Griffin Survivor iPhone 4 Case Review

The Griffin Survivor is part of Griffin’s new Armored series of tough cases, which also includes the Explorer and Tracker cases, all three are compatible with the AT&T and Verizon iPhone 4. The Survivor is one tough case, it was tested and passed both US and UK military standards. The Griffin Survivor case protects your iPhone 4 from drops, shock, vibration, sand, dust, wind and rain.

The Survivor is a bulky case just as most ultra-protective cases are for the iPhone, it is designed to be bulky in order to provide the utmost protection for the brittle iPhone 4. The Survivor case is similar to the Otterbox defender case which are both designed with a hard, shatter-resistant polycarbonate frame, a very thick shock absorbing silicone and a built in screen protector. The Survivors outer silicone is much more durable and thicker than the Otterbox Defender which in my opinion would protect the iPhone 4 better if the phone should take a plunge to the floor.

The Survivors built in screen protector is anti-glare so there is no watermarking or rainbow effect on the screen, but it does make the Retina display a little grainy, but nothing unbearable. The outer screen protector is smooth to the touch and easy to navigate and slide your finger around. However, the integrated screen protector reduced the sensitivity of the touchscreen more than the Otterbox Defender did in our tests. Another problem we ran into with the integrated screen protection was when we tested it with a white iPhone 4 with no screen protector installed, the integrated plastic film that covers the proximity sensor does NOT allow it to work properly. The screen stayed on during calls allowing the cheek to hit the mute and speaker buttons on the screen. In fact even when we were on a call, we covered the proximity sensor with a finger and the screen remained on. The only way we got around this problem was to either cut out a hole in the plastic over the proximity sensor or to remove the entire one piece plastic screen protection which we did and the proximity sensor then worked perfectly.

Now onto the buttons and access points. Because the Griffin Survivor is water resistant, all of the ports are covered and protected with the built in plugs that flip out when you need to access them. The home button, power/sleep and volume buttons all have great feedback and responds very well when pressed. The Camera flap on the other hand is annoying, you have to hold it out of the way while taking a photo or else it will fold over and block the view finder. In my opinion this needs to be redesigned with a way to leave the flap open while using the camera either with a snap or tuck feature.

ORDER your Griffin Survivor Extreme-Duty Case with Belt Clip for iPhone 4 – Black

Onto the belt clip. It seems as if Griffin focused all of their time with design of the case itself and skimped on the belt clip. The clip holds the case pretty good in normal situations, but if you are running, cycling or any other outdoor rugged activity I would not trust the clip to secure the iPhone. we tested the iPhone 4 in the Griffin Survivor when running and the iPhone worked its way out and fell to the ground. of course the good thing is, the actual case is built like a tank so of course no damage occurred to the phone. In our opinion, the clip is in need for improvements and needs to reflect the durability of the case it is trying to secure.

The Griffin Survivor is by far the toughest case we have ever tested and possibly the most durable and toughest case on the market today for the iPhone 4. When your iPhone is secured in the Griffin Survivor you can rest assured it is well protected. The design of the Survivor case is awesome and has the look that the iPhone is wrapped in armor. The silicone is very tough and grainy so it is not a lint catcher if you choose to carry it in your pocket instead of using the included belt clip.

Here are our results:

1) great Protection/ toughest case on the market 2) Allows for a better grip on the iPhone 3) Tough military look and feel 4) Carry your iPhone 4 with 100% confidence that it won’t get damaged

1) Camera flap is annoying 2) Proximity sensor issues with white iPhone 4 only 3) flimsy belt clip

The Griffin Survivor is highly recommended to those looking for a durable case to protect your iPhone 4. if you have the black iPhone 4, not using the belt clip and not taking a ton of pictures I think you will be totally satisfied with this case. This case gets an A++ for the protection it offers.

 

Wireless IPhone Bluetooth Capabilities – What You Need to Know About Wireless IPhone Bluetooth

The wireless iPhone Bluetooth is so good and out of all the wireless features that your revolutionary new iPhone device offers, one of the best wireless resources are the iPhone Bluetooth capabilities. before you will really understand the advantages that the wireless iPhone Bluetooth feature offers to you, you will need to be aware of what Bluetooth is and how your iPhone works.

