Here is something a little different. If you have an iPhone, many cases leave the screen exposed. This smart case from Case-mate solves that problem. Check out the video review below.
Product: Naked Case for iPhone (& iPhone 3G)
Price: $29.99 - $34.99
Supplied by: Case-mate
Contact: +1 (866) 689-3432
Protect your new baby, but remember this must be done in style. The Nu Form case from Griffin Technology does just that. It also offers something a little different. For a long time I have hated cases that I have to remove my iPod or iPhone from to dock it. Well, the Nu Form addresses this problem. Check out the video review below.
Product: Griffin Technology Nu Form for iPhone 3G
Price: $24.99
Supplied by: Griffin Technology
Contact: +1 (615) 399-7000
This classy looking headset will in fact work with any iPod or MP3 player, though it was specifically designed for the iPhone. It'll work with either the original generation or the new iPhone 3G. The MM 50 iP from Sennheiser is an all black affair and I must say it looks really classy. They are supplied with a useful 1.3m cable length, that seems less prone to tangling than other offerings.
Using an in-ear design, to both help acoustics and block out unwanted noise, you get three different sized silicone ear sleeves. They do not go too deep into the ear canal (I hate deep fitting ear phones), so they feel really comfortable. In use they block out a decent amount of noise from the outside world. The acoustics when listening to music or watching a movie are sublime to say the least. With a frequency response of 18-22,000Hz you really do get a deep bass response, very rich and full bodied. Midrange is very good too, with only the higher end lack (but only by a cats whisker).
The MM 50 iP does not stop delivering there... the 'iP' at the end of the model number should give the game away. As I mentioned earlier, although you can use this with virtually any MP3 player that sports a 3.5mm connector, they were designed for use with the iPhone. They have a slimline 3.5mm plug, so they will work with the original iPhone without the need for an adapter, or of course with the iPhone 3G which negates any of these special needs anyway. They sport an intergrated in-line microphone, which has a button to start/end calls. Acoustically, the microphone delivers yet again with a wide frequency range. I performed a lot of test calls and the recipients reported a nice clear voice quality, with no distortion. When on the receiving end of a call I experienced this first hand... voices sound very natural and accurate, I could definitely tell the difference between the Sennheiser mic and the one that Apple supplies with the iPhone.
Everything about the Sennheiser MM 50 iP ooozes quality. The physical feel of the headset, the comfort factor and the superior audio and mic quality all add up to a superior product. It delivers on all fronts.
Product: Sennheiser MM 50 iP earphones
Price: £59.95
Supplied by: Sennheiser UK
Contact: +44 (0)1494 551551
So, it might be a day later than anticipated, but I finally got my iPhone 3G. After spending a tiring (but enjoyable) day at the Apple Store Bluewater, I returned yesterday to pick up my new baby. Many thanks again to Nick for bagging me up a shiny new version of what is likely to be the most successful device of 2008. Having now used it for almost a whole day, I am happy to say that it performs admirably. Take a look at my video coverage below to see exactly what I think;
The Pros for the iPhone 3G
Much faster data download speeds
Richer colours and deeper on-screen blacks
GPS is very accurate
Sleeker styling
The Cons
No dock included for the iPhone 3G's new shape
Plastic back seems as though it isn't as strong as the original iPhone
It took a while before iPods speakers could work properly with iPhones, but this unit, the T612 from Altec Lansing offers a fantastic build quality. It also offers features like auto mute when a phone call comes in, so really does cater for the discerning iPhone owner. Check out the video review below.
Product: Altec Lansing T612
Price: £139
Supplied by: Altec Lansing
Contact: +44 (0)870 458 0011
Pumping those iPod sounds into your brain is an easy task, but to do it with style you need to invest in earphones other than those supplied in the box. The iSkin Cerulean X1 in-ear style earphones offer superb construction, some impressive specifications, and they really can add some bling to your ears too.
For just under $100 (or £50 in the UK) you have a lot of earphones to choose from, so the Cerulean X1 really need to deliver. First impressions out of the box are that the X1's are really built very very well. They just ooze quality. The simple matte black design, accented by some polished black and silver details mean that you could easily mistake them for jewellery. But being pretty is only half the equation...
Getting in the comfort zone is very easy too, the silicone earbuds are very comfortable indeed. They do not go really deep into the ear canal (like some other manufacturers earphones), instead they go just far enough in to give a good noise isolation from your exterior surroundings. Playing simple elegant pieces of music, with vocals, results in a very pleasant sound. The vocals are warm and the detail is not lost in the slightest. Moving onto more complicated tracks with deep bass (for example Black Eyed Peas... yes I like them) and the X1's give an ultra deep response. they never sound muddy or distorted, even at high volumes they perform superbly. This sonic performance can really be attributed to the metal allow speaker house and the 9mm drivers that use, and I quote "rare neodymium earth magnets". I have listened to a lot of earphones in all my years reviewing and the X1's are certainly the most well behaved. That doesn't mean they are dull though, in fact they are very exciting and engaging to listen with.
