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12 Monkeys Season 2 DVD/Blu-ray Release Date Announced

10/27/2016 By Hakan Can

SyFy’s 12 Monkeys Season 2 DVD Release Date is Set for January

Available this January on store shelves and online everywhere comes SyFy’s 12 Monkeys Season 2. The 12 Monkeys Season 2 DVD release date is set for January 17, 2017. List pricing for the 13-episode Blu-ray™ and DVD sets are $49.98 and $44.98, respectively. The Blu-ray™ set includes a Digital HD copy. If you haven’t seen 12 Monkeys Season 1 yet, it’s available on Amazon for $23 and $21 for the Blu-ray™ and DVD boxed sets, respectively. Seasons 1 & 2, along with single episodes, are currently available on Digital HD. Single episodes are available for $1.99, with the complete season going for $19.99.

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You can order 12 Monkeys Season 2 as well as Season 1 at any of these digital stores:

PRESS RELEASE

From the mind of Executive Producer/Showrunner Terry Matalas comes SyFy’s 12 Monkeys.

Per the NBC Universal press release: “12 Monkeys, starring Aaron Stanford, Amanda Schull, Kirk Acevedo, Emily Hampshire, Barbara Sukowa, and Todd Stashwick, follows the journey of James Cole, a man from 2043 sent back in time to stop a malevolent organization known as the Army of the 12 Monkeys from destroying the world. Joining forces with Dr. Cassandra Railly in the present day, Cole must untangle a conspiracy that’s been spun throughout centuries. As Cole, Dr. Railly and their unlikely allies get closer to discovering the truth they will learn that there are not only deadly consequences for mankind… but time itself.”

12 MONKEYS – SEASON 2 TRAILER

12 MONKEYS – SEASON 2 EPISODE INFORMATION

Episode 1 – Year of the Monkey
Episode 2 – Primary
Episode 3 – One Hundred Years
Episode 4 – Emergence
Episode 5 – Bodies of Water
Episode 6 – Immortal
Episode 7 – Meltdown
Episode 8 – Lullaby
Episode 9 – Hyena
Episode 10 – Fatherland
Episode 11 – Resurrection
Episode 12 – Blood Washed Away
Episode 13 – Memory of Tomorrow

Extras – Inside 12 Monkeys: Season 2, Gag Reel, and Webisodes
Features – “Primary”, “Bodies of Water”, and “Blood Washed Away” Podcasts
Commentary – “Memory of Tomorrow” with Executive Producer/Showrunner Terry Matalas and Actors Amanda Schull and Aaron Stanford

12 MONKEYS – CAST INFORMATION

BLU-RAY™ & DVD TECHNICAL INFORMATION

Street Date: January 17, 2017
Formats: Blu-ray™ with Digital HD, DVD
Screen Format: Widescreen 16:9 (1.78:1)
Blu-ray™ Audio: English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1, French 5.1 DTS
DVD Audio: English Dolby Digital 5.1, French Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround
Subtitles: English, French, Swedish, Danish, Finnish, Dutch, Norwegian
Rating: Not Rated
Total Run Time: 558 Minutes
Closed Captioned: Yes
Studio: NBC Universal

Now don’t you think it’s time you start watching SyFy’s best show?

All photos and video are the courtesy and property of NBC Universal Home Entertainment.

Mr. Robot Season 2 Release Date Announced for DVD/Blu-ray

10/22/2016 By Hakan Can

Available on store shelves and online everywhere comes USA Network’s Mr. Robot Season 2.0. The Mr. Robot Season 2 DVD release date is set for January 10, 2017. List pricing for the 12-episode DVD and Blu-ray™ sets are $34.98 and $49.98, respectively. The Blu-ray™ set includes an UltraViolet – Digital HD copy. If you haven’t seen Mr. Robot Season 1 yet, it’s available on Amazon for $24.99 and $16.99 for the Blu-ray™ and DVD boxed sets, respectively. Season 2.0, along with single episodes, is currently available on Digital HD. Single episodes are available for $2.99 (HD) and $1.99 (SD), with the complete season going for $24.99 and $16.99, respectively.[envira-gallery id=”6550″]

You can order Mr. Robot: Season 2.0 (along with Season 1) at any of these digital stores:

NBC Universal’s Mr. Robot Season 2 DVD Release Date is Set for January

PRESS RELEASE

From the mind of Executive Producer/Showrunner Sam Esmail comes USA Networks MR. ROBOT.

Per the NBC Universal press release: “Winner of the Golden Globe® for Best TV Drama, Mr. Robot follows Elliot Alderson (Golden Globe®-nominee and Primetime Emmy® Award winner Rami Malek), a young cyber-security engineer who becomes involved in the underground hacker group fsociety, after being recruited by their mysterious leader (Golden Globe®-winner Christian Slater). Following the events of fsociety’s 5/9 hack on multi-national company Evil Corp, the second season explores the consequences of that attack as well as the illusion of control.”

MR. ROBOT- SEASON 2.0 TRAILER

MR. ROBOT SEASON 2.0 EPISODE INFORMATION

Episode 1 – eps2.0_unm4sk-pt1.tc
Episode 2 – eps2.0_unm4sk-pt2.tc
Episode 3 – eps2.1_k3rnel-pan1c.ksd
Episode 4 – eps2.2_init_1.asec
Episode 5 – eps2.3_logic-b0mb.hc
Episode 6 – eps2.4_m4ster-s1ave.aes
Episode 7 – eps2.5_h4ndshake.sme
Episode 8 – eps2.6_succ3ss0r.p12
Episode 9 – eps2.7_init_5.fve
Episode 10 – eps2.8_h1dden-pr0cess.axx
Episode 11 – eps2.9_pyth0n-pt1.p7z
Episode 12 – eps2.9_pyth0n-pt2.p7z

Feature 1 – Careful.Massacre.of.the.Bourgeoisie.1984-VHSrip.mp4
Feature 2 – Behind_The_Mask_Mr_Robot_2.0.Mov

MR. ROBOT CAST INFORMATION

Rami Malek as Elliot Alderson
Christian Slater as Mr. Robot
Portia Doubleday as Angela Moss
Carly Chaikin as Darlene
Martin Wallström as Tyrell Wellick
Michael Christopher as Phillip Price
Stephanie Corneliussen as Joanna Wellick
Grace Gummer as Dominique DiPierro

BLU-RAY™ & DVD TECHNICAL INFORMATION

Street Date: January 10, 2017
Formats: Blu-ray™ with Digital HD, DVD
Screen Format: Widescreen 16:9 (1.78:1)
Blu-ray™ Audio: English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1, French 5.1 DTS
DVD Audio: English Dolby Digital 5.1, French Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround
Subtitles: English, French
Rating: Not Rated
Total Run Time: 593 Minutes
Closed Captioned: Yes
Studio: NBC Universal

Now don’t you think it’s time to watch the best show USA Network’s has ever aired?

