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OtterBox Reflex Series case for iPhone 4: First look
When it comes to smartphone cases that can stand up to almost anything, OtterBox pretty much defined the market. Starting with the multi-layer Defender Series and then moving on to the more sleek Commuter Series, Colorado-based OtterBox has always made iPhone cases that can stand up to a lot of abuse. However, for some iPhone owners the rather bulky design of the previous cases left a lot to be desired. OtterBox industrial designer Adam Wibby took his inspiration for the new Reflex Series (US$44.95) from the world of automobile design, where a "crush zone" is sacrificed to reduce the impact on the passengers within a vehicle. Taking this idea through design and testing, Wibby and the OtterBox team found that they could build very thin hardshell cases with a shock-absorbing "reflex zone" made of a more flexible silicone material. As the design was fine-tuned, the team did a Finite Element Analysis to test the shock-absorbing properties. The analysis showed about a threefold reduction in the shock of a drop, and Wibby notes in the video accompanying this post that an iPhone in a Reflex case will actually bounce. The Reflex case adds very little weight; my electronic postal scale showed that it weighed in at 0.9 oz (about 26 grams), which brings the total weight of iPhone 4 and Reflex case up to about 5.8 oz (about 164 grams). %Gallery-120792%
Early access to Verizon iPhone: One guy got his already
9 to 5 Mac has linked to video of someone who managed to finagle his package out of the local UPS distribution center and get a hold of his Verizon iPhone on Saturday. This guy's camera operator flipped between portrait and landscape orientation, so if you want to get a really good look at all of it, do a bit of stretching first. I'm surprised we only have one report of this, honestly. With as long as people have waited, I figured we would see quite a few more videos and reports like this one. The image 9 to 5 Mac posted shows the iPhone in a case, the iPhone 4 box and a Getting Started guide. It appears the case is an OtterBox of some sort; the same user posted a brief video tour of his iPhone titled Verizon iPhone in OtterBox Defender Case, but the OtterBox site says all the Verizon cases are forthcoming, not actually out yet. I also checked the Verizon site, and it didn't show any either. Most people who have tipped us to their shipping status have said that their Verizon iPhones are scheduled for delivery on Monday. Hopefully the crazy weather won't delay too many of those packages, and we'll get to see more of these videos. According to its website, new Verizon customers can go online first thing Wednesday (12:01 AM PST/3:01 AM EST) -- or late Tuesday, depending how you look at it -- and order their own. Verizon iPhones will show up in stores Thursday morning at 7 AM local time.
Otterbox's Reflex Case shown off at CES ShowStoppers 2011
Mobile device case manufacturer Otterbox was at the ShowStoppers event here at CES 2011 in Las Vegas, and the company showed us its new Reflex series of cases. The company borrowed some pretty solid tech to make this protective case -- they called it a "single layer, dual density" product, which means that there's both a rubber body and two polycarbonate spines that hold the case together in one layer. The case is a little larger than your iPhone, which Otterbox claims provides a protecting cushion of air -- if you're iPhone's dropped, the air inside the case will soften the blow. At least that's what they said -- it's not like the case is airtight, so we're not sure exactly how much protection that "cushion" really provides. It is a nice solid case and looks pretty classy. The case also snaps apart easily, so if you're at home and just want quick access to the iPhone's dock connector, you can snap the bottom part off and plug in a sync cable. At US$44.95, Otterbox's case is quite pricey -- probably a little more than we'd be willing to pay. Yet it is a nice, solidly constructed case, and if you're looking for something that's rugged but still stylish and simple to use, it might be worth wrapping your iPhone 4 in.
