Review of Bear Motion iPhone 5c Case

Time for some tech talk. At Words on the Word I’ve reviewed software, as well as aspects of iOS and its apps. I’ve done gear reviews, too. This post is my review of Bear Motion’s Full Housing Case for iPhone 5c.

Here’s what it looks like:

Here are the pros and cons of this case:

Pros

Though it looks a little cheap (and the cost is, indeed, low), it seems to be, in fact, fairly well-made
- The holes (to access camera, headphone jack, home button, etc.) are cut out just right
- I may or may not have dropped my phone a couple times in this case, and it was well-protected
- It protects the screen; it protects the body; it protects the whole phone (and the case is all one piece)
It’s not very bulky; doesn’t add much to the phone
The fit is secure and snug, but it’s still easy to get the phone in and out
The price is currently $6.99, which is a good deal
I’ve taken it on a bunch of runs–it has performed well in this setting, both gripping to my hand without sliding out and keeping my phone from getting sweaty

Cons

The screen cover has a speckled or slightly filmy look to it, which is fine in regular light, but in the sunlight it makes the screen noticeably darker than it would be without the cover and, therefore, almost impossible to read
It isn’t the most stylish iPhone case I’ve ever seen, but that’s not a huge deal
On rare occasion the thick plastic screen compromises the touch sensitivity of the device

Though I don’t exactly have a plethora of cases from which to choose, this is the case that is currently housing my phone, and has been since I got it. That’s its own testimonial, I think. Especially for the price, Bear Motion’s case is a quite solid option.

Thanks to Bear Motion for the review sample. They make plenty of other cases for various devices, too. The case reviewed above can be found at Amazon here (affiliate link). Bear Motion’s brand page at Amazon is here.

RIP, Sony Bluetooth Wireless Speaker: Splash-Proof, but Not Highway-Proof….

Remember the Sony Bluetooth Speaker I reviewed? Want to hear a funny story about it?

After using the speakers for a Sunday morning class, I put them on top of our family van as I was strapping in one of the kids. I got my almost-two-year-old daughter strapped in, we were all happy, the kids had done great in church, and we were going out to eat–a rare treat on a Sunday afternoon. The sun was even shining.

So with everyone strapped in and on our way to family lunch, about 10 minutes into our drive–when we were on the highway, of course–I heard a loud thud at the top of the car and saw in my peripheral vision a blur of pink and purple bouncing around behind me as I sped away.

WHAT WAS THAT?

Oh. The speakers. That I had left on top of the van.

I had received the speakers gratis as a review sample, but I had become fond of them. They were quite convenient for toting around and using in various settings. It was especially nice to amplify music without any wires.

I quickly decided that, yes, I did want to go back to get these speakers. But being on the highway, I would have to exit, get on the highway going the other direction, exit again, and go back the way I came.

By the time we neared the spot of the incident, it had been about 8 minutes. Surely some car–or multiple cars–had by now demolished my precious pink-and-purple players of Passion Pit, Pavement, and Petra.

But, no.

THEY WERE STILL THERE.

I slowed down and turned on my hazards to get off to the shoulder to (carefully, only when there were no cars) walk into the highway to retrieve my speakers.

They were right there, miraculously between the two lanes. A hundred cars must have passed them, leaving them mercifully in tact.

As I pulled over and slowed to a stop, the car behind me obliviously moved across the lane divider to pass me and…

Yep.

RAN OVER MY SPEAKERS.

Well, not just ran over. CRUSHED them.

They broke into a hundred pieces, and the car just cruised on by.

Review of Anker Slim-Fit iPad Mini Case

I’ve recently had the chance to try another iPad mini case–the Slim-Fit Synthetic Leather Case from Anker. It’s a decently made case, but it won’t replace my current go-to. I’ll jump right in and break it down into Pros and Cons:

Pros

Even though it’s fake leather, it seems to be built well
- There is no visible stitching that could unravel
- The cut-out holes (to access camera lens, earbuds, volume switches, etc.) are sized perfectly, as one would expect
- The wake/sleep function works as it should–shutting the case puts the iPad to sleep, and opening it wakes it up
I am able to hold the iPad, with the case front folded back, in one hand
The fit of iPad into case is secure and snug
It is a classy-looking case
It is slim and lightweight

Here’s how it looks–the grey material at left is designed to be scratch-free:

Cons

I had a hard time getting the iPad mini out of the case–on the one hand, it’s good that it’s secure, but I was worried something would snap as I tried to remove the iPad (even according to instructions)
Won’t really stay in this position once iPad is in

It is possible to use the case in its prop-up mode, but it often slides and doesn’t stay in place, especially if you have it in the typing position
It’s pricey (retails at $29.99, slightly cheaper on Amazon), given the cons above
It is difficult to access the camera lens for photo and video with the iPad in the case. Since the cover is not a tri-fold, it doesn’t bend back enough to be able to easily take a picture–you’d have to hold the case with two hands or let the cover dangle open

The cons in this case outweigh the pros. Future iterations of the case ought to have some way for the iPad to lock in or not slip when propped up in landscape mode. And a tri-fold front would allow for easier camera access when the case is on. As for protection, the Anker case will get the job done, but there are better options on the market at present.

