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iLuv Selfy iPhone 5/5s case sports a built-in camera remote
Accessory manufacturer iLuv has just done something impressive in the world of iPhone cases -- they've created a new line called Selfy that revolves around an iPhone 5/5s case (US$49.99 also available for iPad and iPad mini) with a slide-out wireless remote built into it for taking the perfect selfies. In this review, I'll let you know how Selfy works, and also tell you about the line of accessories designed to work with the case. At the end, you've got a chance to win an iLuv Selfy of your very own. Specifications Dimensions: .57 inch thick x 2.38 inch wide x 5.06 inch tall Weight: 2.1 ounces (59.5 grams) Materials: Thermoplastic polyurethane exterior, polycarbonate interior Available colors: Black, Pink Design Highlights The Selfy ecosystem revolves around the case, which has a Bluetooth wireless remote built into the back of it. Slide that remote out of the slot on the back of the case, pair it with your iPhone, and then use it with any photo app on the iPhone that can use the volume buttons as a shutter release. Turn on your iPhone and press the button once to establish the pairing again, and a small red LED flashes every few seconds to let you know that you're ready to use your hands-free camera remote. The remote is large enough to hold comfortably in your hand, and you're certainly not going to lose it. It's held securely in the slot on the back of the phone. The remote has a watch-type battery in it, so eventually you'll need to replace it. Fortunately, that's rather simple to do. The Selfy case is a bit thick, about the same as a Mophie Juice Pack Helium battery case. However, the back is curved from side to side, making it very comfortable in the hand. The bottom ports are uncovered, as is the mute switch. Wake/Sleep and volume toggle buttons are covered. Now, about that Selfy ecosystem. These cases are just starting to ship this month and not all accessories may be available, but the idea is that you'll be able to trade out the remote for a mini tripod, a car mount, a handlebar mount, a helmet mount or vented helmet strap, or a connector for a GoPro camera. These accessory mounts are expected to have a price tag between $19.99 and $24.99 each. Functionality Highlights Setting up the Selfy the first time is a piece of cake -- you just remove the remote from the case, pull a plastic tab to expose the battery to the interior contacts, and then press on the remote button for about four seconds. The red LED begins flashing, indicating that the device is ready for pairing. Head on over to the Bluetooth settings on your iPhone and connect to the Selfy, and you're ready to go. Placing the iPhone into the Selfy is fairly easy, as the interior material flexes a little. Once the phone is in the case, taking a photo with the remote means just firing up the appropriate app (for example, Camera or Camera+), setting up the camera the way you want it, and then pressing the remote button. It can also be used to start and stop video with a push of the button. I found that the range of the Selfy remote was fairly consistent with most Bluetooth devices -- once the remote and iPhone were about 30 feet or so apart, the connection failed. Conclusion iLuv's Selfy line is actually quite smart -- the company is hoping that you'll buy the protective case with the built-in remote as a start and then buy one or more of the mounts. While the case feels a little chunky, it's actually comfortable in the hand and offers good protection. The remote is sized perfectly for most hands and is large enough to avoid loss. With a SRP of $49.99, the Selfy case is priced reasonably as well. Rating: 3-1/2 stars out of 4 stars possible Giveaway Like to take a lot of selfies? Then you're going to want the Selfy case! Here are the rules for the giveaway: Open to legal US residents of the 50 United States, the District of Columbia and Canada (excluding Quebec) who are 18 and older. To enter, fill out the form below completely and click or tap the Submit button. The entry must be made before May 6, 2014 11:59PM Eastern Daylight Time. You may enter only once. One winner will be selected in a random drawing and will receive a iLuv Selfy iPhone 5/5s case valued at $49.99. Click Here for complete Official Rules. Loading...