TUAW review and giveaway: OtterBox Defender case for iPhone 4
Judging from the number of entries for our recent giveaway of two OtterBox iPad cases, most of you are familiar with the excellent products made by the Colorado company. Shortly after the end of the iPad case giveaway, I was surprised to find another box at my door from OtterBox containing one of the "bullet-proof" Defender cases for the iPhone 4. No, an OtterBox Defender isn't going to save your iPhone 4 from a speeding bullet, but it can definitely keep your device clean and safe in a variety of tough conditions. TUAW reader Scott B. sent us an email today describing his experience with an iPhone Defender case, which reads "I received my Otterbox Defender Case for my IPhone 4, three days ago. It is great. I had one for my 3GS and it fell into a mud puddle. The case totally protected the phone. I now feel better having my IPhone 4 so well protected." It's not often that we get unsolicited reader love for an iPhone case, which tells you just how special the OtterBox products are. Read along for a short review of the Defender for iPhone 4, and see how you can have a chance to get one from TUAW. %Gallery-98301%
TUAW review and giveaway: OtterBox Defender / Commuter for iPad
Right off the bat, let me get the record straight -- I am a huge fan of OtterBox cases. I've used them on my last two iPhones and had used them pre-iPhone on a number of handheld devices. If you're into leather or style, then you probably won't be excited about the design of OtterBox products. But if you're the type of person who wants to protect an investment in an expensive device, then OtterBox is for you. The Colorado-based company has turned its attention to Apple's latest success story, the iPad, with two new cases to protect your device from dents and dings. As with the iPhone line, the cases come in two flavors -- the Defender and the Commuter. The Defender series is the Fort Knox of iPad cases, made for situations where you know that you could drop your iPad or otherwise expose it to conditions where it would probably break without protection. The Commuter, on the other hand, is much sleeker while still providing a level of protection that most other iPad cases won't give you. OtterBox was kind enough to send TUAW an early production model of one of each model to try out and then give away to our readers. Read on for the review, and how to enter our giveaway for one of these rugged iPad cases. %Gallery-97684%
TUAW Review & Giveaway: OtterBox Commuter / Commuter TL iPhone cases
After the debacle earlier this year when I lost my iPhone 3G, I decided to not only protect the new phone -- my lost 3G had been "naked" -- but make sure that whatever I used to protect it had a bit of heft. My choice of case was the locally-grown (Fort Collins, CO) OtterBox Defender, which fit the bill perfectly. It has what OtterBox refers to as a 3-layer design, including a thick screen protector, a hard shell that encloses the iPhone, and a rubberized exterior jacket that cushions shocks and keeps ports covered. While it has been an awesome case in terms of protection, it's pretty chunky and I've often wished I had something a bit skinnier. OtterBox came to the rescue last week with a new line of protective cases called the Commuter. There are two models -- the Commuter (US$34.95) and Commuter TL (US$29.95). Like the Defender, these cases work with both the iPhone 3G and 3GS. Read on to hear more about the OtterBox Commuter cases, and a chance to win either a Commuter or Commuter TL case from TUAW and OtterBox.
Don't try this at home
Or at the pool, or at the beach. It seems a French fellow was proud of his new iPhone 3GS and was taking pictures around the pool when the sort of inevitable happened. Yup, in the drink. Amazingly, the iPhone survived the underwater ordeal, and even recorded [YouTube link] the trip. Allegedly. I wouldn't recommend this as summer entertainment. The iPhone in question had a tight rubber case, and my guess is while the video did record OK, the moisture in the phone will eventually take a toll. There are a few water-tight cases for the iPhone, and we road tested an Otterbox Defender case back in April. Perhaps this fellow will invest in such a case should he go iPhone diving in the future.Now of course the video might be a fake (I would have expected to see water on the lens for example), but at least it's an entertaining weekend diversion. Click through to the second half of the post to see the video.Via Cult of Mac.
Road Tested: Otterbox's serious iPhone case
I bought my 4GB iPhone way back on June 29th, 2007, release day for the US. Upon removing it from its box, all shiny and smooth, I thought, "I need a case for this thing." I'm what you call scratch-phobic. But then I saw the rigorous torture test that PCWorld subjected their unit to, and was persuaded to go commando. Here it is nearly two years later and my iPhone's display still looks great. There's a single nick next to the earpiece but other than that it looks fantastic. The back is another story.I have two kids aged 4 years and 6 years. Occasionally, I'll hand over the iPhone to keep them entertained. For instance, at the end of a day of boring errands when their patience is at an end, I'll whip out a little Wheels On The Bus [App Store link] or Pocket God. As any parent of young kids will tell you, one of the things they love to do is drop stuff.My iPhone has seen the floor of the mall, Dunkin Donuts and my Saturn Vue. It's been in sand and sun. In other words, it needs protection. I picked up an Otterbox.%Gallery-50564%
Hands-on with a few Otterbox phone cases
We wandered past OtterBox during our aimless CES march and they had a couple fine cases on display so we just had to pop in for a look see. From BlackBerry cases to iPhone -- we're looking at those here -- cases, Otterbox brings the goods to wrap your dearly-loved nerd gear. We were particularly interested in a couple hard cases, one rugged, the other waterproof and looking bulletproof, too. Follow the link to the goodies.%Gallery-13412%
Peripheral vision
While we are still waiting for the iPhone's killer accessories to show up, this week sees a few items worth mentioning drop on our desks. We look at a stylish Bluetooth headset, a couple cases, and a couple cabling / connectivity adapters to round it all out. Belkin, Griffin or some clone outfit really has to kick an FM transmitter out into retail land -- unless you've see one working, and if so, please let us know! -- for our favorite iPhone, but until then, enjoy this week's goodies right after the break.
Otterbox: Waterproof goodness now for 5G iPod
If you've been dying to go swimming with your 5G iPod (maybe you just need to watch Steve Zissou underwater), there is a more appetizing option than the fugly H2O swimbelt.Luckily Otterbox has released an iPod 5G waterproof case as an update to its line of iPod waterproof stuff we've reported on previously. This case is waterproof to 3 feet, so it's a bit more appropriate for monsoon weather and rainy northwest outdoors activities rather than full on swimming. Oh well, at least it isn't horrid to look at.[via Popgadget]
