iPhone 4
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I'd rather hold a Galaxy Note 3 to my ear than this iPhone case
Out of the world of the absurd comes this iPhone, err Ear Phone, case from UK-based thumbsUp! [Via Laughing Squid]
Flickr Find: So shiny, you can see your reflection
Ah, lovely iPhone 4. How we remember, thee --- with your boxy design and shiny glass back so full of luster that we could use you as a mirror. As you walk down memory lane and contemplate your own iPhone 4, don't forget to thank SDruet Photographies for the photo. You can contribute to our Flickr pool here. We'd love to see your photos!
iOS 7: Camera changes make it better, but it still loves to crash
A very strange thing happened during the three months I tested the revamped Camera app in iOS 7. I started out relying, as usual, on Camera+. It's been a mainstay on my iPhone for several years. But as the weeks went by, I found myself using that popular app less and less until it's now sitting a bit lost on the home page of my iPhone. While the built-in Camera app isn't that far removed from its iOS 6 counterpart, there are a number of changes that make it better than what it was. Option buttons that were once on the picture itself now rest on a semi-transparent panel that overlays the image. In Square mode, these bars are black. You're presented with four camera modes that you swipe among: Video, Camera, Square and Pano for panorama. Those who get the iPhone 5s will get a fifth option: Slo-mo. iPad and iPhone 4 users do not have the Panorama option. In Photo and Square mode, you can apply a live filter to an image before you take it, a feature that Instagram fans are used to. When in landscape mode, most of the options flip to accommodate the new view -- except for the mode toggles. Those remain in portrait orientation, which is a bit odd. The iPad gains HDR mode, but it doesn't have the live filters. If you take a photo with a filter and don't like it, you can remove or change it after the picture is taken. Those who have an iPhone 5 or newer will be able to zoom in and out while shooting video. You can use burst mode on older models of the iPhone, and it works pretty well, but you don't get the speed nor the auto-selection mode that burst mode on the iPhone 5s has. As in earlier versions of the Camera app, you can do some limited editing. For the most part, unless you're planning to push your photo to social media right that second, you're better off doing post-processing through Snapseed, Camera+ or iPhoto. The main thing that keeps me from completely singing the praises of the new Camera app is that, at least for me, it's still very crash-happy. Not in burst mode, as I expected, but when toggling among filters and using Panorama. But, part of me wonders if it's because I'm using an iPhone 4S for this review and not a 5. Regardless, it shouldn't be crashing this much for a phone that's still being offered by Apple. Still, I find that I'm not relying on third-party camera options as often as I used to. There's some things that they still excel at, but I no longer feel that the built-in Camera is a poor alternative to these apps. Still, if you want decent post-processing, you're better off doing so in another app.
Apple still offering the iPhone 4 in China
With the introduction of the iPhone 5c and 5s, Apple killed off the iPhone 5 and 4 in most places, instead choosing to keep the iPhone 4S around. However, the iPhone 4 isn't quite dead yet, as the company will continue to offer it in China, reports MacRumors. This is in line with what KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo predicted earlier this year when he said Apple would keep the iPhone 4 on sale in China. As the largest smartphone market on the planet, the ability to sell an iPhone model at the lowest price possible is paramount to Apple. With the continuation of sales of the iPhone 4 in the country, they can offer Chinese customers an iPhone for RMB 2588, or US$423, without contract. The iPhone 5c costs the equivalent of $700 in China. The iPhone 4 model that continues to be sold in China is the 8 GB version and is sold in black or white.