All photos and video are the courtesy and property of NBC Universal Home Entertainment.

Moshi Avanti Headphones Review

10/19/2016 By Hakan Can

Lightweight, Modern, and Stylish — Moshi Avanti

How many times in your life have you heard the phrase ‘less is more?’ I’m willing to bet that the high majority of you have heard it dozens of times. For weeks now, I’ve been wrestling with how to best describe (in one sentence or less) the Avanti on-ear headphones from Moshi. After trying out these headphones for a few weeks, the phrase ‘less is more’ is an appropriate one. You see, these compact, lightweight supra-aural headphones produce quite the punch with their HD40 drivers. Are compact and lightweight what you’re looking for in your next headset? Let’s take a closer look in this Moshi Avanti headphones review.

Pros:
• Modern, minimalist design
• Compact & lightweight
• Soft, yet firm fit
• 40mm neodymium drivers
• Very good sound reproduction

Cons:
• Fit may be too firm for some listeners
• No wireless capability

Moshi Avanti Headphones Review – Modern Design

For many of us, myself included, Moshi is not a brand I associate with headphones. Sure, they’ve got a handful of earbuds in their product lineup, but those of us who are familiar with the name are familiar because of their cases, bags, cables, and battery packs. So this was as much an introduction for me as it probably is for you now.

The first thing you notice about the Avanti on-ear headphones is that these aren’t your typical headphones. Gone are the heft, the weight, the size, and the volume of what you’re used to wearing. Notice I made no mention of missing features. The Avanti is a compact, collapsible, lightweight, 40mm neodymium driven pair of headphones. Let’s start with the design.

The Avanti headphones weigh in at 5.85 ounces. For most of you out there, this is significantly less than what you’re currently wearing. The headphones come beautifully packaged in a box usually reserved for a headset at twice the price. The box is worth saving. The package contents include the headphones, a 4.3′ light gray cable with red and silver metallic labeled connectors, a user manual, and hard carrying case.

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When first introduced, the Avanti was available in two colors: Burgundy Red and Caramel Beige. One week ago, a third color–Onyx Black was added.

The headband is made of a very sturdy and narrow piece of tensioned stainless steel. Don’t try bending it as 1) it will take quite a bit of effort and 2) you’ll make the entire headset unwearable. On the inside of the headband is thin, leatherette-wrapped padding. My first thought on seeing such thin padding was that this wouldn’t do. Well, I was wrong. The padding was more than enough to comfort my head. I’m sure you’ll come to the same conclusion.

Attached to the headband are two more pieces of stainless steel which not only make the headphones collapsible but also adjustable. The headphones collapse in one direction, allowing it to fit in the above-mentioned hard carrying case. The earcups are adjustable via a highly-engineered and unique sliding mechanism. As a degreed mechanical engineer, I rather like this design as there’s no sound when you’re trying to achieve the perfect fit. And the mechanism has enough friction in its materials that it won’t self-adjust. The earcups pivot as to provide an even better seal against your ear. If the earcuff positions were fixed, which they are not, this would have made for a poor design.

The earcups are leatherette-wrapped, rectangular-shaped with an angled design that fits the ears quite well. The padding is rather comfortable with the headband providing enough force to stay on your noggin. The one downside I noticed is the larger your head is, that is larger than mine, the applied force on your ears will be felt more towards the top, less on the bottom.

The 4.3′ cable has several features in its inline control that allow for complete headphone functionality. This control has a condenser mic, along with a multi-function single button for the following: Music Play and Pause, Song Forwarding and Back to Previous, Call Answering, Call Declining, and Call Waiting.

Audio Performance

Amazon Music Playlist:
• Lady Gaga – Born This Way
• Lana Del Rey – Born To Die, Paradise
• Emeli Sandé – Our Version of Events

• Ellie Goulding – Halcyon
• John Coltrane – The Ultimate Blue Train
• Rush – Clockwork Angels
• My Chemical Romance – The Black Parade

As we often state here at Beantown, when reviewing headphones, the most important performance factor is the quality of sound. From the list above, I tested the Avanti with a broad range of music. I also tested them against a few headphones I randomly selected from my collection. The results surprised me.

The short story is that I decided to retire my House of Marley Liberate XLBT and B&O Play H6 headphones from future testing. By the time you read this, you’ll have missed the giveaway on the latter. The Avanti outperformed a $299 (formerly $399) pair of B&O Play high-end headphones.

The sound across the 15 Hz – 22 kHz spectrum was quite good. I was impressed with instrumental sounds particularly Alex Lifeson’s guitar work on Clockwork Angels and most impressed with Lana Del Rey’s vocal reproduction on Paradise. Sounds felt more lively with the Avanti than they did with the other headphones. If you’re in the market for headphones with strong bass, I believe you’ll like what comes out of these headphones, but I would fully understand if you chose headphones dedicated to strong bass.

Burn-In Tool App

Moshi takes the headphones market with a high level of seriousness, so much so that they offer an app which assists with the burn in of their earbuds and headphones. The app simply called Burn-in Tool is available via Apple’s iTunes and Google Play Store. We’ve sampled dozens of headphones and have never seen any of these established brands offer such a tool. The closest app that comes to mind is Captune by Sennheiser, but it’s quite different than Moshi’s Burn-in Tool.

I used an Android-based Motorola Moto X Pure mobile phone and had no issue with the app. The one thing I will say about Burn-in Tool is the sound pattern is quite annoying and not meant for your ears. If you’re going to use Burn-in Tool, I highly recommend you place your mobile phone and headphones in some other room, close the door, and let them do their thing for at least four hours. If you need your phone at some point, you can always pause the sound pattern and complete the task later.[soliloquy id=”6518″]

Conclusion

In my testing, the Avanti headphones are best when worn for an hour or two at a time. The long-term fit is a good one. Best use of these headphones is at home, office, and in transit. They are not (and we do not recommend them) for use in sporting activities like jogging. There are plenty of headphones on the market for that purpose.

At $199, the Avanti headphones are well-priced in the marketplace. As I stated above, I liked them so much that I’ve removed a pair of House of Marley headphones from my headset rotation and replaced them with the Avanti.

If you’re looking for a pair of on-ear (supra-aural) headphones which offer a minimalist design but not minimalist features, then Moshi’s Avanti is worth taking a serious look at. We give this headphone high marks.

Have you tried Moshi’s Avanti headphones? Do you agree or disagree with our analysis? Let us know in the comment section below or via social media. We’re eager to hear your thoughts.

