Lifeproof Nüüd Cover/Stand review

Hey guys, today i'm going to be taking a brief look at the Lifeproof Nüüd Cover/Stand that is made to be used with the Lifeproof Nüüd case that I just reviewed.  The Cover/Stand is exactly like the name sounds and is a simple snap-on cover that doubles as a stand to prop up your iPad in a couple orientations for daily use.

The primary use of this product is to prop up your iPad.  The Cover/Stand provides 2 different angles; the first being ~60 degrees up which is perfect for viewing movies and videos.  The other orientation is ~30 degrees which is made for typing like a keyboard.  

When you aren't using this product as a stand,  it doubles as a cover for the screen of your iPad, as it is not covered by the Nüüd case.  It is a simple design and it pops right on top of the case and leaves the headphone jack and 30 pin charging port totally exposed.  

Lifeproof has done a nice job to integrate these 2 products together and has priced the cover affordably at $19.99.  Pick one up by itself here.

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Lifeproof Nüüd for iPad review

Hey guys, today i'm going to be taking a look at the all new Lifeproof Nüüd case for the iPad 2/3/4th generation.  The case is based on the very popular Lifeproof for iPhone case, but is now available for your iPad!  How well does the Nüüd case perform?  Read on for my comprehensive review!

If you haven't had the opportunity to read about or use a Lifeproof case before, Lifeproof cases are, well, lifeproof.  This means that the case is water proof, snow proof, dirt proof and shock proof.  The water proof characteristic is proven to a depth of 6.6 feet and the shock proof characteristic is proven to withstand a drop of 4 feet.  These characteristics are especially handy for hard users of the iPad and I saw online the other day that formula one race crews are using them in the pits with these cases!  That environment is greasy, dirty and rough on an iPad.

Getting into the specifics of the Lifeproof Nüüd case, it does vary from the Lifeproof case for the iPhone.  This case is built of a rigid rubberized material that feels great and will provide great drop protection.  The back of the case is transparent to ensure you can show off your coveted apple logo.  The major difference between the iPad case and the iPhone case is that the screen is totally exposed.  The front half of the case has a gasket to seal off the screen from the rest of the iPad, making water exposure safe.  I was a little skeptical about this, but it's completely safe (up to the advertised depth).

Moving on to the ports and controls on this case, starting at the top, there is a rubberized button covering the sleep/awake button that has great feedback.  You will also find a water proof cutout for the microphone and a cap which covers the headphone jack.  This cap is threaded and is easily removed to expose the headphone jack.  The cutout is deep, therefore Lifeproof provides a headphone extender cord that plugs into the headphone jack and has a female plug at the other end so you can plug in your own headphones.  Moving on to the right side of the case, there is a rubberized button covering the volume rocker which also provides nice feedback.  Also on the right side, you will find a neat slider switch that controls the mute/rotation lock switch.  Along the bottom of the Nüüd case, there is a water proof door that covers the 30 pin charging port.  What about the home button?  It is covered with a plastic type button which is completely sealed from water intrusion due to the gasket that flanks the iPad screen.  Like I mentioned above, the back of the case is transparent and the only other feature on the back is the speaker area.  This speaker area is water proof yet provides amazing sound output.  It is almost like nothing is covering the speaker at all, let alone a water proof covering!  Nice job Lifeproof!

Lifeproof has done a great job with this case, and I really like how they left the screen totally exposed as to not degrade usability of the touch screen.  The case is not overly intrusive and not overly heavy or bulky either.  You can pick up the Nüüd case here for $119.98.

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Spigen SGP GLAS.tR for iPhone 5

Today, i'd like to take a look at an amazing product by Spigen SGP called the GLAS.tR.  For those of you who are new to glass screen shields, this product launched the market and still owns it.  Spigen has always created awesome products; how does this one stand?  Read on to find out!

The GLAS.tR is a glass screen shield made of premium tempered glass.  It also has a premium oleophobic coating (the same anti-fingerprint coating that's on the iPhone glass). In my opinion, the oleophobic coating that is on the GLAS.tR is superior to the iPhone glass (it is THAT great)!  

The GLAS.tR is a revised version of the popular GLAS.t.  The "R" version takes it a step further with rounded edges to reduce the chance of chipping.  These rounded edges lend themselves to the home button cutout too which feels great when pressing the home button.  

