Brydge Keyboard turns the iPad mini into a notebook

We have another Bluetooth keyboard for the multiple iPad Mini’s out there. This one is similar to the Zagg Folio Keyboard reviewed previously but rather than snapping into a clamshell that was damn near impossible to keep clean, the iPad Mini slides into two hinges. The Brydge Keyboard also come packing other neat features like aluminum case, Bluetooth connection, function keys specific to the iPad, and the keyboard goes into a sleep status when closed. The sleek metal body matches the design of the apple iPad mini well with the quality of that found in apple-licensed accessories. It took a minute to get the mini into the clamps, so it is time to sync to the keyboard and complete my impressions. 

The Brydge Keyboard has a nice solid feel to it without the added girth of having to put the iPad into a case that is attached to a keyboard. I have always been a fan of turning the tablet into a smaller, more portable keyboard, and this small keyboard does well at accomplishing this. In my week of use, I did not have to recharge the device at all and it appears after looking at the box that the battery life is up to 3 months, this is based on usage types of course. The keys are also backlit, which was not of much use to me but I know of some that prefer this feature. The keys felt natural and had a decent resistance reducing mistyping due to clumsy fingers. Getting the clamp fit just right took a few attempts though, as it is built to house the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd generations, pinching and resetting was necessary to get a tight fit. 

I was pleasantly surprised with the Brydge Keyboard from it’s solid build and long battery life. I had previously preferred Zagg’s attempt at turning the small tablet into notebook, but this keyboard has since removed it from it’s pedestal. My only complaint came from the clamp design, but did not take long to grow on me. The look of the keyboard also matches the design of the iPad, looking like the two were made for each other while also providing protection to the screen on the go when the hinges are closed. Brydge’s Keyboard is available now in silver, gold, and my preference, space grey; all of which are priced at $129.99.

UAG outfits my phone and tablet with Mil-Spec Scout and Scout Fol

Our next review comes from a company new to me, Urban Armor Gear, and they have provided me with their military spec cases for the iPhone 5/5s and the iPad­ mini. UAG is a Southern California based company that has the adventure seekers in mind when designing their lineup as all products provide a rugged and protective design to survive the bumps and falls a bare phone would not typically survive. Their composite cases offer multiple function protection via a hard outer shell teamed with an impact resistant core and an array of colors to also turn heads and stand out from saturated phone case market.

I will start with the Scout case for my iPhone and this case with fast and easy to put on and the first thing in which I noticed were the larger volume and lock button, making it easier to locate and press while the low profile case avoids adding too much bulk to an already slim phone. The corners are raised and the border also prevents the phones screen from resting flat on surface to help prevent superficial scratches to the screen. The design does a great job of providing a tactical look for enthusiasts and protection for the abusive phone users by way of a patent pending honeycomb design on the inside to increase protection over that of the more standard cases by making sure that each case meets military drop test standards. The Scout case is available now in a variety of seven colors for the price of $34.95.

Next up is the Scout Folio case for the iPad Mini and if you couldn't gather from the name, this gem sports a folio design that protects the screen when not in use and sturdily holds upright when in use. This case does include similar feature to the Scout phone case, such as the lightweight composite construction, large tactile buttons, impact resistant core, and meeting military drop standards. Where it does stand out is the design and materials in which it is wrapped in, as it has a soft hexagonal material that is easy to grip and prevents sliding. Like most folio cases out for the apple tablets, this does make use of a Smart Cover to preserve battery on top of protection and the cover also folds put to stand upright in landscape layout for watching, browsing and typing. The Scout Folio is available now in black for the price of $49.95.

I was impressed with the UAG lineup for my apple devices as the sported a tactical look, provided protection from the overly fragile devices, and an affordable price tag. Sure there were some nuances, mostly just the loose fit along the bottom of my phone, but the extreme heat of Arizona is usually the cause and the bulkiness of the cases. The Scout for the iPhone's added bulk wasn't too bad, but the Scout Folio really added some girth to the tablet. If you are a fan of tactically designed tech accessories but do not have an apple phone or tablet, worry not as UAG also has cases for a number of Samsung's devices and the HTC One.

