Rating: 6 out of 10
Pros: Tackified spots on the back of the case provides extra grip and good feel in your hand.  Reasonably priced at $19.95
Cons: Case form & shape is far from perfect.
Overall: The concept is very unique with the incorporation of the lanyard & hook.  I would have given the  Trexta Merli a higher rating if the case had a more consistent form factor.

You can purchase this case at MyGearStore.com for $19.95

Rating: 9 out of 10
Pros:Great idea on replacing the apple usb charger and very portable too
Cons: No cons, it works great
Overall: A great space saving product from Simplism that works great and has no issues at all. This unit is a great replacement to the standard OEM usb charger. Definitely a great buy

Simplism Dual USB Charger can be purchased at the Simplism.jp for $ 19.99

Share this post

Rating: 8.5 out of 10
Pros: Awesome new technology, very shock resistant, ultra slim fit.
Cons: not much lay on the table design, entire back open to geting scratched
Overall: I love this case, very minimal design and is very shock absorbant. I’d like to see more protection on the back and a thicker front lip for lay on table. The new design with the cut outs makes this case one of my top 5 favorites right now, not much bulk and cool technology.

You can see more of this case at the tech21 website here.

Rating: 8.5 out of 10
Pros: Awesome new technology, very shock resistant, ultra slim fit.
Cons: not much lay on the table design, entire back open to geting scratched
Overall: I love this case, very minimal design and is very shock absorbant.  I’d like to see more protection on the back and a thicker front lip for lay on table.  The new design with the cut outs makes this case one of my top 5 favorites right now, not much bulk and cool technology.

You can see more of this case at the tech21 website here.

This is Part 1 of a 3 part series on the Slingbox Solo, Slingplayer Mobile for iPhone and finally the overall review of how both the desktop Slingplayer and the Slingplayer Mobile perform on both Wi Fi and 3G networks.  At the conclusion of the 3 videos I will grade the overall package, state the pros and cons as well as give my overall thoughts about the Slingbox performance and value.  So stay tuned for the next two parts in the series it will prove to be very exciting for sure.  Slingbox Solo as well as the SlingPlayer mobile application will also be highlighted in my iPhone Life Magazine Article to be published in the Summer 2010 issue.

Rating: 7 out of 10
Pros: It’s the ultimate text lingo dictionary! The app offers a very easy to use & great looking user interface. It has countless abbreviation definitions. Definitely enhances your texting experience. Plus you can share any term you like through Facebook, email or Twitter.
Cons: Would love to see the ABC index on the side like you see in your “contacts” application for an easier browsing experience.
Overall: The OMG Texting Dictionary is a great, simple, and fun to use application that will both entertain & educate! Check it out!

You can check out the OMG texting dictionary in iTunes for $.99.  Click here to be brought to the app store page.

Rating: 9 out of 10
Pros: lots of information other than the temperature, ability to pinpoint using GPS and auto locate for weather, cool weather alerts
Cons: A little redundant with 3 places to see the 5 day forecast, so much information it can be over whealming
Overall: This app is a perfect replacement from the stock generic weather app, ability to see weather maps, alerts, hourly and weekly forecasts.  Nice graphics to round it out and I love the rotate feature to graphical maps.  The $3.99 is a little high, but for all the features you get it’s not too overpriced.

If you are interested in purchasing Weather Machine for $3.99 click here to be brought to the iTunes page.

Deliverace is a classic top-down racing game that will be released on iPhone and Android soon. It features the nicest graphics, coolest physics and dirtiest powerslides ever seen on a handheld device. Developed by racing game veterans at Pixelbite Games.

ScreenRecorder
Cool Cydia utility that enables you to screen record you iPhone or iPod touch screen!

Sorces:
repo.beyouriphone.com/
sinfuliphonerepo.com/

Rating: 8 out of 10
Pros: Includes a lanyard.
Cons: Screen protector and cleaning cloth costs extra.
Overall: This is a very nice quality case. It’s stays together very securely and I think it would do a great job protecting your iPhone if you were to drop it while in this case. The price is right on point being under $30. I would definitely recommend checking it out.

You can purchase this case directly from Voi for $24.95.

Rating: 7 out of 10
Pros: Amazing cute looking earphones! They’re stylish, fashionable, and trendy. You’re almost getting a 2 in 1 package as the top half of the earphones look like a necklace or piece of jewelry. It has nice sound quality and its lightweight.
Cons: They don’t come with extra ear bud sizes which can be a downfall if you normally need a specific size (larger or smaller).
Overall: It’s a fierce looking product that will keep you stylish and in tune! It has decent sound quality and a fair price. If this is something you’d be interested in, I say check it out!

You can find this one and others like it for $44.95 at Jewelbuds.com

Rating: 9 out of 10
Pros: Phenomenal fit and finish, comes with a bunch of extras, braided cord with a flexible sheath, 45 degree headphone jack, the price can’t be beat.
Cons: This could be both a pro and a con depending on your tastes but the 4 foot cord could be a bit long during exercise otherwise these are near perfect.
Overall: The Meelectronics M9 earphones are a quality product at a very inexpensive price. With 9 mm drivers the bass is exceptional, comes in brushed aluminum or black and the extras that Mee packs in the box this deal is unprecedented: cord management, 3 ear gels, airplane adapter, and a hard sided case.  All this for $19.99 on their site.  With the exceptional quality in conjunction with this price point the MeElectronics M9’s get my Editor’s Choice Award.