Speck CandyShell AMPED iPhone case: Review and giveaway
Accessory manufacturer Speck has come up with something rather new and different for the iPhone 5/5s: a protective case that also promises over twice the sound output from your iPhone speaker. The US$44.95 CandyShell AMPED was released today and uses a unique case design to amplify sound from your iPhone without using any electronics or your precious power to do so. Check it out, and then enter to win one of two CandyShell AMPED cases we're giving away. Specifications Dimensions: 2.50 x 0.58 x 5.13 inch (6.35 x .9525 x 13.0175 cm) Weight: 1.2 oz. (34 grams) Materials: Polycarbonate shell, thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) interior Available colors: black/slate grey, cadet blue/Caribbean blue, bubblegum pink/flamingo pink Design Highlights From the outside, the Speck CandyShell AMPED looks like some of Speck's other glossy cases. But as with so many things, it's what is inside that makes all the difference. Rather than use electronic amplification that would help chew up your iPhone's battery life, the AMPED channels the output from the speaker through what is essentially the 21st century equivalent of one of those big horn speakers on late 19th century/early 20th century phonographs. A gradually expanding "horn" shape winds around the back of the case, with sound escaping through a series of holes on the left side of the case. Does it work? Well, you'll have to read the Functionality Highlights below, but Speck says that the AMPED sound power was tested to the ISO 3745:2021 acoustic sound quality standard, so there's certification that it does. The case also exceeds MIL-STD-810G drop test standards, so you're getting protection as well as amplification. Pass-through buttons help out with the volume toggle and on/off switch; the mute switch is left uncovered. Speck says that the AMPED case can help out in a lot of situations. They recommend using it for conference calls in small businesses that can't afford a Polycom conference phone, to assist the elderly or hard-of-hearing, to share videos and music with friends without an external speaker, and to actually hear a phone ringing at the bottom of a purse or backpack. Functionality Highlights To test the AMPED, I played a few songs and made a few speakerphone calls with and without the case installed. The volume on the iPhone 5s was left at about 50 percent for the tests. When listening without the case, I had the speakers on the bottom of the iPhone pointed towards me; with the AMPED installed, the speaker "holes" on the rear left side of the case were pointed in my direction. While the sound did appear to be amplified (and in fact, I could feel the back of the AMPED vibrating), it seemed to be somewhat more amplified on the lower frequencies than higher. That being said, music sounded less vibrant -- but louder -- to me when playing through the AMPED. Likewise, voices on the phone also sounded louder. If I have one complaint about the AMPED, it's that the glossy polycarbonate shell picks up fingerprints rather easily. It's also somewhat slick, which increases the probability of having the case drop out of your hand -- but then, that's where a protective case comes in handy. Conclusion If your iPhone 5/5s speaker just isn't loud enough for you, or if you have to do a lot of speakerphone calls with your iPhone, then you should give the Speck CandyShell AMPED consideration when you're looking for a case. It's lightweight, relatively thin, provides amplification and definitely protects your iPhone investment. Rating: 3-1/2 stars out of 4 stars possible Giveaway We have two -- count 'em -- two Speck CandyShell AMPED iPhone 5/5s cases to give away. One is your basic black and slate grey, while the other is the sparkling bubblegum and flamingo pink combo. Here are the rules for the giveaway: Open to legal US residents of the 50 United States, the District of Columbia and Canada (excluding Quebec) who are 18 and older. To enter, fill out the form below completely and click or tap the Submit button. The entry must be made before April 29, 2014 11:59PM Eastern Daylight Time. You may enter only once. Two winners will be selected in a random drawing and each will receive a Speck CandyShell AMPED iPhone 5/5s case valued at $44.95 Click Here for complete Official Rules. Loading...
Apple patches Heartbleed for base stations and more news for April 23, 2014
A stunning new iPhone 5s campaign and safer AirPort base stations are in the news today. Apple has created a fantastic new iPhone film and accompanying micro-site. Entitled "Powerful," it features six impressive apps being used on the iPhone 5s: Star Walk, Instant Heart Rate, Word Lens, AmpliTube, Luminair and Pacific Rim. The short film is very well done and emphasizes what I've believed for years: the iPhone is the best computer I've ever owned. Apple has offered a firmware update for the 2013 model AirPort Extreme Base Station. The update patches the OpenSSL Heartbleed bug. To grab it, just launch AirPort Utility on your Mac.
Apple releases "Powerful" new iPhone 5s ad
Apple yesterday released a new iPhone 5s ad dubbed "Powerful." Set to the Pixies song "Gigantic", the ad shuffles through a variety of vignettes which showcase the myriad of interest ways consumers are using the iPhone 5s. The tagline appropriately reads, "You're more powerful than you think." In conjunction with the new ad, Apple yesterday also added a new section to its iPhone 5s page. Dubbed "Powerful" as well, the page lets users explore some of the more intriguing apps showcased in the accompanying commercial.
