Add the Olloclip accessory lens’s price to the cost of this new Olloclip Quick-Flip case and you get to $120. That used to be the price of an entry-level camera from a fairly decent brand, but I’d recommend you buy the Olloclip gear instead. Your iPhone’s camera way, way better than a $100-200 point-and-shoot, and the Olloclip gear makes it much easier to use.

What It Is

The Olloclip case comes in two parts. The case itself, and a Pro-Photo adapter for attaching accessories and tripods. The adapter needs the case, but the case doesn’t need the adapter, so you can just keep it in a bag or pocket for when you want to use it.

The case clips on like any other shell-style case, with cut-outs for all the controls and holes. But it has a trick that allows you to use the Olloclip lens with the case still attached. One of the biggest customer complaints to the folks at Olloclip is that it can’t be used with a case, as the lens slips tight over the bare body of the iPhone itself. The Quick-Flip has a hinged section on the top right corner which – yes – flips out of the way to let you attach the lens.

But that’s not all: the hinged section swings through a full 180˚, whereupon its tip rests on the “up” volume button. This effectively turns the flip into a mechanical shutter release button for your iPhone.

The Pro-Photo adapter slides onto the bottom of the main case. It doesn’t get in the way of anything (meaning you can still use the earbuds as a remote shutter release – just hit one of the volume switches), and adds two tripod sockets, set at right angles on the bottom and left edges of the adapter. There’s also a cold-shoe adapter for mounting accessories like LED lamps and microphones.

Finally, it comes in translucent black and white colorways, and the iPhone 5 version comes with an insert to make the case compatible with the iPod Touch.

The Good

Without the Pro-Photo adapter the case is also as small and thin enough to be left on all the time.

The case – as you’d expect from Olloclip – fits like a tight, well-fitting glove. The case snaps into the iPhone and stays there, with no rattles or moving parts. Without the Pro-Photo adapter the case is also as small and thin as any other shell, and can be left on all the time. For this reason it has become my new favorite case.

In fact, let’s take a look at it’s case-only abilities for a second. On first opening the box, you grab the case and it feel s a little thin and flimsy, However, once it’s on the phone it feels tough and sturdy, and also slightly pliable, all the better for absorbing shocks without cracking.

There’s a slightly raised lip around the screen bezel area, too, so you can lay the iPhone face-down and the screen won’t touch a flat surface.

The Pro-Photo adapter clips on solidly, too, giving you some confidence that it won’t fall off a tripod. I wouldn’t use it to clamp my iPhone to a pair of bike handlebars, but for anything less shaky it should be fine. The trips holes are also tough, despite being made from plastic. They’re actually reinforced with extra plastic, making them slightly bulky. This is presumably why it’s a separate unit.

The Bad

I only have one thing against the Quick-Flip case: the flip itself.

I only have one thing against the Quick-Flip case: the flip itself. It’s a little tricky to unclip, but that’s just due to its tight fit. What I don’t like is that it feels a little floaty when using it as a shutter release. If you’re shooting one-handed it’s actually great, letting you get your fingers in the right place without hunting around for a tiny little button. But when used in landscape format, and with two hands, it feels like it won’t trigger the shutter properly. This fear is unfounded in practice, though: it works fine, and consistently It just feels flimsy.

The Verdict

$50 is steep for a case, but if you figure in that you also get a handy tripod mount, and that – if you’re considering this case – you’re already in the hole for a $70 add-on lens, it’s not bad. In fact, if you’re one of those photographers who has given up on regular cameras and switched full time to the iPhone, then this is an essential bit of gear. Better still, you an grab a kit containing both the case and the lens for $100.

Recommended.

Product Name: : Olloclip Quick-Flip CaseThe Good: A great case, and an even greater Olloclip companion. The modular design means you only need to carry what you’re going to use. Not dorky.The Bad: Quick Flip is a little flimsy feeling.The Verdict Pricey, but worth it. If you own an Olloclip and want to use a case, buy this: you won’t be disappointed. Buy from: Olloclip

Rating: ☆☆☆☆☆ 

This post was written by Charlie Sorrel from Cult of Mac.
You can view the original post by clicking here.

The BookBook from Twelve South has long been the best and most luxurious leather wallet case for iPhone, but it has a new contender from Acase that wants to steal its crown. It’s called the Collatio, and in many ways, it’s very similar to the BookBook.

