Remember back when PDAs and iPods all came with a charging and syncing dock? These days all you get is a USB charging cable. Yes, I realize that a cable will get the job done, but they certainly lack in the decor department. If you’ve been wishing for a dock that will charge your iPhone in or out of a case, while also looking quite nice, the  ElementCase Vapor Dock is an option. They recently sent me one to test and it’s time for me to share my thoughts with you on this product.

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

Some of you may already be familiar with ElementCase. They offer a range of metal iPhone cases. My guess is that they created the Vapor Dock as an accessory to their cases.

The Vapor Dock is available in Black or Silver CNC Machined aluminum. It has a smooth sanded raw feel instead of a polished feel. I prefer a polished feel… but it’s not like I’m going to be spending all day caressing an iPhone dock, so I’m just being picky and it’s not a huge deal.

I’m not a stranger to 3rd party charging docks. I’ve been using a Zdock for awhile now. It’s pictured above on the right. It’s made of Zinc and weighs in at 12.6 oz. The Vapor Dock weighs 9.0 oz. on my electronic scale.

The Vapor Dock has a chunky but minimalistic style. I appreciate the fact that it doesn’t have a gaudy logo or other flashy branding. There’s just a small stylized E for ElementCase in the lower front corner.

Here’s a side view. You’ll notice the white 30 pin cable in the large slot. The slot is sized to accommodate an uncased iPhone or an iPhone in a case. Using a set of calipers, the size of the slot is approximately 2.74 inches long by .51 inches wide.

You’re probably wondering about the purpose of the suede lined tray in the back. I am too. It’s not really large enough to be useful. It’s almost like they were considering making a double dock.

The Vapor comes with a White cable installed in the dock. If you need / want to remove the cable, you’ll need a special tool as the screws holding the cable in place are star shaped.

The Vapor Dock has a special feature that amplifies the sound from the iPhone’s speakers without requiring batteries. Air chamber cutouts in the bottom of the docking slot capture and then guide the sound from the phone’s speakers through the front of the dock. Although it won’t make your jaw drop, the dock really does amplify the sound.

The Vapor Dock looks nice and I had no problems using it to charge and sync my phone with my computer.

The only issue I had is that the dock is just not heavy enough. If you remember, at the beginning of this review, I mentioned that I’ve been using a 12.6 ounce Zdock. The Vapor is 3.6 ounces lighter. Those extra ounces are really important. With the Vapor, I can easily insert the iPhone with just one hand. But to remove it, I have to hold the base of the dock with one hand, while removing the iPhone with my other hand. If I try to remove the iPhone with just one hand, the dock will lift off my desk. I don’t have this problem with the Zdock.

Although the ElementCase Vapor Dock is a solid dock with a nice look and a sound amplification feature, I wouldn’t care to use it after having used the Zdock with its 1-hand removal. That and the fact that the Vapor costs $120 and the Zdock is only $49 keep me from fully recommending it.

Do you use a dock with your iPhone?

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

Tagged: Dock, iPhone

ElementCase Vapor Dock for iPhone Review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on April 23, 2012 at 5:57 pm.

The Devium Dash is an interesting concept in car stereos. It’s a two component system that consists of a faceplate and a body. The body (shown above in Black) is installed in your dash in the spot where your current car stereo resides. It interfaces with your vehicle’s speakers. The faceplate connects to the body with magnets. It’s designed to hold (and charge) an iPhone 4/4S. Once installed, you can use your favorite music apps, calls, GPS, etc through your car’s speakers and you won’t be required to learn a brand new interface.

It’s a cool idea, but I am skeptical about the longevity of the product. Devium claims “No matter how frequently you update phones, Dash will be there ready to support you. Our innovative interchangeable faceplate design allows you to keep your phone at the center of your car.” That remains to be seen. I don’t believe that they will create a faceplate for every phone that comes on the market. Their iPhone 4/4S version is available for pre-order at $289. I have been looking for a replacement for my Mazda’s stereo, but I don’t think this one will be it.

[Via Gear Journal]

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

Tagged: Car, iPhone

Devium Dash – Turns Your iPhone Into an In Dash Stereo originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on April 21, 2012 at 11:00 am.

Protecting your iPhone’s display from scratches is important to a lot of people. As a result, there are a wide variety of screen protector brands on the market. I’ve personally avoided applying screen protectors to my own iPhone 4s mainly because I tend to have problems lining them up perfectly. I bet a lot of people want to protect their screen, but fail to do so because they figure they will waste their purchase on a bad install. That must be why we’re seeing a few new screen protectors popping up on the market that claim to give you a perfect install every time. A couple months ago I reviewed the PureGear protector and found their unique install method to be a great idea. ScreenPro is a new player on the scene that looks to offer an even better way to install a screen protector on your iPhone 4s.

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

My iPhone 4s has had the PureGear protector installed since the beginning of February. At first I really liked it, but as the weeks, months have gone by, I’ve become a little less enamored by it for a couple of reasons. The main reason is that it has a rubbery soft texture that makes it almost impossible to use with a stylus. That means it’s tough to do drawings when playing Draw Something. It also means that over time I’ve started noticing a slight orange peel type effect. I’m not sure you can see what I mean by clicking on the image above, but if you look at the edge where the the shadow falls across the screen, you’ll notice what looks like pitting in the protector. This effect doesn’t hinder what you can see on the screen or the sensitivity of the capacitive screen. It just looks crummy. This protector also gets smeared and streaked easily.

When I found the ScreenPro protectors in my mailbox, I wasn’t all that excited till I looked at the packaging a little closer and saw that they claim a perfect fit every time. Cool… So I peeled off the PureGear and opened the ScreenPro package.

ScreenPro offers 3 different iPhone 4s protectors: Clear, Anti-glare and Privacy. I opted to try the Anti-glare version first. Inside each package is an instruction sheet, polishing cloth and 1 screen protector.

The screen protector is “glued” into a special plastic tray that has been designed especially for the iPhone 4s.

Installation is very easy. First make sure your iPhone’s screen is clean and dust free (easier said than done…). Then peel off the top layer of film from the protector.

Then the iPhone is snapped into the tray face down after making sure you have the iPhone oriented correctly first of course.

Then all you have to do is flip the tray over and pop it off.

Some little dabs of sticky goo glue can be peeled off and then using the polishing cloth, you can squeegee out the bubbles.

Unfortunately, two bubbles with a tiny dust particle in the center remained after I rubbed and buffed for several minutes. Darn dust!

Pulling off the remaining film reveals the screen protector. As you can see in addition to the 2 bubbles, I also have a problem with the bottom edge not sticking. Not sure why that is, but no matter how much rubbing I did, I could not get it to stick. I was able to get rid of the one main bubble by sticking a piece of tape on the lower edge, lifting up the protector and then using a 2nd piece of tape to “grab” the piece of dust on the underside of the protector and then smoothing it back down. I had to do this 3 times as each time I lifted the protector, I would introduce more dust particles. Argh…

This Anti-glare protector has a nice matte finish that is visible and tactile. I’m happy to report that you can use a stylus with this protector with no trouble. It does make the gorgeous retina display look a little grainy though. And as far as I can tell, it really doesn’t help that much with direct sunlight.

I think the ScreenPro protector (so far) is a definite improvement over the PureGear. It’s quicker and easier to install and the protector itself is thinner and less rubbery feeling. I’ll try the Privacy and Clear versions in a few weeks after I get a chance to really use this Anti-glare version. Even though it’s early, I am going to recommend ScreenPro for ease of install and stylus compatibility.

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

Tagged: iPhone, Screen Protector

ScreenPro iPhone 4s Screen Protector Review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on April 16, 2012 at 4:18 pm.

The LIL KIKR is an anodised aluminum charging dock that also boosts the sound of your iPhone or iPod’s speakers by 10db without requiring power to do so. It’s been designed to work with the iPod nano 3g, iPod 6g, iPod touch, iPhone 3/3G and iPhone 4/4S. LIL KIKR is a Kickstarter funded project and they are offering two different models – LIL KIKR and LIL KIKR+. LIL KIKR is designed specifically for the iPhone 4/4S without a case. LIL KIKR+ is a more versatile dock that fits the latest generation iPod or iPhone with or without a case. LIL KIKR and LIL KIKR+ are available in 3 sleek anodized colors – red, black or silver. A $50 contribution will entitle you to one LIL KIKR or LIL KIKR+ in any color.

