Otterbox Defender review

In this Otterbox Defender review, we’ll discuss the updates that have been made on the new version to suit the iPhone 4 and the newer iPhone 4S.

Otterbox Defender Series Hybrid Case. If this is the first time you’ve encountered the brand Otterbox, then here’s a little briefer. The brand has made quite a name for itself in making high quality and very durable cases for different eletronic devices from manufacturers like Apple, Motorola, Amazon, Samsung, and HTC, among others. Of course, the brand has to keep up with the times to keep providing protection and thus keeps its product lines updated. That said, the Defender Hybrid was updated to fit not just the iPhone 4 but its successor, the iPhone 4S as well.

Features. Like other Otterbox cases, the Defender Hybrid is made with a durable polycarbonate frame covered with silicone. It comes with a built-in screen protector as well. The silicone is both durable and absorbs impact, while the screen protector provides ample scratch resistance. The Defender Hybrid also features port covers to keep dust from getting inside the case and into your jacks. All things considered, the case provides protection from scratches, debris, scrapes, and even drops.

iPhone 4S. Many Otterbox Defender review articles note what changes have been made to accomodate Apple’s latest handset. First, the new Defender case has bigger openings for the proximity sensor as well as the rear facing camera. These larger cut outs adjust for the proximity sensor’s location and the camera’s flash. The old Defender cases were prone to getting dust under the screen protector, though this problem seems to have been addressed in the new version of the case. The new Defender Hybrid line is available in many different colors, and as a few Otterbox Defender review articles note, the available colors are better for the updated cases.

Additional notes. The new Otterbox Defender Series Hybrid Case fits the iPhone 4S quite nicely, with all ports and features accessible through the case. Many Otterbox Defender review articles point out that the opening at the top is for the noise cancelling microphone and not for the headphone jack as it is often mistaken.

At any rate, the new Defender Hybrid is a good investment toward protecting your iPhone 4S. It currently has a 4.5 star average customer rating at Amazon if you don’t want to take our word for it.

Otterbox Defender review

I drop my phone at an nearly regular basis and my awkwardness has often resulted in various dinks and kinks on my phone. In some unfortunate cases, I’ve had a few phones break down on me completely. My phones have been at the mercy of my awkwardness, until a friend suggested that I check out Otterbox cases. After conception through a couple of Otterbox Defender review articles, here’s what I found out.

Not all cases are made equal.

Admittedly, there are many cases out there (the market is flooded with iPhone accessories), though only a few offer what the Otterbox Defender does. It provides 3 layers of protection, comes with a built-in screen protector, and features port covers to keep dust and dirt from getting in. On top of all that, Otterbox Defender review articles agree: This case is next to indestructible. It’s built specifically for Apple’s latest handset, so you’ll notice that it’s designed around the iPhone 4′s various ports, buttons, and functions. It’s made with silicone that is both durable and impact resistant and is designed to be as sleek and stylish as the phone it protects. Needless to say, it will keep your iPhone 4 or 4S from getting scratched or nicked. Also, you don’t have to worry about the iPhone model you have, since it will fit the Sprint, AT&T, and Verizon varieties.

What do others say about it?

The Otterbox Defender Run Hybrid Case has an average customer review rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars, with 99 out of 148 reviews giving it perfect marks (as of this writing). Customers note that the case fits the handset quite snugly though some did mention problems like some flaps not shutting completely. Some customers also find the superfluous bulk unsightly, but that is a matter of your personal preference. Many an Otterbox Defender review mistakenly note that the hole at the top of the case doesn’t align the iPhone 4 S’ microphone jack; the said hole is the phone’s noise cancelling microphone (the headphone jack is covered with a hatch.).

With the Otterbox Defender Hybrid, you can be sure that your phone is protected – regardless of whether you’re clumsy or not. All things considered, it is worth the superfluous deprivation. Plus, it’s currently on sale at Amazon, so you can pick it up for 36% off the original retail price. Get it even as supplies last!

Apple’s newest handset, the iPhone 4S has garnered very good reviews over the couple of months that it’s been out in the market. Reviewers agree though that the device’s battery life dampens what has been declared as the best iPhone yet. iPhone news say that Apple is working on the bug that reportedly stems from iOS 5, but its latest attempt in the new 5.1 beta has disappointed a lot of beta testers.

What’s the problem?

The iPhone 4S with its overhauled hardware and same looks as its predecessor is the fastest selling iPhone to date, putting away 4 million units on its launch week. Users are generally happy with the iPhone 4S, but satisfaction surveys indicate that though users are happy, they do have complaints. The most common of which is the poor battery life.