Big names -- McDonald's, Pepsi, Nissan, Proctor & Gamble -- sign on for iTunes Radio ads
With iTunes Radio set to hit the ground running once Apple releases iOS 7 to the masses sometime this fall, Apple has been busy signing up number of big-name advertisers to help bankroll the company's first foray into internet radio. According to AdAge, some of the advertisers already on board the iTunes Radio train include McDonald's, Pepsi, Proctor & Gamble, Nissan and others. The report relays that: The deals range from the high single-digit millions of dollars to tens of millions of dollars and include a 12-month advertising campaign to run within the streaming music service for each of the participating brands. In addition to basking in all the publicity that comes with a heavily-anticipated Apple product launch, the launch partners get exclusivity within their respective industries through the end of 2013. Come January 2014, however, ads on iTunes Radio will become widely available, provided an advertiser agrees to the minimum buy-in of around $1 million, according to sources briefed on the product. Advertisements on iTunes Radio will reportedly take on three forms; audio ads, video ads and interactive ads. As for how often advertisements will rear their ugly, but necessary heads, AdAge notes that audio ads will be played once every 15 minutes while video ads will be served about once every hour. While not available yet, the report states that advertisers will soon have the ability to target ads to specific iOS devices, a welcome option for advertisers looking to calibrate ads in an effort to maximize effectiveness and impact. For instance, it stands to reason that an iOS user with a newly minted iPhone 5S may have more expendable income than a user with an old iPhone 4, or the rumored lower-cost iPhone. Ads on iTunes Radio, however, will not be exclusive to mobile devices. Note that any device running iTunes Radio, including desktop devices and the Apple TV, will be subject to ads. Also of note is that some advertisers may be given the option to assemble, or perhaps "sponsor" is a more apt descriptor, their own playlists that will feature fewer advertisements than the five ads per hour described above. "These branded stations will not be labeled with a brand name," AdAge reports, "but will likely involve a short ad saying that brand was sponsoring a user's block of free listening." If you're interested in the nitty gritty of Apple's advertising efforts vis a vis iTunes Radio, the full post from AdAge is chock-full of interesting information and worth checking out in its entirety. While Apple's previous advertising efforts -- I'm looking at you iAds -- haven't exactly met Apple's expectations, the inherent interest in streaming internet radio suggests that Apple's foray into the music space will be worthwhile. After all, Pandora, though one of the more popular iOS apps, still has to be proactively downloaded by iOS users. iTunes Radio, on the other hand, will be integrated into the iOS Music app right out of the gate, giving it an extremely large built-in userbase right from the get-go. Lastly, consumers who sign up for iTunes Match will be able to experience iTunes Radio completely ad-free.
Deus Ex: The Fall update supports iPad 2
Deus Ex: The Fall hit the App Store a few weeks back and instantly made headlines for an anti-piracy scheme whereby users with jailbroken iOS devices were precluded from playing the game, even if they spent the full US$6.99 to download it. The developers were quick to respond to user outcry and promised that an impending update would soon change that. Yesterday, Deus Ex: The Fall was in fact updated, but the bigger story here is that the game is now compatible with the iPad 2. So for all you iPad 2-toting folks who want to get some action-style gaming on, have at it. The changelog also indicates that the recent version of the game includes a major update to the game's artificial intelligence. Lastly, bear in mind that the game is not compatible with the iPhone 4, but will work on the iPhone 4S and above, the iPad 2 and above, and the iPad mini.
iPhone 4 resale value has grown since April
AppleInsider highlights a new research report from Piper Jaffray analyst Gene Munster which found that the resale value for Apple's iPhone 4 has risen since April. Specifically, Munster and his team found that the average resale value for the iPhone on eBay increased by 10.31 percent over the past few month. In contrast, the resale values for both the iPhone 4S and the iPhone 5 both dropped a bit on the popular auction site. Clearly, there's still a significant number of people who want the iPhone 4, which is rather remarkable given that the device is more than three years old at this point. Indeed, Tim Cook has stated on more than one occasion that Apple has been surprised by the consistent interest in the iPhone 4. As for the drop in resale value for the iPhone 4S and the iPhone 5, that can also be interpreted as a good sign. If the resale value on Apple's most recent smartphones are dropping, it stands to reason that supply is greater than demand. Consequently, it follows that many folks are looking to dump their current iPhones ahead of the impending launch of what will likely be the iPhone 5S sometime this September. While it's also possible that these same folks are interested in Android-based devices, iPhone consumers, once in the iOS ecosystem, tend to stay there.
Big guns have Apple's back in iPhone 4 ban
What do Microsoft, Oracle, Intel and AT&T have in common? All four of the major corporations are jumping to Apple's defense against the impending iPhone 4 ban ordered by the US International Trade Commission (ITC). The Wall Street Journal reports that a trade group representing Microsoft, Oracle and Intel -- BSA -- was joined by AT&T in supporting Apple's side of the ban, which was brought about thanks to arch-rival Samsung. Samsung won a case before the ITC, and the potential ban, which still has to be approved by US Trade Representative Michael Froman before going into effect on August 4, was sought as a patent-infringement settlement. BSA argues that the use of essential industry patents to ban products should not be allowed, except under unusual circumstances. The companies are concerned, though, that the ban sets precedent. Companies must license patented technology to competitors at a reasonable rate. This is known as FRAND (fair, reasonable, and non-discriminatory) licensing. Apple and the other companies are concerned that the ITC ruling might allow companies to demand excessive royalties by threatening a product ban on rivals if they don't open their wallets. AT&T's concern is that the ITC ruling eliminates a highly popular entry-level iPhone for AT&T customers, and they argue that a ban is "inconsistent with the president's goal of ubiquitous broadband deployment."
