Alcatel OneTouch Pop Fit is a ‘wearable’ smartphone with a bundle of accessories
In the era of phablets, it’s rather odd to see a company launching a 2.8-inch device, let alone calling it a “wearable” smartphone. Meet the Alcatel OneTouch Pop Fit, a little QVGA 3G phone that costs from just €89 or about $120 unsubsidized, but it comes bundled with a bunch of accessories. These include five back covers in different colors (black, blue, yellow, pink and red), along with a semi-transparent flip cover (with three dedicated music buttons) and an armband case. You also get a pair of JBL in-ear headphones, which will come in handy while jogging with this splashproof device.
The phone itself is powered by a 1GHz dual-core MediaTek chip with 512MB of RAM, so the 1,000mAh battery should be sufficient. What’s surprising is that even at this price point, the Pop Fit comes with either 16GB or 32GB of internal memory, thus giving the iPod nano a run for its money. There’s a software bundle, too: RunKeeper GPS fitness tracking app, DoubleTwist music player and Fleksy keyboard (which should make typing a lot easier on this tiny screen). Expect this phone to hit the shops around May this year.
Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile
Patriot Stellar USB/microUSB 3.0 OTG Flash Drive [Review]
What is it?
The Patriot Stellar is a USB thumb drive with a regular USB connection on one end and a microUSB on the other. There’s a small cap that pops off to expose the microUSB side to protect from dust, lint, etc. It comes in 16, 32, and 64GB sizes and is USB 3.0. It’s compact and has the same height and width of a USB port.
Mounting
I mounted the Patriot Stellar on several different Android devices around the office including an LG G2, an HTC One, and a Samsung Note 3; you’d just plug it in and any file explorer app was able to read, copy, move, delete, and rename its contents without a hitch. My Nexus 5 on the other hand (as well as other Nexus devices) requires a helper app to mount any OTG storage because it’s not supported natively, I’d recommend Stickmount by Chainfire (note that root permissions are required). If you’re not rooted, Total Commander in conjunction with its USB Stick Plugin will mount as Nexus OTG storage as well.
Testing
I pitted the Patriot Stellar against other external storage options, even my N5 itself. I used my N5 to create a nandroid backup in TWRP, each of which hovered around 4.7GB in size. Additionally, I tested each of the storage options’ read and write speeds with THIS free USB speed test on my work PC. (Note that the Patriot Stellar is USB 3.0 and the other storage options were USB 2.0, but I only have USB 2.0 ports on my machine, so the Stellar’s performance on a USB 3.0 would be even more Stellar.) For comparison, my N5 created a nandroid on its internal storage in 571 seconds:
- Patriot Stellar 64 GB: nandroid created in 801 s, read = 34.3 MB/s, write = 20.9 MB/s
- Meenova w/ class 10, 64 GB micro SD: nandroid created in 961 s, read = 19.7 MB/s, write = 6.9 MB/s
- USB OTG Cable with 64 GB flash drive: nandroid created in 1,020 s, read = 22.1 MB/s, write = 5.5 MB/s
As you can see regarding the tested external storage options, the Patriot Stellar won in all categories. Even compared to writing a nandroid directly to internal storage, it only took 40% longer, which is rather impressive.
The Good
- It’s small, compact, and works as it should
- Read/Write speed is insane
- Three sizes available to fit your needs
- Solid, durable, and quality construction
- 2-year warranty
- The price
The Bad
- Since it’s small and detachable, it can be easily lost
Final Thoughts
The Patriot Stellar is the BEST solution for those with mobile devices who need extra storage. I would argue that it’s even better than an internal SD card because a cable isn’t required to transfer files to a computer. I found the Stellar to be extremely helpful for loading new ROMs onto and saving nandroid backups to. I originally bought a Meenova microSD card reader for that same purpose, but the Stellar has replaced my Meenova. I’d recommend the Patriot Stellar to anyone with an Android device—especially those who do root and require extra space for ROMs and backups.
If you’re interested in one of the Patriot Stellar’s many size options you have a couple of choices. You can head to the old standby, Amazon, and pick up a 16GB, 32Gb or 64GB Patriot Stellar via the links below.
The price points are pretty stellar for their sizes and what they do. As an extra special incentive to our reader though, we have a special promotion running for one month with Patriot on any one of these OTG drives. If you order through Newegg.com and use the prmo code OTG4FUN, you get an additional $5 off your purchase. The 16GB is already only $19.99, so you could grab that for just $15. That will be good from now through March 13th 2014, so you have some time.
