Recently, I received a blueLounge 'Refresh' for this review and like its title, it is a great charging station with a jaw-dropping simplistic and refreshing design. It basically is an all metal docking station designed to charge up to six different appliances all at one time.

It has six built-in connectors, which makes it compatible with more than a 1000 products available worldwide! Out of these, two are iPod and iPhone connectors to charge your favorite apple device. Others include a Mini USB and Micro USB connector which are the main reason for wide compatibility. It even has two USB sockets where you can plugin the USB cables for your device and then connected the device to charge. All these connectors get hidden below a nice black rubberized tray, on which the devices rest. The connectors are just long enough so that these can be accessed using the cable access space to plug in the device easily. To avoid any confusion, the name of each connecter is specified along with it.

With this set-up, you can hide all your cables and just plug in the 'Refresh' power cord to a socket and charge all devices simultaneously. This not only makes your desk look clean but the design makes it look cool as well.

Overall, if you don't want the old and boring looking charging stations on your desk or at any other place, the 'Refresh' is really a fresh new option worth giving a try. It comes in three color choices – white, black and pink all of which are meant for different people with different needs.  At the price tag of $89.99, it makes a great  Christmas gifts for your colleagues with messy desks! You can buy it directly off blueLounge here or from their store here.

The guys at blueLounge were cool enough to giveaway 2 of these to our loyal readers. To enter the giveaway, just post a comment below beginning with "bL-" and provide your color choice as well- black, white or pink.

OR

Follow us on Twitter and tweet:

Just entered to win a Bluelounge Refresh Charging Station! Follow @modmyi and retweet for you chance to win! http://is.gd/4Zm5L

The contest ends on the 22nd of November at 11:59PM GMT -7. Open only to US residents.

Rad-tech sells some of the coolest products out there today.  I’ve been a fan for a while, so when I finally was able to convince the wife to let me upgrade to a 3G (Yes, still a model behind, story of my life) I ordered 2 cases before even receiving the phone.  This is the story of the first case I received, which is the ARC Hard Shell case for the iPhone 3G and 3GS.

First off, the case feels amazing, it’s smooth, but not slippery smooth.  The case itself wraps around the sides, but doesn’t quite cover the bezel completely, and the fit is great, nice and snug with no wiggle or loose feeling.  The site claims it slides in and out of pockets easily, and I can verify that this is exactly why I love this case.  The grip works well, but it still drops in and out of pockets with no problems at all.

I have dropped it a couple of times, but not onto cement or anything hard.  That being said, it still held nicely to the phone and only had a black “rub” mark on it, which came right off.  My only complaint has to do with the bottom half of the case.  The “button” used to release it from the rest is quite tight, and does not easily come off for docking. Also, the side flanges on it are VERY thin, and it’s easy for them to slip to the outside while assembling, possibly breaking them off.

Overall, aside from the minor quibbles, which aren’t deal breakers in any way, this case is fantastic, and one that I used for quite awhile before switching around to something different (I’m a bit of a case nerd too).  While there are some minor issues with the case design this is a great option, especially in the category of affordable cases.

Today we are taking a look at and reviewing the Richard Solo custom iPhone case for the 3G  / 3GS. If simplicity is the key, Richard Solo has found the winning combination of understated and simple cases. This case is extremely thin and form fitting with nearly zero added bulk. It slides neatly around the phone barely making it's presence known at all. 

So who is Richard Solo anyway? RichardSolo is created by Richard Thalheimer, who founded and created The Sharper Image* in 1977. This is his newest collection of products, chosen to make your life better. I'm sure we all remember the Sharper Image catalog.

This case was designed to work with the support brace on on the back of the RS001 (RichardSolo 1800) external battery charger which we reviewed recently here at ModMyi. That's why it has the high notch in the back. As you can see from the pictures it fits so well you can barely tell it is there.  It does a good job covering all the major areas of the iPhone.  Being so thin and lightweight this case is better suited for protecting your iPhone from ugly scratches and nicks.  For major shocks you might consider looking elsewhere, there is only so much shock protection you can expect from such a thin and lightweight case.

The bottom line: The Richard Solo case is a minimal design for a minimalistic lifestyle. It's thin, light, very convenient to use with the Richard Solo charge unit, and provides full access to the ports and buttons of the iPhone. There is a small concern that repeatedly taking the case apart and putting it back together might compromise the clasping system on the back but with a one-year RichardSolo.com warranty you should be able to get the case replaced if any issues arise.

I feel certain that anyone looking for a case that adds as little as possible to the iPhone will love the Richard Solo, especially if compatibility with the Richard Solo 1800 charge unit is a priority. While it can be used as a stand alone case, its compatibility with the charging unit is what really makes the Richard Solo Custom Case shine.

• 2009 CES Innovations Design and Engineering Showcase Honoree
• speaker diameter: 10mm
• frequency response: 20hz to 20Khz
• impedance: 16 Ohms
• max input power: 10mW
• cable length: 1.37 meters/54 inches
• plug type: 3.5mm
• sensitivity: 94dB +/- 3dB SPL/mW

It's Zbud time! Today we are reviewing the Zagg Zbuds and we ARE having fun in the process! We are jamming out to the in ear buds with metal cases and several selectable size inserts to hopefully find a comfy spot for your ear. They come in a package with a nylon carrying case, though my case had some adhesive on it when I opened the package.

You can get the Zbuds in several different colors as seen on their site linked to the top right in this review. We have the black for this review which include a black metal casing for the earbuds, black ear inserts, black cords, black nylon carry case, and black mic. First thing you'll have to do is find a set of earbud foams that work for you. After having used almost every earbud on the market I have still yet to find one that works we well as the FutureSonics "pyramid" style earbuds, but the Zbuds foam inserts are up to par with everything else out there so not slobby at all. They do include a set of pyramid style earbuds, but the material just doesn't hook up in the ear like the Futuresonic buds do. I just have a problem with the expanded foam inserts working their way out of my ear, especially with a thick stiff cord like the Zbuds have moving the bud in my ear back and forth as I move my head.

Now we see the difference in the stock Apple earbuds and the Zagg buds. The Zagg design is called "tangle free", but I have to call it "rather bulky and stiff". This is my only complaint about the entire setup is that the apple buds do not force themselves out of my ears and have to be reset in the canal from moving around because the cord is soft and bends. Another result of the thickness is a lot of bulk when rolling the cord up and pocketing it. These earbuds are anything but compact. The mic is huge, the cord is huge, the rolled bulk pretty much demands the use of the included case.

The last photo shows the Zagg bud beside the famous FutureSonic pyramid style earbud which sucks into your ear like a plunger and stays there. I'd love to see Zagg consider a similar insert that isn't foam given the "in the field" use of the headphones tens to wiggle the foam loose easily in your ear. I'd imagine if we had more selection of foam inserts some of this could be eliminated with better fit, but it could all be eliminated with not using foam so perhaps Zagg can find a hybrid combo of foam for the base to mount the earbud insert, and a similar material to the FutureSonic for the bud tip. As you may tell not having these foams fit and falling out of my ear is annoying me as I write this.

Let's Listen to the Zaggbuds! They are crisp and have a nice range to them. They are a tad sharp and bright, but that is likely done to compensate for the harsh mobile environment. They certainly are tweaked for the higher notes. Play some acoustic guitar on them and you'll quickly find their sweet spot. We tested them out on "Brainerd Road" by Roger Alan Wade and the opening notes pierced the ear canals like you were there live. These would be the perfect techno buds if they had a little more low end punch to the, but instead they are more flat across the bottom end for rock and roll and other quick styles of music. Basically they are loud and proud, flatter on bottom and screaming across the top, balanced for jamming out to something that has a nice overall fill rather than a technical low end groove. These kinds of buds are the ones you want to listen to music on. People tend to buy an earbud that can hit a 40 hz note in your ear, but they overpower and muddy up on "real music" that is not processed to stay in one range. The Zaggbuds are well thought out to cover the entire range and are as stated before geared towards higher end performance to really get that sharp, crisp scream out of them. You can control the volume on the microphone by your ear if you don't want to reach across the desk for the iPod.

