Accessory Review: Speck SeeThru for iPad

posted by J. Rossignol on Tuesday, March 8, 2011 at 3:33 pm.

Originally submitted by Kiks52

Speck is well-known for designing quality accessories for Apple products and other portable electronics. They’ve been in the game since 2001, when that big, clunky white object that we called an iPod was first released. Oh, how far they have come. The self-proclaimed “gadget geeks” at Speck have worked diligently to turn Speck into a successful and committed company. Based out of Palo Alto, California, Speck is a mere 13 miles from Apple’s Cupertino-based headquarters.

Speck offers a wide variety of cases for the iPad, including the SeeThru. Interestingly enough, I first looked at this case for the original iPod touch back in November 2008. I shared my negative connotations towards cases that are of a transparent nature, but the SeeThru for iPad may change that viewpoint for the better. The two-and-a-half year period between these reviews has evidently been huge for Speck, as the company has quickly emerged as a worldwide leader in their domain. Continue reading to find out just how much better the SeeThru for iPad fairs.

The SeeThru is a one-piece hard shell, polycarbonate case that is available in a transparent version, as shown, and in satin black, blue, and purple. There is a protruding, rubberized ridge on the back of the case that keeps your iPad slightly elevated off of a flat surface. This ridge provides extra traction and grip in addition to non-skid use. It also makes it easier to carry the case in your hands. The SeeThru weighs just one ounce and adds little bulk to your device. It is essentially a transparent window that maintains the elegant look of the iPad when it is encased.

The case has appropriate openings for the speakers, sleep/wake button, and all other buttons and ports on the iPad. There is a flip-back panel on the back of the case that allows you to sync, charge, and dock your iPad. You could also use a keyboard dock. Speck’s logo is embossed into the plastic on the back in an unobtrusive manner. They do a good job of ensuring that the buttons remain responsive when covered.

The case doesn’t leave any unnecessary space uncovered, ensuring maximum protection for your iPad. This also ensures that little to no dust will collect inside of the case. The protruded ridge previously discussed acts as a layer of extra insulation which aids in protecting against impact damage and dents. The SeeThru also prevents against scratches and other wear and tear.

Speck’s SeeThru case for the iPad retails for a costly $49.99†. The SeeThru is extremely overpriced for “just a piece of plastic.” It doesn’t help that nothing else is bundled with the case, as many other competitors have done. SwitchEasy offers a very similar case called the NUDE, for just $29.99, that includes a vanity kit consisting of two stands, port insert covers, a microfiber cloth, a screen protector, and an applicator card. Nonetheless, the SeeThru is still a high quality, well-designed, and functional case that is great if it is within your budget.

Speck’s SeeThru is yet another example of a well-designed case that is being sold for much more than it should be. It’s great to see that Speck has emerged as a worldwide leader in accessories, but it has almost directly translated into a newfound significant markup on their products. Speck is far from the only company that is guilty of this cause, as many other top accessory companies follow a similar practice. In conclusion, the SeeThru is a case to consider, but it does not receive a “hands down” recommendation. Don’t forget to check out other iPad accessories by Speck such as the silicone PixelSkin, hard shell CandyShell, and portfolio-style DustJacket. Speck’s iPad 2 lineup is also just around the corner.

† All prices are in US currency unless stated otherwise.
This review was written by the iFans.com Review Team. Overall scores are rounded to the nearest half or full star.
Thanks to Edith at Sandbox Strategies for the review sample.

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Accessory Review: Incipio 1337™ Case for iPad

posted by J. Rossignol on Saturday, February 26, 2011 at 11:53 am.

Originally submitted by Kiks52

Incipio was established in 1999 by a group of gadget-obsessed designers. Continually fusing fashion with function, Incipio was founded on the premise that quality and value should go hand in hand. The company is committed to providing innovative products at the highest level of craftsmanship, while maintaining affordable prices.

The silicone case market for the iPad, iPhone, and iPod touch is arguably the most saturated to date. There are a wide variety of silicone cases available for these devices and many of these cases are similarly, if not identically, designed. We’ve got our hands on Incipio’s 1337™ Gaming Case for iPad, and will be assessing whether or not it holds up to these aforementioned standards and criteria that Incipio insists it delivers in each and every one of their products.

1337™ Gaming CaseMicrofiber ClothScreen ProtectorApplicator Card (for screen protector)

Incipio’s 1337™ (or “Leet”) Gaming Case is made out of thick, durable, and hypoallergenic silicone in your choice of blue steel, red, or yellow. It covers the complete back of the iPad and wraps around the four sides of the iPad. It does not cover the front bezel. The back of the case has four ergonomically-designed hand grips for added control. These grippers proved to be very handy when playing accelerometer-based games such as Need For Speed: Hot Pursuit. The silicone is soft and flexible, but collects a fair amount of dust very easily. The microfiber cloth that is bundled with this case does help, but only to a limited extent. There is a 2? × 2? square of thinner silicone to allow for the Apple logo to be visible.

The interior of the case has a honeycomb design that allows for this case to be made of high-density silicone without the added weight. The case is indeed very lightweight, despite its rather bulky design. Plus, the thickness of the silicone helps to prevent it from tearing, particularly around the four corners of the screen.

The case has appropriate openings for the speakers, dock connector, and all other ports. The openings are well-sized and do not leave any unnecessary space uncovered. The mute button is also uncovered, but it is somewhat difficult to access because of the thick silicone that surrounds it. The volume controls and sleep/wake button are covered in form-fitting silicone that does not interfere whatsoever with the use of these buttons.

