Day 2 of the CTIA 2012 convention is wrapped up and overall we are amazed at all the GREAT new products and devices about to hit the market!!  While we at Zellatek have several HUGE announcements coming in the next several weeks I personally wanted to share my TOP 5 coolest product lines just hitting or about to hit the accessories market:

5.  iKeep

Their product line is one of the coolest new lines I have seen in a long time.  Instead of trying to reach everything wireless they are currently focusing on chargers and are making a BIG splash doing it!!  Their Universal Smartphone Retractable Charger may be one of the coolest chargers on the market, and their colors are great too!!  Be looking for them in our store very soon!!

4.  iCat

iCat is product line awesome!!  While just hitting the consumer market because they have been supplying to the highest levels of governent with their products, iCat is going to revolutionize how we carry our smart devices.  Their lanyards are sleek and durable and appeal to hikers, bikers, runners, surfers, and pretty much anyone who wants to make sure their phone is secure.  Whether that is aroun your neck, wrist, or clipped to your belt, iCat has got you covered!!

3.  driSuit

This company is going to give Life Proof a run for their money.  While their driSuit Endurance case is a little bulkier then the Life Proof case, it can desend to depths twice that of the Life Proof case!!  If your looking for a case that you can count on around water, driSuit is the company that you trust to protect your phone wit hjust such a case.

2.  Body Dock

By far the coolest case (their first product in a new company) I have seen the whole show, Body Dock is what every person who wants to protect their phone, but have access to all ports without having to take it off, is going to want!!  Made by REAL enginners who took the time to get the right plastics, metals, and magnets (yes I said magnets) for a phone that has the protection of an Otterbox and Ballistic but the accessability of a phone with no case on it!!  It's a GREAT new case that is going to make waves in the accessories industry.

1.  HzO

The COOLEST thing I saw the whole show was HzO's demonstration!!  While they are not going to be reaching out to the consumer market, you WILL be experiencing their product line.  HzO is a company that coats the inside of your smart device so it can survive a drop in the water..........for 5 hours!!!  You read that right!!!  I witnessed, and we will be posting the video soon, HzO put an iPhone 4 in water for several seconds and pull it up with NO damage. The phone worked just like it did before it was in the water.  The CRAZY thing was that I watched the water drain from the back of the phone (back of the phone was clear)!!!  IT WAS INSANE!!!  Like I said HzO will not be reaching out to consumers but instead is reaching out to actual phone makers as to get them to add their technology to new phones so water damage is a thing of the past!!!  It's a great idea and one that will change the industry!! 

     That's all I have for now!!  Be looking for more posts, videos, and reviews as well as a HUGE announcement in the coming days concerning our future!!!  Until then!!

Much love,

Shawn

Features include:

• Batch install apps to your phone via usb
• Choose to install apps on internal storage or SD card
• Rename .apk files in a directory according to App name
• Batch install apps wirelessly *
• Backup apps and data *
• Restore app data along with the app *

* requires your phone to be rooted in order to function

Checkout APK Batch Installer via the XDA Forums.

WOW!!!      

     I have just returned for Day 1 of the CTIA 2012 Convention in New Orleans and all I can say is...........WOW!!!  While there we were able to meet TON of new companies and get our hands on TONS of new products.  To say that the accessories market is about to really take off is an understatement.  While there have been cell/wireless accessoreis for years, the smart technology accessories market is relativly new.  With the introducting of the iPod, iPhone, iPad the smart technology industry has exploded and there are not hundreds of companies looking to meet the needs of consumers who want to protect and accessorize their devices!!      

     The Zellatek team and I were able to meet with several companies while at the show and talk to them about getting their products listed here on Zellatek.  All were gracious and kind and we are working with them to expand our inventory so that Zellatek can be you one stop shop for the BEST in cell/wireless/smart technology accessories.  We will be announcing new partnerships in the coming days but I wanted to share some thoughts I had coming out of Day 1 of CTIA 2012:  

1.  There are TONS of new companies that are going to make a HUGE splash in the accessroies market in the coming year!!  

2.  Old dogs like Otterbox are going to have to up their game if they plan on competeing in this new hot market.    

3.  The cell/wireless/smart technology market is on FIRE right now and there are hundreds of great products to choose from.    

