The iPhone 4 is a device that warrants the use of a case more than any other smartphone. Despite the excellent build quality, the front and back feel fragile and cry out for protection. It is a beautiful looking phone and the last thing you want to do to your £500+ investment is scratch it and ruin the looks that add to the overall experience. The other problem is that protecting it with a case can disguise the looks completely so what to do?

PDair has two solutions which caught my eye and so I decided to give each one a try to see which I preferred.  First up is the Soft Gel Plastic Case which I got in the clear variety (grey, red, orange, green and yellow also available). At only $9 it is one of the cheaper iPhone 4 cases on the market, but the material is far from cheap. It feels like a silicone case, but it much harder and thus offers more protection than most. I am not sure how it is made, but it manages to offer a flexible form which clings to the iPhone like no other case. It is made to measure to the nearest millimetre and actually takes a bit of persuasion to get in place. Once attached, however, it is on for as long as you want it to be. The material offers a grippy feel which also feels as though it is attached to the iPhone on every corner.

If you want a case that shows off the fact you own an iPhone 4 and which will offer superior protection this is the one to get. At only $9 it also represents excellent value for money and, in my opinion, is better than the hard plastic crystal cases which can tend to scratch too easily.

Next up is the Luxury Silicone Case which comes in at $18. There are many, many silicone cases on the market at this time and the vast majority have a smooth finish which does not set them apart from the competition. The Luxury model has a completely different patterned finish which is subtle, yet enough to show that it is not merely another silicone case. All of the buttons are easily accessible and the Apple logo is allowed to shine through at the back courtesy of a circular opening. It does cover up the back of the phone, but like the soft gel case it offers a grip that should ensure you don’t drop your phone.

Most silicone cases also attract dust quite easily, but so far I have not seen one spec on my case and this is an advantage in itself. The less dust you get on a case, the less you will get on your phone. At $18 I would consider it value for money due to the quality materials used, but some extras are included. First up is a stand which attaches to the back of the case and lets you stand up your iPhone when it is not in use. Obviously it is difficult to charge the phone in this position, but if you want to leave it on your desk or read an eBook without holding the phone it is a nice extra to have. There is also a lanyard attachment which looks slightly strange at first. I wouldn’t carry a lanyard on a phone personally, but there is a screen cleaner built into it which works brilliantly. This attachment is now carried with me to work each day and helps to reduce dust and dirt which can lead to scratches on the screen, no matter how well built Apple says it is.

I actually prefer this case of the two which surprised me because I tend to like clear cases more. Both are very good value, but for me the Luxury Silicone solution offers good protection with some extra style which is what an iPhone 4 case should do.

My iPhone 4 cost me £570 which is equivalent to $888. The Soft Gel Case is equivalent to paying an extra 1% to add protection and the Luxury Silicone Case equates to an extra 2% on the overall cost. The iPhone 4 requires a case more than most mobile phones and so you may as well get one that is value for money and which adds some style to the experience. Either of these will do that.

Links-

Luxury Silicone Case $18

Soft Gel Plastic Case $9

Disclaimer: PDair advertises on PDA-247, but be assured that we only rate products as we find them. Being overly positive would just damage our reputation and lessen trust in what we write in the future.

If you have a smartphone and want to protect it from scratches, but have no need for a physical case the invisibleSHIELD is without doubt the best (and only?) option available to you. It is not cheap, but when compared to traditional screen protectors it is certainly worth a second look.

I bought one for my iPhone 4 to do this review and also because I expected it to be much easier to apply onto a phone that is flat on every side. I previously tried one on an iPhone 3G and the experience was horrendous, to the point that I swore I would never try one again. However, I decided to be brave and have another go and here is what happened-

In the package you get a rubber smoothie, cleaning cloth, instructions, cleaning spray and a set of plastic protectors which come together to bring back memories of Airfix kits from days long gone. I, for the first time in my life, sat down and composed myself and then started to read the instructions. There are a few steps required to understand the best way to install these protectors and I would advise making the time to read the documentation first.

So, I washed my hands and wetted my fingertips with the cleaning spray. I cleaned the screen and gingerly removed the front protector. It took me quite a while to get it positioned correctly, but after a few minutes of messing about it looked OK. I then followed the same process for the back protector; spray the protector and lay it on the cleaned surface. You are able to move the protector around quite a lot and the spray helps to remove air bubbles which helps so I would advise taking your time and not being concerned that it will ‘stick’ to the phone. As an example I was not happy with the front so pulled it off a day later, sprayed it again and did a much better job the second time. It would appear that this protector can be removed and re-attached multiple times so you need not worry if things go wrong the first time.

