Over the last couple of weeks we have gotten a lot of heat for one of our videos concerning a "drop test" we conduced on the Lifeproof case with an iPhone 4.  Essentially we put an iPhone 4 in a Lifeproof case and dropped it.  Here is the video:

As you can see the LifeProof case failed the test and drop the back glass of the phone.  The one problem with this video that many are saying to us is that we didn't show the phone before it went in the case and so our video really doesn't show anything because the phone could have been broken before we put it in the case.  I can attest to the fact that the phone was not broken but I can understand the position.  However, I would like to show the video that LifeProof has on it's website displaying the same test we conducted:

As you can see LifeProof fails to show you the phone BEFORE it is in the case.  As a matter of faat they fail to show you the phone AFTER their tests.  They just show the phone in it's pretty little Lifeproof case, never bothering to take it out and show you if the phone broke or had damage.  Because we have gotten so many people who have had their phone break because of the LifeProof case we will be disecting the case and showing you that the case is no where near what the creators claim it to be.  Be looking for some more videos and reviews covering the LifeProof case.  Until then.

Much love,

Shawn Wilson

Zellatek’s top Waterproof solutions for the iPhone 4/4S

We all know about a case called the Lifeproof which has graced pool parties, beaches and water parks this summer.  To me, waterproofing is the next step in the evolution of smart tech protection.  Lifeproof was not the first, but it has definitely brought the concept mainstream. We are going to take a look at some waterproof solutions that are going to revolutionize smartphone technology.  The only requirement  to make it into this blog is claiming to be waterproof, not water resistant..

The case that is taking the nation by storm, Lifeproof :

This case is rated MIL-STD-810F-516.5.  This is Military standard for shock absorption.  What does this mean? This is a standard test which determines the degree of shock a device can handle.  If it handles the test it is fit for military duty.  Normally, with cases, they drop test them 26 or more times to determine how often it will break.  It is not full proof but it assures that it has been tested.  This Standard is Golden,  versus a non-tested case. Lifeproof  is waterproof up to 6.6 feet.  Just don’t keep it in the deep side of the pool for too long. 

They have also made a new add-on called the lifejacket. This cover adds buoyancy to  Lifeproof's repertoire.  If we can’t guarantee it beyond 6.6ft, let’s prevent it from going deeper.  It’s a logical step for an additional $39.99.  The case is braced for impact as well.  Makes up for the flimsy nature of the lifeproof case, and has optional tether.  Lifeproof is the case that is forcing all others to look at waterproof technology.

We are going to stick with cases for now. (Before blowing your mind).  Next up is the Aqua Tek By SnowLizard.  This is a serious case that will give you all the protection you need and more. 

1. It has a polycarbonate exterior. 
2. Built in extended battery
3. Built in solar power charger.
4. Fully waterproof
5. Side grips

This case has kit all.  Aqua Tek was funded by Kickstarter.   It is a little more than the $79.99 Lifeproof price tag.  This puppy is $129.99.   Its SOLAR Powdered, need I say more?  Take this bad boy out into the unknown, it’s going to survive anything you throw at it, and say, ”That all you Got.”  It was designed with outdoor types in mind. Big and bulk bastard, but for those seeking a truly rugged case, this is your case

 Rain Ballet By Joyfactory:  This case has been around since Lifeproof.  It just hasn’t got the name recognition.  Probably cause the name is strange.  The Rain Ballet has a nice reinforced structure that is good for impacts as well as waterproof.  Now this case rates good against rain, direct jets, and splashes. But they also mention IPX7 standards.  This refers to submersion up to 1 meter for 30min. They use Intelli-filter(mesures affects of liquids with different viscosity and ph on the case) to ensure a high quality sound which most waterproof cases do not use.

There are Sharpvue lenses over both front and back cameras. This case will take high quality video underwater. 

It is at the lower end of the price spectrum with a $49.99 price tag. Whoever named this case short changed it at the start. “I could have been a contender,” should be the quote for this case.  I wish I saw more of these cases around.

The next Contender that is turning heads is the Drisuit Endurance. 

This case bolsters waterproof protection as well as impact resistance.  It is a  Slim case that can survive 5 meters under water.  You can watch them throw it off ski lifts.  This case has it all.  The folks at Drisuit Technologies, designed this case with outdoor and sportsman types in mind. They have a unique non-toxic liquid membrane use d for screen protection to ensure that sensitivity is not lost. It also has a spot for a single credit card to fit in then back, and remain waterproof as well.  

  Check these guys out if you are looking for a slim outdoorsy solution for your iphone for $59.99.

