you use to install the protector. If you’ve ever installed other screen protectors, you have probably used a credit card to smooth out the protector. I like this roller a lot better.

With the iPhone’s screen wiped off with the microfiber cloth and firmly seated in the holder, the protector can flop back over the phone as shown above. Then all you have to do is place the special roller between the “rails” and roll it down the length of the phone.

As you guide the roller, it separates the top layer as it sticks the protector to the phone. The trick is to roll it slowly without stopping. I know this because I screwed up 2 protectors in the process of writing this review. With my first try, I didn’t roll it without stopping. I rolled it a few inches, snapped some pictures for the review, rolled it a bit further, took some more pictures, etc. I ended up with a protector that had several bubbles that would not go away. I knew the problem was completely my fault, so I pulled off the protector and installed a 2nd one that PureGear sent me. This time I rolled it in one continuous motion. I thought it had installed perfectly till I looked closely and noticed that t was not lined up correctly with the home button. Darn it! I emailed PureGear to tell them about my experiences and they agreed to send me another one.

That is a concern that you only get one shot to get the protector installed correctly. You won’t be able to peel it up and reseat it.

As they say, 3rd time is the charm. My last try was a complete success.

When you’re done, you’re left with a piece of plastic that you have to peel off.

You might notice that the dual roller looks different in this picture when compared to the earlier pictures. I think the new design may be based on the fact that people were having some issues with the protector not lining up correctly like I did on my 2nd try. This 3rd time it lined up just fine though.

Here is the finished product. No bubbles and perfectly lined up with the home button and the speaker at the top.The protector is slightly smaller than the display, meaning that it should work great with bumper cases.

If you click the image to zoom in, you might notice a couple spots along the very top edge. They disappeared after 24hrs leaving me with a perfectly protected display. The protector is made of an industrial strength film that has self healing technology. It feels smooth and looks clear.

Installing the PureGear PureTek Roll-On Screen Shield is easier and faster than any protector I’ve ever installed. As long as you pay attention to what you’re doing and don’t go too fast, you should end up with great results.

Update 2/9/12 – This morning after having the protector installed for 2 days, I noticed that there is a weird reflection issue when the display background is a light color. It sort of looks like thin vertical lines under the protector. This might be what some people refer to as a moire problem. I only noticed it when I went to send someone an text message. The background is a light Blue and I thought the screen had grease strikes on it. But, there’s nothing there. It’s very slightly distracting, but not horribly so. Unfortunately I can’t photograph the problem.

Filed in categories: Android related, iPhone, iPad, iPod related, Reviews

Tagged: Screen Protector

PureGear PureTek Roll-On Screen Shield Kit for iPhone 4/4S Review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on February 8, 2012 at 3:58 pm.

Plug this little paperclip-sized dongle into the 30-pin connector on your iPhone, iPod touch, or iPad, and your Apple device can serve as a powerful universal remote control.  The Zapper from VooMote uses the free VooMote Zapper app from iTunes to let you control virtually all the A/V devices in your house.  You can define the layout of your remote screens, even define one-button macros to execute functions like “watch a DVD”.  You can also define different layouts for each room in your house.  If your device isn’t available in the device database, you can teach the Zapper using the device’s original remote control.  The VooMote comes in white, black, gray, pink, blue, navy, green, and red for $69.95.  It’s available now at Apple stores and Apple.com, although the online store seems to only have black and white available.

Filed in categories: Audio, Video, TV Gear, iPhone, iPad, iPod related, News

Tagged: iOS accessory, Universal remote control

VooMote Zapper Universal Remote Control for Apple iOS Devices originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on February 7, 2012 at 12:00 pm.

Want to watch Television on your iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad or Android tablet ? Perhaps the Hauppauge Broadway is the solution for you. The Broadway connects between your TV source and home Wi-Fi network, converts the TV signal to be displayed on your mobile device, and sends the signal to your device via Wifi or the Internet.  The Broadway converts and compresses the live TV signal to Apple compatible h.264 video format or Flash when transmitted to Mac, PC or Android. It contains a tuner with support for cable and satellite set top boxes, ATSC over-the-air TV signals and unencrypted digital cable TV (clear QAM). You get full control of the TV channel selected via Broadway’s “IR-blaster” technology. In theory (and I’m guessing it would depend on link speeds and latency) you can also stream your favourite shows while abroad from your home to your tablet via the internet.

Available from the Hauppauge Store for $199.

Filed in categories: Android related, Audio, Video, TV Gear, iPhone, iPad, iPod related, News

Tagged: Android, iPad, TV tuner

Hauppauge Broadway – Tellie on ya Tablet originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on February 7, 2012 at 10:00 am.

This is another Kickstarter project.  The cellhelmet case for iPhone 4/4S (US & Canada versions) from cellpig.com is a TPU case with a difference.  This case comes complete with a one-year insurance policy from Global Warranty Group, “one of the nation’s largest and most recognized iPhone insurance administrators”, to repair or replace your iPhone if it is accidentally damaged while in the cellhelmet case.  (Water damage is excluded.)  Each case comes with two colored inserts to give your iPhone a little personality.  You’ll need to pledge a minimum of $40 to get a case.  They met about 84% of their funding as of today, and they have 32 more days in the funding period – still time to get one of these cases for yourself.

Filed in categories: iPhone, iPad, iPod related, News

Tagged: Cases and covers, iPhone 4/4S

Cellhelmet Protects Your iPhone and Insures It, Too originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on February 7, 2012 at 9:00 am.

We’ve told you about Scosche clipSYNC cables before.  Those are handy charging cables, but you’ll still need a source of power.  The flipCHARGE burst from Scosche combines the convenience of a small carabiner accessory with a portable emergency power source for your iPhone (3GS and 4), iPod nano (5th and 6th gen), and iPod touch (3rd and 4th gen).  The 720mAh lithium-polymer rechargeable battery is designed to get you a burst of power to get you where you’re going.  It extends the battery  charge of your iPod up to 70% or iPhone up to 30%.  You recharge the flipCHARGE burst with any powered USB port or charger.  You can even sync your device when the burst is charging on your computer.  Four lights show you the % charge left in the flipCHARGE burst, and the carabiner clip lets you attach the burst to your keychain or gear bag strap.  The flipCHARGE burst is $49.99 from Scosche.