Overall review: While I am a bit tweaked by their bulky cord and mic, and not fond of the earbud foams that most of you will be fine with (I've seen the best inserts and I'm spoiled), I LOVE the Zaggbuds screaming attitude and well balanced overall performance. I think there are several good points to these that are worth checking out and I will certainly use them for my Van Halen days when I want to do some ear bleeding rocking out. They are very efficient and LOUD so they make a great set of headphones to jam to and their bright sound makes them the perfect set for electric and steel guitars. Being the owner of several sets of headphones double their price (FutureSonics for instance) I can say that these headphones are certainly among the best in their price range and perhaps in higher price ranges as well. If you have $80 to blow the Zaggbuds are the best way to spend under $80 on a set of headphones. They SCREAM for this price range, so give them a shot!

Customize when and how your phone will ring based off of your Calendar appointments!

Ever been in a meeting and had your phone go off as you’d forgot to put it to Silent? Ever been home and missed a call because you forgot to switch back OUT of silent mode? Calendar Pro (Profiles) is a new package in the Cydia Store ($2.99) which is for you then. There’s more than one implementation of this idea out there – but none does it quite as well as Calendar Pro (Profiles) does. There’s a few things that make it such a solid app, but the major one is this – it syncs up with your Calendar events, and knows exactly when to use each profile.

Calendar Pro (Profiles) is built by Paul Griffin (aka phoenix3200), a well-respected dev in the jailbreak community. He is also the author of Music Controls, another app in the Cydia Store. Keep reading for more info.

You can create multiple profiles, each with a large variety of options. Profiles get a unique name, set by you, and are customized further then. You set the overall system behavior for this profile (Ring, Ring + Vib, Silent), and then can choose individual behaviors as well. Say I want to create a profile called “Sleeping,” during which everything is silent – no SMS sounds, email sounds, or event sounds – BUT I want my phone to still ring if someone calls. Or maybe I want a “Meetings” profile where everything is completely silent, but I DO get a vibration for a text. All that’s possible with Calendar Pro (Profiles).

Another special added feature – you can choose whether you want the Ringer Switch to be enabled or not (the button on your iPhone that moves it between Silent and Ringer modes) for each profile. Say I’m at a ball game, and I want the phone in Loud mode, but I accidentally flip that silent switch… if I’m on a Ringer Switch disabled profile, then I still have an iPhone in loud mode!

Profiles can be activated based on time (my “Sleeping” profile would be active 1AM-9AM every day), Events (certain events would get my “Meetings” profile), or a nice combination of the two – so any time there’s an event between 9AM and 5PM, I go to “Work Meeting” profile.

Individual filters and rules can also be applied to further drill down your specifics.

If you’re a person who is in business or in school – this is great for you. Check it out in the Cydia Store now!

So about a year ago one of my 15" Macbook Pro's batteries was reaching the end of its life and no longer holding a charge.  Stock Apple battery performance was never that good and I could pull about 2.5 hrs max off a single charge.  When shopping for a new battery the Fastmac TruePower battery caught my attention with its claims of larger capacity and longer lasting advanced powercell.

I got the battery (delayed a couple months after the order because they are always out of stock) and was immediately impressed with performance.  Off a single charge my Macbook Pro would run 3-3.5 hrs which was a great improvement.  I was pleased with my purchase and thought I'd gotten a great battery for $30 less than Apple was selling their stock battery.

Fast forward a year later.  I have quite a few batteries floating around and this one hasn't been used much.  I use it only when I know I'll need that extra capacity for outings with no external power source available.  So far my TruePower battery has gone through 18 charge cycles and has 96% health remaining.

The "aluminum finish" on the bottom of the battery turns out to be crap.  It scratches really easily and my hardly used battery looks like a very well used battery.  However this really isn't a big deal as long as the battery still performs.

And performs it does except for one major flaw.  This battery is a defective piece of junk.  It takes quite a bit for me to call something junk — the product has to either worry me about my laptop/phone's safety or my personal safety.  My hardly used battery appears to have a self destruct timer set for 1 year.  The battery has bulged out of its casing.  Many laptop manufacturers in recent years have had to do massive recalls because of this issue in their laptop batteries.

I contacted the Fastmac technical support who pretty much blew me off and referred me to sales because my battery is about a month over a year old and thay aren't authorized to do anything about products over 1 year old.  That's completely understandable.  No problem, I contacted sales.

Sales told me "A battery w/ 18 cycles should not exhibit any swelling or bulging.  This generally occurs when the battery has hit end of life due to the remaining healthy cells being so few that they are severely overworked as they attempt to do the job of a battery that originally had plenty of health."

While I completely agree that a battery with 18 cycles should not exhibit any swelling or bulging (duh) the rest of Fastmac's response doesn't inspire confidence.  They are pretty much saying that batteries when used a lot will swell and bulge and that their batteries are designed to do that.  What a shoddy product.  There are countless batteries in mobile devices that do not swell and bulge when they get old.  Swelling and bulging is not a design feature, it is a defect in product design.

Anyways they asked me to send in my battery for further review which I will do.  I am of course assuming they will see this review of their sub-standard product and refuse to replace the defective battery.  While that would annoy me, I wouldn't be too heartbroken because I'm not sure I want to put another defective Fastmac battery in my laptop.  By the way it isn't just me.  There are countless posts all over the web saying the same things about these batteries with varied amounts of usage.  The entire line appears to be poorly designed and defective.  Stay away.  Spend that extra $$$ on a Apple battery with less capacity.  At least it wont be defective (and if it is they'll most likely replace it with a non-defective unit).

Today we will review the Richard Solo 1800 for the iPhone and all iPod (except shuffle) and having some fun in the process. This external battery system provides power for your iPhone while charging it back up. The system has a laser  and a white led guide light on one end and a charging port on the other. Other indicators are power led’s on the front to let you know of the system status.

So who is Richard Solo anyway? RichardSolo is created by Richard Thalheimer, who founded and created The Sharper Image* in 1977. This is his newest collection of products, chosen to make your life better. I’m sure we all remember the Sharper Image catalog.

The charger’s that come with the Solo are a wall charger with a usb port and a car charger with 2 usb ports. All put out the standard 5v output of a usb port. A retractible usb cable is included that coils upon itself and keeps tangle and slack from getting in the way. If you look at the Solo you’ll notice it has a black face with silver trim. It imitates the iPhone’s look to accomplish a nice integration between the two.

In testing I was able to use the Solo for two hours solid while it charged my phone, put it down, come back and my phone be completely charged and the solo still have plenty of reserve power. One could easily leave the house in the morning with a full charge on their phone and Solo, burn their phones battery down on some games or chatting, charge it back up to full, and still have energy in the Solo for later. The red laser is very bright and shines for a long distance outside, as well the white led light was helpful getting in my trunk with my phone in my hand. Due to the nature of the way the Solo connects to the phone it’s possible to have a very bad accident with the phone connected to the charger so be mindful of what you are doing when hooked to the Solo. The last thing you want is to damage your dock port on the phone. If you’re looking for a nice addition to your iPhone in battery support, the Richard Solo external power supply is a great choice that looks the part and is compact to boot.

