Tag Archives: Reviews

X-Doria STIR Case for iPhone 5.

Posted by isenze on

The market is saturated with iPhone accessories, especially when it comes to cases. Everyone has their own specifications and standards when it comes to protecting and styling their devices. For me, I love a pop of color and a case that covers all edges of my phone, which isn’t always easy to find, I am quite possibly the most picky person on the planet when it comes to choosing a case for my iPhone. I think I may have just found the perfect iPhone 5 case, the X-Doria STIR.

Overview

X-Doria is a company that manufactures cases for iPhone, iPad, iPad Mini, and most recently, the Samsung Galaxy S4. While browsing the X-Doria site, I was impressed with the variety of cases that they had to offer, along with the varying colors and styles. The STIR case immediately caught my attention, based on photographs it seemed like the perfect case, but we’ve all been there, a case that seems to be perfect, only to receive it in the mail and have it look completely different.

Upon receiving my STIR case in the mail, I was riddled with anticipation when I picked up the parcel. I excitedly ran inside and tore the packaging open, slipped my old case off and slid the X-Doria STIR case on, placed my phone on the table, and stepped back to marvel at its beauty. Typically I purchase designer cases from the likes of Kate Spade, Juicy Couture, etc. mainly because they have fun colors, good fit, and no one else has anything like them. While the X-Doria case is not “designer” its craftsmanship and general aesthetic rivals any designer case.

 Out of the box, the case is flexible, has a soft plastic feel and is quite lightweight. The case fits easily onto the iPhone 5, covering the edges, without interfering with the screen protector, which can be a huge deal breaker for some people. I was pleasantly surprised to find that the case doesn’t add a lot of bulk at all, again, something that is relatively important to some. It was extremely easy to put on, and also easy to remove, the case does not shift or move when it is on the phone, which can be an issue with lightweight, flexible cases. The case covers the volume controls and lock button but allows for easy control of these items, not inhibiting the user from accessing or operating these buttons. The headphone jack is also easily accessible and the speakers have perfect cutouts.

The overall style of the case is quite appealing, with the geometric-like shapes on the back, the texture of the case is ideal, made of a durable, tear-resistant material that is almost brushed feeling, rather than glossy. The X-Doria STIR case comes in 6 different colors: electric blue, limon, pink, white, black, and aqua. I received the aqua color, which I absolutely love, it is bright and fun, and I have received numerous compliments on both the color and overall look of the case. The only issue that I have encountered with the case is the transfer of color to the edge of the case, presumably from dust, and constantly placing and removing it from my pocket, which is pretty typical for any case I use. The good news? A simple wipe down with a cleansing wipe takes the grime right off!

Verdict

Rating: 5/5

The X-Doria STIR case completely encases the iPhone 5, while allowing easy operation of volume and lock controls. The case comes in 6 great colors, has a fun geometric pattern, is shock-resistant, and lightweight. Not only does the X-Doria protect the iPhone 5, but it adds a certain degree of flair and style.

Price: $24.99 MSRP - The STIR case is available on the X-Doria website!

Pros:

  • Completely encases iPhone 5
  • Offers great color variety
  • Easy operation of volume and lock controls
  • Extremely lightweight
  • Headphone jack access is large enough for accessories

Cons:

  • Users who like extremely protective cases may not like it

Source: MacTrast.

New York Coffee Guide for iPhone.

Posted by isenze on

Just like Buddy the elf stumbling upon the worlds’ best cup of coffee, you too can expertly find an excellent cup of Joe around New York from the ease of your iPhone. The crowded streets of the Big Apple are full of coffee shops, large and small, and finding a good one may be a challenge. Thanks to New York: Coffee Guide, the stress of locating that holiday spiced latte may be a little easier.

User Interface and Function

The Coffee Guide for iPhone is full of Beautiful Pixels, in the truest sense of the expression. It is rare to come across apps that are well-built and shine in the beauty category. However, apps cannot live-and-die on looks alone. While this app looks great, the function is very helpful as well.

Utilizing a mapping interface as the launch screen, the app drops pins across Manhattan, marking the known shops. The pins are either green or red, indicating open or closed, respectively. To declutter the selection, tap the clock in the top left hand corner to eliminate any shops that are not open.