How Wireless iPhone Bluetooth Works

Bluetooth is, not only on your iPhone, a truly incrediblely wireless technology. It is one that allows electronic devices, such as your iPhone, to be able to connect to another device and this art of connecting various different devices together is quickly becoming more and more popular. some says it is actually necessary in the fast moving world of today to have your very own iPhone.

One method that in particular that can be used is the wireless Bluetooth technology in your iPhone. a Bluetooth connection is wireless and of course automatic and one should not forget to mention that a wireless Bluetooth also offers a variety of diverse interesting features that can help you to simplify things in life.

Wireless iPhone Bluetooth works to create a connection between your two devices, for instance your iPhone or your PC. It does this by taking a small area networking to the next level and as a result of this, removing the need for your intervention and keeping the power involved extremely low which. This ends up saving your battery power.

Wireless iPhone Bluetooth works by providing an agreement at the physical level as well as at the protocol level. This is where the products basically have to agree or disagree on how many bits are sent, when they are sent etc.

In the simplest possible terms wireless Bluetooth technology is designed and also intended to get around many of the various problems that come with infrared systems. This makes it incredibly resourceful and very effective overall.

There are a number of different ways in which you can use Bluetooth devices such as your iPhone. one include avoiding to interfere with other systems and one other of the most major ways involves how they send out very weak signals that is typically only about 1 milliwatt. This cuts the chances of any interference between your wireless Bluetooth device and other of your devices that you are not interested in connecting with right now.

Wireless Bluetooth is also able to connect up to eight devices at the same time and even with so many connections at once, the odds of one would interfere with another is incredibly low. This is actually very impressive. Bluetooth also uses a particular technique that is known as the spread-spectrum frequency hopping. This works by making it very rare for more than one of your devices to be transmitting on the exact same frequency at the same time.

Link Baiting? Pyramids? Narcissism? Brilliant!

“the scale of your influence, and therefore the size of your photo, is based on two measures.

1. the number of people who directly click on your unique URL link. This is the primary measure of your influence, pure and simple.

2. you will receive partial ‘credit’ for subsequent clicks generated by those who register as a result of your URL. In other words, anyone who comes to the site through your link and registers for their own account will be spreading your influence while they spread theirs. that way, you get some benefit from influencing people who are influential themselves. We will give a diminishing, fractional credit (1/2, 1/4, 1/8 etc ) for clicks generated up to six degrees away from your original link.”

Six degrees of influence, eh? Sounds like a brilliant link bait pyramid scheme, at least to Michael Arrington, who’s apparently trying to get a picture of Chevy Chase on the November issue cover. Now if you’ll excuse me, I’ve got Facebook friends to annoy.

via Fast Company via TechCrunch

Bluetooth Wireless Keyboard is Now the Future

It is clear that one of the most important trends in computing, for both desktop PCs and notebook computers, is wireless connectivity. Anytime one surveys the massive tangle of wire, cables and cords that are common with any computer setup, it is evident that less would be more. this trend to eliminate as many computer cords as possible is one reason why the Bluetooth wireless keyboard will eventually replace their corded counterparts.

Because of the advances in battery life and in wireless technology networking, the day is coming that everything that needs to communicate with your computer, from the keyboard to the mouse and every other needed peripheral, will do so wirelessly. Apple once again seems to be leading the way, as they have been the first to make the enabled keyboard, of this technology, part of the standard suite of equipment that comes with their new iMac. their keyboard is also a perfect compliment to their Apple Bluetooth Wireless Mighty Mouse, which has some additional fresh features for the humble mouse.

Other manufacturers are also offering enabled keyboard models of this technology, which can be used with any enabled computer of this technology, be it a desktop model or a laptop. In fact, these keyboards can also be used with a handheld computer or with a Bluetooth wireless technology PDA. while you probably don’t want to lug around your keyboard with your PDA, it can be a nice option if you want to quickly add contacts or notes from the home or office where you are using your keyboard.