The Sena Sarach Flip Case for iPhone 3G/3GS is part of Sena's designer series line of cases.  I'd like to add that I test fit one of my iPhone 2G units in the case and it appeared to fit fine as well.  The case comes in a variety of colors including Black/Grey, Red/Red, Brown/Cream, Tan/Cream, and Red/Cream.  Our review sample came in the Brown/Cream color combination.  The case is hand sewn out of full grain Napa leather with some light velvet on the inside to protect your iPhone from scratches.  This particular case is a flip design — there is a cover that flips down to cover the screen for protection.

Putting the iPhone in the case is a simple procedure.  Just raise the flip and slide the iPhone in from the top.  The iPhone fits snuggly inside of the case without any looseness or misfitting.  There are cutouts in all the usual places around the case specific to the iPhone.  The light sensors and camera aren't blocked.  You can access the data port, volume buttons, headphone port, and silent switch with the case open or closed.  The lock button and the home button are both fully covered when the flip is closed but easily accessible when the flip is open.  Even the speaker and microphone have cut outs so they aren't blocked.  After the case it adds bulk to the iPhone as expected, but it isn't too bad and the phone still slides into a packet nicely.

Let's talk a little bit about quality.  The Sena Sarach Flip Case is put together very well.  The leather is obviously high quality with a smooth but firm feel and zero visual imperfections.  All the stitching on the case is tight and solid.  There are no issues with loose threads anywhere.  The velvet is used on the inside of the case where the case meets the front and sides of the iPhone.  While there is no velvet where the back of the iPhone comes in contact with the case I don't feel like it is necessary.  The leather probably isn't going to scratch the phone.  Visually I particularly like this color combo.  The cream stitching offsets the brown leather nicely reminding me of those Dr. Martens shoes that were all the rage back in the 90s.  The case has a sleek and simple appearance with a classic look.

There are a few things that bug me a bit with the case.  First and foremost is the magnets that hold the flip closed.  They work great for holding the flip closed but I have always been nervous with magnets around electronic devices.  I am sure that Sena wouldn't be using magnets if they caused issues — Sena has been in the business for quite some time now — but just in case I'm going to use this case for a few weeks to see if there are any issues.  If there are issues I'll update this post.

Next on my list of things that bug me is the opening for the volume buttons and the silent switch.  There isn't much room between the buttons on the iPhone and Sena has decided to run a leather strip between them.  It just sort of feels like that leather strip might push the volume up button unintentionally.  In my experience for the past couple days it hasn't interfered with the volume keys at all, it just looks like it might in the future and makes me uncomfortable.

The last thing to mention is that with the flip up you'll have to make sure that it isn't working its way into the frame while taking photos.  It isn't a big deal, just something you should be aware of.

All in all this case is quite good.  The quality of materials and the quality of the stitching is impeccable.  The price is a bit steep, but in the same price range as other iPhone cases designed for users that are not only buying a case but are also buying a stylish accessory.  Welcome to America, there is a premium on high quality materials and style.  We award this case with an overall rating of 4/5.  It's nearly perfect with an excellent overall feel, but does have a few minor issues that possibly only bother me

Today we're checking out the ION CarbonFiber Leather Shell for the iPhone 2G/3G/3GS.  The case is constructed of a mix of leather and carbon fiber for a a sleek and sexy looking final product.  Our review unit is black leather but there are other color choices to choose from (for the leather/fabric portions) including white leather, orange leather, and grey velvet.  Included with the case is a nice little microfiber screen cleaning cloth.

ION is a accessory maker with a wide range of products designed for many mobile devices including the hottest cell phones from a variety of manufacturers along with a few products for laptops, specifically the Apple Macbook line.  Just quickly browsing around their site everything they currently are selling appears to be classy and uniquely made with high quality materials.

The ION CarbonFiber Leather Shell for iPhone really is a high quality case.  Everything is put together with extreme detail to fit and finish.  The leather is tight without any deformities.  A carbon fiber strip funs down the rear of the case providing a little extra "bling."  The interior is padded with a nice soft material to ensure that your iPhone wont be damaged by the case itself.

Once in the case all of the iPhone's buttons and ports are easily accessible, nothing is blocked.  As with most cases of this type you won't be able to dock your iPhone with the case on due to the extra padding around the iPhone's data port.  Speaking of padding this case does have a substantial amount of it.  It expands the iPhone's form fact a bit making it larger in the hand than normal.  Even the iPhone's screen gets some additional protection — the case surrounds the outside and sticks up from the iPhone's face about 1/8 inch.

Putting your iPhone in the case is simple.  The case is more of a sleeved design and you just slide the phone in from the top.  I was concerned at first that the iPhone might slide back out just as easily but that didn't happen.  The case securely holds the iPhone in place with little chance of slipping off.  Under more force (like a drop it is definitely possible for the iPhone to slide out the top especially if everything lands top-down.  

All in all this is a great looking case made from high quality components with excellent attention to detail.  There is no doubt it adds extra protection to the iPhone while still sporting some style.  Like most cases designed for protection it is not compatible with most docks (I did find that it works fine with the Dexim dock as long as the device-specific inserts are taken out).  The case also adds quite a bit of bulk but once again that is to be expected with all cases designed for maximum protection.  If a sturdy designer case is on your wish list the ION CarbonFiber Leather Shell is an excellent option.

Today we are reviewing the Prima Resin TPU Case for 3G and 3GS iPhones.  This hard silicon resin case is designed for simple protection of the iPhone, nothing more, nothing less. The case has openings for all the needed ports and buttons to operate the iPhone.

So who the heck is Prima? From their site: "Prima Cases represent the latest in advance case and design technology from The Colemax Group. As part of The Colemax Group, Prima Cases utilizes the expertise of over 25 years of carrying case manufacturing experience that Colemax has been providing to major corporations and OEM's throughout the world. Remember the original Palm III Case???…..that was a Colemax Creation. Palm V and Palm VII……also Colemax. How about all the cases carried by CBS SPORTS field teams and executives? Yes…Colemax too! Rugged Cases for HP and Dell Programs……you guessed it!"

The first thing we notice about this case is that it is smoked and clear. The crystal style designs are molded into the unit and make the inside of the case rough as the outside stays smooth. The almost sticky, high friction material grabs your hands like trying to slide two rubber balls across each others surface. It has a strap that comes with it you may add to it to make it a worn item instead of a carried item. Due to the simple design the price point for this case is low and very welcoming given it's workhorse attitude. The case is tough, thick, and strong. You will be hard pressed to come across another case that i this simple and satisfies so many of your needs all in one. I was not able to easily scratch it, nor was I able to deform it with high heat. It seems to be built to anyone's standards.

In closing, I LOVE this case. It is so simple and works so well with no complications or bells and whistles. It feels great to hold and has a tacky surface so it will not slide off anything. It looks best on a black phone, but I don't completely hate it on a white one. It just dulls it down some being a smoked case. It's inexpensive so you can replace it at will, though I doubt it will wear fast since it is tough and thick. It's very impact resistant as well thanks to it's thickness and will certainly help the iPhones much needed durability. Even if you have the case of your dreams right now, you might considered grabing one of these and just use it when you want a change. This is a not a flip out, stand up, bling bling case it is a purpose build case and it does it well. You should certainly check it out.

Today we're checking out a great idea for charging your Apple iPhone or iPod.  If you're like me and have various Apple devices laying around it can become inconvenient managing various chords located who knows where when trying to charge your iPhone or iPod.  Further more using chords and laying your device down an the desk isn't exactly "classy."  Docks are a great option but lately Apple hasn't been exactly generous enough to include docks with their products  requiring you to purchase one yourself.

Enter the Dexim iPhone/iPod Dual Charging Station from Richard|Solo.  Richard|Solo is the creation Richard Thalheimer, founder of The Sharper Image with the goal of providing customer service and satisfaction as the priority in an online store.  Lately they have been concentrating on products for Apple devices, specifically the iPhone and iPod models.