Once I had the front and back covers on I them moved to the other sections- all 9 of them! I am being serious here because you get smaller protectors included to cover the sides, but to leave open the charging port, volume buttons etc. These went on much easier and I ended up with an iPhone 4 that was almost completely covered with invisibleSHIELD. It leaves a strangely sticky feel to the entire unit which is off-putting at first, but I soon grew to like the feel of it because it offers a lot more grip. This particular set does not fully cover the phone because the edges are left open, but it does go some way to resolving the antenna problem.

It would be harsh of me to criticise the invisibleSHIELD for not protecting the phone from drops because it is not designed to do so. It is designed to stop scratches and the wear and tear that is associated with using any smartphone every day. It will likely increase the resell value of your phone and in some cases improve the look. When you own an iPhone 4 there comes with it an unnatural urge to let people know you are using an iPhone 4 and this is one way to do it. I would say that it is better suited to phones that work best with no case such as the BlackBerry’s and some Nokias, but ironically these will be much more difficult to apply the protectors to because of their shape. All in all, this is an excellent product which serves a purpose, but it does require patience to make the most out of it.

Brando iPhone 4 Case and Screen Protector Reviews

Available from this page. Price: Various

I promised myself I would have my HTC HD2 for 2 years. Well I managed 9 months, a record for myself I believe. Anyway, as most of you are aware, I bought an iPhone 4 and Brando Shopping very kindly sent me a small selection of their iPhone 4 cases, ultra clear protector for the front and/or back, and micro sim adapter. Brando Shopping has a number of other accessories for the iPhone 4 as well as other phones.

The Ultra Clear Screen Protector for the Front and Back is brilliant to be honest. All the photos of the phone have the ultra clear protector fitted. Can you tell? It’s perfectly clear. I had initially some Griffin Protectors that were matt but they ruined the retina display and the screen got muffled. Other protectors leave an orange peel effect.

Below is the iPhone 4 Royal Patterned case and Parallelogram Rubber Case with Perforated Bottom.

The above cases are available in several colours and have all the necessary cutouts. I like the fact that these and all of the cases sent to me allow me to connect all my accessories to the sync charge port.  The Royal case has a lovely white button which actually makes pressing the home button easier. This case is made of rubber and provides good protection for the phone. The Rubber case to the right has a slightly different shape and design. The bottom is perforated for effect.

Next up is Brando’s Bumper and standard silicone case.

The Bumper is available is several colours. Not much to say other than its made of a firmer plastic/rubber mixture for rigidity. It includes all the required cutouts. The rubber silicone case is neutral is finish. No special effects but very professional.

Next up are my 2 favourites cases. The Perforated Back Cover and Radial Soft Plastic case.

The Radial Soft Plastic is great. It really makes the iPhone 4 look posh. It has all the cutouts and allows the antenna to be visible through the case. The Perforated Back cover is another slick and smart solution. It looks like metal but is made of plastic. Easy to take on and off too.

Summary

Just to remind you, the Ultra Clear screen protector is fitted in all the photos. Truly a great protector and easy to fit. Also Brando Shopping has a much wider range of cases and loads of colours including a “Smarties Back case” and other iPhone 4 accessories. Also, all these cases prevented the Death Grip or Antennagate

So which case wins as the best all round solution; the Brando Soft Plastic Radial case and only just, althouth I keep shifting between the Radial and Perforated Back cover.

Once again thanks to Brando Shopping.

Review by Gavin Fabiani-Laymond

As I said in my review of the iPhone 4, it is begging to be protected from the moment you first pick it up. This means that many users will want to find a case very quickly to ensure that early scratches do not occur. I am not a huge fan of silicone cases because they take away all of the style of any phone, particularly the iPhone 4, and so after a quick look around my local mobile phone shops I picked up the Gear4 IceBox Edge case which looked like a good compromise between size, protection and style.

You get the rubber side protection that will enable you to not touch the antenna and thus be able to make phone calls (slight exaggeration) and this is attached to a clear plastic backing which shows off the fact you have the latest iPhone. The quality of the attachment between the plastic and the rubber is superb and I can see it lasting the distance, but the back does get scratched very easily. After only a few days the back on mine has multiple scratches which are starting to be more than noticeable. The construction is the case is of a high quality, but the backing which should be more durable than any other part is too prone to scratches to make it a long term bet.