Filed in categories: iPhone, iPad, iPod related, News

Tagged: External battery, iPhone/iPod accessory

Scosche flipCHARGE burst Emergency Battery for iPhone and iPod originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on February 6, 2012 at 1:00 pm.

This highly ornate case isn’t going to be everyone’s taste, but I think it’s beautiful.  The Nouveau Art iPhone 4/4S case from Ion is a polycarbonate snap-on back cover.  It’s available in iridium-coated silver or goldtone, so it doesn’t interfere with the signal strength.  The camera and all ports and controls are open and accessible.  The Nouveau Art cover comes with an anti-glare, moire-free screen protector.  It’s $35.99 from Ion.

Filed in categories: iPhone, iPad, iPod related, News

Tagged: Cases and covers, iPhone 4/4S

Ion Nouveau Art iPhone 4/4S Case originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on February 4, 2012 at 9:00 am.

If you’re in a multi-iPad/multi-iPhone household like me, you know how hard it can be to get everything charged at once without using half the outlets in the house.  With the Sydnee iOS Recharge Station from Kanex, you’ll be able to charge up to four iPads and/or iPhones in one compact charging station.  The Sydnee has four USB ports in the back, and each supplies 2.1A of power to quickly charge an iPad.  There are two slots and one stand to hold three iPads or iPhones; the fourth unit will have to lay on the table.  You’ll receive three USB charging cables for iOS devices.  Each DC output has circuit protection to actively condition the DC power, and there’s a fuse to protect against AC power surges.  The Sydnee is perfect for home, office, or school use – anywhere you need to charge multiple iOS devices.

Filed in categories: iPhone, iPad, iPod related, News

Tagged: Charging station, iOS accessory

Charge Up to Four iPads at Once with the Kanex Sydnee iOS Recharge Station originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on February 3, 2012 at 1:00 pm.

Steve Holt did a popular review for Avid Studio (see the related posts for a link) last year, so I thought many of you might be interested to know that this software is now available as an iPad app.  Avid Studio for iPad has “distilled the world’s leading film-editing technology into an easy-to-use app that enables you to edit video, audio, and photos at the speed of your creativity.”  You can edit any video, audio, or photo file on your iPad, access files on external devices with the Apple camera connection kit, or capture video or photos within the Avid app.  You can edit your files frame by frame, enhance your project with multi-layer 3D animations, transitions, and titles, and add soundtracks using your own files or the included sound effects.  You can share your files via YouTube, Facebook, or email, and you can even export your files to Avid Studio for the PC.  It’s only $4.99 in the iTunes App Store, so this might even be a great way to try Avid Studio before you purchase the much more expensive PC version.  And keep your eyes peeled for Julie’s upcoming review of this Avid Studio app.

Filed in categories: Audio, Video, TV Gear, iPhone, iPad, iPod related, News

Tagged: A/V editing, iPad app

Avid Studio is Now Available as an iPad App originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on February 3, 2012 at 12:00 pm.

Do you love your iPhone’s glass screen?  Do you hate when you stick on those screen protectors that makes it feels tacky and prevents you from touching that smooth glass?  Spigen’s GLAS.t has solved that problem by providing a screen protector that’s made of glass.  The GLAS.t is 0.4mm thick and made up of chemically-treated transparent premium tempered glass.  It also has a oleophobic coating to prevent fingerprints.  The GLAS.t also comes with a set of epoxy coated home button covers that makes it easier to push the home button because of that extra 0.4mm thickness.  It’s priced at $27.99 direct from Spigen.

Filed in categories: iPhone, iPad, iPod related, News

Tagged: iPhone 4/4S, Screen Protector

Protect your iPhone 4S’s Glass Screen with GLAS.t originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on February 3, 2012 at 8:45 am.

Accessories can sometimes be just as important to us as the gadgets themselves. I don’t know about the rest of you, but I’m always on the lookout for a new favorite gear bag, wallet, writing instrument, phone case, etc. Lately I’ve been fixating on finding the perfect capacitive stylus that I can use for drawing and writing. When I came across the Adonit Jot Pro Stylus, I knew I had to try it. I actually purchased it with my own cash because I didn’t intend to review it. But after using it for a couple weeks I knew I had to share my experience. So here goes.

Note: Click the images in this review to see a larger view.

Over the years, I tried many capacitive styli with my iPad and Android tablets. With only a few exceptions, they’ve all been pretty similar. In the image above, you see the Jot Pro next to a Targus stylus. The Targus has a typical large rounded rubber tip. Although it works fine for writing and drawing, it’s less than optimal because it’s difficult to do really detailed work because it’s hard to see what you’re writing due to the large tip. The Jot Pro has a very unique tip which solves that problem very well.

First of all the Jot Pro is larger than the typical stylus. It’s more along the lines of a pen or mechanical pencil. It is 6 inches long and .375 inch in diameter. It’s also nicely weighted and balanced to give it a true pen-like feel.

The barrel is made of aluminum and is available in Black, Silver and Blue. A rubber grip around the bottom half of the barrel makes the stylus comfortable to use for long writing or drawing sessions.

It also has a magnet in the barrel that allows it to “stick” to your iPad.

I love love love that there’s a threaded cap that protects the stylus tip when it’s not being used and stores on the opposite end when it is in use.

Replacement caps are available in several colors for $6.00.

The tip of the Jot Pro is what sets it apart from the other capacitive styli I’ve reviewed. It looks like a finely tapered point with a plastic disc stuck to the end. But if you look really close, you’ll see that the tip is actually a tiny ball.

The transparent disc snaps on to the ball tip allowing it to swivel in a variety of angles.

The bottom of the disk has a thin layer of plastic, so you don’t have to worry that it will scratch your display. Replacement discs can be purchased at $8 for 2 discs.

The Jot Pro glides effortlessly on an unprotected display. However, it didn’t work well at all on a Pure Gear screen protector which I had on my iPhone. It felt sticky and wanted to drag across the screen. The Pure Gear protector is thicker and softer than other protectors I’ve used, so it’s possible that the Jot Pro might work just fine with other brands of screen protectors.

The swivel disc lets the stylus adapt to the way you hold it instead of you having to hold it in a certain way against the display.