4.  It is a great time to be a consuer right now in the cell/wireless/smart technology market as companies are working overtime to get their products noticed and to you!!  

5.  I fully expect to see the rise of new accessory companies that want to really be an assest to customers, while seeing the fall of accessory companies who are just looking to turn a buck!!  

6.  New products are coming to the market that are going to revolutionize the cell/wireless/smart technology market in BIG ways!!      

We will be working with several of the companies we met today to bring their products to the market in the coming days, as well as announcing a new partnership that will make Zellatek one of, if not the, biggest online retail site there is.  We are excited about the days ahead for us and will keep you updated as things develop.  Be looking for my thoughts on Day 2 at CTIA 2012 as I list my top new products that are coming to the market in the coming months.  Until then.    

Much love,  

Shawn  

"The Boss"

Presidents Run: It's election season and what better way to pass the boring news coverage then by running yourself?!?!  Presidents Run is a fun easy game of running for President, and when I say running I actually mean running!! The game is you picking your Presidential Candidate and running to collect votes. However, you have to avoid certain things like the media, goats, and the Liberty Bell so as to not get knocked off the campaign trail. Want a fun game to waste time with? This is it!!

Draw Something: The game that is taking the app world by storm!! This might be the funniest game I have played in a long time!! Trying to guess what your friends, who have NO artistic ability whatsoever, are drawing makes for tons of laughs. Heck, trying to figure out what you are drawing for your friends is just as fun. I love this game and recommend it to everyone looking to have a little fun.

Z-Day: Have you ever wondered if you could survive a zombie apocalypse? If so then this game is for you!!! Going through this game will help you learn the skills you need in order to survive when the dead begin walking!! At the end of the game you are rated on the decisions you made and the probability of your survival from those decisions. It can be humbling. Especially if you are a zombie fan and thought you were ready to fight off some walkers and end up getting a 45% survival rate!! Hone your skills here for the end.........which I hear is sometime in December.

Train Conductor 2: USA: To say that my son loves this game is an understatement!! He begs me to play this game almost every single day and I must admit I understand where he is coming from!! This game is addicting!! Trying to get the trains into the right slot in fast mode is stressful!!! But in the end it is a ton of fun just wasting time. This is a cool game and I recommend it!! That's all for now!!

Check back a little later and see the Top 5 songs on my iPod!!!

Until next time.

Much love,

Shawn Wilson

"The Boss"

1. First off, download the Motorola USB Drivers and install them on your PC:
   1. Windows 32-bit
   2. Windows 64-bit
2. Download Motofail
3. Extract the contents of the .zip file to a location you can easily find
4. Enable USB Debugging on your phone
   1. From the homescreen, press Menu
   2. Then Settings
   3. Applications
   4. Development
   5. Then make sure "USB Debugging" is checked.
5. Plug your phone into your PC and change the USB Mode to "Charge Only"
6. Double-click the "run.bat" file in the motofail_windows folder that you extracted in step 3
   
7. Sit back and watch the show

Your phone will reboot a couple of times. After that, you'll have full root access and be ready to enjoy flashing custom ROMs and all the other benefits that root access entitles you to!

Thanks to Dan Rosenberg for creating Motofail

If you're like me, and your lifetime dream is to go on jungle adventures in search of forgotten treasure that's been buried in ancient temples guarded by demon monkeys whose souls have been sucked out, but you lack the funding to go out and do so, then I've got good news for you. Today, Imangi Studios released their popular iOS game, Temple Run on the Android. No longer must Android users suffer the never ending ridicule of inferiority due to the lack of this fine gaming app.

Released in August 2011 for iOS, it has seen more than 40 million downloads, and has over 13 million daily players. Its ease of play and overall relaxed tone lends to being a great time waster when you find yourself in need of one. Temple Run for Android features the same simple controls and graphics as its iOS counterpart.

