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It may lack a fingerprint reader like the Biocase, but the Heys Impervious Suitcase is the lightest on the market and can hold up to a 15.4-inch laptop, potentially protecting it from up to 250lb of ‘woops I didn’t know it was there’.  The outside of the case is made from ABS/polycarbonate, the same stuff found in bulletproof glass and flexes to absorb the impact.  At 3lbs and $100 it ain’t exactly the most palatable of laptop totes, but that added protection might be worth all that extra work.

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When we saw Powermat’s offering at CES 2009 we were pretty excited.  After all, who doesn’t want to ditch the always cubersome plug in process for all their mobile gadgets.  But like most gadgets, especially those that offer a game changer to the industry, skepticism is abound.  So does the Powermat live up to all it promises to be?

First, let me note that I’m an iPhone user.  For some reason PowerMat’s PR company failed to send me the necessary compatible skin, so with that said I wasn’t able to give the device what I feel is a true and full blown iPhone perspective review.  On the other hand they did send me a shit load of ‘receivers’ (that’s what they call the attachment to make your mobile device compatible with their charging pad), which included one for the Blackberry Curve (8300/8310/8320/8330/8350i), Blackberry Bold, Blackberry Curve 8900, iPod Touch (2nd Gen) and an iPod dock that is compatible with the iPhone.

There are a two Powermats to choose from – I received the Portable Powermat.  It’s a foldable 3 piece device that includes the Powercube universal charger, 8 compatible tips for all your devices and a magnetic locking carrying case.  When folded its footprint is about the size of a coffee table sized coaster, and about 2-inches high.  While I’m not a huge fan of the universal charger – I think it defeats the purpose of the device since you have to still plug something in – it does offer an all around charging resolve for any of your gadgets.

The receivers themselves add some significant bulk to your mobile products.  While I didn’t receive one for my iPhone, the iPod Touch receiver though not massive in size, adds some relative girth to the portable player.  The Blackberry receivers on the other hand replace the device’s battery cover, which make their integration a bit more seamless, practical and less bulky.

The PowerMat itself of course needs to be plugged into the wall, which in this particular setup included a plug with a its own spindle making for easy storage and transportation – it too fits neatly in the carrying case.  When a ‘receiver’ is properly placed on the Powermat it denotes this by sounding a tone and illuminating an LED (both of their intensities can be adjusted by up to 3 levels (on, half, off) by locating the two buttons on the rear of the Powermat).  Adjacent to these buttons is an additional USB plug for those devices that don’t have a compatible receiver and/or you run out of space on the Powermat’s surface.

Since I primarily use an iPhone I was stuck with the iPod Dock receiver.  It features an adjustable back for a variety of iPod sizes and has zero wow factor to its build or design.  In fact, it felt a built cheap, although I had no problems with mounting my iPhone into the serial port or charging the smartphone.  At first glance the two buttons appears to be a release mechanism for what appears to be a ‘locking dock’, but are in fact used for adjusting the back of the receiver to insure a snug fit no matter what iProduct you’re using.

The big question that’s been floating around since the announcement of Powermat is whether or not it can charge products in an energy efficient manner – in other words how much juice is lost when using inductive (magnets) charging.  In my experience the charging times appeared to be exactly the same as using a good old fashioned wall plug.  Powermat claims their portable power cord to have an Energy Star rating of 5, but their box and actual product seems to be devoid of this logo or mention.  Unless you’re a super green, you’ll have no problems over looking this concern.

What I do like about the Powermat is its ability to potentially declutter one’s desktop and wall socket of multiple cords and plugs.  Of course, each product will need its own receiver, which will be both costly and add some bulk to your mobile devices.  But this begs the question: how many mobile products do you own that need charging on a regular basis?  Ironically, as the wireless age has matured many of our products – PDA, cell phone, gaming device – have become all in one devices; case in point the iPhone.  So at the end of the day I only really found myself using the Powermat to charge my iPhone, which could have been done just as easily as plugging it into a wall or connected dock, though I did like the ability to remove my iPhone from charging at a moments notice without damaging a cord or connection.

