Snap-On Cover For Blackberry Curve 8900

The Good: Seems durable, Generally stylish, Fits perfectly
The Bad: More detailed options seem proportionately expensive, Purpose is lost on me.
The Basics: Functional and durable, the RIM Clear Snap-On Cover for the Blackberry Curve 8900 is an ideal fit for that smartphone and it holds up for a pretty decent drop!


I'm not much of an electronics person and I do not have a cellphone, but I do try to push myself from time to time to learn about such things. I thought I ought to go out and try to find something that would allow me to learn about new things. So, I went to the mall and found the RIM Clear Snap-On Cover for the Blackberry Curve 8900.

Right up front it is worth noting two things: 1. This review is not for the Blackberry Curve 8900, it is for the snap-on case for it and 2. My experiences are based upon using the RIM Clear Snap-On Cover for about an hour in a store. While I did every objective test I could do while being watched hawkishly by a clerk, there are some things I could not do (like submerge the Blackberry Curve 8900 to see if the snap-on case would protect it from water, which I was told it would not).

The RIM Clear Snap-On Cover for the Blackberry Curve 8900 is specifically designed for the Blackberry Curve 8900 model Smartphone (it's essentially a tiny computer). The clear plastic case comes in two parts, a front and a back and it is just over 4.3" long, 2.4" wide and .6" deep when snapped together. The basic unit is made of entirely clear plastic. There are decals or colored plastic shells which may be used to jazz up the appearance of your Blackberry Curve 8900, but the basic unit is made of hard, clear plastic only a millimeter or two thick. This is much like the hard plastic toploaders I use to protect trading cards with. The snap-on cover is very light, only weighing a few grams and for those concerned about the weight it adds to the Blackberry Curve 8900 (which is only a few ounces to begin with), that change is negligible and hardly perceptible.

Like a hard plastic toploader, the RIM Clear Snap-On Cover has tiny grooves in the sides and essentially a male and female side, based on the groove on the outside edge of the cover. If one sets the Blackberry Curve 8900 into the bottom half, the sides are snug to the unit and when the faceplate is pressed onto the top, it has a channel which surrounds the inner channel from the bottom portion. One knows it is fully on because it will snap together with an audible clicking sound.

As mentioned before, the shape of this particular snap-on cover is very specific to the Blackberry Curve 8900 (though my ignorance with Blackberrys might be evident here; any that have the same shell and layout as the 8900 would seem to function using this). To that end, the back panel is missing a small strip where one may connect a belt clip to the unit. The belt clip accessory hooks into the back of the Blackberry Curve 8900 at the battery hatch, so one may replace the standard panel with the battery cover that has the belt clip. If one does this, they must slide the back portion of the RIM Clear Snap-On Cover on by lifting the belt clip and sliding it through the hole in the back. This can be annoying (as I discovered) and it may make changing the battery (if that becomes necessary) difficult.

There are holes in the case on the sides of the RIM Clear Snap-On Cover for the Blackberry Curve 8900 for the power button (left side) and the controls and ports on the right side (volume, headphones, USB). The RIM Snap-On cover flawlessly molds around those buttons and the thickness of the case does not prevent the easy operation of the Blackberry Curve 8900, nor does it inhibit the use of the instruments into the ports.

The face of the RIM Clear Snap-On Cover is open at two places. There is a slit at the very top of the faceplate which leaves the camera lens exposed. The little panel above the main screen and keyboard needs to be left exposed for the camera to take pictures or use video functions. The other opening is the field below the screen where the keyboard and other controls are. The RIM Clear Snap-On Cover for the Blackberry Curve 8900 covers the screen to protect that, but it leaves the control panels exposed so one may actually type on it. Given how this is made of hard plastic, if that was not done, the controls would be rendered inoperable.

So, once the cover is on, usability is virtually identical to with it off. I had no problem using any of the keys (including the side keys and the enter or space buttons) with the snap-on cover on. Similarly, the clear unit did not in any way obscure the screen.

Then I got to tossing the Blackberry Curve 8900 around while it was in the shell (I have very little time to do this before the clerks asked me to stop) and I did managed to test the Snap-On cover by dropping it once. Fortunately, this product does exactly what it is supposed to do. From a height of 4 to four and a half feet, this protected the Blackberry Curve 8900 from a single impact without wrecking the Snap-On cover. In fact, the cover did not come off or chip under those conditions.