As well as holding your iPhone 5, the Collatio holds up to three credit cards, and features a larger pocket for bills, receipts, and anything else you’d like to stuff in there. It provides access to all of your iPhone’s buttons and ports — though you will need to open it up to use the volume buttons and mute switch — plus its front- and rear-facing cameras.

The biggest difference between the Collatio and the BookBook, however, is the price. While Twelve South’s offering will cost you $60, the Collatio is just $40. But is it as good?

The Good

The Collatio is certainly just as pretty — if not prettier — than the BookBook. I’m actually a big fan of the BookBook’s vintage book look, but if you’re not, then that’s one point to the Collatio. It comes in brown and it’s made entirely from genuine leather.

The front and back covers are shiny, while the spine is a softer chamois-like leather. It looks smart and sophisticated and exactly how you’d like a leather wallet case to look. There’s a small Acase emblem on the bottom corner that I wish wasn’t there, but it doesn’t look too bad.

The Collatio feels comfortable in your pocket, and even more comfortable in your hand. It’s soft and smooth, and its spine provides plenty of grip. It’s also very flexible, so you can fold the front cover around to the back when typing or taking a call, and when you close the Collatio’s front cover it stays closed — it doesn’t stick up like the BookBook tends to.

Inside the Collatio you’ll find three credit card pockets, plus a larger pocket for cash. You could probably cram more cards into those pockets if you want to, but it makes them harder to remove, so it’s easier to just stick one in each.

Your iPhone is held inside a leather frame that covers the sides of your devices, plus the bezels above and below the display — though the home button, speaker, and front-facing camera are left exposed. Nothing secures the iPhone in place, but the leather is tight enough to stop it slipping out.

The Collatio’s build quality is fantastic… a lot of care has clearly gone into its production.

On the back of the case, you’ll find one cutout for your rear-facing camera. It’s just about big enough, and I didn’t notice any reflection issues when taking pictures with the flash.

The Collatio’s build quality is fantastic. It’s made from high-quality leathers and a lot of care has clearly gone into its production. The sticking looks clean and tidy, and it’s super strong. The Collatio isn’t immune to a few scratches, but they add life to the case, and you’ll find a used Collatio looks better than a brand new one.

The Bad

Although the Callatio stays closed on your desk, the front cover isn’t fixed down, so if you drop your iPhone there’s a chance it’ll flap open and leave your display exposed.

The cutout for the mute switch is nowhere near big enough — my mute switch is mostly covered up.

This wasn’t a major issue for me. Having magnets inside the case to keep it closed, or some kind of fastener, only adds bulk and weight and makes it harder to get to your device. But it’s something to bear in mind.

One thing that did bother me was the leather frame that holds the iPhone inside the case. It works well for the most part, but the cutout for the mute switch is nowhere near big enough — my mute switch is mostly covered up, and it’s really difficult to use.

In fact, I’ve gotten used to just folding the leather back at the side to get to the switch, but over time that’s caused it to stretch and go a little slack, as you’ll see from some of the pictures showing the inside of the case.

The other issue I had with this leather frame is that it’s not easy to get your iPhone out once it’s in there. There’s no pull tab like the original BookBook had, so you have to put your iPhone up from its base… only there isn’t really enough room to get your thumbs in there.

Removing your iPhone from the Collatio once it’s in there, then, is a bit of a struggle. I would have much preferred it if Acase used the same plastic housing that Twelve South used in its latest BookBook case. Not only is it easier, but it’s not as bulky, either.

The Verdict

I’ve mentioned before that I like iPhone wallet cases, and the Collatio is one of my favorites. It looks terrific, its build quality is great, and it does everything you want a wallet case to do.

I’d much prefer a plastic iPhone holder rather than a leather one, but then again, I think I’d happily live with the leather for the $20 saving the Collatio brings.

If you’re looking for a great leather wallet case for your iPhone 5, definitely check out the Collatio.

Product Name: Collatio The Good: Looks great, feels great, and is very nicely priced. The Bad: Leather iPhone holder is a little fiddly. The Verdict: At $20 cheaper than the BookBook, the Collatio will be a better buy for many. It’s one of the best wallet cases I’ve tested to date. Buy from: Acase



Rating: ☆☆☆☆☆ 

This post was written by Killian Bell from Cult of Mac.
You can view the original post by clicking here.