This dual charger creates a solution for a need I wasn't aware I had — being able to charge multiple devices in the same spot, at the same time.  Before this product arrived in the mail for review I had my iPod and iPhone connected to different outlets in different rooms both lying on the carpet.  They were moved to the floor after I finally got fed up retrieving my charging cables after they slid between the desk and the wall.  I've had some interesting incidents with the dog playing with them, stepping on them, and tripping over cords.

Now both of them live in the charging station on my desk.  The Dexim Dual Charging Station is pretty versatile.  It has two slots for charging and is packed with a ton of various inserts.  These inserts are precisely designed to fit your Apple iPhone or iPod (except the iPod Shuffle).  Once you have located the inserts for your devices they simply snap into place on the charging station.

Overall the appearance of the dual charging station is great.  The finish is glossy black with blue accents.  The fit is great, everything is put together precisely and the inserts snap in snuggly and securely with no chance of falling off.  One of my favorite features is the blue lighting.  There is an On/Off button on the side of the charging station.  Whether or not you have the unit set on "On" or "Off" the station will charge your devices if it is plugged in.  The On/Off switch simply controls the blue lighting on the unit.  With the switch set to "On" a great looking blue glow emanates from the LED trim on the unit.

The Dexim iPhone/iPod Dual Charing Station is nearly perfect but I do have a few issues.  I consistently use my iPhone as an alarm to wake up in the morning.  This worked fine with it lying on the floor since the speaker wasn't covered.  Unfortunately when it is charging in this dock the sound is muted a bit, making it less effective to wake up to.  What would make this charging station perfect is one of two things.  The first option would be some small speakers in the unit.  Even minimal speakers would increase the volume of the sound coming from the iPhone or iPod.  A second option would be audio out.  If I could plug in a 2.5 jack into the dock and run it to some speakers I would be completely content.  The speakers/audio out wouldn't even need to work on both sides, just having one of the docking ports connected to some audio capability would be just fine.

Overall the Dexim iPhone/iPod Dual Charging Station is a great solution of charging two Apple iPhones or iPods or any combination of the two.  If looks great, works great, and is put together solidly.  If you're considering purchasing a dock for one of your devices but could actually use a dock for multiple devices be sure to consider the Dexim iPhone/iPod Dual Charging Station.  I rate this product 4/5.  If it only had some built in audio options the rating would be a solid 5/5.

Today we are reviewing the Prima Leather Flip Case for ALL iPhones. This leather flip case comes in red, white, or black and features a locking slider hook for carrying on the pants loop or clipping onto a purse. It simply screws into the back of the case as an included option. The case has openings for all the needed ports and buttons to operate the iPhone.

So who the heck is Prima? From their site: "Prima Cases represent the latest in advance case and design technology from The Colemax Group. As part of The Colemax Group, Prima Cases utilizes the expertise of over 25 years of carrying case manufacturing experience that Colemax has been providing to major corporations and OEM's throughout the world. Remember the original Palm III Case???…..that was a Colemax Creation. Palm V and Palm VII……also Colemax. How about all the cases carried by CBS SPORTS field teams and executives? Yes…Colemax too! Rugged Cases for HP and Dell Programs……you guessed it!"

The case has two slots for credit cards, business cards, whatever you wish to stick in there. The leather feels very nice and the case has a good stitch to it. It's a tad bulky, but it protects your phone like no other. Unless you do something incredibly stupid, you aren't going to break your phone with this case. It snaps closed and the optional (included) swivel mount clip system has a quick release button on it to split the case from the clip on the go.

So here's the bottom line on the Prima leather flip cases…. They are a tad large compared to some, but it's for protection  and it allows you to have optional pockets like the credit card pockets that this case has. This is the Caddy of cases and you're sure to like it if you are in the market for a leather flip case. Give Prima a shot he next time you are looking for one and you just may be pleased.

Today we are reviewing the Pogo Sketch stylus. The Pogo Sketch is a aluminum bodied soft tipped stylus made for the Macbook (mmmm Modbook) and iPhone interfaces. Aside of pink it also comes in silver. This is another price conscious review as it is under $15 for a Pogo Sketch stylus. There is no easier way to turn your iPhone or Macbook into a tablet than to use the Pogo Sketch to draw, slide to unlock, or just navigate. So who is Pogo Sketch's designers? Ten One Design is a company based in New Jersey and they specialize in mobile designs. They make a Pogo Sylus, Pogo Sketch, and Sound Clip. 

While using the Pogo Sketch I noticed it required very little effort to use. You do have to make full and direct contact, not just brush across it, however it is not something that requires great effort and it shouldn't slow you down or become a hassle. The Pogo Sketch is very light weight and you can't feel anything in your hand as you use it so it is very non intrusive. I'd be weary if you have a sticky screen protector such as the BSE, this likely wouldn't be a good idea. Most screen protectors are slick and hard however and will work just fine. It has a clip on the side so you can just pin it up when you are not using it rather than laying it down and getting the tip dirty. I'll leave you with some details on the Pogo Sketch directly from their site:

• Our high-gloss curved pocket clip keeps the stylus handy
• Works with any combination of gloves and nails
• Allows you to use your touchscreen device or multi-touch trackpad at a natural drawing angle
• Typing on a software keyboard (especially at first) is much easier with a stylus
• Sleek aluminum design with detailed graphics

The Pogo Sketch also features a soft, durable tip designed with the needs of mobile users in mind. It is precision-formed to the perfect size for selecting smaller links and buttons.

Today we are reviewing the Prima crystal case (part #PC-IPHLUC). This crystal case has locking clasps around all sides so it's one of those cases you won't be complaining about flying open while you are using it. Once it closes, it's closed. All the access holes are in the right spot and beveled out for a smooth edge.

So who the heck is Prima? From their site: "Prima Cases represent the latest in advance case and design technology from The Colemax Group. As part of The Colemax Group, Prima Cases utilizes the expertise of over 25 years of carrying case manufacturing experience that Colemax has been providing to major corporations and OEM's throughout the world. Remember the original Palm III Case???…..that was a Colemax Creation. Palm V and Palm VII……also Colemax. How about all the cases carried by CBS SPORTS field teams and executives? Yes…Colemax too! Rugged Cases for HP and Dell Programs……you guessed it!"

My only issue with clear cases is that they press against the phone making an odd outline in some places. Short of that, I have no room for complaint.

The Prima Crystal Lucite case is sturdy and stays together without issue unlike some of its competitors in the same price range. If you are the type that likes a clear case, this one is definitely a great value at the $15 price point complete very strong locking sides that will not pop open on you. The top is mindful of the prox sensors and again beveled to allow a smooth and refined edge. If you are looking for a clear case you might just want to check out Prima's Crystal case with its low price point and excellent protection.

Those are features of the SCOSCHE revive LITE (Part No. | IPHC) for the iPod/iPhone 2G/3G/3G(S). This charger slash nightlight resembles the original firewire charge bricks of Apple's past, but with a twist on technology for todays 3rd gen Apple items as well as all ipods and iphones from days past. Fully compatible to charge anything in the portable music line. So, who is SCOSCHE? They were founded in 1980, Scosche is still 100% family owned and operated with over 120 employees. From their website: Scosche Industries is an award-winning innovator of car audio installation hardware as well as portable electronics accessories. Scosche is founded on its’ commitment to quality, value and customer service. With over 70 patents and countless industry awards it is easy to see that Scosche is consistently at the forefront of technology and innovation. Scosche Industries is the parent company of several distinct brands such as Accumat, Blu3Fusion, EFX, and REALM.

As a former car audio store owner, I have worked with Scosche for over 15 years and they have always been at the forefront of design. You can then imagine that I was stoked to hear of their introduction to iPhone accessories as I know all to well that they can come up with some great products. This company always take a left field approach to their products design and does things nobody else does. That's why they were so beloved when we did car audio as they had uniqueness in their fit kits and other products most people were looking for.