As a reviewer, it is easy to say that this inexpensive cover does exactly what it promises to do without in any way inhibiting the use of the device it is for, but as a reviewer and consumer, I'm wondering what the point is. Are the makers of Blackberrys truly so cheap as to not make the Blackberry more durable by including these standard with them? Are consumers truly so fickle or outright stupid that they would spend hundreds of dollars on a smartphone and then leave it to fate to get scratched up by not having a hard cover like this?

The RIM Clear Snap-On Cover works just fine, but it ought to be a standard on the Blackberry Curve 8900 to begin with. Given how rigorous I was with the testing of mine, I suspect that this three dollar device could save a lot of consumers a lot of headaches and in real world conditions you're likely to have to change it once in the lifetime of the product if you're a businessperson or once every two or three trips if you're a rugged outdoorsman who just needs a Blackberry Curve 8900 with them when they climb Everest.

For other devices to protect your electronics, please visit my reviews of:
Griffin Technologies Flexgrip Silicone Case for iPod Touch
Jwin Silicone protector for iPad
Griffin iPad Screen Care Kit

7/10

For other products related to electronics, please visit my index page on the subject by clicking here!

© 2011, 2009 W.L. Swarts. May not be reprinted without permission.
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Protecting My iPod Touch (Since Before I Could Use It) Griffin Flexgrip Silicone Case.

The Good: Seems to work, Inexpensive enough
The Bad: I'm not wild about the color choices, Doesn't protect the iPod screen!
The Basics: A decent way to protect an iPod Touch - even in limited colors - the Flexgrip by Griffin cases prevent the iPod shell from getting scratched without inhibiting use.


As those who check into such things know, I once won an iPod Touch (click here for that review!) and when it arrived, I was quite thrilled about making it an addition to my gadgets (not just for reviewing, but for the shelf space-saving implications of being able to put my c.d. collection into deep storage!). The process, however, has been one headache after another as the iPod is not exactly a "plug and play" piece of equipment. Instead, when it first arrived, I began wrestling with the iPod Touch and I learned a lot, but I was frustrated most of the time. The first thing I had to do - as my partner told me after seeing me get fingerprints on the iPod Touch the first day - was to get a protector for the device. This fell on the heels of my reviewing a RIM Clear Snap On Cover for the Blackberry Curve for one of the promotions and given how friendly the staff at the store was when I did the testing for that, I went back with my partner and we outright bought the Flexgrip silicone case by Griffin.

Remember jelly shoes? The silicone case for the iPod Touch remind me of those. The cases are soft, supple and a molded to fit the outside of the iPod Touch. The Flexgrip I purchased was frosted and the frosted case is the closest to a clear case that is offered by Griffin in the Flexgrip line for the iPod Touch. Given how pleased I was with my new iPod Touch and the stainless steel look of it, I was initially disappointed in the fact that none of the covers from Griffin would keep it looking shiny and modern.

The Flexgrip cases are made of a soft rubber and are approximately 4 ½" long, 2 3/8" wide and ¼" thick. The cases are perfectly molded to the iPod touch and each one creates a protective barrier around the iPod Touch about a millimeter thick. Because the case is shaped specifically for the iPod Touch, it is shaped so users have access to the ports and the screen, as well as will still be able to use the physical buttons the iPod Touch possesses (most of the controls are on the touch screen, but there are still some physical buttons. As for the shape, the Flexgrip case is shaped like an iPod Touch (rectangular and generally flat). There are hard rubber buttons built into the case, one above the power button and one each on the left side over where the volume up and volume down buttons are on the iPod Touch. Because the rubber around them is so soft, this allows the buttons underneath to be pushed because the harder rubber on the button does not give when they are pushed. In other words, the case itself acts as an extension of the buttons needed to easily activate the iPod Touch.

The case is easy to use; one need only slide the iPod Touch into the case. The easiest way to do this is to slide the top into the top of the case then press the back against the back of the iPod Touch until one reaches the bottom. At the bottom edge, simply pull the bottom of the case over the bottom of the iPod so the lip on top covers everything but the screen. This is remarkably easy to do because the bottom side has a hole in it. Through that hole, users may plug in their headphones and the connector which connects the iPod Touch to their computer.