MPOW 4 Port Wall Charger gives you a single charging location for 4 Devices [Review]
Keep our devices charged is a constant battle. Most people own and carrying a phone, tablet, Bluetooth headset and in many cases, also a smartwatch or wearable of some sort. Right there you are looking at needing access to 4 charging cables. No one likes to take up a whole wall or have to walk room to room to unplug devices before heading out for the day. Not to mention that most of us also have to take a charger or two with us just incase we need some power while we are away from home. Don’t even get me started on traveling, staying at friends houses or the under powered hotel room. There are a number of products out there that can help you along your power hungry life all while consolidating your charging to one, or two, power outlets. That is what MPOW is doing with the 4 Port USB Wall Charger.
What’s in the Box
- MPOW 4 port USB Wall Charger
- AC Adapter
- Instruction Manual
The MPOW 4 Port USB wall charger is a fairly interesting take on a wall charger. Unlike some of the dual-port ones you might have seen, this one comes with a 3 foot power cord that plugs into the back of the unit. This gives you additional distance to get out from behind a nightstand, under a desk or out from behind a bed. Not mention, helps get the charging block closer to you so that you can easily reach your devices while they are charging if need be.
Obviously the name infers the number of ports. Yes, it has 4 USB ports on it. Two are 5V2A and two are 5V1A all combined, offers up 30 watts of charging power.
The physical size is quite a bit larger than a tradition charging brick, as well it should be. Measuring in at 105 x 30 x 90mm (4.13 x 1.18 x 3.54 inches) and weighs in at 170 grams (.37 pounds/5.99 oz).
The outer casing is hard plastic with the wall plug in the rear and the charging ports in the front. When it is plugged in there is a BRIGHT blue light that lets you know it has power. There is no on or off switch to kill the power to the device, or o the blinding blue light. It is wither plugged in and on, or unplugged and off.
Does the MPOW 4 Port USB Wall Charger Work
Sure it does. I have been using it nightly to charge up my Sony Xperia Z and the Republic Wireless Moto X. The long cable gets it near my bed from the side wall and allows both devices to sleep right next to me while they charge. I’m not cool enough to have an end table, so they charge next to my pillow. I have been using it nightly for about a week without issues. I haven’t noticed the physical box getting warm or either device failing to recognize that it is plugged in. I ran a few small 30 minute tests with the Xperia plugged in all by itself and used Battery Monitor Widget by 3c on 60 second intervals to record the charging progress. I took a screenshot before I plugged in the device another and again at 30 minutes. As you can see I went from a 50% to 72% in 30 minutes on the 2A out ports. There was a few drops in charge rates that could account for it only getting 22%. Most likely due to messages, emails, notifications and the screen coming on for many of them.
I ran a second test on another 30 minute interval, this time with both the Moto X and the Xperia plugged in at the same time. Still using the readings from the Xperia Z, you can see little to no change in charge rates, still being in the 1000+ mA, except there towards the end when it starts to slow the charge rate from 85% on up. Which is exactly what it is supposed to do since the MPOW offers over-heated, over-current, over-charging protection and will stop charging when your batteries are full. It will continue to trickle charge and keep you at 100% until morning.
Both tests had Wi-Fi connected as well as Cell Service and Bluetooth. Obviously individual results will vary based per-device and per battery size.
What we liked about the MPOW 4 Port USB Wall Charger
While it is relatively big, it is still very much so portable. The long length of the AC adaptor easily helps you get to plug-ins that your tradition charging block would have made it difficult to use unless you had a USB extender or an extension cord. The 5V2A out ports charge quickly without fuse. I find using the 2A outs are great for charging rather quickly while sticking to the 1A charging ports for smaller, less power hungry, devices.
What we didn’t like about the MPOW 4 Port USB Wall Charger
I am not a huge fan of the bright blue led light at all. Especially in a dark room. If you are sensitive to light when attempting to sleep, this will drive you insane. I actually have it tucked inside a bag next to the bed to keep the light from lighting up the room. Not having a physical on/off switch is also a downer. It is simple enough to unplug the MPOW from either the wall, or from the connection to the back of the unit, but you shouldn’t have to. It would have been slightly more powerful had all 4 ports been 2A vs the split. However, we can see how having both the 2A and the 1A options benefit more devices and users in the long run.