The unit supports the weight of the iPhone and itself while plugged into the wall with no issues of it pulling out and falling on the floor. There is a sensor on the front of the unit that controls the light function on it and it is variable so if it only has a little light it only lights up a little bit, if it is pitch black, it lights up completely. This is a common trait of a photoresistor cell. The led is a small white SMD about 1500 MCD and fires through diffused glass to spread the light better. It puts out 5vdc @ 1 amp so standard charging current and voltage for any i-charger. I found the unit to be very handy on the go since you don't have to carry any cords! Just flip it open and flip it closed, that's it. Given the reputation of the company, the easy to use flip out cordless design, and the night light in a cool pure white glow, You can bet that this is the charger to have for a mess free, clean charge space with no wires and a nice white apple look. (Available in black as well)

As a former car audio store owner, I have worked with Scosche for over 15 years and they have always been at the forefront of design. You can then imagine that I was stoked to hear of their introduction to iPhone accessories as I know all to well that they can come up with some great products. This company always takes a left field approach to their products design and does things nobody else does. That's why they were so beloved when we did car audio as they had uniqueness in their fit kits and other products most people were looking for.

Let's talk about this awesome case. I was initially turned off by the fact it had the hinge on it because it sticks out just a tad and it's not nice and flush like the close fitting wraps I am used to. I prefer a clear skin and nothing else to be as natural as possible on my phone. Since I have a white 3GS and this white case, I figured it couldn't be all that bad though so I slid it on and went to flipping out the hinge and testing the fit and buttons and whatever else I could play with on it. It took myself – a die hard no case no way no how kinda guy – about a day to warm up to using a case on my phone and boy let me tell you I can't stand to be without it now. I have EYETV so I am always streaming video to my iMac and iPhone and having to constantly prop my phone up just to have it slide and fall. After a day of using this case with the kickstand enabled I was hooked on it. That's without mentioning the dashing good looks of this case. The white matches the 3GS perfectly and the grey is a nice touch to spruce it up. The case seems good and sturdy and it bends enough to keep it from breaking on you so it's tough as well as eye catching. Fittment is spot on from every angle and this case really lays on the charm from every direction.

In closing, If you have a few bucks to blow and are looking for a case you will LOVE the SCOSCHE Kickback case. It's durable, stylish, and very useful. This is a 5 star case from a 5 star company. My 15 year relationship with SCOSCHE from car audio to the iPhone is still firmly in tact with this release as they have done a magnificent job transferring over to the Apple iPhone accessory market.

We're reviewing the H2O Audio SURGE headphones (Part No. | IE1-5A1) for the iPhone/iPod Touch today and having some fun in the process. These headphones are intended to be used underwater in swimming pools or other shallow bodies of water to a depth of 12ft, or anywhere you need waterproofing such as using a jet ski in the lake. It includes 5 sets of Elastomer earplugs and doesn't slide out of your ear due to the materials used.  Elastomer is known to be a high friction material so it will stay put in your ear quite nicely. So, who is H2O Audio? A company based in San Diego, California that specialized in waterproof audio products since 2003. They have put their product in the hands of people such as Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps, Natalie Coughlin, and Laird Hamilton for R&D and product feedback. You can find H2O products at  Apple, Best Buy, The Sports Authority, and Amazon.com.  

When I first opened the package I noticed the disclaimer about break in period so I plugged them into my 16g 2nd gen iPod Touch and cranked them up for 30 minutes or so to break them in.

You'll notice when you have them in your ear they are a little harder than the earbuds you are probably used to. The material used in the construction of the buds produce this effect and the purpose is to provide a solid seal in your ear and eliminate leaking in of water. There are 5 different sizes of earbud cover included and you can chose what fits and feels best for you. I'm more of a fan of the pyramid style of bud rather than the barrel, but that is just personal preference. How do they sound? Well for a set of audiophile headphones sitting by the fire on a cold winters day they are a little flat line on the sound, but for a set of waterproof headphones tuned and built for underwater use or recreational watersports they are great. I paired these with the H2O Amphibix armband (Part No. | WA1-5A1) to test them underwater and was pleasantly surprised by how they performed. Also you may note they have a small case for the headphones and buds making them easy to store and carry.

The whole point to using the H2O headphones is for waterproofing and I found they did that well when I strapped on my H2OAudio Amphibix armband and plugged them in. The H2O "Sealtight" connector system works flawlessly and allows for the 3.5mm jack to lock into place and form a water tight seal. One thing to note is the "Sealtight" connector system is a H2O system only so you need to use H2O earphones and cases with each other to get the full waterproofing effect. Frequency response stayed mostly flat while underwater and you might want to play with your ipod's equalizer to set it best for your situation.

(image via h2oaudio.com)

I was able to enjoy a great day of using the jet ski and got in some swimming as well all while listening to my tunes. If you go swimming a lot or own a jet ski, boat, etc…..  you may want to check out the headphones and compatible cases from H2OAudio.

So, who is H2O Audio? A company based in San Diego, California that has specialized in waterproof audio products since 2003. They have put their product in the hands of people such as Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps, Natalie Coughlin, and Laird Hamilton for R&D and product feedback. You can find H2O products at Apple, Best Buy, The Sports Authority, and Amazon.com.

The first thing you’ll notice when you begin to preparing everything for going underwater is that getting a 3GS size phone in the package is a bit tricky. It’s very tight inside.  At the angle you need to insert it, you have to be mindful of the headphone jack or you may damage things if you don't pay attention. My 2nd gen iPod Touch went in much easier than the phone did. Neither were a huge hassle. The phone seemed to stay put in front of the window, there is nothing to hold it there short of the material inside being rubber and gripping the phone/touch with friction. No problems there as it does a fine job.

The armband is adjustable for various size arms, though it is certainly geared more towards the "average" size arm. Larger arm users may not be able to make this unit fit without some tightness. Since that situation will be similar to taking your blood pressure I will ask users to pay attention to how tight they fit the product as it could result in fainting if you wear an arm band too tight. We are speaking of water here….. and fainting….. not a good combination. Be safe and mindful when strapping things to your body. It wouldn't hurt my feelings to see H2O Audio throw in a small velcro extension for the larger person to avoid encouraging them to use it regardless of whether it fits properly or not. I'm putting this disclaimer here because while the included booklet covers several "don't listen too loudly, watch for watercraft" disclaimers, nothing is mentioned of the dangers of using armbands and circulation issues (especially in active situations).

Once in the water swimming you need to be careful not to let the ear plugs wiring get caught on anything or pull them out accidentally. Since we are in the water and everything floats….. you’re going to have to get creative. If the line floats around and you catch it with your arm, you’re coming back to the surface, shaking everything out, reinserting it, and going back down. For this reason I'd use the product on the arm as intended rather than a belt strap. If you are simply using the Armband for waterproofing and doing something above the waves, using the armband as intended on the arm rather than a belt strap will still benefit you if you hit the water after taking a dive off your boogie board. The armband weighs only half a pound so it is intended to float if by some chance you become detached from it.

I didn’t have any issues changing the touch or phone through the panel so the access window seems to work very well. It's no different than simply touching the screen under normal circumstances. I didn’t experience any leaks with the unit, and both my 32gb 3GS and my 2nd gen 16gb Touch are both still functioning fine with no after effects after taking the plunge. You may wish to check out the various headphones they offer at their site to see which are right for you, as their system called Sealtight only works within the ranks of their products. Therefore, while you could theoretically use any 3.5mm jack headphones, you can only have the waterproof seal to the system by using H2O Audio's headphones.

