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LifeProof FRĒ Series iPhone Case review

REVIEW – It’s fun to play outside, but nature can do a number on your precious smartphone! Today we’re checking out the FRĒ series from LifeProof for the iPhone Xs, Xs MAX, and Xr. It’s designed to keep the elements from ruining your day if you lead an active lifestyle. To the review!

What is it?

It’s an iPhone case that features an integrated screen cover for complete protection against dirt, water, snow, and shocks.

Hardware specs

  • 6.68″ x 3.58″ x 0.55″
  • 1.6 ounces
  • Rated to protect against drops of 2 meters
  • Submersible up to 2 meters for 2 hours
  • Sealed to protect against water, dirt, and snow (IP68 protection rating)

What’s in the box?

The package includes the case and setup instructions.

Design and features

The LifeProof phone case lineup is organized based on levels of protection. The FRĒ series is the max-protect option, with an integrated screen cover that seals the phone completely to protect against drops, dirt, snow, and water. It’s a two-part shell construction, with a rubber gasket that seals the housing against the elements.

While the unit is water tested prior to shipping, LifeProof recommends that you do a second water test before installing the case. You’ll snap the two sides together without your phone, close up the lightning port seal, and submerge the case in water for 30 minutes. If you see any liquid in the case after this, you will be advised to contact LifeProof for a replacement. I had no issues with water during my test.

Passing that checkpoint, I moved on to install the case on my phone. Here I noticed some installation challenges that made things a bit tricky. The instructions say that you can remove the case by popping open the charger port and using a coin to separate the halves… but there’s nowhere to stick a coin in there. I ended up using a butter knife in that slot you see to the left of the charger port, and did some damage. Kind of a bummer.

With the shells separated, you’ll insert the phone in the front shell first. It slides right into a pre-defined slot. The rear shell pops on top, and you’ll press firmly to get a super-tight seal. I did find that the rubber gasket could be a bit persnickety and took some tweaking to lock in on the rear case, but it wasn’t a huge issue.

If protection is your goal, you’ll appreciate the tank-like feel to the case once the install is completed. Your phone is locked in place with no waggle or shimmy to be found in the housing. The whole build feels solid, with tight seals throughout. It will add noticeable bulk to your phone, but not as much as I expected. You’ll feel confident in the case’s ability to take punishment.

Here’s a shot of the front face. Note that I have full edge-to-edge exposure for the entire front screen on iPhone Xs Max. I did find that there’s a *slight* gap between the case cover and the phone screen. It works fine for the most part, but there are times when I have to give it a double-tap or I have to press down harder to get it to respond to my inputs. I think that’s part of the trade-off for the extra layer of protection. The cover doesn’t impede the light-sensing feature of the phone that adjusts to the brightness of the environment.

The rear face provides clear ports for the apple logo, camera, and sensor elements. Checking out some reviews on Amazon I saw comments about picture quality being affected by these covers, but I did not notice any issue with picture quality.

The charger port is protected by a hinged cap that seals completely when not in use. It does a nice job sealing the port against the elements. If you’re using wired headphones, note that you’ll have to keep that port open for operation. Wireless headphones are the way to go here if you want to maintain that maximum protection against the elements.

Your buttons and switches are all rubberized and fully integrated into the phone case. The volume rockers and mute switch also incorporate a pair of tabs to protect against accidental brushes or knocks while carrying the phone. The mute switch uses a “reverse toggle” setup (“down” is up, and “up” is down) that takes some getting used to. Otherwise, normal operation is just fine for the volume rockers and the side button.

I did notice that the case does impact the use of the speakers and the built-in microphone. You’ll get some interference with the clarity of the speakers when playing music or using the speaker for calls, and others have reported that my voice sounds slightly muffled on phone conversations. Considering the level of protection, it’s actually pretty good… but that’s the tradeoff you get for a complete weatherproof seal on the phone. I’d recommend using wireless accessories for playing music and making calls.

What I like

  • Excellent protection from shocks and all the elements
  • Precise, solid construction
  • Surprisingly lean for the level of protection it offers

What needs to be improved

  • Installation and removal can be tricky
  • Slight gap between the cover and phone screen can require extra taps in normal operation
  • Muted audio is a tradeoff for the level of protection

Final thoughts

Overall, I think the LifeProof FRĒ is a great choice for those who expose their phone to a lot of hazardous situations for professional or recreational use. Not only is the protection excellent, but it offers a stylish alternative to some of the industrial or military-inspired case designs that you see in this segment. There will be some performance tradeoffs, but I think the FRĒ handles them quite well considering the level of protection you’re getting…. not every phone in this class offers true waterproof protection. LifeProof offers the FRĒ in a variety of interesting color combinations so you can find one to match your personal style. Mine’s called “Tiki” (heh), and the lineup includes a variety of primary colors, pastel tones, a camouflage theme, and basic black. They also offer models for Galaxy and Pixel phones.

Price: $49.99 to $119.99
Where to buy: You can buy direct from LifeProof or check out their Amazon page.
Source: The sample of this product was provided by LifeProof.

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LifeProof FRĒ Series iPhone Case review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on January 12, 2019 at 9:00 am.

