The iDry Waterproof Case is here to help and will suit those of you who have a need to use such a case in the rain or even underwater. The target market for a case like this is huge; golfers, scuba divers (remember that it has a claimed 5 metre depth rating), and anyone else who wants to take their iPhone with them when the weather could potentially turn bad. It is designed for use in extreme or unusual conditions and obviously not to be carried around every day.

The fact that you can use the iPhone in the case is a huge advantage and the screen cover is cleverly designed to allow swiping, tapping and even typing while remaining perfectly waterproof at all times. Compromise is present of course, but with time you start to realise that gentle swipes work and that pushing too hard will ripple the screen protection which is thick silicone.

Opening and closing the case is an unusual, but reassuring experience. You twist the top and everything locks into place firmly which offers a sense that the case really will protect the iPhone no matter what you are doing. I haven’t seen a case that looks and feels so secure, but the size increase is of course evident. There is no way on earth that a case can offer top class protection without increasing the overall size of the unit and this one does, but it is very light and this makes carrying it during some activities much less noticeable than you may otherwise expect.

This case is quoted as fitting the iPhone iPhone 3G, 3GS and 4 and it certainly does, but for the iPhone 4 I found it fitted better with a silicone case in place. There is a very slight rattle when it is in bare so some support would be useful.

A neck strap is included for added protection and all in all I am very pleased with the product. Perhaps the most surprising aspect of this case is the price which comes in at only £9.99. When you consider the cost of such cases elsewhere, this price is extremely low and in my view it offers much more protection than you would expect at this price. Highly recommended for those that need serious protection during specific activities.

Available from holdersandmounts for £9.99.

Even stranger is the volume of products that are on sale at discounted prices and in particular CDs and DVDs which are approaching iTunes levels which is of course a good thing. Technology also seems to be highly discounted and I came across a pair of Urban Guerilla headfunk headphones for £6 (previously £25). I admit that I wasn’t expecting much from a pair this cheap, but decided to pick them up as an impulse buy anyway. They came in a big box, which is usually enough to make me buy something, and I dropped in a bag and forgot about them for a couple of days.

When I remembered that I had bought them I took them out of the flimsy box and admired my purchase- it would be physically impossible to make them look and feel any more flimsy than they are. They are designed to look cool, but with no efforts made to include quality materials in any area. Not a good start. They remind me of the kind of headphones you get given on an airplane and all of a sudden £6 felt like an enormous amount of money when I considered the product in front of me.

Anyway, I gingerly put them over my head with more than a slight concern that they would snap and plugged them into my iPhone. I pressed play and waited for the airplane experience, but didn’t get one. What I got was a sound quality that is much deeper and more encompassing than the default iPhone headphones. What I got was a feeling of exceptional comfort that just felt right on my larger than average head. They work quite well and are a definite improvement over Apple’s stock effort which is something I did not expect at all.

The fact that they are over ear rather than in-ear will help to reproduce a more rounded sound, but I still didn’t expect the quality that came through. I am sure that the audiophiles among you will be scoffing at my saying anything positive about such a lowly set of headphones, but they really are not too bad and you even get an extension cable should you wish to plug them into a stereo system that is 10 feet away…

Should you buy them headphones for £6? Of course. Even if your delicate ears are too sensitive to cope with the sound, they are still an improvement over any bundled headphones I have tried in the past.

Since I wanted a full keyboard including a numeric keypad, I bought the Apple wired keyboard. At the time I had a bluetooth Mighty Mouse. I quite liked the Apple keyboard but I hated the wire. I’m sure someone is saying “It’s only a wire” and they’d have a point. But it did get in the way of the various things I have under the monitor. Sure I could put them elsewhere, but there are a number of things I like to have right in front of me either because I use them all the time or because I want to constantly remind myself of something.

I looked at the Apple wireless keyboard, but it’s like the laptop keyboard with no numeric keypad. So I tried a 3rd party full bluetooth keyboard. For a while I was satisfied. It felt good, although not as good as the Apple keyboard, and had all of the keys I’d ever need. Unfortunately, whenever it went to sleep for power saving, it took at least 5 seconds to wake up after pressing a key. Around this time I also got a Magic Mouse, which was always available.

After a number of months, I broke down and decided to try the Apple wireless keyboard to see how much I’d miss the extra keys. I figured I could always return it if I hated it. But it was like coming home. It felt great. It didn’t take up as much desk room. And it was instantly available. So I put up with entering numbers using the top row. It’s not too bad for a number here and there, but it is a pain when I’m balancing bank accounts and there are lots of number entries.

Then I saw a preview for the LMP Bluetooth Numeric Keypad. Now I’ve seen other numeric keypads, but they were always significantly bigger than the Apple keyboard and were loose. The LMP looked like an extension of the Apple keyboard and had an adapter to connect the two. Here’s a diagram.

Not quite the same as the Apple full size wired keyboard but very close. As well, the keys are pretty close to the Apple keys so it feels like it belongs. Using the keys feels very natural.

So it looks good and feels good but how well does it work otherwise. Quite well actually. You get the keypad, the adapter, two AA batteries and an instruction booklet. Construction is plastic, not Aluminum, but it feels reasonably solid. And the adapter is snug on both sides so moving the combination around doesn’t jar anything loose. I mean it’s not screwed in tight, but certainly adequate for the intended usage.