(image via h2oaudio.com)

I was able to enjoy a great day of using the jet ski and got in some swimming as well all while listening to my tunes. If you go swimming a lot or own a jet ski, boat, etc….. you may want to check out the armband from H2OAudio. Their FAQ section may help you with any specific questions about their products which is located at http://www.h2oaudio.com/faq.php

The H1-Touch is an iPhone and iPod Touch holder, which can be utilized with other devices of similar dimensions as well. Coming to the packaging first, it is very minimal and completely eco friendly, given that all of it is recyclable. Just adds to the luxury as well. It is very well crafted in aluminum and made of two parts – the stand and the head.

The stand is fully aluminum, which offer stability to the set. It is designed to look like the base stand of iMac, which it mimics pretty well! The base has an extra padding. There's also a Luxa2 logo on it's back, surrounded with two tiny Swarovski crystals engraved in the aluminum, which adds to it's brilliance.

The head is where you place the device. The head and the base are held together with two screws that adds to the whole look. Further, the head has a sticking pad (leaves no residue whatsoever) on the front side where the iPhone is held firmly. It has 'arms' that can be easily adjusted according to the size of the device. This means that it should play well with most of your cases. These arms have rubber ends that adds more grip. You can swivel the head easily at an angle of 360-degree unlike most other stands that offers just 180-degree rotation. Another special thing about this particular stand is that it allows you to adjust the head vertically at 300-degrees.

Overall, it is a pretty nice execution and I see no flaws in it. The phone is completely accessible even with it placed on the stand, which is pretty small at 152*93*102 mm (H*W*D). It definitely is better from *any* other iPhone / iPod Touch stand in department of design and usefulness both, something that I'd definitely recommend even at the price tag of $54.99. It's all about the luxurious design. However, if you can ignore the design for a cheaper price, you'd have to look somewhere else.

Coming to the particular case we're reviewing, Sena's MagnetFlipper is a stitched leather case with a great flip-style. The leather, as mentioned, is of high grade. The flip mechanism works with the help of magnets. These are low power magnets and it has been confirmed that they cause no harm at all. However, using the phone inside the case might interfere with the magnetic compass.

It is an easy-to-install case. Just insert the phone from top and once it's firmly in place, with all cut-outs lined up, lock it on top. The chances of the phone slipping out are slim, as it is snuggly held by the case. The openings for buttons are nicely cut out. In fact, everything from speakers to the proximity sensors near the earpiece is easily accessible. The phone can be used normally just by flipping over the screen cover.

The case comes with decent holster option as well. Just screw the holder to the case as mentioned in instructions and put the clip over it. You can then swivel the clip easily and set it at 6 different angles. Another small feature I like is a little pocket that allows you to fit in a business card and other stuff.

You can buy it online directly from Sena for $52, along with many other nice ones. This premium price is well justified by the quality and the amount of engineering put into the case. It is a treat for leather lovers!

Sena was nice enough to provide 3 Magnetflippers for a giveaway! If you are interested, enter now by leaving a comment – just make sure that it begins with 'S-'. You even get to choose from a variety of colors available at Sena's website.

The giveaway has ended and the winners are dmaximob, choihyun and santaf

Case-Mate has pulled me back to a cased iPhone though with the Barely There I.D. Case series. Not only does it protect the iPhone, it's major selling point for me is an added feature – the built in ultra slim slot for holding 2 credit/debit/ID cards. This case serves more purpose than just protecting my iPhone – it's become my wallet.  

Surprisingly the case still weighs in nice and thin. It's only 2.5 mm thicker than Case-Mate's Barely There cases.

Came-mate pretty giving as well – $29.99 gets you the case, a protective film which adheres (safely) to the back of the iPhone to protect from any scratching the cards would do to the device, and a glossy screen protection kit to protect your iPhone's screen. I prefer a matte screen protector, but hey… you can't have it all, right? The case comes in 8 colors. You're still able to access all ports of course while the iPhone is in the case. It won't fit in your dock anymore, so I lay mine on the table when charging.

Oh, and if you're too lazy to run down to the store to pick one up (or pop over to their site) – we've got a couple to give away! Simply respond with a sentence (starting with CMBT -) telling us why you'd like to ditch your wallet… and Friday evening I'll pick a couple winners and get these shipped out to you!

EDIT: Congrats to tplatt2 and mtmckay for winning! I will email you both to grab an address (at the email associated with your ModMyi.com account). One random… and this mtmckay post I HAD togive a prize too – "this would eliminate the bulge in my husbands pocket!" hahahahahahha

I've used one of these in my iPhone 2G days and the product is quite amazing – supreme quality as well. It's honey comb like texture gives it a nice feel. The thing I like most about these skins is the range of authentic designs you get! They have something for everyone.

The application procedure is pretty simple, as simple as peeling it off the packaging and sticking it onto your iPhone's back! if you get any air bubbles, you can just remove it and put it back on, as it's repositionable. Finally, if you ever feel like removing it, it won't leave any residue. Pretty much everything you expect from a skin – including scratch protection – right?

GelaSkins comes with just the back panel and no front panel – I like it that way though you might not. The guys at GelaSkins even allows you to download matching wallpaper – at no additional costs – for the skin using their mobile portal. Alternatively, you can download their free official app from the AppStore!

These wonderful skins are available for $14.95 each – pretty nice deal as you're paying most of it for the design! They even offer some really good Crystal Clear GelaScreens Screen Shields at $12.95 for a pair of two and clubbing a skin with a screen gets you 40% discount on the screens. To get these nice skins, checkout their site here.

The fine folks over at GelaSkins have been kind enough to provide us with FIVE skins for iPhone 3G / iPhone 3GS for a giveaway – winners can even choose the design! To enter, just leave a comment starting with "GS-". The giveaway is open to everyone, rejoice! Winners will be announced on 25th August at 5 pm GMT. The contest has officially ended and the winners are Ad1tya, dale1v, DrOHS, noop and mmoreno16

It's the creators who can explain the secret behind it better than anyone else.

In other words, it's made precisely so that all the sound gets collected from the iPhone's speaker at a single point and then amplified in a completely natural manner. In fact, when I tested this for myself, I could actually hear the music at the other end of a huge room which wasn't possible before. The AirCurve makes a pretty BIG difference.

Not only does it work as advertised but looks great as well! The glass design looks classy and shows off the 'no wire and design only' concept in a stylish manner. Another cool thing about the product is you can even sync / charge your iPhone while using it with the AirCurve! There's no wireless magic here but the design offers a simple way to place the 30-pin connector of your iPhone's USB cable just where it's dock connector sits which makes it possible for you to connect and sync / charge.

There are no second thoughts on this product! Worth the mere $20 price tag and a keeper for any iPhone owner – even if you just want a simple docking station. Get it directly from Griffin Technology here. It also comes with two dock adapters, each for original iPhone and the iPhone 3G / iPhone 3GS which makes it compatible with the older generation.

If you are thinking about getting one, we ARE giving away FIVE of these! To enter, just let me know by putting a "P-" at the starting of your comment! The winners will be announced on 8th August at 5pm GMT. This contest is open ONLY to the US residents, sorry guys. The contest has officially ended and the winners are Zeal, JazJon, StealthBravo, rwin84 and lillewis51. Be expecting a PM from me!

The packaging is just wonderful and especially the gift packaging I received. The battery backup comes with a Mini USB 2 cable for charging and a small instruction manual.

Well, I previously owned a Storm Battery Backup and used it all the time with my 3G iPhone but it didn’t provide me enough “Juice” which was a big downside. Another fault was that it used to loosely hang on my phone but the Mophie terminates both of the problems for me!