Pelican ProGear Voyager iPhone 5/5s case: Solid protection at a reasonable price
Pelican Products, Inc. today announced a new rough-and-tough case for the iPhone 5 and 5s -- the Pelican ProGear Voyager (US$50). The case will only be available at AT&T retail stores and through a special AT&T website, or you can take a chance at winning one in a TUAW giveaway. Specifications Dimensions: 5.3 x 2.6 x .6 inches (13.5 x 6.58 x 1.5 cm) Weight: 1.6 oz w/o holster, 3.1 oz with holster (45.36/87.88 grams) Available colors: Black, white, pink Design Highlights Pelican ProGear is designed to take whatever life throws at it -- drops, dust, and potential scratches. The case has four layers of protection built in, and comes with a screen protector to keep scratches from occurring on your iPhone's touch screen. For all of the military-grade protection, though, the case looks remarkably thin. We tested the white model, which is highlighted with gray accents around the exterior. In use, doors cover the Lightning and headphone ports, as well as the silent mode switch. The power switch and volume toggles are covered with pass-through keys, so the entire phone is nicely encased in a dust-free zone. For those who love to carry their iPhone pride publicly, Pelican throws in a holster clip that can be adjusted for either vertical or horizontal carry. Functionality Highlights Many rugged cases are difficult to install, but Pelican smartly designed a coin slot into one corner that makes it easy to pop the case open. Once you've installed the iPhone 5/5s, it's just a process of squeezing the edges until they snap together. The holster can also be used as a multi-position stand for the phone. A small metal piece behind the holster clip can be pulled out to block the spring-loaded holster clip open. The stand feature works well in both portrait and landscape orientation. It should be noted that despite looking like a waterproof case, the Pelican ProGear Voyager is not advertised as either waterproof or water resistant. Conclusion While the Pelican ProGear Voyager won't supply the level of protection that you might get from a LifeProof nuud or OtterBox Defender case, it's also priced more reasonably than either of those cases. iPhone 5s owners will need to decide just how much protection they need -- if drop, dust and scratch protection is sufficient, then the ProGear Voyager fits the requirements at a reasonable price. Rating: 3-1/2 stars out of 4 stars possible Giveaway Be the first kid on your block to get a Pelican ProGear Voyager case for your iPhone 5 or 5s. You don't even need to go to the Apple Store to get it, either -- just enter this giveaway! Here are the rules for the giveaway: Open to legal US residents of the 50 United States, the District of Columbia and Canada (excluding Quebec) who are 18 and older. To enter, fill out the form below completely and click or tap the Submit button. The entry must be made before April 22, 2014 11:59PM Eastern Daylight Time. You may enter only once. One winner will be selected in a random drawing and will receive a Pelican ProGear Voyager iPhone 5/5s case valued at $50 Click Here for complete Official Rules. Loading...
Breeze by RunKeeper steps up your activity level
RunKeeper is a great app, and I've been using it for years to capture my walks during those times that I'm actually getting off my butt and exercising. I've found that I'm much more apt to really get moving if I can just track the number of steps I take every day and try to reach or exceed a goal. Today RunKeeper is shipping a free iPhone 5s-only app called Breeze to track all of the steps you take during a day. I had an opportunity to use Breeze for a few days prior to its release, and wanted to compare it to other methods of capturing step information. For that purpose, I formerly used a Fitibt Force -- until it was recalled -- and then started using the Moves ($2.99) app. For iPhone 5s owners, Moves can take advantage of the M7 motion coprocessor built into the top-of-the-line smartphone to capture your steps without needing to use GPS information. In that respect, Breeze is quite similar to Moves. RunKeeper notes that their self-named app is focused on workouts, while Breeze is designed to capture the rest of your day and motivate you to move more. I'm a crappy dancer, so I won't be following in the footsteps of the star of that video. But I do enjoy seeing just how many -- or how few -- steps I take every day. Like Moves, Breeze is a background app that is constantly running. RunKeeper decided to make Breeze specific to the iPhone 5s and future phones that use the M7 coprocessor to keep it from being too much of a drain on your iPhone's battery. The app has a clean interface that's a snap to figure out. The first time you launch Breeze on your iPhone, it pulls your activity data for the past seven days from the M7 and then creates a daily movement goal for you -- automatically. Breeze gives you reminders throughout the day, nudging you to get out and walk more when you have time to get those steps in before heading to bed. Every morning, the app provides a recap of your steps the previous day, hopefully providing an incentive for you to move a bit more each day. Whenever you pull up a completed day, you're greeted with a beautiful photograph in the background. The RunKeeper folks have really made Breeze an app you'll be glad to look at. One other nice touch -- the app assigns you a "spirit animal" based on your activity level. Me? I'm a regimented lion that is active in midday, moves in short bursts, and is mostly active on the weekend. I found the little notifications delivered during the day to be a surprisingly good motivator to get me up from behind the desk and at least moving around the house. Compared to Moves, I think Breeze will make better use of the iPhone's battery as it doesn't use Location Services to determine where you're doing your walks -- it just knows that you're moving. The app is already quite impressive, but the RunKeeper team promises that they'll provide integration with the RunKeeper app so all of your activity is captured -- workouts and normal movement.
