How you choose to protect--or not protect--your iPhone is a matter of personal choice. Sure, plenty of people like to leave their iPhone naked, reasoning that any protective cover diminishes its sleekness. But the majority of iPhone owners realize it's probably a good idea to give your precious device some degree of armor, particularly if you don't like the idea of seeing your iPhone's lovely finish dinged and scratched up over time.
Going rugged isn't always pretty.
If that's the kind of heavy-duty shielding you're looking for, this is the list for you. Now, we can't guarantee all these cases will protect your iPhone--and particularly its screen--in the event it gets dropped or has a large object fall on it, but at least they give it a better chance of surviving unscathed.
While we tried to pick tough, protective cases that look good and don't make your iPhone too bulky, we should point out that a few of the cases have more extreme designs that aren't intended for everyday use. We should also note that some of the more rugged cases can be a bit of a chore to remove and aren't friendly toward iPod docks. And finally, before slipping your iPhone into any of these case, be sure to wipe your iPhone off carefully because having any bigger dirt particles wedged between your case and the back of your iPhone or the chrome trim can lead to scratches.
Click on any image to begin slideshow.
Note: The top 20 is listed in alphabetical order, not by ranking. If you don't agree with our choices or feel we missed some, please submit a comment, and we'll consider making changes in our next update of the list.
Your friends call you a klutz, Mom calls you careless, and you beat yourself up every time you drop your phone in the toilet or step on your MP3 player. We can't help you with your overall clumsiness, but there may be a solution for your soaked devices.
The Bheestie Bag is a small, lightweight pouch that draws moisture out of personal electronics using small, liquid-absorbing beads. After the device has been soaked or spilled upon, take the battery out, dry the device, and place it in the bag for 24 to 72 hours. The beads absorb water in much the same way rice absorbs water, as they are made to physically bond with liquid and don't release the moisture back into the bag when they've reached their absorption capacity.
At first, I thought Bheestie Bag was just another mythical solution for rescuing drenched devices, but after putting it to the test using a soaked Insignia MP3 player, I'm far less skeptical.
Other well-known device-drying methods come to mind, of course, the most infamous bring the blow dryer. Unfortunately, it's more likely that you'll further damage your device under the dryer's heat, so it's not recommended.
There's also the "just let it sit" myth. Many, like CNET News reporter Ina Fried, have tried this and seen positive outcomes. But I have a feeling that the success of this method has a lot to do with the inner workings of the device and how crammed the parts are. If there's a sufficient amount of open space in the device for air drying, it's more likely that if you "just let it sit," the device will work again.
The last, less obvious tactic is the bag of rice. Here, you simply dry off your device, remove the battery, and place it in a bag of rice for a couple of days. Since rice is a natural soaking agent, it supposedly removes the moisture from the device. Like many others, I can say this method works.
Despite these available solutions, none have proven to be consistently successful. Luckily, after trying the $20 Bheestie Bag, I can say there's a more dependable solution for those of you who are accident-prone. See our photo gallery for more on our experience with the product.
You're approaching the kitchen sink with raw meat all over your hands. Now what? You contort your hands around to turn on the water without making a mess, or you make a mess and then spend an extra five minutes sanitizing the faucet. Or, you take advantage of Delta Faucet's new Touch2O technology and touch the faucet with your wrist, forearm, or elbow to start and stop the flow of water.
Use the handle as you would any ordinary faucet, or open the faucet and then start and stop the flow of water with a simple touch to the faucet. Tap anywhere on the spout or handle to turn the water on or off. After 4 minutes of inactivity, the automatic water shut-off kicks in--a major plus for households with kids.
The faucet comes in two- or three-hole installation options and is available in chrome and stainless-steel finishes. Check it out below, and snag it for $300 to $450.
"
Twin aluminum cylinders belt out a huge sound.
(Credit: Steve Guttenberg)The Rocky Mountain Audio Fest 2009, held last week in Denver, showcased the best and brightest in high-end audio gear.
Hundreds of high-end manufacturers, from tiny one-person operations all the way up to industry giants like JBL were on hand. RMAF has a very different vibe than the Consumer Electronics Show held in Las Vegas every January--RMAF is a more grassroots affair.