The best thing about the Jot Pro is that you can see what you’re writing and drawing through the disc. It really makes a huge difference when drawing and allows for more detailed work. I also found that the Jot Pro is the first stylus that actually feels like a pen when writing. In addition to the Jot Pro, Adonit also offers a classic (does not have the rubber grip or magnet) for $19.99 and a Jot mini that has a pocket clip (no pricing on that one yet). Even more importantly, Adonit will be offering a pressure sensitive stylus soon that I’m really looking forward to try. The Jot Touch will allow for varying line thicknesses when drawing depending on how hard to press it against the screen.

The Adonit Jot Pro is my new favorite stylus. What is yours?

Filed in categories: Android related, iPhone, iPad, iPod related, Reviews

Tagged: Stylus

Adonit Jot Pro Stylus Review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on February 2, 2012 at 11:00 am.

Diabetes management is a game of numbers.  How many carbs eaten, insulin injected, blood glucose numbers.  Blood glucose meters usually come with a little booklet to track some of these numbers in, but they’re always small, quickly filled up, and easily lost.  Digital Altitudes, LLC has software products that help you track everything you need to know in your Windows or Mac computer or in your iPhone.  With Diabetes Pilot, you can track your blood glucose, weight, and blood pressure measurements and log your exercise.  The integrated food database lets you track the nutritional content of the food you eat.  Diabetes Pilot can even estimate an insulin dose for your meal or help you correct a high glucose.  You can even graph your weight and blood glucose measurements to look for trends.  All these features are available in both desktop versions and in the iPhone version (iPhone screenshots shown above).  The iPhone version has all the features of the desktop versions.  It lets you track everything while you’re away from home, and then you can easily transfer the data to the desktop version later, if you choose to use both versions.  Diabetes Pilot for Mac is $29.99 and $34.99 for PC; both desktop versions are available as a free trial.  Diabetes Pilot for iPhone is $14.99 in the iTunes app store.

Filed in categories: Health Related Gadgets, iPhone, iPad, iPod related, News

Tagged: Diabetes, Health

Manage Your Diabetes with Diabetes Pilot originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on February 1, 2012 at 12:00 pm.

The Totoya Creatures cover turns your iPad or iPhone into an interactive toy for toddlers (or for those young at heart). By loading the appropriate app to your device and slipping it into the cover, the cutouts can be used to interact with the Creature. “As the iPad is safely protected “in the belly of the beast” kids can throw and punch the creature and not only will it withstand the ordeal but it will communicate its feelings. The more interaction, the more fun.”

Available in two different models for your iPhone for $49.90 or your iPad for $79.90.

Filed in categories: iPhone, iPad, iPod related, News

Tagged: iPad, iPad cases and covers

Totoya Creatures iPad Cover – Even Toddlers Need an iPad originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on February 1, 2012 at 9:00 am.

The xPrintServer “leverages Lantronix‘ patented technologies, along with open industry standards to enable wireless printing to nearly any printer attached to a network.”  You won’t be limited to only certain models from certain manufacturers, and you won’t have to buy any apps on your iPhone or iPad to print.  You simply connect the Lantronix to the network with an Ethernet cable, and the xPrintServer will quickly find all the networked printers.  You’ll be able to print to most any printer directly from your device. No more sending the document by email or to the Cloud to get it to a device that can print it.  The Lantronix xPrintServer is available for pre-order for $149.95.  Shipping should start in less than a month.

Filed in categories: iPhone, iPad, iPod related, News

Tagged: Print application, Print device

Print from Your iOS Device to Any Printer with Lantronix xPrintServer originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on January 30, 2012 at 12:00 pm.

I’m torn about the PFE 232 Earphones from Phonak Audeo. They are about the best sounding universal-fit earphones I’ve yet heard. They are well made, extremely comfortable, customizable (more on that later), and have replaceable cables.

But wow, are they expensive. There is no getting around that. It’s an elephant in the room you can’t ignore. And when the price of universal-fit earphones approach, and sometimes even surpass the cost of custom fit earphones, they better have something unique to offer.  Let’s find out.

Phonak Sounds AG is a Swiss maker of hearing aids that got into the audio market because many of the components in modern hearing aids are also used in high quality earphones. It’s a natural symmetry.

Phonak’s first earphone was the PFE 111/112 which won raves for both its design as well as sound. They became a favorite among those wanting topnotch quality at a reasonable price. Even with one armature, the PFE 111/112s were favorably compared with earphones costing more.

Well, as they say, that was then; this is now. Many competing brands of earphones have come out since the PFE 111/112 and have been reviewed at The Gadgeteer. Today, there are a lot of good sounding earphones covering many price ranges.

Phonak has released the Perfect Fit (PFE) 232 with two balanced armatures instead of the single armature used in the 111/112s. They didn’t change the shape, since the original worked so well, and only did subtle exterior design changes. They are a gun-metal gray with black plastic. At first glance, you may think that at this price, they should have either aluminum or wood accents. But plastic is extremely light in weight and moldable to a more ergonomic shape. These earphones weigh almost nothing.

Let’s look at the ergonomics of the PFE 232. It is an unusual shape. No other earphones look like them. Yet when they are worn, it makes sense. They’re called Perfect Fit for good reason. They wrap around and behind the ear, much like Westone and Shure earphones. You can also wear them with the cable down if you’re willing to swap left for right, and the audio may be compromised. While they may not be the most comfortable universal earphones I’ve used – the Klipsch X10s own that crown – the 232s are very comfortable, and I can wear them for hours without ear pain or irritation. Being able to wear earphones comfortably for hours is not as common as you may think.

The PFE 232s come with a decent array of accessories. Included are two sets of cables; one with a mic for smartphones and one without. To be truthful, I hardly ever use earphones on my iPhone. The iPod Classic is my primary music device. So whether earphones have a mic or not is irrelevant to me. However, I know many people use a smartphone exclusively for music and the mic feature is essential. The multifunction button on the PFE 232 works as advertised. You can adjust volume, pause, forward, reverse, take calls… all the usual stuff. Note that the multifunction button only works on Apple devices.

Also included are six pairs of eartips; three different sizes of foam and silicone. There are also silicone ear-shaped guides which help keep the wires in place behind the ears. Eyeglass wearers can just tuck the wires behind the eyeglass earpiece without the guides. Since I wear glasses, I prefer this method. The ear guides are comfortable, but cumbersome to use.