If you want to update your iPod earphones, then the Cerulean X1's from iSkin are a must buy.
Product: iSkin Cerulean X1 Earphones
Price: £69.99
Supplied by: iSkin Inc.
Contact: click here
There are a lot of iPhone cases about, but this one from Contour Design offers that little bit extra... check out the review below. In fact, after using the case for a good few weeks now, we like the ShowCase so much, we have given it our Silver Award.
Product: Contour Design ShowCase for iPhone
Price: £19.95
Supplied by: Contour Design
Contact: +44-20-8731-1410
It seems like I cannot sing the praises of Pure Digital enough lately, but when a company continually produces such high quality products, I think I am excused. The Chronos iDock combines a DAB/FM stereo clock radio, with an iPod Dock, plus a certain style that just shouts quality, so let's take a closer look.
When first unpacking the Chronos iDock, the shape stands out as a little different. Rather like your favourite Quality Street, the triangle shape has smooth rounded corners and feels like it will melt in your hand. The build quality really is superb, everything fits nice and flush, and the buttons are well arranged and very tactile indeed. Available in white or Black, we were sent the latter version. It has a silk finish to it, so does not attract the usual fingerprints. In the box you get dock adapters suitable for all dock connecting iPods, even the latest iPod touch is catered for. You also get a nice little remote control.
The first time you switch on, the unit auto-tunes, grabs the time from the DAB signal and sits there waiting for you to play. The first thing I tried was docking and playing back some music from our iPod touch. The audio reproduction is very rich and full bodied. Some cheaper docking affairs sound tinny, but the Chronos iDock really sounded great. A nice amount of detail int he sound, good mid-range, and plenty of bass tones. Switching over to DAB delivered much the same and proved to be a really nice listening experience. The FM tuner is put in for good measure (in my opinion) for those who cannot receive DAB broadcasts. That said, I did try it and it sounded very good indeed, with the odd crackle that is inherent with FM.
With the Chronos iDock you can chose to wake up to the radio (DAB or FM), or to your docked iPod. Setting the alarm is very easy, as are all the other controls on the unit. Having your iPod docked, not only means that you can wake to your fave tunes, but also that you can grab your iPod and it is fully charged every morning. A nice large snooze button is located on the top of the unit, which is easy to find and press when you are half asleep. The display is really nice too, it shows the time, signal strength, volume, DAB text, now playing etc. and even has an auto-brightness sensor, so it dims when you switch the lights off... it is nice touches like this that make it stand out from the crowd.
For £99 you get a really polished product. I would pay this sort of money for a dock/speaker combo of this quality. The fact that you also get DAB/FM and alarm features too, make the Chronos iDock a real bargain. This superb combination certainly deserves our prestigious Gold Award.
Product: Chronos iDock
Price: £99.99
Supplied by: Pure Digital
Contact: +44 (0)1923 277488
Do you have trouble dropping off to sleep? I know I do sometimes, and having my earphones in my ears has led to some really uncomfortable awakenings. If you fall asleep listening to your iPod (or other MP3 player) with earphones in, then you certainly know what I am talking about. Painful lobes, tangles of wires, and sometimes being woken up by my beloved iPod falling on the floor. Well, the Sound Asleep Pillow aims to solve all this.
Basically, for £20 each, you get a nice comfortable pillow, with a speaker built in. Out of the top corner of the seam there is a wire protruding, into which you plug your iPod, or any sound source with a 3.5mm mini-jack connection. An extension cable is also supplied, that connects between the pillow and the gadget you are plugging in.
I had my doubts about how effective the Sound Asleep Pillow would be, but I was really surprised. At low volumes it is quite hard to hear, but from mid-volume up to full, when you place you head on the pillow you can hear music really nicely. Speech is also nice and clear and overall pretty impressive. Where this scores extra marks is that it does not disturb your partner or the rest of the house. Move you head more than a couple of feet away and you cannot hear the sound. At full volume you can hear it slightly, but certainly not enough to disturb anyone.
This solves a big problem, that I mentioned right at the beginning of this review. It stops you getting tangled wires and more importantly prevents sore ears. This product is ideal to soothe you off to a good nights sleep and the price is pretty good too. It'll make a superb present (something a little different don't you think?) or why not treat yourself. The sound is not astounding quality, but it isn't meant to be, it simply does what it says on the packaging. The Sound Asleep Pillow is available direct or at a good selection of retailers detailed on their website. This is a great fun product and is worth the asking price.
