The Mac Space Blog

I’ve got some new pals up north of me about an hour’s drive.  They’re called iFrogz and they make cool accessories for the iPhone, iPods and other gadgets.  I’ve got a iFrogz 3G Luxe Case for my iPhone 3G and it is awesome.

Materials

The hard shell case comes in two pieces which snap together in the back of the phone.  This tough case provides a very good “exoskeleton” for protecting the iPhone 3G.

Despite the fact that the case is a hard plastic, the finish has sort of porous and soft feel.  This makes the phone easy to handle.  The original iPhone casing is very slick and slips out of my hand easily.  It also slips around the dashboard of my car or wherever I put it.  With the iFrogz 3G Luxe Case installed the phone doesn’t slip in my hand or around in my car.

Access

While providing excellent protection for the iPhone 3G, the 3G Luxe Case still provides access to all the buttons, ports and sensors of the phone.  Once installed there’s no need un take it off.

Screen Protector

Honestly I haven’t installed the included screen protector but I thought I should mention that the iFrogz 3G Luxe Case does include one.

Colors

The 3G Luxe case is available in six different colors: blue, red, purple, green, orange and gray.  The bottom half is always black and the color options are for the top half.

Pricing

This hard case retails for $20, but I’ve seen street prices for around $16.

MARWARE Sidewinder

The MARWARE Sidewinder is a cool transparent protective case for the 3rd generation iPod Nano. The polycarbonate case provides an exoskeleton-like layer to protect the nano from scratches, drops and impacts. The case also comes with protective film for the screen and the control wheel.

Features

The name Sidewinder name comes from the retractable arm which is for storing the headphone cabling.  When not in use the cable is wrapped around the Sidewinder.  When listening the Sidewinder arm slides into the back of the case.

Speaking of the case’s back, there’s an interchangeable clip system called “Multidapt” which allows the unit to be mounted on your belt, in your car, on your bike or many other locations.

The Sidewinder is a $25 insurance policy on a nano which could cost several hundred bucks.

In Action

I’m very happy with the Sidewinder.  It provides storage for the phone cables which no other case does.  My nano is extremely small and I like it to stay that way.  The Sidewinder doesn’t bulk up the unit so it stays small even though it is protected.

The Multidapt system is very convenient and allows me to mount my nano in many places.  I mount it on my belt, my car dashboard and my golf bag when I’m on the driving range practicing.

Conclusion

The MARWARE iPod Nano Sidewinder case is a great way to protect the unit without making it too big and eliminating the size factor.  The convenient cable storage keeps your phones handy with the iPod and tucks away when not needed.

More images

For more images of the MARWARE Sidewinder and other MARWARE products, click here to go to The Mac Space MARWARE gallery.

Otterbox is a great friend of The Mac Space. I have many of Otterbox’s happenin’ storage and protective devices. They protect everything from my iPods and iPhones to my cigars.

Defender case for original iPhone

If you are an owner of the original Apple iPhone (consider yourself lucky) you may want to protect that investment so you don’t have to upgrade to the problem laden 3G iPhones. A great way to protect your original iPhone is the Otterbox Defender case.

Components

The Defender is a four piece case. Two of the pieces (front & back) provide a sort of exoskeleton for major protection from drops and impacts. The exoskeleton is made of a high impact polycarbonate plastic. The outside and 2nd piece is a silicone skin. The silicone provides a good grip on the phone, which can be slippery without a case. The skin also provides shock and bump absorption. The final piece is a protective film for the iPhone’s screen.

The case’s openings provide easy access to all the buttons, ports and camera without having to remove the phone.

Unlike many other Otterbox cases, this one is not waterproof. Don’t be taking your iPhone to 100 feet below sea level like you can with other Otterboxes!

Holster

Along with the case, the Defender package includes a holster which the case snugly fits into. The holster is great for mounting on your belt or other places and provides a snapping angle so you can get your iPhone aligned where you want it.

Conclusion

The original iPhone came with a super high price. Protecting that investment is essential, but you don’t want that protection to be inconvenient. The Otterbox Defender provides maximum protection yet is convenient, functional and easy to install and remove. If only other protective devices could do the same… ahem.

I’ve now reviewed a few Otterbox products and I love them all. Otterbox makes the coolest and toughest cases out there for everything from iPhones, iPods, cell phones, and laptops to cigars.

Otterbox 9000

Another great Otterbox product is the “9000.” I think it is named the 9000 because that is how many pounds per square inch the thing could handle before it is damaged? Perhaps it is intact at 9000 feet below sea level? Or maybe it is 9000 for the $9000 you’ll save when protecting your super high end equipment inside the unit in wet or dusty conditions.

Uses

The 9000 is a protective, padded storage case with a water tight seal. The case is vertically oriented, good for longer items you wish to protect like sunglasses, camera lenses, microphones etc. I loaned my 9000 to a pal who is a professional photographer and he used it to store some camera/video gear at a couple of gigs outside. The 9000 kept his gear free of dust and moisture and he was able to mount the 9000 on his belt for easy access when he needed what was inside. I had a hard time getting my 9000 back from him!

Specs

The 9000 is waterproof up to 100 feet. It is crushproof and airtight. The unit is available in blue, yellow, black and clear.

The case has several ways it can be carried. There’s a belt clip for mounting on your belt. The belt clip can be removed. You can hold or hang the unit via a strong rope attached, or you can hook it via the holes on the case. The holes on the case can also be used to put a small lock on the lid to prevent someone from opening it without authorization.

Exterior Dimensions:
3.354″ x 4.542″ x 7.663″

Interior Dimensions:
1.824″ x 2.709″ x 6.930″

Conclusion

If you have some valuables or professional equipment you need to protect from the elements or from being run over by someone who has commandeered a tank and is rampaging through town, the OtterBox 9000 would be a superb option.