You can check out the M9’s as well as all the offerings from Meelectronics by clicking here to visit their website.

No more speculation necessary. Apple finally announced that their much hyped device will be available on April 3rd, 2010. The device will also be available for pre-order on the 12th of this month. After a crazy week of speculation from rumored sources and reassurance from the manufacturers, the device now has a specific release date. Apple however wasn’t able to meet the March shipping deadline they self imposed. But only 3 days off isn’t too bad in my book. As mentioned by Apple, the WiFi only version will be offered now, with the 3G/WiFi iPad shipping at the end of April. Those of you not in the US do have to wait until the end of April to get your hands on one. The good news however, both models will be available at the same time. Hit the break for the full release details supplied by Apple.

iPad Available in US on April 3

Pre-Order on March 12

CUPERTINO, Calif., March 5 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — Apple® today announced that its magical and revolutionary iPad will be available in the US on Saturday, April 3, for Wi-Fi models and in late April for Wi-Fi + 3G models. In addition, all models of iPad will be available in Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Spain, Switzerland and the UK in late April.

Beginning a week from today, on March 12, US customers can pre-order both Wi-Fi and Wi-Fi + 3G models from Apple’s online store (www.apple.com) or reserve a Wi-Fi model to pick up on Saturday, April 3, at an Apple retail store.

“iPad is something completely new,” said Steve Jobs, Apple’s CEO. “We’re excited for customers to get their hands on this magical and revolutionary product and connect with their apps and content in a more intimate, intuitive and fun way than ever before.”

Starting at just $499, iPad lets users browse the web, read and send email, enjoy and share photos, watch videos, listen to music, play games, read ebooks and much more. iPad is just 0.5 inches thick and weighs just 1.5 pounds-thinner and lighter than any laptop or netbook-and delivers battery life of up to 10 hours.*

iPad’s revolutionary Multi-Touch™ interface makes surfing the web an entirely new experience, dramatically more interactive and intimate than on a computer. You can read and send email on iPad’s large screen and almost full-size “soft” keyboard or import photos from a Mac®, PC or digital camera, see them organized as albums, and enjoy and share them using iPad’s elegant slideshows. iPad makes it easy to watch movies, TV shows and YouTube, all in HD, or flip through the pages of an ebook you downloaded from Apple’s new iBookstore while listening to your music collection.

The App Store on iPad lets you wirelessly browse, buy and download new apps from the world’s largest app store. iPad includes 12 new innovative apps designed especially for iPad and will run almost all of the more than 150,000 apps on the App Store, including apps already purchased for your iPhone® or iPod touch®. Developers are already creating exciting new apps designed for iPad that take advantage of its Multi-Touch interface, large screen and high-quality graphics.

The new iBooks app for iPad includes Apple’s new iBookstore, the best way to browse, buy and read books on a mobile product. The iBookstore will feature books from the New York Times Best Seller list from both major and independent publishers, including Hachette Book Group, HarperCollins Publishers, Macmillan Publishers, Penguin Group and Simon & Schuster.

The iTunes® Store gives iPad users access to the world’s most popular online music, TV and movie store with a catalog of over 12 million songs, over 55,000 TV episodes and over 8,500 films including over 2,500 in stunning high definition. All the apps and content you download on iPad from the App Store, iTunes Store and iBookstore will be automatically synced to your iTunes library the next time you connect with your computer.

Pricing & Availability

iPad will be available in Wi-Fi models on April 3 in the US for a suggested retail price of $499 for 16GB, $599 for 32GB, $699 for 64GB. The Wi-Fi + 3G models will be available in late April for a suggested retail price of $629 for 16GB, $729 for 32GB and $829 for 64GB. iPad will be sold in the US through the Apple Store® (www.apple.com), Apple’s retail stores and select Apple Authorized Resellers.

iPad will be available in both Wi-Fi and Wi-Fi + 3G models in late April in Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Spain, Switzerland and the UK. International pricing will be announced in April. iPad will ship in additional countries later this year.

The iBooks app for iPad including Apple’s iBookstore will be available as a free download from the App Store in the US on April 3, with additional countries added later this year.

*Battery life depends on device settings, usage and other factors. Actual results vary.

Apple ignited the personal computer revolution in the 1970s with the Apple II and reinvented the personal computer in the 1980s with the Macintosh. Today, Apple continues to lead the industry in innovation with its award-winning computers, OS X operating system and iLife and professional applications. Apple is also spearheading the digital media revolution with its iPod portable music and video players and iTunes online store, and has entered the mobile phone market with its revolutionary iPhone.

© 2010 Apple Inc. All rights reserved. Apple, the Apple logo, Mac, Mac OS, Macintosh, Multi-Touch, iPhone, iPod touch, iTunes and Apple Store are trademarks of Apple. Other company and product names may be trademarks of their respective owners.

