AL 13 sounds like a character from a Star Wars movie, but it is in fact the latest iPhone 5 case offered by designed by m, and I have had the pleasure of reviewing this bumper over the last couple of weeks. Born from a Kickstarter project, this original case was an instant hit and surpassed the initial $20 000 target by over 400%!

A lot can be said about the way a product is packaged and about how much thought and care has been put into it. It would have been very easy for the manufacturers to pop the AL 13 into a cardboard sleeve or a plastic box but instead they opted for something that reflected the precision that has been crafted into the case itself.

The AL 13 arrives in a secure and robust metal box that incorporates a sliding lid, which is in keeping with the bumper you will find carefully mounted inside. When so much effort and work has been put into the packaging you know the manufacturer really cares about their product and can only hope for good things inside.

The AL 13 has been designed to offer maximum protection to your iPhone without detracting away from looks and size of the phone. Many cases available on the market today are cumbersome and bulky and when fitted, hide away the gorgeous aesthetics of the iPhone 5 but the AL 13 has been designed to take nothing away from the phones own personality.

When fitted it is extremely minimalist and hardly noticeable both in terms of size and weight and also in looks.

Made from AeroSpace Aluminum the AL 13 weighs an incredibly light 14 grams and when held for the first time feels so much lighter than it looks like it should. The case is available in 5 anodized colored finishes, Red, Blue, Silver, Slate Black and Gunmetal Grey, and after some lengthy discussions we agreed the one we have been reviewing is the Gunmetal Grey version. My eagle-eyed daughter spotting the lettering GM next to the barcode on the sleeve then confirmed this!

So many other cases we have seen over the years have involved bending, twisting or snapping into place and sometimes even the use of specialised tools to enable fitment, but in the case of the AL 13 it really is delightfully simple.

After unsnapping, the back of the case glides downwards and off the body of the cover, you simply fit the case over your iPhone and slide the rear of the cover back into place. The process is quick and effortlessly easy and in keeping with the stylish box the cover arrived in.

The rear-sliding panel reassuringly clips into place and the phone is securely held tightly within the case, with no chance of the cover accidently being opened whilst in daily use.

With the AL 13 fitted the overall difference in size to the iPhone 5 is negligible and access to all ports and buttons is unimpaired. The design of the bumper means the raised edges keep the screen away from direct contact with any surfaces it is placed on.

The inside of the AL 13 is also lined with an anti-scuff rubber lining that prevents the gloss finish of the iPhone from being scratched. Whilst this lining will offer slight protection if the phone was dropped, there is no separate shock absorbing liner and I certainly would not recommend this case for use by people in the manual labor market. Also included are a film protector for the back of the phone and an anti-fingerprint, anti-glare, high impact screen protector.

As with any metal casing there is a possibility for signal loss although the AL 13 team have run significant tests on this and claim the AL 13 has a signal loss of up to 10% compared to most other metal cases, which have a loss of 20% or more. I have to be honest; during the time I have spent with the case I have had no calls drop out or any issues with signal problems.

Overall the AL 13 is a sleek looking, intelligently designed case and offers ample everyday protection whilst complementing the iPhones’ original design. It is refreshing to use a cover that feels a part of the phone itself and doesn’t snag or get caught in the pocket when grabbing the phone to take a call. It won’t suit everyone as the level of protection offered simply won’t be enough for many, but if you are someone looking for a minimalist and ultra cool lightweight case, this has to be worth considering.

These AeroSpace Aluminum cases are available at $79.99 and to buy or for more information check out the designed by m site here. Currently the Silver, Red and Blue cases are on back order but will be shipped by May 29th 2013.

Further pictures of the Gun Metal AL 13 we have been reviewing can been seen below.

The latest product to arrive at PR HQ for review is the Cygnett SoundWave Bluetooth speaker and dock, and I have been getting hands on with the set up all week. With the option of powering the speaker via the mains power adaptor or with 8 AA batteries the SoundWave is being presented as the perfect all round, all activity speaker.

The first thing I noticed and was impressed by, is that Cygnett have kept packaging to a minimum, the small box offers ample protection and every bit of space is used. This also deceptively hides the actual size of the speaker, which took me by surprise, it is so common to open boxes and find loads of excess packing materials and air gaps and so was a refreshing change to see a box fit for purpose.