After loading the batteries and powering up, pairing by bluetooth is the same as pairing any other bluetooth keyboard to a Mac. You put the keypad into pairing mode, let the Mac find it, and enter the code displayed. It took me longer to get the batteries in than it did to pair it with my MacBook.

What you get is the standard numeric keypad, the digits 0 to 9, the numeric operators (=, /, *, -, +), a decimal key, and an enter key, plus five function keys *F13-F17), page up, page down, arrow/cursor up, arrow/cursor down, and forward delete.

It did have a slight delay if it was in power save mode, but not as bad as my other bluetooth keyboard. And it’s not a big issue since it’s not used all the time. The other issue is that as is typical with 3rd party bluetooth add-ons, you don’t see the battery charge remaining in the bluetooth menu entries. Both are easy to live with.

One thing I did find was that I was pressing the forward delete key whenever I really wanted the arrow/cursor right key. So I used Keyboard Maestro to change it. The Shortcut Key is defined as the Forward Delete key on the Keypad and the key pressed when that shortcut is used is the arrow/cursor right key on the keyboard. I found it very cool that Keyboard Maestro would take input from one device and output from another.

If you need a wireless numeric keypad for your Apple wireless keyboard, I recommend that you look at this one. I found it here. There may well be other places.

Bob

Price – 59.95 Euros
Pros – High quality leather, beautifully designed, dockable, option of belt clip

Cons – The home button can be accidentally pressed if inside pocket

Main Features

• MultiFlip is designed & crafted to perfectly fit the iPhone 4
• Dockable
• Removable Flap
• Access to basic functions (multiple openings)
• Device friendly hidden magnetic closure
• Slim and padded design
• Protects the device in an optimal manner
• Opening for recharge
• 1 multi-purpose pocket on removable flap
• Beyza removable & swivel belt clip system (knob is also removable)

I have reviewed and owned more cases than most people. I seem to have a fascination of finding the best case for each occasion, looking at different finishes from leather to plastic to silicone. So far I have had in excess of 30 cases for the iPhone 4. Beyzacases kindly sent their new Multiflip case for review after it caught my attention. Using full grain cowhide leather, and currently available in tan (as shown), black, red or brown finishes the case is carefully assembled. When you receive the case, it is boxed and packaged as shown above in a lovely affair. You have the case, pouch, instructions for the belt clip and the belt clip attachment.

Above is the belt attachment kit. It comes with a spare screw. Simply you align the metal knob over the built in screw slot and using the flat screw driver, tighten with one of the screws. I connected the belt clip to my work trousers, and it provided a secure fixing. To release, you press down on the belt clip. Personally, I always keep my phone in my work shirt front pocket, or jacket outer pocket, so wouldn’t use the belt clip, but the option is there.

I would just like to emphasis that the case is made from beautiful leather so looks a million dollars.

The problem with so many cases is that you find yourself in a position where its secure in the case but you need to dock it, or it is protected so much there are times when you need some protection but not as much. Well this is where the Beyzacases Multiflip has a major advantage. It is dockable. But not only is it dockable, it is very well engineered to secure the iPhone 4 properly inside the case with a fastener, has perfectly aligned access points for all the volume, mute, power, sim, mic , speakers , camera and sensors. In fact everything has been thought of.

But there is more. The case covers the home button, and replaces it with a slight indentation. Under the leather is a raised oval so pressing the home button is so much easier. A very neat idea, but I did find I accidentally turned the phone on if I had the case in my inside jacket pocket by leaning on it.

The case is also dockable since the front flap is removable as shown above with fasteners holding it in place when in use. The flap holds shut with 2 small magnets located top right and left. So does it work in a dock. Well above it is in the JBL speaker dock and worked perfectly. I also tried it in the Apple Universal Dock with no problems. So how does it manage this feat. The thickness and profile of the bottom of the case is thinned down to allow for this to work. Neat design again.

Summary

Out of every case I have reviewed and owned so far this is by far the best case. The leather is beautiful. The design and the ability to have a dockable case, with without a front flap and belt clip makes this so versatile. I really love this case and now want it in brown and black too. Many thanks for Beyzacases sending this for review.

Highly recommended.

Review by Gavin Fabiani-Laymond

Stylus Socks Gold Original review

Think I like Stylus Socks? To complete my collection, I received a couple of Stylus Socks Gold or is that Stylus Sock Golds. Here’s the link. In any case, the Stylus Sock Gold uses a longer and less tapered barrel than the original I received. This means that it sits in the hand better and is easier to hold for a long time. The tip width is the same as the original as opposed to the slimmer tip on the Pro model. Is it better than the Pro? It depends on your hand size and your preference for thicker versus thinner pen barrels. For me, I prefer the Pro because I have smaller hands and grew up using narrower pens. For people with larger hands, like most men, the Gold would be perfect. And for women with small hands or slender hands, the Stylus Sock II or the Pro is the best choice.

Kioky Screen Protector Original review

I’ve now had the Kioky Screen Protector on my iPhone 4 for 3 weeks and I thought I would update you on the quality. In terms of how I protect my phone, it has a thin plastic case covering the back and sides, but not the top or bottom. I have a belt case that covers the phone, but I’m constantly taking the phone out and putting it back in. And occasionally I put the phone in my pocket.