Tapping multiple pins compiles a stack of info cards, complete with a picture, at the bottom of the map. Collect as many cards as you wish and compare them in list form with their name, open/closed status, 5-star rating, and top 25 ranking.

Opening a venue card will display an image gallery, address, actionable phone number, hours of operation, user rankings, and an expert opinion, typically reserved for top 25 shops. Personally, I’m a big fan of the image gallery that is located at the top of each venue card. Get a full image by pulling down the card info to review the image gallery. I did encounter a little trouble here, however. If the gallery has more than three images, it will not allow the user to swipe past the third image, without tapping the thumbnail to switch images. Additionally, there were a couple instances where the image gallery completely disappeared, which happened on cards with Expert Roundups.

Once you find the shop you want to share, use the sharing feature to post to Facebook, text your friends, or email the information to your friends. Finally, leave your own feedback with the comment system.

Conclusion

Rating: 4/5

Overall, New York: Coffee Guide is a great free app (download link) for the java fiend. If you find yourself running around the city streets looking for a great new shop, this is a fun discovery app. Most importantly, the search feature will search based on shop name, address, districts, or even nearby subway stops. There are a few bugs that need to get worked out with the image gallery, but other than that, it seems to be a solid app.

Pros:

  • See all coffee shops on one map
  • Open/closed times
  • Searchable map, even with subway station proximity
  • Looks great!

Cons:

  • Image gallery has a few malfunctions

Source: MacTrast.

IK Multimedia iRig KEYS.

Posted by isenze on

Provides: Portable keyboard input for Mac/PC and iOS devices
Developer: IK Multimedia
Minimum Requirements: iOS device or computer
Price: $99.99
Availability: Now

The latest gadget from IK Multimedia isn’t designed to interface your instrument with your iOS device, it is the instrument. The iRig KEYS is a very portable keyboard with 37 keys and options to connect directly to your iOS device via 30 pin dock connector or to your computer over USB. It’s an affordable and portable option to keep a keyboard at your fingertips wherever you are.

The iRig KEYS is a deceptively small keyboard that still has a decent amount of keys. With 37 keys, you’d assume this keyboard was too big to carry around, but it’s actually scaled down a bit. Unlike a scaled down keyboard for typing, however, this doesn’t seem to pose any huge problems. Actually, I think it’s a great compromise for the enhanced portability.

You might also think it scrimps on features to be so small, but that’s not true either. The iRig KEYS has all the usual functions, like a pitch wheel, mod wheel, and several buttons (octave and program). You can even store four separate keyboard models for instant access to specific settings. There’s also a nice big volume knob. Inside of Garageband, it actually controls the track volume directly, which is a welcome surprise. You can even connect a single pedal to this guy if you have one.

The iRig KEYS has two options for connecting to your computing device of choice. You can connect directly to your iOS device via a special cable, which has a 30 pin dock connector at the other end. I’m sure they’d like to put a Lightning connector on there too, but it’s not yet an option. Thankfully, a 30 pin to Lightning adapter does the trick just fine. So if you have one already, great. If not, that’s another $30 to $40 expense you might need to consider if you’re an early adopter.

The other option allows you to connect to your computer with the included USB cable. Honestly, the only gripe I have about connection options is that the iOS cable is a special cable you can’t get anywhere else.

While the iRig KEYS keyboard is a very nice compromise between having enough features, being portable and not costing a ton, it’s not perfect. This keyboard reminds me of something I might use to play the game Rock Band. What I mean is that it feels a little plasticky and light. It doesn’t give the feel of a well-built machine that could really take a beating. Then again, it’s highly portable and won’t weigh you down.

Ultimately, this keyboard really aims to be portable without sacrificing the necessary features. It definitely succeeds in this regard. While it does feel a little like a music game controller, it has enough features to really be useful. It might be nice to have this keyboard be a bit more solid, but that’s a bit beside the point. The iRig KEYS is a great keyboard for anyone who wants to be able to throw 37 keys in their backpack and go. It’s also great if you want to try your hand at learning keyboard or even just messing around with Garageband for fun.

But if you really want the full IK Multimedia experience, check out their iGrand Piano app. The two make a great combo.

Source:AppleTell.