To Otter or Not to Otter

Most people have heard about an Otterbox. It’s probably one of the most popular brands in cell phone cases in general, and certainly for iPhone cases. I thought I should write a little review primarily about some of the misconceptions about the Otterbox Defender series as well as an overview about the case.

First, let’s deal with some of the myths about Otterboxes:

1)  The Warranty. Many people have heard that if your phone is in an Otterbox and it breaks, that Otterbox will replace your phone. That is, quite frankly, a big fat hunk of poo. No company would expose themselves to several hundreds of dollars of liability simply on a person’s “word” that it was in an Otterbox. Otterbox specifically says on their website that they do not warrantee the electronic devices (think: your iPhone) that are in their case. They warrantee their cases for ONE YEAR (NOT lifetime!!) against any faults. However, if it breaks because you drive over it with a tractor, technically they don’t have to replace it. However, Otterbox’s customer service is top notch, and will often give the customer the benefit of the doubt as far as replacing the case. If your case breaks, you can contact them (you don’t have to register the case or anything), and they will often replace the case for you.

2)  Waterproof. Many people think that the Otterbox is waterproof. This, once again, is not so. It is water RESISTANT. Meaning it has rubber flaps to protect the charging port as well as the headphone jack. I have had may customers say that they have dropped their phone in water and it has protected it. However, I have also had many customers drop their phone in water and, unfortunately, their phone was fried. Most of the time when the phone was saved it was because the person got the phone out of the water very quickly and quickly dried the phone off. Either way, it is NOT waterproof.

3)  The hole for the headphone jack doesn’t line up. If you read the above myth, you will notice that there is a flap for the headphone jack. The whole to the right of the head phone jack is NOT for the headphone jack. It is actually for a sensor that has to be left open for the iPhone to work correctly. So, the headphone jack is SUPPOSED to be covered by the otterbox. The hole is meant for the sensor, not the jack, so it isn’t supposed to line up.

4)  All Otterboxes protect. Some people think that every otterbox case protects their phone equally. Again, simply not true. Like anything, the size of the case makes a big difference in the protection of the case. Many people like the Commuter series, for instance, because it isn’t as bulky and doesn’t have rubber on the top of the case that will stretch or stick to pockets or hair. Unfortunately, the Commuter is not nearly as protective as the Defender series. When most people think of protection and “indestructibility”, they are thinking about the Defender series. This series is the one that protects the best, hands down. If you don’t like the rubber on the top, there are other cases (Kraken for instance made by Trident). However, the Commuter, Impact, and Reflex versions of the Otterbox are not as protective as the Defender series (some are hardly protective at all). It really comes down to physics. The more mass there is around your phone, the more force it can absorb. Many people want something that is going to protect their phone from everything but isn’t big and bulky. In this universe, unfortunately, that isn’t going to happen. Anyone who tells you something different is trying to sell you something. There are happy mediums--cases that protect well but also are sleek (like my personal favorite--the Skech Hard Rubber, Rise, or Shine cases), but they aren’t going to be as protective as a Defender case.

5)  Otterboxes are indestructible. Make no mistake, the Defender series is extremely durable. I have had customers tell me about dropping them off roofs, driving over them in cars, tractors, and even running them over with a lawnmower, and their phones surviving. However, in most extreme cases, the case will be damaged, possibly to the point of not functioning. Many extreme example where the case is damaged, the phone actually comes out unscathed. However, there are limits to what a case can do. People want certainty. They want to believe that if their phone is in a case it can survive nuclear winter unscathed. Again, if any salesperson tells you something like that, they are suspect. My favorite story was a woman that told me her horse stepped on her otterbox and her phone and her case was ok. For her, the case worked out well. And for most people, who may drop their phone or be rough on it, the otterbox will keep your phone safe and secure. There are, however, limits to the punishment it can endure. At the end of the day, it is plastic and rubber. Plastic can scratch and break, rubber can stretch and break. You have to be reasonable in your expectations of what a case can and can’t do.

Bottom line, the Defender series of the Otterbox is a great case for protection. I personally think it’s too big and bulky. However, if your priority is protection, this is the way to go. If you don’t want something as big and bulky, remember, it’s a trade off. You can’t get a smaller case and expect it to protect as well as an Otterbox Defender. There are good alternatives. Again, the Kraken made by Trident, is nice because the plastic is on the outside so its easier to put in and out of your pocket and won’t stick to your hair when you talk on the phone.

I prefer a case that keeps the sleekness and feel of the iPhone. So, I prefer a Skech case (even over and Otterbox Commuter). But, if you want a case that will give you the best in protection, an Otterbox Defender (or another “tank” case as my fellow reviewer categorizes them) is your best bet.

Sincerely,

Nick Andrus

Jedi Master

The Pros: 

I like this case because it combines protection while keeping the sleekness of the iPhone 4/4S. 

The hard rubber gives it a rubber feel while still allowing easy sliding into your pocket (not sticking like a rubber otterbox or a silicone case). Ladies might also like it because it won’t stick to their hair while they are on the phone. 

