Archive for June, 2010
Thursday, June 17th, 2010
It seems that the whole world is going iPhone 4 crazy. American retailers have had to withdraw the ability to pre-order it due to overwhelming demand, where as over here in the UK, Sim Free shipping dates have slipped back into July, you can no longer reserve an iPhone for collection in store and only two of the 6 UK networks have confirmed prices and tariffs.
It’s not just the phone that’s in high demand though. Apple’s first case for the iPhone 4 is also selling out fast, with the Apple website now showing a shipping date of the 16th July – almost a month after the phone is released.
Apple's new iPhone 4 Bumpers - Selling out fast
If you’ve ordered your iPhone 4, or are planning on camping out on the 24th June to be among the first to get one, you’re not going to want to leave it unprotected for over 3 weeks while you wait for a bumper to arrive.
There are already a huge number of iPhone 4 cases available, so if you can’t get hold of an iPhone Bumper, why not check out some alternative iPhone 4 cases?
We’ve been working hard with our suppliers to get our range ready for the iPhone 4 launch on the 24th and have already got over 150 to choose from. Stock and pricing should be confirmed any day now for most of them, so while you’re waiting for the networks to finally reveal their prices and tariffs for iPhone 4, why not take 5 minutes to choose your next iPhone case?
Look out for a quick run through of some of the best iPhone 4 cases in the next day or two. We’ll also be posting a tariff summary to help you decide on which network to go with just as soon as pricing is announced.
Loading ...
Tags: iphone 4 bumper, iphone 4 bumpers, iphone 4 case, iphone 4 Cases, iphone 4 Cover, iphone 4 Covers, iphone 4 Pouch, iphone 4 Pouches, iphone 4 Skin, iphone 4 Skins,
Comments Off
Thursday, June 17th, 2010
The Samsung Wave has been around for a couple of weeks now and we’re finally starting to more Samsung Wave cases arrive into stock. I ran through a few cases when the handset launched, but thought I’d take another look at the cases on offer and see which are proving popular with owners of Samsung’s latest smartphone.
1. Sena Elega Case
Like most of the cases on this list, the Sena Elega case is a slip pouch. What’s different though, is that this case has ‘boxed’ sides, rather than just 2 pieces of leather sewn together. This provides a much better fit for your Wave and makes removing the phone a lot easier. The case has a built in, rotating belt clip that clips fairly securely to your belt, bag or pocket. The case is lightly padded to provide light protection against knocks and bumps and it has a soft velvet lining that helps clean the screen and prevent scratches.
Samsung Wave S8500 Carry Pouch
2. Samsung Wave Carry Pouch
It’s simple, affordable and one the most popular styles of case for any phone we currently sell! The Samsung Wave Carry Pouch is designed to carry your Samsung Wave horizontally on your belt. It has two stitched in belt loops on the back and a soft, velveteen lining to keep your screen clean. It does a great job of protecting against knocks and bumps as it covers all sides of the phone.
Samsung Wave Carry Pouch
3. Official Samsung Wave Carry Sock
This carry sock is made by Samsung specifically for the Wave. It’s a fabric case that stretches slightly to accommodate the Wave. The top of your phone is left accessible so you can still use your headphones while your phone is in it. The lining is soft and will wipe away some fingerprints.
PDair Vertical Leather Pouch Case
4. PDair Vertical Leather Pouch Case for Samsung Wave
The PDair vertical case is similar to the Sena case, but instead of having solid sides, they’re elasticated. This does have it’s benefits – the main one being that the case holds your phone a little more securely as it’s a neater fit. There’s no belt clip on the back, so this is perfect for those who prefer to carry their phone around in their pocket or bag.
PDair Vertical Leather Pouch Case
5. Genuine Samsung Wave Premium Flip Case
This style of case first appeared on the Samsung F480 Tocco a few years ago and has proven to be an extremely popular way of protecting touchscreen phones. The case replaces the battery cover on the back of the Samsung Wave and then folds around the bottom of the handset to cover all of the front of the phone. It provides great protection against scratches to the screen, but doesn’t really protect that much of the rest of the handset, as the top, sides and camera area are all left exposed.
Genuine Samsung Wave Premium Flip Case
That’s our top selling Samsung Wave Cases at the moment. More are arriving all the time, so look for another post in a few weeks when I’ll go through some of the most popular Samsung Wave Covers and Skins.
Loading ...
Wednesday, June 16th, 2010
In a word – Wow! When Sony Ericsson say ‘mini’ they mean it! The X10 Mini is small – it’s the smallest smartphone I’ve ever used, but does it’s size matter? Let’s find out!