If you find yourself constantly hitting the wall or being trampled by evil demon monkeys, you can use the coins you've collected on your journey to unlock powerups, new characters, and wallpapers (though I fail to see how a new wallpaper is going to help you take the idol home). Should you be short on coins, Imangi Studios will happily add some to your account in exchange for some real coin.

Unleash your inner Indiana Jones and download Temple Run from Google Play.

       Tank Class:  Currently, the highest grade of protection. These cases are larger than the everyday case. they usually incorperate both silicone, usually for shock absorbtion and water resstance, and hard plycabonates/plastics. Most have built in screen protectors as well made from a thin translucent plastic. Tank in reference to the durability and massive size of acctual tanks do to the materials used to constuct them. They withstand serious damage, but lack the versatility of smaller vehicles. Pro, if you plan on destroying your phone with a toss at a wall, running it over with a truck, or dropping it in a toilet these cases are for you. Con, if you want a case which fits smoothly into your pocket, or still feels like the Phone you purchased, this case is not for you.

        Examples: Otterbox Defender, Ballistic HC, Trident Kraken II/AMS, Lifeproof, Griffin Survivor, And more that are comparable to these.

       SUV Class: This refers to a mid-grade protection. These cases, on average, are smaller than Tanks. These cases can be made out of hard polycarbonates/plastics, flexible polycarbonates, hard rubber, or a combination of silicone rubber and polycarbonate. Also, They tend to provide a screen protector which is applied to the front of the Phone. SUV is in reference to the better protection an SUV provides over smaller vehicles. They protect against everyday drops, scrapes, and mishaps. You can drop these on the floor, down a few steps, things like that. They are versatile enough to park just about anywhere. Meaning, they fit in and out of your pockets, are less cumbersome, and still offer solid protection. Con, on average, not water resistant, not able to survive toss at the wall, running over by cars, and overall extreme abuse. If you are not extremly hard on your Phone, and seek versatility, these cases are for you.

       Examples: Otterbox Commuter and Reflex, Ballistic SG, Trident Aegis and Cyclops, Skech Hard Rubber, Rise, Shine, CJ Flip, and any other comparable cases.

       Economy Class: These are low-grade case protection. These cases tend to be slim, nice looking, and cheaper cases. They offer plenty of style, but less protection. Most do not provide screen protectors. They can be made out of thin plycarbonate/plastic, rubber, silicone, leather, and more. The also tend to have more designs, bling, sparkles , etc... They can offer little to no protection. If they offer protection, its for a quick drop to the floor, and thats it. The silicone/rubber cases offer slip resistance. SomeEconomy Class usually look cuter than other cases. Cute, on average, means for show not protection. This case is for those folks not ruff with their phones, love aesthetics more than protection, or like to still feel like they are holding the Phone they purchase.

       Examples: Otterbox Impact, Ballistic LS, Trident Perseus, Bling cases, Skech Slim, Cutom Jacket, Gel cases, and other comparable cases.

        It is important to note these terms are Generalizations, and not specific to every type of case out there. For instance, a person could have a Hummer (Otterbox Reflex) versus a Ford Explorer (Trident Aegis). Both are from the SUV Class, but one is clearly more heavy duty than the other. We could also have an Escalade(Skech CJ FLip) versus a Jimmy (Otterbox commuter). One has a sleaker high end style over the other. There are many ways to usethese terms. So use them and start exploring new levels of awareness.

 This is Guru DJ, hoping to have raised your awarness alittle more this day.

 Thank you for reading.

   The style, of the CJ Flip, starts by covering, with hardened leather, the front and the back of your phone. It comes in two other styles, diamond studded and soft leather stretched over a plastic frame. Each provides the same protection just with a different texture. This case falls into my SUV category. It is versatile, and offers every day protection. I am hard press to say, it is the Escalade of the SUV category. It offers sleek, professional styling going where you want it to, but knowing that it offers protection from normal everyday threats. Throwing an iPhone, in the CJ Flip case, is not recommended.