Apple released the OS update to registered developers, and after a little testing, the developers are torn. Most have expressed disappointment early on, saying that the iOS 5.1 doesn’t offer anything to help with the iPhone 4S’s poor battery life. Some spent a couple of days rigorously testing the operating system but didn’t notice any changes between the battery usage of iOS 5.0.1 and the iOS 5.1. Some say that the update may have made things worse. On the other hand, some testers have reported on forums that they did notice a boost in battery life after updating to the beta OS.

Mixed reviews

Whether or not the OS update helps with the battery issue is still in testing, so Apple fans need not worry. It’s still in the early beta stages so there may still be hope in fixing the battery drain problem. For now, we’ll just have to wait for new updates. Remember, iOS 5.1 is just in its first beta so things can go either way. After hearing the early reviews, some Apple fans are apparently resigned to just getting used to the shorter battery life, though others maintain hope for new versions of the iOS.

We’ll see in a few more updates if Apple finds a way to solve the problem, and we know a lot of you have your fingers crossed. At any rate, we’ll keep you posted on iPhone news and developments. Stay tuned!

Technorati Tags: iPhone news

iPhone in Review: How to solve the 4S’s battery problems

The iPhone 4S hit the shelves in a few more markets recently and though this iteration of Apple’s handset is really popular around the world, some users still complain about the battery drain problem. iPhone review sites note that the update to iOS 5 (5.0.1) hadn’t completely fixed the issue and the iPhone 4S’ battery life still leaves much to be desired. If you’re still experiencing problems with your phone, you’d be glad to know that you can troubleshoot it with a few setting tweaks.

Applications.

According to a lot of tech sites, simply turning off a few applications on your iPhone 4S should let you get more juice out of it. You can check out all the applications running in the background by double tapping the home button. Pressing and holding down on an app icon will show a red circle that closes the app.

Brightness. Your screen can also drain a lot of power, so keeping the screen brightness down (similar to conserving laptop power) should minimize this. Turn off Auto-Brightness and manually adjust screen brightness.

Siri. You’re probably head over heels in love your virtual personal assistant, though running Siri 24/7 can take up a lot of your iPhone 4S’ processing power. And in effect, this can be particularly taxing on your device’s battery. Some iPhone review sites suggest that you turn off the feature off until you need it – or until you’re near a power outlet.

Ping and Push Email. Apart from Siri, Ping and Push Email can take a lot out of your battery, since they run in the background and they take up network resources. You can check your email manually instead of having them automatically (and periodically) sent to your phone.

Setting Time Zone and Location Services.

Setting Time Zone gets a lot of flak for the iPhone 4S’ battery problems, so if you don’t really need the service, then we suggest you simply turn it off. Location Services, on the other hand, is said to sap up precious battery life as well, as it is used by features and apps that transmits your location.

There are other temporary solutions like resetting your phone, though as iPhone review sites have pointed out, these solutions are merely temporary. Until Apple completely squashes this bug, we’ll keep you posted on other solutions and troubleshooting tips.

Do you want to protect, prettify, or extend the functionality of your Apple handset? Well, iPhone accessories are available to do just that. With so many available, choosing among them really depends on your preferences and needs, and you shouldn’t have any trouble finding one that suits you. Let’s check out the different types of accessories you can get for your phone, shall we?

Cases and covers. If you want to personalize your phone while protecting it from scratches and whatnot, then this type of accessory should do just the thing. There are many different kinds available, from ones made to simply protect to ones with different prints and designs. Cases and covers are made from a wide variety of materials too, like silicone, leather, and plastic. These are probably the most popular among the iPhone accessories and they come in different designs and styles so you have a lot from which to choose.

Screen protectors. Of course, protecting your iPhone’s back panel may not be enough if you’re particularly keen on keeping your phone in pristine condition. There are screen protectors available for the iPhone, offering protection from scratches. Some are even made with anti-glare and anti-fingerprint matte finishes.

Sound docks and other sound enhancing accessories. You’ve probably seen sound docks (basically speaker attachments) for the iPhone, though there are other iPhone accessories built to enhance sound. One such accessory, WaveCradle is made from curved aluminium that enhances your phone’s sound output. If you’re fond of listening to music, then a sound dock should be a good accessory for you.

Cables and docks. There are several cables available for the iPhone, including video component, charger, USB extension, auxiliary audio, splitter, and many other cables. The dock iPhone accessories come in just as wide a variety, ranging from blood pressure to backup battery docks. These accessories are made to enhance your phone’s functionality and they may work hand-in-hand with an app.

Mounts. Mounts are mostly iPhone accessories made for your car. These are mounted on your windshield or dashboard to hold your phone while you drive, and they are particularly useful if you use a GPS app.

These are just some of the iPhone accessories available. You’d find many local and online stores selling these accessories, so if you’re looking for anything in particular, you don’t really have to search high and low for it.