Overall thoughts
There are a few various options out there for devices that are similar. Some are less powerful, others are more powerful. The Anker 25 watt 5-Port
You can pick up the MPOW 4 port USB wall charger on Amazon for $19.99 currently. They come in black or white.
SEIDIO SURFACE Case With Metal Kickstand Review – Almost Too Snug
As a smartphone user who is admittedly not fond of using cases, it takes a lot to impress me, and even more to convince me to use your product for more than a week or two. I’m very selective and particular in what I look for. Unlike most case users, protection of my device is the last thing I worry about. I look for something sleek, unobtrusive, functional, and, above all, minimal. I took the SEIDIO SURFACE for the Nexus 5 in Gold for a spin, to see if they could convince me to become a case user again.
The first thing that struck me about the SURFACE case was the similar feel in material to the actual back of the Nexus 5. The soft touch matte back was very reminiscent of holding the phone bare, and that was how SEIDIO gained their first point from me. Not only did I feel like I was just holding my phone, but SEIDIO’s choice to go with a matte case also minimized the appearance of fingerprints, and resulted in a firm, non-slippery grip that made you sure of your handling. The inside of the case is lined with a velvety felt, protecting the back of your Nexus 5 from an scratches from the case itself. A very important touch, here, given the snugness of the SURFACE case. It slides on as two separate pieces that snap together. And boy, was that a feat. Pushing it together took a moment or two, during which I tried to loosen up the case by snapping it together and apart several times. Taking off the case is a bit of a challenge, and requires tugging quite hard on either end, making me worry whether my phone would go flying when it finally came apart.
The SURFACE case doesn’t add too much bulk to the phone, as seen in the comparison photo above. A small lip goes around to the front display, providing a bit of a buffer between your display and a flat surface. Be warned – if you happen to have a skin or decal on the front and/or back of your Nexus 5, the SURFACE may be a little more snug than your liking. Another heads up as well: white Nexus 5 owners may run into a problem similar to mine, in that my white decal was smudged with some sort of residue from the inside of the case, which I have still not been able to remove after cleaning it several times. This could just be bad luck, or could be because of the carbon fiber nature of my decal, which collects dirt and grime more easily than a flat surface, but I felt it worth the acknowledgment.
This is a tight fit, and even the smallest amount of added bulk to your Nexus 5 may cause some issues getting the case on and off. I had a Spigen tempered glass screen protector that began to lift along the edges and bottom when the case was on, and eventually cracked due to the prolonged pressure, so this won’t be the phone case for you if you have or are considering something along those lines. Surprisingly, Seidio claims that it’s own VITREO tempered glass screen protector is compatible with the SURFACE case. I’m not sure if this is something I’m inclined to believe, given it lifted and broke my Spigen GLAS.tR which is 0.23 mm thick, pulled up my Anker, which is measured at 0.38 mm, and the VITREO itself sits at 0.55 mm, over double that of the Spigen. It could be that the VITREO doesn’t extend to the very edge of the phone, or more gradually rounds off, giving it more room for a case, but I can’t speak on its performance in conjunction with the SURFACE case. I imagine normal PET-type screen protectors would behave just fine, however.
You can see in this image where my new tempered glass screen protector is starting to lift on the edges. I didn’t even attempt to use the case again fully after getting my first one replaced.
There are ports cut out of the case for the power button, volume rocker, headphone jack camera and flash, charger and speakers, as well as the noise cancellation mic at the top of the phone, but not for the SIM card tray. However, the top portion of the SIM card tray can be seen from the cutout for the power button, which was a cosmetic overlook that bothered me just a bit. It does make the power button easier to press, though, which is likely more important to most users. I will say that I greatly appreciated the fact that the case protected the camera lens from any direct contact with a surface.
I tested both NFC and wireless charging while using the case, and didn’t have a problem. Pictures and files beamed to other devices without hesitation, and placing the phone on my Tylt wireless charger didn’t require any fiddling or moving it about. Given that the SURFACE isn’t a very thick case, this shouldn’t be surprising, but it’s nice knowing it’s not a concern. The kickstand on the back of the case, probably the biggest selling point, reclines the phone at a very comfortable viewing angle from every table and surface I rested it on. It’s also very sturdy, and even while shaking a table, it remains upright. The kickstand is held in place by a magnet, meaning there aren’t any clips that you need to worry about breaking or wearing out. It’s easy to pop out, but also not prone to opening when you don’t actually want it to. Unfortunately, you are limited to landscape orientation for viewing, which is great of course for videos, games, and other media. However, I read books quite often on my phone, and would have loved a kickstand that could function in portrait orientation as well.