I’m happy to report that the Kioky looks as good as the day I applied it. No loose edges and no scratches. Remember the stray cat hair I trapped underneath? That gap is a perfect place for the protector to loosen but nothing. To me, it shows the quality. Oh yes, I forgot to mention that I usually clean the screen by rubbing it on my shirt. So no scratches is also good news.

I’ve mentioned that I’ve always used matte, anti-glare protectors until now. I compared the Kioky on my iPhone to the  anti-glare protector on my iPad. I had a bright office light behind me so I could compare reflectivity. The Kioky wasn’t bad at all. In fact the reflection was sharper in the Kioky and made the surrounding screen easier to read than the iPad. In the three weeks of use, I never thought to myself that it would be better with an anti-glare version. Maybe if you’re out in the sun all the time, but for day-to-day use, I’m fine with their clear version. And of course the retina display looks that much better. Looks like I’m a convert.

So it’s all good. The applicator makes application a breeze and the screen protector is top notch. Thanks Kioky!

Bob

Almost everyone, except Roger, who has installed or applied a screen protector has stories. Usually they’re not good. The demos and videos on YouTube make it look easy. But how many times have you heard that it was a good thing that the package contained two protectors because one was lost during the first application attempt. And even though some vendors claim that you can re-attach the protector, I’ve never had any luck in that regard. I admit that I can now apply a screen protector reasonably well but it takes me about 10 to 15 minutes. And don’t get me started about applying screen protectors to iPads. The large surface makes it very difficult.

A few months ago I read about a company with a novel idea for installing a screen protector. I sent the company an email just to say that I thought it was a brilliant idea. One of those ideas that you look at and wonder why no one thought of it sooner. Then I filed it away for whenever it was actually available.

Imagine my surprise when they contacted me to do a review of their product. The product is called the Kioky and the key is the Perfect Fit Applicator.

Package and the Perfect Fit Applicator

What I received was a pre-production package. It’s close to final, but they’re still tweaking some things like the instructions. What was in the package was the pre-loaded Perfect Fit Applicator (with one side for the iPhone 4 and one for the 3G/3GS), extra screen protectors, extra adhesive to hold the protector to the applicator, a credit card sized plastic squeegee, a small microfiber towel, and instructions.

The only thing I didn’t use was the towel. It was a little small and I have a number of very nice towels that I use to clean my glasses. Michael at Kioky (http://www.kioky.com) has told me that they were going to be replacing that towel in the production kit.

So what’s the big deal anyway? Normally, one cleans the iPhone in as dust free a room as possible, unwraps the screen protector and spends the next 10 to 20 minutes trying to align the thing and squeeze the bubbles out.

With the Kioky, the first step is the same, clean the iPhone’s screen. Then you load the screen protector into the Applicator. The Applicator comes pre-loaded. There are small groves to guide the fit. The adhesive holding the protector to the Applicator is like the sticky stuff they hold credit cards onto paper with. If you’re careful removing the protector, you can re-use the adhesive. But regardless, Kioky provides enough for all the protectors in the package.

The Kioky screen protector is covered on both sides with a thin film. The film has numbered tabs so it’s easy to see what to do. In the pre-loaded Applicator, the film with tab number 1 is up. You carefully peel back tab number 1 exposing the adhesive side of the screen protector. Then you place your clean iPhone into the Applicator and press firmly down all around the back of the iPhone for 5 to 10 seconds. The iPhone fits exactly into the Applicator. As long as you align the home button with the appropriate hole in the protector, there’s no room for error.

My iPhone in the Applicator. This shows the back of my iPhone that has an old, very poorly applied screen protector on it. The only reason it’s there is to protect the back against dust when it’s in my snap on plastic case.

Next you gently push the slots on the back of the Applicator and push the iPhone out. At this point you may have to press down on the protector to make sure it’s set. Also, check to see if the adhesive has come off with the protector. If so, rub it off with a finger.

Your screen protector is now perfectly aligned. All you need to do is remove the bubbles. Aha you say, just like all the others. Removing the bubbles never works. Well, I don’t know what material Kioky uses for their protectors, but removing the bubbles was surprisingly easy. You use the plastic squeegee to push any bubbles from the inside to the outside and push the smaller ones down. I often wrap the cleaning cloth around the squeegee to avoid any scratches, although at this point the second protective film is still attached.

Once the bubbles are out, gently and carefully pull the number 2 tab to expose your installed Kioky screen protector.

At this point I want to add one personal caveat. We have 3 dogs and 7 cats. This makes for a lot of air born dust and fur. It’s almost impossible to get a completely clean application. I don’t hold that against any screen protector.

Perfect alignment and no bubbles. The diagonal line you see on the bottom right is a stray cat hair. The Kioky is great, but it doesn’t come with a dust-free room.

The first time I did it, I took my time and noted every move for this review. Plus I took some photos. Total time was 10 to 15 minutes. The next time I did it, it was about 5. The guys at Kioky can do it a lot faster, but they’re just trying to make a point. There’s no need to rush. What is very refreshing is that the result is great and there’s no frustration. There’s none of the usual putting a corner on, starting to press down, seeing the alignment is off, pulling the protector off, and starting over, hoping that the protector’s adhesive is still good and that you haven’t picked up any dust. Or with other protectors, spraying a solution on and then squeegeeing it out all the while hoping you’re not going to get water where it shouldn’t be.