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

Tagged: Dock, iPhone

LIL KIKR Charges and Amplifies your iPhone’s Audio originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on April 11, 2012 at 2:00 pm.

The Madison iPhone 4S/4 Wallet from Landmarks & Lions is a nautical themed holder for your phone, with slots for credit cards and cash. It’s made in the US and is constructed of calf skin leather and canvas, with your choice of 2 leather colors and 3 interior colors. You can order this wallet now for $75.00

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

Tagged: iPhone, Wallet

Landmarks & Lions Offers a Wallet for your iPhone originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on April 9, 2012 at 12:00 pm.

With the way that everyone (including myself) gushes over the iPhone’s camera, you’d think it was a DSLR or something. Well now it can be… sorta/kinda. The TurtleJacket (unfortunate name…) is a 2 piece aluminum jacket/case that accommodates an iPhone 4S/4 and features 2 tripod mounts, 2 strap holes and a 37mm thread (female) for conversion lenses. For $126 you get the jacket, a UV Filter and 37mm Wide-angle Lens. If you really want to go nuts, you can opt for their DOF adapters that allow you to attach Nikon and Canon lenses to your iPhone. The adapters start at $178, but you can buy the TurtleJacket with the adapter for as low as $255. Can you imagine taking a call with a 4 inch lens sticking out of the back of your phone?

Filed in categories: Digital Cameras and Gear, iPhone, iPad, iPod related, News

Tagged: Camera, iPhone

TurtleJacket Turns Your iPhone Into a DSLR (Kinda) originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on April 2, 2012 at 9:00 am.

We’ve all seen eleventy bazillion stick-on skins for the iPhone. Ho Hum right? Well how about replacing the entire back glass of your iPhone 4S/4 with a custom image printed under glass. Back 2 Cover offers a variety of designs to choose from. But if you really want to be fancy, you can use your own image. Custom images will set you back 39,90 € ($53.13), while existing styles are priced at 29,90 € ($39.81). The replacement kit comes with a special screw driver and instructions. By the looks of the demo video on their site, the whole process takes less than 5 minutes.

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

Tagged: iPhone

Back 2 Cover – Custom Back Glass for your iPhone originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on March 30, 2012 at 2:00 pm.

Poddities are metal clips for your iPhone 4/4S that you can screw directly into the bottom of the phone. One clip offers an attachment point for hand straps, while the other one functions as a money clip. Both Poddities attach to the bottom of the iPhone by removing the existing screws on either side of the docking connector. A special screw driver is included with each clip and once installed, you can still plug in the charge/sync cable. Poddities can be purchased from Strapya World and are priced a $18.50 for the hand strap clip and $32.80 for the money clip.

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

Tagged: iPhone

Poddities – Hardware for your iPhone originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on March 28, 2012 at 1:00 pm.

Ok, this is just too cool… The Galileo is an iOS-controlled Robotic iPhone Holder designed by the same guys that designed the Joby and the Gorillapod line of tripods. The Galileo holds your iPhone or iPod touch and can pan and tilt 360 degrees with a swipe your finger on a remote iOS device. This device would make a great surveillance tool, video conferencing tool or video capturing tool. It features a standard tripod mount and a USB rechargeable lithium polymer battery. The Galileo also charges your device while it’s plugged into USB. This is a new project on Kickstarter that just got started. Although compatibility with existing iOS camera and video apps is unclear, they will be offering an SDK for app developers. I’ve already pledged my $85 so I’ll be sure to get one of the first available devices. It will have a MSRP of $129.95 once the project is funded.

Filed in categories: Digital Cameras and Gear, iPhone, iPad, iPod related, News

Tagged: iPhone, Photography

Galileo iOS-controlled Robotic iPhone Holder originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on March 22, 2012 at 12:00 pm.

If charging your iPhone or iPod touch by plugging the cable into the docking port is just too generic for you, check out this uber cool dock from Element Case. The Vapor Dock is made in the USA of CNC machined aluminum and is available with a Silver or Black satin finish. Your iPhone or touch will fit in the dock even if you’re using a case (most cases). A USB cable is included with the dock which also offers air tuned chambers that amplify the sound coming from your device’s speakers while it’s docked. The Vapor Dock is available now for $119.99.

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

Tagged: Dock, iPhone, iPod

Element Case Vapor Dock Charges your iPhone and Amplifies Sound originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on March 15, 2012 at 4:49 pm.

Does anyone remember the Apple Newton? It was arguably the first handheld mobile device and it was way ahead of its time. However, it had so many issues, it ultimately failed in the marketplace. Well, I remember the Newton. I owned four of them and I loved them all. Now, if you are wondering what my love of a failed Apple device has to do with a boombox, let me explain. The Newton had this thin, grippy, rubberized coating that made it look and feel different and cool. The new iHome IP4 Boombox has that same (or similar) coating giving it a feel like no other boombox out there. Not only that, but no boombox looks like it either. Let me stress that. The iHome IP4 is so unique looking, it will either be love or hate at first sight. There is no middle ground.

I loved the looks immediately. However, other people I have shown it to have had quite the opposite reaction. The IP4 sports a totally monochromatic look. In photos, it almost seems to be made of painted cardboard. Whether it’s gray or pink (yes, pink), every part is exactly the same shade of color.

It’s a rather large boombox. It’s not as big or heavy as the visually-challenged Altec Lansing MIX IMT800 nor does it have the audio power of that monster, but it is $100 cheaper.

The IP4 comes with a magnetic remote control that fits loosely in a slot at the top of the unit. This remote has the usual functions: play/pause, skip, mode and volume. A large handle that’s the length of the boombox (18 inches) makes it easy to carry from room to room. It’s a hefty unit at 7.5 lbs. and that’s without the 6 D batteries needed to make it truly portable. An included, wide strap helps offset the load when it becomes too heavy. There is a universal 100-240 volt AC adaptor for use in just about any country when an outlet is handy. Note that the IP4 must be plugged into an outlet if you want to charge any iPhone or iPod through the dock.

iHome has included an FM radio with the IP4, although I’m not sure why they bothered. Even though an antenna wire is included, reception isn’t that great and FM audio is nothing to brag about anyway. With terrific radio apps for the iPhone/iPod Touch like Spotify or Pandora readily available, who needs FM anymore? I can listen to just about any station on the planet using other, countless iPhone apps. Also, the FM tuner is manual only. There are no memory-setting buttons.

An AUX-in jack allows connection to an additional audio source that doesn’t use the Apple dock. The IP4 is equipped with a class “D” amplifier (power efficiency with lower heat) which powers two 4” woofers and two 1” tweeters. This means that the IP4 can fill a room with sufficient volume.

While the woofers are decent, I would have preferred a bit more oomph. Bass is good, but it’s a bit weak for a unit of this size. I suspect the main reason for this is that the IP4 is only 5 inches thick. However, the audio quality is clear and accurate. It has a pleasing sound that holds up at higher volumes – as long as you don’t crank it up to absolute maximum. Maxing out the volume can introduce unpleasant harshness. An included 5-band graphic equalizer helps sculpt the sound to personal tastes, although I prefer leaving equalizers off or on a flat setting.

Just about any iPod will work with the IP4. However some iPods are not compatible, so check iHome’s website before you buy. One neat feature is the dock pivots out which makes it very easy to connect and disconnect your iPod/iPhone. It also puts much less strain on the fragile pins in the docking port.

One of the nicer features of the IP4 boombox is the addition of SRS Trubass digital signal processing. I have issues with some of SRS’s audio improvement claims, but on the IP4, it works beautifully. While it does make up for some of the inherently weak bass in the unit, the advertised bass improvement wasn’t enough to justify itself, even if they do call it Trubass. Where SRS really shines is in the soundstage. You think the music sounds OK with SRS off… until you turn SRS on. Then, everything just opens up. The room automatically feels bigger. Turn SRS back off and the audio just sounds dead by comparison. Since I first tried this test, SRS has remained on. The difference is that pronounced. The IP4 and SRS were made for each other.

Some music genres fare better than others. I was put off by classical music on the IP4, but hey, I can’t envision any Beethoven fan listening to one anyway. Rock, on the other hand, is what the IP4 was made for. I was having fun with one of Steve Miller’s older recordings, “Song for Our Ancestors.” This instrumental has various fog horns, sonar beeps, organ music and other musical bits mixed in a sound effects stew that sounds potent on the IP4. Again, I credit SRS digital signal processing for this song’s convincing stereo separation despite the close proximity of the speakers.