Feel free to follow Moshi on Twitter and Facebook as well as this very blog on Twitter and Facebook. And don’t hesitate to head over to the Moshi website to see their latest equipment.

The Avanti headphones come with a one-year limited end-user warranty.

FTC Disclosure: Moshi provided Beantown LLC with one Avanti headphones sample for review purposes. This writer’s opinion is 100% his own and not a paid product ambassador.

All photographs are the copyrighted property of Beantown LLC 2016.

Preview: Manfrotto Windsor Camera Bag Collection

10/10/2016 By Hakan Can

Manfrotto Expands Their Product Line for Fall 2016 with the Windsor Camera Bag Collection

For you bag, attaché, and backpacks lovers, just when you thought there would be nothing new-and-interesting between Back to School season and CES2017 comes this beautiful product line–the Windsor Collection from Manfrotto. Many of you mobile-phone-picture-takers may have never heard of Manfrotto, but we slightly older camera users certainly have. For you younger generation millennials, I highly suggest you get to know the brand. Before you know it, you’ll probably own one of their tripods, just like we at Beantown do, and maybe one of their camera bags too. If you’re fortunate enough, you just might get your hands on the Manfrotto Windsor Camera Bag Collection at the upcoming PhotoPlus or NAB NY expositions.

If you’re heading to PhotoPlus Expo, you can see the Windsor Collection in Hall 3B, Stand 555.

Manfrotto Windsor Camera Bag Collection

Two days ago, the folks at Manfrotto unexpectedly caused my eyes to light up. You see, over the summer, I previewed a handful of Back to School, business and urban professional, and business travel bag collections from the likes of Case Logic, Speck, and Targus. I’ve added links below. All were beautiful, practical, and well-designed. And I’ve put many of them to good use. Unfortunately, I’ve gone months without seeing anything new in the camera bag aisle until now.

The Manfrotto Windsor Collection takes the standard boring and drab camera bag and tosses it out the window. As Manfrotto puts it, they’re “paying homage to vintage British style.” The top portions of each bag and backpack are made of a light gray synthetic fabric, with the sides and bottom made of nylon in a darker gray. If this isn’t attractive enough for you, open the genuine brown leather straps, and a tartan-patterned lining is revealed. For those of you who not only care about the quality but the look of your bag, this collection says ‘Class.’

While each bag and backpack have something different to offer its user, they have much in common. All four products in the Windsor Collection have a water-repellent coating applied to them. While they are water repellent, I would suggest not getting them too wet as they are not waterproof.

The bags and backpack also have flexible, interchangeable dividers and incorporate the shock-absorbing Manfrotto Protection System. You can customize the placement of your lenses and gear while also having the ability to fold or pull out the dividers when needed. In addition to the modular design, the three messenger/reporter bags have a trolley strap to fit over a luggage handle. With the exception of the Messenger S bag which has a tablet compartment, each Windsor camera bag or backpack also holds up to a 13.3 or 15″ laptop.

The backpack and reporter bag have two additional features beyond that of the messenger bags. 1) There’s an external tripod connection, so there’s no need for your tripod ever to be placed into the bag. 2) There’s a side pocket or water bottle holder. Why there’s no water bottle pocket on the messenger bags is a mystery. I suspect there was a design issue as the placement of the side pocket was too close to that of the shoulder strap connections.

Let’s preview each product one at a time; introducing the Windsor Backpack, Windsor Messenger S Bag, Windsor Messenger M Bag, and Windsor Reporter Bag.

Manfrotto Windsor DSLR & Laptop Backpack

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Backpack Specifications:
• External Dimensions: H x L x W
• Internal Main Compartment: H x L x W
• Personal Compartment: H x L x W
• Laptop Compartment: H x L x W
• Camera Insert Dimensions: H x L x W
• Number of Lenses / Type of Gear
• Weight

Values:
• 18.11 x 12.4 x 8.66 Inches
• 15.35 x 11.81 x 7.48 Inches
• 7.87 x 9.84 x 5.91 Inches
• 14.96 x 9.84 x 0.79 Inches
• 6.69 x 9.84 x 5.51 Inches
• 4, DSLR / Mirrorless
• 37.39 oz

Manfrotto Windsor Camera Messenger S & M Bags

If you couldn’t tell, the two Windsor messenger bags are identical in every way except size; the ‘S’ is for Small, and the ‘M’ is for Medium. Whichever model you go with, you’ve chosen a beautifully designed bag.

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Messenger S Bag Specifications:
• External Dimensions: H x L x W
• Internal Main Compartment: H x L x W
• Laptop Compartment: H x L x W
• Camera Insert Dimensions: H x L x W
• Number of Lenses / Type of Gear
• Weight

Values:
• 9.45 x 13.58 x 4.33 Inches
• 8.66 x 12.6 x 3.94 Inches
• 8.66 x 12.6 x 0.39 Inches
• 8.66 x 12.6 x 3.54 Inches
• 4, Mirrorless
• 24.34 oz

Messenger M Bag Specifications:
• External Dimensions: H x L x W
• Internal Main Compartment: H x L x W
• Laptop Compartment: H x L x W
• Camera Insert Dimensions: H x L x W
• Number of Lenses / Type of Gear
• Weight

Values:
• 12.99 x 16.54 x 5.91 Inches
• 11.02 x 15.35 x 5.12 Inches
• 11.02 x 15.35 x 0.59 Inches
• 11.02 x 15.35 x 4.72 Inches
• 4, DSLR / Mirrorless
• 32.8 oz

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Manfrotto Windsor Camera Reporter Bag

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Reporter Bag Specifications:
• External Dimensions: H x L x W
• Internal Main Compartment: H x L x W
• Laptop Compartment: H x L x W
• Camera Insert Dimensions: H x L x W
• Number of Lenses / Type of Gear
• Weight

Values:
• 11.02 x 15.35 x 4.53 Inches
• 10.2 x 14.57 x 3.15 Inches
• 10.24 x 14.57 x 0.59 Inches
• 10.24 x 14.57 x 3.15 Inches
• 4, DSLR / Mirrorless
• 22.93 oz

Final Thoughts

Pricing for the Manfrotto Windsor Camera Bag Collection is as follows:

• Windsor Camera Backpack
• Windsor Messenger M Bag
• Windsor Messenger S Bag
• Windsor Reporter Bag

• $169.99
• $139.99
• $119.99
• $129.99

At a price range of $120-$170, the Windsor Collection is reasonably priced when compared to product lines from other manufacturers. The bonus here is that these bags have style. For a list of compatible camera models for each product, please visit the respective Manfrotto product page, and look under Specifications. And don’t hesitate to head over to the Manfrotto website to see everything else they’ve got.

