exkc135driver
08-15-10, 01:19
I recently updated my cell phone from a small candy bar sized Nokia, which has served me well for 5-1/2 years, to an iPhone 4. Those phones are expensive to repair or replace, so before I acquired the phone I researched options to maximize the life of the phone. Many of you on this forum have hobbies or occupations which would put your iPhone or other smart phone at risk for loss or damage, so I thought I’d share the results of my research and (so far very limited) experience.
Protection from Damage
You have 3 choices: carry your iPhone without a case, use an iPhone Bumper, or use a case.
➢ Based on the fact that both the front and the back of the iPhone 4 are glass, and having seen too many pictures of dropped iPhones with crazed (or worse) glass, I decided early on that not using a case was asking for an expensive repair bill in the future.
➢ iPhone Bumpers may solve the antenna problem (if there really is one), but they offer very little protection. Until recently, Bumpers cost $29.95 – way too much money for a 50-cent piece of plastic. You can buy a case for less than that which will solve the antenna problem and offer some protection.
➢ Acquire a case. For not much more than a Bumper would have cost, you can purchase a case that will offer real protection. For me, that was an easy choice. Also, Apple has recently announced that, because of the controversy surrounding the antenna problem, it will give you a free Bumper or case (your choice) if you purchased an iPhone 4 – for iPhones purchased before July 23, 2010, you must apply NLT August 22, 2010; for iPhone 4 purchases after that date but NLT September 30, 2010, you must apply within 30 days. If you previously purchased a Bumper, Apple will refund your money. So there is no reason to not encase your shiny but fragile iPhone.
Case Choices
Although I’ve already purchased a case, nothing beats free, so I plan on getting a free case as detailed above. But there are better choices for serious protection: Otterbox and Ballistic. Both companies make cases which offer a high degree of protection, the highest being Otterbox’s “Defender” series and Ballistic’s “HC” series. Otterbox makes cases for a variety of smart phones in each of its 3 series, while Ballistic only makes cases for the HTC EVO, the iPhone 3/3GS, the iPhone 4, and the iPad. At the present time, the only case available in Ballistic’s “HC” series is for the iPhone 4.
➢ Otterbox “Defender” series: these cases have 3 parts: a shell into which the phone is inserted, a cover which fits over the front of the phone, and a silicone outer case into which the covered phone is inserted. In addition there is a holster into which the encased phone snaps. Although the phone can probably be used with just the inner case, the addition of the outer case helps hold the inner case together and adds substantially to the ability of the case to protect the phone.
➢ Ballistic “HC” series: like the Otterbox, this case has a shell into which the phone is inserted, a cover that fits over the front of the phone, and a silicone outer case into which the covered phone is inserted. It also has a holster into which the encased phone is snapped. The iPhone 4 can definitely be used with just the inner case, but as with the Otterbox, the outer case adds to the structural integrity of the assembly and adds substantially to the ability of the case to protect the phone.
➢ Otterbox “Defender” vs. Ballistic “HC”: Neither of these cases is small; for an iPhone 4, the measurements (to the nearest 1/16”) are:
o Naked iPhone 4: 4-1/2” H x 2-5/16” W x 3/8” thick (as measured by me);
o iPhone 4 in Otterbox “Defender” case: 4.85” x 2.67” x 0.66” (according to Otterbox);
o iPhone 4 in Ballistic “HC” inner case: 4-7/8” x 2-3/4” x 5/8” (as measured by me);
o iPhone 4 in Ballistic “HC” complete case: 5” x 2-7/8” x 3/4” (as measured by me).
For many of you the Otterbox will be the only choice. For iPhone 4 users either would serve you well. Aesthetically, I think the Otterbox has a more “finished” look. The holster for both the Ballistic holster and the Otterbox holster is ratcheted.
Ballistic has posted several videos on YouTube showing Ballistic-encased iPhones being dropped onto pavement from 25 feet, thrown against a wall, dragged behind a truck across a parking lot, etc. Those videos are pretty impressive and made my choice an easy one.
Some people have noted a watermark or oiling effect between the clear cover of both the Ballistic case and the Otterbox case and the iPhone screen. I inserted my iPhone into the Ballistic case with the original protective plastic on the front and back of the iPhone intact (other than cutting away areas for the camera lens, etc.) and have noticed no watermark or oiling effect. And yes, the touch screen works just fine. I imagine this would work with the Otterbox as well.
Either case improves the feel of the phone and makes it much less slippery and less likely to slip out of a shirt pocket. Pricewise there is nothing to choose from as each case costs $49.99.
Protection from Loss/Theft
For a while I carried insurance on my Nokia through AT&T. It was $4.99 a month and for $35.00 they would replace the phone. However the deal with the iPhone 4 is $11.99 a month with a $199 deductible and you have to sign up within 30 days of activating your phone. On the other hand, it will cost you much more than that to buy the phone at the non-contract price, not to mention replacing the apps and data.
Alternatively, you can sign up for the MobileMe service with Apple for $99/year or $149/year for the family plan ($69/$119 for the first year if the service is purchased with the phone) which gives you zero insurance but gives you the ability to remotely lock and/or wipe the phone, plus a GPS thingie which will give you the phone’s approximate location if you lose or misplace it. Since you get a 60-day free trial of the service, you can get the most bang for the buck by buying the service when you buy the phone ($69 or $119 if you add your wife’s or up to 4 other people’s iPhones), immediately initiating the free trial, then not activating the paid service until around day 55 … that way you get almost 14 months of service the first year. Be aware, though, that if you decide to return the MobileMe software (which is actually just an activation code for paid service), you must return the unopened MobileMe package within 14 days of purchase. Should you do so, though, you can continue to use the balance of your 60-day free trial period.