In closing, I’d say that the SEIDIO SURFACE case is one of the few that I would consider using on a daily basis, except for the fact that it negates the use of a tempered glass screen protector. Unfortunately, the most important feature of a case for myself – a snug, slim fit – is exactly what stops me from enjoying it. However, the snug fit will be great for the vast majority of users, the feel of the case in the hand is wonderful, and the kickstand is the most excellent executed on the market. SEIDIO has spent the last few years perfecting the SURFACE line of cases, and I think the Nexus 5 case is an amazing example of this. The SURFACE case used in this review is the Gold version, but it is also available in Black, Glossed White, Garnet Red, Amethyst, Royal Blue, and Turquoise for $34.95. If you’re prefer something a little more rugged to protect your Nexus 5, SEIDIO also offers the DILEX and CONVERT cases, as well as a wallet flip cover-style case, LEDGER. You can find the SURFACE and all of Seidio’s other offerings on their website for the Nexus 5, and various other popular smartphones. As usual, you can save some money on all other colors of the SURFACE if you purchase through Amazon vs directly. The links to some of the various colors are down below.
Photo Gallery
— — —
SEIDIO Product Description
The SURFACE™ with Metal Kickstand is the right case for those who want a slim case with functional features, such as a metal kickstand. Familiar features, such as our soft-touch coating and slide-in design, enhance the look and protect your LG Google Nexus 5.
The built-in metal kickstand can be used in landscape orientation for a hands free experience when viewing multimedia, managing photo slideshows, and displaying clocks and calendars. The SURFACE™ with Metal Kickstand does not support the device in portrait orientation.
– Sleek and slim case that provides scratch protection
– Case raises the camera away from a flat surface in order to protect your lens
– Magnetic kickstand provides convenience by easily snapping back in when not in use
– Precision cut-outs for access to the controls, ports, speakers, and camera
– Unique slide-in design makes putting on and removing your case easy
– Compatible with SURFACE™ Holster (not included)This product does not interfere with NFC. It is compatible with most wireless chargers, including the Nexus Wireless Charger (2013).
For those that read this far, be on the look out for a upcoming giveaway for the gold version of the SURFACE. We will be giving some away for the Nexus 5, Galaxy S4 or Note 3. Also, the SEIDIO Dilex Gold
Roocase Dual-View Folio Review for Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 7.0: a folio with more to it than meets the Eye
The folio market is one that is brimming full of so many options these days, and it seems everyone and their dog has made a folio case for at least one device. Furthermore, most of these folios are very similar design, though they typically vary in the way that they fold into their respective viewing positions. This is an area that I think has a lot to be desired as many cases really struggle to hold tilted viewing positions and fewer still are able to do this effectively in both landscape and portrait positions. Which brings us the Dual-View Folio, a case from device protection specialist roocase (who ironically is not an Australian company). Today, we’ll be taking a look at a Dual-View Folio specifically for the Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 7.0, but note that roocase also makes this particular Dual View Folio for these other cases too:
- ASUS MeMOPad HD 7
- Google Nexus 7 FHD (2013)
- Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 8.0
The Dual-View Folio (DVF) is a relatively simple affair; right out of the box, you’ll just the folio itself, no bells and whistles. What you do get a PU leather (or bicast leather) case which is able to hold one tablet inside as well as the accompanying stylus; more on that later. The case itself looks to be quite well made and comes in a host of groovy colours including black, pink, navy, red and the purple which we have here.
Roocase has opted for a slightly unorthodox method for securing your tablet inside the folio, using a simple velcro to hold your Tab 3 in the case and relying on the leather frame around it to hold the tablet from moving. For the most part it’s very effective, but I would say that the process of putting the velcro in behind the tablet to secure it is a bit fiddly. I found the leather strips holding the tablet in place to be a little flimsy, and while they do the job, they look like they might be slightly weak. Assuming that they hold, the DVF is actually a relatively protective case with ample spaces on all sides to avoid the tablet itself making contact with hard surfaces.