So now that it was on, how was the screen protector itself. After all, installation is one thing, but the protector must be good as well. I’m happy to say that this one is excellent. I’ve used it for about a week now. The pre-production package had clear protectors because all of the anti-glare stock was in boxes for CES. I used to use the matte anti-glare protectors all the time. I may switch.

There’s a noticeable difference on an iPhone 4 between a matte finish and a clear finish. Guess which is better. As well, the surface is very smooth. No drag at all. As you know, if you’ve read my previous review, I use a Stylus Sock. It just glides over the surface.

I tried scratching the surface. Not with a sharp edge, but with a dull metal edge. Nothing. Then I went further and tried the sharp edge of a key. I got a slight dent but no tear. And the only way the dent was visible is if I shine a light on it and catch the reflection. Very impressive. And better, after about half an hour, the dent has almost disappeared.

Any clear protector will pick up fingerprints and this one’s no exception. But they aren’t noticeable face on and a quick wipe on a shirt and they’re gone.

One of the knocks on clear protectors is glare. Take them outdoors and they’re useless. Well, your mileage may vary, but I found the Kioky not bad at all. I stood with my back to the sun and sure there was a reflection on the screen, but only at the point of the sun’s image. The rest of the screen was readable. Again, very impressive.

Since this was a review copy, I got a couple of extra protectors. There are normally 3 in a package. So I went through the application process a few times. I’m also happy to report that there was no residual adhesive if you remove the Kioky protector.

Pricing is only preliminary but I’ve been told that their aim is to price similar to other screen protectors so that the Applicator is almost free.

The plan is to have them available soon. The folks at Kioky are a small group and they’re raising the money for production. You can sign up to get one when it’s released at http://www.kioky.com. They also have an iPad version planned. I’ve already signed up for mine.

So unless your name is Roger or have Roger’s talent, the Kioky Applicator is for you. It certainly is for me. Highly recommended.

Bob

So what’s the difference and is it better? As you know I really liked the original. I like this one even more.

First off, the tip is smaller. The iPad and iPhone require about 5mm contact to register. That’s why all stylus ends are stubby. It’s hard to show this with a finger but if you barely make contact, you don’t get a full line. Likewise, if I angle a Stylus Sock so that it touches on the edge, I won’t get a solid line. Again I’m using Noteshelf for all of my tests. But styluses don’t have to be as stubby as most are. The Pro’s contact is right around what it has to be. With a smaller tip, you can be more accurate and with less contact, there’s less drag. I’m not saying it’s like a fine point pen, but it’s better than anything else I’ve seen for the iPad.

Second, it’s thinner and less tapered. Ivo, the inventor of Stylus Socks, uses paint brush handles. The original was plastic. The Pro is wood. Depending on your preference, you can now get a thicker or thinner Stylus Sock. I prefer the thinner one because my hands are relatively small. The Pro is slightly longer but the barrel doesn’t taper as much. For me, it feels better.

I was able to write almost as fast as I could on paper with a gel pen. I also tried a narrower line. I usually use 3 pt but even at 1 pt my scrawl was legible. And I was able to write smaller than I would normally and again, it was still legible.

Out of curiosity, I went back to my old stylus. The drag, which I didn’t really notice much before Stylus Socks, was now very noticeable and the tip felt squishy. I guess that becomes a spare.

So now you have even more choice in Socks, Stylus Socks that is.

Bob

Zagg is well known for producing the invisibleSHIELD range of protectors for the iPhone 4 and many other phones, but my experience has to date not been good with them. I have owned 2 full body protectors so far and both started to fall off after a few weeks- it seems that sweat and hot environments cause this problem and so I have steered away from making the same mistake 3 times. They currently retail for $24.99 (or £15-£19 in the UK) and come with all of the required components to help you make a decent fist of installation.

Shield Skins makes an alternative iPhone 4 full body protector which sells for $16.99 and which also comes with the components required to install it with a minimum of fuss. There are also comprehensive instructions which you really should read. Comments like “Once the adhesive gets dirt on it, it cannot be cleaned” make you realise that you need to take care when installing the protector. So, it was with trepidation that I began the installation process.

In the package you get the instructions, a bottle of application solution, a squeegee card and the shield itself. The shield is made up of 11 different components to ensure as much of the iPhone is covered as possible so give yourself at least 20 minutes to do the install. In an unusual move away from standard ‘man behaviour’ I read all of the instructions and got started.

It all looks quite straightforward when you start and follows a very similar process to the other full body protectors, but there are some caveats that you need to be aware of. It is relatively difficult to install the front and back protectors because they are stickier than competing products. This is actually a good thing because it means that the resulting attachment feels very secure. Don’t be scared to liberally apply the solution, but be aware that too much could potentially damage the iPhone if it creeps into places it shouldn’t. Once I had finished spraying the front protector I spent some time applying it, to the point that I needed to respray the protector again. So, use the spray with confidence and you will be OK. Whatever you do, do not try to attach these protectors without any spray because the whole process will not work.