What do you think of this Windsor Camera Bag Collection? Let us know in the comment section below or via social media. We’re eager to hear your thoughts.

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The Manfrotto Windsor Camera Bag Collection comes with a standard limited warranty.

All photographs are the copyrighted property of Vitec Group Italia Spa (Manfrotto.)

Caseco Shock Express Metallic Case, Core 360, and Mountie Car Mount Review

10/04/2016 By Hakan Can

Caseco Shock Express Metallic Case for iPhone 6s and Galaxy S7 …

… Plus Core 360 and Mountie Car Mount Reviews

I’m going to let you in on a little secret. Want to know how we test the mobile phone cases and accessories we receive? Answer: I give them to my niece and older nephew for a couple of weeks. This way, any biases I may have are quickly eliminated. You see, they don’t care about brand names and multi-million dollar ad budgets. Don’t tell the public relations and marketing firms this. They’ll freak out if more teens adopt this philosophy. My brother’s kids only care about quality, reliability, features, and to a lesser degree, price. So when I had the chance to review a few cases and car mounts from a niche brand from Canada, I seized the opportunity. Let’s take a close look at the Caseco Shock Express Metallic case for the Apple iPhone 6s and Samsung Galaxy S7 as well as examine the Caseco Core 360 and Mountie car mounts.

Caseco Shock Express Metallic Case

Now I’m just going to come out and say it, this brand rocks! Over the past year, my niece and older nephew have received plenty of sample cases, mostly from well-known brands. While they like most, they’re not enamored by them. Then I gave my nephew the Caseco Shock Express Metallic case for the Samsung Galaxy S7. He instantly loved it and had plenty of positive feedback (see his words below) and for once, there was no negative feedback.

Pros:
• The case fits the phone snug and buttons on the side perfect.
• Pattern on the back is minimal.
• There is a custom “add-on” to the case for the speaker that propels the sound waves forward, a touch I haven’t seen on any phone case.
• The headphone jack is big enough for any aux cord or headphones plug which has been an issue for my last case.
• The case itself is pretty minimal, it doesn’t add too much weight or bulk to your phone.
• Pattern on the back doesn’t get smudged easily.
• Case has a studded design on the sides for a sure grip.
• Comes with screen protector.

Cons:
• None

Other features of the Shock Express Metallic case include the following:

• Drop-proof, shock-absorbing construction.
• Meets MIL-STD 810G 516.6 military drop tests.

The same goes for the Shock Express case for the Apple iPhone 6/6s. In addition to what my nephew stated above, my writer Elliott mentioned: “the gradual bezel curves upward in the corners, giving the screen good clearance when face down while still keeping a thin design.” He did have one Con though: “It would be nice if the back of the phone were a little more skid resistant to keep it from sliding off tables when facing up.”

The Shock Express Metallic Galaxy S7 case comes in four unique colors: aquamarine, marsala, strawberry ice, and black, and lists for $29.99.

The Shock Express iPhone 6/6s case comes in six unique colors: aquamarine, marsala, strawberry ice, white, blue, and silver, and lists for $29.99.

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Caseco Core 360 and Mountie Car Mounts

I’m skeptical when it comes to mobile phone car mounts. I’ve seen so many bulky ones over the years that I’ve been turned off to such devices. Caseco takes a much needed minimalist approach to the mobile phone (magnetic) car mount. You can go with the Mountie, which affixes to the AC/Heating vents, or you can use the Core 360 by gluing it in place on the dash. Both devices work as advertised, working well in our tests, holding cased mobile devices up to 1.3 lbs. These mounts receive our highest recommendations.

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There’s one downside I should mention regarding the Mountie, something I experienced firsthand. The spring which holds the device to the vent is quite strong. If you remove the Mountie from the air vent, be very careful as you may scratch the latter. I advise putting down a piece of tape first in the event you wish to remove your mount.

Both the Core 360 and Mountie offer 360 degrees of rotation. The Core 360 even tilts 30 degrees to either side.

Core 360 Magnetic Car Mount is available in two colors: black and black/red, and it lists for $39.99. Caseco Mountie is available in black only and lists for $24.99

Core 360 package contents: one car mount, two metal mounting discs, and one replacement 3M adhesive.

Materials: Anodized aluminum alloy
Magnet: Neodymium
Adhesives: VHB by 3M™

Mountie package contents: one spring-loaded vent mount and one metal disc with adhesive.

Materials: Hard plastic with rubberized coating
Neodymium magnet
VHB adhesive by 3M™

Final Thoughts

Caseco manufacturers a variety of cases beyond the Shock Express. For instance, cases for the new Apple iPhone 7 also come in Clear, Glam, and Skin. And if you haven’t heard, Caseco makes what some consider the best winter consumer tech gift available, the Bluetooth Beanie. Check out the 30+ available styles.

As part of Caseco’s current promotion, all cases, pouches, and beanies are 15% off, with Coupon Code CASETOBER. If interested, act quickly as this discount lasts into Halloween.

Have you tried any of these Caseco products mentioned above? Do you agree or disagree with our analysis? Let us know in the comment section below or via social media. We’re eager to hear your thoughts.

Feel free to follow Caseco on Twitter and Facebook as well as this very blog on Twitter and Facebook. And don’t hesitate to head over to the Caseco website to see their latest equipment.

Everything covered in this post has a 1-year warranty with comes with free shipping to the USA.

FTC Disclosure: Caseco Products provided Beantown LLC with two Shock Express Metallic cases, one Core 360, and one Mountie car mount sample for review purposes. This writer’s opinion is 100% his own and not a paid product ambassador.

All photographs are the copyrighted property of Beantown LLC 2016.

New Speck Apple iPhone 7 Case Designs Are Introduced

09/09/2016 By Hakan Can

New Speck Apple iPhone 7 Case Models (and iPhone 7 Plus too)

Two days ago at the Apple Special Event in San Francisco, CA, the folks at Apple introduced what are arguably their greatest mobile phones created to date–the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus. As soon as this event was over, dozens of case manufacturers followed suit and introduced new products of their own for use with Apple’s latest creations. Of these, we at Beantown have our favorites, and among them, comes the latest from Speck. We thought we would see additions to the CandyShell line. Instead we got a whole new line–Presidio. So without further adieu, we’d like to introduce the new Presidio line of Apple iPhone 7 & iPhone 7 Plus case designs from Speck Products.

Introducing Speck Presidio Apple iPhone 7 and 7 Plus Cases

Speck has introduced Presidio, and with it, seven new Apple iPhone 7 and six Apple iPhone 7 Plus case designs:

All new Speck Presidio case designs are available for both the Apple iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus, with the exception of the Presidio Wallet. The latter is only available for use with the iPhone 7.