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Helikon Baseball Folding Cap literally fits in your pocket

NEWS – I wear baseball caps a lot, and sometimes I wish I could just stuff my hat into my pocket without destroying it.  The Helikon Baseball Folding Cap appears to have been designed and built just for this purpose.  Made of ripstop 60% Cotton, 40% Polyester in multiple colors and with a one-size-fits-most Velcro closure in back, its special feature is a seam down the center of its bill along which it can be flexed, allowing the hat to be folded down nearly flat, as seen in the images above.  In addition, it also includes three Velcro loop fields (front, top and back) for affixing your favorite hooked-backed morale or identification patches.  The Baseball Folding Cap is currently available from Helikon.com for $10.19 or Amazon for $14.99.

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Helikon Baseball Folding Cap literally fits in your pocket originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on January 12, 2019 at 8:08 am.

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Hover Domains Review – Should This Be Your Go-to Domain Registrar for 2019?

Hover Domains have a lot to offer, and are an attractive option for anyone thinking of registering a new domain name. In this in-depth review, we’ll look into what their offering includes, who should consider using them and what makes them stand out from all of the other domain name registrars out there. Here’s everything… View Article

The post Hover Domains Review – Should This Be Your Go-to Domain Registrar for 2019? appeared first on WinningWP.

Hover Domains Review – Should This Be Your Go-to Domain Registrar for 2019?

Hover Domains have a lot to offer, and are an attractive option for anyone thinking of registering a new domain name. In this in-depth review, we’ll look into what their offering includes, who should consider using them and what makes them stand out from all of the other domain name registrars out there. Here’s everything… View Article

The post Hover Domains Review – Should This Be Your Go-to Domain Registrar for 2019? appeared first on WinningWP.

6 gadgets that can protect you from hackers

ARTICLE – You might have gadgets that charge your phone with solar power or help you find a lost set of keys, but what about those that safeguard you from hackers?

Here are six items to put on your to-buy list.

1. Mic-Lock Gen 2 Microphone Blocker

Many people know hackers can break into webcams and spy on them. Therefore, covers that slide onto the built-in webcams on laptop screens became popular, and concerned individuals started covering webcams with tape, too.

But, there’s a possibility of hackers listening in through microphone ports. Apple’s second-generation T2 chips even disconnect the mics at the hardware level when people close the lids of newer MacBooks.

You can also buy a Mic-Lock Gen 2 microphone blocker that stops hackers from listening through any device that has a microphone port. Its design plugs into the 3.5 mm audio jack and allows you to still listen to music through your computer. ($10.99)

2. Firewalla Red Smart Cyber Security Firewall Appliance

Although the internet has many advantages, it features associated risks, too. The Firewalla Red gadget is a firewall for today’s connected world that features both intrusion prevention and intrusion detection.

The gadget plugs into your router and continually scans to check for abnormal behaviors.

You can also access specialized functions and get specific information via the complementing app. Since Firewalla Red also offers a built-in VPN service for mobile devices, you can enjoy enhanced protection anywhere. ($109.99)

3. Titan Security Key

An unsecured email account is a hacker’s playground, but the best hackers convince people to give up information they’d ordinarily keep secret.

Online lottery scammers target victims by convincing them to reveal private details to collect their “winnings,” and scams that initiate in an inbox can be just as convincing. That’s especially true if they appear as order confirmations or other documents that people can’t access unless they divulge information.

The Titan Security Key is a security measure developed by Google and used by its employees. As a result, Google says phishing problems have been eliminated. The Titan has a hardware chip that includes Google-engineered firmware to verify the key’s integrity.

The key also gives cryptographic proof a person is interacting with legitimate services where they initially registered their Titan gadgets and that they remain in possession of the key. Think of the Titan as a physical aspect of two-factor authentication. It replaces a text message or email a hacker could intercept in transit and complements your password. ($50.00)

4. Dojo

The rising popularity of Internet of Things (IoT) devices makes some manufacturers rush their products to the market and not prioritize security. The Dojo is a small gadget born from the need to secure those devices in a home. It’s a product you can move around your abode to get an idea of which internet-enabled products you use might be introducing vulnerabilities to your network.

The accompanying app gives three alert levels, and you’ll get smartphone notifications about the most severe issues. Plus, Dojo learns the characteristics of the network so it can understand what constitutes unusual traffic. ($199.00)

5. Everykey

Many people intentionally set passwords that are easy for themselves to remember, but that typically also makes them easy for others to guess. Then, it becomes potentially simple for hackers to break into devices such as laptops or smartphones. Everykey is like a physical version of an online password manager.

It automatically generates passwords for the websites you visit, plus enters them for you when you reach the website. If you lose an Everykey, there’s a way to freeze its functionality, making it useless in the wrong hands.

And, Everykey isn’t just for your computer and smartphone. Its military-grade security even works for your front door. The product is a Bluetooth-enabled device that looks like a small tile. Like many of the other things on this list, it pairs with an app. ($69.00)

6. 3M Privacy Screens

Have you ever worried someone sitting on either side of you might watch as you deal with confidential information on your laptop or enter it into form fields on your smartphone? If they do, all the information needed to gain access to your accounts or other things you want to keep private would be available. Fortunately, 3M makes privacy screens to hide content unless people look straight on at the screens.

You can find them for most of the devices you own, ranging from smartphones to laptops. (Prices vary depending on the type and third-party seller chosen)

Stock Up on Products That Give Peace of Mind

In this extremely connected world, hackers know various attack points exist. These six gadgets help you keep cybercriminals at bay and rest assured your information stays safe.

Lead photo by Jefferson Santos on Unsplash

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6 gadgets that can protect you from hackers originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on January 11, 2019 at 12:31 pm.

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