Extra Juice of the Apple - PowerShadow i4 Battery Case & Charge/Sync Dock for iPhone 4/4S

The iPhone is one of the greatest advancements in technology of recent decades, and with the advancements new ways of using your phone have come up, for example I use it as my camera and camcorder at events like San Diego Comic Con and sometimes to capture performances when at comedy clubs. Sadly by doing so I drain the battery of my device quicker than you can say “where’s the outlet?”

Of course many companies have come out with charging alternatives, extra life batteries, solar chargers, wireless chargers and so on. 

The PowerShadow i4 by Spyder is an extra life battery that attaches itself like a phone case onto the device, but also comes with a charging dock that allows for easy drop and charge ability. 

The case and charger have a rubber satin finish wich to me is always a plus since it feels like a higher quality device, the case still allows for access to the device buttons and ports. it also comes with a full body charging station that comes with the same rubber satin finish, what makes it stand out the most is that the helps maximize the battery life and also comes with the option of turning the battery on and off. 

The battery does add some body width to the phone but with the 8 hours of extra life it adds it is a small sacrafice made for the convinience, on top of that with the price point not many battery cases out there come bundeled with the charging station, so great value and great product, I will personally be using this at San Diego Comic Con 2012 to help aliviate some of the drain and strain on my device.

www.spyderstyle.com

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Features
Includes convenient Charge/Sync Dock. Certified “Made for iPhone.” (1) Fits both AT&T and Verizon iPhones. Adds minimal size and weight. 2000 mAh capacity provides up to:   - 8 hours of extra talk on 3G   - 11 hours of video   - 44 hours of music Retains full access to all of your iPhone’s controls, ports, inputs and outputs. Battery level indicator. Recharge and sync without removing your iPhone from the i4 case. On/Off button lets you control when power is delivered to your iPhone. Impact-resistant polycarbonate body with satin rubber finish. Optional in-car charger. One-year warranty.
Technical Specs
Dimensions:   5.01” x 2.4” x 0.79”;   (mm) 127.3 x 61 x 20 Capacity: 2000 mAh (2) Weight: 2.6 oz; 73.7 g Battery type: A-Grade Lithium-Ion Polymer by Erick Castillo

Smart, Sexy, and Safe - Solo Smart iPad Cover

Covers for the iPad are all over the place with different colors, designs, functions, and all kinds of levels when it comes to protection. iSkin is a company that has been around from the start of the mobile device era, and with that experience comes a different way of looking at what the user and the device need for the best value, protection, and style in order to continue proving why they have been around for so long.

The Solo Smart iPad cover has a great slim design that does not really add much to the body except style with color choices to match every taste a user may have.

When it comes to functionality it has a lot to speak of, with proper protection covers on the charging port, head phone jack, and volume buttons so that dust and moisture do not enter the areas, made from a new generation of flexible thermo-polymer that makes it easy to grip the iPad and also gives it a gummy like texture that feels comfortable.

But what makes the Solo Smart stand out the most is the CoverLock Locking system that locks the Apple Smart Cover into the case itself, meaning that you can literally have your cover stay on secured and will not come unsecured unintentionally. So as demonstrated on their site you can hold on to the iPad via the Smart Cover and it will not come undone and add the protection of the case this is one the best cases on the market for all these reasons and on top of that the name brand of quality that is iSkin.

by

Erick Castillo

Japanese Inspired Funk - iSkin Happy Friends iPhone 4 Case

Ever since I received my iPhone 4S for Christmas I have been on a mad search to find the ‘perfect’ case for it.  I have tried a few, but the one that I really like is the aura Happy Friends Edition by iSkins. The case was designed by a Brazilian artist by the name of Cako Martin.  Cako is one of today’s young artists whose ideas and pop illustrations are memorable due to the bright colors and the street style look to his art.  He draws his inspiration from the every day chaos of life from walking in a park to staying at home watching the latest YouTube video.  His work has been published in England, Brazil, Germany, and the USA.