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The Presidio Clear, Clear + Glitter, and Clear + Print case designs are aimed at those who want a clean, clear, maybe even slightly colorful or patterned look. Although these Clear designs are now 8-foot drop tested, they take a minimalist design approach, which is fine for many of us. They also have a dual-layered design.

The Presidio Grip case design offers a slightly higher level of device protection over its Presidio Clear cousins. This model is 10-foot drop tested. And it comes with that famous Speck no-slip grip.

Like the Presidio Grip, the Presidio and Presidio Inked case designs are geared towards those who want a higher level of device protection. These two models come in a dual-layer design which offers better protection when your device hits the ground on one of its corners. This model is 10-foot drop tested.

Like the Presidio and Presidio Inked, the Presidio Wallet case has that higher level of device protection in a dual-layer design. The Wallet is so named as it can hold up to 3 credit cards or a bit of cash. It too is 10-foot drop tested.

Speck’s Presidio Case Design

What differentiates Presidio from the CandyShell model is this product they call IMPACTIUM™. It’s their new shock-absorbing material that disperses the load away from the impact site. The Presidio Clear case designs utilize a product called IMPACTIUM™ CLEAR.

According to Bryan Hynecek, Speck’s Design Chief, “Shrinking the bulk-to-protection ratio is the fundamental design challenge we face as we continue to innovative in our industry. Presidio represents a significant breakthrough for the Speck design team. It is the most protective case we’ve built, and adds 20 percent less bulk to your device than CandyShell, which is already the standard for slim impact protection.”

Presidio Clear, Clear + Glitter, and Clear + Print Cases

The new Presidio Clear, Clear + Glitter, and Clear + Print case designs are the perfect way to show off the factory finish of your new Apple iPhone 7 or iPhone 7 Plus.

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These dual-layer cases offer twice the military-grade drop protection and are either completely clear, clear with a printed design, or offer shimmering glitter to display the new finish of your iPhone 7/7 Plus.

[envira-gallery id=”6019″]

If this isn’t enough, the Presidio Clear is resistant to scratches, ultraviolet light and many chemicals, and it resists yellowing.

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The Presidio Clear case is available in Clear or Onyx Black.

The Presidio Clear + Glitter case is available in Clear, Onyx, and Rose Pink all with Gold Glitter.

The Presidio Clear + Print case, one of our two favorites, is available in 9 designs, all shown above.

All three Speck Presidio Clear model lines come with IMPACTIUM™ CLEAR protection.

Presidio Grip iPhone 7 Cases

As we mentioned above, the Presidio Grip case designs offer more protection over its Presidio Clear cousins. And this case design is 10-foot drop tested, more then double the military standard MIL-STD-810F.

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The Presidio Grip case is available in 6 designs, all shown above.

Presidio and Presidio Inked iPhone 7 Cases

The Presidio and Presidio Inked have wraparound designs, printed with scratch-resistant technology. Between these two case designs, you’ve got 16 patterns to choose from for your Apple iPhone 7. These two designs offer some truly eye-catching patterns and color combinations that make protecting your phone more stylish than ever.

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The Presidio case is available in in 7 designs, all shown above.

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The Presidio Inked case, the second of our two favorites, is available in 9 designs, all shown above.

Presidio Wallet iPhone 7 Cases

The most intriguing of all the Speck Presidio line is the Presidio Wallet. Having the ability to secure up to 3 credit cards or some cash within the case puts everything within one pocket, minus your keys of course.

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The Presidio Wallet case is available in 3 designs: Black/Black, Mineral Teal/Jewel Teal, and Syrah Purple/Magenta Pink.

Speck’s Presidio, Presidio Inked, Presidio Grip, and Presidio Wallet model lines all come with IMPACTIUM™ shock barrier protection.

Speckulations and Final Thoughts

As you’ve seen above, Speck has a lot more to offer than most case manufacturers when it comes to protecting your Apple iPhone 7 & iPhone 7 devices.

Speck continues to raise the bar on the competition with their Presidio series. Speck’s Presidio cases have a limited lifetime warranty with a 30-day guarantee.

Presidio Clear, Clear + Glitter, and Clear + Inked are available at SpeckProducts, Amazon (see below) and other online and brick-and-mortar retailers with list pricing of $39.95 and $44.95 (2), respectively.

Presidio and Presidio Grip are available with list pricing of $39.95.

Presidio Inked and Presidio Wallet are available with list pricing of $44.95.

Feel free to follow Speck on Twitter and Facebook as well as this very blog on Twitter and Facebook.

All photographs are the copyrighted property of Speck Products/Samsonite IP Holdings.

New Trident Apple iPhone 7 Case Models Are Introduced

09/07/2016 By Hakan Can

At the Apple Special Event in San Francisco, CA, the folks at Apple introduced what is arguably their greatest mobile phones created to date–the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus. As soon as this was over, dozens of case manufacturers followed suit and introduced new products of their own for use with Apple’s latest creations. Of these, we at Beantown have our favorites, and among them, comes the latest from Trident Case. So without further adieu, we’d like to introduce to you, the new Apple iPhone 7 & iPhone 7 Plus case designs from Trident Case.

Updated Dec 2016. As part of Trident Case’s holiday campaign, everything site wide is 40% off, plus free shipping with Coupon Code Holiday40. If interested, act quickly as this discount only lasts through December 31, 2016.

New Trident Apple iPhone 7 Case Models (as well as iPhone 7 Plus)

Today, Trident Case introduced four cases for the Apple iPhone 7: Aegis, Cyclops, Kraken AMS, and Krios, and three for the the iPhone 7 Plus: Aegis, Kraken AMS, and Krios. Each model is geared toward a different user.

The Krios dual case is aimed at those who like a clean, clear looking mobile phone. It takes a minimalist design approach to protection, which is just fine for many of us.

The Aegis series case is geared towards those who want (and likely need) a medium level of case protection. It also adds some color in the palm of your hand.

The Cyclops iPhone 7 case takes the level of protection a bit higher, but not quite to Kraken A.M.S. territory. This higher level of protection comes with 8 feet of drop protection.

The Kraken AMS series case is for those who need heavy-duty protection for their mobile phone. It’s ideal for those who work in rugged environments as well as those in the trades (construction, electrical, plumbing, etc.) It now has 10 feet of drop protection.

The Heavy-Duty, Military-Tested Kraken A.M.S.