The depth of the rubber surround and overall dimensions make the Gear4 case one of the best in terms of how it is formed and it represents good value compared to a lot of the silicone cases that are neither practical nor suited to the iPhone design. However, the backing is a problem and simply too prone to scratches to let me recommend it. And I didn’t buy the pink one…

Tuff Luv Multiview iPad case review

Available here. Price – various depending on finish

A few weeks ago, I got sent the Tuff Luv Multiview ipad case. Unlike most cases it offers a unique locking system which offers variable angles of opening.

As can be seen in the photo, the locking system using fasteners locks neatly into place, and feels secure and solid in use. To stop the iPad sliding out, the case also has a fastener at the bottom which is visible in my screenshot. Remember, the angle is variable!

The case comes in various leather finishes and colours. The red is bright and cheerful, probably more a ladies colour.

What is neat about this case that when closed all the opening mechanisms neatly fold away.

The case also provides access to all the ports, volume, and other buttons. Tuff Luv inform me they have a bi-axis case which offers a locking open portrait position too. Also, there are some new vintage leather finishes which look great. The other side of the case holds the flap that secures the case when locked open.

All in all, this is one of the best iPad cases I have used, versatile and of good quality. Highly recommended.

Review by Gavin Fabiani-Laymond.

Capacitive styluses come in many shapes and sizes and most are not good at all. The majority are rubber tipped which causes them to drag on the screen and this makes selection and writing very difficult. The Pogo is better because it has a foam style tip which works very smoothly, if a little imprecisely. It shouldn’t work at all, but it does and the main downside is that is a little fragile after prolonged use- two have broken for me.

Gavin sent me a DAGi Transparent Stylus from Brando which he hated and I had to agree with him when I first picked it up. It looks like a dental instrument and is as far away from a stylus as you can get in terms of design. However, after ten minutes use on my iPad I was scribbling away like a pro and even managed to write small enough to make a page worth of notes worth taking, something never before possible for me on any mobile device.

It is made of clear plastic and does not feel particular well made, but I have had no problems with build quality so far. The flat circular tip has a small red dot in the centre which you use to focus your aim when writing and it feels surprisingly natural. In no time at all it felt perfectly natural to write with the DAGi and despite the strange looks in meetings I now have a series of meeting notes stored safely on my iPad. Perhaps I can now stop buying Moleskine notebooks every few months?

I have testing it on an iPhone and also an HTC HD2 and it works really well on each. Obviously the small screens make long periods of note taking impossible, but no other stylus has come close to this one for me and I will be using it for a long time to come. For those of you, like me, who saw the Microsoft Courier demo and wanted more this is one solutions that brings the potential experience one step closer. Once developers get to work and create notebooks that you can search by writing search strings and allowing the insertion of photos, maps and the like an accessory like the DAGi will be a must have item for many people.

One of the best accessories I have tried in a long, long time.

Available from Brando for $20.

On the subject of scribbling on a tablet or smartphone, this article from Viet Tran sums up the thoughts of many. I have a copy of Notes + on the iPad which I will review shortly, but it does look like the nearest solution yet to recreating pen and paper digitally.

“Leave alone the price, I will discuss in this post why a $.99 ballpoint pen and a paper notepad is still better than a $500.00+ iPad.

The beautiful enormous multi-touch iPad screen shouts out for handwriting applications. That is why there are at least a dozen iPad apps today aiming for handwriting notes (smartNotes, Penultimate, TakeNotes, WritePad, uWrite, Scribble Notes, PaperPad, WriteNow – I just searched the App Store for “handwriting”). I recently added one more into the collection – Notes +. Many of these apps focus more on the cool factor (the hype) than on being practical. And they are not even close comparing to pen and paper.”

Available from –  http://www.proporta.com/F02/PPF02P05.php?t_id=4949&t_mode=des

And

http://shop.brando.com/ipad-3g-16gb-32gb-64gb-_c1193d046

Price – Various

The second most important task after buying your lovely iPad is getting a case and covering the screen with a good screen protector. Proporta and Brando were kind enough to send me a selection of their cases and screen protectors.