One of the common problems with earphones in any price range is the durability of the thin cords. No one wants to replace a pair of expensive earphones just because of issues with the wires. Phonak has equipped the PFE  232s with removable cables. What that means is that no matter what happens to your earphone cables – worn, torn, chewed by your dog; whatever – you just disconnect the wires and reconnect new ones. It makes you wonder why everyone isn’t doing this.

The included accessory that matters more than the others and accounts for some of the cost are the three color-coded acoustic filters with included case and changing tool. These filters are tiny and difficult to change, but they can dramatically alter the sound depending on your tastes. The green filter promotes bass at the expense of mids and treble. Using the green filters makes the PFE 232s sound like $50 earphones marketed to teenagers. The bass may be cleaner than cheap earphones, but I don’t understand the logic. The black filters boost bass and treble much more accurately and could be considered the closest to a traditional earphone sound signature. The black filters do sound good, but on some songs, there is a harshness in the treble that bothers me. I prefer the gray filters for their overall neutral and balanced sound, but then, I lean toward that type of sound anyway.  Phonak packages the PFE 232s with the gray filters already installed and supply an extra gray set along with the black and green filters. My advice is to live with the gray filters until you are familiar with the sound and then change to the black or green filter to decide what you like.

In my listening tests, I decided to try old and new music. The song, “Roads to Moscow,” from Al Stewart’s “Past, Present and Future” album features just about everything to test headphone quality. It begins with a high, flamenco-styled guitar overlaying some purposeful acoustic strumming followed by a choral bridge. The PFE 232s effortlessly pick up the squeakiness of the guitar strings, the different vocal ranges of the choir and the excellent soundstage of the song delivering a complete audio treat.

A new song, “Colors,” by April Smith and the Great Picture Show is a joyful romp complete with accordion, hand clapping and a thumping bass drum. The attack and recovery of the drum hits in this song allow the visceral kick of the drum to be felt without letting it bleed into the other frequencies. That’s the mark of good headphones and earphones. That means any aural muddiness heard in a particular song would be the result of the recording and not the earphone speaker.

Roxy Music’s ode to Texas, “Prairie Rose,” is one of the harshest songs I have in my collection. I don’t know if it was intentional, but the recording quality leaves a lot to be desired, despite how good the song is. That actually makes it a perfect test song. Here the high frequencies were not brittle or painful, so I could listen to the whole song without wanting to rip the earphones from my head. Conversely, Honeyroot’s song, “Falling” has deep, deep bass that can buzz and distort cheaper speakers. The PFE 232s don’t seem to care. The bass is musical and rich without any boominess or buzzing of any kind.

The PFE 232s don’t have what I would call a jaw-dropping sound – unless you are migrating from Apple’s earbuds or other cheap buds. But what the PFE 232s do have is what you should be hearing; accurate sound as the musicians intended it to be heard.

The PFE 232s are unfazed by whatever style of music I throw at them. I have heard and reviewed many earphones – custom and universal – and very few have a sound signature as balanced and easy to listen to as the PFE 232s. There are many earphones that excel in reproducing bass, vocals, or the higher frequencies. But the ability to handle the entire frequency range and still keep the clarity and power in the music is difficult to achieve. I commend Phonak for this and can highly recommend the PFE 232s if you have the means. But their high cost holds me back from making my recommendation unconditional.

Filed in categories: Audio, Video, TV Gear, iPhone, iPad, iPod related, Reviews

Tagged: Earphones

Phonak Audéo PFE 232 Earphones Review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on January 29, 2012 at 12:31 pm.

This cute speaker from Gavio looks like a retro-styled toaster.  It would look really cute in my retro kitchen with my Formica dining table.  The TOAST dock has  50mm speakers with 3W total RMS, and they reproduce 150-18,000Hz with an 80dB signal-to-noise ratio.  It’s powered with a 1000mAh lithium-ion battery.  No price has been released yet, but Gavio is apparently taking pre-orders.

Filed in categories: Audio, Video, TV Gear, iPhone, iPad, iPod related, News

Tagged: docking speakers for iPod/iPhone

Gavio TOAST! Docking Speaker for iPhone originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on January 29, 2012 at 8:00 am.

So you just got yourself a brand new iPhone 4S, and now you’re looking for that one perfect case that will help protect it but also make it stylish at the same time.  I’ve tried many different cases for my iPhone 4S, and none has come close to my ideal case other than the BookBook from Twelve South.

Like its name, Twelve South’s BookBook is in the shape of a book.  It’s made of leather and is designed to have an aged look and feel to it.  It feels quite good in the hand.

The iPhone is situated on the right side of the BookBook.  The iPhone slides in from the top and is held down by a leather flap with a red pull tab.  The red pull tab barely sticks out enough for my fingers to pull at it.  It might not be a problem if the iPhone is always in this case, but it’s necessary to pull out the iPhone to take a photo because Twelve South for reasons unknown has decided to not make a hole for the iPhone’s camera.  So it does get quite annoying constantly removing it from the case if you like taking photos.

On the bottom, there are holes for the port connector, speaker, and microphone.

On the left side is a hole for the mute switch; the volume buttons are covered.  The volume buttons can still be easily pressed, and you can still feel the click of the button through the leather.

The right side is fully protected.

The BookBook holds 3 cards, and an inner pocket holds a few folded bills.  It was quite difficult to take the cards out at first but the leather stretched over time and is much easier now.  The bills will stick out if you only fold them in half.

The BookBook doesn’t quite close all the way with the 3 cards and 2 bills inside.  A quick remedy would be just to put the side with the cards down first, and the iPhone’s weight will keep the case fully closed.

To answer a call, you’ll have to fold the BookBook cover back.  It will expose your cards, but your hand should cover most of it from prying eyes.

Can you spot the BookBook?

Twelve South’s BookBook is a very nicely designed case.  I’ve been using it for a few months, and I’m very satisfied with it.  The BookBook creates a unique style for any iPhone 4/4S owner.  It’s priced at $59.99 from Twelve South.

Filed in categories: iPhone, iPad, iPod related, Reviews

Tagged: iPhone Case

Twelve South’s BookBook for iPhone 4/4S Review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on January 28, 2012 at 11:30 am.

When SGP Case sent me the iPhone 4 Valentinus case I reviewed recently, they included a couple of extra goodies in the box.  They sent along the Steinheil Ultra Mirror Half Mirror Screen Protector for iPhone 4S/iPhone 4/CDMA iPhone 4 and the Kuel H10 Stylus Pen.  While the screen protector is obviously only for iPhones, the stylus should work with any capacitive screen.  How do they work?