If you are ready to make the switch to a Bluetooth wireless keyboard and a mouse, then one of the more popular options is the Rocketfish Wireless Multimedia Bluetooth Keyboard and Laser Mouse. this combination package of keyboard and mouse employs mobile wireless technology networking that has been getting very positive reviews from users. one note though, it will only operate with Windows computers and not with any Apple Macintosh personal computers.

Both the Rocketfish enabled keyboard of this technology and the wireless mouse utilize a USB adapter key, which is included in the package. this USB adapter key uses the WIDCOMM version 5.1, which gives the devices a range of up to 60 feet. However, this range might be considered overkill since not much will be readable on your computer screen at a distance of 60 feet, not matter how big the words or how sharp your eyes.

Not only does the USB key drive both the Rocketfish mouse and keyboard, but it also functions as a hub. this hub function allows you to transfer digital files to and from your computer or any other enabled device.

Reviewers have commented that the Rocketfish enabled keyboard of this technology is very thin and is also very stylishly designed and comes with a comfortable wrist pad built right into the unit. The keyboard has 104 keys for all the normal functions, and it also boasts 10 bonus keys.

These are “one-touch” keys that are intended to be used for multimedia access and control. For instance, one of the keys will open up an internet browser, one will get email, and still another will access the help screens. There are also dedicated keys for playing DVDs, with such functions as play, rewind, pause and fast forward, as well as keys for volume and mute.

The Bluetooth wireless keyboard and the mouse are just the first step in eliminating the wires and cords that can be so annoying and cumbersome. In addition to the convenience of working without wires, thanks to today’s mobile wireless technology, there are also some real benefits in ergonomics. with a wireless keyboard and mouse, you will no longer be limited to where you can position your keyboard, but can place it where it is most comfortable and where you are in an ergonomically correct position.

New iPhone Clones in 2009 – A Look at the SciPhone Dream and the I9-3G

It can be really confusing to know which CECT phone came out when. of course, every one wants to makes sure that they are getting the latest version available or the newest phone that has come out.  below, I’ll give a brief overview of the two phones that most people are referring to when they ask about the “2009 iPhone clone”  – that’s the SciPhone Dream G2 (Google Android Clone) and the i9-3G.

The Latest 2009 SciPhone – the G2 Dream: OK, so the welcome menu of this phone doesn’t look exactly like the iPhone.  Actually, it looks more like (and is based on) the HTC Dream or on the G1 by T Mobile.  It’s based around the Android operating system and all of Google’s applications.  Like the iPhone, this is a touch screen phone that has everything you could want or need (web browsing, email, MP3 / MP4, Bluetooth, digital camera, web cam, radio, etc.), but it makes the most of what big G has to offer.  just some of the things that are highlighted on this phone is gmail, maps, calendar, maps, stocks, albums, docs, etc.  If you really love and use the free Google line up of products, you may well like having “push” or one touch availability to these things.  This phone is really geared toward someone who conducts their business or their life around these products.

The Latest CECT i9 Phone – the Third Generation Version (AKA CiPhone or i9-3G): Another popular 2009 addition is the 3G version of the i9. So, what has changed? Well, this phone has everything that you like about the 9, but it has added a few things to give the phone a fresh new look.  Specifically, it now has the rounded back of the latest iPhone.  It now holds twice the memory (16 GB) and it now has tons more icons and apps available (10 pages).  when you see videos of this phone, most times, you’ll see someone dragging around or manipulating the icons.  This is probably the thing that gets the phone the most attention.  People really like having more icons available, but it’s also cool to be able to place them precisely where you’ll use them most or to change them around if you later change your mind.

Of course, there are new phones that come out just about every quarter with these clones, but as of this writing, these are two of the most popular recent additions.  which you like better depends on what you are looking for. If you’re wanting more of an iPhone clone – the i9-3G may suite your needs better.  the Dream is not an iClone per say, but more a knock off of the phones that use mostly free and useful Google apps.

iPhone Car Accessories As Unique Promotional Gift

We know how important your iPhone is. You almost forgot about the old fashioned cell phone. that is the way it should be. Your iPhone does everything for you. You do not need a cell phone, a laptop and some other accessories, as the iPhone provides all of them in one gadget.