Product: Sound Asleep Pillow
Price: £20
Supplied by: Sleep Limited
Contact: info@sleeplimited.co.uk
Hear yeh, hear yeh, free sim cards are a pourin', great deals are a comin', it really is the season to be jolly. With this passion vintage colour leather iPhone case from Noreve, reminding me of mulled red wine, mince pies, and Christmas holly. If you want something luxurious to protect your iPhone, then check out the video review below.
Product: Tradition Leather Case for the Apple iPhone
Price: $49.99
Supplied by: Noreve USA
Contact: 866-804-9159
I have reviewed V-Moda earphones before (the Vibe earphones), so when I learnt that they had been working with Apple to produce a quality earphone/mic combo for the iPhone, I got all excited. Sure, you get earphones with the iPhone, but as per usual, we always strive to have better sound. Seeing as the iPhone is a damn good iPod too, it surely deserves the best.
The V-Moda Vibe Duo earphones will set you back just under $100 or £70 in the UK. They are available in three colour finishes, Nero black as reviewed here, chrome, and GunMetalRouge, a red metal colour. Let's get the technical bit out of the way first. These are light, weighing in at just 13g. They offer a frequency response all the way down to 12Hz for great bass reproduction, and all the way up to 22kHz for those high details. They comes supplied with various size silicone ear fittings, to ensure a comfortable fit and just over one meter in cable length. There is also a microphone built in, for taking/making calls, with a call control button for taking calls and play/forward features of the iPod part of your iPhone. You can of course use these with a regular iPod, and just not take advantage of the mic. So, if you also own an iPod, this may be a way of getting great earphones for two devices.
Down to the nitty gritty, and I am happy to say that the Vibe Duo earphones performed impeccably. For phone use, the incoming sound was crystal clear. On the other end, compared to the Apple supplied set, the microphone delivered much clearer vocals, less muddy. When listening to music the bass extension was awesome, you got a real feel of depth to the music. Vocals were warm, yet any mid-range or high-level detail was very natural. With cheaper earphones you sometimes get this mechanical nature to the music, but this was nowhere to be heard in my tests.
Apart from the sound reproduction, the comfort of the Vibe Duo earphones was brilliant. I used the medium sized silicone fittings, which gave me a snug fit. They don't fit as deep in the ear canal as some others, so I found them much more comfortable. The finishing touches that make these worth the extra spend is the detailing, quality construction, and even the neat leather case you get to pop the earphones in when not in use. If you want to treat yourself (or your ears) to some glorious sounds, then splash out on a set of Vibe Duos, it'll be money well spent.
Product: V-Moda Vibe Duo Earphones
Price: $99.99 : £69.99
Supplied by: V-Moda
Contact: Click here
We all know how important it is to keep your Apple kit nice and spanky new. Even more so, when your iPhone will be in and out of your pocket and on show to your friends. The iSkin Revo Case steps up to the challenge. Check out our video review below.
Product: iSkin Revo
Price: $39.99
Amazon UK: £29.99
Supplied by; iSkin
Contact: iSkin Customer Care
When I got my iPhone it was not via the normal channels. Because I needed to test accessories with it before the UK launch I had to import one. To say I love it is an understatement, so when looking for a suitable bluetooth headset it had to be something special. For some reason the Apple headset did not appeal to me, and the regular slew of Motorola offerings were dull to say the least. Then Sennheiser sent me their gorgeous VMX100 bluetooth headset. Whilst waiting for the delivery man to knock on my door, I read up on the specifications and looked at images just oozing quality. Then the baby arrived, so the story begins...
The VMX100 is beautifully presented, you often hear me talking about how awesome it is to unbox Apple products, well this is a very similar experience. It is available in black or titanium colour finishes. The titanium version that I was sent looks really cool. Upon opening the box and removing the headset, you are presented with tiny boxes containing the included accessories. These being the USB charger cable (so you can charge on your Mac or PC) and the main plug, which accepts the same USB cable for charging. The included Quick Start guide shows you how to turn on the headset and pair it with your mobile phone. So simple, that I was up and running in under one minute.
The headset is a one piece design, with an answer/end call button, a rocker switch for volume, but no on/off switch. This is the really cool part, to turn on and off, you simply swing the microphone out, fit the headset to your ear and voila, you are in action. The swing out mechanism is really smooth and also moves on the other axis to allow it to fit comfortably on your ear. Nothing actually pokes into your ear canal, so no rubber sleeves to contend with, and I must say this was a welcome change and very comfortable in use.