The Flexgrip case is open in the front and therefore does not cover the touchscreen of the iPod Touch. This means that users of this product still risk scratching the most expensive part of the iPod Touch. Most users of iPod products end up getting skins to protect the touchscreens and the fact that one will have to buy more than just this one case to adequately protect their mp3 player investment is a little disappointing. That said, the Flexgrip case is nice because it does not inhibit the use of the iPod Touch in any way. All of the buttons and touchscreen controls (and ports) are as usable and accessible as without using these soft cases.

As well the back and sides of the Flexgrip have hard plastic “treads” which prevent the protected iPod from slipping. As well, it is easier to hold in one’s hand because the added friction prevents the fingers from losing their grip on the device. Since I began using the Flexgrip case, my iPod Touch has shown no wear on the covered portions. In fact, the iPod Touch has remained intact when I have even dropped it a few inches (like onto a desk) and the treads on the Flexgrip case prevents the device from sliding when I have done that.

In short, this is a product that does exactly as it promises, even if it is not the most stylish way to protect an iPod Touch. This is one of the most affordable options, though, and it does no less than what it is supposed to.

For other product reviews associated with Apple iProducts, check out:
DLO Power Bug
Apple Clear Plastic Case For iPod Nano
OrionGadgets Synch and Charge USB Cable For iPad

6/10

For other electronics reviews, be sure to visit my index page by clicking here!

© 2010, 2009 W.L. Swarts. May not be reprinted without permission.



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A Very Average Case: Apple's Clear Plastic Case For The Nano – Insecure Security.

The Good: Fits the Nano perfectly, Seems durable, Decent protection
The Bad: Expensive
The Basics: A wonderfully durable, but very expensive plastic case, the iPod Nano may be protected without losing the fun of one’s Nano color choice!


With the influx of iPod products into my house in the last few months, there has been an appropriate amount of time, energy and money spent on protecting the various devices. In the case of our new iPod Nano (click here for my review!), protecting it was (literally) a snap with Apple’s Clear Plastic Case. Because it is made by Apple, the Crystal Clear Case is designed to fit onto any iPod 4th Generation Nano device.

The clear plastic case comes in two parts, a front piece and a back piece. As the name suggests, the pieces are made of clear plastic and Apple seems to go out of its way with protection, as the plastic case is 1/8” thick! This does not make the overall iPod Nano terribly bulky as it fits the device like a skin and one ends up carrying around an MP3 player which is 3 ¾” tall, 1 ¾” wide and just over ½” thick. Because it is made by Apple, who makes the Nano, the specific holes needed to make this case work and allow access are perfectly positioned. On the front of the case, there is a 1” in diameter hole cut out so one may access the Nano’s primary control. At the top, there is a ½” opening so one may turn the Nano on and off. The bottom is almost completely open, which allows one to connect their iBuds and powers supply connection without removing the case.

Use is ridiculously simple: snap it around your iPod Nano and forget about it. The clear plastic case allows one to see the Nano screen perfectly; there are no conditions under which I have found glare to be a problem. As well, because the controls are completely exposed, one will have no problem using the wheel or pressing the central button or turning the iPod on or off. This takes the most vulnerable parts of the iPod Nano and protects them from impact, spills, weather and wear. In fact, the clear plastic case seems to also resist scratches and seems generally to be crack resistant as well.

Outside of daily use, I did a few tests for the Crystal Clear Case and I was pleasantly surprised to find it resisted cracking and scratching with minimal drops. I dropped the iPod Nano in the Case from a height of three feet about ten times and not once did the case crack, scratch or even break open. However, this did make me realize one thing; anything that is likely to break this case is also likely to shatter the iPod Nano screen.

Given that my testing was more rigorous than most people will be, this is a great case to protect one’s iPod Nano, which makes one wonder why Apple doesn't just coat their Nano in this from the start!

For other iPod products and ways to protect them, please check out my reviews at:
Griffin iPad Screen Care Kit
Apple Silicone Sleeve For iPod Shuffle
iPad (64 GB)

6/10

For other electronics reviews, please be sure to check my index page by clicking here!

© 2010 W.L. Swarts. May not be reprinted without permission.



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It’s Like A Condom For Ipod Shuffles: Fixing Poor Color Choices While Protecting Small IPods!