Driving around town you can’t miss the billboards and adverts for the X10 Mini, they’re everywhere, but as the ads are so big it doesn’t really prepare you for just how small the phone is when you take it out of the box. Even the packaging makes you think that this phone is going to be bigger than it actually is.
In the Box
Sony Ericsson are slightly more generous than most. The X10 Mini comes with a 2GB Memory card, USB Card Reader, Micro USB Data Cable, mains adapter and second battery cover. An interesting change to the phone is that the battery is now built in rather than being removable, so don’t panic if you open your’s up and can’t find a battery.
Accessories included with the X10 Mini
The Card reader is an interesting addition too – the easiest way to transfer your data and sync your phone is either by USB or Bluetooth, so I’m not too sure why they’d include this, but I suppose it’s a little easier to carry around than a data cable, even if it does mean having to take your phone apart to get to the memory card.
The headset that is included is a great quality one – it’s more than just a standard 3.5mm headset as it draws power from the phone to provide better sound quality and to power the inline remote. If you don’t like it for any reason, you can still use a standard 3.5mm headset.
X10 Mini Vs. X10
Sony Ericsson X10 Mini
Having a ‘Mini’ version of a phone seems to be proving popular at the moment, although the manufacturers seem to have a difference of opinion when it comes to saying just how small ‘Mini’ really is. Personally I’d say that the HTC HD Mini is about right. It maintains the look of it’s bigger brother, the HTC HD2, while managing to be more pocket friendly.
Sony Ericsson on the other hand have gone to extremes and made this really small. The X10 Mini is smaller than the Nokia 6500 Slide is when it’s closed. It’s not necessarily a bad thing either. The full sized Sony Ericsson X10 is a great as a multimedia device as it has a massive 4″ touch screen, which is great for surfing the web and watching videos, but if that’s not really what you use your phone for it’s a bit extreme.
The X10 mini is more of a social phone, and by that I mean it’s great for taking photo’s on nights out, posting updates to twitter, facebook as well as texting and calling your friends. The screen by comparison is quite small at 2.5″ and has a relatively low resolution, so watching video’s on it isn’t going to be a wonderful experience.
Text entry on the phone is surprisingly easy despite not having a physical keypad. It’s probably the easiest I’ve used on a touch screen phone after the iPhone. As the screen is so small, it can’t use a full qwerty, so instead reverts to the standard mobile phone keypad style. What makes it so easy is that you can reach all the keys without having to stretch your thumb across the display or hold the phone at an awkward angle. Predictive text entry works as expected and the capacitive screen is extremely responsive.
It’s Android, but not as we know it
After iPhone OS (iOS as it’s now called) Android is the fastest growing mobile operating system. For those who haven’t come across Android before, it’s an open source operating system created by Google. It’s been adopted by almost every major handset manufacturer and is giving the iPhone a run for it’s money.
If you’re familiar with Android, the first thing you’ll notice is that this looks and feels nothing like an Android phone. Sony Ericsson have put their own theme on the phone and customised it quite heavily. The customisable desktop with widgets has been replaced with one that has shortcuts in each corner, with the ability to display information from your ‘timescape’ in the centre of the screen.
Apps
Android has a large developer base, with lots of apps available to download and install either through the Android marketplace or direct from developers. While this is normally a good thing, it might cause you problems with the X10 Mini due to it’s unusual screen size/resolution. Most apps won’t run correctly on the X10 Mini, so if you’re planning on using your phone as a games console or to download loads of apps, you may want to consider a phone with a more standard sized screen, such as the HTC Legend or HTC Desire.
Accessories
There are plenty of X10 Mini Accessories to choose from. X10 Mini Cases are due in to us in the next week or so, but to be honest, given the size of the device, a form fitting leather case probably isn’t the best option. Instead I’d go for an X10 Mini cover that clips on or a flexible gel case that protects the back and sides of the phone.
Others to Consider
Reading this, you may think that it’s a little on the negative side, and it might be – but I think it’s better to be honest and highlight areas that might cause you issues in the future. Having said that, I actually really like this phone! As long as you know in advance what it can/can’t do then you’ll be more than happy. Sony Ericsson are marketing it as a small but fully functional Android smartphone, and while technically it is, it’s got limitations.
If you want a powerful phone that will fit in with your social life, has decent spec’s and that won’t get laughed at down the pub then the X10 Mini is a great choice, but if you want to be able to enjoy movies and videos on a high quality screen, download as many apps as you want and always have the latest available software on your phone then you might want to take a look at one of these instead.