Screen Protectors –

Brando Shopping send me 2 different types – their ultra clear and anti reflective. Both are excellent, but I preferred the ultra clear as it keeps the original colours. And I got both on with no bubbles.

Proporta – they sent me their Advanced Screen Protector which acts as a good anti reflective material and solid protection.

Both Brando Shopping and Proporta’s screen protectors are washable, although I haven’t tried that myself.

Brando Shopping Silicone & Proporta Mizu Shell Cases

The top photo shows a selection of hard rubber cases from both companies. All are superb, but Brando offer a wider selection of finishes – some have different backs, one as shown above has a whole cut in the back to allow the Apple logo to show clearly.

Proporta Maya Case

The Maya case is a well designed artist case. The edge of the iPad marginally shows bottom left and top right, but for a simple solution this is a good choice.

Brando Book Leather Case with Magnets

This is my personal favourite. Lovely quality leather and a slim fit. The magnets stop the case opening by accident, although these may affect the compass.

Brando Artificial Leather case plus stand

Another great option, which includes a stand to prop case up. Flip style a shown below.

Brando also has some decent carrying options. Their carrying case and neoprene case as shown below. The carrying case is tough and has space for additional storage. I will certainly use this for long journeys.

Brando Silicone and Hard Back Options

Brando also have a variety of silicone from thin silicone to tougher soft silicone. They also have florescent silicone. The bright green is so bright my camera got confused. See photo.

The tough edge silicone is slightly thicker and my personal favourite silicone finish.

Finally the hard back cover is for those who want minimal protection jut to stop the iPad backside getting scratched.

So recapping –

Screen Protectors – All excellent, but the Brando Ultra Clear is my personal preference.

Cases and Covers – My preferences are Brando Book Leather, Brando Florescent Silicone, Brando Tough Silicone and Brando Hard Cover. The Proporta Maya is my favourite pouch option.

Review by Gavin Fabiani-Laymond

The iTiki Pacific and iTiki Koa iPhone cases are without doubt unique and you, like I, may wonder what all the fuss is about. To kick off your understanding, take a look at the video below-

Yes, it looks like it is eating your iPhone. It has little feet, a butt and small arms just below the home button and it protects you from evil. Sounds crazy right? Well yes it is, but it somehow works. The whole idea behind the cases has been described as follows- “Colored the cool blue of the Pacific Ocean, Pacific is more than just an iPhone case. He’s the silicone incarnation of the same spirit who created the first woman and a whole mess of cool bars. Now the iTiki wants to protect your iPhone, all while shimmering like the cresting waves of an exotic Honolulu beach.”

At first look the iTiki Case doesn’t look quite right and I must admit to struggling with the concept, but it somehow grew on me and I started to appreciate it for what it is. My children love it and so does my wife, and when I took it to work (expecting derision) most people were positive about the design. The colours will suit everyone from surfer dudes to those who simply want something a little different than everyone else. In a world that is starting to overflow with iPhones, adding some personality to the device is a cracking idea and one which could catch on.

The iPhone has sort of lost its cool because it is so prevalent, but adding a simple case can go some way to bringing the cool back and letting the world know that you are different. Everyone wants to be different don’t they? If there is one guarantee I can offer about the iTike case, it is definitely different.

Let’s look at the case from a technical point of view- cases are designed to offer protection and I have no qualms in the area. The silicone (presume it’s silicone?) is thick and robust and will offer more than enough protection for any iPhone. You could probably drop your iPhone from some distance and not damage it at all with this case on it. The outer layer offers good grip and it just feels right in the hand. The striped backing helps grip and strangely so does the butt on the back…

The cut outs are perfectly placed and the camera lens, mute button and headphone jack are easily accessible. Unusually, the home button, volume keys and off/off button are covered, but I had no problems using them at all. It makes sense to cover the home button to stop dust and not enough manufacturers do this in my opinion.

So, technically it is great and when you throw in the charm of owning a case that looks like it is eating your iPhone it is hard not to like it. There are little feet at the bottom alongside two arms and a nose at the top. What’s not to like? After five minutes I did not think I would like the iTiki at all. In fact I thought it was daft initially, but it has proved me wrong.

I am 39 years old, I wear a suit to work, I have a wife and two children. I am the man I never wanted to be when I was 18 years old, but I love my iTiki!

Available from www.tikicase.com for $29.97.

Screen protectors are an accessory that used to be a required item on PDAs and smartphones that were stylus driven, but it would be a mistake to think that there is not a place for them on modern smartphones such as the iPhone or the non-touch BlackBerry’s.