I never heard of RAAL, a company based in Serbia, but its small (I'm guessing 7-inch-tall) speakers, produced a huge, room-filling sound. The speakers totally disappeared as sound sources.
The speaker uses twin aluminum cylinders, with 4-inch drivers firing up and down and a special "ribbon tweeter" sandwiched between the two cylinders, firing front and rear. Each speaker has its own, separate woofer, housed in another tube with 6-inch woofers at each end.
It's a fully powered system; just hook up a source such as a CD player and you're good to go. Price and availability weren't announced, but the company is hoping the complete system will cost around $4,000.
TAD speakers and Bel Canto electronics sang ever so sweetly together.
(Credit: Steve Guttenberg)TAD (a division of Pioneer Electronics) had the best sound I heard at RMAF. Their newly revised Reference One speaker ($60,000 per pair) was far from the most expensive speaker in Denver, but the 330-pound towers produced the most vivid, clear, and transparent sound. Bass drums were tight, pitch-perfect; stereo imaging was, again, remarkably precise and three-dimensional. Vocalists virtually materialized between the two Reference Ones.
Some of that amazing sound quality has to be attributed to the Bel Canto electronics that TAD was using. The compact e.One Series components use just a tiny fraction of the AC power consumed by their hotter running, bigger and heftier competition. Bel Canto does things differently.
... Read moreRight after the new iPhone 3GS launched, I wrote an article about how the impending onslaught of iPhone videos would just lead to more losses for YouTube. Well, the onslaught has begun, and so have readers' e-mails asking me to promote their YouTube videos.
Today's pick comes from Jeremy, who lives in Chandler, Ariz. He says he got his iPhone 3GS on June 19 and has been recording ever since.
I'd rate the video a strong 7, or maybe an 8 if I was being generous (it's good that it's short). If anybody else wants to submit an iPhone video, click on the e-mail link in my bio below. It has to have been shot with the iPhone, and it's gotta be good. Come on, you can do better than this, can't you?
Comments?
See bonus video from Jeremy after the jump: Boa plays pool. ... Read more
Here I am testing the sturdiness of a Samsung M110, Sonim XP1, and Sony Ericsson C702 by putting them inside a working vacuum cleaner. They held up well.
(Credit: Fredrik Stehn)Nokia's new dust-, water-, and shock-resistant GSM phone, the 3720 Classic, is good news for people who've lost one or two mobiles in a pool of water.
It's not the only one on the market, though--well-protected phones for iDEN and CDMA networks have been around for a long time, and starting a few years ago a new series of GSM mobiles from Sony Ericsson, Samsung, and small American manufacturer Sonim were certified according to the so-called IP-54 standard.
All are fresh alternatives to trustworthy and historic companions such as the Ericsson R310 from 2000 (the "shark fin"), the Nokia 5210 from 2002, and the Nokia 5500 Sports from 2006.
American users might not have had the pleasure of torturing these phones, as GSM networks were scarce in the U.S. at the time the Ericsson R310 and Nokia 5210 launched. Furthermore, they were only dual band for European frequencies.
The IP Code that's used for certifying the new models is an international standard that defines protection against dust and water.
The Nokia 3720 Classic is the latest entrant to the water-resistant genre.
(Credit: Nokia)The first digit ranges from 0 to 6 and regards dust, the second ranges from 0 to 8 and regards water. IP-54 means, more or less, that the device is almost completely protected against dust and that it resists splashing water from any direction.
Last year I had great fun putting the Samsung M110, Sonim XP1, and Sony Ericsson C702 to the test (article in Swedish). I put the phones in a vacuum cleaner bag while cleaning, held them under the shower spray, launched them from a second-floor balcony, and dropped them in a glass of beer.
The Samsung M110 turned out to be the clear winner, happily receiving calls even when immersed in a mug of brew.
... Read more_270x271.jpg)
DA 18-55mm AL WR
(Credit: Pentax)Pentax has announced two new entry-level WR (water-resistant) series lenses: the DA 18-55mm f3.5-5.6 AL WR and the DA 50-200mm AL WR. They coincide with the launch of the company's new K-7 dSLR body, which has a dust- and water-resistant lens mount.