Once inside the case, it provides ample gaps and areas for you to access all the buttons and slots that you require from your tablet. Probably one of the neat things with using this leather enclosure rather than a plastic shell case to hold the tablet in place is that there can be so much space left open to manipulate the various buttons, which you can see in the gallery of images above.
And of course there’s also the stylus that we mentioned earlier; the stylus pictured above comes standard with each DVF and although you might not be able to see from this angle, also doubles as a pen, much like the moshi Stanza Duo we check out the other week (read the full review for the Stanza Duo here). Unlike the Stanza Duo, however, this stylus has a very simple pen and a very simple rubber capacitive tip. While it might not be made of the same premium materials, the included stylus in the DVF does the job. If I have one criticism of the stylus it is that the metal clip that holds it in the pen holder is a little too stiff which can make it a little fiddly to get back into the pen holder.
As for the inside of the folio case cover, you get two grooves for two different viewing angles when using the folio in stand mode, as well as two slots for what look like SD cards. When the case is closed, it is held closed by a magnet, but only on the top edge of the case; this makes the case cover a little looser than what you might be hoping for.
As the grooves suggest, the DVF is able to act as a stand as well with the grooves providing two viewing angles. The Tab 3.0 is a relatively light tablet so it didn’t appear to have too many issues staying in the grooves. The inside of the folio is made from a material that is almost like felt, which makes it quite good for stopping any sliding when in these viewing positions.
What is probably the best party trick of the DVF is the fact that the enclosure part of the folio which encases the tablet is actually only attached to the outside of the folio by velcro, as you can see in the photo above. What this means is that the tablet can be rotated to be used in portrait mode for viewing purposes, or if the front cover of the case is annoying you, you can just handle just the tablet without removing it from the enclosure. This makes for a much more versatile case as you can use just the bits that you need when you need it.
Rating: 4/5
The roocase Dual-View Folio is a prime example of what a folio case should be: multifunctional. The Dual-View Folio would perform admirably in the home or office setting with its set of features. What the folio gains in functionality though, I feel it loses in polish; parts of the case aren’t that well designed and the stylus isn’t the best either. That said, for a MSRP of $39.95, there are plenty of worse cases around and none that offer the kind of versatility that the Dual-View Folio offers.
What makes that even sweeter is that Amazon is currently having a sale on the Dual-View Folio, halving the price to just $19.95. If you’re in the market to get a case for your Galaxy Tab 3 7.0, or any other device that roocase makes a case for, you can’t go wrong with a Dual-View Folio; Amazon links can be found below.
If you want to find out more about the Dual-View Folio, you can visit its product page here, or if you want to take a look at some of roocase’s other products, you can visit their website here.
Gallery of photos
HTC Introduces Double Dip Cases for the HTC One
Still think Moto X wasn’t a game changer? After the Moto Maker was introduced to pick out what color you wanted for your Moto X, other OEMs started thinking about doing the same thing. They started adding multiple color options for their phones, and now HTC wants a piece of that action for their beloved HTC One.
HTC has introduced Double Dip cases that you can color coordinate yourself. If you head over to HTC, you can go pick yourself a case with 3 different colors on it for the price of $30. Not a bad idea honestly, so if you have an HTC One, and you want a colorful new case, hit the link provided below to go grab yourself one Let us know if you did.
Check them out here: HTC.com
Seidio is having a 25% off sale for Valentine’s Day
I just got this my inbox; titled “Protect the thing you love the most – your device”, Seidio is having a 25% off sale for Valentine’s Day. This is for all of you who have forgotten to get your significant other a gift for Valentine’s Day, or merely feel like giving your your phone a new case. If you haven’t heard of Seidio before, they specialize in heavy-duty smartphone cases that range in capabilities from being a basic protective case to the full shebang: a airtight, watertight case that will never let your device succumb to the elements. If you want to read more about how Seidio cases are to use, we’ve previously reviewed the Convert Case for Galaxy Note 2 (read here) and the OBEX Case for Galaxy S3 (read here).
If you’re wanting to jump on this deal, visit the Seidio site and after you’ve selected the case of your choice, use the coupon code VDAY25 at the checkout to cash in your 25% discount. The deal should be live now and will end on the 16th of February, but you probably shouldn’t leave it till then if it’s for your better half…
If you pick something up for yourself or your Valentine’s, let us know what you went for in the comments!