Element Case outfits us with the Officially Licensed Ducatl linueup

My next review comes from one of my favorite case makers, Element Case, and this time around we have another collaboration, this time with a well-known exotic motorcycle manufacturer, Ducati. As a teenager, I was obsessed with Ducati's 996 and over the years the bikes have continually looked better. These sleek, subtle, and bold designs have been incorporated into accessories to protect recent apple devices. The items from the Ducati lineup that I received were the Solace case for the iPhone 5/5s, the red Vapor Dock for my phone, and the Soft-Tec case for the iPad Mini.

First up is the Solace case for my iPhone and for starters, the issue in which I had with the Hogue case is gone as there is no back plate to stick to the phone. The case wrapped my phone snugly in a strong polycarbonate shell and to give it that Ducati feel, the top and bottom are made up of anodized red aircraft aluminum crowns. This case is sexy as it is durable and if there were any one thing in which I did not like about this case, it would have to be the amount of time wiping smudges from the soft touch Ducati branded case. One of my favorite parts of getting sample units from Element Case are the cases that come with it, with Hogue there was the tactical holster and with the Solace, the contents included a Soft-Tec wallet case to ditch my wallet. The Solace Ducati Edition case is available now for $99.95.

Next in the Ducati lineup is the Soft-Tec folio case for my iPad Mini, which Element Case has also tailored to the Apple's other tablets. I had previously received the Soft-Tec Pro for the pint-sized tablet and it was a bit bulky, but this case uses a low profile shell to cut down on the girth. The inner lining is synthetic suede in a bright red to go with the Ducati logos pressed into the front and back of the case. The synthetic texture that wraps the outside makes the case easy to grip on the go and also prevents slippage when propped up on my desk or lap. Speaking of when the case is propped up, the hard-shell has a soft rubber feel that grips to the bright red suede at most any angles. The Soft-Tec Ducati Edition case for the iPad mini is available now for iPad Mini and Air for $79.95 and $89.95 for the iPad 2/3/4.

The last of the trifecta is the Vapor dock, an anodized red aluminum charging dock for the iPhone 5/5s. This sturdy dock is designed for the 8 pin Lightning charging cable with a cable management system on the bottom to give it a sleek cordless look depending in how you may have it set up on your desk. If you are someone that does not use a Bluetooth speaker but use your phone's internal speakers for sound, holes and air chambers have been machined into the dock to help amplify the sound from the phone. The thing that is great about this dock is it matches the Solace case perfectly and has a great snug fit so my phone doesn't wiggle at all while docked. The bad is the charge cable is screwed into the bottom of the case making it hard to remove to say, charge an iPad, and the black spacer easily falls out when moving the dock around making it easy to lose. The Vapor Dock is available now for the price of $99.95.

ZAGGkeys Folio brings keyboard to tablets in hinged clamshell design

One of the gems I saw during my CES experience was not from a big 4k display or the onslaught of e-cigs, but that of a keyboard case. I have not been a fan of most keyboard cases I have seen or used, but using a clamshell design is unique enough to not have the keyboard on a flap or where you have to separate and mount upright, that it quickly changed my opinion on strapping a keyboard to my tablet. This mobile accessory is Zagg's folio and features a hinged design that is able to provide over 135 degrees of viewing angles, a backlit keyboard with island style keys, only 7.6mm thick, and packs a big enough battery to go up to three months between charges.  Now that my iPad Mini is snapped in place and I have already writteen three reviews from this keyboard, it's only fitting I write it's own review from it. 

The ZAGG Folio is a great little case, the hinge design is exactly what the tablet needed as it feels more sturdy, has great feedback while typing, and the backlit keyboard is great for both aesthetics and trying to type in dark surroundings. What I did not realize was that this clamshell's keys backlighting colors were customizable with seven different colors. The case also has a leatherette skin on the front and back to look sleek and provide grip during typing on both laps and desks. Hinges, if not built strong enough could be disastrous, causing slack while opened or closed but this folio's hinge is tight like a tiger with no slack after heavy use for the last two weeks. There were a couple nuisances that I encountered during usage but nothing too bad, I just cleaned it frequently and always, always, always proof read. The white skin picks up any and all dirty whether you see it or not, so that is the reason for the constant cleaning and the Bluetooth connection sometimes causes duplicate letters when typing, hence the proofreading commandment. 