I then tried an 80s song from Simple Minds (no, not that one). “Love Song” from the underrated album, “Sons and Fascination” has some kick thanks to upfront drumming in the (now) retro dance mix. Jim Kerr’s vocals over synth percussion and keyboards comes through clean and clear. On many songs, vocals are forward and intimate sounding with the IP4.

The dirtiness of Keith Richard’s guitar in the classic “It’s Only Rock ‘N Roll (But I Like It)” sounds gritty, muddled, and a total mess – exactly as it was intended to sound.

The IP4 can rock out a bedroom or small living room with no problem. It’s no Bowers & Wilkins Zeppelin, but it was never meant to be. What the IP4 is, is a reasonably priced, impossibly retro-looking portable throwback to the glory days of street boom boxes. It has just enough high-tech goodies – and that wonderfully rubberized coating – to appeal to a brand new audience with their iPods, iPhones and other gadgets. Even though it lacks both Bluetooth and Apple’s AirPlay for wireless playing, so what? I’ve got my IP4 loaded with batteries, the neighborhood’s jumpin’ and there’s dancin’ in the street.

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

Tagged: boombox, iPhone

iHome iP4 Portable FM Stereo Boombox Review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on March 2, 2012 at 11:18 am.

A few weeks ago, I reviewed the GoPano micro panorama lens attachment for the iPhone 4/4S. This adapter allows you to easily capture 360 degree video and sound. I loved the concept of the product, but the resulting video was less than impressive due to focus issues. Techguy commented on that review suggesting that I might want to take a look at the Kogeto Dot. His wish was my command, so here we go…

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

Included in the Package

Kogeto Dot
Drawstring storage bag

Unlike the GoPano micro which consists of a case and the lens attachment, the Kogeto Dot combines the adapter and the “case” into one piece.

The Dot is available in several colors. I was sent the Black version.

Installing the adapter is very easy. It just snaps on the back of the iPhone 4/4S.

The panoramic lens adapter is positioned over the actual lens on the back of the iPhone.

The Dot has a circular mirror that allows for 360 degree video capture. A clear plastic cover protects the lens from dust and fingerprints.

To start capturing video you have to install the free Looker app from the app store. When you first launch that app, you are presented a calibration screen. To calibrate the lens, you just have to drag the donut shape so it is centered over the center circle.

Then you’re ready to start recording 360 degree video. The recording interface is very simple. It consists of a record button and that’s about it. The lock button takes you back to the calibration screen.

Buttons at the bottom of the display will let you see your recordings and other featured dotspots from other Kogeto owners.

After testing the Dot for a few days, I ran into 3 problems which I’ll talk about in reverse order of annoyance. First of all you should be aware that there is an 8 minute recording limit for your videos. This may or may not be a big deal to most people.

The second biggest problem that I have with the Kogeto is that you can’t see what you’re filming as you’re filming it. Unlike the GoPano, which allows you to use the display as a viewfinder, you have to hold the Dot as show above. This means that you won’t know exactly what is being captured at any given time. Another problem with holding the camera this way is that your recordings will also capture you flipping the camera/phone over as you first start the video and then stop the video. The FAQ on the the Kogeto site goes into some details about how you can export your video to your computer so that you can edit it to remove the start and ending parts. Of course this isn’t very convenient…

The biggest issue that I see with the Kogeto Dot isn’t the way you have to hold it though. The main problem in my opinion is that the clear plastic cover causes glare, flares and reflections that are captured in your videos. I had this distracting problem with video that I captured indoors from overhead lights and also outdoors in sunlight. But don’t just take my word for it, take a look at these two samples I captured. And don’t forget to use your mouse to pan 360 degrees.

Kogeto Dot Video Samples

Walking down Main Street in Nashville, Indiana.

You’ll notice right away that there are reflections at the top of the video and some glare in the center.

Touring the Rock Shop on Main Street in Nashville, Indiana.

More glare is noticed from the overhead lights…

Another problem I had a few times was with focusing. I realize that these adapters are not capable of super sharp video. But sometimes my video would be completely out of focus and I would have to record again.

That same day I brought my GoPano with me and captured the same video to use as for comparison.

GoPano Video Samples

Walking down Main Street in Nashville, Indiana.

Touring the Rock Shop on Main Street in Nashville, Indiana.

The GoPano and the Kogeto Dot are far from perfect and I realize they are for novelty purposes only. That said, I like the Kogeto Dot better than the GoPano because it usually captures video that is in sharper focus. But, I like the GoPano better than the Dot because the GoPano doesn’t have as much trouble with reflections and glare. I also like the GoPano player on the iPhone which will let you pan your phone left or right to spin the image instead of using your finger to swipe the display. Both adapters are within $1 of each other, so if you’re trying to choose one based on price, that isn’t going to help you.

So it’s a toss up as to which one to buy if you’ve decided you need one of these gadgets. Either way, these videos are a conversation starter and the adapter is something fun to keep at the bottom of your gear bag for the next time you’re standing on top of Mt. Everest or some other epic location that would greatly benefit from a 360 degree video.

Filed in categories: Digital Cameras and Gear, iPhone, iPad, iPod related, Reviews

Tagged: iPhone, Panorama, Photography

Kogeto Dot Panorama iPhone 4/4S Camera Adapter Review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on February 29, 2012 at 2:00 pm.

Ever wished you had more battery life in your devices when you’re away from any electical outlets?  That’s where Spigen’s Kuel F60Q portable mobile battery comes in.  It works just like any other portable mobile battery pack, except that the Kuel packs a 6000 mAh lithium ion battery which outputs at 5V at 2 Amps.  The 2 Amps means that you will be able to charge an iPad or even charge the iPhone faster.  But of course the Kuel can charge other USB devices.  The only downside to all this power would be the high price of $124.99, direct from Spigen.

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

Tagged: Battery extender, iPhone

Need more power? Try the Kuel F60Q by Spigen originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on February 26, 2012 at 10:00 am.

Sometimes when I’m being nostalgic and remembering how much I loved the Palm Treo smartphone, I start wishing my iPhone had a physical keyboard. Real keys beat touchscreen keyboard keys any day right? I decided to find out by trying the iPhone 4/4S Sliding Bluetooth Keyboard Case and Stand Combo from CELLMACS, which adds a slide out keyboard to your iPhone.

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

The keyboard case is comprised of two parts. The top part is a snap on plastic case that is made specifically for the iPhone 4 or 4S.

It provides a cutout for the camera lens and LED flash.

It also allows access to the mute and volume buttons.

The speakers and docking port are easily accessible. You’ll also notice a 2nd docking port connector and a power switch on the lower half of the keyboard case. This is how you charge the keyboard. Since it’s Bluetooth and does not have a physical connection to the iPhone, it requires its own battery. You can you use your iPhone cables to charge this keyboard.

When the keyboard is charging, the status LED will light up in Red and will turn off when charging is completed. Next to the LED is a small button that is used to initiate pairing mode.

To use the keyboard, you slide the power switch to the On position, pair it with the iPhone and then slide out the keyboard. It has a nice spring loaded sliding mechanism that feels sturdy.

The QWERTY keyboard is flat, but the keys have good physical and audible feedback when pressed.

The keys are are also backlit, which is a nice feature.

The layout is ok. It’s obviously not a full sized keyboard that you can touch type on, so it’s hard to criticize it for being small. I do like that there’s a row of dedicated number keys and that access to punctuation symbols isn’t too difficult. What I don’t particularly like is the location of the space bar. I’d rather it was in the bottom center instead of off to the right.

The only iOS specific key is a home button in the upper left corner.

A feature which adds a little pizzaz to this case is the fact that keyboard case doubles as a stand. It is on a hinge that you can tilt up to make your iPhone look like a tiny laptop.

You can angle the iPhone like you see above or lift it all the way to 90 degrees.