The other caveat is to be aware that there will likely be a haze underneath the protectors once you have finished. This is disconcerting, but it does state to expect this in the instructions. It also says to leave the phone turned off for 24 hours after installation which someone like me would never do. I can barely turn my phone off for 2 hours let alone a whole day. Anyway, most of the haze dried away overnight with just a small circle left- this drifted away about a day after installation and I was left with what looks like a pretty decent protector that is almost invisible to the naked eye.

I can’t judge how well the protector kit will work over time because it has not been installed for long enough, but it does seem to be much more secure than the Zagg offering and perfectly proportioned for the iPhone. The exact proportions are the reason you need to spend time installing it and like most things, a little time will pay benefits in the long run here.

Conclusion

I have to say that I am somewhat impressed by this protector kit because it looks great and is literally invisible. However, it is not for the faint hearted and the installation process needs to be done with care and you need to have patience to wait for it to settle done and become clear.

All in all, it represents good value for money and I would use this over the Zagg offering any day.

Available from Shield Skins for $14.95.

So, how do you go about protecting screens when you don’t want to use a screen protector? Simply cleaning a screen may sound like common sense or something that you do only when you need to, but there are many benefits to cleaning a screen regularly and in particular by using the right equipment. You can think of it as applying an invisible screen protector because it will not only protect the screen’s top layer, but it also greatly reduces the chance of dirt and duct getting in between the screen and a finger or stylus which is when damage most often occurs.

I have been sent a Bausch + Lomb clens™ Home and Office Cleaning Kit which currently retails for $19.95 and which comes with the following in the box-

2 oz. clens cleaning spray
6 pre-moisened cleaning tissues
2 polishing cloths

You can also buy the Travel Kit for $14.95 which comes with 20 pre-moistened wipes and two polishing cloths.

The above contents sound like just a collection of cleaning products that you can use to clean a screen, and that is technically correct, but there is some more science behind the product that make it a cut above standard cleaning products. When you use the spray or cleaning tissues to clean a screen the first thing you notice is that there are no streaks left at all which is unusual. You are left with a ‘very’ clean screen, but that is not the end of the story. Apparently an oleophobic coating is also left on the screen which means absolutely nothing to me. What this does, however, is ensure that dust and grime is far less likely to accumulate on the screen and, perhaps more importantly, fingerprints are also much less of a problem than before.

I tested it on my iPad and it worked very well indeed. The screen was shiny as a button, but the lack of fingerprints afterwards was the real surprise. Screen protectors are my personal choice for reducing fingerprints, but this solution really does make an impact if you are looking for the real display experience from an iPad. I have since used it on my iPhone 4 and it was just as positive an experience and this then led me to use it on my Netbook and even my glasses. I am not sure if this product works on them, but I am now obsessed with using the product anywhere I can. Send me a bucket of the stuff and all of my windows in the house would soon be covered in oleophobic coating!

On a serious note, it seems to be a very good product, but I’m not sure how much of a market it has when screen protectors are still such big business. However, mobile products are very expensive and there’s no reason why you shouldn’t be using this product before you add a screen protector anyway. All in all, I have to give it a thumbs up.

More details are here and the kits are available direct from Apple.

Tablets are great for certain tasks and even data entry is fairly straightforward on a device as large as the iPad, but for many people nothing quite matches the feel and speed of a real keyboard. Netbooks because hugely popular because they offered the ability to work on the move with lots of portability and tablets offer the same, to a point, but data input will still be seen as lacking by a proportion of the market. The best solution is to go for the best of both worlds and carry an add-on keyboard with you, but that can take away the portability you already enjoy. An even better solution would be to incorporate a keyboard in a case and make it work with the iPad so that it can be a laptop when you want it to be and a tablet the rest of the time. It’s time to review the iPad Case with Bluetooth Keyboard from Brando.

The case

As a case it works very well and is made of good quality materials. It feels like many other cases that sell for the same price as this one and for this alone the value is immediately pumped up. The design allows you to rest the iPad at a near vertical angle and to also use it at a shallow angle when the keyboard is not being used. There are ridges just above the keyboard which the iPad surround cleverly slots into when in the near vertical position and this is how the case can be used on a lap and not just on a flat surface like the official Apple keyboard dock. This flexibility alone gives it a head start, but I have to say that the solution is not perfect on the lap; it is slightly too vertical and also does not have the complete stability you may want. However, it does the job which is impressive for a leather design and after some time I did get use to the feel no matter what position I held it in.

The keyboard

This is a silicone keyboard and thus does not offer the feel you would get from a plastic key design. There are advantages and disadvantages to this; it is exceptionally quiet and will not disturb anyone around you and the key material means that you are highly unlikely to damage the iPad when the case is closed. However, it does take some time to get used to and is a design you will either love or hate. I say that, but I am in two minds over it- it is much, much quicker than the iPad screen keyboard for me and surprised me with the speeds I could attain and it is also quite comfortable to type on for long periods. The feel does continue to bug me slightly though and I can’t work out of that is purely a state of mind.

Conclusion

This is a huge bargain for $59. The case is very well made and shuts to protect the iPad from every angle, albeit increasing the depth of the unit somewhat. The Bluetooth connection mechanism is very quick and I was up and running in no time, to the point that the wireless connection is not even noticed because it all feels so natural. I am still waiting for the battery to run down and I haven’t even charged it since I received it so expected battery life over the long term is also excellent.