iPhone 4 still driving global growth
Though the iPhone 4 was released over three years ago, it remains an important driver of smartphone sales in emerging markets like India. Indeed, strong sales of the iPhone 4 helped Apple sell a lot more iPhones this past quarter than many analysts were expecting. Tim Cook even noted that the iPhone 4 remains an attractive device for first-time smartphone buyers worldwide. The Wall Street Journal reports: Not that selling older models in emerging markets is a new strategy for the company. And it has potential downsides, as lower-priced phones can squeeze gross profit margins. But Apple, despite its image as a premium player, is adopting more aggressive tactics to sell its oldest smartphone in markets where demand is growing quickly and many buyers have never purchased a smartphone before. As mentioned above, the obvious downside to Apple's reliance on the iPhone 4 as a sales driver is that the device, being three years old at this point, commands a lower price point than Apple's more recent iPhone models. The Journal notes that while the iPhone 5S costs carriers $649, the iPhone 4 costs only $450. Consequently, while the iPhone 4 -- which is often offered for free with contract -- is a great device to bring new customers in and generate sales on the cheaper end of the smartphone spectrum, it also has a discernable affect on Apple's bottom line. In the quarter gone by, for example, the average selling price of the iPhone fell to $581, a $32 drop compared to the March 2013 quarter. Nevertheless, Apple's iPhone 4 strategy appears to be working, especially because the device's lower price point is attracting first-time smartphone buyers who might otherwise be drawn to more affordable smartphones from other manufacturers. iPhone sales in India, for example, appear to be booming. This is especially important to Apple because once a user is ushered into the iOS ecosystem, they are likely to purchase other Apple products in the future. All told, the evidence is rather clear that there is a huge market for a lower cost iPhone. Again, the downside to Apple is that older devices like the iPhone 4 don't yield the same healthy margins Apple typically enjoys. To that end, there are a number of rumors which suggest that Apple this fall will release a lower cost iPhone comprised of cheaper materials. The reasoning is that this will allow Apple to target emerging markets without having to sacrifice as much in the way of margins.
iOS 7 Beta 3 gets benchmarked on iPhone 4 and 5
As we inch our way towards the public release of iOS 7, we are treated to a rather interesting benchmarking video courtesy of YouTube user adrianisen. The clip showcases two different benchmark tools running on iOS 7 Beta 3 on both the iPhone 4 and iPhone 5. It's not clear why the tester chose the standard iPhone 4 as opposed to the more powerful 4S, but it certainly makes the performance difference between the two handsets remarkably apparent. An interesting note: Using Geekbench 2, the iPhone 5 used in the test scores a 1,672 with iOS 7 Beta 3, while my own iPhone 5 running iOS 6.1.4 tops out at 1,664 consistently. It's a small increase, sure, but a promising result regardless. The iPhone 4, on the other hand, doesn't even break the 400-point barrier.