One of the reasons that I like this case so much is the art style of Cako.  Due to the fact that it was a Japanese inspired design Cako’s style reminds me of the Toki Doki style.  The actual case itself is made of a light weight poly carbonate material and the design is printed on canvas.  The Ultra slim fit design of the case provides a very low profile protection.  I like this because who wants their phone case to be thicker that their actual phone.  The case gently hugs your entire device but you still have easy access to the ports and can control all of the buttons with ease.  Another cool feature is that the case will actually enhance your grip on the phone.  It sets my mind at ease to know that it has that feature.  One of the other cases from another company that I tried had a thick rubber cover over the audio output jack and because of that you had to take the entire case off to use the output jack.  With this case you don’t have to worry about that.  All in all this is a great case to have…and it looks good too.

by

Cara Castillo 

New Positions for the iPhone - iKlik Review

This simple piece of plastic is for making your Iphone 4S a viewing station. It has 5 different angles it can be postioned so you have a lot of choices in how you want to use it. It comes with little feet pads to put it in postition and hold the body in place more comfortably and be less slick proof. 

The stand is sturdy and holds your Iphone in place if you aren’t too rough with it. I like that you can have it tilted just a little to almost completely flat depending on how you feel like using it that day. It moves pretty easy, but not loose enough that it will move on you while you are watching a video.. or if you go to pause or play something.

It is just plastic so Im guessing if you are too rough with it, the shelf life will be much shorter then if you treat it like its can break. It’s a nice cheap contraption if you want to be able to place your Iphone next to you  and watch youtube or make calls while you blog, play on facebook, game or check email.

by

Traci Goodwin

Recycling that Saves and Protects - GreenSmart Bag Reviews

I love companies that can take old materials and create a whole new product that is functional and stylish at the same time, better yet if the company also helps conserve and protect nature with the aide of the sales from said products.

Well GreenSmart does all those things and more, I was lucky enough to see some of their products at CES first hand and I have been doing a test run on the Green Puku Messenger bag picture here. 

For example this bag is made from 30 recycled plastic bottles, with a large pocket that can hold a laptop that measures up to 15.4”, plenty of pockets, zipper pocket on top and a smaller zipper pocket on the front it has a lot of storage without being a bulky bag.

A big part of what makes these bags so impressive is the process used to make the fabric, bottles turned into chips, spun into yarn, then woven into fabric and sewn into bags.

And that’s not all they do to help protect and conserve our resources, in fact the bags are named after animals and the proceeds helps the organizations that help protect the animals in the wild. 

For example this bag is named after the Puku is an antelope found in the wet grasslands of Southern Democratic Republic of Congo and Zambia. When scared, they repeat a shrill whistle sound. Puku are crepuscular, as they are active in the early morning and late afternoon. 

Another one of the products that we tried out was the MacBook 15/15” Laptop Markhor, a slim laptop case with a strap, pretty basic in design but it has enough space for your basic laptop needs.

And so if you would like to do something good for the environment, help endangered species, and have some cool gear go ahead and check out GreenSmart Bags, they are worth the money and good karma.

GreenSmart

Now for your chance to win a MacBook 15/15” Laptop Markhor of your own!

Get on twitter and follow both @Dmonkeystudios and @beGreenSmart then post the following:

Follow @DMonkeyStudios and @beGreenSmart for a chance to win MacBook 15/15” Markhor Case, click the link for rules http://t.co/GcnuVGlP

Participants must follow both to qualify, must be a US Resident in order to win, only 1 case available and only 1 winner will be determined. Tweet must dated between February 13th 2012 and February 24th 2012 to qualify. Winner will be contacted via twitter.

by

Erick Castillo

Livio Radio Bluetooth Internet Radio Car Kit: LVC02A - Review

FM Transmitters come in all shapes and sizes, in fact some offer clear signals and sound, others come with USB chargers built in and finally others simply offer easy to use set up. Well wouldn’t be great if someone came up with a solution for all users and make it a wireless option as well?