There uses are many-fold and when you consider the price of a modern smartphone, a few extra pounds is not a lot to spend for the added protection. The one I am reviewing today is specifically designed for the BlackBerry Bold 9700 which may seem like a curious device to use a screen protector on. However, the screen is one of the major parts of any smartphone and in some cases the most susceptible to scratches. Even a phone like the 9700 which has a tough screen benefits from a screen protector because I have seen a couple of work with noticeable scratches on already. When you pay £400 for a smartphone, £5.95 extra to protect the vulnerable part is a no brainer.

The Expert Shield model comes with everything you need to start protecting your screen and is one of the easier ones I have applied in recent times. It uses the two sided method; you peel off one side, attach the protector to the screen and then peel off the second side. I had a moment after I applied it where I honestly thought that it was not there, but it was and with no air bubbles in sight. It is advisable to use a straight object such as a credit card to ease the process, but all on all it worked well for me.

Besides adding protection, a screen protector can stop glare which is particularly useful when driving using GPS. The model I tested here, however, is so clear that you really will not notice that it has been applied. For under £6 this is a very cheap way to protect your smartphone and one which ensures that the resale value will be higher when you come to upgrade- it is highly likely that you will add much more than the asking price on any future sale of your phone.

To sum up, the Expert Shield protector is simple, easy to apply and well priced. I have no hesitation in recommending it and even though I dread writing screen protector reviews, I have been more than pleased with the product.

Available from Expert Shield who also make protectors for the iPhone, HTC HD2, Nokia 5530 and many other devices

Finding the right case for your smartphone is as difficult as choosing which phone to buy in the first place, and the perceived wisdom is that you often pay for what you get. There are many, many iPhone cases available and the styles range from simple slip cases to silicone covers to full leather wallet style cases which do more than just protect your phone. This case from Piel Frama protects your iPhone and also enables you to carry a couple of credit cards and some money at the same time. It is designed in the traditional style that almost all PDA cases were a couple of years ago, but that takes away none of the practicality and quality. When you consider how much you probably use your iPhone, it makes sense to invest in adequate protection which extends the style and life of it.

First impressions

As always with Piel Frama you are presented with a first impression of completeness, attention to detail and quality throughout every part of the contents. In the box there is a belt clip, a tool to undo the belt clip holder, three plastic inserts for the belt clip hole should you wish to not carry it on your belt, instruction booklet and a few paper inserts detailing other products available from Piel Frama and the construction process. I have a bit of a soft spot for Piel Frama because I still use one of its mouse mats after about 4 years and it is still in perfect condition despite continued daily use.

The case is the most important aspect here though and everything about it screams good quality. From the smell of the leather to the perfect stitching through the care that has been taken to make the iPhone usable when in situ, it has a consistency about it which is not often matched elsewhere. The embedded writing inside the case rather sums up the initial user experience- “The product you have just acquired has been hand-made by Piel Frama leather craftsmen, each piece is unique.”

In use

Piel Frama includes a neat little solution to the age old problem of carrying credit cards together by way of a small leather insert which has a soft material in the centre flanked by two plastic panels. This enables you to carry credit cards without fear of scratching or damaging them, and in practice it works well. The fact that it suits the overall case look is an advantage.

There are holes for the camera, headphone jack, volume control, sync/charge port and home button and these are all perfectly cut and placed precisely. The elastic inserts for the credit cards ensure that the cards are separated and that they are easy to insert and remove, and the magnetic closure still worked well for me even after I have stuffed the case to the brim.

Around the edges things get a little stiffer and this affords more protection should you drop the phone onto a hard surface. I was so certain that it would work that I dropped my iPhone onto a concrete patio just to test it. It worked and the case suffered little damage as well. The closure stayed in place and this gives confidence for using it in the future.

The front cover flips all the way over which is useful when making calls and despite looking like it will not work for calls, it soon became second nature to keep my iPhone in the case all of the time. I am struggling to find a downside with this case, I really am.

Conclusion

You may baulk at the asking price of 70 Euros, but when you consider how much you use your iPhone and how much pleasure it gives you the cost is not substantial in comparison to the cost of the phone and the protection this accessory will afford it.