Apple asks ITC to stop impending ban on iPhones and iPads
The International Trade Commission (ITC) a few weeks ago issued an order banning the import of older generation iPhones and iPads to the extent they infringe upon Samsung owned patents. With the ban scheduled to go into effect on August 5th, Gigaom today is reporting that Apple filed a motion with the ITC asking for a stay on the impending ban until an appeals court weighs in on the ruling. Apple writes that the ban will "sweep away an entire segment of Apple's product offerings" and that they will suffer irreparable harm if a stay is not granted. If the Orders go into effect, Apple will lose not only sales of its iPhone 4 (GSM) and iPad 2 3G (GSM) products but also the opportunity to gain new smartphone and tablet customers who otherwise would have purchased these entry-level devices. Should the Commission's decision be reversed or modified on appeal, Apple will have no recourse to redress this harm. Apple further points out that if a stay is granted and the appeal process ultimately proves fruitless, Samsung will have recourse to the extent they can seek compensation for any potential loss of FRAND royalties. The iPhone 4, Apple writes, was the fourth-best selling smartphone in the US in 2012. In a separate appeal filed with the United States Trade Representative about two weeks ago, Apple argued that upholding the ban would make the ITC an "outlier internationally and domestically." Apple's most recent motion can be read below. Apple ITC Request for Stay
Daily Update for June 26, 2013
It's the TUAW Daily Update, your source for Apple news in a convenient audio format. You'll get all the top Apple stories of the day in three to five minutes for a quick review of what's happening in the Apple world. You can listen to today's Apple stories by clicking the inline player (requires Flash) or the non-Flash link below. To subscribe to the podcast for daily listening through iTunes, click here. No Flash? Click here to listen. Subscribe via RSS
Brian Hogan, the man who sold the iPhone 4 to Gizmodo, speaks up
Back in April 2010, the tech world was all aflutter when Gizmodo managed to get its hands on and post photos of what would later be called the iPhone 4. For a company that prides itself on secrecy, the pre-release photos of Apple's iPhone 4 were a major embarrassment. If you recall, an Apple engineer mistakenly left an iPhone 4 device he was testing at a bar whereupon it came into the possession of a 21-year-old named Brian Hogan who attempted to hock the device to any tech blog that was willing to pay for it. Gizmodo turned out to be the "lucky" winner, paying Hogan $5,000 for the device. Yesterday, Hogan started an Ask Me Anything (AMA) thread on Reddit where he answered user-submitted questions about a wide range of topics. Some quick points of interest from the AMA include: Hogan spent more than $5,000 in legal fees. Crime really doesn't pay. Gizmodo promised to pay Hogan an additional $3,000 after the story aired, but didn't. Again, crime doesn't pay! Hogan was charged with a misdemeanor misappropriation of lost property and had to pay a $125 fine. Hogan says he didn't turn over the phone to the bar owners because he was 21, drunk and "didn't think about that at the time." The AMA is still ongoing, so hop on over to Reddit if you have a burning question you want to ask the man who helped create quite the Apple scandal a few years back.
iOS 7 phases out the iPhone 3GS and the original iPad; some features will be iPhone 5 only
Apple on Monday took the wraps off of iOS 7, its highly anticipated next-gen mobile OS for the iPhone, iPod touch and iPad. Apple said that iOS 7 will be available as a free download this fall and will run on the following devices: iPhone 4 and above iPad 2 and above iPad mini iPod touch, fifth generation So with iOS 7, Apple is phasing out the iPhone 3GS. The original iPad was phased out with iOS 6 (thanks, Ben!) I'd be surprised, though, if there are a significant percentage of iOS users using the aforementioned device. All in all, Apple does do a decent job of keeping iOS users running years-old hardware in the mix. Aside from which devices will run iOS 7, it's equally important to consider which features from iOS 7 will run on which device. To that end, here's how some of the device-specific iOS 7 features break down. Panorama -- The photo feature Apple introduced last year will be available on the iPhone 4S, iPhone 5, and fifth-gen iPod touch. iPad users are out of luck here. Square/Video formats and swipe to capture -- These features will be available on the iPhone 4 and above, the third-generation iPad and above, the iPad mini and the fifth-generation iPod touch. Filters in Camera - This Instagram-inspired feature will only be available for the iPhone 5 and the fifth-generation iPod touch. Filters in Photos - This will be available on the iPhone 4 and above, the third-generation iPad and above, the iPad mini and the fifth-generation iPod touch. AirDrop - AirDrop in iOS 7 will only work on the iPhone 5, the fourth-generation iPad, the iPad mini and the iPod touch. Siri - Siri in iOS 7 has new voices, a new interface and a whole lot more functionality. Users trying to take advantage of the latest and greatest from Siri can run it on the iPhone 4S and above, the iPad with Retina display, the iPad mini and the fifth-generation iPod touch. iTunes Radio - Apple's long-rumored music streaming and recommendation service will run on any iOS 7-compatible device.