If you are looking for a keyboard attachment for your iPad, but don’t want to spend a fortune I can recommend this one highly. The only caveat is that your view of the silicone keyboard may differ from mine.

For those of you with a Samsung Galaxy Tab, Brando also sells the same model for the Tab at exactly the same price.

Stylus socks are made of a conductive material and stretched over a form, in this case a plastic holder that’s as long as a normal length pen (3 cheers). There’s also a piece of felt under the “nib”. The result is a tip that is not hard but is not soft or noticeably cushioned like most other iPad stylii. Yes they look a little strange, but who looks at the pen when they’re writing.

And that’s the important part – the writing. I tried the Stylus Sock with Noteshelf. Very nice. Now keep in mind that I have no experience with anything that is supposed to be digital ink perfection. So I’m going by what feels best and gives the best digital ink results. It’s the same idea as comparing Penultimate to Noteshelf.

My previous stylus was the Targus version, which is the same as the Boxwave and the Griffin. I found that to be very usable although the soft nib was a bit off putting. And there was a slight bit of drag. I have a Boxwave screen protector on my iPad, so I don’t know if that is as smooth as an unprotected screen.

The Stylus Sock is noticeably smoother. There’s no drag that I could feel or certainly nothing that was distracting. We already know that Noteshelf’s digital ink is very responsive. With the Stylus Sock, it’s more so. Also, I found that the accuracy of my writing (or chicken scratches) was better. All in all, an almost paper-like experience, and certainly the best yet.

The one I ordered was $7 plus $3 shipping from the Netherlands to Canada. Cheaper than other stylii for better performance. They have another style that appears a bit thicker and longer.

All in all, I’m very pleased. If anyone else picks one up, I’d like to hear other opinions, but I recommend this one.

PS. Since writing this I’ve tried the Stylus Sock on my iPhone 4. It’s the first stylus that makes writing notes on the iPhone practical for me. Bonus!

Bob

“Since taking delivery of my pen I have been very happy with the quality of ink deposition on the various types of paper that I have used. On the first day when I excitedly unwrapped my pen (thanks for the high quality packaging Amazon!) I just couldn’t contain my excitement and went around finding things to write on, like the shopping list on the notice board in our kitchen, the Post-it notes next to the phone, and on my favourite lined A4 pad at the side of my desk.

My pen is the transparent type with a blue lid. I selected this one in preference to the orange type because I like to be able to see how much ink I have left so that I can put in another order before I finally run out.

When the initial excitement of taking delivery of my new pen started to wear off I realised that I shouldn’t just write for the fun of it, this should be a serious enterprise, so by the second day of ownership I started to take a little more care of what I wrote. I used it to sign three letters, and in each case was perfectly happy with the neatness of handwriting that I was able to achieve.

I have a helpful tip for you that you might not know about – if you let the ink dry for a few seconds you can avoid the smudging that sometimes happens if you rub the ink immediately after writing. Fortunately the ink used in this particular Bic pen seems to dry very quickly.

On the third day of ownership I went on a trip to London and took my pen carefully packed away in my brief case, but I needn’t have worried, this isn’t some temperamental ink pen that leaks when you store it at the wrong angle. I sat at my meeting and confidently removed the cap from my pen and it wrote flawlessly, almost immediately.

I notice that the barrel of the pen has been crafted very carefully to fit in the pen holder down the edge of my Filofax. It’s not so grippy so that it is hard to remove when I want to make a quick note, and yet not so loose that it falls out too easily when I open my Filofax in a hurry. Maybe the choice of surface texture on the pen has some part to play here, because it seems that the inside of the leather grip on the pen holder in my Filofax has just the right level of adhesion that I can be confident when I need to reach in and get my pen it’s going to be just where I left it!

Today is the fourth day of ownership of my pen, and I have to say I’m starting to treat it like an old friend. I walk around the office with it clipped in to my shirt pocket and someone in the accounts department actually asked to borrow it while we were both standing at the photocopier. Would you believe it, they actually tried to walk away with my pen! They were very embarrassed when I called after them as they walked down the corridor and asked for it back. You will be happy to know that it is now back, safe and sound in my top pocket, ready and waiting to start writing again.

In summary, I would happily recommend this pen to anyone who is planning on writing on paper. If you are considering a writing implement for some other surface such as writing on a CD, or other non-porous substances then another pen might be better suited, but if it’s just plain old paper then I think you will probably be well served by this particular model.”

Some people seem to feel that screen protectors are not necessary these days, but I am one of those who always installs a screen protector the moment I purchase a new device. For all of the talk of Gorilla Glass and the other strides made towards indestructible screens, my iPhone 4 still has a couple of small scratches on the screen and this is with prolonged care having been taken in the way I carry and use it.

First up I tried the iPad screen protector and this was a timely arrival because I had previously made the error of buying a cheap £5 protector from an independent store. I wasn’t prepared to pay the £20 cost most retail chains ask for and so this was a quick and easy option. Unfortunately it also proved to be a waste of money because within a few days it was so scarred from normal use that it got in the way of the whole iPad experience. Expert Shield charges a more reasonable £9.95 (£17.95 for a twin pack) for the standard protector and £11.95 for the anti-glare version. Mine arrived with no packaging or extras, but yours will come with a lint-free cleaning cloth to aid installation. It is advisable to have something like a credit card to help smooth out the protector after installation because the iPad screen is big and so there is lots of room for tweaking the installation afterwards.