I like the stand feature, but the keyboard, not so much. I’ve been using it off and on for a week or so and my nostalgic feelings for a physical keyboard wore off really quickly. For me, it felt harder to use this physical keyboard than the onscreen version. There are three main reasons, why I would not personally use this product. First of all, it’s too bulky for my taste. It doubles the thickness of the iPhone. Secondly, double tapping the space bar does not automatically insert a period and then auto capitalize the next word like when you use the onscreen keyboard. And lastly, words do not auto correct when spelled incorrectly. These last two complaints are probably not the fault of this particular keyboard. It’s been awhile since I’ve used one, but I’m guessing all Bluetooth keyboards perform the same. Someone correct me if I’m wrong. Regardless, it still annoys me. I never really hated the iPhone’s onscreen keyboard in the first place, but now I appreciate it even more than I did before. That said, I still wouldn’t mind having the ability to switch the onscreen keyboard with Swype or Swiftkey replacements. Oh yeah, that’s only for Android. Drats

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

Tagged: Bluetooth Gear, iPhone, Keyboard

CELLMACS iPhone 4/4S Sliding Bluetooth Keyboard Case and Stand Combo Review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on February 20, 2012 at 11:00 am.

The WipeCoin case is a specially designed iPhone 4/4S case with a built in cleaning disk that can be used to clean the gunk off your phone’s display. The coin stores in the lower right corner of the case, but when you need to use it, it slides out so that you can rub the antimicrobial microfiber cloth attached to the bottom of disk all over the display. When you’re done, snap it back in place. The WipeCoin is made in Germany and sells for $19.99. I think I’ll save 20 bucks and stick with my tried and true cleaning method – rubbing it on my pants leg.

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

Tagged: iPhone

Your iPhone is Nasty, Clean it with a Coin. Do What? originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on February 11, 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.

The iPhone continues to be my favorite smartphone almost entirely due to the fact that I love the built in 8MP camera and all the photography apps devoted to it. But it isn’t just the apps that keep me interested, it’s also the camera accessories created specifically for the iPhone. We’ve reviewed a few of those accessories like the Pixeet Panorama Lens, which is an attachment that enables you to capture 180 and 360 degree panoramic images. I had fun with that product, but I have something even more interesting to show you. It’s the GoPano micro. It also allows you to capture panoramas with your iPhone. But instead of static images, it captures video and audio in 360 degrees. Let’s take it for a spin (sorry, couldn’t resist…).

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

Package Contents

GoPano micro panoramic lens attachment
iPhone 4/4S case
Draw string pouch

The GoPano micro kit comes with an iPhone 4/4S case that must be used to attach the lens. This is a 2 piece slide on case that snaps together like a puzzle.

The GoPano attachment is designed to fit into the case opening for the lens.

The attachment is made of plastic.

It’s designed like a periscope with a funnel shaped mirror at the top and another smaller mirror at the bottom near the attachment point.

You just press the GoPano into the opening in the included case. It’s held there with friction. If you click the image above, you’ll notice that there is extra space around the GoPano. At first I thought the design was flawed, but then I realized that it’s made this way so that you can still use your iPhone’s LED flash when you’re not using the GoPano micro.

Here we see the iPhone 4S and GoPano micro connected and ready to go. I would have to advise NOT using the GoPano if you are going to be in an environment where you could be bumped or are moving around quite a bit. I say this because the lens is only attached by friction and can easily be knocked off if bumped. I’d like to see a better method of attaching the lens to the phone so you could use it in more active / extreme ways.

Unlike with the Pixeet lens, the GoPano does not require you to snap a picture, rotate the camera, snap another picture, rotate, snap, etc in order to capture a 360 degree image.

Its funnel shape can capture video in 360 degrees all at once.

The iPhone’s built in camera application can’t be used with the GoPano. It requires a special free GoPano app which is registered with a code included in the package. The application is very easy to use and allows you to view videos uploaded by other GoPano owners as well as record your own.

The video recording interface has 3 buttons. Done, Record and Calibrate. Done takes you back to the main menu, Record starts video capture and Calibrate  brings up the focus screen. The focus screen is used to make sure the image is as sharp as possible. Unfortunately focus is the biggest problem with the GoPano. But more about that in a minute… The image that you see above on the right is actually the image that the GoPano captures. The software will then turn that image into a more traditional looking flat version.

Once you’ve recorded a video, it can be uploaded to the GoPano website, saved to your iPhone’s camera roll or shared to iTunes file sharing which means it will sync to iTunes and will be available on your desktop/laptop for easy access.

Here are a couple example videos that I captured. You can use your mouse or the arrow keys on your keyboard to rotate the video. Give it a try.

Walking by the Bartholomew County Courthouse in Columbus, IN. It was a cold day, hence my fuzzy hat

Another walk by the Bartholomew County Courthouse in Columbus, IN. I wasn’t in a bad mood while filming this… the sun was in my eyes.

A walk around the Commons Mall in Columbus, IN.

As I had mentioned above, you can export your videos to your iPhone’s camera roll. From there you can email them to your friends. They will be saved as a .MOV (Quicktime) file, and won’t allow for mouse or keyboard panning, but they are still kind of cool because it’s the whole 360 degrees in one long strip. Here’s my walk around the Commons Mall video in .MOV flat format.

I’m sure you’ve noticed an issue with all these videos – they are not in focus. That’s the biggest problem with the GoPano. No matter how many times you use the calibrate feature, the resulting videos are always blurry. My guess is that the process to convert the donut shaped image into a flat image somehow degrades the focus. The picture can also look a bit stretched or warped and isn’t very flattering for the person doing the filming. When I first watched the videos I had captured and panned around to see myself, I was like “yikes!” It’s a shame about the focus, but the coolness factor of being able to make a 360 video that you can manually spin around kind of makes up for the blur. That said, I do wish it was in better focus. Even with its faults, the GoPano micro panorama lens attachment is fun and easy to use.  It is just one more reason why I love the iPhone.

Update: The folks at GoPano explain the focus issue:

The focus issue you mentioned in the article, is not actually a focus problem- it’s because of the lack of usable resolution. Due to the circular nature of video capture, the app discards a major chunk of the image sensor, the app then slices the donut and then wraps it around you. Read more about the tech here: http://goo.gl/S5xX7 (You would notice the videos look perfectly in focus in flat mode, as you see the entire resolution at once). The better the resolution of the base camera the better the final resolution of your 360 videos.

Good news:
- The resolution with the iPhone4S is much better than what you get with iPhone4. The better the resolution gets the better resolution you get on your 360° videos.
- We wish apple gave us the choice of selecting the shape and size on its image sensor – we try to fit the circular mirror in the rectangular image sensor, if we had the choice of chooseing say a square sensor- the resolution increase would have be phenomenally better!

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

Tagged: iPhone, Photography

GoPano micro Review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on January 20, 2012 at 11:00 am.

As headphones become more popular as an audio accessory and fashion statement, some companies have been able to adapt to this evolving market better than others. Some lean more towards the design while others cater to the audiophile crowd. V-Moda has tried to have it both ways. With the over-ear (circumaural) Crossfade LP, they succeeded in pleasing both groups. However, many people prefer a smaller, on-ear (supra-aural) headphone design. V-Moda could have just made smaller Crossfades – and the Crossfade M-80s do look like that – but V-Moda went farther. Here’s a spoiler for you: The new – and smaller – M-80 headphones are better in almost every way.

The whole package feels well made. According to V-Moda, much of the headphone is made to military specs with kevlar wrapped one-button (universal) or 3-button (Apple only) cables and a reinforced steel headband wrapped in microfiber faux-suede. The M-80s can be bent and twisted severely with no lasting effects. They are made to take a lot of punishment.

The original Crossfade LPs are more comfortable than these newer Crossfade M-80s over extended periods, which I think is more the result of the over-ear design as opposed to on-ear. The M-80′s pads are made of memory foam which are good at forming to the shape of your ears. However, on my head, they begin to feel tight after about 3 hours. I know many people don’t wear headphones for that long in one sitting, but I do, so if there are any comfort issues, I feel them. That’s not to say that the M-80s are uncomfortable. As long as the listening times are kept below a few hours, they feel just fine. I also had to extend the earpieces as far as I could to get a proper fit. This has been an issue for me with other brands, as well. If my head size was any larger, then the M-80s wouldn’t fit.

The exoskeleton case is looks practically indestructible, and it is tough. Short of stomping on it, this case will protect the M-80s from just about any mishap. It comes with a carabiner, so you can easily hook it up to a backpack without it taking up interior space.

While there are similarities between the Crossfade LPs and the M-80s, that similarity ends once you hear them. The thing that separates the two more than anything is plain ole’ bass. The Crossfade LPs have more of it. They aren’t bass monsters (pun intended) like the Beats headphones, but bass is more prominent then with the M-80s. In some instances – like Joan Jett’s “I Love Rock and Roll” – the highs become overpowered by the bass on the LPs. There’s a better balance among the frequencies with the M-80s. I also noticed that the volume needed to be turned up a bit on the M-80s to equal the loudness of the LPs.

