DazTech case keeps iPhone 6 charged

The battery life on my new iPhone 6 has been pretty good, but I'd still like to have an extra charge for long trips. Airports can get crowded during bad weather and people are quick to snatch every available power outlet.

That's why I've been looking at the new UltraSlim Portable Charger Case from DazTech. The case has a built-in 3500mAh Li-polymer rechargeable battery, which DazTech says will more than double the phone's power resource.

That means 18 hours or more talk time and at least 12 hours of web browsing. That should be plenty of power for a long flight and one or two layovers.

The "UltraSlim" description looks like a good fit as the case's internal battery adds only a slight bulge to its backside. The case also has a charging switch, an LED battery level indicator and a built-in kickstand.

You can also charge and sync the phone without removing it and cutouts provide access to all the function controls.

The case has a $79.99 list price but it's discounted to $58.95 now at Amazon.com.

By: Ric Manning On 3/07/2015

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An affordable case for Apple's big phone

If Apple's new plus-sized phone turned out to be the right mobile for you, you'll be looking for the right case to keep it safe. Before you part with $50 for one of the big-brand cases, take a look at the new Reveil Series case from Aptez Technologies.

The Reveil has all of the features you need at a price you can afford. It has a soft plastic bumper that wraps securely around the edges of the phone along with a frosted hard backing that gives the phone an attractive smoky look.

The case also comes with a screen protector that is sized specifically for the iPhone 6 Plus.The protector is 0.33mm thick yet sensitive enough for easy scrolling and swiping.

The Reveil is available in five colors - Rose, Black, Azure, Gray, and Violet - at prices that range from $16.97 to $19.97.

Get a closer look and read the buyer reviews on Amazon.

By: Ric Manning On 2/22/2015

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Neit case protects iPhones and IDs

In their younger days, my daughter and her friends would hit their favorite bars on Saturday nights. All too often, one of them would discover on Sunday that they left their ID or credit card at one of their stops.

That would not have been a problem if they had put their iPhones in a Néit CardCase. It's a uniquely-designed case that protects the phone while also keeping important documents safe and close at hand.

The Néit CardCase for the iPhone 5 was launched last year in London and it's now been joined by a version for the iPhone 6. The case is made in two parts with hard rubberized inner shell that protects the phone and a softer outer shell that has a more grippy surface.

The back side of th case has a slot that can store two cards, a driver's license and a credit card, for example, or maybe a Starbuck's card - whatever you want to be easily accessible.

The Néit CardCase is for sale on the Néit website for 15 pounds - that's about $23 US - and you can check in with Néit @neitcase on Twitter.

By: Ric Manning On 2/13/2015

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Mobile phone sleeve blocks unwanted signals

A sturdy mobile phone case will protect your phone from bumps and scratches and a waterproof case or sleeve will keep it dry. But how you you defend against unwanted access by hackers or spies?

A company called Rapp IT Up sells a pouch made of special materials designed to thwart unwanted wireless signals that could be used to steal your data and compromise your identity.

The Super Stealth uses layers of high-tech fabrics including a wire mesh that blocks wireless signals. The pouch also has a spring release mechanism that snaps closed to keep the phone from sliding out.

The Super Stealth can also reduce the dangers of distracted driving. With your phone tucked inside the sleeve, you won't be tempted to dial a number or read and send text messages.

The Super Stealth sells for $29.99 at the Rapp IT Up website where you can also register to receive a free ebook on mobile phone security. For links to articles and information about mobile security, check out the blog on the website or the Rapp IT Up Twitter feed.

By: Ric Manning On 2/03/2015

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This case keeps phones at Optimal temperature

If you read the fine print when you got your new smartphone, you learned that it won't operate efficiently if it's too hot or too cold.

I ignored that advice until after I left my iPhone in the car on a sub-zero night and it refused to boot up the next morning. The phone eventually woke up and I vowed to never again treat it so carelessly.

The people at Amited know that we love our phones and don't intentionally set out to mistreat them. That's why they created Optimal, the world's first thermal protection case for smartphones. The Optimal case knows when a phone is in danger or getting too hot or too cold and it automatically responds to keep  the phone in its safety zone.

By monitoring and adjusting temperatures, the case protects the phone's CPU, battery, graphics processor and other internal elements. It also boosts  the phone's performance in harsh conditions, like when you're on a ski slope or in an extended gaming session. You can keep the case in auto pilot mode, or make manual adjustments using the Optimal app.