Despite my review sounding a bit skeptical, Powermat has a produced a solid set of products.  It’s a tad bit on the expensive side, but if you so choose you could forgo the ‘receiver’ option and just use the included universal adapter.  Aesthetically, the Home and Office mat are more attractive, but the Portable Mat offers more versatility and is ideal for anyone travelling and doesn’t want to lug around multiple power packs from location to location.  When and if Powermat can provide their tech and IP to OEMs is when I believe the tidal wave of wireless charging will fall into place and we’ll no longer have to purchase the receiver skins.  Course, by that time rolls around Apple will have their own version in place much like the Palm PRE.

Pros:

• Aesthetically cool
• Removes the need for multiple power cords
• Includes carrying case, universal charger
• Power cord Energy Star 5 rating

Cons:

• Receivers add bulk to any device
• Always plugged makes it not so green
• Not really wireless charging b/c mat has to be plugged in

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When ever I work remotely (aka Coffee Bean) I carry my laptop in a Booq sleeve.  While I can wax poetic about this sweet hard case, one thing it’s lacking is a design built for working directly from the case without removing it.

Enter the Viper rush.  Available in a M (15-inch) and L (17-inch) sizes, the Viper rush zips open 120 degree and features special bumpers to dissipate heat, a neoprene non-scratch pocket and what should prove to be a tear free seat belt style shoulder strap.  The only thing I don’t like about this case is the price tag: $129.95.

Booq Reveals Viper rush, Work-In Laptop Case for
Your Fast-Paced Life

Intelligent Interior Layout with Durable and Rugged Construction
Makes It Easy To Keep Your Life Organized

Sierra Madre, California – (October 28, 2009) – Booq, a leading brand of premium laptop carrying cases for creative professionals, unveils the Viper rush work-in laptop case. Viper rush is a hard-sided case designed to keep up with your fast-paced day at work, at home, and everything in between. Available at booqbags.com and retailers throughout the country, booq combines sophisticated design and functionality to deliver high-quality bags and cases for the next generation of ambitious professionals.

Viper rush is a mobile office, perfect for the on-the-go professional. The oversized YKK zippers open approximately 120 degrees and enable you to work while your laptop is in the case, so you can set up shop anywhere with ease. Special bumpers elevate your laptop and allow heat to escape, keeping your laptop cool. An intelligently designed layout includes a collapsible divider, non-scratch neoprene pockets, and well placed compartments that make it easy to keep your life organized. Viper rush comes equipped with Terralinq™, booq’s innovative service which helps reunite the owner with a lost & found bag.

Viper rush M/XL features include:

•    Ideal work-in bag, opens approximately 120 degrees with laptop elevated
•    Excellent everyday bag: lightweight, protective, room for basic accessories.
•    Convenient neoprene pockets for items large and small
•    Collapsible internal divider folds down and stows away to maximize internal volume
•    Tough seatbelt nylon shoulder strap
•    Equipped with Terralinq service, helps reunite you with your lost bag
•    Viper rush M ( 15″ MAC ) Viper rush XL ( 17″ MAC, 15″ PC)

Viper rush M/XL available for $129.95 at www.booqbags.com and various retailers throughout the U.S. www.stores.booq.com.

“Viper rush is an everyday bag designed to protect and carry all you need for your fast paced on-the-go lifestyle,” says booq founder and CEO Thorsten Trotzenberg. “The bumpers elevate your laptop to keep it cool, and the rugged hard-sided case can withstand anything you can put it through.”

To request additional information about booq, please contact PR Representative Brad Hobbs at (305) 576-1171 x19 or by e-mail at bradhobbs@maxborgesagency.com. To learn more about booq, go to www.booqbags.com.

About booq
Booq strives to create high-end laptop bags while providing excellent customer service to the next generation of ambitious creative professionals. It is no accident that this privately-held family company was started, and is still run, by a small team of highly motivated creative individuals who are committed to providing the highest level of product performance and service to some of the world’s most demanding customers for many years to come.

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The dreams of Telsa have yet to be fully realized, but that hasn’t stopped a many of a company from releasing products that lay claim to ‘wireless or wire-free charging’.  But alas, until that day is upon us we’ll have to settle with a variation there of, such as the WildCharger’s Pad and Skins.

The concept is straightforward: you wrap your mobile device in a rubber skin that contains 5 over sized pin head like contact points on its back.  When the device is laid upon the WildCharge Pad, which is plugged into an AC outlet, its contact points form a connection and suck down electricity. I use an iPhone, so the Skin contains a dock connector to transfer energy to the phone’s battery.