Despite the two slight issues, this folio is the closest I have seen to successfully turning the iPad into a miniature MacBook, which I loved with the exception constantly moving my thumbs beneath the Space Bar looking for the touch pad. The Zagg Folio is available now for the iPad Mini and Air for the price of $99.99. Despite having to having to remove the tablet to play games in portrait mode comfortable, the ZAGG Folio is one of my favorite cases as it was great for working on the go when the laptop is not convenient to get to and always gets comments from tablet owners when I pull out the iPad Mini and quickly start typing away while they are fumbling with the touchscreen.

C6 wraps the iPad Mini in their Magnafix Bookcase

Moving on to the next product now, a case for the iPad Mini, the Bookcase that comes to me from C6. This smart fold style case is not exactly like the rest of them, it's standout feature consists of a magnetic locating system on the case for the cover to hold my tablet either upright for viewing or typing while also offering protection. The front cover works as a Smart Cover that sleeps/wakes the tablet upon opening, preventing the always annoying slide to unlock. The materials that make up this case are polycarbonate for protection and the inside of the front cover is made up of micro fibre to help keep the screen clean. Now that the case is snapped on my tablet, it is time to see how it performs.

I like my cases to be minimal and functional, so when I popped my iPad Mini into the Bookcase, it was not noticeably bigger or heavier in my hands. I have come across some cases where the smart cover does not occasionally work or at all, but C6’s case works great. The magnetic locating system really shines as it holds the cover strongly against the back of the case and is easy to find the sweet spot without fumbling. The only issues in which I noticed during use was that while the microfiber lining is nice to help keep the screen clean, it is very hard to keep the micro fiber clean. While the magnetic locator is nice for standing the tablet up for viewing and typing, I was left hoping for another locator to hold the cover flat against the back of the case when reading.

C6’s Bookcase is a solid case for protecting my iPad Mini without adding much to the size and weight of the of the already small mini. The magnetic stand was also a great idea as it held my iPad Mini securely upright on my nightstand, counter tops, and at my workspace. Keep in mind that it is really easy to get dirty and hard to clean, but as long as the elements are forgiving, this allows for easy transportation of the Mini. C6 has made the Bookcase available in a variety of color combinations to provide subtle personalization without screaming for attention at the price of 36 pounds, which at the time of writing this converted to roughly $57.50.

Ten 1 Design stands the iPad Mini up with the Magnus Mini

The company that has provided us with numerous styli for our tablets have sent us something different from their norm with the Magnus Mini iPad Mini stand. The Magnus Mini is a small and lightweight piece of plastic that is coated with a rubber surface and houses ten individual magnets to set the small tablet and be held upright or at an angle suitable for typing. The stand sports a minimalist look, which is hard to see from the front and strong enough to not only view but is able to be used while upright. I had previously gotten to spend some with with the full size Magnus for the iPad 2 and up, and while it was a little large, it was a mighty stand, now that the Magnus is a fraction of the size, it is time to see how well this this stand functions.

Immediately after removing my iPad Mini from it’s folio case and placing on the Magnus Mini I was in love, as it is small without taking up much space to toss in my bag with me. Using the stand also could not be any easier, but remember that it only magnetically connects to the left side and connect it does by just simply placing above the palm sized stand. After seeing how large the the full size Magnus was, I admit that there was some apprehension on how well it would work based on it's small stature but the Magnus Mini did work and did it well. Just how small is the Mini, well let's just say that it fit in the  iPad Mini's pocket in my laptop bag on top of the tablet without scratching or using force to store. There were a couple items to keep in mind before purchasing, the first being that my tablet had to be removed from it's case before use, and the other would be when the tablet is at a typing angle, type lightly as it isn't quite stable enough for the heavy typer.

The Magnus Mini is exactly what I was hoping for from Ten 1 Designs. With how stylish and innovative their products are , I really wish they produced more. If you are someone that already has a case that holds the tablet at a viewing angle, it may not be a good idea to get another stand, but if you are like me and keep the iPad Mini on the nightstand or desk, then the Magnus Mini will do the job great and stylishly. It has such a low profile that it is hard to even see the stand when my tablet is attached and the soft plastic coating prevents scratches while traveling. Ten 1 Design's Magnus Mini is available now in black for $29.95 and if you own the full size iPad, the Magnus is available in in silver for $49.95.