The high definition version of Stan Getz and Joao Gilberto’s classic “The Girl From Ipanema” has a fantastic soundstage which the M-80s exploit. It’s easy to imagine the placement of each instrument as you listen to the swish of the drum brushes complimented by Getz’s smokey saxophone. The nightclub feel of the song is palpable. Part of the reason for this is what V-Moda calls Bliss Noise Isolation. It uses ports and sound channeling to give a more open soundstage similar to what open-back headphones give but still allowing the almost total isolation of a closed-back headphone design. While I prefer the wide soundstage of genuine open-backed headphones, the M-80s come quite close.

The excessively bright vocals on John Lennon’s “Give Peace a Chance” border on harsh with the M-80s. That can be an issue with some older recordings as they generally are recorded with lighter bass than a modern mix would be. That’s not always the case though because the song, “Operator,” from Manhattan Transfer’s 1975 debut album, has a perfect balance of Alan Paul’s slightly reverbed lead vocals over backup harmonies from the other three members. This kind of song allows the M-80s to shine. All of the audio detail in this song is extracted for maximum effect.

The Crossfade M-80 headphones are an evolution of the Crossfade LPs. If you have the LPs and are happy with them, then save your money. However, I would recommend the M-80s over the LPs if you own neither. The M-80s superior accuracy is hard to ignore. If you are still trying to decide between cheaper headphones or spending a little more, here’s a clue: When you listen to good headphones, you don’t have that desire to turn them up in order to get as much out of them as possible. Good headphones are able to bring out all that aural goodness without resorting to harmful volume. That’s the tragedy of cheap headphones and earphones; that inherent need to use volume to mask deficiencies. Over time, it can cause real damage to hearing. It’s something to consider.

The Crossfade M-80s are not cheap, but given how good they sound and how tough they are made, they look like a bargain.

V-Moda sells the True Blood V-80 headphones which are themed after the HBO vampire show, “True Blood.” With the exception of a different color scheme and a blood-vial styled zipper pull, the V-80 and M-80 headphones are identical.

V-Moda also offers customized headphone shields – those metal plates covering the headphone ear-cup. For a little more money, you can pick a different headphone shield color or upload your own design for a customized look.

Filed in categories: Audio, Video, TV Gear, Reviews

Tagged: Audio, Crossfades, Headphones, iPhone, iPod, Kevlar, M-80, MP3, V-Moda

V-Moda Crossfade M-80 Headphones Review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on January 7, 2012 at 11:00 am.

MultiFrame from Apalon is an easy to use iOS app, which will allow you to create photo collages with 2-4 images. It offers a variety of layouts and frame styles. Let’s take a look.

Note: The images in this review can be clicked to see larger view.

MultiFrame offers 19 different frame choices that have been arranged for 2-4 images. After you make your choice of frame, then you can add your images to each pane in that frame. The individual images can be moved around inside each pane by sliding them around with your finger or stylus.

The whole frame style can be changed from square, landscape or portrait and there are 6 types of frame backgrounds to choose from.

The individual images in the frame can be customized by rotating, converting them to black and white, sepia or cross process, which is like an over processed HDR type look.

Once you have finished creating your multiframe image, you have the option to save it to the photo album or send it via email, Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr or Flickr.

Here’s a sample multiframe that I created.

Using MultiFrame is quick and painless. I wouldn’t offer any complaints about this app if it were free. But since it costs $0.99, I have to tell you that there is a better alternative for the same price. PicFrame from Active Development offers more customization options. It has 34 frames that can be adjusted for both width and corner rounding. It also has many frame patterns and colors, as well as more styles that can be applied to each image in the frame. Your completed image can then be opened in Instagram and other image apps that you might have installed on your device such as Evernote.

Hopefully MultiFrame will get more features as newer versions come out. But as it is now, I would look for better alternatives like PicFrame in the app store.

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

Tagged: App, iOS, iPad, iPhone, Photography

MultiFrame iOS Photo Collage App originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on December 22, 2011 at 3:23 pm.

Have an iPhone 4S (or iPhone 4) and want to protect that delicate back glass when you lay it on the table?  Many people usually use a variation of Zagg’s InvisibleShield or Skin for their iPhone.  But I would also like something more durable and luxury looking.  That’s where Luxe Plates come in.  Luxe Plates are stainless steel stick-on covers that protect the back of your iPhone.  These Luxe Plates are all precision etched with art from premium artists or you can design your own art for them to etch.  The great thing about Luxe Plates is that you can feel the texture and grooves of the etches.  It costs only $26.95 direct from Luxe Plates.

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

Tagged: Cover, iPhone, protection

Give your iPhone 4S a stainless steel backing with Luxe Plates originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on December 1, 2011 at 9:05 am.

When I find something that I like, I tend to use it for a long time. Six years ago I had the opportunity to review a wallet from Waterfield and I’ve been using that the same wallet ever since. I’ve had the habit of zipping my iPhone inside it for carry convenience. Waterfield must have spy cams following me because they had the same idea, only better. They’ve created the iPhone Wallet which has a special see through area that will hold your phone and still allows access to the display. Let’s take a look.

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

The design of the iPhone Wallet is very similar to Waterfield’s original wallet. The biggest change is the see through window on one side that is made of a clear vinyl material.

The iPhone wallet is available in Black or Brown. I was sent the Brown version and I love it. It’s the type of leather that only looks better as it’s used and collects scuffs and scratches.

The contents of the wallet are kept protected by a sturdy locking zipper. I can confirm that the zippers used in Waterfield’s products are top quality. I’ve never had one break or otherwise fail to function properly.

As you can see, the stitching is evenly spaced and blends in with the color of the leather.

The interior of the wallet has 2 canvas card slots sewn into the right side (as pictured above). The back slot can hold a quite a few cards. I have been carrying 8 plastic credit cards and 8 business cards with some room to spare. The front card slot is a bit tighter and is best used for 2 or 3 most used cards.

I keep my folded dollars in front of the card slots, but behind the ultrasuede divider.

Your iPhone 3GS, 4 or 4S with or without a bumper case can then be placed in front of the rigid divider. The ultrasuede protects your phone from scratches and separates it from the rest of the items in your wallet.

Then all you have to do is zip the whole thing up and you’re ready to go. You will be able to see and interact with your phone through the plastic window. I was really surprised that my taps and swipes work through a layer of plastic, but they do. You can even send text messages, answer calls, listen to voicemails and give Siri commands while the phone is zipped up in the wallet. Nice!

The plastic window is holding up just fine after being stowed and unstowed in jacket pockets and gear bags. I was a little worried that it would scratch easily but so far it seems fine.

I’ve been using this wallet for a couple of weeks and don’t have any complaints. Granted, with your phone in this wallet, it is kind of bulky. But the convenience of being able to carry one item in your hand or jacket pocket instead of two makes the extra bulk worth it in my opinion. I think Waterfield has another winning product, which I’ll be using for years to come.

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

Tagged: iPhone, Wallet

Waterfield iPhone Wallet Review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on November 28, 2011 at 4:00 pm.

If you store your music on an iPhone or iPod and also enjoy internet radio, the PURE Contour is a one of the nicer speaker systems that I’ve had the opportunity to review. It offers a dock for playing the music on an iPhone/iPod while also charging its batteries, Internet streaming radio, FM radio and network streaming audio. This is all contained in an attractive compact package. Let’s take a closer look.

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

Hardware Specs

LCD display: 128 x 64 pixel graphical LCD auto-dimming display, large clock and feature icons, light sensor.
Wireless: 802.11b and 802.11g supported with WEP and WPA/WPA2 encryption.
Ethernet: Requires PURE Choice Mini USB Ethernet adapter, available separately.
Speakers: 2 full-range 3 1/2” drive units.
Audio output: 2 x 18W @ Input connectors: 20V DC power adapter socket. iPod/iPhone connector with adapters. 3.5mm Aux-in for auxiliary devices. USB (mini-B type) for product upgrades and Ethernet adapter. (Software upgrades also available over Wi-Fi).
Output connectors: 3.5mm stereo output for headphones.
Composite video out: Composite RCA.
Component video out: 3.5mm 4-pole TRRS connector* (PURE Choice cable available separately).
S-Video out*: 3.5mm 4-pole TRRS connector* (PURE Choice cable available separately).
Remote control: Infrared remote control. 2 x AAA (LR03) batteries included.
Mains power supply: 100-240V, 50/60Hz 20V DC 2.25A external power adapter.
Dimensions (inches): 14.6 wide x 9 high x 6.9 deep.
Weight: 6.39 pounds

Package Contents

Contour speaker
Dock adapters
Remote
AC adapter
Quickstart guide

The PURE Contour gets its name from its dome shape. The design / style will allow it to fit into almost any environment, from living room to office or even kitchen. Although you’ll want to be careful with the knit material that covers the front of the speaker, as it might be difficult to clean. I’d rather it have a metal mesh instead of a cloth / knit covering for easy cleaning.