It seem like Apple has been on a tear as of late. Removing certain types of apps left and right. Well now they’ve taken the fight to WiFi sniffing applications. Applications that actively “sniff” for signals were pulled. Apps that rely on GPS search and cell triangulation were not removed from the App Store. The reason: Apple truly hasn’t given a specific answer. Some developers whose applications were removed were told, they’re apps used private frameworks. Which frameworks however, were not given. What is disappointing is these developers have spent time on these apps and now they no longer have an avenue to sell them.

Rating: 7 out of 10
Pros: easily generates Follow Fridays dependent on who you tweet often and lately.
Cons: There is no predictive entry for people you follow, limited to 3 favorites.
Overall: This app is a perfect concept and the first version works solidly, with a few tweaks like predictive text and setting up follow Friday lists that you may use every week this app would be pretty close to perfect.  For 99 cents you really can’t go wrong.  If you do 1 or 2 #ff a week this app is for you but if you do numerous #ff I would wait for the evolution of versions.

If you are interested in purchasing Follow Friday Generator for 99 cents click here to be brought to the iTunes page.

Last year the CEO of Netflix responded to the question of whether or not the iPhone and iPad would get Netflix. He stated it was an avenue they would consider but at that time wasn’t being focused on. Well maybe now is the time. According to HackingNetflix.com a survey has been presented to a few lucky subscribers of the movie streaming site. The survey says:

“Imagine that Netflix offers its subscribers the ability to instantly watch movies & TV episodes on their iPhone. The selection availability to instantly watch includes some new releases, lots of classics and TV episodes. There are no advertisements or trailers, and movies start in as little as 30 seconds. You can fast-forward, rewind, and pause or watch again. The movies & TV episodes you instantly watch are included in your Netflix membership for no additional fee.

Whenever you want to instantly watch content on your iPhone, your iPhone must be connected to a Wi-Fi network (such as one you might have at home or at work, or in public places like coffee shops, book stores, hotels, airports, etc.)

If this functionality were available, how likely would you or someone in your household be to instantly watch movies & TV episodes on your iPhone via a Wi-Fi network?

What is interesting to note is that Netflix used this same format to survey the interest of its users to determine whether or not streaming to the PS3 or Wii would be something they would like. And we all know how that turned out. I for one would love to watch my instant que on both the iPhone and upcoming iPad. The question is though will Apple allow it and would AT&T support it.

Rating: 9 out of 10
Pros: Affordable, quality construction and sound  specifically designed for kids, comes in wired and wireless models, wired model has inline volume control, wireless model guaranteed to work with factory DVD systems
Cons: The cord on the wired model is a bit long if the child intends to use it with an iPod.
Overall: The headphones from Kidz Gear are a great solution for the kid in your life.  This portion of the population has been neglected for far too long.  Kids ears and heads are not the same size as adults and manufactures should not expect them to be satisfied with generic adult headphones and earbuds.  It’s a pleasure to see a company take into account the comfort of our children when they are listening to their music or watching a DVD on those long car trips. Not only did my daughter prefer them over earbuds but also seemed to have the volume lower due to the better fit. best of all they are so affordable if the kids break them, parents will not have a fit.  For all these reason Kidz Gear Headphones get my Editor’s Choice Award.

You can purchase Kidz Gear headphones from their website by clicking here.  The wired model is normally $19.99 but on sale now for $16.99 while the wireless version is on sale for $29.99 with a regular price of $34.99.

There are so many weird iPhone and iPod accessories it’s hard to keep count. And of course with the launch of the iPad, it could be no different. The folks over at Hip Handmaids have thrown together, and when I say thrown together I mean hand sown, a special iPad case. The iMaxi takes the iPad name and rolls with what we are were thinking when we heard the name. Here’s the description straight from the site:

With its durable vinyl outer layer and plush, quilted-cotton sleeve, the iMaxi helps keep your iPad clean and dry. Plus, the iMaxi’s Velcro-latched, advanced wing design wraps snugly around your device, so your iPad always stays where it should. Best of all, it shields it from all those unsightly and embarrassing data leaks that would make any motherboard worry!

For $30 the iMaxi is priced around similar iPad cases that will hit the market shortly. Is this a case you’d buy for your iPad? Hit the break for a few more pictures.

Well it looks like Apple’s new flagship device might be going on sale Friday, March 26th at 6pm. Both MacRumors and the Examiner have gotten word from their respective sources that the device will be sent to Apple stores nationwide on the 10th. At that time, Apple employees will receive training necessary to answer questions from prospective buyers when the device is available for sale. As we know the WiFi only iPad will be available at this time, with the 3G version following suit within a month or so. Now the question is how many of the iPads will be available at launch. A buzz on the internet, is that Apple’s suppliers are having a tough time with the production of the device, reducing the potential amount that would be ready to ship. Some numbers are that only 300K would be ready, down from the initial amount hoped for of 1 million. Apple once again has something in mind for the early adopters. If you line up to purchase the iPad, Apple is said to be surprising those people with a gift. Who knows what it will be.