The 1337™ Gaming Case is effective at protecting against scratches, dents, drops, and other wear and tear. The case embraces the entire backside of the device and the sides of the iPad in thick, shock-absorbing silicone. The reinforced corners and gaming grippers provide extra protection against impact damage. The bundled screen protector also provides protection against scratches and nicks on the bezel and screen.

The 1337™ Gaming Case retails for $34.99† on Incipio’s website. This is a fairly average or standard price for most silicone cases that are made for the iPad. The differentiating factor for the 1337™ Gaming Case may be its included Vanity Kit, which includes the previously mentioned screen protector, microfiber cloth, and applicator card. It also has the unique grippers that provide an optimal gaming experience on the iPad.

If you’re an extreme gamer or not, the 1337™ Gaming Case by Incipio is still a good recommendation because of its ergonomic design and durable yet lightweight protection. If silicone isn’t your style, check out Incipio’s hard shell Feather case, premium leather Executive Folio, Underground felt sleeve, or tek-nical memory foam carrying case.

† All prices are in US currency unless stated otherwise.
This review was written by the iFans.com Review Team. Overall scores are rounded to the nearest half or full star.
Thanks to Taylor at Incipio for the review sample.

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Accessory Review: Plaid Doctrine Sleeve for iPad 2

posted by J. Rossignol on Wednesday, March 2, 2011 at 4:03 pm.

It may have been designed for the original iPad, but hey, it’ll fit your new iPad 2 just fine!

GO GREEN! Plaid Doctrine brings a green, eco-friendly lineup of accessories to the table. The company believes that the time is now for products to be both stylish and environmentally friendly. Their vintage-inspired bags are built for modern times with a variety of recycled materials. To minimize their carbon footprint, nearly all of their materials are sourced domestically, and all of their goods are manufactured in the USA. Plaid Doctrine’s eco-friendly iPad sleeve may be environmentally sound, but is it stylish? Let’s find out.

Plaid Doctrine’s iPad sleeve is made out of high performance recycled fabrics (polyester and nylon) that are made from plastic bottles. These fabrics are both water- and stain-resistant. To minimize their carbon footprint, these sleeves were locally sewn in the Seattle metropolis. This vintage-styled bag is available in red plaid, blue plaid, and gray chevron (as shown). The sleeve has a green fabric interior.

The recycled materials that this sleeve is made of doesn’t compromise the style of the sleeve. Obviously it is not the greatest looking sleeve, but it far outcries the recycled look of various competitors. However, as you may know, I’m strongly against accessories that involve any use of Velcro. Thankfully, this sleeve implements the Velcro in a relatively good and unobtrusive manner. The main pocket is big enough to fit an original or second-generation iPad. The pocket is appropriately sized; it is not too big or too small.

The sleeve is 12? x 9? and has two front pockets to hold various accessories, such as your charger, headphones, or sync cable. You could also carry your iPhone, iPod touch, or other portable electronics in these pockets. Personally, I also keep a few notes, a microfiber cloth, and my iPad’s screen cleaning solution in these pockets. These pockets are a good feature for students, businesspeople, frequent travelers, or other on-the-go people.

Its foam padding combined with a soft nylon interior gives this sleeve a good protective factor. The padding should protect your iPad from minor drops, but I don’t know how well it would withstand against a more serious impact. The soft nylon interior ensures that your iPad will remain free of scratches, dust, and other wear and tear.

Plaid Doctrine’s iPad sleeve retails for $69 on their website. Your purchase includes free ground shipping within the United States and international shipping is available. This is a very expensive price point to pay for any iPad sleeve, recycled or not. However, what you are paying for is a handmade design, American manufacturing, and the ability to be an environmentally friendly person. Unfortunately, it’s still hard to say that this sleeve provides good value for its price tag.

All in all, I like the recycled concept behind Plaid Doctrine’s sleeve, but it’s simply too much money, in my opinion, to be paying for a sleeve. If you’re really keen on being an eco-friendly person, and can see past the price, perhaps the sleeve will suit you well. It is still protective, portable, and well-designed for a recycled product.

† All prices are in US currency unless stated otherwise.
This review was written by the iFans.com Review Team. Overall scores are rounded to the nearest half or full star.
Thanks to Suzanne at Plaid Doctrine for the review sample.

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Belkin headphone splitter – accessory review

YouTube Link

The Belkin headphone splitter adapter is a great accessory to have on hand for long trips or nights at the coffee house. Its purpose is simple. It allows two people to plug their own headphones into the same device. This is great for a long flight where you and another person may want to watch the same movie on an iPad or iPhone.

Click through for a quick review, pics, and a video!

Headphone splitters are a relatively cheap way to share media with someone else from one device. I’ve always found headphone splitters extremely useful on long car rides or flights. Two people can watch the same movie or listen to the same music off one device. This was always great when I was traveling with a friend who didn’t have an iPad or iPhone.

Overall, I didn’t notice any sound quality reduction from using the splitter with the iPad or iPhone. I tried with just regular headphones and then with 2 pairs of headphones plugged into the splitter. This is an extremely cheap accessory that’s easy to place in a travel bag and forget about. It’s there when you need it. They are available in both black and white.

You can pick one up from the Belkin headphone splitter adapter from the TiPb accessory store for $4.95 right now (that’s 75% off).

Easy to use and connectSmall so it’s easily stowed away in any bag or purseStandard headphone jack size allows for virtually any headphones to be usedIf you use an Apple bumper on your iPhone 4, the adapter won’t fit. You’ll have to remove the bumperAs the main connection is somewhat wide, you may have issues fitting it in the headphone jack with certain cases.

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