The front of the system has a pop out iPhone / iPod dock that is compatible with almost all the current and older devices. See review summary box below for a detailed list.

A telescoping antenna for the built-in FM radio is found on the back of the unit, along with a panel of connectors that include power, Aux in, 3.5 mm headphone jack, Composite video, Component/S-Video and Mini USB for software updates, and the optional Ethernet adapter.

Along the top ridge of the speaker are touch sensitive buttons for power and volume adjustment, that light up when the system is powered on.

The power button stays lighted even when the system is in standby mode.

I was happy to see that PURE includes a ‘real’ remote instead one of those cheap membrane type controllers that are usually included with speaker systems.

The remote can do everything that the touch sensitive buttons on the speaker do except for opening the iPhone/iPod dock.

The dock, which doubles as a clock when in standby mode, opens smoothly by pressing in on the top left or right corner.

The Contour works well as an iPhone / iPod speaker system. The sound quality out of the speakers is impressive considering the size of the system. Cranking up the volume does not degrade the sound. The speakers have good bass, crisp highs and clear mid tones.

Using the touch buttons on the front of the dock or the remote, you can skip forwards / backwards through tracks, pause and play. But unfortunately, you can not navigate the Music app menus on the iPhone/iPod with the remote. That means if you’re across the room and want to switch to a different artist, you’ll have to get up and make the change on the device itself.

The PURE Contour has more up its sleeve than just an iPhone/iPod dock though…

It also makes an above average streaming internet radio. You can navigate through lists of stations using the built in LCD or you can link the Contour to The Lounge website.

The website makes it easy to find your favorite type of content by search genres. When you find something you like, you can mark them as favorites and then they will show up in a folder on the device for easy playback. You can even add custom stations. I was also happy to see lists of podcasts too.

Streaming these stations works well. Once in awhile the playback will pause for buffering or a channel will stop playing for awhile for some unknown reason, but for the most part, I can play music for hours and not notice any problems even when I’m surfing via another computer.

The Contour will also play music streamed from your computer after you install the free media server software. It took me a little while to find the software on The Lounge site and set it up, but once I did, I was able to navigate my iTunes folders on my iMac via the Contour’s LCD. This feature makes it really nice to be able to listen any music in your library in any room of your house without having to connect a computer to the system.

Other features that the Contour offers is an FM radio with RDS (shows the titles of songs on the LCD), a sleep timer, ambient sounds like waves, rain / thunder, etc. If you buy the optional cable, you can also connect the Contour to your TV and view video through a connected iPhone or iPod. I didn’t test this feature.

The PURE Contour is a little pricey at $329.00, but it does offer quality sound and quite a few features at that price point. I like it a lot and have no hesitations recommending it, if price isn’t an issue.

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

Tagged: Internet Radio, iPhone, iPod, Speaker

PURE Contour iPhone/iPod Dock and Internet Radio Review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on November 25, 2011 at 5:15 pm.

I’m sure I wasn’t the only person who was disappointed a month ago when Apple failed to announce the iPhone 5 after many months of rumors and speculation. Instead, we were offered the iPhone 4S – an evolutionary instead of revolutionary update to the one year old iPhone 4. Even though I wasn’t eligible for an upgrade, I went ahead and purchased one because I’m crazy like that. Am I glad that I spent way too much money for it, or do I have buyer’s remorse? Keep reading to find out.

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

Hardware Specifications

Operating System: iOS 5
Processor: Dual-core A5
Memory: 16GB, 32GB and 64GB versions available
Display: 3.5-inch (diagonal) widescreen Multi-Touch retina display, 960-by-640-pixel resolution at 326 ppi, 800:1 contrast ratio (typical)
Wireless: World phone
UMTS/HSDPA/HSUPA (850, 900, 1900, 2100 MHz);
GSM/EDGE (850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz)
CDMA EV-DO Rev. A (800, 1900 MHz)4
802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi (802.11n 2.4GHz only)
Bluetooth 4.0
Digital Camera: 8.0MP, Video recording, HD (1080p) up to 30 frames per second with audio
Battery: Rechargeable lithium-ion, Talk time: up to 8 hours on 3G, up to 14 hours on 2G, standby time: up to 200 hours
Internet use: up to 6 hours on 3G, up to 9 hours on Wi-Fi
Video playback: Up to 10 hours
Audio playback: Up to 40 hours
Size: 4.5 x 2.31 x 0.37 in (115.2 x 58.6 x 9.3 mm)
Weight: 4.9 ounces (140 grams)

Package Contents

iPhone 4S
Apple Earphones with Remote and Mic
Dock Connector to USB Cable
USB Power Adapter
Documentation

By all outward appearances, the iPhone 4S looks and feels almost identical to the iPhone 4. The only notable exception is that the 4S has a SIM slot on the right side for world phone capability. But other than that, they are dead ringers for each other.

For that fact, I’m not going to go over the buttons, switches, display and body details. You can go read my iPhone 4 review if you’d like more info on those features. This review will focus on the main updates to the 4S, which are mostly under the hood and include:

• Updated processor
• Updated antenna design
• Updated camera
• Siri voice assistant

Processor

Let’s start with the brains behind the iPhone. The CPU has been upgraded to an A5 dual-core chip, which is said to deliver up to two times more power and up to seven times faster graphics than the iPhone 4′s single core A5 chip. I’ve been using the 4S for the past month and so far I really can’t tell THAT much of a difference in speed between it and my 4 for every day tasks.  I did some side by side testing of both phones and found that booting from power off and launching all my normal apps was only about 1-2 seconds faster on the 4S. This wasn’t something I even noticed until I did the side by side comparisons. I’ve actually never had a complaint with how fast apps launch on iOS devices, so if they are now 1 second faster, it really doesn’t make me want to jump up and down with glee.

On the graphics side of things, I purchased a couple games to do some more side by sides between the 4 and 4S. I decided on Modern Combat 3 and Infinity Blade just because they are both high end games that are very rich in graphics. It’s crazy how large mobile games have become. Modern Combat 3 requires a little over 1GB and Infinity Blade takes up almost 600MBs!

Since both phones have the same resolution displays, the games look the same at first glance. But upon closer inspection, the biggest difference that I noticed were that objects on the 4S are brighter and have more reflections. Here are a couple examples.

Modern Combat 3 on the iPhone 4. Notice how dark the soldier is.

Modern Combat 3 on the iPhone 4S. The soldier is quite a bit brighter. And yes, I had both phones set to the same brightness level when I did these comparisons.

Another example shows a screen shot of Infinity Blade on the iPhone 4.

Here’s Infinity Blade on the iPhone 4S. Notice the highlights, brighter armor and reflections?

Game play also felt a little smoother when panning around a detailed screen. I think it will really depend on the games themselves to be optimized for the 4S. You’re only going to notice improvements on high end type games though. Titles like Cut the Rope and Angry Birds, which have simple graphics will not feel or look any different on the 4S.

When it’s all said and done, the speed and graphics updates on the 4S are nice, but the improvements aren’t so great that the performance gap between the two phones really makes that much of a difference in my opinion. After playing games on the 4S and then playing the same games on the 4, I didn’t feel like the 4 was too slow.

Antenna

The iPhone 4S has a new antenna design which is supposed to improve call quality and download speeds even though the 4S isn’t a 4G phone.

“iPhone 4S is the first phone to intelligently switch between two antennas to transmit and receive, so call quality is better. It also doubles the maximum HSDPA data speeds to 14.4 Mbps.8 Which means faster connections, faster loading and reloading, and faster downloads.”

It’s nice to know that this new design has solved the whole death grip issue. But I’m not so sure it improves call quality and / or download speeds all that much - at least not for me. I’ve not had any issues with call quality on the previous iPhone once I switched from AT&T to Verizon and am not noticing any significant changes with the 4S.