   How does the CJ Flip accomplish its unique style? It has a hard leather shell which attaches to the back of the phone covering the sides. The bottom has a flexible leather extension which connects to the hard leather front cover. Flip up covering the face of your iPhone 4/4S. It is secured by, non-obstructively, embracing the top of the iPhone with a small leather extension. Now, you can put your iPhone in your pocket without the fear of have keys or change present. For the ladies, you never have to worry again about throwing your iPhone into a purse possessing an eclectic assortment of hard abrasive things. This is because your iPhone 4/4S is now surrounded by Leather Armor made by Skech. It is tough enough to deflect piercing blows from hard objects. Hard Leather was used, in the medieval era, as a practical solution for light weight combat armor because of its mobility and deflective capabilities. It could help deflect incoming bladed weapons, so I am pretty sure it can handle whatever you have in your pocket or purse.

   By being fully ensnared, the CJ Flip covers the iPhone's bottom docking area. Some people now know that the bottom docking area of the iPhone 4's, or most any Smartphone is open to not only receive proper docking mechanisms, but random trash. This leads to poor connectivity. CJ Flip naturally prevents this. There are a few other pros to explore.

   The other pros, for the Skech Leather Custom Jacket Flip case, come into play when you flip the front cover to the back. Now this takes a little of that savoir fair I was talking about. During calls, texts, or game time the front covers mass is added to the back for an unexpected benefit. By having a bit more mass to fill out your palm, one decreases drop risk. Also, the CJ Flip is ready for ideal gaming. The mass will give iPhone’s a thick and sturdy foundation which, I find, reminiscent of a gaming controller. Also, if you do not use headphones while gaming, the additional mass encourages you to drop your fingers down a notch preventing muffled speakers. I noticed, on slim cases, I am constantly blocking my iPhone’s sound from the bottom speaker. Also, hooking your finger under the grip, normally on top of the iPhone, helps gain more control. Now, relax knowing all is perfectly under control. The elimination of anxiety will always create higher functionality and gaming stats. There are a few cons with the Skech Leather Custom Jacket Flip.

   If you lack coordination/ savoir fair, it could take you longer to gain mastery. But trust me, once you develop your style with it, it’s like getting in a car that pulls to the right, you never consciously adjust, you just do it. Oh, and you will look smooth doing it.  The worst thing you can do is break the leather grip at the top. When this occurs, the front will no longer fasten properly. This is easily fixed by purchasing a new CJ Flip. I Kid. Docking stations can be tricky depending on the type. When totally covered, the phone cannot dock. When you have it flipped to the back,, the additional thickness prevents iPhones from docking with most docking stations. I find I have to take the phone out with my dock. Now to be fair, Manufacturers design around phone not case dimensions.  I personally think that all case manufacturers should produce extensions. I hope Otterbox is reading.

   Every day I hear complaints or loose a sale because people expect docking stations to be compatible with their case. Sorry folks, responsibility falls on the case manufacturer. So send some recommendations to your manufacturer. It's like writing your Congressman, but way more effective because they actually care about their customers.

   If you want to make your Smartphone/IPhone experience complete, I urge you to find the case that compliments your style. Don’t let a sales man interfere with your style by saying, “Thanks for buying; now you better put it in an Otterbox (Defender series) before it breaks.” When you put your phone in the case that suites your style, the anxiety of handling your Smartphone/iPhone goes away. Everything flows the way it is supposed to. Who knows? You may find yourself in a nice comfy SUV instead of a big cumbersome Tank.

Diamond ranking: 1-5

Survivability:   3.5

Mainly cause it covers the front of the phone as well.

Functionality:    4

It adds more than it takes away

Style:    5

This case looks very smooth and professional

Groovy Tech:   5

Not many companies make cases like this. Have to give props to Skech for doing so.

This is Guru DJ hoping Zellatek .com has once again sent you to a higher level of awareness. Thanks for Reading.

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.

     If you have been looking for Otterbox's for phones other than the iPhone, then I have GOOD NEWS for you!!  We have just updated our store to add several new phones to our line of Otterbox products.  We are working hard to bring you the biggest and the best inventory of cell phone/smart phone accessories that you can find on the web.  If you don't see something that you think we should carry, let us know and we will look into it!!!  We love working with all the different companies and accessories out there so feel free to drop us a line and let us know what you think is something we should test and carry!!  Be looking for more in the way of companies like:

Speck

Skech

Ballistic

Trident

     And more over the coming weeks.  