Safety is of a paramount concern with any device, especially with ones that involve electricity.  While I didn’t drag my tongue across the Pad’s surface I did place my hand on it while it was plugged in and a device was charging.  I received no shock and can honestly say that the device is safe.

The Wildcharge Skin did add some bulk to my iPhone, especially at the base where the dock connector juts out, and on the back where the contact points reside.  For every day carrying I didn’t mind the added bulk and actually liked how the rubber skin provided some added protection.  When it came time to minimizing my pocket bulk, though, I removed the Wildcharge ’skin’ since it was just enough to be annoying and aesthetically disrupting to my pant leg.  Fortunately, it’s simple enough to resinstall the skins, but it takes a bit of pushing and pulling since the dock connector needs to be inserted first.

From an efficiency stand point the Wildcharge device charged my iPhone in the same amount of time as Apple’s AC plug.  When placed on the pad not only does the iPhone sound the familiar charging tone, but the Wildcharge pad displays a glowing blue LED light (it’s so bright it will light up part of a dark room).  I have my concerns to how much power the WildCharge Pad draws when not in use, but compared to some of my other devices in my apartment (e.g. Plasma TV, computer, microwave, etc), it’s a rather moot point.  So all you crazy greenies, you can just as soon unplug the device when not in use, although it will defeat its purpose.

At the end of the day I’m still not sold on a ‘wire free’ charging device.  Recently a consortium was formed to help set a standard, but until every manufacture decides to jump on the band wagon were going to end up with numerous after market devices, such as the Wild Charge.  And as far as I can tell it’s just as good as any other.  I’m not jaw dropped by the design, and although it lacks the spit and polish of Powermat’s offering, it gets the exact same job done at almost half the cost.

Pros:

• Easy to use out of the box
• Rubber skins provides protection
• Inexpensive compared to competition

Cons:

• Adds bulk and length to iPhone
• Always plugged in – uses power nonstop
• No wow factor technology

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Slap an iPhone or any standard GPS device onto a motorbike and you’ll eventually encounter a down pour of rain that will fry your precious electronic. Enter the Moto Kit.  It’s available in a variety of packages, but the most expensive one gets you a waterproof case that can be attached to the bike’s handle bars or wrist, a Bluetooth headset and a backup battery that will extend run time by as much as 10 hours.

[via Besportier]

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With no proven statistical evidence, your buddies at Pong Research hope you will buy their new anti-radiation iPhone case for $60.  With placebo sometimes being the best avenue leading towards peace of mind, until somebody proves this case wrong it’s anybody’s guess.

According to Pong, the case will effectively save you from 60 percentage points of radiation. While cell phones haven’t been around long enough to rear enough any tangible data in regards to brain cancer, preventative measures are usually a good thing right?

Here’s exactly what Pong Research has to say:

New iPhone Case Reduces Cell Phone Radiation by 60%

Pong Research Introduces First Technology Tested by FCC-Certified Labs to Reduce Radiation While Maintaining Full Signal Strength

LOS ANGELES–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Today Pong Research, a new research-driven company developing technologies to improve environmental health, introduced the Pong™ iPhone Case, a protective case that reduces users’ exposure to radiation from the phone’s antenna. The Pong iPhone Case is a sleek silicone skin containing a proprietary technology module that redirects cell phone radiation away from the user’s head.

The Pong iPhone case is the first product proven by FCC-certified laboratories to reduce cell phone radiation. The case reduces the specific absorption rate (SAR, a mobile industry standard of measurement) by 60% and reduces intense ‘hotspot’ cell phone radiation (Electric Field Intensity) by 85%. The Pong iPhone case is immediately available for the iPhone 3G and iPhone 3GS, retailing for $59.95 through www.pongresearch.com. A BlackBerry model will be available later this year, with models for other devices to follow.

The Pong case merges high science and breakthrough technology with contemporary industrial design. Its patented technology module employs principles of antenna theory and physics to channel the emitted radiation into a ‘chimney effect,’ pulling the radiation up and away from the phone. Full signal strength is maintained, so that the phone’s function and battery life are not compromised. For more information on the science of the Pong Effect, see ‘How It Works’ at www.pongresearch.com.