The Kraken A.M.S. case line has been around since August 2013 when it was first introduced for roughly 40 mobile products. Since then, it’s been available for an additional 40+ products and now, it makes its way onto the Apple iPhone 7 & 7 Plus. This is the toughest case Trident Case manufacturers. Need proof? Just look at the military standards the Kraken A.M.S. case has passed:

Drop (Mil-STD-810F, Method 516.5) – 26 drops onto concrete from 4 feet.
Vibration (Mil-STD-810F, Method 514.5) from 20-2000Hz across 3 different axes for a total of 18 hours.
Dust (Mil-STD-810F, Method 510.4) – blow dust for 3 hours at 29 ft/sec.
Sand (Mil-STD-810F, Method 510.4) – blow sand for 3 hours at 59 ft/sec.
Rain (Mil-STD-810F, Method 506.4) – 7.9 inches per hour of rain at 40 mph wind velocity for 1 hour.

(Information provided by Trident Case via independent testing.)

If you’ve got one of these cases on your Apple iPhone 6/6s, then you know how sturdy and reliable this case is. And if you’re looking for accessories for the Kraken A.M.S. series, look no further. There are more Kraken A.M.S. accessories than you can shake a stick at.

Trident Case Kraken AMS Series for Apple iPhone 7

Features of the Kraken A.M.S. Case include the following:

Drop protection per MIL-Standard.
Hardened bio-enhanced Polycarbonate shell construction.
Shock-absorbing Thermoplastic Elastomer (TPE) interior construction.
Dust filters via waterproof meshing.
Controls and ports protected.
Belt clip/holster provided.
Built-in screen protector.
Removable aluminum media stand.
Optional interchangeable accessories.
Quick and easy installation.
Eco-friendly design.
Recyclable, degradable and compostable.

The Kraken A.M.S. Series™ iPhone 7 cases are available September 19th. They come in 3 unique colors: black, crimson, and teal, and list for $44.99.

The Well Protected Cyclops

Like the Kraken AMS, the Cyclops case line has been around since August 2013 when it was first introduced for roughly 125 mobile products. Since then, it’s been available for an additional 90 products and now, it makes its way onto the Apple iPhone 7 & 7 Plus.

The Cyclops case offers a superior amount of protection. It passes the same tough military standards listed for the Kraken A.M.S., but in a slimmer body.

If you’ve got one of these cases on your Microsoft Surface Pro 4, Samsung Galaxy S6, or Apple iPhone 5/5s/6/6s, then you know how sturdy and reliable this model is.

Trident Case Cyclops Series for Apple iPhone 7

Features of the Cyclops case include the following:

Drop protection per MIL-Standard.
Hardened bio-enhanced Polycarbonate shell construction.
Shock-absorbing Thermoplastic Elastomer (TPE) interior construction.
Dust filters via waterproof meshing.
Controls and ports protected.
Belt clip/holster provided.
Built-in screen protector.
Removable aluminum media stand.
Optional interchangeable accessories.
Quick and easy installation.
Eco-friendly design.
Recyclable, degradable and compostable.

The Cyclops Series Apple iPhone 7 cases are available now. They come in 3 unique colors: black, crimson, and navy blue, and list for $34.99.

The Stylish and Durable Aegis

The Aegis case line has been around since August 2013 when it was first introduced for no less than 100 mobile products. Now, there are some 200+ models in the Aegis line including those for the Apple iPhone 7 & 7 Plus.

The construction of this Aegis case is very much like that for Apple’s iPhone 6/6S. The ruggedness is intact. The Military standards for drop and vibrations are intact. The polycarbonate and a thermoplastic elastomer construction are intact.

Trident Case Aegis Series for Apple iPhone 7

Features of the Aegis Case include the following:

Drop protection of 4′ per MIL-Standard.
Hardened bio-enhanced Polycarbonate shell construction.
Shock-absorbing Thermoplastic Elastomer (TPE) interior construction.
Textured and padded interior.
Controls and ports protected.
Quick and easy installation.
Eco-friendly design.
Recyclable, degradable and compostable.

The Aegis Series™ iPhone 7 cases are available now. They come in 3 unique colors: black, crimson, and navy blue, and list for $24.99.

The Completely Transparent Dual Case Krios

The Krios case line has been around since November 2014 when it was first introduced for the Apple iPhone 6. It wasn’t until 5 months later in March 2015, when we started to see clear versions of the Krios case. A couple of dozen models later, it’s September 2016 and two more Krios models are introduced, this time for the Apple iPhone 7 & 7 Plus.

Upon examination of this new Krios Dual case you’ll notice the thin, lightweight design, and the use of Thermoplastic Polyurethane (TPU) material. You’ll also notice differences such as the smooth surface on the Krios Dual case.

Trident Case Krios Series for Apple iPhone 7

Features of the Krios Dual Case include the following:

Impact-resistant outer body.
Clear, hardened bio-enhanced polycarbonate body.
Clear Thermoplastic Polyurethane (TPU) shock-absorbing edges.
Quick and easy installation.
Lightweight protection.
Eco-friendly design.
Recyclable, degradable and compostable.

The Krios Series™ Dual iPhone 7 cases are available now. They come in 2 unique colors: black and clear, and list for $14.99.

Final Thoughts

As you’ve seen above, Trident Case has a bit of everything to offer to all you future Apple iPhone 7 & iPhone 7 Plus owners.

If Trident Case’s offering match your needs, you may want to order a case today. As mentioned above, they’re offering 40% off site wide, plus free shipping with Coupon Code Holiday40. If interested, act quickly as this discount only lasts through December 31, 2016.

To see the latest Trident Apple iPhone 7 case lines or Apple iPhone 7 Plus case lines, click on either link.

Feel free to follow Trident Case on Twitter and Facebook as well as this blog on Twitter and Facebook.

All photos and video are courtesy and property of Apple and Trident Case.

Giveaways

09/05/2016 By Hakan Can

If you’re on this post, then you’re interested in one thing and one thing only–Free Stuff.

Always remember to do the following with regards to each giveaway:

Read the rules. There are statements like “giveaway is open to U.S. citizens and legal residents only.” Occasionally we’ll open a giveaway to Canadians too.
Confirm your entry. After you’ve done what you’re supposed to do on the website, you’ll receive an email. This is where you confirm your entry.
If you’re a spammer or some clown at work, your entry will be removed ahead of the drawing.
You can also find our giveaways on social media, i.e. Reddit, Twitter, etc. under the hashtag #giveaway. Good Luck.

Current Giveaway

Expired Giveaways

From October 26 to November 6, 2018, we’re giving away one (1) copy of BlacKkKlansman on Blu-ray™ + Digital. You can read about the BlacKkKlansman 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray & DVD release on the link above.

If you would like to enter the BlacKkKlansman Giveaway, you can do so by clicking the preceding link.

Don’t forget to read the Rules and be in compliance with them. USA Only. Good Luck.