Thanks to Anker for the review sample, offered for my honest impressions of the case. They make plenty of other cases and products, too. The case reviewed above can be found at Anker’s site here and at Amazon here.

Review of INVELLOP Leatherette iPad Mini Case

As a friend and I were geeking out over iPad mini cases lately, he recommended his to me. Since its arrival in my mailbox, I’ve rarely taken the mini out of this case. It’s got just the right combination of slim and sturdy for my tastes. It’s by INVELLOP, which I had never heard of. Here it is, closed, with no iPad mini in it:

The case closed, in landscape orientation

Here is what the inside looks like:

The cutouts for earbuds, volume buttons, camera, etc. are all measured well. The material is “leatherette,” but smells fine and has held up well for the six or more weeks I’ve used it. The stitching is all still firmly in place. You can see in the above that the hard plastic back is connected to the front cover. When the screen flap closes, it puts the device to sleep; when it opens, it wakes it up. This function works just as it should (and is standard with these sorts of cases).

Here are a few more things I like about it:

This is the easiest time I’ve had holding my encased device with one hand–the case covers the device but does not extend past it much, so it’s low on bulk
The price on Amazon is at the moment $19.95, which is worth it for the quality
Good craftmanship

The screen flap is split into thirds so that you can set your iPad upright (in landscape mode) in two different positions (viewing or typing)
It has magnets that help the front cover snap even more securely onto the back case
The plastic back is stronger than other cases of this size
The inside’s microfiber has protected (and not scratched) the iPad
It’s easy to manipulate the front screen flap to take photo or video (it folds back quickly)
It’s thin and light, yet not at the expense of protecting a device (though I haven’t done a test drop)

There is really not much to critique. For the first few weeks the front cover didn’t lay flat very well. It still doesn’t lay flat perfectly, but that’s improved a good deal over time. And the magnets make sure the sleep/wake function isn’t compromised by this.

Most significantly, even though I’ve reviewed other iPad mini cases I could house my device in, this one is my go-to.

Thanks to INVELLOP for the review sample. The case reviewed above can be found at Amazon here. You can find my other iOS and gear reviews here.

Review of Sony SRS-BTS50 Bluetooth Wireless Speaker

Sony has just released its SRS-BTS50 bluetooth wireless speaker. Here’s what it looks like in the box (with other colors available):

Here’s what’s in the box:

Setup, Appearance, and Portability (Two Thumbs Up)

Setup was easy, both with my iPad mini and a Mac laptop. Once you link a bluetooth-enabled device to the speaker, the speaker remembers it. You can link multiple devices to it without Continue reading “Review of Sony SRS-BTS50 Bluetooth Wireless Speaker” →

Review of Bear Motion iPad Mini Case

“Bites on Bytes” is too trite, but Words on the Word does have a growing tech focus. I’ve reviewed software before, and have moved into iOS and its apps, and now gear. Here I’ll review a classy case for the iPad mini, with another case review to follow, some iOS app reviews on the way, and a forthcoming review of a Sony bluetooth wireless speaker. Stay tuned.

Here is the lengthily-titled 100% Genuine Brazilian Buffalo Hide Leather Dual Protection Folio Stand/Cover/Case for iPad Mini with Built-in Stand and Detachable Inner Silicon Cover (Black), by Bear Motion:

This is really two cases in one. On the right in the photo below there is the silicon stand-alone backing, which I’d recommend just for home (but not travel) use. On the left is the folio with a hard back plastic shell that is attached to the leather case that wraps around and closes over the iPad mini. It’s got a sleep/wake feature that functions perfectly.

There is actually a third casing option, since the Bear Motion Dual Protection case comes also with a protective velvet sleeve. So your iPad would be well-protected here.

Let me break it down into pros and cons:

Pros

The construction quality is high
- The stitching is careful and tight
- The holes (to access camera, earbuds, etc.) are cut out just right; you can still access everything
- The leather smells amazing (I am a notorious smeller of books… and of this case)
I can hold the iPad, while in this case, in one hand (results may vary according to hand size)
The price is currently $19.99, which is a good deal
I haven’t test-dropped the iPad while in this case, but my money is on a safe landing, were some sort of accident to happen
There are three notches for standing it up (in landscape mode only) for viewing; these are sturdier than the typical origami-style construction in other cases… as here:

Cons

It’s not the slimmest option
- It is heavier than some mini cases
- It is bulkier than some
- This cuts two ways:
  - On the one hand, it is sturdy and classy, a case you’d definitely take to your business meeting
  - On the other hand, the “package weight” Bear Motion lists is 0.7 pounds, which is just a touch more than the iPad mini itself. So you double your weight if you use this case
It is difficult to maneuver the case in order to take photo or video (it doesn’t just fold back)
There is no place to hold a stylus, which would be a nice feature in a case like this

All told, the pros significantly outweigh the cons. I’ve looked at a number of cases for the iPad mini (and have used four now, with another review to follow), and this is among the best you can get–if the weight is not a problem for you.

Thanks to Bear Motion for the review sample. They make plenty of other cases for various devices, too. The case reviewed above can be found at Amazon here.

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Setup, Appearance, and Portability (Two Thumbs Up)

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