Source: Seidio
Jolla’s intelligent phone covers are now on sale, and you can make your own
One of the signature features of Jolla’s first smartphone is The Other Half — an intelligent phone back that uses NFC to automatically customize the phone’s software. Early owners haven’t really had a chance to try the feature for themselves, but that’s changing now that Jolla is selling The Other Half covers through its website. Paying €29 ($40) will get you an Aloe- or Keira Black-colored shell, either of which changes the system sounds and wallpaper to reflect a cohesive theme. And if you’re not happy with Jolla’s designs, you can make your own — the company has released a developer kit that includes the 3D printer file, software instructions and tech specs that you’ll need to get cracking. It currently takes two to three weeks for The Other Half units to ship to European customers, but anyone who’s unwilling to wait can grab the do-it-yourself tools right away.
Filed under: Cellphones, Peripherals, Mobile
Via: Forbes
Source: Jolla, JollaHQ (Twitter)
STM cases for Galaxy S4 review: the STM grip and STM harbour 2
STM Bags is a name that most people will associate more with premium quality laptop bags and sleeves than with smartphone cases, but STM does have a few cases for the Samsung Galaxy S4 which we’re going to take a look at today. The cases in question are the STM grip and STM harbour 2, both hard shell cases with slightly different characteristics, so let’s ive in and see what’s what.
STM grip
As its name suggests, the primary characteristic of the grip is, well, for superior gripping purposes. It’s back is covered in ridges which create a much better surface for getting a good hold on your device and the material is a plastic which has a rubbery finish making it the perfect texture for something that needs to be grippy. The case itself is made from polycarbonate which ensures that the case is rigid and tough, but also very light.
The grip is extremely easy to apply as the Galaxy S4 just slips in and clips into place. Ample room has been given to all ports and access points, though I did notice the volume and home buttons are a little close to the edge of the alcoves they’re in. Even so, there’s enough room to operate the buttons correctly.
The grip also has enough of a lip on its front to protect the screen in the event of a screen first drop. While the grip looks sturdy enough to protect your Galaxy S4 from normal daily rigours and the occasional waist-high drop, it probably isn’t a prime candidate to protect your device from an earth-shattering leap of faith. That said, the grippy nature of the case will hopefully help in that respect to stop that eventuality even occurring.The price of the STM grip is $19.95 AUD which is a fair amount for a solid, protective case and one which shouldn’t break the bank.
Rating: 4/5
STM harbour 2
The harbour 2 is a slightly different case to the grip, and yes, as you might have guessed from the spelling of “harbour”, STM Bags is actually an Australian-based company that has now gone global. The name “harbour” actually refers to the ability of the harbour 2 to still allow your Galaxy S4 to dock with other devices; how it does it is devilishly simple.
As you can see in the above image, the harbour 2 has a hinged section which allows it to bend away. Being able to do this has multiple benefits including being able to use it as a makeshift stand, or being able to dock your Galaxy S4 with whatever specialized device you have. Since the harbour 2 is made from thermopolyurethane (TPU), it is a little bit stiffer than the grips polycarbonate shell, so the hinge actually acts as an aid when putting your phone into the case, allowing you to slip in in the bottom and closing it to seal the device in. That said, as functional as the hinge is, I do worry that over time that the hinge point will eventually wear out and simply separate the bottom section from the case.
Unlike the grip which had open button ports, the harbour 2 utilizes closed button covers. These seem to be well made and don’t appear to put too much pressure on the buttons as some cases are liable to do. The remainder of the ports have plenty of clearance and aren’t impeded by anything, though if you have a set of headphones that has a particularly chunky audio adapter, you might not be able to fit your adapter into the jack of the harbour 2 as it leaves only a small diameter gap for use.
Much like the grip, the harbour 2 also has an extra lip on its front to prevent any screen damage during falls, and it feels like more of a heavy duty case than the grip courtesy of its thicker case and greater coverage of the phone. I also think it’s a better looking cases thanks to its two-tone colour scheme; both cases are available in 4 different colours. The STM harbour 2 is slightly more expensive than the grip at $29.95 AUD, but obviously it does offer a little more protection and a little more functionality than the grip.
Rating 4/5
Conclusion
So there you have it: two very solid cases from STM Bags which do the job admirably depending on what you’d prefer your case to be able to do. The grip is a great, light case for the people who are a bit prone to letting their phone slip whereas the harbour 2 is a slightly more functional case which is a bit more protective.