Any Otterbox users want to add to this?
Standard disclaimer: I have no connection with any of the companies listed.
Protection from Damage
You have 3 choices: carry your iPhone without a case, use an iPhone Bumper, or use a case.
➢ Based on the fact that both the front and the back of the iPhone 4 are glass, and having seen too many pictures of dropped iPhones with crazed (or worse) glass, I decided early on that not using a case was asking for an expensive repair bill in the future.
➢ iPhone Bumpers may solve the antenna problem (if there really is one), but they offer very little protection. Until recently, Bumpers cost $29.95 – way too much money for a 50-cent piece of plastic. You can buy a case for less than that which will solve the antenna problem and offer some protection.
➢ Acquire a case. For not much more than a Bumper would have cost, you can purchase a case that will offer real protection. For me, that was an easy choice. Also, Apple has recently announced that, because of the controversy surrounding the antenna problem, it will give you a free Bumper or case (your choice) if you purchased an iPhone 4 – for iPhones purchased before July 23, 2010, you must apply NLT August 22, 2010; for iPhone 4 purchases after that date but NLT September 30, 2010, you must apply within 30 days. If you previously purchased a Bumper, Apple will refund your money. So there is no reason to not encase your shiny but fragile iPhone.
Case Choices
Although I’ve already purchased a case, nothing beats free, so I plan on getting a free case as detailed above. But there are better choices for serious protection: Otterbox and Ballistic. Both companies make cases which offer a high degree of protection, the highest being Otterbox’s “Defender” series and Ballistic’s “HC” series. Otterbox makes cases for a variety of smart phones in each of its 3 series, while Ballistic only makes cases for the HTC EVO, the iPhone 3/3GS, the iPhone 4, and the iPad. At the present time, the only case available in Ballistic’s “HC” series is for the iPhone 4.
➢ Otterbox “Defender” series: these cases have 3 parts: a shell into which the phone is inserted, a cover which fits over the front of the phone, and a silicone outer case into which the covered phone is inserted. In addition there is a holster into which the encased phone snaps. Although the phone can probably be used with just the inner case, the addition of the outer case helps hold the inner case together and adds substantially to the ability of the case to protect the phone.
➢ Ballistic “HC” series: like the Otterbox, this case has a shell into which the phone is inserted, a cover that fits over the front of the phone, and a silicone outer case into which the covered phone is inserted. It also has a holster into which the encased phone is snapped. The iPhone 4 can definitely be used with just the inner case, but as with the Otterbox, the outer case adds to the structural integrity of the assembly and adds substantially to the ability of the case to protect the phone.
➢ Otterbox “Defender” vs. Ballistic “HC”: Neither of these cases is small; for an iPhone 4, the measurements (to the nearest 1/16”) are:
o Naked iPhone 4: 4-1/2” H x 2-5/16” W x 3/8” thick (as measured by me);
o iPhone 4 in Otterbox “Defender” case: 4.85” x 2.67” x 0.66” (according to Otterbox);
o iPhone 4 in Ballistic “HC” inner case: 4-7/8” x 2-3/4” x 5/8” (as measured by me);
o iPhone 4 in Ballistic “HC” complete case: 5” x 2-7/8” x 3/4” (as measured by me).
For many of you the Otterbox will be the only choice. For iPhone 4 users either would serve you well. Aesthetically, I think the Otterbox has a more “finished” look. The holster for both the Ballistic holster and the Otterbox holster is ratcheted.
Ballistic has posted several videos on YouTube showing Ballistic-encased iPhones being dropped onto pavement from 25 feet, thrown against a wall, dragged behind a truck across a parking lot, etc. Those videos are pretty impressive and made my choice an easy one.
Some people have noted a watermark or oiling effect between the clear cover of both the Ballistic case and the Otterbox case and the iPhone screen. I inserted my iPhone into the Ballistic case with the original protective plastic on the front and back of the iPhone intact (other than cutting away areas for the camera lens, etc.) and have noticed no watermark or oiling effect. And yes, the touch screen works just fine. I imagine this would work with the Otterbox as well.
Either case improves the feel of the phone and makes it much less slippery and less likely to slip out of a shirt pocket. Pricewise there is nothing to choose from as each case costs $49.99.
Protection from Loss/Theft
For a while I carried insurance on my Nokia through AT&T. It was $4.99 a month and for $35.00 they would replace the phone. However the deal with the iPhone 4 is $11.99 a month with a $199 deductible and you have to sign up within 30 days of activating your phone. On the other hand, it will cost you much more than that to buy the phone at the non-contract price, not to mention replacing the apps and data.
Alternatively, you can sign up for the MobileMe service with Apple for $99/year or $149/year for the family plan ($69/$119 for the first year if the service is purchased with the phone) which gives you zero insurance but gives you the ability to remotely lock and/or wipe the phone, plus a GPS thingie which will give you the phone’s approximate location if you lose or misplace it. Since you get a 60-day free trial of the service, you can get the most bang for the buck by buying the service when you buy the phone ($69 or $119 if you add your wife’s or up to 4 other people’s iPhones), immediately initiating the free trial, then not activating the paid service until around day 55 … that way you get almost 14 months of service the first year. Be aware, though, that if you decide to return the MobileMe software (which is actually just an activation code for paid service), you must return the unopened MobileMe package within 14 days of purchase. Should you do so, though, you can continue to use the balance of your 60-day free trial period.
Any Otterbox users want to add to this?
Standard disclaimer: I have no connection with any of the companies listed.