Sometimes in life you pay just a little more to have the best and a case like this is a good example of attention to detail and an end user experience which more than justifies the price. I have no hesitation in recommending this case and I may get one for my BlackBerry as well. The reassurance of having excellent protection every day and a little bit of luxury to keep my case in has made the whole experience one I will return to again and again.

Available from Piel Frama for 70 Euros.

All photos taken by Thomas McGill (age 9)

On Monday I reviewed the Nuforce NE-7M headphones and was mightily impressed by the sound quality and overall build quality. The voice quality was particularly impressive and since receiving them I have used nothing else.

Today is the turn of the NE-8 headphones which do not offer a built-in microphone. They are also a little more expensive than the 7M’s and here I will attempt to see if the extra cost and seeming loss of functionality are justified. The 7M’s were specifically designed for use with phones and MP3 players and the 8’s are not so that explains the microphone omission. Don’t take the ‘not’ in that sentence too seriously though because they work exceptionally well with mobile music players despite their more general market appeal.

The specifications of the NE-8’s and NE-7M’s are almost identical, but there is a reason for the price difference; the components in the NE-8’s are better quality and the sensitivity rating is lower which bizarrely means they are more sensitive. They also require less power to drive the sound and so less volume is needed, which in turn means that the sound should be clearer with a more rounded tone and slightly less harsh bass reproduction.

The first thing I noticed with these headphones was the understated plastic look which belies their price-point. There are mouldable stalks coming out of the ear pieces which initially seem to do little besides make you look like an alien from Star Trek. Once I realised what they were designed for I was impressed by the way they worked; you put the ear pieces in your ears and mould the stalks around your ears for a perfect fit. It is a simple solution to a common problem and one that works better than any others I have used in the past.

Like the NE-7M’s, there are a selection of inserts to ensure that you get the right individual fit and in my tests I would put the 8’s as slightly ahead in terms of sound quality. The stalks do help with the positioning and make for a tighter fit, which in turn ensures a consistent sound no matter what you are doing.

There is little more I can add to this review except to say that the sound quality alone is reason enough to consider these seriously. Everything works as it should and the build quality should ensure that they will be with you for a long time to come.

Available from Audiologica for £78.95

With the number of iPhone turn-by-turn GPS software solutions increasing, you will most likely need a way to secure it in your car. There are many cheap solutions available in the major mobile phone retailers and the word ‘cheap’ sums them up quite nicely. Some of them are shocking and the better ones seem to escalate in price at a rate not justified by the quality of the product.

PDA Hut recently sent me one of their new iPhone windscreen cradles which retails for the relatively budget price of £18.99. At first glance it looks quite slim and without the chunkiness of the more expensive cradles you can buy. However, the stem is metal and the actual cradle section is made of good quality plastic, with an extra clasp at the top of the unit.

Inserting and removing the iPhone is very easy to do and there is adequate space at the bottom for a charger. Space has also been made for the volume controls which is vital when using GPS and the flexibility of movement is quite superb. With movement possible in every direction and with little effort to place it, it is almost impossible to not get the correct position.

Now, what else can I write about a windscreen cradle? Oh yes… nothing. Seriously, it is a quality solution which is extremely good value and one that will live with you as long as you keep your iPhone. Highly recommended.

Available from PDA Hut for £18.99. PDA Hut is also selling the iPhone Handsfree Office / PDA Holder for £24.99.

We spend a lot of money on smartphones, often upwards of £500, yet we tend to use the headphones that are bundled with the phone for music and video playback. Nokia always bundles shockingly bad headphones and the HTC ones are not much better. Apple bundles the best of the lot with the iPods and iPhone, but they still lack the depth of sound that good music deserves. Smartphones are now the main digital music player for smartphone owners (obviously) and few have a separate music player so you may as well invest some money to improve the overall experience. The question is; are the bundled headphones really so bad and are the more expensive headphones really so good?

I have been testing the Nuforce NE-7M because they represent a price-point which most will be willing to pay and yet they are still supposed to offer a superior sound reproduction to the headsets you can buy in most retail stores for a similar price. If you have the spare cash and want to buy a very expensive set of earphones, be aware that this will not always work out as well as you may expect- headphones need to be purposely designed to be driven by MP3 players and phones to get the best effect so do your homework first. The NE-7Ms are designed with portable players in mind and are compatible with the iPhone 2G, 3G and 3GS (no volume control on microphone for 3GS though), BlackBerry Storm and any device that supports 3.5mm stereo in a 3 or 4 pin plug.