Inside the box was the speaker itself, the mains adaptor, the universal dock and instruction manual.

Setting up the speaker couldn’t be any easier, simply decide on your power source, and then to pair the Bluetooth, depress the Connect button for 3 seconds. With your own Bluetooth device in pairing mode, look for and accept SoundWave, a process that takes seconds and does not involve any passwords or codes. With a 10-metre range on the Bluetooth connection, you are free to mingle at your party without having to hover around the speaker all night.

The included stand is a nice feature and is adjustable between 11-25mm allowing it to accept a huge range of phones, tablets and iPods. Adjustment is simply made by depressing the lock button and sliding the stand to the desired width.

I used an iPad mini and iPhone in the stand and both were held securely and without concern, although prior to use I was worried the iPad may overbalance, but my fears were unfounded.

Your chosen device can be charged whilst sat in the stand by simply passing your charging wire down through the pedestal and pressing the wire into the base of the stand.

There is an option to connect the speaker to an external device via a 3.5mm audio-in port but you will find that the only way to control the volume is via the connected device. When paired with the Bluetooth connection volume is adjustable both at the source device and with the volume buttons on the top of at speaker itself, allowing a happy medium to be found.

There are no complaints about the sound quality from this speaker, it is not a unit that will shake the fillings from your teeth with thumping bass, but it does offer clear and precise resonance and is plenty loud enough for any social occasion. You will find the unit is bigger than most Bluetooth speakers on the market, this is to accommodate the 2 integral drivers with passive radiators.

One issue I do have with the matt black SoundWave speaker and dock I reviewed, is that it is highly prone to picking up greasy fingerprints and marks and maybe Cygnett should have included a cleaning cloth. In the picture below you can see the finger marks that happened within minutes of unpacking the speaker. The SoundWave is also available in white and although I haven’t been hands on with the white model, I think it is safe to assume with a gloss finish, fingerprints will not be a problem.

However for a Bluetooth speaker that retails for under $100 you can’t go far wrong with the SoundWave. For your money you are getting a great sounding, well made and robust speaker that can be used effortlessly at home or just as easily at the beach or park. With simple Bluetooth connection to many devices including Notebooks, Ultrabooks, Samsung and Apple products why not let all the party guests throw their own favorite tunes into the mix?

To find out where you can purchase a Cygnett SoundWave and for more information, check out the Cygnett website here.

You can find more pictures of the SoundWave I reviewed below.

If I was to say Waka Waka, you would be forgiven for thinking I was being a bit of a muppet, but in fact I am talking about a new solar charger that I’ve had the pleasure of getting hands on with this week. Far too often we see designers inventing accessories we don’t need or have no real purpose, so it is very refreshing to see a new product with a clear role and that really solves a problem.

The Waka Waka Power solar charger has been brought to market with funding raised through Kickstarter and its primary purpose being to offer a safer light source to many developing countries, interestingly Waka Waka means “Shine Bright” in Swahili. The Waka Waka is already in use in over 80 countries and is making a huge difference to Syrian refugees and impoverished Haitian families as well as many others.

Whist effectively working as a charger for many different phones and tablets it also doubles as a torch. I have been testing the charger with an iPhone 4s and iPad mini and have found the rate of charge to be about 1% every 2 minutes in weak sunshine.

The brightness of the torch is staggering considering it consists of only two LED’s,and through its clever design the intensity of the torch has 3 different settings, that allows you to decide on brightness and usage time.

There is also an emergency mode, in which the torch can be set to flash out an SOS message, a feature that will no doubt save lives somewhere down the line, if it hasn’t already.

The Waka Waka has not been thrown together to simply fill a purpose but has been designed to be used in a variety of ways and situations. It can be used as a hand held torch, suspended to act as a downlighter (ideal for camping), it can be folded to free-stand on any flat surface and my personal favourite, it can, through its inspired design be slid over the top of a bottle and uses the bottle as ballast in a cantilever type design.

The charger itself can reach full capacity through sunlight in 8 hours and can also be charged via an electric source in 4 hours. The torch mode when used on maximum intensity will offer over 20 hours of light but this can be increased to over 200 hours if setting the torch to saver mode.

