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BubCap Pro updates tamper protection to the big league
I first looked at BubCap by Paperclip Robot last summer, finding it handy for parents, during demonstrations and preventing inadvertent access to the iPhone or iPad Home button. At that time, there were three BupCaps models available: the Regular, the Ultra and the Max models (in order of resiliency). They made it especially difficult to hit that Home Key. "That's exactly what you want -- a significant challenge for smart-alecks who would get cute with your demos, or someone whose physical development may outpace their wisdom," I wrote then. One problem remained, however. It was pretty easy to peel them off. A sharp fingernail and the will to act up could quickly remove the sticker. Paperclip Robot's Rob Mitchell explained, "[A]side from BubCap used with children, we sold thousands of custom-branded Max to business customers. Clients started coming to us looking for greater deterrence." Paperclip Robot responded by introducing the BupCap Pro. Industrial-strength and compatible with all mobile iOS devices (iPad, iPhone, iPod touch), the BupCap Pro uses an aggressive adhesive and a strong aluminum base. Its adhesive, combined with the rigidity of the aluminum, makes the Pro particularly difficult to remove. Paperclip Robot sent me a sample to test and I can assure you that it is essentially unbendable. Unlike older models which resist presses rather than prevent them (perfect for families with small children), the Pro blocks the Home key completely. The only access that remains is through a small paperclip-ready hole in the center of the cover. This hole allows administrators to use the Home key to set up any software, while preparing for public deployment -- whether in classrooms, offices, kiosks, or intake centers. The Home Key cannot be pressed without that paperclip (obviously, the devices must be set up to disable multitouch overrides, which offer Home key alternatives). Mitchell told TUAW, "I have several developer clients who have ordered BubCap Pro for use in bars and restaurants. I also have a developer who wants to keep users in a custom iPad shoot-em-up game used to market their brand at events." BubCap Pro is an excellent follow-up product for Paperclip Robot, helping to expand its line to a larger group of users. You can order units from the company website for US$9.99 for a 2-pack, and $225 for 50-packs. It is currently available only in black, although a white version will be released soon. Be aware that the BubCap Pro uses an extremely strong adhesive, and removal isn't easy. You'll need an X-Acto knife or razor blade and may damage the device's finish if you are not skilled. The non-pro models -- Regular, Ultra and Max -- can be easily removed with a fingernail.
Hands on with BubCap: The Home button cover for iDevices
Recently, Rob Mitchell of Paperclip Robot asked me to try out a new product called BubCap. It's a sticker you place onto your iPhone, iPod or iPad that covers the Home Button, making it harder to click. It's available in three levels of rigidity and does the job well. Why would you want to do this? There are several compelling use-cases. For example, Paperclip Robot sells many BubCaps to parents who want to prevent toddlers from exiting a certain app and wandering over to Daddy's email account or Mommy's home finance program. The covering material is stiff enough to limit toddler access without hindering adult use. This isn't a solution for unmanned installations -- you'd want to use a more permanent, lockable device as a theft deterrent -- but the BubCaps are handy for other situations, like classroom or boardroom demos or when paired with assistive software for the disabled. TUAW tried three solution levels: regular, ultra and max. These are in ascending levels of rigidity. Of these, the regular level most closely approximates the Home Button's native feel. I'd leave that one in place between toddler sessions. The ultra and max levels made it really hard to hit that Home Key. That's exactly what you want -- a significant challenge for smart-alecks who would get cute with your demos, or someone whose physical development may outpace their wisdom. The difference between ultra and max is that the max version adds extra rigidity. This makes it a particularly good match to the iPad. The iPad's Home Button well is shallower than the ones on the iPhone and iPod touch, making it easier to press. The BubCap should prevent most people from clicking the Home Button deliberately or accidentally, which is the entire point of using it. Each BubCap is a separate sticker. They sell in 4-packs for US$5. In my admittedly limited testing, I found that the caps were easy to apply, came off without leaving residue and were nicely re-usable. Mitchell tells me that the caps can become slightly more sticky over time, but that any residue can be easily wiped off with a cloth.
