A common complaint about the iPhone is that it has no physical buttons for playback control; you’re forced to use the phone’s touchscreen, which presents challenges when carrying the iPhone in a bag or pocket. Another complaint is that the iPhone’s recessed headphone jack prevents you from using many third-party headphones that offer better performance than the stock earbuds.
Apple provides a workaround for the first issue via the special earbuds included with the iPhone: the right-hand cable provides a small, inline module that includes a microphone and a control module. Squeeze the module once to pause or resume iPod playback, or to answer or end a call; squeeze it twice in succession to skip to the next track. The functionality is limited–you can’t skip back, skim, or perform any other action, but it’s a welcome way to get at least some degree of playback and call control.
Third-party vendors have provided workarounds for the second issue through small adapters that let you connect other headphones to the iPhone’s headphone jack. (We’ve reviewed two, and we have a few more to cover.) Unfortunately, when you use most third-party headphones, you lose the stock earbuds’ control module and microphone. Shure makes an adapter that includes such functionality, but it’s $40 and somewhat bulky.
For those who want better audio quality without losing the additional features of Apple’s earbuds, an appealing alternative is provided by Ultimate Buds. The company takes a set of quality in-ear-canal headphones–either the Etymotics ER-6i (MSRP $149) or the Future Sonics/XtremeMac FS1 (MSRP $150)–and a set of Apple’s iPhone earbuds, and then performs electronics surgery, grafting the iPhone-headset’s cable and controller onto the in-ear-canal headphones. The result is the Ultimate Buds UB7 (pictured above) or UB7EB, each $150 (at the time of this writing, the UB7EB is on sale for $120). You get the sound quality and noise isolation of the ER-6i (UB7) or FS1 (UB7EB) with the playback-control and phone-making convenience of Apple’s own iPhone earbuds. (Ultimate Buds will instead modify your favorite set of headphones for $40; we didn’t test this service.)
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Written by Dan Frakes on November 20th, 2007 with no comments.
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Some people take the promise of the iPhone’s multi-function nature seriously; all they have is an iPhone and they use it for everything they used their iPod for—even going so far as to take it out for a jog. But let’s be honest: if you want to take your iPhone running, you’re going to need a special case, like Belkin’s $30 Sport Armband for iPhone.
A black armband made from neoprene with a velcro fastener, the Sport Armband features a large pouch for the iPhone; a clear, flexible-plastic window the length and width of the iPhone’s display lets you use the multi-touch interface while the phone is in the case. The top of the pouch features a slit through which you insert the iPhone and leaves the headphone jack and Sleep/Wake button accessible. On the other hand, you don’t have access to your iPhone’s dock-connector port or Ring/Silent switch. The volume controls are similarly covered, but subtle + and - signs on the side of the case overlay the button locations, letting you press them through the case material. There’s also a small, handy pocket in the armband for storing a key.
While the Sport Armband’s construction is pretty good, during my testing I took issue with some of Belkin’s design choices. For example, the iPhone’s volume buttons are difficult to find and operate through the case when you aren’t moving, and even more so while running. One could argue that this is at least partly a failing of the iPhone’s design, but the Sport Armband certainly does nothing to overcome the problem—and, in fact, complicates it by giving only the barest of indications of the buttons’ location. I also had some trouble adjusting the armband, as the velcro on the strap would get caught in the metal buckle.
From a protective standpoint, the Sport Armband will likely get the job done. The plastic window should keep your iPhone’s screen scratch-free and, hopefully, having your iPhone attached to your arm will obviate the need for heavy-duty shock protection.
The truth is that the iPhone isn’t ideal for exercise use thanks to its size and interface. Belkin’s Sport Armband doesn’t magically change this, instead providing a functional case for those determined to go jogging with their iPhones.
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Written by Dan Moren on November 13th, 2007 with no comments.
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Microsoft doesn’t often play David to someone else’s Goliath, but on Tuesday the PC software giant debuts the redesigned portable music players that it is pitting against Apple’s industry-dominating iPods. The new Zune models and accompanying software correct many of the original flaws noted by consumers and reviewers after the gadget launched just in time for holiday shopping last year. Microsoft must gain strength and credibility in the portable music market over the next several years, industry experts say. Apple controls more than 70 percent of sales.