In the box

The packaging is very professional and included in the contents is a carry case and 3 pairs of single flange ear-tips (2 small, 2 medium, 2 large- the headphones already have a set in place as well). An instruction manual is also included which might seem bizarre, but some useful advice is included. There are the expected warnings to not play music too loud for too long, presumably to stop stupid people and sharks in suits from blaming anyone but themselves for hearing damage, and some interesting facts about what makes good quality sound. It is worth a read and you will probably learn something new. The contents are top class and make the purchaser feel like they are buying a quality item before they even try them.

In Use

The build quality is excellent and the gold rims make for an accessory which looks understated, but with a touch of class to show off the quality within. It is hard to quantify, but there the quality shines through in every part; the cable is slightly stiffer than normal and even the clip is heavier duty and more solid than I am used to. It is a strange experience putting them in your ears for the first time because they are in-ear and it can feel a little claustrophobic, but within a few minutes it does feel quite natural so don’t be put off. Now, you may want to spend some time trying out each size of ear-tip to make sure you find the right fit for you. The large ones worked for me which is no surprise; large outer ears= large inner ears I guess. It is important to find the right fit because this makes all the difference to the resultant sound quality.

I tested some songs which have excellent production quality and was astounded by the difference the NE-7Ms made. I played Stardust by Tom Munch and his voice sounded even more clear than normal. The bass in Killing Me Softly by The Fugees was incredibly rich and A Winter’s Tale by Queen blew me away. At that moment I knew that I would not be returning to the standard iPhone headphones. The built-in microphone takes care of calling and the voice quality is vibrant and exceptionally clear. You will need to lessen the volume for music and voice compared to what you are used to, but that is a good thing. Less battery and more clarity are beneficiaries of this.

The goodness does not stop there though. The sound isolation is better than anything I have used before. I had the music turned up ‘loud’ (don’t do that at home) and my wife could not hear a single note sat next to me. For music quality alone these are worth the money, but when you consider the sound isolation, built-in microphone and general build quality they quickly feel like a piece of luxury at a bargain price.

One final point on use- the microphone is very sensitive and so you do not need to worry about having it near your mouth for people to hear you. I was concerned by this so tested it when speaking to a friend who said that it sounded clear and consistent throughout our call- the strange part was that I moved the microphone close to my mouth and away again multiple times and the sound help up consistently. Clever stuff.

Conclusion

You can guess where this is going. It is rare that I am positive about any product the whole way through a review, but credit where its due- these headphones are breathtakingly good at reproducing complex sounds and the price takes my breath away a little more. You spend £500 on a smartphone. It would be daft not to spend 10% extra to improve the sound quality way beyond what the supplied headphones can achieve. My white Apple headphones are now tucked away in a drawer never to be heard from again…

Available from Audiologica for £64.95. My thanks to them for supplying the review unit. If you use the Buy Now button below, you can take £5 off the current asking price.

Brando Cases, Screen Protector and Cradle for Nokia E71 Review

Available from – http://shop.brando.com.hk/nokia-e71_c0936d009

Price – Various

I recently renewed my T-Mobile contract for another 18 months and in the process got a Nokia E71 free of charge. Brando Shopping very kindly sent me a range of accessories for the E71. The accessories they sent are typical of the range they provide for a wide range of devices and phones. I was sent a range of cases, cradle and their ultra-clear screen protector.  They also happened to arrive on my Birthday  which was greatly appreciated.

Before I talk about the cradle and cases, I thought I would mention the ultra-clear screen protector. All the photos shown include the ultra clear screen protector fitted. And that’s the amazing part. You cannot see it and it really is ultra-clear, strong and great protection for any screen, touch or not. It only takes one set of keys to scratch a screen – I know because I have done this and it only took a few seconds.

Brando E71 2nd Battery and USB Cradle – The photo above shows the cradle holding the E71 perfectly. As you drop the E71 into the cradle the power point fits into the underneath of the E71. The Brando cradle comes with a data syncing usb lead and mains adapter which plug into the rear of the device.

In order to use the usb sync facility, you connect the usb cable into the E71 on the side, and then plug the supplied usb cable into the rear of the cradle and then into your PC. The cradle also allows for a 2nd battery to be charged too, which is located behind the E71.  LED indicators light up to show power connected too.  This is a lovely cradle and comes complete with everything other than a 2nd battery. However, for those who have used a E71 you all know how powerful one charge is from a battery!