The HTC One M8 is an Android phone made for iPhone lovers
Last week, I upgraded my Samsung Galaxy S4 to the new HTC One (M8), and I can confidently say that if Apple's iPhone was somehow wiped from the face of the earth tomorrow, the new HTC One would be the next best thing. It is, in short, what I imagine Apple would build if it built Android phones. I can feel your confusion already; "What the hell is he talking about? Isn't this an Apple site?" you're wondering. And that's fair, so let me explain. As an Apple devotee, I keep my primary phone line on whatever the latest, greatest iPhone model happens to be. But I have a second phone line -- a phone line I keep secret from my Apple brethren; it's a phone number nobody knows and on that line I use an Android phone. I don't upgrade it with the same regularity with which I update my iPhone, but every 18 months or so I use the discounted upgrade option and grab whichever Android handset is the new hotness. I keep an Android phone around simply because I like to have a handle on the non-Apple mobile scene, and it's a great way to compare Apple's upgrades with the existing crop of competing devices. I've never been particularly impressed with the Android hardware I've picked up in the past. I find the vast majority of Android phones feel like toys, with plastic casing and a too-light hand feel, not to mention largely horrendous battery life. I'm an Apple fan and, to me, the iPhone has long been the untouchable pinnacle of smartphone design. So with that in mind, here's how the new HTC One stacks up. Design Easily the biggest selling point for anyone who loves the iPhone 5/5s is the HTC One's design. Symmetrical, solid, and weighty, it's almost as though HTC was attempting to guess what the iPhone 6 would look like. The HTC One ignores many Android trends and follows Apple's lead with things like a non-swappable battery. The tradeoff is a much more hearty hand feel with no bendy back cover or creaky, twistable frame that you'll find on many of its Android counterparts. For as much as Samsung tends to be "inspired" by Apple, HTC has managed to nail the iPhone's build quality far better than any Galaxy phone ever has. Much like Apple's always impressive iPhone build montages, HTC likes to brag about what it calls the "zero gap" design of the HTC One, and it's an accomplishment worthy of the seemingly manufactured hype. The three-panel casing, which was carried over from the previous year's model, does feel a bit "lifted" from Apple's iPhone 5 design manual, but it certainly wouldn't be the first time the iPhone has set the tone for future smartphones. The screen measures 5 inches, making it a full inch larger than the iPhone 5/5s. Switching between the two devices feels strange at times, and the screen on the One might be even a little too big for my mitts. If the rumors of a 4.7 inch iPhone are true, that might be a more ideal size, but the One's display is still gorgeous and useable with one hand. Verdict: It's the first Android phone I've ever held that I could mistake for an Apple product. That's the biggest compliment I could ever give. Camera Much like Apple, HTC hasn't fallen victim to the "cram all the megapixels" movement with the One's camera. Instead, the phone uses what HTC calls "UltraPixels" which is just a fancy word for a camera that sacrifices a huge number of megapixels in favor of low light capabilities. The iPhone 5s regularly takes flak for not having mind-blowing camera specs, only to shame the competition in blind photo "taste tests," and that's the lead that HTC is following. The rear camera actually features two lenses, allowing for Lytro-like depth data to be included in the photo. After a photo is taken you can adjust the focus and even view a faux 3D rendering of the picture. It's pretty impressive and it works fairly well. It's definitely a different approach and while the rest of the smartphone world is trying to turn their devices into DSLRs, HTC and Apple have seemingly declared that they'd rather try to add new functionality on top of already impressive photos. Verdict: The HTC One's new camera features are offbeat and unique, and while I'd still take the iPhone 5s camera -- and its similarly unique slow-motion video capabilities -- if I were forced to choose, the One isn't far behind. Music Apple loves music. HTC loves music. Apple most recently exhibited its love of music by reinventing the modern earbud. HTC most recently exhibited its love of music by turning the new HTC One into a portable boom box. Like the previous year's model, the One includes two "BoomSound" stereo speakers on its face. This year's hardware is improved from the previous year with heartier construction, and it definitely shows. The One is loud -- and not just loud; it actually sounds really great when cranked all the way up. While you might need to toss your iPhone in a ceramic mug to amplify your tunes, you could carry the One along a busy city street and still hear your music without earbuds. Verdict: This is one thing about the One that I don't think Apple would ever attempt with an iPhone, but it's a well executed feature that many have tried and failed at, making it feel like an accomplishment you'd see from Cupertino. OS Android is still Android, and while you can make it look a bit more like iOS through various launchers and visual tweaks, Apple's mobile OS is still untouchable in my opinion. However, HTC's own skin -- called HTC Sense -- is superior to similar efforts from Samsung and Sony. HTC Sense 6.0 comes preinstalled on the new HTC One, and along with the social news feed feature called BlinkFeed, it emphasizes new touch functions that would feel right at home on an iOS device. For example, with the absence of a physical button on the front the phone, you can wake the device by simply tapping on the screen twice. You can launch specific apps by swiping in a specific direct on the lock screen and even activate the voice command system without having to unlock the phone, much like Siri. Verdict: If you don't like Android, the version that comes with the new One isn't going to change your mind, but HTC's own functionality tweaks make things much more streamlined and intuitive, which iPhone users would feel right at home with. Overall I love my iPhone, and unless Apple seriously stumbled on a new version of its iconic smartphone, there's no way I'd change teams. With that being said, the new HTC One is as close to an iPhone in fit, finish, and functionality as I've ever seen from an Android device. The iPhone is still the pinnacle, but HTC's latest effort is scaling the peak.