Apple sued over faulty power button on iPhone 4
Florida woman Debra Hilton filed a class action suit against Apple alleging that the power button on the iPhone 4 sports a manufacturing defect that Apple is well aware of and chose not to fix. The suit specifically claims that the iPhone 4's flex cable is defective and designed to cause the power button to malfunction shortly after the one-year warranty on the device expires, thereby forcing users to either get it repaired for US$149 or spring for an entirely new device. The complaint reads in part: The Apple iPhone 4 is plagued by a latent defect that causes its Power Button to fail, usually shortly after the 1 year warranty covering the device has expired, thereby rendering the phone unusable. Apple knew when it manufactured, marketed, and sold the device that this defect existed, but failed to disclose it, instead touting the purported superior attributes of the telephone in Apple's various advertisements and marketing campaigns. To support her claim that Apple was well aware of what she deems to be a problem affecting thousands of consumers, Hilton's suit points out that Apple's community support forum is filled with hundreds of complaints from users experiencing similar power button failure issues. She further points out that said complaints have been viewed more than 720,000 times and that a YouTube video featuring solutions to fixing the iPhone 4's faulty power button have been viewed more than 1 million times. The class action suit was filed under RICO (a federal Racketeering Act) and seeks $5 million in damages.
iPhone 4 'AntennaGate' settlement checks now arriving
The US$15 "AntennaGate" settlement checks have started arriving for qualifying iPhone 4 users. The checks are a settlement for those who filed a claim in a class action lawsuit against Apple for "misrepresenting and concealing material information in the marketing, advertising, sale and servicing of its iPhone 4 -- particularly as it relates to the quality of the mobile phone antenna and reception and related software." One reader told us, "My $15 Apple iPhone4 AntennaGate settlement check came today. It has been so long I forgot what it was for and had to look it up." The reason for the delay, however, was because though AntennaGate happened with the release of the iPhone 4 in 2010, the lawsuit was not settled until February 2012. Claimants have until July 16 to cash their checks. If you did not file a claim previously, you can no longer do so.
Little Inferno out on Mac
Little Inferno arrived on iOS in January. It's a wicked, little satirical adventure about burning toys that's gotten a lot of critical acclaim. Now, the game is available on the Mac. You can pick it up directly from the developer Tomorrow Corporation, or grab it on Steam or Gamersgate. Tomorrow Corporation says it's also working on an iOS version that's designed to work with older hardware, so the game will soon be playable on the iPhone 4 and fourth-gen iPod touch models as well. There's also a Linux version in the plans. I haven't played much of Little Inferno, but the reviews on it are really great, and it looks like a creepy, yet moving take on consumerism and "play" itself. And, of course, great games are always welcome on the Mac platform. [via Joystiq]
iPhone 4 a hot commodity in India thanks to new trade-in plan
One of the most untouched markets in the world for smartphones is India, and Apple has quickly leaped to second place in the market by using a very smart pricing workaround. As noted on Electronista, Apple is now using a trade-in promotion with resellers that has tripled sales in less than a week. In India, contracts on mobile phones are rare and customers have to pay up-front for the full cost of the phone in addition to their regular cell service plan. Since income levels in India are somewhat lower than those in more developed markets, smartphones tend to be a product that people hold on to due to the cost. The Apple plan provides a discount of about 7,000 Rupees (about US$129) off of the $488 price tag of an iPhone 4 if a buyer trades in an old smartphone. The used phones are then refurbished for sale in India's thriving used-phone market, which gives the resellers a way to make back the discounted price while moving merchandise. Apple has also recently implemented iPhone payment plans in India, making it easier for customers to spread out the up-front cost of a new phone. The trade-in plan is so successful that archrival Samsung has apparently jumped on the bandwagon in order to achieve a similar sales bounce. As Electronica noted, "Samsung, true to form, quickly copied the plan right down to the details shortly after it was unveiled."
T-Mobile to finally start carrying the iPhone with no contract, pay $99.99 upfront, and HSPA+ support (updated)
This one falls in the "it's about time" category: the last of the national US cellular carriers is finally going to offer the iPhone. T-Mobile will officially carry the iPhone starting April 12, with pre-orders beginning April 5. At the company's Uncarrier event this morning in New York City, it announced that the iPhone 5 will be available for US$99.99 down, and the ability to pay the rest in $20 installments over the next two years -- with no annual contracts. T-Mobile also will offer the iPhone 4S under the same agreement with $69.99 down/$20 monthly installments over two years and the iPhone 4 for $14.99 down/$15 monthly installments. The iPhone 5 will be available in all markets, but the iPhone 4 and 4S in select ones. T-Mobile CEO John Legere said that the iPhone 5 offered through T-Mobile will support HSPA+42 in AWS and HSPA+ in MetroPCS in addition to LTE, along with high-definition voice calls. T-Mobile announced in December that the iPhone would be coming to its network in 2013 and has been encouraging people to bring their iPhones over to its Value Plan since September. As of 2011, more than 1 million iPhones were being used on T-Mobile's network, even though the company did not have any ties to Apple at that time. You can follow our sister site Engadget's liveblog of the Uncarrier event, as more details are released. [via Engadget] Update (12:10 p.m.): More details on the plans added and HSPA+ support, along with official press release.