From June 8 to June 12, 2018, we’re giving away one (1) copy of Silicon Valley Season 5 on Digital HD. If you want to enter the giveaway, you can do so by clicking the preceding link. Don’t forget to read the Rules and be in compliance with them. Good Luck.

From April 17 to Noon on April 24, 2018, we’re giving away one (1) copy of Den of Thieves on Blu-ray™ + DVD + Digital HD. If you want to enter the giveaway, you can do so by clicking the preceding link. Don’t forget to read the Rules and be in compliance with them. Good Luck.

From Noon on Jan 6 to 11 PM on Jan 14, 2018, we’re giving away two (2) download codes for Curb Your Enthusiasm Season 9 on Digital HD. If you want to enter the giveaway, you can do so by clicking the preceding link. Don’t forget to read the Rules and be in compliance with them. And please read the accompanying posts. Good Luck.

Congratulations to our two winners.

From Dec 12 to 1 PM Dec 19, 2017, we’re giving away two (2) download codes for Vice Principals Season 2 on Digital HD. If you want to enter the giveaway, you can do so by clicking the preceding link. Don’t forget to read the Rules and be in compliance with them. And please read the accompanying products posts. Good luck.

Congratulations to our two winners: Andy and Geraldine.

From Noon Dec 1 to 10 PM Dec 11, 2017, we’re giving away one (1) download code for The Deuce Season 1 on Digital HD. If you want to enter the giveaway, you can do so by clicking the preceding link. Don’t forget to read the Rules and be in compliance with them. And please read the accompanying products posts. Good luck.

Congratulations to our winner Ashley.

From 11 PM Sept 27 to 11:45 PM October 3, 2017, we’re giving away two (2) download codes of Game of Thrones Season 7 on Digital HD. If you want to enter the giveaway, you can do so by clicking the preceding link. Don’t forget to read the Rules and be in compliance with them. And please read the accompanying products posts. Good luck.

Congratulations to our two winners: Andy and Mark.

From 5 PM Sept 10 to 9 PM September 22, 2017, we’re giving away one (1) ADATA 16GB USB 3.1 Type C UC350 Flash Drive, (1) Beyerdynamic Byron BT Wireless In-Ear Headphones, (1) Moshi IonBank 5K Battery Charger, (1) Targus Mobile ViP Slim Brief Bag, and (1) Water Bottle to One (1) Lucky Winner in our Grad School 2017 Giveaway. If you want to enter the giveaway, you can do so by clicking the preceding link. Don’t forget to read the rules. And please read the accompanying products posts. Good luck.

From 8:30 PM Aug 31 to 8 PM September 7, 2017, we’re giving away one (1) Speck Module Backpack, (1) ADATA 16GB USB 3.0 Flash Drive, (1) Monster iSport Wireless SuperSlim In-Ear Headphones, (1) Patriot Fuel+ 6000mAh Battery Charger, and (1) Water Bottle in our Back-to-school 2017 giveaway. If you want to enter the giveaway, you can do so by clicking the preceding link above. Don’t forget to read the rules first. Good luck.

From 3 PM July 24 to 7 PM August 1, 2017, we’re giving away one (1) Gamdias ZEUS P1 RGB Gaming Mouse. If you want to enter the giveaway, you can do so by clicking the link above. Don’t forget to read the rules first. Good luck.

From 4 PM April 12 to 10 PM April 23, 2017, we’re giving away one (1) Speck Velocity Backpack and (1) iPhone 7 Presidio Grip Case. The Velocity backpack comes in light blue/green and the Presidio Grip case comes in black. If you want to enter the giveaway, you can do so by clicking the link above. Good luck.

From 11 PM January 2 to Noon January 10, 2017, we’re giving away one (1) Triby Smart Portable Speaker with Alexa Voice Service from Invoxia. It comes with gray or orange bumpers, your choice. If you want to enter the giveaway, you can do so by clicking the link above. Good luck.

From 8 PM October 12 to 11:30 AM October 18, 2016, we’re giving away two (2) copies of Bad Moms on Digital HD. If you want to enter the giveaway, you can do so by clicking the link above. Good luck.

From 5 PM September 30 to 11:30 AM October 10, 2016, we’re giving away the item to the left, one (1) Beoplay Play H6 Headphones. Want to know more about it? You can read our Beoplay H6 headphones review here. If you just want to enter the giveaway, you can do so by clicking the first link above. Good luck.

From September 3rd to 11 AM September 12, 2016, we’re giving away the item to the left, one (1) Petzi Treat Cam courtesy of Petzila. Want to know more about it? You can read our Petzi Treat Cam Review here. If you just want to enter the giveaway, you can enter the Petzi Treat Cam giveaway here.

Congratulations to Jessica M (and her dog) on winning the giveaway.

From August 15 to 11:45 AM August 22, 2016, we’re giving away the item to the left, one (1) copy of The Huntsman: Winter’s War on Blu-ray™ courtesy of UPHE. Want to know more about it? You can read all about The Huntsman: Winter’s War Blu-ray™ here. If you just want to enter the giveaway, you can enter from the first link above.

Congratulations to Elizabeth S. on winning the giveaway.

New Trident Samsung Galaxy Note7 Case Models Are Introduced

08/25/2016 By Hakan Can

Three weeks ago at Samsung Galaxy Note Unpacked 2016 in New York City, the folks at Samsung Mobile introduced what is arguably the greatest phablet created thus far–the Galaxy Note7. Within no time, and by no means a coincidence, tens of case manufacturers followed suit and introduced new protective products for use with the Samsung Mobile Galaxy Note7. Of these, we at Beantown have our favorites, and among them, comes the latest from Trident Case. So without further adieu, we’d like to introduce to you, the new Samsung Galaxy Note7 case designs from Trident Case.

Two New Trident Samsung Galaxy Note7 Case Models

Recently, Trident Case introduced two models for the Samsung Galaxy Note7: Aegis and Krios. Each model is geared toward a different user.

The Krios dual case is aimed at those who like a clean, clear looking mobile phone. It takes a minimalist design approach to protection, which is just fine for many of us.

The Aegis series case is geared towards those who want (and likely need) some ruggedness when it comes to case protection. It also adds some color in the palm of your hand.

The Stylish and Durable Aegis

The Aegis case line has been around since August 2013 when it was first introduced for no less than 100 mobile products. That’s one heck of a product launch! It’s like throwing your first party and having all your friends and their friends show up.

The construction of this Aegis case is very much like that for the recently introduced Motorola’s Motor G4 and G4 Plus. The ruggedness is intact. The Military standards for drop and vibrations are intact. The polycarbonate and a thermoplastic elastomer construction are intact.