Written by Clint Swett on November 13th, 2007 with no comments.
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Maybe you don’t need a fancy-pants case for your iPhone. You just want to keep it as protected as possible and you’re happy to keep it stowed away whenever you’re not using it. If you’re just such a person, you might consider Marware’s $20 Sportsuit Sleeve for iPhone.
The Sportsuit Sleeve is a simple, neoprene pouch sized for the iPhone. Similar to Marware’s Sleeve cases for the iPod line, this SportSuit Sleeve features a Velcro-adorned flap to secure the top of the case, with a notch cut out of the flap on the left side for access to the iPhone’s headphone jack. The front of the case has an elastic pocket, made of Marware’s “Orca-skin” elastic fabric, for storing your iPhone’s earbuds or other small accessories. On the back of the case, which is internally reinforced with a stiff card, you’ll find a mount for Marware’s Multidapt system for accessories. Included with the case is a plastic, quick-release, Multidapt belt clip that swivels 360 degrees, a clear-plastic film for protecting the iPhone’s screen, and a microfiber cloth for cleaning.
The construction of the case is solid: the neoprene is thick and cushiony, so accidentally dropping your iPhone will probably not inflict substantial damage on it. The belt clip is plastic, but feels secure and is not likely to come off by accident. However, one problem with the nature of the case is that since the iPhone’s speaker is not exposed, ringtones and other alerts are often muffled. (If the case is attached to your belt, the vibration is usually still strong enough for you to feel the phone ringing—although in cases where the phone vibrates only once, it’s easy to miss.) And, of course, using any of the iPhone’s controls involves, at the very least, opening the Velcro flap, if not removing the phone from the case entirely.
One major benefit of the Sportsuit Sleeve’s appearance is that it doesn’t immediately scream “I’ve got an iPhone!”—potentially making your handset less of a target for would-be thieves.
If you’re looking for a simple, low-profile case and don’t mind the inconveniences of a pouch-style design, the Sportsuit Sleeve might meet your needs.
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Written by Dan Moren on October 31st, 2007 with no comments.
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One of the nice things about the iPhone is that it’s slim enough to fit in most pockets. But some people don’t like to mix their phone with the other contents of those pockets; they prefer to have the phone easily accessible on their belt. DLO’s $35 HipCase for iPhone offers users the convenience of having their iPhone always by their side, but it may not be right for every user.
The leather HipCase is available in black and or brown (DLO also makes a nylon version for $5 less). It features a top flap that secures with Velcro that you can easily work with one hand, and a leather-covered belt clip on the back. To insert the phone, flip up the flap and slide it in. The interior is also leather, which should prevent scratches to the iPhone’s casing. While the construction of the case is solid, the fact that the belt clip is covered in leather and permanently attached means that your only choice is to use the case in its horizontal orientation. There are also openings in the case to provide access to the iPhone’s headphone jack, speaker and microphone, and Sleep/Wake button, as well as a large opening on the bottom of the case to make it easy to remove the phone from the case (you push up on the iPhone via this bottom opening).
I did find one frustration with the HipCase, and that has to do with the openings on the case. My inclination is to put the case on my right side, since I’m right-handed, and to put my iPhone in the case with the screen facing inwards and the headphone jack towards the front. In this orientation, the iPhone’s headphone jack is partially blocked by the leather strap at the front of the case, making it difficult to plug in headphones. There are a few ways to solve this. For example, you can flip the iPhone around so its screen faces outwards, but this makes the screen slightly more vulnerable and makes it easy for the Sleep/Wake button to hit the strap by accident. Or you can flip the phone around so the headphone jack faces backwards, which is what DLO shows in many of its marketing materials. That’s fine, but it’s less intuitive to me, since I have to rotate the phone after I take it out of the case. It may be a minor complaint, but it’s enough that it would prevent me from buying the case for myself; people who choose to wear the case on their left hip won’t have this problem.
As long as you don’t mind keeping your phone holstered horizontally, and you don’t suffer from the same bizarre pickiness that I do with respect to phone orientation, the DLO HipCase is a solid entry in the holster field.
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Written by Dan Moren on October 17th, 2007 with no comments.
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