SmartStyle case protects iPad Mini is in style

The company that has provided me with the Dash Folio case for the iPad Mini has sent the latest in their mini tablet lineup, SmartStyle, by X-Doria. The SmartStyle case differs from the Dash Folio by way of design as it touts a unique puff printed cover with 3D patterns in Bloom and Herringbone, which also makes the case easier to carry on the go. This case is also designed to stand either upright for viewing or inclined for typing and is topped off by magnets in the front flap to sleep/wake when to case is opened and closed. The iPad Mini is wrapped in a rubber case to withstand impact in which the cover is sewn to in order to make up this slim stand out fashion case, so let’s see how it holds up.

The SmartStyle is the most slim case I have reviewed for the small tablet yet, with the slim rubber case that holds the iPad Mini and the fabric cover that is just thick enough to be stable but not so thick that it lacks flexibility. The smart cover is also a great feature as you do not have to slide to unlock every time you open or close the front cover and the puff print of the pattern provides peace of mind with additional grip for those times it is not stored away in a bag. The flexibility of the cover and the multiple folds for viewing angles also make access and shooting pictures fast and clear of obstructions. The previously reviewed Dash Folio  had an elastic strap to hold the front cover closed, unfortunately the SmartStyle lacks the means to keep the front cover closed on the go aside from placing between multiple items or simply holding closed. In order for the case to be as thin as it is, it does not provide the same amount of security that some of the other cases I have reviewed provide.

The SmartStyle case by X-Doria is a nice and affordable case that both protected my iPad Mini and made it stand out from the numerous tablets throughout the office. Coming in two specific designs, the Herringbone comes in blue and white color, while the Bloom comes with a pink and teal scheme. After reviewing a number of cases for the tablet from X-Doria and a number of other accessory companies, the SmartStyle is easily the loudest looking and most stand out case that has wrapped my mini iPad. With the numerous ways in which a front cover can be held closed, i.e magnet, button, strap, etc., I am still surprised none of these methods were used to help keep the front cover closed. X-Doria’s SmartStyle is available now for the price of $39.99.

id America outfits us with a lineup fit for any executive

This next review comes from an innovative case and accessory company that is know for their unique look, with cases designed to look like an engine gaskets and headphones that resemble spark plugs. I am talking about id America and rather than a fun style, we got more of a mobile executive suite and the theme is black leather. If you are a proud owner of an iPhone 5, iPad Mini, MP3 player, or multiple electronic devices that requires charging via micro USB, 30 pin, or lightning, id has got you covered. In the following paragraphs, I will discuss my time spent with the Wall St, SmartFold, new Spark, and CrossLink so let’s get to it.

First up is the Wall St, the genuine leather case for the iPhone 5 that offers a place to store cards to try to eliminate that bulky Costanza wallet. This is a sleek little case offers a sleeve design where the phone slides into the case from the top, and it contains a slot for ID, business card, or VIP passes. While this additional slot for storage was nice for an evening out when I only needed my ID and bank card, but it only held 2 cards before I would really have to cram anything else in, the suede lining also make it easy to slide cards out for access. I would have liked for the Wall St to have come in a model without the card slot as well for those of us that have separation anxiety from our wallets. Wall St is available now and comes in a variety of six colors priced at $34.95.

Next up is the SmartFold, a leatherette case for the iPad Mini, and while it is not genuine leather like the Wall St, it is a nice and slim case for the mini tablet. The front flap folds to hold the device at multiple viewing angles and is designed to be a smart cover to auto sleep and wake. I did have an issue with this as my tablet did not sleep with closed and sometimes woke when opened, but was able to feel magnets hold flap closed. With the SmartFold, I still had access to take pictures and face time without obstruction to my view and is easy to wipe clean with a damp cloth, and the iPad Mini slides into the case rather than wrapping in a plastic or rubber shell that is sown onto the synthetic leather material. The SmartFold is available now for $39.95 in black or white.

To go with the black on black on black theme, are the new Spark earbuds that offer high definition sound with an aluminum build. These little plugs come packing a 9mm driver, one button in line remote/microphone, carrying case, and black and white cable that is reminiscent to how the Bose earbuds cable looks. That is where the similarity in looks stops as the actual earbuds are designed to resemble spark plugs. In terms of sound the mids and highs were crisp and offered a nice range, the bass was nice and subtle without drowning out the clarity. That being said, they do fit comfortably with three silicone tip sizes and the cable always tended to get tangled up but while moving around, they always stayed in their place and did not have to fumble with finding and putting them back in place. The new Spark is available now also in black or white for the price of $59.95.