If you’re interested in either of these cases, you can visit their respective product pages (links below), or if you wanted to find out about STM Bags or any of their other products, you can visit their website here.
Native Union Pop Bluetooth Retro Handset Review: Retro meets Wireless
You’ve undoubtedly seen one of these before; Native Union‘s POP Phone was the first to bring back the old retro handset with its 1950′s curves and make it into a mobile headset. I think it was, and is, one of the better novelty accessories available to mobile devices; I mean, who doesn’t want to relive the days when you could hold your phone between your head and shoulder. Sure, you can try that now, but you might end up with a hefty repair bill. Native Union’s next step is to bring the POP Phone into the future with its next iteration, POP Bluetooth, which, as you might have already guessed from the name, makes the original POP Phone wireless.
In your box, you get the minimum required to get your retro phone-answering started with the handset itself, a charging cable and a felt resting pad for your POP Bluetooth. I like that the charging cable maintains the whole retro vibe with its coils, which cleverly disguises the fact that the charging cable is in fact a lot longer than it appears to be. I’m indifferent to the resting pad as it implies that you’re not going to be taking the POP out very much, though since it is so thin, you can always pack it up if you’re on the move.
The construction of the POP Bluetooth is solid, as you’d expect from something inspired by a retro design. The exterior of the handset appears to be a kind of rubber/plastic hybrid as it much more closely resembles the texture of rubber. This is both good and bad: this exterior means that your POP is going to be much more durable and is easily cleanable if you get stray marks on it, but it also means that it’s going to be a little bit of a dust magnet as you’ll probably be able to tell in a few of the photos.
The POP Bluetooth isn’t a particularly complicated device; there are a total of 3 buttons on the handset and two of those are for volume control. The centre button serves as a multifunction button, acting both as a Bluetooth mode on and pick up/hang up button. As with most Bluetooth devices, all that’s required to turn on the device is to hold the centre button for a few seconds and it will begin looking for a device to pair with. Once paired, the indicator LED located just above the volume up button flashes blue every few seconds. This became an issue for me as I struggled to find a way to put the device into standby mode and the light kept flashing, though it did stop flashing after what was presumably its timeout period.
To charge the device, all that’s needed is a micro-USB cable plugged in at the button of the handset. According to the FAQ sheet, it takes 3-4 hours to fully charge the POP and discharges that in 8 hours of talk time. That said, it is supposed to be able to last 100 hours in standby mode, so unless you’re a serial chatter, the POP should serve your purposes as a wireless handset. It can of course also be used while plugged in so you can charge as you talk, provided you’re near a USB port. I’m slightly miffed that Native Union haven’t elected to retain the ability to have the POP Bluetooth also operate as a standard mobile handsfree handset through the use of a mobile adapter cable as it means you have to have charge in the device to use it.
During my time with the POP Bluetooth, I didn’t experience any audio issues either from my side of the call or reports from my receivers, though I have to say that the quality of the call itself sounded slightly tinny. The POP also has its own ringtone, a retro ringing sound, of course, but it can take awhile to get used to listening for that instead of your own ringtone. I think it would have been nice to be able to configure whether you want the default ringtone or the one from your device, but as I said, the POP is an uncomplicated device.
Rating: 3/5
The original POP Phone was a nostalgic gem that kindled the memories of an age when we could still slip the handset between our head and shoulder and we could nonchalantly play with the cable as we chatted away. The POP Bluetooth offers the same opportunity and does a good job of it, but somehow I feel that a bit of that nostalgia is lost by cutting the cable and making it wireless. Sure, you can still use it wired as you charge it, and presumably, using the phone without a cable is probably a lot safer and functional, but for me, it just seems like a weirdly shaped handsfree handset. That said, if you’re a multitasker, maybe this doesn’t even factor into the decision.
Though, when you factor in that it costs $69.95 USD (compared to the $49.95 POP Phone), the POP Bluetooth can be seen to be a bit expensive as a simple accessory which will only be used during phone calls. As a novelty gift, there’s probably none better or more nostalgic than the POP Phone and POP Bluetooth, but if its a personal purchase, you’ll want to focus on the fact it’s great for multitasking and looks stylish despite its retro influences.
If you want to pick up a Native Union Pop Bluetooth Retro Handset, you can visit its product page here, or for more information about Native Union’s other products, you can visit their website here.
Gallery of photos
AIVAnet 