The inside has a felt covering that will keep the glass back of the phone from scratching.  If the case is just plastic or even silicone going up against the glass back, you are at risk of rubbing grooves or scratches, or getting dust/sand in the back that can also scratch the back. So, the felt on the back is a good thing to keep it safe. 

Best of all, there is a space between the case and the phone--almost like a “buffer zone.” It’s made similar to a football helmet, so if there is a shock or an impact, the force of the impact spreads around the case rather than going right to the phone. 

Is it as protective as, say, an Otter or a Trident case? No. It’s not a “tank” to use “the Guru’s” terminology. Now, if you are a paratrooper going behind enemy lines into Afghanistan, this case might not be for you. If you are a parent in the habit of giving your $500+ dollar device to a 3 year old to keep them busy, this case probably isn’t for you (and maybe an iPhone in general isn’t a good idea for you). Anyway, I digress...

If you are a reasonably careful person, this case works fine. I have even dropped mine several times. Two times while running to my car my phone fell out of my pocket and landed face down then bounced around the asphalt about 4 times.

Scratched the case, but the phone itself was not damaged. One time my phone landed facedown and slid across the sidewalk--the entire slide it was face down. Still, no damage to the screen. 

The Cons: 

The bad thing about the skech case is that much like most quality cases, there is limited selection on styles. There are no graphics or logos available. I have found that most cases with some of the cooler graphics and logos seem to spend more time and effort on the look of the case rather than on the functionality and protection of the case. So, unfortunately, you have to choose if you want your case to combine protection with simplicity and sleekness, or if you want a graphic or logo on your case with cheap plastic/rubber. 

It is a two-piece case, so the bottom does come off. That could mean disaster, and usually does for most cases. The bottom just pops off. I do notice that the skech don't come off as easily as others. The case itself seems to fit on the entire phone, rather than just snapping together. So, the bottom doesn’t seem to come off easily, even after months of use. Two-piece cases that do have a snap seem to come off more easily with time because the snap wears out. 

One positive in the midst of the apparent downside of a two-piece case is that if you need to put your phone in a dock to charge and/or play music, you can take only the bottom off rather than having to take the entire case off. However, if you tend to wear more skinny jeans and you put your phone in your back pocket, there can be a chance that when you take the phone off the bottom part of the case might stay in your pocket. Not that my jeans are that skinny...but I have seen it happen with others...just saying...

In general, I like this case better than most. Again, I don’t like the bulky cases. I try to not put my phone through lots of turmoil. I like the look and the feel of an iphone without anything on it. If I could have no case I would. This is the best option if you are looking for good protection and keeping the sleek style of an iPhone 4/4S. 

Sincerely,

Nick Andrus

Jedi Master

Call me crazy, but I hate being stuck in traffic. I absolutely hate being stuck in traffic. The thought of being in a motor vehicle while staring at the back of another motor vehicle in the middle of my commute home sends chills down my spine.

Now I’ve tried dialing my FM radio in to one of the local stations to get the traffic reports, but after the 3rd Aflac, 4th diet program, and 2nd vote for me commercial, my nerves can’t stand it. Traffic + radio noise just drives me nuts.

Enter, Beat the Traffic. This little app is a divine Godsend. It’s design: simple. Its interface: easy to use. Its purpose: single fold. That is, to inform you of any traffic related issues and update on a regular basis.

Granted, there are other apps out there that provide you with traffic reports. There are even a ton of GPS devices that provide "alternate routes" based on traffic flow, but I like having a simple app that visualizes the flow of traffic for me so that I can make my own decisions about which route would be best for me to take.

When you first load the app, it begins to find your location via traditional location means: GPS, wifi, or cell tower. Once it finds your general location, it shows a Google map with a traffic overlay. Green for smooth flowing. Yellow for sluggish traffic. Red for "Holy crap this is going to take a while" traffic. It also has a handy "Report" button that allows you to report accidents, construction zones, and road hazards, which does count as doing a good deed for the day, should you run into anything that hasn't been reported.

All in all, it's a great app. Download it from the Android Market.

We kick off our new segment called "Outside the Box" covering the Skeck Rise Purple Case for the iPhone 4/4S.

The Porter is for the person that doesn’t want a bulky case, yet wants to save the iPad from falling. It is a slim leather case that fits like a glove around the iPad. Something that I like is that this case snaps into place instead of sliding into a pocket. The snapping feature keeps the iPad from moving around. The case has a strap on the inside. When I open the case, flipping the front to the back, I can slide my hand across the back of the iPad, and into the strap to ensuring I don’t drop it. The strap is snug and secure.

From a purely personal standpoint I love the Skech iPhone 4/4S case. Not only is it durable (a MUST for a father of 3) but it’s also a sleek and slim case which makes it easier to handle. There are a TON of iPhone cases on the market, but few have the strength that the Skech brand offers to the customer. Made of hard rubber that protects the phone from drops, dings, and falls allows the customer to know that their phone will be protected in normal daily activities. Not only does Skech make their case from hard rubber, which is a MUCH better protector than plastic or soft rubber, but it also adds felt backing to the inside of the case to protect the back of your phone from scratches.