Moving on to the Brando cases.

From left to right. Brando Silicone, Soft Plastic Cases and Rubberized Back

The Brando Silicone case

The Brando soft silicone case comes in 4 colours, black, ice, pink and blue. It is a very soft silicone and covers all the front keys with a raised pattern on the keys. Cut outs are provided all around the sides and rear for the camera.  I am personally not too keen on silicone, but nonetheless a good option which allows for easy use of device.

The Brando Soft Plastic Case

Q. Can you tell if it is fitted? This provides a much stronger protection for the phone and is a lot tougher than the soft silicone. It also does not detract from the beauty of the phone and I would imagine if dropped onto a hard surface would stop the protected area from being damaged. Cut outs are provided for the speaker, headphone, infra red, usb, memory, mic, charge and lanyard slots. The soft plastic does cover the power, volume and voice command keys, albeit with the plastic a fraction softer to allow for usage of these keys.

The Brando Ruberized Hard Back Case

This is available in black, blue and red. It simply clips on and provides protection to the back and sides only with the necessary cutouts. This design does make the E71 look a bit posh but provides the least protection out of all the cases.

Above. Brando Workshop Metal Case and Leather Sleeve.

Both these cases provide the maximum protection for the E71 and have the option of a 360 degree removable belt clip.

Brando Workshop Metal Case

This is a thin, lightweight and strong aircraft grade aluminium case. The inside is lined with neoprene for extra protection and shock absorbance. Access if provided to all the buttons and features.  The screen is also cover with plastic to provide the maximum proctection. This case is simple to use. Open the case from right to left, place phone inside and close case.

Brando Leather Sleeve Case

A lovely practical leather case with a plastic cover for the screen. All functions are accessible. The phone slides into the case and is secured via a flap that clips over the top and clips to the rear. The leather flap includes a cutout for the camera too. Clever design.

Summary

So which case wins as the best all round solution; the Brando Soft Plastic case. Finally thanks to Brando Shopping for sending all the cases, cradle and the ultra clear screen protector.

Review by Gavin Fabiani-Laymond

The market for iPhone cases is large indeed and this is for a variety of reasons; they scratch easily, they have sold in large numbers and perhaps most importantly, they are bought by a diverse set of people who require different things in the look of their phone. Gone are the days of simple black leather cases which provided purely functional protection- many now demand some style in their smartphone cases and an individual look which makes up for hiding the phone itself.

RivetNow has produced the Hard Leather Pouch for the iPhone 3G which is designed for those who want some personality in their pocket and it comes with an interesting accessory which you will either love or hate. The pouch itself is hard and designed to offer substantial protection against knows and even drops, and it certainly feels as though it will stand up to even the roughest of use. It is an unusual design in that it has an elasticised middle which you cannot actually see, but which offers just enough give to enable you to insert and remove the iPhone easily.

I was worried initially that removing the iPhone would be tricky, and it felt so at first, but after a few removals it all came together and the process is now fairly easy for me- the soft interior also ensures that damage is unlikely to occur. This case gives a sense of confidence which many do not and I would have no hesitation in throwing the phone in a bag or pocket and still be fairly certain that it would survive intact.

The design is quite subtle which maybe does not come across in the marketing photos and the three stripes and red tag add a touch of style without dominating the entire look. The vintage leather exterior feels great in the hand and offers some grip as well as a unique style, but I’m not convinced the style suits all areas of the market. I would say that it suits the younger end of the market well and may not be for older iPhone users, myself included. This case does, however, balance style and protection very well and is perfect for people who have an active lifestyle and who need to know that their phone will be safe at all times.

The case itself is a very reasonable $29.90 to buy and there is an optional Kingpin chain which brings the total price up to $49.90. This chain is exceptionally well made and for some it will be a necessity because it lessens the chances of losing the phone and adds oodles of style to the mix. It is a joy to play with and I still find myself rolling it through my hands when I need to think. At $20 it may seem expensive, but it is very well made and your personal circumstances will dictate if this is of value to you.

Conclusion

As cases go, the Rivet Hard Pouch is unique and brings excellent protection to the iPhone along with a touch of style. It may not be ideal for my circumstances, but there is a big market out there that will enjoy the blend of style and protection this accessory offers. Definitely one for the stylish smartphone crowd.

Available from www.rivetnow.com for $29.90 ($49.90 with Kingpin chain).