Sunday, September 23, 2012

Spigen SGP Steinheil Series Ultra Oleophobic Screen Protector

Up for review today is the Ultra Oleophobic screen protector made by Spigen SGP for the all new iPhone 5.  Big shout out to Spigen SGP for sending me this screen protector and having it in my hands before my iPhone 5 was delivered.  


This screen protector is part of the Steinheil series of screen protectors which are historically great screen shields.  The Ultra Oleophobic is their oil resistant version that is supposed to prevent smudges and clean easily similar to the bare glass.  In my test, I found that smudges didn't clean as easily as the bare glass and also showed fingerprints a lot more.  It was not nearly as bad as other crystal shields i've used in the past so the Oleophobic coating surely works.  I used a clean microfiber cloth to occasionally wipe the phone and found it took a little work to clean it entirely as the cloth seemed to wipe the smudges around more than clean them off which lengthened the cleaning process.  Not a deal breaker at all but worth mentioning.  

The screen protector has zero scratches on it so far and it is absolutely crystal clear.  Unless you look at the screen at an angle in direct light, you cannot tell it is installed.  It is just about as smooth as the bare glass and does not degrade the screen quality whatsoever.  



This screen protector is going to be compared against their Ultra Crystal version in an upcoming review, so look out for that review coming soon.  The Ultra Oleophobic is available for $13.99 and comes with 2 shields, a squeegee and dust removal stickers to ensure you get a perfect installation.  

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Sunday, September 2, 2012

Qmadix Xtreme Case with Kickstand for the iPhone 4/4S

Today i'm going to be reviewing a case by Qmadix called the Xtreme Case with Kickstand and Holster.  I've reviewed another case by them in the past and I am a fan of their products and quality.  How does the Xtreme case compare? Check out my full review below.


The Xtreme case is very versatile by design.  The case itself is a double layer construction comprised of a silicone as the first line of defense and a hard duro vest protector as they call it which is a polycarbonate hard shell that installs on top of the silicone.  This duro vest protector has a built in kickstand on the back which doesn't add bulk and is nicely built in.  In addition to all of this, Qmadix even includes a holster which also doubles as a kickstand with the high quality belt clip.



As far as access to the ports and controls while the case is installed, the top has an oversized cutout for the headphone jack and secondary mic while the on/off switch is covered by the soft silicone.  The bottom of the case has a nice oversized cutout for the 30 pin dock connector port and 2 more separate cutouts for the speaker and microphone.  The left hand side has an oversized cutout for the silent/vibrate switch so that it is compatible with all versions of the iPhone 4 - in addition to this, the volume buttons are both covered with soft silicone just like the on/off switch.




This case certainly should stand up to quite a bit of abuse with its rugged design.  Qmadix nailed it again with another great design and great product.  This gem of a case sells for $34.99 and is highly recommended!




Timbuk2 Custom Envelope Sleeve

Today I will be reviewing the Custom Envelope Sleeve by Timbuk2 for you guys.  This company has been around since 1989 and is all about making custom bags to order in San Francisco.  They make a large variety of different styles and I happen to have this Envelope Sleeve for review right now.


The Envelope Sleeve is a very simplistic bag if you want to call it but it does not have a shoulder strap. It is a simple sleeve to protect your laptop when you are out and about.  The interior of the bag is lined with high density foam but does seem like it's a little thin.  I would have preferred to have a thicker foam in the event I dropped my laptop.  On top of this foam, there is a soft scratch resistant liner, red in color, to ensure your laptop does not get scratched.  The exterior of the sleeve is comprised of 3 panels which are up to the user to choose when designing the case (or there are many pre-made choices that you can pick from).  I chose waxed canvas gray for the left and right panels which is a neat material that will break in and wear the more that the bag is used.  The center panel I chose a plain black.  All 3 materials literally feel like they will never ever be compromised.  The material feels nice, thick and resilient.  The stitch work and build construction, which is all done by hand and made to order, is outstanding.  Finally, the flap is firmly secured by velcro.








I am a fan of Timbuk2's products and this is surely not an exception.  This sleeve sells for $49 as seen in my review (the waxed canvas was $10 extra) and is available through the Timbuk2 website where you can create the custom sleeve of your own imagination.  

Thursday, August 30, 2012

Lifeproof Adapter for GoPro Mounts

Lifeproof has been on a streak of creating all sorts of accessories for its case so you can use it in a variety of daily activities.  The latest mount that I have received for review is the Lifeproof Adapter for GoPro Mounts.


This mount works perfectly with all GoPro mounts and attaches in the exact same way with the GoPro hardware.


Installation is a breeze as you slide your Lifeproof case into the lower portion of the mount and click the top portion in.  The top clip has a locking mechanism which will ensure it will not pop out during extreme usage. 


The mount has a perfectly sized cutout for the camera so you can use your phone in the mount either front or rear facing. 


I primarily use my GoPro while I am riding motocross on my ATV and I am not so sure i'd want to risk my iPhone during that activity.  It would work, no doubt about it but leaving my iPhone hanging off of my helmet?  With that being said, of course the GoPro mounts can be used in a variety of ways including the windshield mount that my GoPro came with which would be a neat way to hang your iPhone off of your windshield to record whatever activity you're up to!  This GoPro mount is available for $29.99 and is available right now!

Lifeproof Dock Connector

For those users who love using a Lifeproof case but simply cannot utilize all of their docks and accessories with it, this Dock Connector is for you! 


The Dock Connector is a simple adapter piece that you can plug into your 30 pin connector which will extend the connection point beyond the end of the case as seen above.  This simple but effective adapter sells for $29.99 and is now shipping from the Lifeproof website!  Get yours now! 

Lifeproof Lifejacket

Today i'm going to take a brief look at the new Lifeproof Lifejacket.  The Lifejacket, as you would guess, is a foam case that installs on top of your Lifeproof case to ensure it remains buoyant in water.
The Lifejacket is something very handy for users that like to use their device in the water at the beach.  The bright orange hue will make sure your precious device will remain obvious to find when floating in the water. 

While your device is being used in the Lifejacket, all controls and ports have full access along with the camera. 


 The case comes equipped with a quick release lanyard that attaches to the corners.
 There is a short lanyard and also a long full size lanyard to ensure the device is securely attached to you when you're in the water engaging in activities. 
The Lifejacket is available for $39.99 on the Lifeproof website.

Wednesday, August 29, 2012

New Lifeproof colors available now

I have reviewed the lifeproof case in the past and I just wanted to let my readers know that they have recently released a lot of new colors.  They were kind enough to send me the blue version to review but the other new colors include green, teal, orange and red.  

The blue version is identical to their version 2 lifeproof case and I think this color looks really neat!  Check it out below.