HTC Wildfire
Nokia X6
HTC Hero
Loading ...
Tags: X10 mini Accessories, X10 mini batteries, X10 mini battery, X10 mini Car Charger, X10 mini Case, X10 mini Cases, X10 mini Charger, X10 mini Cover, X10 mini Covers, X10 mini Hands Free Kits, X10 mini Memory Card, X10 mini Pouch, X10 mini Pouches, X10 mini Screen Protector, X10 mini Screen Protectors, X10 mini Skin, X10 mini Skins,
Comments Off
Wednesday, June 16th, 2010
X-Factor is back and this year it’s set to be bigger and better than ever before and we’re delighted to be a supplier to the biggest show on British TV. To celebrate we recently ran a competition on our facebook page offering 3 lucky fans a pair of exclusive tickets to the Live Auditions being held in Birmingham.
X-Factor Competition Winners
On Monday night we took our 3 lucky winners down to the LG Arena in Birmingham to watch some of this year’s hopefulls audition before Simon, Cheryl, Louis and guest judge, Natalie Imbruglia along with a 3000 strong audience.
We all had a great time, we were sat just behind the judges and you should be able to see us when the show airs later this year. The auditionees were all excellent, with a few of exceptions – Hungarian Greg, the Glee wannabe’s and the two strange lads. To get up on stage and sing in front of that many people takes guts, so well done to them all.
X-Factor Judges on Stage
As expected there was the usual tantrums from Simon and Louis, with both of them walking off halfway through one guys audition, leaving him to sing the Girls Aloud hit ‘I’ll stand by you’ to just Cheryl and Natalie, who joined him on stage and helped get the audience swaying and singing along.
We were all blown away by how good the acts were and a few really stood out and we’re sure that they will do really well. We weren’t allowed to take photo’s of them performing, but here’s who we thought had the X-Factor.
Winners Glenn & Julie
Glenn & Julie – “We”d say the old Italian guy was the best, he came on and we weren’t sure what to expect, but great entertainment!”
Winners Amy & Danni
Amy & Danni – “Liam, because he was really attractive and a really good singer and he had the guts to come back again!”
Winners Nadine & Paula
Nadine & Paula – “Keeley, She was my favourite, it was unexpected. No-one thought that she was going to come out with that voice!”
Mobile Fun Team - Nat & Andy
Nat – “Liam was very good, he’ll be in the final lot for sure.”
Andy – “Tracey was fantastic, she got everyone on their feet and it was nice to see her trying again after last year.”
Other performers that are worth keeping an eye out for are Wagner, the karate chopping, life story telling opera singer. Guiseppe from Sicily, Hungarian Greg, and lastly Jordan, a slightly overconfident singer that really got the crowd going wild at the end of the night!
More photo’s of the night can be seen on our facebook page.
Loading ...
Monday, June 14th, 2010
As promised last week, here is my second round up of iPad cases. All the cases here offer something a little bit special – whether its a higher quality finish, designer branding or just a quirky feature that really stands out and makes the case worth having.
What you’ll also notice when you click on the links below is that these are from our sister site, GearZap.com, who specialise in laptop, netbook and iPad accessories and carry a much wider range of iPad cases than we do here at Mobile Fun.
On to the iPad cases then.
1. SwitchEasy Nude iPad Case, Screen Protector & Stand
SwitchEasy cases for iPhone have always been popular amongst iPhone users, and it looks like they’re going to be a big hit with iPad owners too. The SwitchEasy Nude is made from a high quality, tough, flexible material that’s just 1mm thin When you look at your iPad with a Nude case fitted, it’s as if there’s nothing on it – hence the name. Besides the size of the case, SwitchEasy Nude cases stand out because they also include a screen protector, 2 reading stands that are perfect for holding your iPad in either portrait or landscape mode, a cleaning cloth and protectors for the dock connector and headphone port. SwitchEasy Nude cases are available in a range of colours.
SwitchEasy Nude Case for iPad
2. Cool Bananas ‘TheBook’ Case for iPad
Cool Bananas are well known for their netbook and laptop cases, so it makes sense that they bring out a range of cases for iPad. This case has a side hinged leather flap and holds your iPad in a stitched pocket. The case is designed to be left on your iPad permanently. The Book case is well made, provides access to all the ports on your iPad and fastens with magnetic catch.
Cool Bananas 'TheBook' Case for iPad
3. Speck CandyShell Rubberized Hard Case for iPad – Black & Grey
Speck are another brand that produce excellent iPhone cases, so it’s no surprise to see them making cases for iPad. The case has a tough polycarbonate exterior and a softer inside to protect against bumps and scratches. Fitting is really easy as it just snaps on to your iPad. It has cut outs for volume keys, headphones and the orientation lock, but what makes this really stand out is the fold down cover for the dock connector.