Lastly, and this is more of a must have multi purpose cable that is great for consolidating numerous charging cables. The CrossLink is a flat cable with soft rubber coating that does not tangle or bind and is three feet long. It has the capability of charging apple devices by lightning or 30 pin for the older devices, along with a micro USB capabilities for most other tech toys. This cable is great, especially for anyone on the go that takes multiple devices with them, like a digital camera, tablet, phone, or Bluetooth speaker, the ClossLink Sync & Charge cable is up to the task, priced at $17.95.

Booq stylish encase the iPad Mini and iPhone 5

Our friends over at Booq sent out a couple new items from their lineup to outfit my two must have items on the go, the iPhone 5 and iPad Mini. Both the Booqpad agenda for the iPad Mini and the Fiber snapcase came to me in matching grey color and material so it is a match made in heaven.  These cases come with a fibre material much like that debuted in the Mamba Courier, previously reviewed. The snapcase is compact with thick sides to protect from impact, while the agenda is built to be you compact on the go networking device, so let’s how they fare.

First up we have the Fibre snapcase, similar to many other cases out there, this one goes with a grey soft touch polycarbonate, built with the intent to protect your phone but with fashion taking priority over function. The stand out visual appeal of this case is the fiber inlay, and the textured look is what makes the snapcase stand out. It does grip well and does not slide when held but also does not empty my pocket every time I reached for my phone. The fiber material is what I really liked, it is stylish and matches cases for other products.

Speaking of matching other products, it is time for the Booqpad Mini agenda for iPad and this case is less like your typical case and more of a padfolio as the agenda buttons closed, includes a pen/stylus holder, and notepad. Being a lefty, I was worried that this case was made for the majority, but there is a slot at the top and bottom to hold a notepad no matter what hand you use without resting directly on the iPad Mini. This case does not double as a stand, so do not expect to hold the tablet upright along with lacking a hole for the camera, so when the camera is needed, the mini needs to be removed from the case.

Booq made my week as more cases in their fiber material means time to rewrap my electronics. Whether alone or together the Mini agenda and Fibre snapcase are a sleek and stylish way to make your apple iPhone or ipad stand out from the numerous tablets out there. The notepad was nice but I did not finding myself using it to ofter as it is just as easy to take notes from the iPad, but it did make a nice sketch pad when brainstorming. Both cases are available now in an assortment of colors and priced at less than eighty dollars if you pick both or $39.95 for the Mini agenda and $29.95 for the Fibre snapcase.

Bracketron's NanoTek Stand holds tight and doesn't let go

Bracketron has provided me with another phone mount from their product line, the NanoTek Stand, and not like the Mi-T grip we previously reviewed, this one is for your desk. This desktop mount uses NanoTek mounting technology to securely hold my phone to the mount that just so happens to grip the desk as well and the conduit between the two is an aircraft grade aluminum stand in silver or black. The stand is built to hold mobile devices in either vertical or horizontal positions, so lets see if it ever loses it’s grip.

The NanoTek Stand is a great accessory for most any desktop as I love cases with a kickstand for this very reason, but most of them are an eyesore, so rather than using a kickstand case, you simply touch your phone to this little stand and it is not going anywhere. I have seen similar, much cheaper, versions of this type of stand, as corporate promotional swag, but none of them had an incorporated cable management that is built to hold most any charging cable and most certainly were not built with the stylish looking aircraft grade aluminum. I have been using for about a week now and there are two items in which I wished were changed in production, the first would be the sharp edges, if they were rounded  it wouldn’t feel so sharp. This is also the case for the cable management system, the sharp edges make me worry the next time I pull on the cable for slack, it will be the time I strip the cable from the rubber coating.  

In the end, this is a great stand as is holds the same style and overall appearance of apple’s aluminum build and never once disappointed when I placed my phone against it. A nice added plus to this stand is that it holds most anything to the NanoTek material as long as it is a smooth non-porous surface. Should the surface get dirty over time, all you need to do in order to clean the surface is simply use a piece of tape on the surface to restore suction to when it was fresh out of the box. Lastly, the NanoTek stand is strong enough to hold the iPad Mini, which makes streaming shows from the desktop easy without using my computer’s resources. The NanoTek stand is available now for the price of $29.95.