     Much love Zealots,

Shawn Wilson

"The Boss"

1. Download Absinthe

   Head on over to Greenpois0n and download Absinthe. The download links are in the top right corner. They have an installer for Windows, Mac, and for Linux. Greenpois0n (opens in a new window)

2. Back that thing up

   Before you do any modification to your device, always back it up. If Murphy's Law is in full swing for you today, then you may want to make a backup of your backup.

   If you're unfamiliar with how to backup your iDevice, plug it in via USB, then open up iTunes. Right-click your iPhone under "Devices" and click "Backup." Once that's done, disconnect your device.

3. Extract the goodness, and launch

   Extract the contents of the .zip file you downloaded earlier. Make sure to put it somewhere that's easy to find. Unlike, say, in your temp folders. I usually go for the Desktop.

4. Run, Forest, Run

   Once extracted, launch Absinthe by double-clicking its icon. You'll be prompted to plug your device back in. This process can take a while, so go take the dog for a walk, or build a papercraft model of Darth Vader's TIE Fighter. It is normal for the device to reboot during the process.

5. Final Countdown

   You'll know the process is nearly complete once your device loads to the Springboard, or "Homescreen." Once there, find the Absinthe icon and tap it. This will finalize the install and place a Cydia icon on your device. From there, the sky's the limit. Enjoy your newly found freedom!

     I wanted to update everyone on all the cool things going on here at ZellaTek.  As you can see we have tweaked the website a little to make it more user friendly!!  Just a few of the cool features we've added are the wishlist, my cart, easier checkout, and a My Account section that will allow you to see what you've ordered and your order history.  The look of the site is also a little different and in my opinion more appealing.  The store is easier to navigate and the blog is layed out in an easier to view way that will allow you the reader to see what you want to read without having to scroll through the whole post. 

      We have also added some things behinds the scenes like new team members.  While everyone knows DJ ("The Guru") and myself (Shawn "The Boss"), not everyone knows our two new team members Nick Andrus and Matt Frey.  Nick has been a friend of mine for over 10 years and has a great knowledge of smart phone accessories and internet marketing.  Nick brings a vast undestanding of what accessories are best for each phone along with the ability for us as a compnay to expand our reach in the big ocean of the world wide web.  Matt Frey is a long time friend and internet specialist who will be heading up our IT department.  Matt has built tons of wedsite for churches, businesses, and individuals and has a crazy good ability to make sites work properly and look good at the same time.  We are proud to have these guys on board as we build our business and reach into the cellular community. 

     In case you were wondering if we had a facebook, twitter, and youtube page, I am pleased to announce that we do!!!  Check out our facebook page here, our Twitter page here, and our Youtube page here.  We will be updating often and bringing you, are loyal followers the latest in cell/smart phone accessories, gadgets, news, breakthroughs, and updates.  Check back with us often and help spread the word.  Who knows, you might win a prize for doing so!!! 

Much love Zealots!!

Shawn Wilson

"The Boss"

With so many to choose from, here's a collection of seven weather apps for Android that are definitely worth checking out.

Weather is one of those things you pay attention to during the more extreme climate seasons like summer and winter. You'll want to see if it's going to be cold in the morning when you wake up or really hot in the afternoon so you can dress appropriately for your day. You may find one of these apps suitable by itself, or you can try combining a couple of them to get the most information.

The Weather Channel

(Credit: Screenshot by Nicole Cozma)

One of the most popular weather apps by far. The daily information is excellent in this app because it includes what the temperature feels like, the humidity, and UV index. The hourly forecast is superior to that of other apps, showing you the temperature, precipitation chance, and wind. No artsy line graphs, just numbers to let you know what temperatures to expect.

(Credit: Screenshot by Nicole Cozma)

You'll also find 36-hour and even 10-day forecasts in The Weather Channel's app. Radar maps are nicely marked with respect to the severity of weather conditions. Also, severe alerts are marked on the map with pop-up place pins that make it supereasy to read. Tweets, videos, and first-hand encounters are also included if you just can't get enough info about the weather.