Once I started my review of the ScanSnap iX500 document scanner, the new model in Fujitsu’s hugely popular line of top-tier ScanSnap scanners, it didn’t take long to see this machine was going to earn its pedigree. Fujitsu ScanSnap iX500 Document Scanner by Fujitsu Category: Document Scanners Works With: Mac, iPhone, iPad Price: About $430 [...]

This post was written by Erfon Elijah from Cult of Mac.
You can view the original post by clicking here.

External battery packs are one of the least sexy aspects of the mobile age. They’re the equivalent of the plastic gas can in the back of your trunk: stinky, unsexy, and probably empty when you need it.

Lenmar’s Helix battery pack isn’t particularly sexy, but it doesn’t smell (despite the “Undead Power” branding, which implies putrifying flesh) and it’s unlikely to be empty when you need it: it has a massive 11,000mAh battery inside, capable in theory of charging a third- or fourth-gen iPad from 0% to full. All in a battery pack not much bigger than a deck of playing cards.

The Good

The best thing to recommend the Lenmar Helix battery pack is its capacity: this is a monster of a battery to fit into a pack this small. Measuring just 4.7 inches tall, 3.1 inches wide and 0.8 inches thick at its thickest point, the Helix is about the size of a deck of playing cards, or a very small USB hard drive.

At the core of this small device is an 11,000mAh battery. That’s an impressive amount of juice, theoretically capable of charging an iPhone eight times and a Retina iPad from 0% to full.

As befits a device with this much battery crammed into it, the Helix can charge three devices at once. There are two USB ports for charging smartphones at 1A, and one for tablets at 2.4A. This means you could easily charge two iPhones and an iPad at once.

The Helix isn’t a head-turning battery pack, which is fine: it doesn’t need to be. And it does what it says on the tin, providing a lot of juice to charge your gadgets on the go, with the battery itself being charged by a micro-USB port on the side. Adornments and bling on the Helix top out at four green power indicator LEDs that tell you how much charge is left, and flash when the Helix is recharging.

So the Lenmar Helix is very portable and stuffed to the brim with electricity. That’s about all you can ask from a battery pack, isn’t it?

The Not-So-Good

Well, no. The Lenmar Helix’s drawbacks are subtle, but they are there.

First of all, the Helix takes ages to charge. That’s to be expected: an 11,000mAh battery is going to take a long time to charge. The iPad itself needs at least eight hours to charge fully from 0% to 100%, and that’s using a 2.4A charger.

Here’s the problem, though. The Lenmar Helix charges at 1.5A, meaning it takes even longer to charge than an iPad. A way to charge the Helix at 2.4A would have been welcome, because then, it would have charged at the same rate it discharges when powering an iPad. As such, even if you have an iPad plugged into the Helix while the Helix itself is charging, Lenmar’s battery pack will run out of juice.

Then there’s the issue of battery life. Something’s a little funny about the Lenmar Helix: try as we might, we couldn’t actually charge our iPad to full using the Helix, only managing about 65%. That’s still impressive, but technically, the Helix should be able to charge an iPad to full and still have some electricity left over. We have no idea where that extra juice is going, but we’re not the only ones to have this issue: iLounge also never managed to completely charge an iPad using the Helix. This is a trait shared by other 11,000mAh battery packs, like the Enerpak Vault, but that device manages to give more of a charge to an iPad… while simultaneously costing $20 less than the Helix.

Finally, the Lenmar Helix is a pretty bare bones device. Outside of the battery pack and a micro-USB cable to charge the device, there’s nothing here: no Lightning or 30-Pin cables, not even a wall charger.

The Verdict

The Lenmar Helix is an impressive battery pack, but it doesn’t quite manage what it says on the box, it’s slow to charge, and it costs about $20 more than better performing competitors. There’s a lot of juice in this battery pack for $100, but there’s room for improvement, and some of Lenmar’s competitors are making higher performing battery packs right now for a cheaper price.

Product Name: Helix Battery Pack by LenmarThe Good: Solid construction. Has a lot of battery power. Can charge three devices at once, even a third- or fourth-gen iPad. The Bad: Takes a long time to re-charge… even longer than an iPad. Despite a massive battery that should be up to the task, can’t charge an iPad to full. Bring your own cables. The Verdict: A good battery pack that will save your ass when you need it, but not quite as powerful as it claims to be, Buy from: Amazon

Rating: ☆☆☆☆☆ 

This post was written by John Brownlee from Cult of Mac.
You can view the original post by clicking here.