Flickr Find: iLove my iPhone 5s and all my other Apple devices
Say hello to this lovely iPhone 5s, which has joined a wonderful household of Apple devices over at Tiffany's house. Along with this new member, you also will find an iPad 4, an Apple TV and soon-to-arrive MacBook Pro. I can relate to all this iLove, having my own iPhone 5s, iPad Air, MacBook Air and Apple TV to tend to in my spare time. Do you have a household full of Apple devices? Please share your list of current hardware in the comments. And when you are done, you can contribute a photo of those wonderful devices to our Flickr pool here. We'd love to see your photos!
Kenu Highline case and security leash keeps your iPhone 5/5s from wandering
Those pesky iPhones can sometimes act like little kids or pets, seemingly wandering off on their own. An iPhone can easily slip out of a pocket unnoticed, do a backflip out of a purse or backpack, or fall from a hand while you're taking a photo. Designers at Kenu took notice of this tendency and came up with the idea of the Highline case and security leash (US$34.95, available for pre-order with delivery beginning at the end of April) to keep your favorite smartphone from walking off or jumping away from you. Design Highlights The Highline is made up of two pieces: a clear polycarbonate case to keep your iPhone protected, and a coiled leash with a clip on one end and a Kevlar loop on the other. The idea is that you put the iPhone into the case, clip the leash onto it -- there's a special little notch on the case that receives the clip -- and then use the Kevlar loop to attach the other end of the leash to a zipper pull, belt loop, purse strap, or another fixed spot. The leash stretches quite a bit, so using the iPhone for talking or even taking photos at arm's length is not an issue. If you drop your iPhone, you can be fairly sure that it's not going to hit the ground; when connected to my belt loop, the iPhone only dangled down to my knees when I let go of it. The clip is a brilliant design. There's a small tab that goes into the Lightning port on the iPhone 5/5s, while the other side of the clip has a bump on it that fits into the notch that I referred to earlier. While it securely holds onto the bottom of your iPhone, it's not hard to remove -- just use your thumb to lift up the clip from that notch on the back of the case, and pull. Functionality Highlights When I saw the Kenu Highline for the first time, my first thought is that I wish it had been available for me when I was on my recent trip. We spent some time in a major South American metropolitan city where pickpockets are quite common, so I left my iPhone in the safe in the hotel room while I could have been using it to take photos and looking at maps. With the Highline, I would have felt more confident that the iPhone would have remained with me. The Kevlar loop will be familiar to anyone who has put a wrist strap onto a point-and-shoot camera before. Kevlar makes it much more durable than the usual string that's used, and I found that it seemed easier to loop onto things and remove as well than the string loops. Finally, I like the clear plastic case. I have a gold iPhone 5s, and it's usually hidden in a Mophie Juice Pack Air case. It's nice to actually get to see that beautiful gold finish in the Highline case. Conclusion The Highline is a really smart idea, and Kenu has done a bang-up job of bringing the idea to reality. While the case won't be available until the end of April, I think it's a brilliant product for anyone who wants to keep a constant leash on their iPhone 5 or 5s. Me? I'm planning on using this while at Macworld/iWorld 2014 this week. Rating: 4 stars out of 4 stars possible
Pelican Protector Series: Crushproof protection for your iPhone 5/5s
Pelican makes some amazing cases for shipping delicate equipment, and over the past few years they've brought their design expertise to play on Apple devices. Back in October I took a look at their ProGear 1070CC hard case for MacBook Air, and today we're looking at a case that can keep your iPhone 5 or 5s safe from drops... the Pelican ProGear Protector Series case (CE1150) for iPhone 5/5s. Specifications Price: $39.99 (available for less from online retailers) Dimensions: 5.25" x 2.71" x 0.51" (13.3 x 6.9 x 1.3 cm) Weight: 1.44 oz (40.82 grams) Materials: Elastomeric copolymer interior, engineering grade polymer outside Colors: Black/Dark Gray/Black, White/Black/White, Dark Red/Black/Red, Dark Gray/Orange/Dark Gray, Dark Teal/Light Gray/Dark Teal Available accessories: vehicle phone mount, bike phone mount, sport armband Lifetime warranty Design Highlights While the Pelican ProGear Protector Series case isn't going to keep your device safe from water or dust like LifeProof's tightly-sealed cases, it's also much less expensive and can keep your iPhone from getting damaged from the most common type of accident -- a drop. The case comes in a variety of colors, some of which are actually quite fashionable. The teal and gray version, for example, is attractive and