OtterBox Armor Series for iPhone 5/4/4S: Protection from everything
OtterBox was one of the first iPhone case manufacturers to come out with a product -- the Defender Series -- that could handle some really rough treatment. Now OtterBox is taking the lead in iPhone protection with the new OtterBox Armor Series, which is available for the iPhone 5 and iPhone 4/4S (US$99.95). The new case series not only builds on the crush and drop protection provided by the Defender Series, but also adds waterproofing. The Armor Series is designed to withstand being in up to 6.6 feet of water for 30 minutes, handling drops from 10 feet, and being crushed by a 2 ton weight. That's perfect for those situations where you drop your iPhone 5 from where you're riding on top of a rhinoceros and she proceeds to step on it and hold it underwater for a half hour... We don't believe it's designed to protect your precious from the impact of a meteorite, but for just about everything else, the Armor Series is going to help. Here's a closeup look at the Armor Series case for iPhone 5. Design As you'd expect from an iPhone case with these credentials, the Armor Series isn't exactly svelte. It weighs in at 4.1 ounces, has a thickness of about .75", a width of about 2.9", and a height of about 5.5". Compare that with a naked iPhone 5, which is only .3" thick and has dimensions of 2.31" x 4.87" and a weight of 3.95 ounces. But if you want protection, you've got it. Everything is sealed into the case, which comes in black and gray with a shock-absorbent lining of neon green, arctic blue, or electric orange. The arctic blue model has a white bezel surrounding the phone display, perfect for framing a white iPhone 5. On the right side of the case are two zinc alloy metal latches that hold the case halves together securely. To install the iPhone 5 into the case, you flip those latches open and take the back of the case off. Pop the iPhone in, slap the back on, re-do the latches and you're ready to abuse the case ... but not your iPhone. %Gallery-181062% OtterBox recommends testing the Armor Series case in water for at least 30 minutes prior to placing an iPhone into the case. They also -- like all manufacturers who make similar cases -- suggest that you "use caution when subjecting your device to extreme situations and rough treatment" and warn that "Users subject their devices to extreme circumstances at their own risk." Switches and the home button on the iPhone 5 are covered with flexible pass-through equivalents, and the headphone port is covered by a thick plug. Speakers are covered with an impermeable membrane, while speakers are covered with a mesh that lets sound out but no water or dust in. The Armor Series doesn't have a belt holster -- yet -- nor does it come in a larger variety of colors -- yet. OtterBox is probably testing the waters before committing to accessories and new colors. There is a wrist strap to make carrying the case a bit easier, although it's probably just easier to stuff it into one of the pockets on your pants. Functionality OK, so I didn't have a chance to drive my Honda CRV (a little less than 2 tons) onto my iPhone 5 in the test Armor Series case. Nor did I really feel like subjecting my personal phone to a 10-foot drop. I did, however, check the watertightness of the case. As advertised, it was easily able to withstand being held about six inches underwater for 30 minutes with no problems. However, when I left it in that same six inches of water for three hours, there was a slight leakage resulting in water coming into the case. Moral of the story? Don't try to exceed the advertised specifications. Since the Armor Series has been subjected to testing to US military standards, I have no doubt that it will be able to handle the other tests as well. It's definitely a chunky case, but the Armor Series really provides a feeling of security that surpasses any other MIL-STD case I've tested for the iPhone 5. Conclusion With the introduction of the Armor Series for the iPhone 4/4S and iPhone 5, OtterBox has again taken the lead in the rugged case category. Pros Waterproof, dust proof, shockproof, and crush proof Well constructed Easy to install and remove Colors for plugs and back padding are bright and upbeat Available immediately Cons More expensive than LifeProof's $79.99 frē case, which offers similar protection Who is it for? Anyone who needs rugged protection for their iPhone 4/4S or iPhone 5.
