Home Cases and Covers

Bellroy introduces a sharp looking set of cases for Google Pixel products

I’m a big fan of the refined & sophisticated style that Bellroy brings to their carry designs. I’m currently testing one of their new bag designs for an upcoming review, and it’s fantastic. If you’re a user of Pixel products, their new collaboration with Google is well worth a look. The Pixel 2 case is leather, and available in 4 colors. There’s also the Pixelbook sleeve that uses a unique sustainable fabric with leather accents, and doubles as a stand for your device.  They also have a leather-wrapped sleeve and clip for your Pixelbook pen in the works. Check them out at the Bellroy Web Site!

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Bellroy introduces a sharp looking set of cases for Google Pixel products originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on October 16, 2017 at 8:00 am.

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iVAPO iPad Pro 10.5 case review

When you spend hundreds of dollars for an iPad Pro, you really don’t want to spend another hundred dollars on a case just to protect it. Today I want to show you the iVAPO case for the 10.5 inch iPad Pro. At only $17.49 from Amazon, it can’t possibly be that good right? Let’s find out.

What is it?

The iVAPO iPad Pro 10.5 case is exactly what you guess it is, a case for the 10.5 inch iPad Pro. No surprises there. But there is a small surprise inside.

Design and features

The iVAPO case is similar to other iPad cases that have a folding cover on one side and an iPad holder on the opposite side.

The iVAPO has a grey denim-like look and feel that provides grip when you’re holding the iPad and helps protect the screen and back of the tablet from scratches and wear.

Although the case looks and feels nice in hand, I did notice a problem with it. The material sheds which leaves a thin layer of dust on the iPad’s display that’s hard to clean off without removing the iPad entirely from the case.

The iPad is easy to insert and remove from this case. There are cutouts for the speakers, lightning connector, and camera, so you can use all the features of the iPad just like you would if it weren’t in the case.

The one way the iVAPO sets itself apart from other iPad Pro cases is the built-in holder for the Apple Pencil. The Pencil stays in the holder even if you turn the case and iPad upside down.

To retrieve the Pencil, you can either hook the tip with your fingernail and pull it out or you can push the Pencil out from behind the case.

The iVAPO case cover is like a lot of iPad case covers in that it can fold out of the way behind the case when you’re using the iPad. It can also fold into a stand to prop up the iPad.

The cover has magnets to activate the auto sleep and wake feature. Unfortunately, I found that the cover would not always seat properly over the iPad’s display to engage that feature.

Final thoughts

It’s tough to complain about a case that is priced at less than $20, but there are a few issues that annoyed me about it that are worth repeating. The case material leaves a layer of dust on the iPad and the cover doesn’t always turn the iPad’s display off when the cover is closed.

Other than those issues, there’s not a lot more to say about the iVAPO iPad Pro 10.5 case. It does what it’s been designed to do, which is protect the iPad Pro and hold an Apple Pencil. If you’re on a budget after spending all your money on the iPad Pro and the Pencil, the iVAPO won’t overburden your wallet and is worth a look if you can get past the issues.

Source: The sample for this review was provided by iVAPO. Please visit Amazon for more info and to order.

 

Product Information

Price: $17.49
Manufacturer: iVAPO
Retailer: Amazon
Pros:
  • Affordable
  • Built-in Pencil holder
Cons:
  • Cover doesn't always activate the auto sleep feature
  • Material leaves dust on the iPad's display
  • Bulky

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iVAPO iPad Pro 10.5 case review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on October 6, 2017 at 6:09 pm.

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Sketchcase literally turns your MacBook into a whiteboard

Do you remember the Wipebook reusable journal that featured whiteboard style pages that could be wiped clean and used over and over again? If you thought that sounded useful, consider the Sketchcase Whiteboard Skin that turns your MacBook into a real whiteboard that you can write on with markers – even permanent markers. 

The Whiteboard Skin is a scratch and chemical resistant vinyl wrap that is compatible with dry erase, wet erase, and permanent markers, allowing you to write and draw on your laptop. Then you can wipe it clean and write something new.

The Sketchcase Whiteboard Skin has been designed for the 12″ MacBook up to the 15″ MacBook Pro and is priced from $17.99 – $19.99. Find out more at sketchcase.com.

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Sketchcase literally turns your MacBook into a whiteboard originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on October 6, 2017 at 8:00 am.

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OtterBox: 10 years of iPhone Protection

2017 marks the 10th anniversary of the Apple iPhone, and OtterBox, a company I thought only made dry boxes, has been making cases for every single model since the original game-changing phone ever since.  To mark the milestone, OtterBox hosted an event in San Francisco, CA.

“Pass it On” refers to an iPhone that OtterBox sent to seven cities around the world to highlight the wide variety of cases they make to suit nearly every style you can think of.

The autographed phone itself that traveled the world was on display.

The entire product line was out on display, including a rather curious, squat-looking one.  The black and yellow one in the middle is a case for the very first iPhone, next to a case for the newest iPhone X. As of this writing, the iPhone X has not been released for sale yet. However, OtterBox had this rugged full-size sample on display.  Note the vertically-oriented lens cutout.

Did you know that Lifeproof is also under the OtterBox family?  I didn’t know!