A lot of cases and covers give access to the charging port, but it’s usually only big enough to get your USB cable into. With the Speck CandyShell a larger section of the case folds back to expose it enough for you to still be able to use the iPad on either the standard dock or keyboard dock.
Speck CandyShell for iPad
4. Incipio Underground iPad Sleeve – Charcoal
Sometimes something simple is all you need to catch people’s attention, and this fabric sleeve from Incipio is exactly that. It’s a wool fabric sleeve with a suede lining. It does an excellent job of keeping your iPad clean and fingerprint free and provides just enough protection for your iPad when you’re carrying it around with you.
The sleeve is just about big enough to take the iPad with a skin on, so you can easily use this in conjunction with the Speck CandyShell or SwitchEasy Nude cases. The front flap has a velcro fastening to keep your iPad firmly in place.
Incipio UnderGround iPad Sleeve
5. Incipio SILICRYLIC iPad Case – Lime/Charcoal
Silicrylic iPad covers are cleverly designed. They are made of 2 parts, a high quality polycarbonate plastic exterior and a softer, impact absorbing silicone inner. Fitting them is easy, you fit the silicone first and then clip the polycarbonate cover on.
It has cut outs for all the ports and buttons, but unlike the CandyShell, you can’t use it at the same time as the dock. iPad Silicrylic covers are available in a range of colours and can easily be mixed and matched to create a unique looking cover for your iPad.
Incipio Silicrylic iPad Case
6. Belkin Max iPad Sleeve – Black
Belkin are one of the biggest manufacturers of branded accessories for iPad, iPhone and iPod, so it’s no surprise that they were one of the first case makers to announce their iPad line up. The Max case for iPad is a fabric case for your iPad that zips shut to keep your iPad securely protected. Inside you’ll find the usual padding and soft fabric lining, but what stands out is that this case also has a pocket on the front that you can use to store your charging cable, Camera connection kit, or any other iPad accessories. The pleats on the front of the case expand to accommodate what ever is in the pocket and reduce the strain that these accessories might put on the screen of your iPad.
Belkin Max iPad Sleeve - Black
7. Urbano iPad Leather Zip Case
This is a great looking case for the iPad. It’s made from high quality leather and has a great vintage look. It’s a zip case which means that there’s no chance of your iPad falling out accidentally. Inside, the case has 4 elasticated loops to keep your iPad in place and plenty of padding to keep it safe against knocks and drops. The lining of the case is a soft, fleecy material that helps to clean the screen.
Urbano iPad Leather Zip Case - Vintage
8. Proporta Aluminium Lined iPad Leather Pouch – Black
The screen on the iPad is the most important part of the device. The slightest damage to the screen could render it useless, so protecting it is a must. iPad Screen Protectors will provide protection against scratches, but unlike this case from Proporta, they don’t do much to protect it against crush damage. This leather pouch has an aluminium lining to really protect the screen of your iPad. It won’t make your iPad invincible, but it will protect it from knocks and bumps while it’s in your bag. The top of the case is open and provides full access to the headphone port and sleep/wake button. The sides have cut outs that leave the volume and orientation switch accessible.
Proporta Aluminium Lined Leather iPad Sleeve
9. Knomo iPad Slim Sleeve – Black
Knomo cases are probably one of the best brand of case you can buy. Every case beautifully made and fits your device perfectly. This thin sleeve features a pull tab that makes removing your iPad quick and easy. The case is lightly padded with a high density foam and has a soft fabric lining that not only prevents scratches on your screen, but also helps to keep it free from fingerprints. As with all Knomo bags the iPad slim sleeve has a tracker tag. This is a unique number that (once registered) is linked to you and means that should you lose it, it can be returned to you – hopefully with the iPad still in it!
Knomo iPad Slim Sleeve
So that’s my round of up iPad cases. It’s just a small selection though, so if you’ve not seen the case here that’s right for you, take a look at the full range of iPad cases on offer at Gearzap.com.
Loading ...
Tags: Apple iPad Case, Apple iPad Cases, Apple iPad Cover, Apple iPad Covers, Apple iPad Pouch, Apple iPad Pouches, Apple iPad Skin, Apple iPad Skins, iPad Case, iPad Cases, iPad Cover, iPad Covers, iPad Pouch, iPad Pouches, iPad Skin, iPad Skins,
Comments Off
Subscribe to feed