The company is currently making cases for the iPhone 5, 5s and 6; Samsung's Note 4 and Galaxy s5; the Sony Xperia Z3 and M2, the HTC One M7 and the MI3 by Xiaomi. Cases for more models are on the way.

Amited plans to launch a funding campaign on Indiegogo in a few weeks where they will offer cases at discount prices to early contributors. Meanwhile, get more details at the Amited website and follow the company on Twitter.

By: Ric Manning On 2/02/2015

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Tech 21 phone case is a classic

Choosing the phone for my latest upgrade was easy: I wanted the iPhone 6. What was difficult was choosing how to protect it.

My last phone had a typical screen protector, a sheet of clear plastic. It kept the screen safe but it peeled at the corners, it had bubbles and nicks and it diminished the screen's clarity and sensitivity.

This time, I wanted Apple's Retina display to shine, but without putting it at risk. My solution turned out to be the Classic Shell with Cover made by Tech 21. This is a case with a sturdy but pliable shell that also has a flip-over screen cover.

The cover is lined with impact-resistant material called D30 but it's quite thin and it stay in place. The charging port and side controls are easily accessible, I can talk and listen with the cover in place and I can easily remove the phone when I want to put it in my dashboard mount.

All that and it doesn't feel bulky in my poscket.

Classic Shell with Cover costs $39.99 on the Tech 21 website where you can browse the company many other phone case designs.

By: Ric Manning On 1/28/2015

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PERI Duo merges phone charger and wireless speaker

When I travel, I make sure to take along a booster battery for my mobile phone and a Bluetooth portable speaker. But I've often wondered why someone hasn't invent a device that combined both of those things.

Turns out someone has. It's called the PERI Duo and it's just emerged from a fundraising campaign at Indiegogo. The PERI Duo incorporates a high-power speaker system with a 2500 mAh battery in a case for the iPhone 5/5s or 6.

The speaker matches the best Bluetooth portables with a single-chip digital processor and an embedded equalizer. It can be separated from the phone to be a stand-alone speaker or linked via Wi-Fi to other PERI Duo speakers to create a surround sound system.

And, the Duo's makers say the battery booster will bump up a phone's power by as much as 16 percent. That means 12-17 hours of talk time and 4-6 hours of audio playback.

So where can you get a PERI Duo? It's not in stores yet, but you can order the unit in one of three different color styles through links to Indiegogo on the PERI Duo website for $99 - $40 off the expected retail price. You can also follow news about the PERI Duo on Twitter.

By: Ric Manning On 1/20/2015

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An iPad case made from . . . paper?

Put your iPad in a paper bag? Sounds like a crazy idea, and the Austrians who make the Papernomad cases would surely admit that they are a little, um, unconventional.

But they aren't fooling around. Their paper is a special composite that resists tearing and staining. They use multiple layers of paper and padding are stitched together to produce a case that's just as tough and protective as any poly plastic pouch.

The sleeves are finished with attractive borders and designs and there's a little hemp flap to seal the open end. The surface of the paper is dense enough that it won't get soggy when you spill coffee on it or carry it in the rain.

And here's the best part: you can make one uniquely yours. Draw a doodle or a cartoon on it. Write a poem, a phone number or a web address. Add a quote from Dilbert. After all, it's paper - it was made write on.

Papernomad makes sleeves in a variety of sizes for different portable devices. The iPad sleeve cost about $50 at papernomad.com.

By: Ric Manning On 5/18/2012

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A dash of iPad safety

Yes, Apple's iPad cover is bit of magic with it's magnetic wake-up switch. But it doesn't protect the slim and slippery tablet from slipping through your fingers. Mine looks much more secure tucked inside its Dash folio case from X-Doria.

The felt surface delivers a firmer grip with a stylish look that sets it apart from ordinary leather folios. The cover also folds back into a typing or viewing stand. And, just like Apple's cover, it has a magnet inside that puts the iPad to sleep or wakes it up.

$50 at x-doria.com.Screen guard

By: Ric Manning On 4/03/2012

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iPad gets a cushy pillow

There are loads of iPad apps to keep young children entertained, but do you really want those little hands gripping your precious hardware? The Cushpad will reduce some of that anxiety.

The Cushpad ($35 at thecushpad.com) is a wedge-shaped pillow built to hold and protect an iPad in an upright position — horizontal or vertical — on almost any surface.

The iPad is slipped behind rolls of padded fabric that hold it more firmly than little fingers. Fidgety kids don’t have to hold the tablet or balance it on their laps. And once the little darlings are asleep, adults can use the Cushpad to watch movies in bed.

By: Ric Manning On 3/31/2012

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