I simply cannot express my enthusiasm for this product.  It is truly amazing and worth every single penny.  I completely understand that most users think the price of $34.99 is overly expensive, but I can assure you that it is a product that you will install on your iPhone and leave it on for the life of your device.  

The only "downside" I can potentially see is that the home button is recessed due to the thickness (0.4mm) of the GLAS.tR but the home button stickers can help if this is something that bothers you.  In my opinion, the recessed area helps guide your finger to the home button and I actually like it.  

The surface harness is 8H which is a lot harder/tougher than Spigen's Ultra Crystal.  I don't think you could scratch this under normal daily use.  

To sum up this review, this is definitely a must have product!  Like I mentioned above, Spigen is selling the GLAS.tR for $34.99 available here 

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CaseCrown Lux Glider For iPhone 5 Review

Today i'm going to be taking a look at the Lux Glider case by CaseCrown.  The company was founded by computer gadget lovers who have a drive to create high quality carrying solutions for your favorite gadgets.

The product I am reviewing for you guys today is the Lux Glider case in black obsidian.  This product is a slider style case that is comprised of 2 pieces.  The interior of the case is covered in a soft felt like material to ensure the back of your phone remains scratch free.  As you may have known, this style of case may cause issues with lifting up your screen protector.  I am using a Spigen GLAS.tR and it did not have any issues.  Your experience may vary based on the type of screen protector you're using.  In my opinion, normal static cling style screen protectors and most wet install protectors will probably bubble up with this case.

The build quality of the CaseCrown Lux Glider is awesome.  The two parts of the case fit together perfectly and essentially gap-free when installed.  The exterior of the case is covered in a soft touch material that feels great in hand.  The case is comprised of a polycarbonate material that will surely help protect your iPhone 5 in the event of a drop.  As mentioned above, this case does provide a nice amount of lay on the table protection via the raised lip above the screen.

On to the ports and controls, the top of the case has a single cutout that's nicely sized for the sleep/awake button.  The bottom of the case features one large, form fitting cutout to capture the headphone jack, speakers and lightning port.  The left side of the case has one large cutout for the volume buttons and vibrate switch.  The cutouts are nicely sized and shouldn't cause issues whatsoever.

I definitely recommend this case to you guys, just be aware of using it with a screen shield.  CaseCrown does not include a screen shield or anything else in the packaging besides the case for the $24.95 price tag.  It is available in 4 different colors - Red, Purple, Blue and Black.

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iCarbons for iPhone 5

Hey guys, today i'm going to be reviewing a product from the crew over at iCarbons called the Two/Tone Special Edition Aluminum/White for the iPhone 5.  iCarbons makes skins and wraps for all kinds of products and I am very excited to check out this product for my readers and followers.

For users who love to use their iPhone "naked", without a case, but want to protect it from scratches while maintaining a unique, stock but sleek look, this product is definitely for you.  iCarbons was nice enough to send me this special edition two/tone aluminum/white version that mimics the stock look of the white iPhone 5.  I absolutely love the installed look of this wrap guys!  

The rear of the iPhone 5 is covered via 3 different pieces to complete the two/tone look.  Fitment of these pieces is absolutely perfect, probably the most accurate cut of a skin i've ever seen.  The camera/flash/mic cutouts are SO accurate, I am highly impressed.  The front of the device is covered in one large piece, and again, the cutouts are very very accurate and fitment is spot on.  The metal band of the phone is covered by one large piece, and again, is very very accurately cut to ensure total coverage without getting in the way of your phone controls.

Installation is not terribly difficult if you take your time.  Like I mentioned above, the cutouts are extremely precise, thus you must take your time to ensure you get these installed correctly.  If you follow the iCarbons video for installation, you will see the rear involves installing the top piece first, then the large middle, followed by the bottom piece.  There are certain techniques in the videos here.  The front piece was a little challenging due to the thin pieces that flank the sides of the screen but patience will ensure a proper install.  The piece that covers the metallic band was easy to install.  Once you get the installation started at the headphone jack, it's as easy as allowing the decal to drop into place as you work your way around the device.  

I said this before and i'll say it again, I absolutely love the iCarbons product and will be using this with my Spigen GLAS.tR to totally protect my device (the front piece will have to come off for that though).  iCarbons offers wraps for the iPhone 5 in may color variations; two/tone as well as solid colors.  Solid colors are offered at $24.95 where two/tone versions sell for $26.95.  

