Expert Blogs
Sanho is one of those accessory vendors that makes the Apple ecosystem better. They don't try to rip off Apple or other accessory vendors with cheap knockoffs. They either build a better mousetrap by improving on an existing accessory or they invent something new that you didn't know you needed until you saw it! You might know of them under their brand name HyperMac and their HyperJuice external batteries for MacBooks, iOS and USB devices.
I confess, I am a serial case-swapper. I get to try out a lot of cases, as a writer for iPhone Life Magazine, so I can pick and choose the right case for the right job. Maybe it's a waterproof iPhone case for my trip to Cancun, or glow-in-the-dark iPhone case I used on a recent camping trip. The same applies for my iPad 2. I have a trade show coming up and I expect to be demoing my apps on my iPad, so the case I will be using is the Handstand.
Being a perfectionist isn't easy. But when it comes to making a waterproof iPhone case, it's a requirement. That's why it was nice to see that personality in the folks from LifeProof. I met them at MacWorld in January 2011, and they showed me a prototype of their upcoming iPhone 4 case. It was waterproof, dirtproof, shockproof, and even snowproof, hence the name "LifeProof." I have seen and tried other waterproof cases before, but they were much bulkier and they obstructed the various ports, so you had to fully remove the case to charge them.
My daughter is entering Middle School and it can be intimidating. So I was excited to see Be Confident in Who You Are: Middle School Confidential, a graphic novel turned into an interactive, electronic book, complete with audio and visual effects. There are a variety of topics so a student is likely to find something they can relate to, whether it is bullying, body image, self confidence, etc.
The gold standard for a Bluetooth keyboard for an iPad is probably Apple's wireless keyboard. But gold can be heavy and expensive, and the Apple keyboard is pricey at $69. A competing keyboard needs to be smaller or lighter, or cheaper or have more features like specialized keys. With that in mind, I tried out some alternative Bluetooth keyboards.
"Awesome!" and "Adorable!" and similar pronouncements were shouted when I displayed the Headphonies® "Stryker" Portable Micro Speaker to my kids! At first, they thought it was a cute little toy like their plethora of figurines from Disney and Hello Kitty, but when I showed them that it was a portable speaker, that actually performed a useful function, they were really into it.
Leather is one of those guilty pleasures. So if you're going to indulge, do it right. I've been enjoying the latest SENA (http://www.SENAcases.com) for my iPad 2 and they are exceedingly well made. SENA cases are "handcrafted from the finest quality, full-grain genuine leather" and you don't have to take that with a grain of salt... it's true!
[Special Guest Review by Dennis Wurster of MacSmarts.com] The folks at Marware are at it again, extending their line of iPad cases to the iPad 2, offering six different choices in various colors and materials. Their most popular case is the $50 "CEO Hybrid for iPad 2", in the folio-style that Marware is famous for. You can see more at http://www.marware.com/c-e-o-hybrid-ipad-2-case
By making a waterproof iPhone case, The Joy Factory has gone where most case makers fear to tread (or tread water, in this situation.) Just because you can make a waterproof case, doesn't mean you want to ship one, because you still need to make it foolproof enough that end users will seal it properly before they take the plunge. The $40 RainBallet from The Joy Factory addresses this through several smart decisions.
I was recently spelunking... yes that's a word, even though my wife thought I made it up. We were exploring an underground cave called Howe Caverns, in Upstate New York. The caverns are 200 feet underground and lit artificially, but there are still areas of darkness. Thankfully, I had my iPhone enclosed in a glow-in-the-dark case from MoonSkins! Any case can protect your iPhone, but the MoonSkins offer added value by glowing in the dark. Now you might not be spelunking every day, but wouldn't it be nice to be able to find your phone on the nightstand, without having to turn on the lights?
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