It’s a great concept that doubles as a battery backup and a case too. It feels quite nice in the hand with the extra rubber grip on sides. The color scheme of the case is zippy with the green colored inside. Its design is nice with the black matte finished body on the outside and green soft material inside. The edges are thick and curvy which ensures no harm to the phone. The pack is quite bulky but it’s obviously better than the ‘non-case’ type extra battery. Another great advantage of the design is that you can use the Mophie anytime and all the time and even when calling!

But, the main feature as the company advertises is that it provides “more than double” power to the phone and as per my experience, this is quite true. With Wi-Fi switched on all the time and heavy chatting on Beejive, but rarely any calling, a fully charged Mophie combined with a fully charged phone lasts the whole day, till late night and it takes just 4 hours to charge! Another great feature of this pack is that while your phone is plugged, you can sync it too, which means that you don’t need to remove this everytime just to sync. It also sports a great new feature namely “Intelligent Power Distribution” which enables the use of Mophie instead of iPhone’s battery while charging at the same time! Also, some other small features include battery indicator on the back and uses a Mini USB 2 port to charge.

Now, like everything else, it has some negatives too. First of all, as a case, it is bulky and doesn’t provide full protection to the phone, which means that you could harm the when you drop it, unlike if it’s in a decent protective case. Also, the back attracts lots of lint, which makes maintenance difficult. Other than the above, the only issue left is the price point (as always). Now, everybody won’t like to shell out those 99 bucks for just an extra battery but for the hardcore user like me, the extra buck does not matter for that much needed juice!

You can get it off Mophie for $99 but for those who still feel it is too expensive, I have an extra Mophie Juice Pack 3G for giveaway! To get it, just comment with M- Why you need it (mandatory). The winner will be selected randomly by 7th February and the pack can be shipped worldwide. Finally, for those who do not own an iPhone 3G or just don’t want this, comment normally without the M and beware, I will verify the winner before sending prize. GIVEAWAY ENDED!

If you haven't heard of Rebel Scholar, it's not surprising as they've just become the new kid on the block – but you'll be glad to know about them. They have great packaging and ship stuff fast – I received my package in only 3 days.

They make cases very similar to most people's favorite, the Incase sliders, but with a 'twist' added – they have pretty cool designs printed on the back! And the printed ones cost the same as the normal Incase sliders. You'll love them, if the smaller color range doesn't bug you.

I have tried both their special 'Mystery Meat' collection and the normal printed ones and both feel… pretty much the same. The only difference is the precisely and brilliantly laser etched Asian design on the back of the Mystery Meat cases which makes it unique. Personally, I don't like the limited edition Incase sliders (although the simple ones look pretty cool), so the Rebel Scholar is a good alternative to me. Another nice thing about the 'Mystery Meat' case – it comes in a swanky box. Very high profile. The box can be used as a case stand as well (it comes with special foam thing inside which can hold up to five cases like this).

Check out a video demo of their etching process below:

Like most other cases, these have perfect cut-outs for everything from dock-connector to headphone jack etc. It's a pretty snug fit as well, but I do feel that there is a minor defect in the case. When put on the iPhone, the bottom part is not in a perfect straight line with the top portion, it's a little bit off – but you might not notice it. 

EDIT – RebelScholar notes the slight misalignment was only because I had a review unit – their production units are spot on. Other than that, it feels much more "plasticky" – doesn't have that smooth Incase feel.

EDIT: They do not accept returns, but gladly exchange any item (with a couple caveats).

These cases are available directly from their site. The normal printed ones cost $35 but the more expensive Mystery Meat ones are $100 each! The price for the normal case is alright but the 'Mystery Meat' does get a bit up there.

Finally, the company has been nice enough to provide me with FIVE extra $35 pieces, all with different designs. As you might have guessed, we will be giving these out randomly to you people! And no, there's not going to be any choice of designs for the winners. If you want to win one of the five, just leave a comment below in the format "RS- Your comment". I will ship these internationally and remember, if you don't put the 'RS' in there, you won't be entered… This giveaway ends on 3rd August at 5 pm GMT. The winners will be announced within 24 hours after the giveaway ends.

UPDATE: We are giving away the following designs: 1. Victory (White) 2. Cupid Last Arrow (White)* 3. Mystic Shadow (Blue) 4. I Heart NY 5. Fu Lu Shou To see how they look, check out the Rebel Scholar site.

The contest has officially ended and the winners are kadinh, coloradoxmfan, zinjen, eclipseballer08 and timbo.

Be expecting a PM from me! UPDATE: As kadinh never replied, I am replacing him with Zwayne.

The Griffin Clarifi is a classy looking two piece case – like most of the Incase sliders. The bottom portion is removable to easily dock the phone. The back is half matte and half glossy which gives a nice touch to the overall design as well.

The Clarifi is not just another iPhone case. Not only does it protect your iPhone from scratches, it also has a great camera enhancement feature built-in. Once you slide on the camera lens "cover", your macro and close-up shots becomes much more crisp due to the extra lens built onto the slider – meant for the very purpose.In addition, when not in use, you can simply cover the iPhone's lens with the slider. Per the company's claim, the normal iPhone has a focal length of 18-inches – but with the Clarifi on, it gets reduced to just 4-inches giving really great close-up shots. And this is not just their claim – I've tested the case myself and the results turned out to be really good!

Don't believe me? Judge for yourself by having a look at the pictures below! Without the extra lens:

With the extra lens:

I DO recommend it to all those who do use their iPhone's camera at all. For those who go with professional ware and want just a case for protection, this might not be your type. You can get the case from Griffin directly for $34.99. Or, if you really like one but don't have some extra bucks to spend, why not try your luck in our contest below?

We're giving away three of these Griffin Clarifi cases to the readers. All you have to do to enter this awesome contest is leave a comment in the format "C- Your Comment". You'll be entered into the contest automatically. The contest will end on June 18, 2009 at 11:00 am GMT and the winners will be selected randomly!

P.S. This contest is valid for U.S Residents ONLY! Sorry but rules are rules. 

UPDATE: You can use the discount code DAD2009 to get 20% off if you're getting it directly from them. I know am late but the winners are..

andypropaganda, jwilcox09 and ninthchamber99. PM me with your details to claim the prize!

The limited edition cases have their name hidden at the bottom with a little company tag on side. The stitching is clearly visible on the inside of case but it’s completely invisible outside. There’s even some extra space in the pouch that allows you to put the phone in with a thin case on it – but thick ones like the Mophie doesn’t fit at all. 

The case even provides decent shock absorption as a surplus, although its not meant for protection of that kind. One major issue – the phone can slip easily off the case as the top of the case is open and it isn’t quite tight enough to grip the iPhone.

I recommend the case to anyone looking for something different for the price tag of just $29.90 (normal edition is $21.90) – but if you are not willing to spend that money, we are giving away two limited edition cases namely, the Mojoko” and eeShaun” for iPhone 3G. To enter the contest, just post a comment in the thread with the format “F- your views about the case ” (mandatory). The format is strict and any comment ignoring it will not be counted. All double entries and PM entries will be disqualified. The two winners will be announced in a week and the prize can be shipped worldwide as well.

For those who can't wait for this contest to end, use the coupon code "modmyi" at Fabrix Cases – Protecting the things you love… in style to get a modest 10% discount on the whole order! The coupon is valid till 7th March. P.S If you don’t own an iPhone 3G but a device having similar dimensions (like iPod Touch or iPhone 2G), you can still participate in the contest.

UPDATE: GIVEAWAY ENDED!

UPDATE 2: Chase817 and whateverman24791 wins the two cases!

UPDATE 3: If whateverman24791 doesn't claim the prize within 4 hours from this edit by replying to the PM I sent, someone else will get the case (Mojoko left). 

UPDATE 4: thetoothfairy wins the Mojoko case in place of whateverman24791. Congrats to the winners!