different from what you'll find from a lot of case manufacturers. Our test case was gray and orange, providing a nice contrast and looking like a "sport case". The inside of the case is a softer elastomeric copolymer that cushions the iPhone 5/5s, while the exterior is made of a much stiffer material. Like many protective cases, the CE1150 keeps the top and bottom of the two-part case firmly latched together with a series of "teeth" that engage and pull the two parts together. The front cover of the case wraps around the screen edge, ensuring that the screen is totally protected from drops. About the only situation where you might still destroy an iPhone screen with one of these cases installed is if the screen happens to hit a projecting edge; think of the screen hitting a sharp rock and you'll get the picture. Functionality Highlights The case is fairly easy to install and remove, which is a relief after some of the wrestling matches I've had with protective cases. To install, simply place the iPhone's backside onto the back piece of the case, then slip the top into place and start squeezing the two sides together until the "teeth" latch all the way around. Like all of Pelican's products, the CE1150 has a nice, solid feel to it. The volume rocker on the iPhone is covered by a pair of marked buttons, and the on/off switch also has a pass-through button that covers the iPhone's button. The bottom of the device is wide open, although recessed into the case, and the mute button is also uncovered. Now, while the CE1150 will keep your device from scratches or even breakage during drops or if it happens to get captured under something that would crush an iPhone in a silicone soft case, it bears reminding that it does not include a screen protector to keep your screen safe from scratches or direct impact, nor does it have the ability to be dropped into water. If that is the level of protection you need, then you'll want to spend the extra money for a LifeProof case or something similar that's going to keep your device intact. Frankly, this case is an oddity. Most Pelican cases meet MilSpec IP54 for water resistance or the ever-popular 801G for drop resistance. There's no such standard applied to the Protector Series. Conclusion Pelican's Protector Series case for iPhone 5/5s provides a good level of protection from everyday mishandling at a very reasonable price, but it's definitely not the case for those iPhone users who need waterproof and shockproof capabilities. That makes this case a bit of an oddball in the Pelican family, as we're used to seeing military-grade protection from the company. Rating: 2-1/2 stars out of 4 stars possible
Engadget giveaway: win an iPhone 5s courtesy of TurboTax!
It's that time of year again, when you have to try and wrestle back as many of those hard-earned dollars as you can from the insatiable gaping maw of the tax beast. In an effort to assuage that annual suffering, the folks at TurboTax created the free SnapTax app for 1040EZ/A returns and this year they've upped the ante for one lucky Engadget reader by offering an unlocked gold iPhone 5s so they can file on the go. Available for iOS and Android, the SnapTax app lets users file by simply snapping a photo of their W-2, answering a few questions and clicking "file my return." This is one little slab of gold that you won't want to stash in a safety deposit box, so head on down to the Rafflecopter widget for up to three chances at winning. And don't forget: It's time to do those taxes! Winner - congratulations to: Scottie K., Schaumburg, IL
The Galaxy S5, or was that the 5s?
Yesterday, The Motley Fool posted a premature outlook on how the Galaxy S5 will change the iPhone's fortunes. A few tidbits that we can all have a hearty laugh over: The iPhone 5s is likely to pale, at least from a hardware perspective, in comparison. The Galaxy S5 is likely to sport a Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 in the U.S. and other developed markets (and an "Exynos Infinity" for international versions), 3GB of RAM, a 2560x1440 display, an updated/new industrial design, and a fingerprint reader. Well let's see, the actual Galaxy S5 features 2 GB of RAM (not 3 GB), a 1920x1080 display (not 2560x1440), and the only real design change was a textured back (not even remotely industrial). It did include a fingerprint reader though, but we all knew it would since the last iPhone already did it last year. 1 out of 4 isn't bad I guess. There's no doubt that the S5 will likely to be more feature-packed and have a more aesthetically pleasing design than the iPhone 5s... No, and no. The upcoming Samsung Galaxy S5 is likely to be a great device, the most premium of the Android devices. Apple is probably going to lose high-end share as this product ramps, but if Apple is smart, it will prepare to host a "special event" to launch a suite of new iPhone products sooner rather than later. You're right, Apple is absolutely going to change its entire iPhone cycle to respond to Samsung. That's totally going to happen in real life.