The same is true for download speeds. I really haven’t noticed any significant difference on the 4S. Even when I have full bars and a 3G connection, updating the weather, reading news via the USA today app, checking for app store updates, downloading mail, etc all seem to be just as fast or slow as before. 3G speeds via Verizon have never been all that consistent for me in the first place. I can do speed tests using the free Speedtest.net app every hour and see wildly varying results each time.

Camera

Honestly, the reason why I decided to go ahead and splurge on the iPhone 4S purchase, was the upgraded camera from 5MP up to 8MP. Resolution isn’t the only upgrade though. The whole camera has been redesigned with a  custom lens that has a larger f/2.4 aperture to allow for better low light photos.

Here are some sample images comparing the iPhone 4 and 4S.

iPhone 4 picture

iPhone 4S picture

iPhone 4 picture

iPhone 4S picture.

Video recording has been improved from 720p up to 1080p. That’s 1280 X 720 lines of resolution vs. 1920 X 1080 progressive lines of resolution. More lines means a sharper picture. Here are some sample videos.

iPhone 4s video sample. Max the gadgeteer mascot makes a few cameo appearances.

iPhone 4 video sample.

If all you ever do is view your pictures and videos on the iPhone’s display or your computer’s display, the upgrade from 5 to 8 megapixels and 720p to 1080p probably won’t seem like a big deal. The increase in pixels is helpful if you ever decide to print the images or watch the videos on a larger screen though.

Siri

Besides the upgraded camera, the other feature that I was most anxious to try on the 4S was Siri. In case you’ve been living under a rock, Siri is a built in personal assistant that listens to your voice commands spoken in regular words. Here are just 2 quick examples of things you can ask:

The quoted text in each screen shot is a question that I have asked Siri. You can get Siri’s attention in several ways. If you hold the phone up to your ear when you’re not in a call, she’ll ask you what she can help you with. You can also hold down the Home button to talk to her. If you use earbuds with built in microphone, you can hold down the mic button to talk to her. Bluetooth headsets can also be used by holding down the call button for several seconds.

In addition to asking questions and getting answers like the ones shown above, you can also say things like “set the timer for 5 minutes”, “wake me up in an hour”, send a text message to Jeanne saying I’ll be late getting home”, “remind me when I get home to call Dad” and lots more.

In actual usage, I’ve found that my voice commands are recognized pretty well as long as I speak slightly slower than normal and remember to enunciate instead of mumble. Siri is fun to play around with… and that’s the problem, I seem to only use it for entertainment, just to see what she’ll say to kooky questions. I’ve spent way too much time asking things like “Do you love me?”, “what’s the meaning of life?”, “open the pod bay doors”, “are you real?”, etc. I wonder just how many “real” commands Siri responds to every day vs. silly questions. I ask this because on numerous occasions, I’ve asked a question only to be told that the network couldn’t be accessed.

After some initial testing / goofing around with Siri, I find that I almost never use this feature. I definitely do not use it at work or in public because it just seems way too dorky to talk to your phone like it’s a person. In the privacy of my car or home, it’s another matter though. But even so, I just don’t seem to use the feature much at all. I’d like to start using it to dictate news and/or reviews while I’m driving to and from work. So we’ll see…

Battery Life

So far battery life on the iPhone 4S has been somewhat disappointing. I seem to be charging my phone more often than I did with the iPhone 4. Even after updating to iOS 5.01, which was supposed to fix battery issues, I’m not seeing much of an improvement. I’m still usually able to get through a day without charging, but my old iPhone 4 was able to last at least 2 days or longer. I am almost always close to a power source, so it’s not a big deal for me, but of course I wish it was better.

Bottom line

If you’ve read this far, you’ve probably already figured out the answer to the question in the first paragraph of this review: Am I glad that I spent way too much money for the iPhone 4S, or do I have buyer’s remorse? The answer is that I’m suffering from a moderate case of buyer’s remorse. It would have been different if I didn’t already have an iPhone 4 and/or I had been eligible for an upgrade through Verizon. But neither of these cases were true and I spent $649 on a 16GB iPhone 4S that has only a slightly better user experience than my perfectly fine iPhone 4. Oh well, that’s one of the down sides of being a gadget freak. It’s just too hard to resist the lure of a new device.

Those of you that don’t already have an iPhone 4 and are considering the 4S, go for it. It’s a great phone (and will be even better once they get the battery life issues sorted out). But if you already have the 4, my advice is to wait for the mythical iPhone 5. You’ll be glad you did. In the mean time, anyone want to buy a month old iPhone 4S that is in mint condition with no contract? Seriously…

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

Tagged: Apple, iOS, iPhone

Apple iPhone 4S Review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on November 18, 2011 at 11:00 am.

I’ve read in a few audiophile articles that a good, reasonably priced set of stereo speakers paired with an amplifier will trump the best iPod speaker/dock no matter the cost. While that may be true, when I heard the Bowers & Wilkins Zeppelin Air, I began to have some doubts. The British company, Bowers & Wilkins is famous for some of the best (and expensive) speakers available. They’ve ventured out into the highly competitive iPod/iPhone market with innovative products like the original Zeppelin iPod speaker/dock, the MM-1 computer speakers, P5 headphones and the new C5 in-ear headphones. B&W have become popular not only because of their product’s forward design, but because they sound even better than they look.

Case in point: Last summer, I attended a friend’s wedding. Since he and his fiancee were getting married in an old, wooden chapel, there was no wired sound system available. It fell on him to supply any music beyond an upright piano, so he asked if I had any ideas. Well, it just so happens, I had received the Zeppelin Air the previous day, and I thought this would be a perfect testing opportunity. Boy, was it ever. After hiding the Zeppelin at the back of the small stage, I then sat in the second row pew with remote in hand ready to press the play button at just the right moment we had rehearsed.  The perfect exit song was cued on my docked iPod Classic. When the moment arrived, I pressed Play and … nothing. After a few awkward moments, I realized that the Zeppelin had shut down since it was just sitting there and not doing anything. So, once I recovered from this little heart attack, I pressed the On and then Play button when suddenly, the whole chapel was filled with the Turtles singing “Happy Together.” It was magical. No distortion, no harsh frequencies; just music. Everyone assumed the sound was from a larger speaker system somewhere in the chapel. The bride and groom’s exit was flawlessly timed with the music as they walked past the smiling guests. This was a great test.

The Zeppelin Air lives up to Bowers & Wilkins design and quality standards. It has 2 x 1 in. aluminum tube tweeters, 2 x 3 in. midrange speakers, one 5 in. subwoofer and digital signal processing packed into a gorgeous 150 watt package. There is nothing like it anywhere. It screams “look at me” with its all black plastic and cloth covered elongated football shape. It really does look like a zeppelin. Well, a zeppelin with a 30-pin easy-to-grasp iPod dock attached and a slim, shiny metal divider that contains on/off and volume buttons. It also has a dedicated digital audio converter (DAC), which is important because it overrides whatever DAC your computer or iPod/iPhone uses. B&Ws MM-1 computer speakers use the same DAC and trust me, you want B&W’s DAC instead of the one your current device uses. The difference is that great. The digital signal processing chip allows the Zeppelin to sound big and powerful without distortion. Like the MM-1 speakers, you can’t push the Zeppelin Air beyond where it can safely go. That makes for big, distortion-free and “safe for the speakers” audio.

The Zeppelin Air is almost completely redesigned even though it looks and costs the same as the previous version. Upgraded speakers each have their own amp (5 amps total), Ethernet, and Apple’s AirPlay are now included.

Airplay is the big draw here.

Think of AirPlay as Bluetooth on steroids. With AirPlay, you can wirelessly stream music from your computer, iPod touch/iPad/iPhone in CD quality. Bluetooth can’t even touch it for musical quality. As I write this review in my studio building, I’m streaming Apple Lossless music from my iMac using iTunes to the Zeppelin Air across the room. There are no snags, dropouts or other audio anomalies. There is only a slight delay when I press Play (and Skip) in iTunes. Incidentally, this is why you can’t watch video on your iPad using AirPlay with the Zeppelin Air. That slight delay throws audio and visual syncing out the window.