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Features of the Aegis Case include the following:

Drop protection of 4′ per MIL-STD-810F.
Hardened bio-enhanced Polycarbonate shell construction.
Shock-absorbing Thermoplastic Elastomer (TPE) interior construction.
Textured and padded interior.
Dust and moisture filters via waterproof meshing.
Power and audio ports protection.
Anti-skid.
Quick and easy installation.
Eco-friendly design.
Recyclable, degradable and compostable.

The Aegis Series™ Galaxy Note7 cases are available now. They come in 3 unique colors, black, navy blue, and crimson red, and list for $24.99.

The Completely Transparent Dual Case Krios

The Krios case line has been around since November 2014 when it was first introduced for the Apple iPhone 6. It wasn’t until 5 months later in March 2015, when we, the consumer, started to see clear versions of the Krios case. Back in March 2015, these Krios Gel cases were designed for the Samsung Note 5, Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 Edge. Twenty models later, it’s February 2016 and three more Krios models are introduced, one each for the Samsung Galaxy S7, Galaxy S7 Edge, and the LG G5.

When comparing this new Krios Dual case against the Gel case, you’ll notice similarities like the thin, lightweight design, and the use of Thermoplastic Polyurethane (TPU) material. You’ll also notice differences such as the smooth surface on the Krios Dual case whereas each Gel case has a textured interior grip, as well as a slight increase in price with the new Trident Galaxy Note7 case.

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Features of the Krios Dual Case include the following:

Hardened bio-enhanced polycarbonate body.
Clear Thermoplastic Polyurethane (TPU) shock-absorbing edges.
Quick and easy installation.
Lightweight protection.
Anti-skid.
Eco-friendly design.
Recyclable, degradable and compostable.

The Krios Series™ Dual Galaxy Note7 cases are available now. They come in two unique colors, black and clear, and list for $14.99.

Final Thoughts

As you’ve seen above, Trident Case has a bit of everything to offer to all.

To see the latest Trident Samsung Galaxy Note7 case designs, click on the link.

Aegis and Krios models are available at Amazon and other retailers with list pricing of $24.99 and $14.99, respectively.

Feel free to follow Trident Case on Twitter and Facebook as well as this blog on Twitter and Facebook.

All photos and video are courtesy and property of Samsung Mobile and Trident Case.

Review: UPPERCASE Apple MacBook Air Accessories

08/24/2016 By Hakan Can

Introducing UPPERCASE Apple MacBook Air Accessories

Accessories for both the 11″ & 13″ MacBook Air + 12″ Apple MacBook too

For you Apple MacBook users out there, I’ve got a question for you. How many of you are familiar with UPPERCASE? No, I don’t mean Upper Deck, the sports and fantasy trading card company, I mean UPPERCASE, the maker of Apple MacBook accessories. You see, I asked this question to three of my past and current writers, all of whom own Apple iPhones and MacBooks, and the response was “Who?” I got the same response at my local Apple Store. So, let me take a moment and introduce you to a niche player in the multi-billion-dollar Apple product accessories sector. Meet UPPERCASE, a niche provider of Apple MacBook, MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, iPad, and iPhone 6 accessories.

UPPERCASE for the Apple MacBook Air

If you’re like one of my current writers, and I won’t name which one, you could have made best use of an UPPERCASE product recently. You see, this writer broke his MacBook. If he had been using a sleeve or a protector on his MacBook, it probably wouldn’t have broke. Just like my writer, we often forget or ignore purchasing such accessories after investing in a MacBook.

UPPERCASE is in the business in making such protection. Their products are high-end, without the high-end price. UPPERCASE offers a variety of products for the Apple MacBook lineup: from the space-saving vertical stand called KRADL, to genuine leather sleeves, to keyboard, palm rest, and trackpad protectors. We’ve tried a few of these out and they’re all winners in our book.

Giveaway (Expired)

Like what you’ve read so far? It just got better. In partnership with UPPERCASE, we’re running a giveaway now until 10 AM on September 2nd for one (1) of everything below minus the leather sleeve for an 11″ Apple MacBook Air.

KRADL

Now UPPERCASE could have named their vertical stand for the MacBook “Cradle,” but why be ordinary. Play with the wording a little and you get KRADL, something you can brand. Outside of being a beautifully engineered aluminum product, the first thing you notice is the space you save on your desk. If you’re a college student, you know full well how little space you have in your dormitory or apartment. According to UPPERCASE, KRADL occupies 6X less desk space versus laying flat. And to protect your MacBook, the base of the KRADL is manufactured from rubber silicone. This prevents scratches and provides a snug fit.

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Palm Rest and Trackpad Protection

I wonder what this product does.

How many of you wear bracelets, watches, or jewelry while you type? Most of you, right? Have you noticed the scratches caused by these three items on your MacBook Air? You could remove the items, thus preventing scratches, or you could invest the equivalent of a trip to Shake Shack and get yourself an UPPERCASE Palm Rest Protector with Trackpad Protector. This reusable product made of a silver-colored plastic film matches and blends into the look and texture of your MacBook Air. Now you’ve got a way to prevent the scratches from occurring without having to remove anything.

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Keyboard Protection

Complementing the palm rest and trackpad protectors is the UPPERCASE Ultra Thin (0.18mm) Keyboard Protector. This transparent, thermoplastic polyurethane protector costs less than the previous item and fits perfectly over your MacBook Air keyboard. Now you don’t have to worry as much when you knock over that Starbucks latté. And after that spill, you can wash off and reuse the keyboard protector. Just don’t use soap when cleaning or you could discolor or damage the item.

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Leather Sleeve

Some protection for your Apple MacBook Air is a must, but how you achieve this is up to you. UPPERCASE offers a premium full-grain leather sleeve with microfiber lining to envelop your MacBook or MacBook Air. Having seen this product first-hand, I can tell you that it’s quite attractive. Note, we did not review the leather sleeve.

The UPPERCASE leather sleeve is available in 3 colors (Black, Brown, and Red) with sizes available for the 11″ & 13″ MacBook Air and 12″ Retina MacBook. Pricing varies between $49.99-$59.99, depending on whether a promotion is in effect.

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Final Thoughts

You’ve now got a glimpse into what UPPERCASE offers.

What do you think about these UPPERCASE Apple MacBook Air Accessories? How about those for the MacBook or MacBook Pro? Let us know in the comment section below or via social media on our Twitter or Facebook pages. We’re eager to hear your thoughts. Here’s a hint, we prefer social media.

FTC Disclosure: UPPERCASE provided Beantown LLC with one (1) KRADL, keyboard protector, and palm rest and trackpad protector samples for an 11″ MacBook Air for review purposes. This writer’s opinion is 100% his own and is not a paid product ambassador.

All photos and video are courtesy and property of UPPERCASE.