The Bravo ($99.99, special offer) is an aluminum, waterproof and rugged, heavy-duty iPhone 5/5s case. It enters an increasingly crowded field of extreme-protection iPhone cases. Not only does this case manage to hold its own and shine amongst a crowd of excellent waterproof cases, with its ability to be submerged to about 7 feet and its drop-test rating of over 6 feet, the Bravo actually exceeds the highest standards of some of the industry leading alternatives for waterproof iPhone case protection.
Accessories
Homewerks Ventilating Bath Fan with Bluetooth Speaker
By Adam Harvey
Singing in the shower just got a whole lot more fun!
I received the Homewerks Ventilating Bath Fan with Bluetooth Speaker ($139 at Home Depot) for review a few weeks ago, and while I couldn’t wait to test it out, I was feeling a little lazy about the installation process. We finally got sick of stepping over the box, so I bit the bullet and designated a Saturday morning to the task. I regret to inform you that my procrastination was unwarranted and I could have been enjoying music in the shower a lot sooner! Curses!
DIY Macro Lens for Your iPhone
By Geri Centonze
Before you invest in a fancy macro lens for your iPhone, you may want to try this do-it-yourself project first.
Here's what you'll need:
1. An old point-and-shoot camera (to harvest a lens);
2. Kneaded Rubber Eraser (from stationery or art supply store);
3. Super Glue.
Here's the camera I purchased at a local thrift store ($1.99).
4 Products to Make Your iPad a Stand-Up Device
By Daniel Rasmus
Before writing this iPad stand comparison, I never considered all of the potential ways an accessory can help you hold an iPad in your lap, on a desk, on a coffee table, etc. The iPad accessory, iProp brings up some good points. Can you use your stand on your lap, in bed, and while in a recliner? Can you wash it? Is it kid-friendly?
Apple is preparing to upgrade its mobile operating system to iOS 7, and with that, we can expect to see a host of new features on our iDevices as well as significant improvements to already-existing features and apps. One of the things I'm excited to see is how mobile gaming evolves with iOS 7. On that note, it seems appropriate to feature a serious gamer’s headphone. Hardcore gamers and audiophiles alike will appreciate the quality of sound of the V-Moda Crossfade M-100s ($310) over-the-ear headphones.
While many companies develop great headphones, very few pour as much time, energy, and resources into research and development as has V-Moda. The Crossfade over-the-ear headphones are very much the product of extensive crowdsourcing and feedback from a variety of audio experts and connoisseurs.
The rugged, waterproof case market has exploded this year, and now that summer is in full effect, people keep asking me, “Which waterproof iPhone case should I get?”
This time last year, Lifeproof had excellent offerings, and... well, that was really about it in terms of quality waterproof iPhone cases. This year, however, there is no shortage of top-quality waterproof cases for your iPhone. Read on for a quick roundup of the best of the best available. And while I can't tell you which one is best suited to you, I can turn you on to some great options (some of which you may not have known about), and let you decide.
iPhone Life magazine CTIA 2013 Best of Show Award Winners
By Noah Siemsen
Congratulations to the winners of the iPhone Life magazine CTIA 2013 Best of Show awards!
Power2U Wall Outlet Adds USB Ports for Easy iDevice Charging
By Todd Bernhard
I've long been a fan and paying customer of Other World Computing and its online store many years. In my experience, it has the best collection of accessories and peripherals for Apple users. I've upgraded my Macs' RAM and solid state disk storage numerous times using its products.
The annual Macworld/iWorld trade show is underway in San Francisco, and Macworld magazine already has named its Best of Show winners. They include some gotta-see gadgets for the iPad and iPhone, such as an iPad robot, an iPad case that doubles as a speaker, and a 1TB external hard drive for the iPhone and iPad.
Hop on the BulletTrain for a streamlined keyboard and trackpad combo
By Todd Bernhard
Many iOS users are also Mac users, like myself, so if you have a Mac, and an Apple wireless keyboard, and an Apple Magic Trackpad, pay attention! I have all of the above, but I found that I didn't use the trackpad that much. Rather than slide my hand off to the right, past my Magic Mouse, to the trackpad, and lose time, and risking Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, I prefer the design of Apple's laptops, with the trackpad just below the spacebar.
Review: Goal Zero Rock Out Portable Speaker
By Daniel Rasmus
The $39.99 Goal Zero Rock Out Portable Speaker does rock out, but they needs a few adjustments before I can recommend them for a hall of fame.
The Good
The heavy-duty case and wooden frame make for a substantial device. In other words, it doesn’t feel delicate, which is good in a portable product. For a small portable device, the sound is adequate. Not good separation, but you can’t expect that in a single-box device. The hanging cord is a good idea and came in handy when visiting Yosemite recently where my Apple iPhone played away while the speaker hung on a door handle.
With the iPhone 5 comes the next wave of great new cases of all shapes, sizes, colors and prices. And I know that many of you will be eager to have a case for your new iPhone just as soon as possible!
One of the press releases I got today was for the Ballisitic line of cases. In particular, the Hard Core is one of the Ballistic cases that consisitently made my top 5 lists for Best Rugged Cases for the iPhone 4/4S. I expect similar standards of excellence in the new iPhone 5 version of the Hard Core. Read on for the press release and find out more about Ballistic's great line of protective cases.
Using Skype with a Bluetooth headset and via AirPlay (with Audacity tips and tricks)
By Werner Ruotsalainen
While in the gym, I tend to make / receive a lot of Skype calls to my wife or relatives. As I exclusively use stereo (A2DP) Bluetooth headphones in the gym to give me absolute, cable-less iPad 3-video-watching freedom while exercising, I've also run into problems related to the Bluetooth bugs of Skype: most of the time, I couldn't just use the headphones I already worn to conduct the call. Instead, I needed to use the speaker / microphone on the iPad itself, making my environment hear what both I and the other party say. Therefore, I decided to investigate the problem and come up with solutions to it.
MWC Report I: Now Apple has some serious competition: the new Nokia phone and the Samsung Note 10.1
By Werner Ruotsalainen
I've just returned to my hotel room from the first day of MWC so that I can get ready for the MobileFocus event in the evening. I couldn't wait with sharing my experiences with you on the spot. Having little free time, however, let's start with the most two important pieces of news: the Nokia PureView 808 (a phone with a freaking good camera) and the Samsung Note 10.1 (a really decent tablet). I had some quality hands-on time with both models. Let's start with the former.
Nokia PureView 808
Catch your tablet by the tail with Octa #CES #MacWorld
By Todd Bernhard
Wen you first see their product, you will think they made a typo with their company name and instead of Octa, they should be called Orca. But it's no mistake. Octa's TabletTail is a vacuum-based suction mount that sticks to your flat backed tablet, ideally an iPad 2, and can give it a tail. The tail makes it easy to both grip the tablet and can be used as a stand to prop the device up.