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OnePlus kills its unique swappable covers before they had the chance to live
Although more people have been able to get their hands the OnePlus One than ever before, new handset owners won't be able to accessorize them as thoroughly as was first thought. After two months of teasing its bamboo, silk white and sandstone black "StyleSwap" covers, the company has been forced to kill its custom backplates before they got the chance to go on sale. According to a company blog post, "technical difficulties" during mass production meant that covers suffered from creaks or became slightly loose, risking damage to the non-removable battery that it was meant to protect.
Rumored next-generation iPhone casing gets handled, compared to predecessor (video)
That purported new iPhone backing has decided to show off its taller, slimmer, self again -- this time in a full 360-degree video from parts reseller, ETradeSupply. It doesn't reveal much more than what we got to see in those initial photos: a relocated headphone socket, two-tone surface and a much smaller dock connector. While the narrator comments on what may be a smaller SIM slot on the shell, as 9to5Mac notes, that's based on the smaller SIM card holder piece, rather than the real estate found inside. You can cast your own skeptical eye over the five-minute walkthrough -- we've embedded it above.
Supposed new iPhone casings show up with tall body, tiny dock connector, tons of mystery (update: a bit of the front too)
When it rains, it pours -- after a tiny drizzle of tall iPod touch leaks, we're suddenly faced with a deluge of photos of what might just be the next iPhone's back plating. If that's what we're looking at through photos supplied by a historically reliable uBreakiFix, talk of bigger iPhone screens might just pan out, as it looks decidedly taller than the iPhone 4S we use today. Apple may likewise be going all old-school iPhone on us, with a modern twist: we could be reverting to an aluminum back with more receptive materials (likely glass) at the ends, just in a much thinner form that keeps the steel antenna band. Perhaps the most intriguing bit is at the bottom, where rumors of a much smaller dock connector may have been validated along with a shift of place for the headphone jack. There's still a chance we're looking at an elaborate KIRF or an early engineering prototype that could change, but given that 9to5 Mac just got very similar images with black trim, there's a real possibility that we've just been given a sneak peek of what to expect from Apple later this year. Update: A handful of extra photos have surfaced at 9to5 that show a bit of the front, as well as better views of the back. It's looking like the new model won't quite be as skinny as some photos suggest, and we're digging the different-hued, two-tone design a bit more now that it's not being subjected to Mr. Blurrycam. We've included the more choice shots in the gallery. [Thanks to Brandon and Steven from uBreakiFix] %Gallery-156349%
U-bop gSHELL SuperSlim for iPad 2 offers thin Smart Cover-compatible protection
The U-bop gSHELL SuperSlim is another thin TPU Smart Cover-compatible case that comes in several colors, including the semi-transparent "smoke," which recently hit the TUAW test bench. Coverage The gSHELL has decent coverage for a thin TPU case, covering everywhere you would expect with enough access to the device not to hinder use. The headphones port, the dock connector port, microphone, camera and side switch are all freely accessible, while the power and volume buttons are accessed directly through the case. As with all thin TPU cases, scratch resistance is good, but impact protection is limited to very light bumps, while the rubber stretches over the front edge of the screen locking the iPad tightly into the case. Thickness and material The gSHELL is nice and thin at about 1mm thick meaning it's not going to add much weight or bulk to your slim slate, but will give it a grippy yet smooth texture to help you keep a hold of it. Small manufacturing edges and imperfections are visible on the edge of this inexpensive case, but they aren't sharp and don't get in the way too much. U-bop have the gSHELL in a few variants including the Smart Cover-compatible variety which we tested, but if you're looking for just a TPU case for your iPad that covers all edges they've got your covered. %Gallery-134976% Verdict The U-bop gSHELL SuperSlim is a decent, low cost TPU case that feels solid and fits the iPad 2 well. If you've got a Smart Cover and want to keep scratches to that gorgeous aluminium at bay then this thin TPU case will do the trick without emptying your wallet.
SwitchEasy CoverBuddy iPad 2 Smart Cover-compatible backplate case
We had a look at a TPU-based Smart Cover-compatible backplate in the last in this series of reviews. Today we're going to be looking at one of the polycarbonate variety, the SwitchEasy CoverBuddy. Coverage The CoverBuddy has pretty good coverage for a polycarbonate case with all edges and corners covered. There are cut outs for all the important bits, the buttons, switch, ports, camera and mic, and of course a strip down the side for the Smart Cover to attach. The cut outs themselves are quite large, meaning you can get easy access to the bits and pieces, but it could also mean that they're left exposed. It's always a trade-off with a case and I think SwitchEasy have made the best of it here. Instead of a flat opening, the speaker on the back has a grill to let the sound out while still providing a modicum of protection. The case clips on with thin overlaps on the iPad 2's bezel that hold it in place, meaning it doesn't protrude onto the front of the screen at all. It's a good fit and does the job admirably. Thickness and material Being polycarbonate the CoverBuddy is slightly thicker than some of the TPU offerings we've seen before, but it is by no means thick at 1.8mm thin. The polycarbonate itself can be covered in either a rubberised coating or a scratch-resistant UV coat, depending on color of which there are 11 to choose from including UltraClear as shown above (check the gallery below for the Tan version). The UV coating feels especially nice in the hand and is smooth yet not slippery. The CoverBuddy is certainly well made and feels a cut above some of the rest with nicely rounded corners and good finishing at every edge, but as with all these thin cases, don't expect it to do much if you drop your iPad from any decent height. %Gallery-134887% Verdict The SwitchEasy CoverBuddy doesn't do much other than cover the back of your iPad 2 while letting your Smart Cover attach to the side, but in that respect it does it very well. It's unobtrusive, form fitting and the UltraClear case is especially good with a great finish. If you're looking for a good quality simple polycarbonate backplate for your iPad 2, the SwitchEasy CoverBuddy deserves to be near the top of your list for about US$25 plus shipping.