The Kuel H10 (that’s H and the number 10) High Sensitive Stylus Pen packaging says it works with iPhone and iPad, but I don’t see why it wouldn’t work for any capacitive screen.  It’s available in black, red, yellow, pink, and white;  I received the black.  It’s about 3″ long, not including the hanging loop, and about 5/16″ in diameter.  It weighs about 0.2 oz.

The barrel of the stylus is made of brass.  It’s coated with a textured paint, or as SGP says, “harmless-material-plated brass.”  The cap is a silver-colored metal, and there’s a thin cord coming out of the top.  If your case has a lanyard connector on it, you could loop this cord through to attach the stylus to your device.  If you don’t have a lanyard attachment, you can attach the cap to the small plastic strap plug that you’ll see near the bottom of the package.

Getting the snap plug attached with a bit difficult; the cord was just barely long enough to work.  The snap plug goes in the iPhone’s headphone jack.  You can see it worked with my Bumper Case, too.

The stylus tip is made with “special silicone with high polymer abrasion-resistant coating.”  It has a diameter of just under 1/4″.  It doesn’t have any padding underneath; it feels like just a thin layer of the silicone.  It compresses very easily.  There’s a hard nub inside that you can feel when you completely compress the tip.

The barrel of the Kuel H10 is only about 2.75″ long without the cap.  It’s short enough that it’s difficult to support the top end against your hand.  It caused my hands to cramp up very quickly.  Luckily, the Kuel isn’t designed to be used this way.

Grab the sliver tip and pull to extend the barrel to almost 4″.  That length is long enough to allow the Kuel to rest against your hand.  It feels more like holding a normal pencil or pen, and it doesn’t cause my hand to get tired or crampy nearly as quickly.

Like with all styluses I’ve tried, I have to press harder with the stylus tip than I do with my finger tip.  Some styluses require you to hold the barrel almost perpendicular to the screen, but that’s not the case with the Kuel H10.  I could hold it at the same angle I hold pens, and it worked great.  I could tap, swipe, and slide with the Kuel.

The Kuel H10 Stylus would be a great accessory for people who wear gloves in the winter or for people who just don’t like to get smears on their screens.  The snap plug will fit into any 3.5mm headphone jack to keep the stylus handy for those people who aren’t always using their headphones.  It’s cheaper than a lot of styluses I’ve seen, too.

I debated whether I should review the Steinheil Ultra Mirror Half Mirror Screen Protector.  It wasn’t that I didn’t like it or think it would work.  The package says it’s only for the black phone, and I have a white phone.  I decided I would try it, because I wanted a screen protector.

The package contains two front screen protectors, a microfiber cloth to clean your iPhone before application, and a squeegee to remove air bubbles.  The directions are found on the back of the package.

Both the back and the front of the screen protector are covered with a protective film.  You can see from this photo that these screen protectors are those seemingly opaque sliver films.  The package calls it a “half mirror,” and that apparently means there’s a layer of silvering that’s dense enough to increase reflectivity but not enough to make it look like a regular mirror.

Application was easy.  I was very happy that no water was involved in the application.  Those wet-apply films always tell you to remove the battery and not use the device for a couple of days, but you can’t remove the battery from an iPhone.  I cleaned the screen of my iPhone with the included microfiber cloth, removed the film from the top of the backside of the protector, lined up the holes at the top of the protector with my phone, and began.

I only ended up with a couple of air bubbles, and they were quickly removed with the squeegee.  After I was happy with the appearance, I removed the top protective film.

You can see I was just the tiniest bit off lining it up with the home button.  You can also see that the screen definitely doesn’t appear like an opaque silver mirror.  On the white areas, the protector almost has a pearlescent look.  If you had a black phone, it would all look like the black screen area on my iPhone.  I understand that SGP Case was going for a uniform look, but I don’t mind the appearance of the white bezel at all.  The bezel area doesn’t work as part of the mirror, but the black touchscreen area is big enough to check your appearance.

You’ll also notice that the Ultra Mirror Screen Protector has cutouts for the front-facing camera and the phone’s speaker, but the ambient light/proximity sensors are covered by the film.  The sensors still seem to work.  I have found that the screen protector does make my display appear a bit dimmer.  That’s not because of the ambient light sensor; I don’t use the auto-brightness feature with my phone.  I increased the brightness of my phone a little, and it looks great.

The screen protector is just a bit smaller than the screen itself.  I was able to put my Bumper Case back on without peeling up the edges of the protector.  SGP Case says the “Steinheil Ultra Mirror does not peel after extended use due to the optical nanotechnology that offers higher abrasion resistance than regular films.”

You can see the screen protector is reflective enough that my camera focused on it’s own reflection instead of the icons.  It doesn’t appear reflective like that to my naked eye, though.  Once I brightened up the screen a bit, it’s easy to see my screen.  The Ultra Mirror screen protector is as slick and slippery as the naked Gorilla Glass itself, so it doesn’t interfere with using the touchscreen at all.

SGP Case says the “oleophobic coating on the Ultra Mirror enhances your phone’s picture quality, prevents fingerprints, and protects your LCD from scratches and dust.”  I haven’t seen as many fingerprints on my iPhone using the Steinheil, but I still do see some smears when I put the phone against my face, and I do see dust sometimes.  The screen cleans up easily using the little gray microfiber cloth, though.

SGP also says that the reflective coating should protect your screen from prying eyes, but I haven’t found that to be true.  It’s much shinier than the naked screen itself, but I can still read the screen from other angles.

To test the claims that it can be removed without leaving behind residue, I sacrificed the first screen protector I had applied.  It lifted right off without undue tension on the screen, and it did leave the screen perfectly clean.

I like the Steinheil Ultra Mirror Half Mirror Screen Protectors well enough that I installed the second one on my iPhone 4.  Now I don’t have to worry so much about scratches to my iPhone’s screen.  I only wish they had included a protector for the back of my phone, too.

Filed in categories: Gear, iPhone, iPad, iPod related, Reviews

Tagged: Screen Protector, Stylus for capacitive touchscreen

SGP Case Steinheil Ultra Mirror Half Mirror Screen Protectors and Kuel H10 Stylus Pen Review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on January 27, 2012 at 11:00 am.