As probable, things are getting fascinating at this year’s CES (Consumer Electronics Show), especially for those waiting for new generation iPad and iPhone news. Chipmaker Imagination Technologies has announced two of its most powerful mobile GPUs (PowerVR Series6) and many experts are saying we may see the said GPUs on Apple’s upcoming mobile devices.

PowerVR Series6: G6400 and G6200

First, let’s check out a bit of background. Imagination Technologies is a British maker of mobile graphics and microprocessor chips. Last year, it announced that it was working on the Series6 platform and at CES 2012, it shed some light on its new GPUs, code-named Rogue, which supposedly provides 20 times more power at 5 times more efficiency.  Without getting too technical, the chip reportedly will allow devices to provide “ultra-realistic building a bet.”

Imagination CEO Hossein Yassaie said:

Based on our experience in shipping hundreds of millions of GPU cores, plus extensive market and customer feedback, we have been able to set a new standard in GPU architecture, particularly in the areas of power, bandwidth and efficiency — the key metrics by which GPUs are now judged. We are confident that with the Rogue architecture we have a very clear equipment advantage and an exceptional roadmap for the PowerVR Series6 family tree which our partners can depend on.

How does Apple figure into this?

Well, Apple is really a shareholder in the said chip company and as some iPhone news sites were quick to point out, the electronics giant by now uses Imagination’s PowerVR GPUs in its devices. The most recent example? The iPhone 4S has a PowerVR SGX543MP2 GPU. According to some experts, we may see the new GPUs in the new generation iPad and iPhone, in tandem with the rumoured quad core ARM Apple A6 processor.

Even as Apple wasn’t named as one of the licensees using the Rogue GPUs, many iPhone news sites report that it is highly possible we’re looking at the next gen graphics processors. If Imagination’s PowerVR routine facts are even remotely right, then it looks like a fantastic addendum to Apple’s mobile devices since they would provide better routine at low power.

We’ll see how this development will turn out in a few months (with a bit of luck), since if the rumour mill is to be believed, we might see the next gen iPad in March.

Even as most fans were in the family tree way the release of the iPhone 5, Apple comes up with the iPhone 4S – an upgrade to the current generation mobile. Most iPhone reviews have touted the new release as the same iPhone 4 with overhauled insides. It certainly looks the same, so it’s hard to see the upgrade at first glance, but rest assured that the mobile packs a newer, harder, and certainly quicker punch.

Changes and Upgrades

As mentioned before, the iPhone 4S is nearly outwardly identical to the previous incarnation. Even as that may be the case, most iPhone reviews for the new model neatly catalog the internal changes and the subtler outer changes. These include the 8 megapixel camera, an antenna redesign, and the quicker processor. The 8MP camera has an improved aperture ratio even as the antenna redesign placed two antennas in two places. The upgrade allows for the device to seamlessly switch to the antenna with the best signal, preventing the call dropouts that plagued the iPhone 4.

Many iPhone reviews have pointed out that the upgrade to the dual core Apple A5 processor (same CPU as the iPad 2) really sweetened the pot as heavy app users can really take advantage of the quicker processing power.

iPhone Owners Satisfied

The iPhone 4S sold 4 million units on its launch weekend (and even more afterward), building it the fastest promotion Apple handset as of yet. Market research firm ChangeWave has reported that the latest incarnation of the iPhone is not only promotion like hotcakes, it’s also the best in terms of user satisfaction as well. iPhone reviews rave about the improvements made in the new phone, how the iOS performs hand in hand with the iPhone 4S’s new hardware, and the personal assistant Siri. Though users are frequently pleased with their new phones, the most common complaint is the array life. The recent iOS upgrade didn’t right the issue, and didn’t fix some of the reported audio issues either.

Overall, iPhone reviews note that the iPhone 4S really is the best Apple phone yet, though it leaves much to be much loved, like 4G, larger show size, and consistent call stability.

Ever since the release of the iPhone 4, and subsequently, the 4S, Apple fans have wondered and speculated about the next generation iPhone. Many iPhone 5 news reports say that we may see it on the shelves in summer 2012. The larger question in everybody’s mind but, is what features we will see on it.

From Form Thing to 4G

It’s long been speculated that a larger screen was plotted for the iPhone 5, though the thought was met with strong opposition from no less than Steve Jobs himself. The late Apple CEO apparently didn’t approve of the larger screen because it would fragment the iPhone line. Many believe that Apple will still push through with a larger 4-inch screen in the new gen though, to follow what their competitors have long been doing.

Two features are also usually rumoured on the iPhone 5: quad core and 4G LTE technologies. Many speculate that since its competitors are moving toward those two technologies, it’s only logical for Apple to do the same. iPhone 5 news also state that since the 4S has a dual-core ARM processor, we’ll probably see a quad core chip on the next gen handset, possibly an Apple A6. As for mobile connectivity, though many of its competitors are by now building LTE handsets (most notably, Samsung), it is said that Apple has been saving 4G for the iPhone 5.