I got started and cleaned the screen and then gently lined it up with the home button and sides to make sure it was positioned correctly. The protector has two sides to pull off and you will notice after the first has been removed that it is very thick for a screen protector. Once you peel off the second side it starts to feel more like a standard protector, but one which offers a feeling of confidence over the thinner protectors that supposedly offer a clearer view. There were a few air bubbles, but the advantage of a thicker protector like this one is that they are much easier to remove. Simply spend some time brushing the bubbles away and you should be left with a perfectly installed protector. I rushed my installation and still ended up with a perfect fit and no bubbles or dust caught at all.

It is hard to get too excited about a screen protector, but this one is awesome. It went on perfectly and is by far the best one I have used to date on the iPad. It’s not all about protection because a decent screen protector on a device as large as the iPad makes a huge amount of difference to usability. When you consider glare, fingerprints and all the other bits of dust that can be attracted to a screen this size the experience is completely different to how it was with the cheap protector that actually made things worse.

I want few things from a screen protector, but value, toughness and clarity are necessities. The iPad anti-glare protector from Expert Shield has all of these in spades.

iPhone 4 Screen Protector

Expert Shield also sent over a front and back iPhone 4 screen protector combo which is even better value at just £6.95. It doesn’t have the full anti-glare of the iPad version I tested, but this is not so necessary on an iPhone and the back cover is an added bonus. You could read my iPad protector review again and replace ‘iPad’ with ‘iPhone’ because it is a similar story.

It installed without fuss and managed to cover the entire front and back without bubbles or overlapping on the edges. This is something I have seen many times with the iPhone 4 in particular which is surprising because it is so flat, but many protectors struggle to cover the surface without overlapping the edges. On both sides I had no problems here and I was as impressed with the iPhone 4 protectors as I was with the iPad protector.

You can purchase both screen protectors direct from Expert Shield.

Expert Shield advertises on PDA-247, but this has no effect on my final thoughts. I only give god reviews if the products justify such positivity because to do otherwise would reduce trust in future write ups.

Since then, I have been able to improve the listening pleasure to a brand new level thanks to 2 factors. First Fiio have released their first full size headphone amp and second to Audiominor cables.

Fiio E9 Headphone Amp

Available from – www.mp3amplifier.com

Price – £74.95

Pros – Nothing. Unbeatable at price point and way above it.

Cons – Volume marker could do with a white mark

Main Features & Technical Summary

●Two channel power output, suitable for headphones with 3.5 and 6.35mm.
●Main power amplifier use the TI corporation‘s, it with 5uVrms noise,low distortion 0.00014% THD + N;high switching rate, 1300V/uS current-feedback model IC:TPA6120
●With on/off mute function;usingsealed relays for protecting power amplifier output; using ALPS sealed low noise potentiometer
●Internal audio buffer amplification BB OPA2134: FET input, with advantages of low noise:8nVsqrHz; low distortion 0.00008%THD; high switching rate:20V/uSand so on
●E7 special base for USB connection with audio decoding DAC, also can to E7 charging
●With LOW ( 10dB ) /HIGH(18dB) gain choice
●Two audio output: one is the 3.5mm port of E9 (adjustable output); another one is port of RCA output (fixed/ unadjustable output)
●Built-in power converter module, high efficiency, high precision and low noise, to meet great needs of dynamic signal processing
●LED power indicator light
● With function of output priority of headphone plugging-in, the external output RCA will not work after inserting headphone
●Extensible base
*The base on the top of E9 can be changed for using a special base of iPod/iPhone , but you need to buy the base of iPod/iPhone separately
Specification:
●Output power: 1W (16Ω Loaded）；80mW（600Ω Loaded）
●Headphone Impedance Range:16Ω ～600Ω
●SNR: ≥100dB（A weight）[LINE IN]
●Distortion: <0.003%（100mW）[LINE IN]
●Frequency response: 10Hz~100KHz
● LINE OUT: 2V rms
●Predriveout: 0-2V rms
●Power supply mode: DC15V/ 1.5A
●Size: 149mm×96mm×56mm
●Weight:445g

The Fiio E9 comes in a lovely black box, which includes the power lead, unit and usb connection cable. The clever part of the design of the E9 is it allows the cheaper and portable headphone of theirs, the E7 (as reviewed in my previous article) to be docked in to the top of the unit. This allows the E9 to charge it, and when the Fiio E9 is connected by usb to enable the E7 to act as the dedicated DAC (digital to audio convertor) for the E9. In fact, at present I am typing this review on my MacBook with the E9 connected via usb with the E7 docked.  If you recall, the headphones I reviewed in my previous article have all been tested with the E9. I now prefer to use the Sony MDR-XB700 and Denon AH-C751s and these have been used for this review.

So apart from plugging in headphones, you can also use the E9 to act as a pre amp to active speakers or a power amp. From the photo you can see plenty of inputs and output connections. Looking at the E9, it is simplicity in style, but very solid. I love the feature to enable the portable E7 to be docked, charged and act as the DAC. But the crucial question. What is the difference using this to the standard headphone socket on your laptop or phone or mp3 player.