The Good: Easy to use, Relatively inexpensive, Can make color choice for iPod less problematic.
The Bad: Still leaves back partially exposed, Not the strongest protection in the world.
The Basics: Apple’s blue silicon sleeve is a stylish way to protect an iPod Shuffle from wear and limited catastrophes.


As some of my readers might know, I recently found myself in possession of an iPod Shuffle (click here for that review!). Because sometimes it’s the thought that counts and because I am paranoid about scratching the screen on my iPod Touch (click here for that review!), I have been taking my new iPod Shuffle with me more on the go to listen to music as I walk to and from the library. As a result, I found myself in the market for a silicone sleeve for my iPod Shuffle.

For that, I went directly to Apple, despite the fact that things there tend to be a little pricier than they ought to be. The 1" wide x 1 1/2" long x 1/4" thick silicone sleeve I picked up was blue. The reason for this was simple: first, the blue was a better color for me than the purple of the actual iPod. Second, the silicon sleeve from Apple is somewhat translucent and the yellow and white were not opaque enough to be those colors on the purple Shuffle. The lilac of the iPod Shuffle’s body was effectively overshadowed by the bright blue of this silicon sleeve.

The silicon sleeve is essentially a rubber, much like a pair of galoshes, which one wraps around the face of the Shuffle the way one would put the bottom of the foot into the galoshes. Because the Shuffle has no screen, the purpose of the silicon sleeve is to keep the Shuffle clean and protected. The face of the sleeve has raised harder silicon nodules over the buttons on the Shuffle’s face, so it has the same clockface pattern as the Shuffle itself. Because this was specifically designed by Apple for their iPod Shuffles, these nodules line up perfectly with the “play,” “stop,” “track forward,” and “track back” buttons on the face of the Shuffle.

This silicon sleeve effectively keeps dirt and dust from getting into the controls and I’ve found it also effectively cushions the Shuffle from falls from a moderate height, like when I was running and the clip detached from my coat and my Shuffle went skittering into the street. That the Shuffle was intact and perfectly usable afterward, I attribute to the fact that the silicone sleeve was on it (and the fact that some of the momentum was broken by my earbuds being wrenched out of my ears and slowing the Shuffle’s descent down).

Because it is specifically designed for the Shuffle, there are two holes in the top of this silicon sleeve where the jack for the headphones may be plugged in as well as an opening for the power on and off button. This helps the user figure out what the top and bottom of the sleeve are as well.

After a few weeks of use, the silicon sleeve has proved itself adequate in protecting and recoloring my iPod Shuffle!

For other i-products or devices designed to protect them, please check out my reviews of:
Griffin iPad Screen Care Kit
Jwin Silicone protector for iPad
OrionGadgets Synch and Charge USB Cable For iPad

6/10

For other electronic device reviews, please check out my index page for a coherent listing of them by clicking here!

© 2010 W.L. Swarts. May not be reprinted without permission.


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It Protects The Body Of The Ipad Well: Jwin's White Silicone Case Delivers!

The Good: Does what it promises, Generally inexpensive.
The Bad: Seems like it ought to be the body of the iPad, Does not protect the screen.
The Basics: A very average case, the Jwin Silicone Case for iPad does exactly what it is supposed to, no more, no less.

Apple confounds me. Not the fruit, of course, but the computer company. The company expects people to shell out thousands of dollars for a device, like the iPad, and then in order to provide the most basic protection for that device, they have to buy several other things. That was how I got to feeling indignant as I bought a Jwin Silicone Case for my iPad (click here to read my review of the iPad!). Having gotten a screen protector (click here for the review of that!), I had seen the value of protecting the iPad with a skin, so I picked up the Jwin Silicone Case. Locally, I had a pretty poor selection of color choices (on-line, there are much better color options), so I ended up with a white silicone case.

For those unfamiliar with the principle of a silicone case for the iPad, the silicone case is a very flexible, thin membrane that is about 9 ½” tall, 7 ½” wide and ½” thick, which is pretty much the shape of an iPad. The silicone case slides on iPad as a prophylactic and prevents the underside, sides and top of the iPad around the screen from getting scratched, damaged or discolored by fingerprints. The silicone case may be washed, so if it does get dirty, it may be slid off the iPad and cleaned or replaced with another one!

