Archive for August, 2008

24
Aug

Shure SE210 In-Ear Headphone Review

By Taylor 3 Comments
Categories: Reviews

I’ve been sold on Shure earphones since I got the Shure E2c many years ago. In the time since then, I’ve owned several other brands (Sennheiser, Bose) but when it comes to in-ear monitors, Shure has it figured out.

I bought the SE210’s in July 2007, before heading onto a plane bound for South Africa. The included cord did not fit into the headphone jack of the first generation Apple iPhone, which I had intended to use them with, so I used a small knife to shave the plug down so it would fit into my iPhone. Since then, Shure has redesigned the plug to fit the old iPhone and the iPhone 3G has no problems with any headphones.

Shure SE210 Review

I love the SE210s. Using the medium black foam inserts, they fit my ears perfectly and provide excellent noise cancellation, especially because they’re not actively canceling. Its not quite the battery powered block-all that you get with the Bose QuietComfort, but its close and not even close to as bulky. That leads me to the next point, size. The SE210s are earbuds, not on ear or over ear headphones, and they’re small. When I’m listening to music, I’m almost constantly traveling and full size headphones were getting in the way. With the Shures, I can just coil the cord up and stick them in my pocket.

I touched on sound quality earlier, but let me reiterate that they sound great. I prefer the sound from the Shure ‘buds to what I got from my Sennheiser HD595, amped and unamped. Sound is a very personal thing and everyone’s ears are different, so take that with a grain of salt - but once you’ve found which tip fits your ear best and you’ve got a good quality source, these earphones put out some excellent sound.

Shure SE210

Support is the best part. Shure offers a 2 year warranty with the SE210’s and its an excellent warranty. I lost sound in one ear and I sent the headphones in. They were delivered overnight, and I had them back in 5 days; brand new in a retail box. A week total turnaround time is just about as good as it gets, and they’re very friendly people to deal with. They told me that I hadn’t cleaned it well enough and a build up of wax was the problem, but they still sent me a new pair of earphones for nothing, not even shipping. On that note, be sure to clean them regularly. Even if you can’t see earwax, clean it with the included tool to keep them performing ideally.

If you’re looking to spend $150 on headphones, you can’t do a whole lot better than the Shure SE210. They’re a great balance of price, performance and size - not something you see too often.

11
Aug

Current eBay Live Cashback Amount

By Taylor 247 Comments
Categories: Deals

The current eBay Live Cashback percentage is:

20%

The current maximum number of transactions allowed is:

12

eBay Live Cashback Amount

Click the image to go to eBay.

Bookmark this page to check back in the future - it is automatically updated. If the percentage reads 0, then cashback is temporarily disabled.

Some of the readers here are reporting that cashback on certain transactions is being paid instantly - no more 60 day wait. This is big news and I will update once I’ve verified this for myself and from other sources.

Some currently active keywords are:
“cheap wii”
“cheap iphone”
“dell laptop”

If you use a RSS reader or live bookmarks program, adding this feed will allow you to check the current amount in real time without having to navigate back to this page.

Here’s my cashback!

eBay Live Cashback Amount

Click the image to go to eBay.

11
Aug

DLO Jam Jacket iPhone 3G Case Review

By Taylor 2 Comments
Categories: Apple and Reviews

When it comes to protecting phones and other gadgets, I’m a big fan of skins. They’re thin enough to be completely unobtrusive but still provide protection from scratches and minor dings. With my original iPhone, I used an InCase slider - a hard plastic “shell” case that fit snugly and did an excellent job protecting my phone. I liked the hard plastic because it didn’t have the “grab” that rubbers cases do when removing it from your pocket.

DLO Jam Jacket iPhone 3G Case

Now that the iPhone 3G is out, I need to find all new accessories and one that really has my attention is the DLO Jam Jacket iPhone 3G case. The first thing I noticed when I opened the package was how it felt. It feels “different.” It doesn’t have a rubbery, grippy texture, more of a smooth; very interesting feel. Combined with the rubber niblets along the side that provide as a grip, it has a very unique texture all around.

DLO also includes a 3 pack of their “Surface Shields” (reviewed here) with the Jam Jacket, which provide protection for the screen.

DLO Jam Jacket iPhone 3G Review

First things first: Price. The JamJacket is very reasonable. With a list price of $19.99 and a street price of $15 or so (Amazon), that sure beats the $35 I spent on the Incase Slider. Combined with the screen protectors ($15 for a 5 pack), its a major bargain. I have no hesitations recommending it based on price.