If you have the required wifi where you plan to use the Zeppelin Air, setting up is a one-time affair, but not very intuitive. There’s a lot of “do this” and “don’t do that.” Plus I had to set up wireless AirPlay while wired to an ethernet cable. Think about that for a minute. The good news is that B&W have recently provided an alternative, wireless method for setting up AirPlay. Go here to see the new info. It just wasn’t available when I did the setup. There is also a helpful video tutorial on the B&W web site.

After that, you’re good to go. Whether it’s iTunes on your computer, iPad, or iPhone, the AirPlay icon is available. Just click it, choose the Zeppelin and that’s it. Even out in my studio, which is about 100 feet from my house, the Zeppelin Air with my iMac worked just fine off the Cisco router in my house, without any signal boosters or repeaters. Note that the regular iPod doesn’t do wireless, so you will need the attached dock.

Included is an egg shaped remote with play/pause, on/off, volume up and down and a button that switches among the different connections on the back of the unit. Those choice of connections located at the rear of the unit are: Ethernet for hooking up the network, USB for a wired computer connection and firmware updates, AUX for music players other than Apple or digital connection and  Composite video output so you can use the Zeppelin Air with your TV if you wish. There are two bass ports (Flowport) with “golf ball” dimples that B&W says improves airflow resulting in better bass at any volume. These little design cues help make the Zeppelin Air visually striking from any angle. However, good luck seeing what color the tiny lights are on the front of the Zeppelin Air from across the room. Each color means something and I can never remember what. I have to keep referring to the manual.

Upgraded specs and cool features like AirPlay are nice, but how does the Zeppelin Air sound? For this review, I decided to play some of my “go-to” songs. These are songs that I know intimately and if there is anything out of place or other audio oddities, I’ll hear it immediately.

While preparing what I was going to listen to, I discovered something surprising. I’ve always been a fan of The Beatles and when the remasters came out in late 2010, I grabbed both the stereo and mono mixes. Since few people owned stereos in the 60s, The Beatles spent all of their energy on mono leaving the stereo mixes to recording engineers and producers. Only “Let It Be” and “Abbey Road” were stereo only. While those mono mixes may be what The Beatles wanted us to hear and are great from a historical perspective, I preferred the stereo mixes because to me, they had more impact and life (purists may argue that point). However, while walking around the room letting the sound of The Beatles in mono bounce off furniture, walls, etc., these mixes sometimes trumped the stereo versions. The reason is simply based on the Zeppelin’s limitations. Even though the Zeppelin Air has amazing audio, the fact that it is an all-in-one unit diminishes stereo separation at a distance. There is simply no way a single speaker unit can beat separate (quality) speakers spread farther apart. But in The Beatles case, it allowed the mono mixes to compete more favorably with the stereo versions, leveling the playing field, so to speak. This helped me understand better why some preferred mono over stereo.

I recently purchased Neil Young’s remastered “Harvest” CD album. “Harvest” is arguably one of the best albums of the 70s and a favorite in my collection. “Out On the Weekend” opens the album with Young singing in sync with a thumping bass and drum line letting his voice rise and fall in time to the insistent beat. The raw power and a lonely harmonica come through with a clarity I haven’t heard in this song before. Part of this aural ecstasy is the remastering that Young supervised himself, but a good bit of the credit also goes to the Zeppelin Air. Remember, this is wireless from my iMac, not a docked iPod. The files are lossless and streaming at full resolution (not possible with bluetooth) through the Zeppelin’s DAC and DSP processors.

AC/DCs “Thunderstruck” has always stood out among heavy metal songs with its pristine production. The song begins with a blistering guitar riff from Angus Young which doesn’t let up until the end. As the song begins, you can hear each string individually struck and then the rest of the band kicks in with a thunderous onslaught. While the rest of the group’s wall of sound rolls on, Young’s guitar licks remain clear and biting. With its separate sub, mids and tweeters, the Zeppelin Air keeps this song from dissolving into a mess as it so often does on lesser speakers. This is a dock made for loud rock.

Then there’s Pink Floyd. I downloaded the 2011 remastered “Saucerful of Secrets” and turned the volume up. Knowing that the title song of this album was released in 1967 and not exactly audiophile quality, I wanted to give it a shot because I know this song completely; every note, every beat, every thing. Wow. Even though the download is a barely respectable 256kbps, it played at ear piercing levels with no distortion other than what is already present in the original. I heard sounds that I hadn’t before and the thundering noise that is sandwiched between Nick Mason’s drum solo and Richard Wright’s organ playing reminded me of the scene from “Close Encounters of the Third Kind” when the mother ship appears over Devil’s Mountain. This low end rumbling can cause an unpleasant buzz in many speakers, but not with the Zeppelin Air. Wright’s church-sounding organ riffs that close out the song had both lows and highs together but each sounding distinct and not bleeding into one another. The song has always been an amazing, psychedelic masterpiece but now, it has never sounded better.

After “Saucerful of Secrets,” I had to try “Welcome to the Machine” from “Wish You Were Here.” This is a song custom made for headphones with its severe, mechanical left-right stereo effects. As I mentioned earlier, a bit of that stereo separation is lost due to the close proximity of the Zeppelin’s speakers, but boy, does it pack a punch.

For a classical piece, I listened to “Heroes’” from Philip Glass’s orchestral tribute to David Bowie and Brian Eno, “Heroes Symphony.” Complete with Glass’s trademark repetitions, the title track rumbles and soars, like a musical bird in flight. The piece switches between delicate and booming over and over, back and forth, leaving the listener exhausted at the end. The Zeppelin Air didn’t care that I had the volume jacked up to complaining-neighbor level.

It may not seem like it in this review, but I’m not a fan of really loud music for long periods, but the clarity of the Zeppelin Air kept me from lowering the volume to a sociable level. I was happy as a clam alone in my studio with all those decibels assaulting me for hours.

One other song I had to try with the Zeppelin Air was Roxy Music’s “If There Is Something” from their self-titled 1972 debut album. This song contains some ear-splitting sax playing by Andy Mackay that can’t be truly appreciated unless it borders on painful. On the Zeppelin Air, it does and it was thrilling.

There is no headphone port on the Zeppelin Air, which, to me, is a serious omission. You might wonder why a headphone jack would be desirable, given the fact that this is a speaker dock, after all. But if used as a computer speaker, wouldn’t you want to take advantage of the onboard digital audio convertor instead of the inferior DAC in your computer for those times you need to use headphones? I would.

Bowers & Wilkin’s Zeppelin Air is an expensive speaker dock. There’s no getting around that. B&W equipment has never come cheap, but the Zeppelin Air does look and sound as expensive as it is. But consider; if you compare the Zeppelin Air to an equally good amp and speaker setup and are tight for space, then the price looks more realistic. Also, since it is one of the few speaker docks featuring Apple’s AirPlay technology, it has an air of exclusivity (but not for long because many more AirPlay speakers are coming).

Let’s just say this up front: If you are looking for a holiday gift for someone who is into music and you have the money, then you need to hear the Zeppelin Air. There is no other iPod dock as good or as audacious. It is much, much better looking than my photographs.

Update 1: After the review was finished, I updated the firmware which completely broke my wireless connection. It took over an hour to figure out how get it back. It was not fun and a very convoluted fix for a $600 product. Plus, it was the weekend and tech support was not available until the following Monday, so after following the manual and much trying and retrying, I finally got it working again. I’m still not really sure what I did, though. I received an email from B&W early the next week with some helpful directions. From now on though, I think I’ll hold off doing the firmware thing unless absolutely necessary.

Update 2:  Bowers & Wilkins has released an iPhone app – Zeppelin Air – for music sharing. If you are having a party, you and your friends can download the app, create playlists on each iPhone and let the Zeppelin Air choose among the iPhones randomly for a mix of musical styles from various partygoers. The app can be found in the iTunes store.

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

Tagged: Apple Airplay, audio gear, docking speakers for iPod/iPhone, iPhone

Bowers & Wilkins Zeppelin Air Speaker/Dock Review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on November 1, 2011 at 11:00 am.

The Re-Case is made of 100% recycled trash. The actual material is called POLLIBER and is a combination of reprocessed rice husks, a by product of rice farming and post-consumer thermo-plastics. Wow, that’s a mouthful! In addition to your phone, this case can also hold 1 credit card stored under the phone. The Re-Case is available in several colors and can be purchased for $24.95 from Amazon.

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

Tagged: Case, iPhone, recycle

iPhone 4/4S Case Made Entirely of… Trash originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on October 26, 2011 at 7:45 am.