Cygnett Apollo Hybrid Case

Rating: 9 out of 10
Pros: Super matte finish, soft rubber interior, easy to get out with the bottom “tongue”, the price is right at under $30, soon to come in a variety of colors, feels great in the hand, no flash bounce back.
Cons: The button piece near the 30 pin has a slight sag.
Overall: The Cygnett Apollo case for the iPhone 4 and 4S is a solid case under $30 and it definitely rivals that of higher priced offerings from other companies.  The only reason this case doesn’t get a perfect score is because of the minor sag at the bottom, emphasis on minor.  Cygnett has really impressed me with their diligence and innovation over the past year and they have certainly become a legit force in the accessory market.  They have listened to what their customers have been asking for and it has obviously served them well.  I look forward to reviewing more of their cases, but in the meantime the Apollo gets my editor’s Choice Award.

You can pick up the Cygnett Apollo and any other Cygnett product from www.Cygnett.com.

CES 2012: iHome Boom Box

Cool new products from iHome at CES 2012 in Las Vegas. Go check out all their offerings at www.iHomeAudio.com

Speck Candyshell Grip

Rating: 9 out of 10
Pros: Speck quality, thinner and wider, no slip grip, easy to get on and off, cool colors, raised rubber keeps the case from scratching on the back.
Cons: Pricey at $34.95, the rubber grips are a tradeoff to easy slide in and out of pockets.
Overall: The Speck Candyshell Grip is a nice addition to the Candyshell family with a bit of a different feel. The Grip is a bit thinner than other Candyshells and a bit wider so there is a distinctive feel to the case.  The rubber grips add extra hold and are ideal for gaming, texting and just keeping your phone where it is supposed to be.  With the raised rubber grips the spine no longer has an issue with scratching but the tradeoff is less of easy slide in and out of the pockets.

You can pick up the Speck Candyshell Grip from many outlets but the easiest way to to just head on over to www.SpeckProducts.com and take advantage of free shipping on all US orders.

CustomBuds Earphones Version 2

Rating: 9 out of 10
Pros: Completely customizable low priced earphones
Cons: None
Overall: CustomBuds have really stepped up their game in improving their original earphones. I have to say that the first version of these earphones were torture to test out because the audio was so muffled and bad, but CustomBuds didn’t just sit on their laurels. They updated the drivers in the earphones and now they sound great. I think for the price that they are a great buy, especially when you’re able to pick out the colors of every part of the earphones.

If you’re interested in purchasing the CustomBuds for $30, you can do so on their website.
Stay Tuned for a Give-Away with two winners getting their own pair of CustomBuds.

AKG GHS1 Xbox 360 Gaming Headset

Rating: 9 out of 10
Pros: Excellent build quality and look as well as overall sound and experience
Cons: Cord on the adapter is extremely long and needs a way to control the Game Sound so that chatting can be heard better.
Overall: AKG, one of the worlds most recognized headphone manufacturers brings gaming to a whole new level.  The AKG GHS1 is their gaming headphones that are now compatible with the Xbox 360 due to there new adapter.  The build quality and look of the headphones are to be expected from this excellent brand.  They are available in three different colors and retail for $79.95 on their website.  At first the headphones seem a bit faded but as they are used more and more, the sound that comes through them is truly INCREDIBLE.  Everything can be heard loud and clear as if you were surrounded in the game.  They are worth every penny and I fully recommend them to any gamer since they are compatible not only with the Xbox 360 but also your PC.

You can pick these up from the AKG website for $79.95.  Let us know what you think and what you like/dislike about these great gaming headphones.

Eton Mobius Solar Powered Battery Case

Rating: 9 out of 10
Pros: Offers great protection while extended battery life all into one.  Additionally have the extra battery power on the go without the use of charging the extended battery via USB or an outlet but with the included solar panel built into the case itself.
Cons: Very bulky and somewhat heavy.
Overall: The new Solar Powered Mobius case from Eton for your iPhone 4/4S is truly a new fresh, and innovative product.  It is available for purchase for just under $80 and offers great drop protection while giving you the possibility of charging your phone or that much needed power while your on the go.  The case can be charged via the included usb or wall outlet as well as the built in solar panel that is really what makes this truly an incredible device.  The battery is an 1800 MaH and gives you almost one extra full charge to your iPhone 4/4S from a complete drain.

Head over to the Eton site and take a look for yourself.  If you own one let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.

Application Review: Charades

Rating: 9 out of 10
Pros: Family Fun, Simple, and Different Difficulties to choose from
Cons: Price of application
Overall: Charades is a very simple application. It takes the game we all love to play and brings it to our phones. There’s no need for a board game or limited cut outs of charade ideas. With Charades the application you are able to choose the difficulty of the charade that is presented to you. The charade presented is a random drawing which makes it even more fun for both the person doing the charade and the people trying to figure it out. A nice add in feature to the game is that if you don’t know who or what charade has been presented to you you can quickly look it up with the question mark icon in the application and it will take you to a Wikipedia article on the charade.

The greatest thing about the application and smart phones in general is that applications can be updated. With an update a whole new experience or category can be added into the application. So you should never have to worry about repeating a charade. What I love about this specific application is the fact that the interface is simple. There is nothing unnecessary or annoying that will cause your battery to die or for you to draw your attention to your phone other than simply reading the charade. I like classic things. So a classic game of charades should not be focused on the device rather the game itself.

App Cost: $1.99
iTunes App Store Link

Antec Device Cleaning Solutions

Rating: 9 out of 10
Pros: Keeps screens cleaner longer, anti bacterial, different formulations for different people, ammonia free.
Cons: Difficult to find a retailer or e-tailer carrying your exact configuration.
Overall: The Antec device cleaners have performed well in my tests and all sorts of devices from phones to tablets to monitors and television screens seem to have stayed cleaner longer.  You can learn more about all of the Antec products by visiting their website at www.Antect.com to find a retailer near you.

Free App A Day: Nostalgio

With Nostalgio you can freely express your creativity and make professionally looking photo collages in minutes. With a large variety of frame templates, thoroughly selected border styles, effects and other editing options you have nothing left but to produce a masterpiece!

Use the camera to take a couple of new shots or open the photo albums to upload your favorite images! Launch the camera view simultaneously in all frames to assemble your perfect collage by simply tapping within each rectangle. The images can be further resized, rotated and altered by adding a variety of effects to perfectly fit the assigned frame.

FEATURES:
• Lots of collage templates
• Start by selecting number of parts or frame design
• An ability to choose photos from albums or take new ones
• Launch Camera in all frames
• Let the app create a collage for you
• Spin, rotate and resize you photos for perfect look
• Change the style of collage borders
• Try different layouts to make your collage look exactly the way you want it!
• Save and share across multiple social networks

Available in the iPhone App Store.

CES 2012: BodyGuardz Innovations