Where the VMX100 justifies its price tag is with the dual microphone technology, that claims to give crystal clear sound. Well, once connected to my iPhone, I must admit that the clarity on the calls I made was nothing short of superb. On the receiving end, the earpiece was very clear indeed, and when at the other end of the call, the microphone delivered impeccably with no distortion or hiss at all. Full credit to Sennheiser on this one, I was very impressed.
Claims of 100 hours of standby and 5 hours of talk time were also pretty much spot on. I would go so far as to say that the standby time is considerably greater, whereas the talk time for myself was around the 4 to 4.5 hours mark. The only area where I felt let down was the reception range. Although nothing is quoted on the manufacturer website, other headsets I have tested have managed up to 10 meters before audio started breaking up. The VMX100 struggled to get anywhere near this. At around 3 meters there was slight break up in audio, and if I went beyond 5 meters or added a wall into the equation, it was not a nice experience. This is not a deal breaker though, as most of the time your mobile phone would be in your pocket or on the dashboard in the car, so never more than a couple of meters away.
Would I spend my hard earned cash on the Sennheiser VMX100?
If it were my money, then yes, the VMX100 is very good at what it does. The design and comfort are pretty much spot on. The audio clarity is excellent and in day-to-day use I had no real problems with it. If you want something that stands out from the crowd, the VMX100 is a good choice. If your budget is tight, there are plenty of other bluetooth headsets on the market. They might not be as good, but they do the same job, so unless you are going to call Mariah and ask her to sing to you, then you could save some of that hard earned cash.
Product: Sennheiser VMX100 Bluetooth Headset
Price: £80.00 headset only : £100 black headset, car power lead, hard case.
Amazon: £79.89
Supplied by: Sennheiser UK
Contact: info@sennheiser.co.uk
The iPhone has been around for a while now, well, at least in the USA. The UK launch is just around the corner, with November 9th cited as the big day. When you get that shiny new gadget, you gotta protect it. So why not check out our review of the Griffin Technology iClear case, it might be just what you are looking for.
Product: iClear Case for iPhone
Price: $24.99 : £18 approx.
Amazon UK Price: £13.89
Supplied by: Griffin Technology
Contact: 615-399-7000
It has been such a busy month at Geekanoids, so busy that it has taken me longer than normal to edit the iPhone video footage taken a couple of weeks ago. If you skip below, you will find a video review of the iPhone, where we take a look at the user interface.
I should also add, that having used this device for around two weeks now, I am in love. The iPhone really has replaced my old mobile phone and my iPod too. It behaves impeccably for my mobile communications. Email on the move is a real joy, as is web browsing (although a bit slow over EDGE). As an iPod, I really cannot emphasize how great the screen is. Being able to watch video footage back with popping colours and in widescreen to boot is brilliant. The iPhone comes highly recommended.
Head on over to this new section is the Geekanoids Shop to take a look at our GeekPouches. Put simply, they are a cotton corduroy pouch to slip your iPod or iPhone into, protecting it from those nasty little scratches. The pouch is not going to break the technology barrier, but it makes a lot of sense to keep your Apple kit in good condition. Not only does it look good, but also increases resale value, should you choose to upgrade in the future.
The GeekPouch is available for the iPod touch, 3rd gen iPod Nano, iPod Classic, 5th gen iPod Video and the iPhone. Prices across the board are £5.99 including UK delivery or £10.99 including international delivery.
Check out the video footage below.
If you use your iPod a lot and would like to extend its playback time a little, then you really should check out the TuneJuice 2 from Griffin Technology. The simplest ideas are often the best, and this little device takes standard AAA batteries, then connects to any iPod with a dock connector. It is available in the US for $29.99 and in the UK the average price is around £10. It is well made and comes highly recommended. Check out the video review below… oh, and enjoy the pout at the start of the video :-)
Product: TuneJuice 2
Price: $29.99 (US)
Average UK Price: £9.99
Supplied by: Griffin Technology
Having an iPod or another brand MP3 player is great, but it normally goes without saying that the bundled headphones aren't normally the best. A decent upgrade need not set you back lots of money, so here I take a look at the Sennheiser PX100 headphones.
The first thing that struck me about the PX100 was the very well designed folding action. These babies fold into a really neat plastic case, with a cable wrap to keep things extra tidy. When unfolding them, they lock into position and feel very robust. Rather than being an in-ear design, they sit on your ears like regular headphones. The band that touches your head is nicely padded and very comfortable. The PX100's are so light, that you soon forget that you are actually wearing them, so top marks here.