The DRI CAT is made by EK Ekcessories produced in America.  It comes in multiple colors, extremely durable, and has the icat leash. EK produces iCat leashes that are optimum for folks that lose their phone.  These guys design lanyards, specialized ID cases, and now a waterproof case.  It has a simple twist mechanism that other cases do not.  Most cases have latches and clamps.  It is water proof. Only thing I don’t like is the screen cover it gets bubbly a bit.  It is still accessible.  My issue is aesthetic more than functionality.     This case is $59.99.  I am a big fan of iCat leashes.  Any case that is made in America is worth supporting.  For the price you will not be disappointed that you did.   

The New kid on the Block will be the Otterbox Armor Series.  Bolstering to be the “Toughest Case they ever made”, gives me high hopes for this one.  It is being shown everywhere as 20ft drop test, waterproof of to 10 feet, crunch of 2 tons, etc..  It Promises to be the next big thing.  It is going to be thicker than the lifeproof, but will definitely offer a higher level of protection.  

Check out some of the other Blogs, at zellatek.com, concerning the Otterbox Armor Series.

I have to give an honorable mention to the Magellan Tough Case  designed for the iPhone 3G/GS and iPod  touches 2^nd/3^rd Generation.

I wanted to show  that waterproofing has been around for a bit, and had more tech applied.  All waterproof iPhone 4 cases should tip their hats to the Magellan tough Case

1. Durability you can feel
2. Full access to all functions
3. Extended Battery life for Phone
4. Enhanced GPS chip set in case fully compatible with GPS Apps.  
5. IPX7 submersion certified

This case sets the bar high.  Priced at $99.99, the price is high. Recently they dropped the price on their sight to $79.99.  Since the decline of the iPhone 3G/GS, this is a wise decision.  

Now we leave the cases, and impact resistance behind, to focus on pure waterproofing solutions.   

  The Dry Case is a waterproof solution that may seem familiar.  We have seen many peoples come out with waterproof baggies and such.  These are an inexpensive way to protect your iphone from water.  What we see with the Dry Case is a tweak on the bag design.

1. It vacuum seals
2. It is headphone friendly
3. 3 it has been tested to 100ft underwater
4. THE VACUME seal allows for full functionality of devices by sucking the bag into a snug, screen protector type fit.

Do to the vacuumed seal technique, compression is not an issue for this case.  THEY HAVE PLENTY OF ACCESSORIES TO HELP YOU STRAP THIS CASE TO YOUR PERSON.    At  $39.99 this is a viable alternative to a case for folks just needing something for vacation.  They have bags for all types of devices, and even a waterproof back pack.  Nothing else bolsters a 100ft depth protection. 

 Our next solution is the Case Marine out of the UK.  It is a thin Membrane that adds only .25mm to the thickness of your  iPhone.  You could probably put a Case Marine on your iPhone and the case Marine will not miss a beat.  It has a 10 meter depth test.  I haven’t seen them for sale in the US.  Just click the blue Case Marine and it will take you to their sight..  As a Reminder, these solutions are not for impact resistance.  They are strictly waterproof solutions.  Now you may wonder. What else is thinner than .25 mm for my phone?  Well it is time to go molecular.

We met a company at the CTIA convention called HzO.  There is a video on our site showing them test their waterproof solution on an iPhone 4.  The guy would not give us much info on the process,  but on their website, they give brief insight to a Nano thin layer applied using a misting process.  This process is designed to affect the phone on a molecular level inside and out, totally waterproofing the device.  Now they do not offer this currently to the public.  They are trying to market to manufactures.  The vapor used is extremely hydrophobic.  It will not allow liquids  through.  Liquid should bead up and roll off. Think Rain X on steroids. The degree of waterproofing is relative to the amount of hydrophobic mist applied.  More is better.

Liquipel is another company doing a similar concept.  Difference is, Liquipel will  mist your phone for $59.  Click here for more info and to purchase.  This company shows how the process is done.  It puts your phone into a sealed container designed to form a vacuum.   They release the mist and it binds on a molecular level to the phone.  You will not notice it on the device.  Internally and externally your iPhone is now waterproof. 

 Never wet is facinating stuff!  This is the last of my Solutions for waterproofing.  This company did not focus on just iPhones, but everything else you can imagine.  Their unique style of waterproofing is applied by  spray, or dunking items in a solution.  You spray it on devices like an iPhone 3, just the outside, and the case will last 30 min under water.  Don’t take my word for any of this stuff check out the site, and videos.  This is another hydrophobic mist /spray, that don’t require a environmental vacuum to apply. They apply this stuff to shoes, fleece, phones, and more.  All come out bone dry by beading up the water. It’s amazing.  Unfortunately it is not for retail.  These guys are also marketing to companies. I really want a can of this stuff.