Both lenses offer water and dust resistance when used with a complementary water-resistant K series body, such as the K-7 or the K-20. The lenses feature weather-resistant seals for damp and inclement conditions. The DA 18-55mm WR replaces the existing model while adding the water-resistance. The DA 50-200mm WR also replaces the existing model while adding water-resistance and an ED (extra-low dispersion) lens element.
The lenses will be available in July 2009, with the DA 18-55mm WR priced at $199.95, and the DA 50-200mm WR priced at $249.95.
(Credit:
Generate Design)
(Credit:
Generate Design)
It may not be immediately apparent, but the picture you are seeing is that of a clock. The red ball in the cup is the hour hand, while the white one shows minutes. This works because the ceramic base contains two rotating magnets that control the motion of the two floating dots. The cup and plate aren't included in the kit, but that adds to the appeal of this gadget--how the "clock face" looks is entirely dependent on the receptacles you choose to use.
This Water Clock by designer Kouichi Okamoto doesn't come cheap at $299, and unless your home has crazy laws of gravity, you can't hang it on a wall. It's still one of the coolest clocks we've come across and is available from online store Generate Design.
(Source: Crave Asia via Coolest Gadgets)
Wilson's out slaving for CNETTV at the Amazon Kindle DX unveiling, leaving Jeff and I to man the show sans laughter...we'll let you judge the outcome. Today we veryveryvery briefly touch on the biggie Kindle, and also discuss the dangers of gaming to the death, Apple's new iPhone replacement policy, Oprah's free chicken giveaway, and more!
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(Credit: Jacky W. Chen)We'd first like to thank Randall Bennett, former host of The 404, for having us on his new show Tech VI--check us out!
One story from today comes from our brothers in the East, and by "our" I mean "me and Wilson," and by "East," I mean "China." Soon, China will be the first country to approve a male contraceptive shot. Users will inject a monthly shot of testosterone into their body, which will limit the amount of sperm produced, and they're saying it could be as effective as a condom. Strange to think that prior to this, listening to The 404 was the only way to prevent a woman from getting pregnant. Be sure to listen to today's Calls from the Public for more on how our show is contributing to the the U.S.'s rampant overpopulation problem.
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(Credit: Matthew Marley)I'd also like to personally announce the winners of our Star Trek Photoshop Contest! We asked you guys to Photoshop us as your favorite Star Trek characters for a chance to win a ticket (we have two) to see the new movie with us one day before the official release, and we got some seriously hilarious pictures! Check out ALL the submissions in the slideshow below, but congratulations to Jacky Chen and Matthew Marley for their winning pictures, posted above! We'll be e-mailing you about where to meet us for the showing, but all 404 listeners are welcome to join, here are the deets:
- Star Trek
- Where: AMC Loews Lincoln Center @ 1998 Broadway, N.Y.
- When: Thursday, May 7 @ 7 p.m.
EPISODE 336
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"Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)" by the lovely Beyonce turns out to be Justin's ringtone. Find out how we found out on The 404 today. It's in the same vein of how we discovered about his obsession with Disney music and Alvin and the Chipmunks.
(Credit:
Gizmodo)
On today's show we talk about video games, and no, Justin doesn't tune out. EA is pushing the iPhone/iPod touch platform pretty hard with releases of Madden NFL and the venerable Wolfenstein. We hopes it's the updated version and not the sprite-based classic Wolfenstein 3D, though killing Nazis on the subway train does sound like a lot of fun. Also in gaming news, a company called OnLive has announced a new "streaming video game service." Cool, except we don't want to wait two seconds for Chun-li to land a punch on Baraka.
(Credit:
Gamespot)
Jeff flips out when the NHL announced it will stream hockey games live with multiple camera angles. Only catch is that it will cost you 20 BUCKS A DAY. In reference to our phone book story yesterday, "boxed water" is now in. Anyone ever hear about tap water? And FOX News has announced it will launch a new social network dedicated to "fair play and fair speech".
Win a chance to win a copy of Wheelman for the Xbox 360, starring Vin Diesel, if you enter our caption contest for this photo of our beloved Justin Yu. Feel free to make fun of his glasses, face, the Lexmark printer behind him, or that lumberjack flannel shirt. Funniest caption will get a copy of the video game and major props on the show.
EPISODE 307
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