Next up are the physical attributes: Its definitely well built, DLO is not new to the business and has the mold figured out. Its very easy to put on and remove if you need to, but snug enough that it will never come off without your permission.

DLO JamJacket iPhone 3G Case

The things I don’t like: I’m a fan. Its a unique case that does its job well. However, there is one thing I’m not a fan of - the silence switch. The thick rubber is great for protecting the phone, but it also keeps you from being able to use the silent/normal mode switch on the left hand side of the phone. The depth of the switch hole is so great that it is nearly impossible to change modes, something I do a lot. You really have to dig in with a fingernail or even peel the case off to change. It really is a bit of a pain. If you don’t use the silence/vibrate switch a whole lot, then you’re fine - all the other controls work perfectly. If you are switching frequently, this is something to consider.

In conclusion, DLO has a real winner on their hands. Its well made, has a great feel and does its job - protecting your expensive (and impossible to replace) iPhone 3G.

03
Aug

iPhone 3G Skin Reviews Roundup

By Taylor 4 Comments
Categories: Apple and Reviews

Since getting the iPhone 3G, I’ve had a chance to try quite a few skins. If you want protection for your shiny new phone without the bulk of a case, a full body skin is just about the only way to go. Even though Apple eschewed the super-scratchable aluminum back for a less silver plastic back, it still scratches awfully easily. With the relative cost of a skin vs. the total phone cost, its almost a must. So, I tried quite a few, and here are my observations.

The contenders: BestSkinsEver, Bodyguardz and InvisibleShield. I also tested other front-only products, but that’s a story for another time.

I’m going to break them up based on their relative merits.

Price: BestSkinsEver is uncontested in this department. They cut costs by removing the frills offered by other companies, shipping their product in regular letter envelopes and with no instructions or application solution. The cost for a full body skin is $7.99. Bodyguardz comes next, with a 2-pack of their fully body skins running $24.99 ($12.50 each). They do go big on the frills though, with a full size box including a spray bottle of solution and application instructions printed on the box. Invisibleshield is last in the price department, with a single skin running $24.99. They offer the same “frills” as the Bodyguardz.
Bodyguardz iPhone 3G Skins

(Bodyguardz Packaging)

Ease of Application: Bodyguardz takes the crown here. With less folds, flaps and individual pieces than any of the other products, it is definitely the easiest to install. They also include a spray bottle of solution, so you don’t have to make your own. Invisibleshield is #2, with solution included as well and a more straightforward installation of the back with their single piece design. Since my review, BestSkinsEver created a single-piece back that should make things better, but I haven’t had a chance to try it. Through process of elimination, that puts BSE at #3.
BestSkinsEver iPhone 3G Review

(BestSkinsEver Corner Application)

Quality: Frankly, they’re all about the same. BestSkinsEver and InvisibleShield both use the same basic skin. Invisibleshield claims that they use some special “nano coating” but that’s just marketing speak. I haven’t verified what skin Bodyguardz uses, but my guess is that its similar enough. They all have about the same clarity, but your own application quality will be the deciding factor (how much solution you use, what temperature you put it on with, how you align, application environment) and so fourth.
Bodyguardz iPhone 3g Skin Review

(Bodyguardz Back Application)

Customer Service: Believe it or not, this does matter. Bodyguardz and Invisibleshield both offer lifetime warranties (replacements if you ever screw yours up) and while BestSkinsEver doesn’t advertise this, they do offer it (from my experience, they’ll send you a new one if you ask nicely). In numerical order, I would place BestSkinsEver at #1 because they have a very “down to earth” attitude and they’re very nice people. Bodyguardz at a close #2, very nice people to deal with. InvisibleShield is #3 by far, I would consider them at the rank of sleazy. You don’t want to have to deal with IS customer support, and that’s not just my opinion. Its so widespread that its practically fact.

BestSkinsever iPhone 3G Skin Review (BestSkinsEver Front Application)

Conclusion: I’m afraid there is no cut and dry conclusion. You have to make your choice based on any number of factors that matter to you, but I’ve tried my best to outline the differences. If you’re really strapped for cash (what are you doing with an iPhone?), BestSkinsEver is cheap and a fine product. If you’re looking for some nice “extras,” my nod is to Bodyguardz. You won’t have to make your own special sauce to get it to stick and you get a proper instruction manual in the box. I cannot in good conscience recommend Invisibleshield because of the serious problems with Zagg.