All of these solutions are able to revolutionize how we think about water, ice, oil, spillage, and weather protection.  Phone companies should jump on this stuff ASAP.  Give it a year, and all cases or devises will be offering waterproofing.

Out of all the solutions I have presented her,  I like the Neverwet Concept, and the Aqua Tek Case.  I would have to choose Liquipel  because it is offered for retail so check out the link.

This has been interesting to research.  Thank you for Reading.  Check out Zellatek.com, the accessory gurus, and twitter me @Ztek_Guru_DJ.  This has been Guru DJ Hoping to raise you consumer awareness.

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     Have you ever wondered if that GPS app you downloaded actualy works?  We have been trolling the net looking for stories on the success rate of iPhone users getting their phones back by using a GPS enabled app.  Below are the Top 5 stories (in no particuar order) that caught our attention and we thought you would like to check out.  Enjoy!!

5.  iPhone GPS aids in capture of car theft suspect.  

     If you are going to steal a car in the near future, you may want to make sure that there is not an iPhone anywhere in the car!!!  While I am sure the criminal in question probably thought he not only was getting a ride but also a free phone.  What he got instead was a night in county jail.  

iPhone GPS app:  1  Criminal:  0

4.  GPS app leads officers to stolen iPhone. 

     First off if you are going to steal an iPhone WHY would you pawn it at a pawn shop?  You wil get WAY more money by selling it to a loser friend then you would over selling it to a pawn shop.  Really folks!!  Does this kid have any brain matter inside his head?  An iPhone EASILY goes for several hundred dollars online depending on the condition but selling it to a pawn shop is just stupid!!  

iPhone GPS app:  2  Criminal:  0

3.  Mugging victim tracks suspects via iPhone's GPS.

     I would have loved to have seen this  confrontation.  

Muggers:  HAHAHAH dude we totally loaded up!!  Check it out!!  AN IPHONE!!

Victim:  Excuse me I believe that all belongs to me!!

Police:  Are these the suspects sir?  

Victim:  Yes.

Police:  Looks like you will be spending the night in jail gentleman.  

iPhone GPS app:  3  Criminal:  0

2.  iPhone GPS helped police track down thief.  

     You would think that people would begin to wise up when it comes to the smart technology market.  I mean if you can look up great places to eat on your iPhone and get directions all at the same time, you would think that criminals would be like, "Hey we probably want to throw this phone out the window, we might be tracked."  Nope!!  Not this guy!!  Chalk one up to another great iPhone GPS app story.

iPhone GPS app:  4  Criminal:  0

1.  Student tracks down iPhone thief using GPS technology.

     This whole article is worth the few minutes it takes to read it as this story place out like a movie.  Someone steals a guys phone and him and his friends use a computer to locate it by GPS and tell their friends on the hunt where to go, turn, etc.  I imagine it played out like a Borne movie or 24 episode.  This by far is my favorite story on iPhone and GPS apps!!!  

iPhone GPS app:  5  Criminal:  0

     The moral of the stories above is that if you are going to spend your hard earned money on an iPhone you should equip it with a top notch GPS app in the even that it is stolen or lost.  We will highlight some of the best iPhone/Andriod GPS apps in a coming blog.  Until then.

Much love,

Shawn Wilson

"The Boss"

     What's up everyone?  Shawn here and I wanted to give a little update on how things are going here at Zellatek.  We have been insanely busy on several projects over the last month and a half to better serve you our customers and fans.  Because of this we have been a little lax on posts and updates.  However, that will change as things have begun to get back to normal for us as a team.  Be looking for new posts, new videos, and possibly some very cool Zellatek merch.  With that said here are some of the things we have been working on:

1.  We have been working with several accessory distributors to help us become the biggest retail location for smart technology accessories on the web.  It's a long process but we have made great headway.

2.  Because we are working with several different distributos we have had some issues on our Amazon account with discontinued items.  We are working to resolve this matter and hope to have it completed by the end of the month.

3.  We have teamed up with a local iPhone repair store in the Baton Rouge area (where we are based out of) called iSupply that has kept us busy the last month and a half preparing a new store and office space to really give us a place to call home.  We will be videoing and blogging from this location.  It's a HUGE win for us as we will be able to interact with customers and have a great place to video from.  

4.  Merch:  Everyone has been asking us about merch like T-Shirts, hats, hoodies, etc. To update you we are working on that.  We are in contact with several companies to get the best material and prices so we can give you the best possible merch!!! 

     We hope everyone had a great Easter weekend!!  Be looking for great new content in the days to come.

Much love,

Shawn Wilson

"The Boss"

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

     Dear Zealots,

     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"

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

     What's up fellow Zealouts? 

     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"

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.