I tested the PX100's with both my iPod and regular CD system, as they really ought to deliver on both fronts. The iPod sounded rich, with plenty of mid range and bass, and stacks of detail, being pleasantly surprised is an understatement. The delivery from the CD system was just as good, the music sounded very rounded and warm, but still delivered every nuance of the music too. After prolonged use I was really enjoying these little wonders.
The PX100's from Sennheiser deliver on many different counts. Firstly, they work great with MP3 and the iPod is a perfect partner. On a full blown system they also hold their own, delivering really great sound. Add to this the fact that they are ultra comfortable and cleverly fold down into a really portable package and you have a winner. If you don't like in-ear earphones, then the PX100's are available in white or black and come highly recommended.
Product: Sennheiser PX100 Headphones
Price: £35.00
Street Price: £19.98 (Amazon)
Supplied by: Sennheiser UK
Contact: info@sennheiser.co.uk
When you are looking for iPod speakers, you really are spoilt from choice. It ends up being a decision to either go with the big name brands or take a risk on something a little different. Think Outside have certainly tried to break the mould with their Boomtube H201 speakers, which we take a look at here.
Out of the box, things look pretty good, mainly because the unit has some weight to it. The finish is pretty darn good too, with a nice brushed aluminium paint effect. The main tube houses the inputs, outputs and bass/volume controls. This same tube also contains the subwoofer unit. The satellite speakers actually twist and attach to the main tube, which is handy if you are off on your holidays and need to take the Boomtube with you. Of note, you also get a handy carry pouch supplied as part of the package.
I want to get a quick negative out of the way, before returning to the units performance. The way the little speakers attach to the main tube, and the carry pouch supplied, really shouts "portable" to me. The problem is you need a mains power supply. If only Think Outside had included a battery compartment, this would be a really neat all-round package.
With that moan out of the way, back to how this little baby sounds. There is no dock, so you connect your iPod (or any other MP3 player, even a PSP) via the supplied mini-jack cable. Turning the unit on and playing some music was a bit under-whelming at first, but fear not, you just need to tweak that bass control. The Boomtube delivers 40-watts of power and believe me, this little device can really deliver some loud volume and awesome bass. Whilst it is not very refined (audio buffs look elsewhere) for parties and the like, this really could be the answer.
Overall, I was impressed with the Boomtube. It delivers a great sound and goes very loud. The lack of battery power is a big shame, but if you can overlook that, then this is a very well made and extremely power compact speaker system.
But wait, you say there is no batteries compartment… complete and utter nonsense. Think Outside built in a rechargeable lithium ion battery, which one charged delivers about five hours of music. Well, I guess I am off to the local park to shake the local community into submission. The Boomtube H201 rocks both the house and outside the house too.
Product: Boomtube H201
Price: £99.99
Supplied by: Think Outside
Contact: Widget UK Ltd. 0845 055 0005
Link to UK supplier
Listening to music… a great British pastime, and something I enjoy every day. It comes as no surprise, mainly because it has been said many times before, that the earphones bundled with the iPod, or any MP3 player, are not brilliant. The iPod earphones are better then most, but for a small investment you can get a lot more music for your money.
Sennheiser are well known for their high quality offerings, but this needn't break the bank. Their CX300 earphones weigh in at under £20 and are available in either black, white or silver. They come supplied nicely packaged with small, medium and large ring adaptors for a comfortable fit. Of the three colours I really like the black, which are accented with silver rings. To see the other colours there is a link at the end of this review to the Sennheiser website.
Being the in-ear type of headphone, comfort is very important. Out of all the earphones I have tried, these win on the comfort stakes. The material used is very soft, with a matt finish and the medium size for me was just right. They don't fit too deep inside the ear canal, just a little way in. Once fitted they really block out a a lot of outside noise, so are perfect if you listen in a noisy environment.
Of course, I used the CX300's with my trusty iPod (what else) and the clarity of sound delivered was superb. Bass was nice and deep, the mid-range was rich and the treble end was very good too. In comparison to others, it was only the higher end that was not as refined, nothing to worry about, but worth mentioning. Even at high volume they behaved impeccably, keeping things clean all the way.
So when you buy an iPod, yes the supplied earphones are OK, but invest a little and you will enjoy your music a whole lot more. The paltry asking price for a pair of CX300 earphones really do make this a no brainer… it is definitely money well spent.
Product: Sennheiser CX300 earphones
Price: £39.99
Amazon: £16.24
Supplied by: Sennheiser UK
Contact: info@sennheiser.co.uk
*Please be aware, there are a lot of cheap copies of headphones on ebay. Please ensure you are buying genuine products when making a purchase.