WeatherBug

(Credit: Screenshot by Nicole Cozma)

WeatherBug is more traditionally used as a day-to-day forecast and weather app, but it does have useful features that can help you track hurricanes and other severe weather conditions. The app comes with a built-in alert system for weather warnings issued in your region or even nearby regions. There is also a weather map that displays a playable radar image of the forecast, so you can see where the weather is coming from and the direction it is moving.

(Credit: Screenshot by Nicole Cozma)

This app has one of the best radar features, but doesn't serve up m1Weatheruch detail on individual storms. The radar map, while handy for short-term planning, only has a range of about 40 minutes. Also, the warning system will only alert you if you're actively tracking that region.

Want to read more?  Check out the rest of the post at cnet.com.

What are your thoughts on this review? We liked all the useful of information on each phone. If your considering a Razr or Nexus, did this help you in your decision?

1.  Feedly:  Feedly is a cool, easy to navigate app that lets you read and share content from your favorite websites, it’s easy to use format and integration with social networking sites allows you to recommend articles to to your friends.

2.  World Newspapers:  Ever wanted to have access to more the 6,000 newspapers?  Then this app is for you!!  With access to more than 6,000 worldwide newspapers from nearly every country on the planet, this app keeps you up to date on anything and everything going on in the world.  A little cluttered as an App by the volume of newspapers available, but well worth the access to thousands of newspapers.

3.  BBC News Pro: A great source of for the latest news from around the world including; BBC News Middle East and BBC News South Asia.  Easy to scroll through stories and an accompanying widget means you will never not know what’s going on in the world.

4.  The Daily Mash:  A satirical view of the latest and most important news stories in the world, The Daily Mash app covers a tons of subjects and allows you to share the articles you like the most through Facebook and Twitter.  Consider it the Jon Stewart of news apps.

5.  Sky News:  Offering the latest in UK and world news as it breaks throughout the day, Sky News gives you access to the world while allowing you to view videos that accompany the stories you are reading and get news alerts sent directly to your phone.

These news apps are great additions to those who keep up with the news as it breaks and want to share it with those in their social networks.  Be on the look out for ZellaTek’s blog on the top apps for parents of young children.

Until next time.

*  All reviews will now only be found on the “Reviews” page.  We would like to keep the blog page as a means of information and communication with our fans away from the reviews of the products we are highlighting.  This will allow us to share what is going on in the company, cool videos of behind the scenes stuff, interviews with team members, and a TON more.

*  All reviews will be posted on Wednesday’s (written) and Friday’s (video).  This will allow us the time to make sure we are offering the best review possible.

*  All reviews will now be based on a ranking system.  This will allow us to give you the best possible information concerning the products we are reviewing.  We want everything we review and highlight to give you the info you are looking for in a way that is easy to understand and helpful in determining if the product is something you can use.

*  We will be introducing a cool new ratings system along with our review system.  We want you the customer to know if the products we highlight will work for you so be looking for some of the following rating systems:

The Soccer Mom Test

The Business Man Test

The Military Test

The Rough and Tumble Test

Those are just a few of the new ratings systems that we will be introducing in the coming days and weeks.

*  We will be adding cool new ZellaTek merch to the products page like T-shirts, bumper stickers, hats, etc.

Overall we are working on upping our game as a company.  In order to do that we are adding new team members.  Be looking for bios in the coming days of everyone working to make ZellaTek a success.

While we are not completely sure that the above photo is what the iPad 3 will feature or even look like, we do know that there is a TON of speculation concerning it’s official announcement from Apple (probably in February), suspected release date (probably March), and at least some of the possible new features that it will have. Below is a link to Business Insider’s article covering 13 Rumors concerning the new iPad 3. We thought you might like it as much as we at ZellaTek did. Enjoy!!

UPDATED: Here are all the iPad 3 rumors we know so far.

A lot of cases are designed to save the iPad if it hits the ground, but this one prevents it from falling in the first place.  The strap adds to the functionality of the iPad by eliminating the fear of dropping it. Adding to this is the sleep/awake function which conserves the battery.  Cases with this option always get a higher ranking from me.  Opening your case to find that your battery has died is annoying.  Having a designer that considered absent-minded behavior is a definite plus.  Not only does it cut off, but it grips the side of the iPad when it closes.  I like this because I have seen many cases with an extra strap to keep them close.  It takes away from the smooth exterior of a case.