When my fingers are covered in egg, or I want to use my iPad as a second-screen when working at my Mac, or when I’m performing computer surgery and I want to keep iFixIt in the corner of my eye, there’s a lot of situations in which I might want a stand for my iPad.

Unfortunately, of the few I’ve tried, I’ve found most of them only to be good in specific situations: great for, say, using your iPad as second monitor at your computer, but not good for cooking or doing computer surgery.

The iOStand by iOMounts is the first stand I’ve really liked, because sometimes simpler is better. But it’s not perfect.

The Good

The iOStand by iOMounts is about as simple a gadget as you can imagine. It’s essentially a pedestal for your iPad (or iPhone, or any other mobile tablet), made up of a couple of components: a weighted base, a long arm with a ball on it, and a powerful magnet poking itself out of the ball.

This magnet is called the iOCore, and because magnets are both simple and neat, it works exactly like you expect: you affix a small steel washer to the back of your device, and once it’s on, the magnet will stick to your iPad or iPhone (or, indeed, anything else made out of metal).

The iOStand isn’t so much clever as it is effective. Because the iOCore is concave, it can “roll” across the ball at the top of your iOstand at almost any angle you’d like. The iOStand, then, is more adjustable then most iPad stands: if the viewing angle isn’t convenient to you, you just need to nudge it to one that is.

The washer system isn’t the most elegant solution to docking your iPad with a stand, but given the alternatives, which usually require you to fit your iPad into some sort of holster so it’s secure on the end of the stand, it’s a pretty good one. The washers — which iOMounts calls “iOAdapts” but are, in fact, just steel rings with some sticky on the back — are only .025 inches thick, so they hardly make much of an impact upon your iPad’s profile.

In use, the iOStand is a very convenient and quick way to use your device with a stand. In fact, I found myself using it a lot more than I expected to, transfering my iOStand from room-to-room as I, say, moved from my work desk at the end of the day to the kitchen to cook dinner, or from dinner to the bedroom to watch a movie. As a stand, it’s just as good for, say, keeping your eye on Twitter throughout the day as it is for watching a movie or consulting a recipe.

So I really like the iOStand. But I have a couple caveats.

The Drawbacks

First of all, conceptually, the truth of the matter is that using an iOStand to hold your iPad about a foot above the surface of your desk, table or countertop, you’re making it vulnerable to falling over. The iOStand has a weighted bottom, and it’s quite solid and rugged, but it can be accidentally knocked over… if it is knocked over, it’s going to tip over, probably face first, with a heavy steel ball pressed against the back of your device, almost guaranteed to shatter your screen.

The same warning goes for accidentally jostling your iPad while it’s on the iOStand arm. It’s not going to be easy to knock your iPad off the magnet base, but it’s certainly possible. Magnets are a very convenient and easy way to dock an iPad to something like a stand, but they are going to inherently be less stable than, say, putting your iPad in a special case to connect it to a stand.

The iOAdapts can also be hit or miss. In my experience, they don’t work at all sticking them to anything that isn’t metal, so you can’t just affix one to the back of your iPad case. If your device isn’t going bareback, the iOAdapt might not stick, and since they cost $10 for three of them, that’s worth considering if you use a case.

Finally, this is a matter of subjective opinion, but the iOStand costs $100. This is a solidly constructed product, but that seems pricy to me for something that is essentally 100% analog, with no moving parts, proprietary systems or revolutionary industrial design.

The Verdict

I really like the iOStand. It’s pretty, it’s portable, it’s solidly constructed, and magnets are always super cool. But it’s also pretty expensive, it requires sticking washers to your device, and these washers make it hard to use a case. I can’t think of an iPad stand I’ve liked more, but there are certainly cheaper ways to prop up your iPad: if you want the iOStand’s elegance, you need to go in being well-aware of what it costs.

Product Name: iOStand The Good: Magnets are cool! Solidly constructed. Infinitely adjustable. Portable around the house. The Bad: Expensive. Washers don’t stick on some cases. The Verdict: The best iPad stand we’ve used, but you pay for elegance. Buy from: iOMounts

Rating: ☆☆☆☆☆ 

This post was written by John Brownlee from Cult of Mac.
You can view the original post by clicking here.