The Sense Apple iPad 2 Leather Case from Mivizu completely covers your iPad 2 in leather.  The iPad 2 slides into a geniune grain leather frame with a padded back for extra protection.  The interior is lined with microfiber fabric to help keep the screen cleaned.  The folding cover wakes/sleeps your device and protects your screen when closed.  It folds into a triangular stand that can support the iPad 2 horizontally or for typing.  The Mivizu Sense is available in black, blue, green, gray, and pink for $59.95.

Filed in categories: iPhone, iPad, iPod related, News

Tagged: Cases and covers, iPad 2

Mivizu Sense Leather iPad 2 Case originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on January 27, 2012 at 8:00 am.

My iPhone 4 is always in a bumper case, and I carry it inside my Dooney and Bourke Multi-Function Zip Around wallet.  That wallet is small enough to fit in my purse, but it holds some cards and cash, so I can just grab it and go.  If you’d like an even smaller wallet plus iPhone case – or perhaps one more unisex in style – the iPhone 4 / 4S Leather Wallet Case Valentinus Series from Spigen/SGP Case may be for you.  Let’s give a closer look at the one they sent us.

The Valentinus wallets are made of “premium genuine leather” in either black or brown.  It is a folio style case that’s held closed with a non-magnetic snap.  Stitching is even and straight.  There’s a Valentinus logo stamped into the front bottom corner.  It measures 4.6″ long X 2.5″ wide X 0.75″ thick at the snap closure.  The empty case weighs about 0.5 ounce.

The leather is very thin and supple.  There is minimal stiffening in the front of the case.

The spine of the Valentinus is closed in.  The open side shows the closure strap and the hard-shell case that holds the iPhone.  This polycarbonate frame is black, even for the brown leather case, and it has a matte finish.  Click on the lower picture, and you’ll see that SGP Case has added an Apple-like “Designed by SGP in California, USA” statement.  You can also see a hint of the camera opening on the back of the case.

The interior of the case shows more of the polycarbonate shell.  You can see the opening for the camera.  Confusingly, they also have an opening that would expose the Apple logo on the back of the iPhone, if the polycarbonate frame wasn’t glued into the leather folio.  The SGP website has a warning about the proper method for removing the phone to prevent the frame from pulling free of the leather: “Phone must be removed from the left side plastic frame. Do not remove from right side as the leather may tear away from the plastic frame.”  I wasn’t sure if they meant my left as I looked at the case, or the case’s left.  In any event, I removed the phone by lifting out the side without the volume buttons first so that I didn’t put undue pressure on the buttons.  I also inserted the side with the volume buttons first, again to prevent undue pressure on them.  I’d rather risk messing up a case than messing up my iPhone 4.

The leather folio is lined with a fabric that SGP Case calls “microfiber chamude.”  It has a fuzzy texture, and it’s been embossed with a repeating pattern of the SGP logo.

Opposite the iPhone frame are two slots where you can store a couple of cards.  There’s a pocket underneath where you can fit more cards or some folded up currency.

Here’s the Valentinus loaded up with my things.  I have three cards in the slots.  Like the song by Tim Curry, you know I never carry cash, so I didn’t have any bills to put in the pocket.  The polycarbonate case encloses the sides of the iPhone and wraps over to cover just the very edge of the front.

The back of the case has an SGP Case logo at the bottom and a cutout for the iPhone’s camera at the top.  The case didn’t interfere with taking pictures.

The top and bottom of the polycarbonate shell is cut away so you have free access to the sleep/wake button, top microphone, and headphone jack, plus the bottom microphone, speaker, and the 30-pin connector.  I could access all of these connectors and controls easily.  You’ll notice the polycarbonate shell wraps around the corners of the iPhone for protection and a firm hold.

The case closes nice and flat with the phone and my cards inside, as you can see from the lower picture.

Here, you can see the openings for the mute/lock switch and the volume buttons.  I had no trouble using these buttons.

The leather for the Valentinus is very thin and flexible.  You can see that the front folds to the back so that you can easily hold the phone to make a call.  It feels much thicker and wider in hand than does the naked iPhone, but it’s not uncomfortable.  The problem I did have was with the closure snap.  It’s stiff enough that it curls up, as you can see in the picture.  I wear glasses all the time, and this strap kept bumping the frames of my glasses when I held it up to make a call.

I like the SGP iPhone 4 / 4S Leather Valentinus wallet case.  Although it doesn’t have a lot of stiffening in the front flap, adding the cards to the slots will stiffen it and provide screen protection for the iPhone.  It holds my Verizon iPhone 4 well, and all controls and connectors are accessible.  It’s lightweight, but it offers quite a bit of protection for the phone inside.  You can stick your driver’s license, debit/credit card, and some cash inside, and you’ll be ready to go anywhere.  It’s small enough to fit in your pocket, purse, or gear bag.  You get a lot of protection and convenience for $55.

Filed in categories: iPhone, iPad, iPod related, Reviews

Tagged: Cases and covers, iPhone 4/4S

SGP iPhone 4 / 4S Leather Wallet Case Valentinus Series Review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on January 26, 2012 at 11:00 am.

On its own, the iPhone has a great build in camera. But if you want to kick it up a notch, you should check out the iSteady Shot M-27 action camera mount. Your iPhone 4/4S snaps into a 16 oz. aircraft grade aluminum fixture that comes with a detachable 37mm wide angle/macro lens that has a 130 degree view. The M-27 features contoured hand grips and several threaded tripod mounts: two on top and three on the bottom. It also has a microphone/light mount which is built into the top center. The M-27 is made here in the US, is priced at $99.99 and is available now.

Filed in categories: iPhone, iPad, iPod related, News

Tagged: iPhone

iSteady Shot M-27 puts your iPhone’s camera on steriods originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on January 25, 2012 at 2:00 pm.

Shinnorie makes a line of gadget cases that have caught my eye before.  I’ve told you before about their customizable cases for phones, iPad, and small leather card cases.  I was selected to give a some of their cases a closer look.  I requested three cases from their Ringo series; one for the iPad, one for my phone, and one card case.  As soon as I received them, Shinnorie suspended their customization program.  I’ve kept an eye on their website since then, and I see that they are starting to offer custom cases direct to the public again.  Not all of these cases are available now, but they are beginning to offer customized cases again.  The ordering process should be the same, so I thought I’d finally post my review.