The Jwin silicone case may only be slid on the iPad one way. Because the user must have access to the ports at the bottom and the holes for where the earbuds plug into the iPad, the Jwin must be oriented with the slit it has in the side facing the same direction as the ports. As a result, applying the Jwin silicone case is more or less idiot-proof. The silicone case slides on without needing any lubricant and it does just what it promises.

Unfortunately, that does not mean protecting the screen, which is the most important part of the iPad. The screen requires a separate film, which is not included with the Jwin silicone case. Instead, this just protects the body of the iPad. It does not inhibit use of the iPad, either. The iPad has a few physical buttons, like the power-on button and the volume switches. Because the Jwin Silicone Case was made specifically for the iPad, it has harder, raised silicone bumps right above each of the physical buttons on the sides and top. Thus, one presses on the bumps on the case and the buttons get pressed below. Functionality of the iPad is not changed at all!

I like the stainless steel look of the iPad, so I was disappointed to have to wrap it in an opaque white case, but the fashion sense does not effect the usefulness of the silicone case. But it also doesn't answer the question: why doesn't the iPad come in a case to begin with to protect the huge investment people are walking around with?!

For other iPod/iPad accessories, please check out my reviews of:
iPod Nano (5th Generation)
iPod Touch

6/10

For other computer and electronics reviews, please check out my index page!

© 2010 W.L. Swarts. May not be reprinted without permission.


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Not Losing Any Functionality, The Griffin Screen Care Kit Protects The iPad Screen Wonderfully!

The Good: Easy-to-use, Works!
The Bad: Expensive for what you get.
The Basics: A special cloth and a skin protect the iPad's screen, thanks to Griffin Technologies with the iPad Screen Protection Kit!


When I first got my iPod Touch, I was surprised by how quickly it got fingerprints and the like on it. My wife made our first purchase for the iPod Touch a case. But now that we have an iPad (click here to read the review of that!), I've been keen to protect its screen. Having had a pretty great experience with Griffen before, I picked up the Griffin Screen Protector Kit for the iPad.

The Screen Protector Kit consists of a cloth and plastic film. The cloth is a small chamois cloth. It was white when we started, but has since turned a creamy color. It is soft enough to not scratch the iPad's screen, so we've used it with confidence and it has worked. Unfortunately, because Griffin cannot guarantee how detergents will wash out (or not) of the cloth, it is not recommended to wash it. This makes for a fairly expensive disposable cloth and I'm not keen on the economic or environmental ramifications of that. Then again, for the last few months, we have not had to use the cloth as frequently, as the screen has not gotten terribly dirty.

The reason it has not gotten dirty after we have cleaned it is because the Screen Protector Kit comes with a screen protector. The screen protector is a thin plastic film that is 8 1/2" x 6" (the measurements of the iPad screen). The rectangle fits on the screen and it stays where it belongs by static cling. I was initially wary of that, but having taken my iPad everywhere, it truly does seem to stay on so long as one smoothes it on when they first apply it and it is centered properly. I have had no cause to remove the skin and because it is a thin membrane covering the screen, the screen cannot be scratched!

"But wait!" (I hear my readers ask) "The iPad has a touch screen! How does it work if you have a thin film over the face of it?" Good question. Because the skin is (mostly) translucent, the iPad's functioning is not at all inhibited. We're talking about a film about a millimeter thick, so this is not very much to protect the screen (though it does work). But because it is almost completely translucent, it does not change the functioning. In fact, I've found the very limited padding this skin provides to make it easier on my fingers to use the iPad's touch screen (which begs the question, "Why doesn't Apple just include these on the iPad to begin with?!"). The skin is mostly translucent; it is slightly frosted and while I was wary of that as well, my worry was unfounded. Once it was on the screen, the coloring was entirely unnoticeable (watching movies on the iPad, they look exactly the same!). The only difference is the screen does not catch glare from itself or other light sources because of the limited frosting in the skin. This is a nice benefit.

In the end, Griffin does just what it promises, though for a little plastic sheet (like contact paper without the adhesive) and a cloth, I feel it's a bit pricy. Of course, it's less expensive than replacing an iPad's screen, which makes this a strong "recommend!"

For other iPod/iPad products, please check out my reviews of:
iPod Touch
iPod Nano

8/10

For other reviews for products supporting electronics products, please check out my index page!

© 2010 W.L. Swarts. May not be reprinted without permission.



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