Well, it’s like the difference of driving a Ford Fiesta or a Rolls Royce Phantom. Both get you from A to B but in different style. Except the Fiio E9 costs less than a Ford Fiesta but drives and is built like a Rolls Royce. Yes, it’s that good. In fact, every person I know who has got one of these first words are , OMG. In sound terminology the Fiio E9 is a neutral amp. That is it adds nothing to the sound and takes nothing away. What is does is take your headphones and wake them up, inject them with quad turbo boosts and delivers and drives them with such panache. Every album I have I’m just re-listening to all the tracks. The musicality is dramatic. The punch, bass lines are solid, the attack is huge. With classical music, the Fiio E9 never runs out of headroom it just builds as high as the music requires. In fact the power of the E9 is so great I don’t need to move the volume above 10 o’clock. Talking of the volume control it’s a beautiful knob, but could do with the volume marker being white to identify where the volume is at. Not a major problem just being fussy. Voices, vocals, instruments are so so well defined. The Fiio E9 is a must have item if you listen to music. My CD’s are ripped at 320 bits mp3. With softer and relaxing pieces the sound just oozes out.

But when not using the Fiio E9 via the usb input, you may wish to use it with a standard 3.5mm connector. In which case the E7 is only being charged. One point to remember is the bass boosts mode of the E7 cannot be used when docked. And with the 3.5mm input method, the next upgrade is the interconnect cable.

Audiominor Cables – Ipod Line Out Dock Silver / Copper Mix

Price – $55 approx

Pro – Huge improvement to sound.

Cons – Nothing

Available – http://stores.ebay.com/AudioMinor

Audiominor is based in Turkey, as is run by a very well known and respected audio enthusiast, Bogac Tekman who has been making bespoke cables for years.

The cable I am reviewing is a Line Out Dock for iPods, iPhone and iPads. The cable is made from two 22 awg %99.999 pure copper and two 24 awg solid silver cable. To complete the audiophile cable a Switchcraft 3.5mm gold plated plug is used.

So what is the difference using this cable. Massive. You will hear the warmth of the copper and the musical and precision details of silver. With all these components, the leap in sound quality is wonderful. Before I bought this, I had a lengthy discussion with Bogac and he recommended this mix of copper and silver. In fact he wanted to know what I thought after I got it. All my headphones just took on a new level of sound quality, presence and warmth. The music is warmer but not over the top,  but the silver added greater sound staging. Instruments suddenly appeared, the clarity and detail just superb. I started to hear things in the music not previously heard.

The build quality of the cable is excellent. Hand-made too. Also custom lengths and different types of cables are available.

In summary the Fiio E9 is a revelation and at an affordable price point. Thanks to mp3amplifier for sending this.

The Audiominor LOD is another revelation.

And I’m now busy listening to my music collection! Do not disturb.

Review by Gavin Fabiani-Laymond

Most Bluetooth car kits that are priced below £30 are really not worth buying because they offer poor battery life, poor clarity and crucially not enough volume to hear people when driving. The more expensive ones tend to solves the above issues, but they often cost circa £100 which is a hefty price to pay for such a device. The NoiseHush N650 is priced at $59.95 which seems like a reasonable price, but does it offer a performance greater than the price? When you consider that it includes solar charging you have to worry about the quality of output.

As it happens I didn’t have to worry about the quality at all, but the weather was a bigger problem. Over the past week I have not witnessed one glimpse of that big yellow thing in the sky and it has rained almost every single day so my opportunities to test the solar power feature have been minimal. I will put that particular feature aside for a moment and concentrate on the setup process; it really was as easy as you could hope for- hold the power button and then wait for your smartphone to recognise it. Input the pairing code and away you go. That was the first task done.

Next I dialled my voicemail and waiting for the NoiseHush to kick into action, and boy did it kick in. I have never heard anything so loud in my life! For some reason my unit was set to maximum volume out of the box which was handy because it demonstrated just how loud it could be. I won’t be worrying about hearing a conversation in the car anymore, but will worry about other cars a mile ahead overhearing what I am saying. Seriously, it is mightily impressive how loud this kit can go and even at half volume it is more than capable of providing a clear sound that will work in any driving situation. I can say for certain that it is the best car kit I have heard to date in terms of voice quality and that alone is the most important factor for me.

The design of the NoiseHush is actually quite good. I initially thought it looked a bit cheap, but closer inspection revealed some good quality materials and a sweet display which swivels out depending on how you place it in your car. You can lie it flat and swivel out the display or you can use the sucker attachment to place it on a windscreen or suitable dashboard area. The display is used to show Caller IDs and you can import your contact book to the unit as well which is handy. On the kit is a call answer key, volume buttons, on/off button and a phone book transfer button. There is also a miniUSB charging port (for the UK where the sun doesn’t shine anymore) and everything has been put together to create a unit that is neither overly fashionable or ugly. In short, it is perfect for a car.

The most heavily market feature is the solar charging, but the fact I have not been able to test this is largely irrelevant to me. The NoiseHush is well built, offers superb sound quality and after a standard charge mine has worked for the past 5 days with no further charging needed. It is very well priced for what it is and will be a permanent fixture in my car from now on. Highly recommended.

Available from WirelessGround for $59.95.