As you can expect, these rumours have been met with mixed reactions, but though this may be the case, its release is still usually anticipated.

Release Date

Okay, so you’ve seen just how busy the rumour mill has been about the iPhone 5 and you can expect it to continue being this way until we see the handset on the shelves. According to some iPhone 5 news sites, the handset will likely hit the market in mid to late 2012. This is based on Apple’s previous releases; in fact, many expect the iPhone 5 to be shown at Apple’s WWDC (Worldwide Developers Conference).

At any rate, we’ll keep our eyes peeled for more news and rumours about this upcoming handset. In the meantime, be sure to take these tidbits with a grain of salt. We’ll see the iPhone 5 and what it can do when Apple’s ready to share.

The holidays are quite literally just around the corner now, and people are most certainly keen to get their hands on the latest Apple gadget to have their own personal bite out of the craze, the I Phone 4. Retailers as well are getting ready for the barrage of sales, and so you should not be bowled over to be bombarded with all kinds of I Phone deals and offers.

As with all any rush, but, one does not have to dive in mad in order to delight in it to the fullest. Many are claiming to have the best deal on iPhone, but even more specifically, on their I Phone 4 deals. As a discerning iPhone 4 buyer, but (and we certainly hope you would be), you should be able to research for yourself what really is the best iPhone 4 deal for you.

Where to find the best i Phone 4 deals?

We have gathered here some of the more well loved I Phone 4 deals so that you may be able to compare and choose for yourself which fits your lifestyle – and more importantly, your budget – the most.

In the United States, the deal to go to would be AT&T’s. Depending on the capacity size, the iPhone 4 will cost either US$ 199 (16GB) or US$299 (32GB). On top of that, you will have to sign a 2-year contract with AT&T. Meanwhile, if you want to do away with the telecom company’s contract, then you can still get your unit from a third-party supplier, but at a much higher cost: US$ 599 (16GB) or US$ 699 (32GB).

How about the UK?

On the other side of the Atlantic, they also have an abundance of I Phone deals for the hardcore Apple consumer. There’s Orange, which offers 2-for-1 cinema tickets and Pizza Express; O2, who promises “exclusive experiences and discounts to all Priority customers with major high street brands”; Vodafone, with their VIP access grant to some of the largest events in the region; T-Mobile, with their choice of unlimited booster for texts, landline calls and Internet plans; and 3, which promises 5000 Three-to-Three minutes.

Whichever deal you may choose, though, there’s sure to be one for you out there, thanks to the plentiful I Phone deals being advertised out there in the market today. Just know your choices so that you may make the right one for you.

Rumour has it that Apple may finally give its next gen offering a 4-inch screen. According to Jeremy Horwitz, editor-in-chief at iLounge, the iPhone 5 may just have the bigger screen and a design change – even though the move was against the wishes of the late Steve Jobs. According to iLounge, a pretty reliable source for iPhone news and rumours, the iPhone 5 will be very different from the latest incarnation of Apple’s mobile.

iPhone redesigned

The upgrade, slated for next year, is rumoured to have a bigger 4-inch screen – like most of its Android-driven competitors. That’s not the only change. With a bigger screen, the iPhone 5 allegedly would also be about 8mm longer than the current version. It will also have a square design and will come equipped with a 4G aerial capable to providing a super speedy 1 GBPS mobile internet connection. According to the iPhone news sources, the device will also feature an aluminium case like the iPad.

Reportedly, the new iPhone is still in the designing and engineering phase, since earlier versions of the prototype failed due to the shortened battery life caused by the 4G aerial. Industry and Apple insiders say that the iPhone 5 was scrapped a few months before the iPhone 4S was released, mainly because the late Steve Jobs strongly opposed the bigger screen. Job’s reason? The bigger screen “fragmented” iPhones. The problem with 4G (the LTE aerial) battery drain also threw a wrench into the new phone’s design. (4G service is not available in some areas, including Great Britain, but sources estimate that there would be one in place once the iPhone 5 hits the shelves.)

Other changes

iPhone news reports say that the new design, though longer, will be flatter than the current iPhone. It will also feature a 10-megapixel camera, a better screen, and will still feature a personal assistant. Though the personal assistant feature will be retained, it will no longer be called Siri but will only be known as “Assistant.”

Some fans have responded negatively to these rumoured changes, though others are quite open to the idea of reconstructing the iPhone. Do these rumours have any real weight? We’ll certainly see as soon as we hear more about the iPhone 5. In the meantime, we’ll keep you posted on iPhone news and more so keep checking back.