Here’s another iPhone X prototype. Unlike most Lifeproof cases I’m familiar with, this one doesn’t have a front cover, so it’s mostly “splash resistant”.  However, the newest iPhones already have a degree of water resistance, but this case has a black rubbery seal around the opening to keep some moisture out.

Not to be outdone by the likes of Yeti and other premium coolers, OtterBox also had one of their Venture coolers on display.  This one is the Venture 25, which has a 25 quart capacity.  Also available in 45 and 65 quart.  The Venture features latches that can be operated with one hand quite easily, plus modular accessories such as dividers, cutting boards, and external attachments. The Venture coolers are actually made in Detroit. Yes, I was surprised, too.  That tiny gap in the rubber seal is designed to allow pressure equalization to avoid situations where you can’t open the lid after a change in altitude. With two-inch thick refrigerator-grade insulating foam that will keep ice for 14 days, I can attest that this thing feels built to last. And if you’re wondering, it is certified bear-resistant, and prices start at $249.99.

I was sent home with this Pursuit-series iPhone case for my model 7 Plus.  The Pursuit is one of OtterBox’s slimmest yet rugged case.

The case comes in two halves.  The front half has no cover, but it keeps the screen inset so the screen doesn’t lay flat.  An OtterBox tech on site suggested assembling the case with the phone face down into the “front” part of the case first. I noticed a foam ring around the camera cut out. Nice touch. See where the speaker cutouts are? Those audio “holes” actually have a membrane to resist liquids.

That tiny hole on the bottom can accommodate a lanyard (not included)

It’s a little hard to see, but the sleep toggle switch above the volume is actually a rotary cam switch.

The back of this particular color combo is actually a deep blue.

Here I am peeling back the charging connector.  Note how the audio “holes” tilt forward instead of down.

To read more about OtterBox and their family of products, please visit OtterBox.com.

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OtterBox: 10 years of iPhone Protection originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on September 22, 2017 at 8:00 am.

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ThanoTech K11 iPhone Bumper review

When I recently switched to an iPhone 7 Plus, I felt the need to find a case to protect my investment without adding a lot of extra weight and bulk. When I stumbled upon the ThanoTech K11 Bumper while doing some online shopping, I knew I had to try it. Let’s check it out.

What is it?

The ThanoTech K11 is a bumper style case for the iPhone made of anodized aluminum and flexible TPU. It’s a way to protect the iPhone from up to a 16-foot drop without adding the bulk of a full coverage case.

The K11 is available in black, silver, gold, rose gold, and red. I was sent the silver version.

The K11 is a bumper style case that only covers the outside edges of the phone, which doesn’t sound like it would be very protective, but bumper features two layers of material. There’s an interior layer that’s made of TPU (thermoplastic polyurethane) and an exterior shell of 6063 T6 aircraft grade anodized aluminum. TPU is a hybrid material that’s a mixture of hard plastic and soft silicone. It helps absorb shock from drops and can protect the iPhone from up to a 16ft drop when it’s in this case.

The cool thing about the combination of TPU and aluminum is that the TPU makes the bumper flexible and that makes it much easier to insert and remove the phone.

Installation is simple. Just put the bottom corners in the bumper snap the top edges in place. It takes only a little effort, but you won’t feel like you’re going to snap the phone in half like I’ve felt with other iPhone cases and bumpers.

Once seated, you still have access to all the iPhone’s ports and buttons. The lightning port cutout on the bottom edge is large enough to fit most 3rd party cables. I’ve yet to find one that is too large.

On the left edge of the bumper, there is a cutout for the mute switch and individual buttons for volume. Unlike some cases, that have molded buttons, the K11 has individual metal buttons that provide excellent tactile feedback.

You’ll find the same type of button over the power button on the opposite side of the phone.

And on the back of the phone, you’ll see that the entire back of the iPhone is exposed. The front and back edges of the bumper are raised so that the front and back of the phone is slightly elevated when placed on a flat surface.

The area above the camera lens is raised evfurtherter to protect the camera lens.

If you’re worried about scratches, ThanoTech includes a protector that you can install on the back of the phone. Actually, they include two back protectors with the Kll Bumper

The K11 is pretty minimal as far as cases go, but it does add some width all the way around the phone. If you have small pants pockets, you might notice that you have less wiggle room when using your phone in this case and you try to put it in your pocket.

You might be wondering if the aluminum has a negative impact on your signal reception. The answer is no, it doesn’t due to the layer of TPU that’s between the phone and the aluminum. I’ve noticed no issues with signal strength degrading in the weeks that I’ve been using this bumper case on my iPhone 7 Plus.

Final thoughts

I had not heard of ThanoTech before reviewing their K11 Bumper. I’m impressed with how nice their products are. They look sharp and are really well made. They also sent me a charging adapter for the car which is made of stainless steel which is extra nice.

Bumper cases might not be right for everyone, but for people who want drop protection without completely covering every surface of their phone, the ThanoTech K11 Bumper is an option.

Source: The sample for this review was provided by ThanoTech. Please visit their site for more info and Amazon to order.

 

Product Information

Price: $34.95
Manufacturer: ThanoTech
Retailer: Amazon
Pros:
  • Easy to install
  • Easy to remove
  • Edges raised to keep screen, camera, and back from scratching
  • Less bulk than a full coverage case
Cons:
  • Does add some width to the phone

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ThanoTech K11 iPhone Bumper review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on September 21, 2017 at 1:58 pm.

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