5 reasons why the iPhone 5c underwhelmed
During Apple's most recent earnings conference call, Tim Cook effectively conceded that consumer demand for the iPhone 5s and 5c did not align with Apple's internal projections. Specifically, more people were clamoring for the iPhone 5s than Apple anticipated while demand for the colorful and plastic iPhone 5c "turned out to be different than we thought." While it remains to be seen if Apple scraps the iPhone 5c altogether -- the Wall Street Journal claims that this will be the case -- it's worth taking a look at just what the iPhone 5c was and why it failed to live up to Apple's expectations. In stark contrast to the iPhone 5s, the iPhone 5c was comprised of plastic. Indeed, Jony Ive ridiculously called the device "unapologetically plastic" in one of the Apple produced videos that often accompany new product unveilings. Also differentiating the iPhone 5c was that it came in a variety of colors and was priced $100 cheaper than the flagship 5s. So just where in this equation did Apple mess up? 1. Was the iPhone 5c not cheap enough? Though the 'c' in 5c didn't stand for cheap, it's hard to talk around the fact that the iPhone 5c was, in fact, positioned as cheaper alternative to the iPhone 5s. When Apple announced the $99 pricetag for the iPhone 5c, analysts, as they tend to do, expressed disappointment as they were hoping for an even cheaper pricepoint. That said, some argue that the iPhone 5c would have sold much better if it was priced even cheaper. Of course, then Apple's margins would have taken a hit and analysts would be raising their eyebrows at that. All that said, should Apple have priced the 5c even lower than $99? 2. Did sales disappoint because the iPhone 5s was so damn compelling? Though the 5c garnered positive reviews from critics, it lacked the innovative Touch ID that was without question the flagship feature of the iPhone 5s. What's more, it also came with a lower quality camera, the inability to shoot slow-motion video, and a less capable processor. Taking all this into account, perhaps the iPhone 5c wasn't so much weak as the iPhone 5s was decidedly appealing. 3. How many Apple employees would choose the 5c over the 5s? Apple's business model is simple; it sells premium products at premium prices. People gravitate towards Apple because they traditionally offer a best-in-class user experience coupled with top-of-the-line hardware and industrial design. Nothing more, nothing less. The iPhone 5c deviated ever so slightly from this pattern. Sure, Apple employees might have no problem using the 5c as their primary device, but did they? Apple executives have stated on numerous occasions that the company focuses on products that they themselves want to use. That's why you won't ever see Apple release a product comparable to the Microsoft Kin, for instance. Having said that, I wonder what the ratio of iPhone 5s to iPhone 5c users is over at 1 Infinite Loop. 4. The iPhone 5c colors were ugly I'm sure a few people will disagree with me here, but I always thought the colors Apple chose for the 5c were horrible. In short order they were pastel, muted, and not really all that appealing. Lime green? Canary yellow? Really, Apple? While an admittedly small sample size, everyone I know with an iPhone 5c opted for either white or blue. Living in Chicago, I see iPhones all over the streets every day. I'm not sure that I've ever seen a yellow or green 5c model out in the wild. And when you factor in Apple's perforated iPhone 5c covers, the aesthetic quickly drops from mediocre to unsightly. I present to you Exhibit A: 5. Were Apple's expectations too high? Apple doesn't break out sales or inventory figures by product line, so weaker than expected demand for the 5c may merely reflect Apple's over confidence in the device. In other words, perhaps supply was too high. What would really be interesting to know is how sales of the iPhone 5c compare to other $99 iPhone models Apple has sold in years past. This is pure speculation, but perhaps the 5c was less appealing on a psychological level because it was never, at any point in time, a top device. In contrast, folks buying a used iPhone 5 know that their device, at one point in time, was the best available.
Engadget's smartphone buyer's guide: winter 2014 edition
You don't need to cast bones or read entrails to know that smartphones arrive in predictable cycles. February, home of Mobile World Congress, is likely to see the launch of new handsets from heavy hitters like HTC, Samsung and LG. Those new flagships will rule the mobile hill until the fall, when Apple and Google are likely to wheel out next-gen devices of their own. Sony, meanwhile, recently launched its latest handset, the Z1 Compact, which reverses the "bigger is better" trend to great effect. There may have only been one top-tier phone launching in January, but the phone industry has hardly been hibernating this winter. Two years after Google bought Motorola for $12.5 billion, it sold the rejuvenated handset maker to Lenovo. AT&T, meanwhile, has rejigged its mobile share plans to shrink your monthly data bill; T-Mobile will now pay you to leave your carrier; and we're inching ever closer to a Sprint/T-Mobile merger, the FCC permitting. If you're already on the hunt for a new smartphone, or your deal's only for a few more months left and you like to be prepared, this is your guide to the best handsets on the market.