We also know that you spend a lot of time in your car. that is why you will have to be sure to have the best iPhone car accessories that you could find.

Following are a few car accessories perfect for your iPhone

  • Recharger
  • Connection cable
  • USB cable
  • Bluetooth device

The most important thing that you will need for your iPhone is a recharger. You are already used to that from your old cell phone, so we will not tell you what it does. just be sure that your iPhone car recharger fits in your cigarette lighter socket. Another important accessory is a support for your iPhone. just be sure that you have the right place for it. You can hang it from your car door, your glass support or even your windshield. Also be sure that your support is not inconvenient you while you are driving

Another accessory that you could get is a connection cable. that is how you can connect your iPhone with your car CD player. An USB cable could also prove useful, as you can connect the iPhone with your laptop.

All this iPhone accessories can be found separate. But because your time is so valuable, you can always get an iPhone car accessories kit. that is how you are sure to have all the accessories you need in a single box. Be sure that your car kit has at least two years warranty. is not like you need it, but this is how you are sure that you have bought a quality kit. You can find any kind of car kit you want. There are simple models that contain only a recharger, a support and an USB cable.

But if you are a sophisticated person, you will surely need a complete car kit for your iPhone. You can find these online or in stores. a complete car kit can contain a door support and a windshield support, also a Bluetooth and an elegant cover. This can be considered as a complete iPhone kit, not only a car kit, as it contains all the accessories you need for your trusty iPhone car accessories. There are also some accessories that connect the iPhone with your car antenna. that is how you can be sure to have o good signal even when you are in a weak signal covered area. Be sure to buy one of these if you plan long trips on the mountains. and if you are in the mountains, also be sure that your support is anti-shock proved. Usually the silicon supports are made this way, but you might find other materials that are resistant to shocks.

Whatever car accessories you might need, be sure to find a quality kit. You don’t want to see your iPhone crashed because your support broke. it is far more expensive to repair it than a good iPhone car accessories support.

Solar iPod Touch Charger

You will learn everything about the solar iPod touch charger. from how much to where you can purchase it, to how it works, even to other people’s reviews. you may have the chance to read the most complete in depth article about the solar iPod touch charger.

Back in 2009, Novothink released a product called the Surge. They are the first company ever to get it Apple Certified. which is a big step for a new company. the Surge was built so that iPod Touch and iPhone users would have the ability to charge under the sun with solar panels. With the Surge, you are able to charge via sunlight, indoor light, or USB cable.

Let’s getting started with the Surge itself. the Surge is a plastic gadget that fits in your hand as the size of the iPhone or iPod touch. the Solar Surge is about a couple cm bigger than the iPhone only because the iPhone or iPod touch has to be able to sit into the charger.

When you receive the Surge Solar Charger, the contents include the Surge, a instruction booklet, Novothink lanyard, and or course the USB cable. you will need to pull out the contents and be next to your computer. the instruction states that you should charge the Surge for 3 hours for the best performance. you see their is an internal battery in the charger. the battery Lithium-Ion battery that has more power than the regular iPod touch battery. Plug the mini USB Cable end into the bottom of the Surge solar charger. and the other end into the USB port into your computer. make sure your computer is plugged into the wall. you will need to let it charge for 3 hours. Remember when you are charging the Surge for the first time you should allow the Surge to charge by itself. in the meantime you should read your instruction booklet.

After the 3 hours of charging your Surge solar iPod touch charger, unplug your USB plugs from both the computer and Surge. you may keep them plugged if you want to sync music between the two. a good idea you should do is download the FREE Solar Planner App from Novothink. This App is able to help you plan how long you would need to keep your Surge outside, it gives you a close to accurate time of leaving your charger, charging. you have to encounter possibly the clouds covering the sun, or you are blocking it with your body. Once you have downloaded the App and charged the Surge solar iPod touch charger, you may put the two devices together. This is a very easy process but some people have wanted to forced the devices together. so lets go over that step. you have to remember that the Surge solar charger is meant specifically for the iPod Touch 2nd generation or newer. so with that said, do not force it. Take your iPod Touch and start at the top of the Surge, and slide it into place, until it meets the Apple Certified 30-Pin Connector. it fits snug into the Surge. you will notice depending on if your iPod touch is fully charged or not, that the power signal noise will bing. and you will also notice the battery image appear on the iPod Touch. This is how you know that the iPod Touch is fully connected to the Surge solar charger.