Well here we are thanks to Livio Radio and their Bluetooth Internet Radio Car Kit LVC02A we have all those features and more, does it stand up too tech geek standards and still maintains an easy to use interface for the average consumer? Well let’s get to the main features and options it offers.

Well as the name of the product states it is a bluetooth interface device, meaning you can pair it to a mobile device or tablet as long as bluetooth is available. So the initial pairing is quite simple, it really all depends on your device, Apple users have an easy set up and as far as Android or Windows Mobile it will all depend on the software version of the OS.

The device offers a few extra features that make it a premium device, for one it comes with a USB charging port t keep your device battery alive especially when using bluetooth data transfer to get the music going. 

Another great feature is the hands free calling with the noise-cancelling mic, it makes so much easier to take calls on the road and have your music will pause and will take the call, once you are done you just go back to it with the push of a button, it also has a redial on the last call made or received so again simply makes things easier for you on the road.

There is an optional free app that you can download on the Apple App store and the Android Market Place, it’s called “Livio Car Internet Radio” which works great much like Pandora and other music apps out there, the biggest difference is that you can choose the type of music you want to listen to. 

Overall the device offers a great wireless transmission option for those that don’t have an Aux connection in the car stereo and offers an additional solution to bluetooth headsets with the noise cancelling mic and all, the device is very much recommended buy from for it’s simple yet feature full experience.

by

Erick Castillo

A Speck of Fire Protection - Speck Fitfolio Case Kindle Fire Review

I was so excited when I got my Kindle Fire for Christmas. But after the initial surprise I immediately started looking at cases to protect my newest toy. I really enjoyed the case for my Kindle 3G by *Speck. So it is no wonder that I went back to *Speck to dress my Kindle Fire. The FitFolio for the Kindle Fire was the answer to my prayers.

The FitFolio combines the fit of a custom molded hard shell case along with the complete cover protection in a book like cover. The case is designed to snugly hold your Kindle Fire in place. I like this feature because I am always shoving mine in my purse not caring what I bump in the way. Your Kindle will not slip or slide in the FitFolio. Believe me, I am pretty rough with mine, and have yet to scratch or bump it. The outside cover is made of a leatherette material that will keep your Kindle safe whether it is in your book bag, or coat. So for all of you vegans out there, rejoice. No animals were harmed in the making of this product. The inside is lined with a micro suede material and is held in place with a small bungee cord. The bungee cord comes in handy when you fold the cover back and hold it one handed. The cover also converts in to a stand. All you have to do is fold it back and use the built in grooves to secure the tablet at one of four angles, which are perfect for either typing, gaming, and of course reading.

This great case come in three colors, red, black and a teal color. My favorite is the red one and at $34.95 you could get one in every color. I definitely would recommend this product to anyone that has a Kindle Fire and wanted to keep it looking like the day you bought it.

by

Cara Castillo

HD Pixelation for iPad2 - Speck PixelSkin iPad2 Review

Since 2001, Speck has been making high quality cases with slick designs for a variety of devices.  Their PixelSkin line was inspired by…well, hand grenades.  It’d be a bad situation to drop a grenade, so it’s designed with a special grid-style texture to prevent accidents.  The PixelSkin cases follow the same idea, “pixilated” rubber surfaces to give you a handle on your device as well as protect it in case of dropping.

Reading up on the Speck PixelSkin HD wrap for the iPad2, people had tons of good things to say.  Good value, durable, slim…With 4 ½ star ratings everywhere, there was very little negative to read.  I had to try this case out for myself.