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Giveaway! - Waterfield Designs iPhone 5 Suede Jacket

Follow the easy rules and enter to win a Suede Jacket from Waterfield designs for your iPhone 5!


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Incipio Feather Shine for iPhone 5

Today i'm reviewing the last of the Incipio cases i've got for review and this one is called the Feather Shine.  This version of the Feather is based off of their popular Feather case that was widely used on the iPhone 4/4S.  

The Feather Shine is a "one-up" from the Feather as it includes a brushed aluminum back plate.  The case is a typical snap-on-the-back style case and simply pops on the back of your iPhone 5.  It does not provide a ton in the way of drop protection but is more geared toward protecting the back and sides of your iPhone 5 from scratches.  The Feather Shine is very thin @ 1mm thin.  The case is comprised of high density but ultra light Plextonium material which definitely does not add noticeable weight to your device.  The case feels great in hand and has a sleek look with the brushed aluminum back plate.  

Fitment of the case is perfect just like all of Incipio's products i've reviewed, no complaints whatsoever. Ports and controls are very open just like all snap-on-the-back cases.  The top and bottom are completely open.  The left side of the case also has one large opening for the vibrate switch and volume up/down button.  Like I said, not a lot of drop protection but this will certainly do great for users who want light protection from scratches and daily bumps/bruises.  

I can certainly recommend this case but in my opinion, the pricing could be a little bit cheaper as this one sells for $29.99.  The Feather Shine is available in only 2 colors; the titanium silver color and obsidian black (as reviewed today).  

Incipio Frequency for iPhone 5

Today i'm going to be taking a look at another one of Incipio's newest cases for the iPhone 5 called the Frequency.  The Frequency case that i'm reviewing today is the translucent mercury gray color.  

This case is a spin off of the popular NGP case.  It is built of an impact resistant, semi rigid NGP material.  My initial impression of this case is not a great one unfortunately.  I will dig into this a little more below.  

Installation of the case is a breeze and fitment is great.  Just like the DualPro case I reviewed before, the sleep/awake button is covered in the same material as the rest of the case but it is challenging to press.  It's overly difficult for some strange reason because the volume buttons, which are covered, are very easy to press and provide nice feedback.  The bottom of the case has 3 big openings to provide openings for the speaker, lightning port and headphone jack.  The cases name, the Frequency, gets its name from the design on the back which imitates frequency signals like you'd see on an equalizer.  The camera pill shaped cutout is perfectly sized with a black camera ring to eliminate camera flashback issues.

Overall, i'm not a fan of the case due to the difficulty of pressing the sleep/awake button and somewhat cheap feel of the case.  The frequency is available for $24.99 and comes in 5 different colors.

Incipio DualPro Shine for iPhone 5

Today i'm going to be taking a look at one of Incipio's new cases for the iPhone 5 called the DualPro.  Incipio announced a lot of new products for iPhone 5 and I'm excited to review one of them here today. 

The DualPro case is a 2 part case, as you may have guessed, composed of a silicone first layer and a plextonium outer frame.  The plextonium outer frame has a hard polycarbonate side frame around the perimeter of the phone with a brushed aluminum back plate giving the case a truly unique look.  The brushed aluminum provides a modern yet sleek look to compliment your iPhone 5.  

The fitment of this case is absolutely spot on and works with all types of screen shields.  I am using a Spigen GLAS.tR (very thick) and this case works perfectly.  As for the ports and controls on the device, starting at the top, the sleep/awake button is covered by the silicone first layer and has great feedback, no issues there.  The bottom of the phone has 3 separate cutouts in the silicone for the lightning port, speaker and headphone jack.  The left side of the case covers the volume up/down with silicone, again offering great feedback, along with a slightly small cutout for the vibrate switch.  This cutout could have been larger as I have to pick the switch with my fingernail.  

The case adds a little bit of bulk as you would expect for this level of protection.  It's not quite as bulky as an Otterbox commuter case and this one certainly feels more sleek in hand.  The case does not feel as if it adds a lot of weight and it slides in and out of pockets easily.  

Incipio did a great job with this new case and has my seal of approval.  The DualPro is available in 5 different colors and sells for $34.99.