Some pictures in this review can be clicked for a larger view.

Shinnorie offered a variety of colors to choose from in the Ringo line.  Each case allows you to choose three colors that will be used for the body, flaps, straps, and handles.  I decided I wanted to have a color coordinated set of cases, so I chose blue for the body color, black for the flaps, and a mint green for the accent color.  When my cases arrived, they were completely encased in sewn bags made of heavy plastic.

My first impression was that the colors are beautiful and bright.  Not everyone will agree, but I find the color combination very pleasing.  But that’s the beauty of being able to customize your case – you can choose the colors you like.  My second impression is that the very is very soft, but it seems to be a bit thin.  The stitching is even and straight.  Some bags have color-matched threads, others have white thread.

Bear in mind, only the iPad case is still available.  There’s a new iPhone pouch that’s very similar to the Ringo iPhone pouch I reviewed.  I don’t find the wallet on their website any longer.

Ringo iPad Pouch

The Ringo iPad Pouch (not currently in stock, but still shown on their website) has a grab handle that attaches to the case with metal studs inserted through one side of the case and through holes at the ends of the strap.  The holes in the handle are very snug.  I could pull the handle off, but it would take some effort.  I think the handle will be pretty secure.  These studs do change the shape of that side of the bag, and it takes up a little bit of the room.  The bag is lined with a black velvety fabric that protects the iPad from the metal.  The back of the case is plain except for a stamped logo near the bottom.  (Note: this strap may not be available on the current model.)

The opposite side of the pouch has a leather tab with a grommet-reinforced hole that holds a keyring.  I requested the optional wrist strap for the Ringo iPad Pouch.  The wrist strap attaches to the keyring with a dog leash-style clip.  The clip, keyring, and metal studs are all silver-colored.  The wrist strap can be removed from the bag when you don’t want to use it.

The bag closes with a leather flap.  I chose black for the flap, and the snap that holds it closed is also black.  There’s a bit of reinforcement around the male portion of the snap on the case body.  This is important because the leather is a bit thin, as I mentioned earlier.

A naked iPad 2 fits easily into the pouch.  I also found that the iPad 2 with a Smart Cover also fits, but it’s a snug fit.

I really love the way the Shinnorie Ringo iPad Pouch looks.  I love that I can customize the colors to get just the look I want.  I’m not sure that the bag will last for years, because the leather is soft, but the reinforcement around the snap should prevent the snap from pulling out after the bag is opened and closed many times.

Ringo iPhone Pouch

Apparently the Ringo iPhone pouch has been replaced with the Lori medium or large pouches for smartphones.  The Lori pouches don’t have the little exterior pocket like the Ringo has.  Shinnorie is taking pre-orders for the Lori cases now, with shipping expected for February 8, 2012.  Either size Lori pouch costs $39.00.

Although I didn’t have an iPhone at the time, I requested the Ringo iPhone Pouch.  I also added a small optional pocket to the front of the case.  This Ringo Pouch is made of the same thin leather and the same black velvet lining used for the iPad case.  I requested all the same colors, and the color match between the two cases is very close.  The red patch is stamped with the Shinnorie logo and information.  The color for this patch wasn’t selectable.  The bag closes with a strap that slides under a leather strip.

The strap serves two purposes.  In addition to closing the bag, the strap is part of a sling that the phone sits in.  Pull up on the strap to raise the phone up and out of the case.  The back of the case is plain, but you can see the impression of the strap as it continues down the back side of the bag to form the sling.

The little pocket on the front of the Ringo iPhone Pouch closes with a snap, colored black to match the flap.  It’s the perfect size to hold my 6th generation iPod nano.  I always turned the screen of the nano away away from the snap to prevent possible damage when the flap is snapped.

This bag also has a leather tab with a grommet-reinforced hole to attach a keyring.  The wrist strap is permanently attached to the keyring on one end.  The other end has a dog-leash clip so you can loop the wrist strap around your purse’s strap.

I tried the Ringo case with the LG enV3 phone I had and with my 2nd generation iPod touch.  Both devices fit easily into the pouch.  When I got the iPhone 4 from Verizon, I was very pleased to see that the iPhone with a Bumper fit perfectly into the bag.  The sling worked beautifully to lift the iPhone up so I could get a good grip on the phone to pull it out of the case.  I used this Ringo pouch for weeks – until I noticed that the black velvety lining inside the case was rubbing dye onto the blue Bumper case.  This black dye wouldn’t come off the Bumper.  I wasn’t pleased that my Bumper was ruined.  I think the dye would probably have stained the light blue Smart Cover on my iPad 2 if I had used it as constantly as I used the phone case.

Ringo Leather Cardholder

I requested the Ringo Leather Cardholder in the same colors to complete my set.  I requested the same colors, but you’ll see that very little of the mint green was used on this case.  The case closes with a black strap with a color-matched snap.  The back has the red Shinnorie logo square.  The card case also has the leather tab with the grommet-reinforced hole for the keyring.  Like the iPhone pouch, the wrist strap is attached to the keyring on one end and has a dog-leash clip on the other end so you can open it and loop it around your purse strap.

There are six credit card slots inside.  Cards fit easily into each individual slot, but it gets hard to slide the cards in and out when all slots are filled.  Each card holder is open on the spine side, so you could fit more cards under there.  I think it would be difficult to snap the case closed if you put cards under there when the slots are all filled.

There’s a slot for storing bills, but there’s no place for coins in this case.

You can see that the case is bulging a bit with six cards in the slots.  There’s nothing else in the case.  I think adding much more would either mean you couldn’t close the snap, or the cards would be under a lot of pressure and could crack or be damaged.

I think the Shinnorie Ringo cases are pretty, fun “fashion” cases.  The look nice, but I don’t think they’re built for the long haul.  The iPhone Pouch and the Cardholder both start at $59.99, and the iPad Pouch is about $100.  I think they’re too expensive, but they are pretty.  The Lori sells for $39.00 in either large or medium.  The iPad Ringo case is $99.00, but is currently out of stock.

Filed in categories: iPhone, iPad, iPod related, Reviews

Tagged: Leather cases, Leather wallet

Shinnorie Custom Cases Review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on January 24, 2012 at 1:00 pm.