The case comes in purple, black, raspberry or cobalt and I got the cobalt. The colors are a little too girly for most so I’m sure black sells out quickly.  Unfortunately it took me a little work to get my iPad into this case.  It wasn’t difficult to stretch it, but when I slipped it on the corners kept trying to take off my screen protector.  Once I got it on, it fit like a glove. I really liked the way it felt and how thin it is compared to other cases I’ve used.  At 10.7oz (.67lbs), it does add a little bit of weight, but very little bulk.  The design is very similar to the Apple Smart cover.  It can be folded at various angles for typing or viewing. The big difference is that it doesn’t activate when opened.  The closure isn’t a magnet, but it uses microsuction instead.  The little tab kept popping up when I closed it so I took the website’s advice and cleaned it with a cotton ball and a little rubbing alcohol.  After cleaning, the closure worked just fine.

Overall, I really liked this case but my brother insisted on testing it’s durability by throwing the iPad at me when I wasn’t looking.  I’m not very good at catching anyway, but when I turned around I stumbled trying to catch it and cringed to see my iPad crashing to the hard floor.  Suprisingly, there was no damage at all.  Feeling a little more bold, I tested my luck by tossing my device hand to hand and dropping it repeatedly.  I even hit the case several times (I learned after the first swing that my hand isn’t the smartest thing to hit it with and iced my knuckle).  The PixelSkin wrap is amazingly rugged and withstood my beating without damage to my iPad.  That was all the proof I needed to make this my primary case.

For the price, this is a good value, too.  If you are looking for a thin case that does a great job of protecting you iPad, the Speck PixelSkin HD wrap receives a high rating from me.  High quality, nice looking and a great grip, I love this case.

by

Addy Bishop

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Sweet Grip - Speck CandyShell Grip iPhone 4/4S Review

 A while back I reviewed the CandyShell Grip for the iPod Touch, well now we have the the same idea adapted to the iPhone 4/4S, and well this case is just as sweet as the iPod touch version.

With ribbed rubber grips on the back of the case making it easy to hold on to the device while playing games or even texting, the case also encloses all the external buttons and protects them in case of impact, as far as the screen the case has a small groove over it and frames the screen for protection.

The case has a good combination of hard and soft materials to give the case both a pleasing look and a great protection combination, overall the case is great just like the iPod Touch version.

But like most cases it’s not without it’s flaws, one of the biger ones is the large area used to expose the camera and flash, there seems to be to much open space for an area of the phone that can easily be ruined by a scratch or dent.

Also this case series would benefit from 2 mayor things to make it just amazing, one would be a charge port cover to prevent any water or pocket lint to get stuck inside it and ruin the charging port. Last but not least more color options for people, yeah the standard colors of Blue, Red, Yellow, Black, and White look great with the polished finish but more colors would be awesome other than that well worth the money and really does look great especially for gamers on the go.

by

Erick Castillo

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Flexible Audio - iSkin earTones Review

Just like everyone else out there I enjoy listening to music on my ipod.  But I have one problem.  I can never find the right head phones.  Something is always wrong with them.  From not fitting properly to them being just uncomfortable to wear.  But that was before I tried out earTones made by iSkin.

 

These ear buds are simply amazing.  First of all the sound quality is great, thanks to the fact that they deliver clean and clear Hi Definition Stereo sound.  Another thing that I like and appreciate about these ear buds is that they are light weight.  I think that since my ears are small part of the reason why others were uncomfortable for me is because they simply were too heavy.  These ear buds also come with a integrated microphone and remote control. While iTunes is running users can remote control their play lists.  This allows you to play, stop and skip between music.  On Macs and PCs the earTones provide excellent audio input and sound output for applications such as Skype, Facetime and iChat.  They feature Microban antimicrobial product protection on both the ear buds and the microphone to dispel odors, fungus and stains.  The Microban layer also adds a little bit of padding to them as well.  EarTones are the first product of its kind to have such and advanced feature.    I think that my favorite feature is that they have Flexfit. They are also the first to have flexible necks that allow the ear buds to flex when inserted.  The little bit of flexing on these made me able to wear earTones for hours at a time due to the fact that I forget that they are in.  They come in six different colors: black/red, black\black, pink\black, blue\white, black\white, purple\white and at only $39.99 are a great deal for your money. 

by

Cara Castillo

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