Daily Update for February 19, 2014
It's the TUAW Daily Update, your source for Apple news in a convenient audio format. You'll get some 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 player at the top of the page. The Daily Update has been moved to a new podcast host in the past few days. Current listeners should delete the old podcast subscription and subscribe to the new feed in the iTunes Store here.
Daily App: Pedometer++ is a step logger for people who prefer things simple
Pedometer++ from Cross Forward is a solid fitness tracker that pulls its data from the M7. The app started off as a basic pedometer app that tracked your daily steps, but a recent update has transformed it into a simple step-tracking fitness log. Pedometer++ has one of the easiest-to-use interfaces I have seen in a fitness app. The weekly step data is clearly presented in a bar chart with a line for your daily step target. You can quickly see which days you met your goal and which days you didn't. It also keeps track of your cumulative steps for the past seven days and tells you how close in percentage you are to meeting that weekly goal of X number of steps each. Daily steps are displayed on the main screen in big letters at the top. They can also be appended to the badge in an optional setting. You can share a screenshot of your steps via email, messaging, Facebook and Twitter. A useful export setting will send your data to you via email in plain text and a CSV file. Pedometer++ displays all the helpful step-counting data without the extra fluff. It's perfect for folks who like to track their activity level, but don't need a weight log, food log or any other log. Pedometer++ answers the question: Did I move or didn't I today? Pedometer++ also stores the data locally on your phone and does not send the data to a backend server. Consequently, there are no accounts or logins with which to fuss. Pedometer++ is available for free from the iOS App Store. There are no ads, and a few in-app purchases allow you to tip the developer. It requires iOS 7.0 and an iPhone 5s with the M7 motion coprocessor. Though the iPad Air has an M7 chip, it does not report step counts and is not compatible with Pedometer++ and other M7-enabled apps.
Daily Update for February 3, 2014
It's the TUAW Daily Update, your source for Apple news in a convenient audio format. You'll get some of 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 player at the top of the page. The Daily Update has been moved to a new podcast host in the past few days. Current listeners should delete the old podcast subscription and subscribe to the new feed in the iTunes Store here.
Apple's tribute to the Mac, shot with the iPhone 5s
Now this is impressive. Apple has released a video tribute to the Macintosh that was shot entirely with iPhones. The "1.24.14" video features footage shot on January 24, 2014, exactly 30 years after the Mac's debut. Apple sent 15 camera crews across the world to capture Apple products in action. The crews shot more than 70 hours of footage with the iPhone 5s, mostly unaided (some shots used "additional equipment" and apps other than the default Camera app). That footage was then edited and scored with original music on the Mac. A little over a week later, it's ready for viewing. As Apple notes, "Thanks to the power of the Mac and the innovations it has inspired, an effort that normally takes months was accomplished in a matter of days." Director Jake Scott -- son of Ridley, who directed the original "1984" Mac ad and who collaborated on this project -- wrangled a team of 15 cinematographers toting 100 iPhones in locations around the globe. Using FaceTime, he was able to remotely direct the shots live in the Los Angeles command center while the footage was being collected. Although all the shooting was done on January 24, the advancing time zone clock meant that the actual live cinematography ran for 36 hours. After the field day, 21 editors worked furiously to put the final piece together. Although the cinematographers originally planned to use pro camera gear, the results of the iPhone 5s test footage were so compelling that the project moved over to a full-iPhone camera approach. Happy birthday, Mac. Here's to 30 more years!
Apple rolls out iOS 7.0.5 to iPhone 5s and 5c in China, promises network fixes
Apple's usually pretty quick when it comes to fixing issues with its software, and today is no exception. The iPhone maker has begun delivering iOS 7.0.5 to 5s and 5c models that are available in China, an update that is expected to solve "network provisioning" for some affected handsets there. This comes shortly after Apple finally announced a deal to bring the iPhone to China Mobile, which put an end to a long, long period of negotiations and landed its shiny new devices on the carrier. As such, and even though the changelog doesn't single the network out, iOS 7.0.5 would appear to be tailored for China Mobile subscribers who recently bought an iPhone. Either way, for those of you outside of China, no need to be hunting for this particular version -- it's only for those who actually need it.
Apple releases iOS 7.0.5 for iPhone users in China
Apple has released iOS 7.0.5 specifically to address iPhone network issues in China. It's a minor update that's unique to that region, so don't go looking for it if you're elsewhere in the world. This update affects the iPhone 5s and 5c. If you're in China and are having networking issues, go and grab it.