With forScore, you can carry a complete library of music scores with you.  You can download most any PDF into forScore and even annotate it using text boxes or add common musical notation symbols with the built-in library of stamps or your own, custom-designed stamps.  forScore has an organizational system that lets you sort your music files with six types of metadata.  There’s a metronome that marks time audibly or visually.  Auto-turn and half-turn options let you practice without pauses, and it can even work with AirTurns BT-105 Bluetooth page turner.  You can display the music vertically, or turn the iPad horizontally for a wider view (requires scrolling to see the entire page).  The iPad-only app is $4.99 in the iTunes app store.

Filed in categories: iPhone, iPad, iPod related, Musical Gear, News

Tagged: Music app

Collect, Annote, and Carry Your Music Scores in Your iPad originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on January 24, 2012 at 12:00 pm.

Power, storage and access are the holy trinity of the geek. We cannot have too much access to the Internet, too much storage (digital or physical, for our gadgets) or too many different ways to get powered up. While USB seems to be well on its way to powering everything from GPS units to phones to wrist watches, it’s still difficult to carry enough battery power around to recharge your gear if you’ve left the grid or your laptop behind. Choiix has a line of power devices that are designed to this exact market: small, light, nicely priced, and, most important, very powerful. As a test item, Coolermaster sent me the Choiix Power Fort 5600 in white, which is a rechargeable 5600 mAh brick a little smaller than a deck of cards or a pack of smokes, yet able to recharge your iPhone, iPod, Droid, GPS, flip phone, or just about anything else that you’d usually charge through your computer’s USB port. It’s even capable of charging the iPad, which takes 10 watts, rather than the usual 5 watts most standard USB ports deliver.

Tiny, but powerful, the Choiix Power Fort can fit into almost any small space in your gear bag.

On one side edge of the device is a micro-USB port, and on the opposite edge, a full USB port. The top is a glossy plastic (white or black is available) with a brushed metallic button in the center. Off to one side from this button is a band in the same brushed finish with 4 blue LEDs. All sides except the glossy top are clad with a grippy material. This is helpful if you’re fumbling around in your bag for it, because once you get into your mind where the top is, you’ll know where the power port is, even in the dark.

Full-sized USB port accepts just about anything that can be powered from USB. Note the rubbery texture of the back and sides.

Four LEDs show status when charged, or when charging.

When you press the button for a few seconds, It will display your available power. When charging (through the micro-USB port) the buttons blink as the battery fills up, with the “full” amount staying lit and the next blinking. To go from one, single blinking LED to four solid ones takes about an hour using my iPad charger. I never noticed any loss of charge unless I actually used it to charge something. This is important in this type device, because the usual use case is filling it up, tossing it into your bag or pocket, and only pulling it out if you need to charge something. If you had to continually monitor it’s power level, even if you never used it, that would seriously impact the convienence factor, or it being ready when you need it.

During testing, I invited many friends to “power up” while at lunch or out after work. I saw every phone go from being “in the red” to completely or nearly full in every case. Usual time for, say, an iPhone 4 at 20% was 40-50 minutes to get into the 80% range. That’s a nice bump when you’re facing the prospect of a long drive home and have forgotten to top-off during the day.

Take a look at the above chart I grabbed from the Choiix web page to get an idea of the extended use time this little box can deliver: 6 extra hours for a tablet, 28 more for your smartphone, and 172 more on your MP3 player. They may be a little on the high side (all those times are listed as “up to”, remember), but they are not far from reality, at least from my experience thus far.

As I’m writing this (on my iPad in Evernote), I’m in a park on a biking weekend in Savannah, GA, with my iPhone charging in my saddlebag. The iPad power adapter, iPad, iPhone, and Power Fort are all I brought with me for the 2.5 days I’ll be gone, and between wifi in the motel and cafes, and great 3G coverage on my phone, I’ve not felt cut off in the least. I’ve done other trips with similar equipment, and always felt a little fearful that I’ll not be close to power and will thus run shy somewhere. With the Power Fort, I think that’s behind me. I hope so, anyway.

So, are there any drawbacks? Maybe a few. The microUSB port that is used for charging is one of those that make it difficult to tell which way you plug it in. Over time, I’m wondering if it will become worn out from me trying to plug in, realizing that it’s at the wrong orientation, and then putting it in correctly. Once you’re in the right orientation, it fits fine, but those connectors are so easy to get wrong, I wish companies would stop supporting it. The miniUSB connector is more obviously trapezoidal, so less prone to this issue, but that’s not the fault of Choiix, except in using what I feel is a poor standard. There are worse ones on the market. (Regular USB, I’m looking at you!)

I hate these tiny micro-USB ports. They are easy to plug in wrong.

Another drawback is the lack of a clear “charging” mode. When you plug something in the full-sized USB port, you then have to hold down the button on top, next to the level LEDs, and then it will start charging your device. And it will keep on feeding power at that rate, until you either unplug it or hit the button again. It would be nice if you could plug it in and it would auto-charge until the device was full, then stop charging. On more than one occasion during initial testing, I accidentally just left it plugged in, and ran the Power Fort down, while the device had been fully charged for hours. Once you learn that it’s manual, you know to keep checking, but it’s irritating. Maybe the lack of auto detect power metering is one of the things that keeps the price reasonable.

Something I’d like to see: a ”play-through” feature, where you can power another device through the USB port while you’re charging the Power Fort. It doesn’t do it right now, but it would sure be nice to recharge both the Power Fort and your iPad or whatever at the same time. Otherwise, you have to have more than one adapter, and more than one available outlet.

All things considered, the Choiix Power Fort is much more asset than liability. At $40, it’s half the price of many of the similar devices on the market. I’ve not tested any other USB chargers, but have loads of friends and customers who have, and I’ve not heard good things from many of them. Mophie’s Juice Pack series gets good reviews for an integrated case/battery charger (I reviewed one for my iPhone 3G and loved it!), but their power units that would compare with the Power Fort are nowhere as cheap or powerful.

Included in the package is the Power Fort, a USB cable that will work for recharging, a miniUSB cable, and a velveteen drawstring bag that will hold all items. Also included is a whale of a lot of peace of mind for the roaming gadget user. Four and a half stars.

Filed in categories: Android related, iPhone, iPad, iPod related, Reviews, Tablet Computers and Gear, Travel Gear

Tagged: External battery

Choiix Power Fort 5600 Review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on January 23, 2012 at 11:00 am.