People call it a "tank" – and I agree, it actually is. The case is bulky for a reason – ultimate protection! Moreover, the company has succeeded to design the case in such a way that it feels much more slick. In fact, they've even slimmed down the packaging, which is quite different from the old 'box-type' I've seen in certain videos – pictures below.

It's really a chore to put this case on the first time. After that, it takes no more than a minute or so. They even provide instructions to put on the case. It has a hard plastic body – two parts – and a real thick silicone cover to put over it for extra drop protection – it bounced for me even after dropping the phone from 7 feet! They also provide you with a holster clip which can be set at 24 different angles. When everything is put together the phone is very secure with no chance of falling out of the case

The case itself looks really nice and feels nice in the hand. Everything is covered with the silicone on from the headphone jack to the dock connector. The case even has a built in camera protection and a screen protector, which works pretty well. The screen protector does give a watermark effect but it doesn't really bother me. Otterbox does provide a temporary solution:

Use the natural oil from your skin and apply to the screen. Visit our knowledge base to learn how: How do I get rid of the bubbles/oil-slick on the screen of my iPhone case?

The only other problem I faced was you need to insert your nail in to turn the silent mode on / off, as it's pretty recessed other than that, all is easily accessible. Overall, this case is a must buy at the price tag of $49.95 if you really need to protect your investment. It's available at Otterbox here in FOUR colors though they currently have  ONLY black in stock. 

All Element Cases are hand-made. They ARE a bit big – but they do their job well. Also, if you have had an experience with external battery cases like a Mophie Juice Pack or Incase Power Slider, you won’t have any problem. This case is designed keeping gamers in mind and thus offers a great grip and feels nice in hand (s) that way (though a bit uneasy in pocket).

The front lid as well as the anodized back panel can have a custom graphic and color of your choice thus making each piece unique. These have open ports for dock connector, power button, headphone jack, camera and the volume button as well. The phone is kept firmly in place with the help of plastic frame screwed to the body. This makes the installation a pain- to put the phone in or take it out, you need to remove the screws with the help of a special ‘screwdriver’ included that can be kept in your wallet all the time due to it’s tiny size. Also, the flip lid is kept in place with magnets that clamp to the screws. While using the phone, the lid can be clamped to the back as well. These magnets don’t affect the signal at all from what I can tell.

The only potential improvement in the case could be making the flip lid touch compatible – that'd be some tech though.

All in all, these cases are really wonderful though the installation is really difficult and removing the flip lid everytime to use the phone can get irritating. But, if you do not care about the small glitches, you can get these cases from Element. The price ranges from $100 to $200 and they ship internationally – oh, and we are giving away a white element case with grey anodized panel. 2 flip lids- a blue and an orange- included. The back has a default element logo and flip lids have random designs. You also get an extra screw and a “screw driver” with some instructions of how to put the case on your phone. To participate, just leave a comment in the format “E- Any thing you would like to say about the case” (mandatory). The format is strict and any comment ignoring it will not be counted as an entry. All double entries and PM entries will be disqualified. The winner will be chosen randomly and will be announced in a week. The prize can be shipped worldwide as well.

P.S. If you don’t own an iPhone or iPhone 3G, please give others a chance UPDATE: whateverman24791 won this giveaway!

With the release of the new iPhone 3GS and the continuation of the iPhone 3G, battery life still seems to be an issue (even with the improved battery life of the 3GS) with the iPhone. Maybe its 'cause its so connected to everything online…

Incase and Mophie both have made way to solve this recurring problem – the Incase Power Slider, and the Mophie Juice Pack Air (you may remember our review on the Air's big brother, the Mophie Juice Pack).

We'll chat about the differences.

Both cases run $79.95. Grab the Mophie Juice Pack Air from their site, or the Incase Power Slider from Apple.

Incase states the Power Slider extends battery life up to 5 hours on Internet use, 5 hours on 3G talk time. It is quite impressive, and Incase is spot on with their facts. The Juice Pack Air, on the other hand, extends 4.5 hours on both, which also wound up being a pretty accurate spec.

The Juice Pack Air takes a hint from the MacBook Pro batteries, and has 4 bright blue lights on the back telling you your current charge level. Nicely enough, it came FULLY CHARGED – the Incase Power Slider had a pretty sticker letting me know I had better fully charge it before using. Win, Mophie.

Incase's 5 indication lights show the current charge as well, and are a little better hidden as well (only visible when lit) – and another perk is an indicator that tells you when to plug the case in during a sync. It’s the little things that make life sweet.

Both cases come with a mini USB slot along with a standard USB to mini cable. EDIT, my bad – as readers pointed out, the Mophie is in fact MICRO-USB, not Mini. Thanks, guy. This allows you to charge or update it your phone without having to remove it from the case.

Mophie Juice Pack Air

Incase Power Slider (btw, that does close flush, I just hadn't pressed it together completely in this photo)

The Incase is pretty darn bulky (with dimensions of 5.1”x2.6”x0.86 this case almost doubles your iPhone’s depth), although for being large it feels quite good in the hand. The Juice Pack Air measures in at 4.90”x 2.59”x 0.75 – 0.32” thinner all around then the Power Slider. Interestingly, the Mophie is 0.1lb heavier then the Power Slider.

As far as feel, the Incase wins hands down for me. The edges are curved so it feels more natural and the case covers the entire exterior of the phone. There is a hard but semi "grippy" exterior which makes it good for grip – but not one of those annoying cases that gets stuck in you pocket (I had one of those Incase rubber protective covers and it just didn’t do it for me). It also seems much more flush with the iPhone, making it look more like a single unit than a phone wearing a backpack.

Another thing Incase does right is they put rubber protectors in the back of the case. This helps to ensure protection for your phone if dropped from direct contact to the plastic or even those ugly scratches that you get from the normal wear and tear in a plastic case like the Agent18 ClearShield.

Mophie's Juice Pack Air is shiny, which shows a heck of a lot more fingerprints. It definitely slides in and out of the pocket better, and it's smaller as well, as noted before. The part of the Juice Pack Air where the bottom of the iPhone sites also has a small gap which throws me off a bit.

A very cool part of the Juice Pack Air is the on/off switch at the bottom. I wish the Power Slider has something like it. If you'd prefer to have the iPhone in the case but NOT be charging at the moment, simpmly flip the switch, and you've just got a big ol' case.

But the Air's biggest flaw? Getting the thing off the iPhone. The top part is thin and attached to two long bits that go down the whole case – and it attaches REALLY tightly. I had a hard time getting the two pieces apart every time I tried, and the 5th or 6th time the top part actually snapped in half while trying to remove it. The thing still works – it connects nicely on the bottom and charges fine, but now it doesn't look complete.

By contrast, the Power Slider slides off and on smoothly, yet fits together just as seamlessly (in fact, it looks a little more seamless).

EDIT: Its worth noting (as a user pointed out as well) that the Incase DID give us an intermittent signal drop of about a bar. If I had 3 bars or more I was unaffected, but I noticed if I was in a place where I'd normally have only 1 bar (certain rooms in buildings, etc) I was more likely to drop a call with the Incase on than without it. I did NOT notice this with the Mophie, although some have said they notice it. This didn't really affect my love for the Power Slider, though, as the added power was much more beneficial than the signal in low signal areas – I just pulled off the case to make a call there.

If you are craving a little more power and got an extra 80 bucks laying around and don’t mind a slightly larger case, I’d say grab the Incase Power Slider. The Mophie isn't bad, but getting the thing apart really is more difficult than it should be, and the design isn't quite as "pretty" as Incase's.

Of course, if you don’t have 80 bucks laying around but still would like a Power Slider – we are giving one away. Just let us know you'd like one by starting your comment with "P- " and then anything you would like to say about the case. EDIT – I'll announce a winner Wednesday July 15th. US only, sorry folks.