Now you have the Surge solar charger fully operational. you can put it into your pocket or just leave it in your car, you where you want to place it until you need it. if you plan on using the iPod Touch right away, just take your ear plugs and plug them into the bottom of the Surge solar charger. you will be able to listen to your iPod touch and still be able to have the surge working.

The way the surge works for you is when you have been listening to your music or podcasts all day, you know that the battery starts to lose life. When your iTouch gets to about 20% battery life, the Surge solar charger will turn on and start juicing up. the cool thing about this is a couple things, first you do not have to think about it, it does it automatically. second, is that the Surge charger has a built in battery sensor that knows when your iTouch is fully charged, so it does not suck all the juice from the Surge, but gives enough to fully charge the iPod touch. When you are out in the sun, you can charge your Touch.

What are other people saying about the Surge solar charger for the iPod touch? People love the fact they can take it everywhere with them because it is very portable. Other people like the fact that it is solar powered and also works as a back-up battery supplier. some people just love the fact of alternative energy they can affordable.

Now let’s talk about where you can purchase the Surge solar Touch charger. you may purchase it online only currently, there are a few online stores that are supplying these products.

5 Best Astronomy Applications For iPhone

iPhone is truly a wonderful platform. It’s so powerful that it has allowed mobile developers to come up with all kinds of useful applications for the device to enhance its functionality. Whether you are into online dating, social networking or making cheap calls from your phone, you can do it all thanks to the wealth of applications available on iTunes.

Thanks to the talented community of iPhone developers, you can now enjoy all kinds of science apps on your phone. And that includes my favorite topic, astronomy. there aren’t too many astronomy applications around but those that are available on the market are superb. if you are looking for an astronomy program for your mobile phone, you can’t go wrong with these:

  • StarMap: it is one of the best astronomy applications for iPhone. it can help you navigate the space and find new objects to observe fast. Hundreds of thousands of stars are available in its database.
  • GoSkyWatch Planetarium: GoSkyWatch Planetarium is wonderful application that helps you locate and identify planets in the sky. if you are into astronomy, you are going to have a lot of fun with the star finder and other features available with this app.
  • Distant Suns: Personal Universe: Distant Suns comes with thousands of stars and planets and helps you explore the sky right on your gadget.
  • Star Walk: Star Walk is a great educational tool for anyone interested in the field of astronomy. You can browse the stars, go through the galaxies, and even travel in time to watch events in the past.
  • APOD Viewer: a cool app that brings you breathtaking pictures from the galaxies and systems far, far away from our earth right on your phone.

Whether you are a beginner astronomer or an expert in this science, iTunes has something for you. no longer do you have buy an additional gadget to enjoy navigating the sky. Not when you have your phone.

5 Fantastic iPhone Chargers

Apple iPhones link us to the world of music and videos and keep us hooked up, irrespective of place and time. But remember, the iPhone experience is only as good as the life of our phone battery.

At the first sign of ‘low battery’ signal on the iPhone, we all scramble to find a iPhone charger to get the juice up again. So here’s a list of the top 5 iPhone chargers which will keep your iPhone going and going and going…

1. BeamBox MiLi Power Pack The BeamBox MiLi Power Pack provides you has some good looks and packs in kong hours of battery life. this sleek and light weight charger provides your iPhone an extended lifetime of up to 16 hours.

The MiLi is not filled with powerful options as compared to the other chargers available in the market but with a price of $70, this is definitely a good option for a carry around charger.

2. Belkin TuneCast Auto The Belkin TuneCast Auto is built with technology that can send its music to your car stereo system at the same time getting charged.