“Because of my concern about the effects of non-ionizing radiation on the human body, I arrived at the position that redirecting this energy was the best approach,” said Dr. Alfred Wong, chief scientist of Pong Research, professor emeritus of physics at University of California Los Angeles and director of HIPAS Observatory in Alaska. “It took us a number of years of research into putting the correct antenna structure in the case itself so that the case would couple with the energy from the phone’s internal antenna.”

With the number of cell phone users worldwide growing from only four million in 1989 to over four billion in 2009, concerns about the link between cell phone radiation and cancer have steadily mounted. The French government in May banned the use of cell phones in elementary schools citing the ‘principle of precaution’ regarding children’s vulnerability to cell phone radiation. In the United States, “Cell Phones and Brain Tumors: 15 Reasons for Concern,” a landmark document signed by 40 leading scientists, was published in August.

“Similar to smoking a cigarette,” said Dr. Wong, “one cigarette won’t kill you, but over years of exposure, the effect is cumulative. Many people are concerned about cell phone radiation, but out of necessity they continue to tolerate their own heavy usage. I think it’s a matter of balancing the fear against the need.”

The Pong iPhone case is available now at www.pongresearch.com and retails for $59.95. The Pong for BlackBerry will be available late 2009.

[via Dvice]

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Case-Mate is really pumping out some great products these days.  Not to be confused with their awesome cardboard iPhone case, comes this new one that holds your credit cards and ID’s.

For $30 you can choose from a bunch of different colors and impress fellow iPhone users with how compact you’ve become.  The case will hold two cards of your choice and however much cash you can jam up in it.  Also included is a screen protector film.

Available now.

[via Gizmodo]

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Today, Mophie announced a new line of leather hip holster that hold your iPhone while it’s attached to a Juice Pack.  Using a premium leather, the hip holster will free up pocket space thanks to the belt clip and allow a more utilitarian approach to your daily entourage of styles.

Compatible with every Juice Pack Mophie makes, you can get one for your iPhone 1G, 3G, and 3GS.  The holsters, respectively named the: 5000, 5500, and 6000, each will sell for $29.95.  The press release does not mention availability.

Los Angeles, CA – September 16, 2009 – mophie is proud to unveil the new Hip Holster line of premium leather cases designed to stash and protect every model of the juice pack for the iPhone, iPhone 3G, and 3GS.  Designed with high quality leather, each Hip Holster is both extra durable and soft to the touch.  The belt clip is designed to free up pocket space for other items and the quick draw feature allows easy access for one-handed removal.

“We’ve identified a great demand from our current customer base for a carrying solution for the juice pack and iPhone that adds convenience and style” says Ross Howe, Sales and Product Development Director for mophie.  “The Hip Holsters give easy access to the iPhone and feature a classic premium leather look and feel making them the perfect complement to the juice pack.”Similar Posts:

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In all hilarity, the Tomfooligans at Case-Mate have actually manufactured a 100% recycled cardboard case of the iPhone 3G(S) and 1G.  At $0.99, you can now be the most ghetto iPhone owner around.  Not intended for anything but poverty flair, this case won’t protect your iPhone from liquids and falls but you can decorate them book cover style reminiscent of your middle school days.

I bet you Case-Mate is a really fun company to work for.  When I reviewed their Fuel battery extender they sent me a refillable gas container stuffed with coffee beans.   For fun amongst friends, you can buy the “bailout bundle” which is 10 cases for $8.

[via OhGizmo!]

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Scosche wasted no time, and today announced the launch of their first 5th gen iPod Nano compatible case.  Called the kickBACK n5, it’s made from a shatterproof clear polycarbonate and includes rubber bumpers in the event that you lose your grip.  On the rear of the case is a kick stand for when you get tired of holding the player as well as a camera hole.

Scosche is selling them direct for $25 and has even tossed in a microfiber cleaning cloth.

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Remember that funky D30 rubber like material that goes from mailable to hard when extreme friction or force is applied to it?  The technology, which we last saw going into military helmets to protect UK soldiers, has made its way into a protective case for the iPod Touch (and iPhone) called the iBand.  Recombu sat down with the folks from Tech21, the guys behind the protective case, and shot a hands on video demonstrating just how effective the material and product is at protecting the device.

[via Crunchgear]

Read

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