The Porter kept its entire sleek soft, leather feel.  But this case does make a few sacrifices.

The Porter sacrifices bulkiness for the strap that will prevent dropping.   The design can hold up to some drops.  The front cover is thick to brace the impact.  What it lacks is side protection.  The snaps are about the size of your thumb, and cover the top, bottom, and the corners only.  If it they get damaged your case is useless. The back part could use some more cushion, but it is sacrificed for the case’s ability to fold and stand in three positions.  Also, the fold makes a crease across the back that is not bad looking but it is not good looking either.  You can judge for yourself.

This case has a good balance.  It feels nice, secure, and will preserve my battery.  I would not recommend excessive drops, or hurling the iPad across the room.  USE THE STRAP!  I give the Porter an Average score for protection, and above average for functionality.

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.

The case itself is made with a little “give” to allow for shock absorbency in the event that the case and phone were dropped.  Personally I have dropped my phone several times while it’s been in the Skech Hard Rubber case and have never had it crack or break.  The case itself has even held up under some of the worse drops I have ever had for a phone.  While I have had a Skech case crack slightly from a drop it was not a bad crack and it is still usable in all its functions.  Durability is a must if you are going to pay as much as you do for an Apple iPhone and I HIGHLY recommend the Skech brand for durability, sleekness, and overall for being a great case for your iPhone.

The only con I could possibly give to the Skech brand is that the case does not have a belt clip functionality.  Many people do look for that but overall I do not think it is a deal breaker in buying the case as it fits easily in your pocket, purse, or bag.

PROS:

• Hard Rubber make that gives the case a durability most other cases do not have.
• Felt backing that protects the back of the phone from dings and scratches.
• Made with a little “give” that allows for drops the Skech Hard Rubber case absorbs the shock of drops and falls so your phone does not.
• Sleek, slim, and easy to handle the Skech Hard Rubber case gives max protection without being bulky and cumbersome.
• Includes a screen protector.  This is a nice added bonus.  While the screen protector is no iShieldz or Invisible Shield it does protect the screen of the phone.
• All openings for buttons line up perfectly for both iPhone 4 and 4S.

CONS:

• Does not come with belt clip functionality.  We have found that some clips can be used with the Skech Hard Rubber but the case itself does not possess that functionality.
• Screen protector is average.  After a few months you will be looking for a new screen protector.

Overall we at ZellaTek recommend the Skech Hard Rubber brand for any device you may have.

However, the more I thought about it the more the idea consumed me on how we could take Smartphone accessory products and test them for consumers.  I thought we could see if cases like Otterbox, Ballistic, The Tank, and Survivor stood up to the claims made by their respective companies.  The more I thought about it the more I realized that this idea was HUGE!!  We could take ANYTHING associated with smart technology and test it to its limits!!

We figured we could help the consumer by,

1. Testing every Smartphone product under the sun in a third party type of way,
2. Then give them a place where they could buy those same products knowing that we put them through real life testing scenarios without the influence of the actual companies.

It is my personal opinion that many consumers do not really trust a company that puts “testing videos” on their websites or YouTube, because they instinctively know that the game can easily be rigged in favor of the product being tested.  We on the other hand give you all the gory details of how our testing resulted.  If the cases we are using break the phone, we are going to show you.  If the case is destroyed but protects the phone, we will show you!!  If the phone explodes we will definitely show you!!!  We are going to give you the truth no matter what (so help us God)!!!

ZellaTek is more than just an idea on testing phone cases.  It is a passion of my mine to share my love for technology with others and help them find the products that best meets their needs.  We will cover more than just cases for your phone!!!  We will review Bluetooth technology, car wireless systems, accessories, and MUCH more.  Please feel free to check in with us often as we will be posting TONS of content.  Also check out our Facebook, Twitter, and Youtube pages and help us spread the word!!  Until then God Bless!!