The transfer is done automatically through the best frequency which is chosen by the iPhone Charger. Just connect the small Belkin TuneCast Auto that is available at $79.99 to your iPhone and enjoy your favorite tunes during your drive.

3. Griffin PowerDock 4 The Griffin PowerDock 4 is one solid product (as are most products from Griffin). the charger is fitted with an aluminium base which provides a safe stand be it your workplace or car interiors. with its four charging slots, this charger will never leave you or your friends worry about your device battery life and all this for $79.99 (a tad expensive).

4. Powermat Wireless Charger Mat At home, if you prefer to use a charger free from the hassles of cables, then the Powermat Wireless Charger Mat is one that you would love. this new age charger with its advanced technology can help you charge your iPhone through a special magnetic powermat.

5. Solio Solar Chargers Solio Solar Chargers are considered ‘green’ and might appeal to those who wish to use solar powered charging. the power of the sun is used in charging your phone saving on the electricity otherwise used. this comes in handy in situations where you do not find a power port for charging.

Conclusion With the help of these iPhone chargers, your Apple iPhone will not just stay alive to entertain you. It will also have enough juice to help you stay connected to your near and dear ones.

What Does Bluetooth Mean?

Bluetooth is a technology that is still early in its development. it was made to allow wireless communications by only using low powered microchips and headsets. at first, it was difficult for this wireless protocol to be able to connect to other device types. however, after a few revisions and remodels, advances have made it possible for Bluetooth to provide great connectivity between local devices, such as mobile phones, digital cameras, personal computers, laptops, and so on.

When different devices have to rely on being wired up to exchange information, it can make the process time consuming and difficult. By being able to free up those wired connections to let the devices exchange what they needed to be able to work together made the whole process much simpler. Now the technology is used for many different types of wireless information communication.

The first really popular application for the Bluetooth is still one of the most popular. Hands free talking with a mobile phone is used around the world. Not only does the mobile phone make the call more easily, but using the technology increases a person’s safety. This particular example can be seen by the fact that a person does not have to constantly hold a phone to converse with another person while driving, and they are able to keep their eyes on the road ahead of them.

Major developments with wireless communication devices have also led to being able to use it in other ways. these include PC-to-PC communication, and even communication with other players via a video game console. This last application has allowed the actual games that are offered to be on a whole new level while being able to use Bluetooth.

The actual workings of this advanced technology is in reality fairly simple to understand. the data, or information, that the Bluetooth microphone takes in is diced up in handfuls of pieces. each handful is thrown, or transmitted, to over seventy various radio frequencies. Not only is this quicker than the simple bit by bit, or piece by piece that computers are used to, but the quality of transmission is increased as well. Information is everything these days. Internet businesses are on the rise, as well as other types of businesses that are becoming dependent on being able to connect.

Utilizing the existing technology will allow people who need to stay constantly connected with a professional type of quality communication unheard of just ten years ago.

When the technology is included in a phone or small laptop, then it is capable of sending just about any type of information signal that is needed. This can ensure a person who is in business that whatever communication needs there are, that they will be able to be met.

Another way to help understand the basics of how it all works is by considering it to be a smaller version of what is called WiFi. it works in almost the same manner, being able to send and receive information without the use of wires. This short range protocol is meant to be used on a smaller scale with a lower power usage then the typical WiFi. when a person is only trying to connect a couple of computers together using wireless technology, they are better off using Bluetooth to do so. WiFi connections are made to work with larger networks of computers and utilize much more power in the process.

Of course, business is not the only reason to make sure that you have the use of Bluetooth in your devices. other ways to make use of it is to get devices that will allow you to listen to music, surf the Internet, and to stay in contact with friends.

Companies have made available mobile phones that are able to do all three of those things and more, along with using this technology to do it. even video games applications are being impacted by the availability of the Bluetooth in the mobile phone.

One of the most interesting aspects about this subject is to see where it is headed. By considering just how young the technology is, many new ways to use it should be just around the corner. another factor is that many devices are integrating different types of technology within themselves as well.

The key component for the future of Bluetooth is compatibility. there are so many directions that it can go in with mobile phones and integrating with other devices that it is only a matter of time before just about everything that is done is going to be hands free.