On the top edge of the charger are a series of LED lamps, the four green lamps give an indication of current battery charge, each one lit indicates 25% charge. A single red LED is the charge indicator, the faster the lamp blinks the faster the charge rate.

This robust charger weighs in at around 200 grams and is slightly bigger than an iPhone, making it extremely portable and perfect for traveling or backpacking.

The Waka Waka power is available in 2 colors, black or yellow and is available from Waka Waka for $79 or €69 depending on location.

I have to say this has been a great product to review and for me offers real value for money, and I am at a loss to find any negative features of the Waka Waka. Not only will it make a life changing difference to many of the worlds poorer population, it really should be an essential item in every household.

Further pictures of the black Waka Waka I have been reviewing can been seen below.

We have been left drooling today at the announcement by LG Electronics of the worlds first curved OLED TV, which has gone on sale initially in South Korea. The 55-inch screen is hitting stores today for 15 million KRW (roughly $13,500) and will begin shipping next month to a select few.

LG have used organic light emitting diodes, meaning the screens can be made with more flexibility than ever before, allowing the owner to enjoy the IMAX experience at home – everyday. The EA9800 weighs a measly 17 kg and is thinner than your average biscuit at a mind boggling 4.3 millimetres! The TV’s sound is provided by transparent film speakers that are cleverly stashed away within the see through stand and allows the screens unbroken curves to flow uninterrupted.

By using their unique Color Refiner, LG ensure greater tonal enhancement and images are claimed to be “more vibrant and natural than ever before”. This teamed with their Four Color Pixel system, where a white sub pixel is used along with red, green and blue pixel setup, means the user experiences the ultimate color output. The TV has been in development for 5 years, whilst the design team have been perfecting the optimum curvature, which means the whole of the screen surface is equidistant from the users eyes, reducing distortion .

Although only currently available to South Korea, the rest of the world waits in anticipation for LG to announce when the Curved OLED TV, will be available to all in the coming months. Even though the TV is out of the price range of most, there is sure to be a big interest in the EA9800 and with Samsung hot on the heels of LG, with their own Curved OLED, prices are sure to fall down the line – We can only hope!
Let us know if you are as excited as us by today’s announcement and would you want a Curved OLED TV in your crib?

If you are someone who likes to pimp their iPhone 5 to the max and enjoy adding sophisticated and stylish items to their smartphone, Bissol may have created you the ultimate accessory. Their designers and engineers have created a precision quartz driven timepiece that attaches seamlessly to your iPhone.

The Calibre 788 is constructed from anodised aluminium and being of the same materials as the iPhone 5, you know it has been built robustly and not only looks sleek but has been designed to last. Internally the timepiece features 5 jewels and uses a quartz moon phase movement to remain accurate and keep perfect time.

The design of the Calibre 788 has been done in such a way that when connected to the iPhone, the impression is given that the two separate pieces are of one solid construction. This is particularly emphasised by the same rounded corners seen on the smartphone and the black or white colored finish matching Apple’s design exactly.

Although no prices are available at the moment for this precision timepiece, we have to question why Bissol feel there is a need to add this quartz movement to an already time accurate smartphone? It simply seems that in a world obsessed with bling and accessories, manufacturers will conjure up new ideas and try to convince the general public it is something we all need. There is no denying the watch movement looks great and will certainly “out bling” any of your friends, but is it really something that will catch on?

Will you be rushing to attach the Bissol Calibre 788 to your iPhone and do you think the world is ready for this latest iPhone 5 accessory? We would love to hear your thoughts below.

For those of you who do not like, or struggle to use, the built-in keyboard on the iPad mini, then the new Logitech may have the solution to your woes, in the shape of the Ultrathin Keyboard Cover. The new Logitech iPad mini case with keyboard has been designed to be used in conjunction with the mini, using bluetooth technology.

This new cover from Logitech is made from lightweight aluminium, in fact at 280g the cover weighs a third less than your existing iPad mini. The keyboard has the same basic key layout as any standard keyboard, so is intuitive and easy to use, although there has had to be some sacrifice in terms of key size and spacing. Using built in magnets in the covers hinge the iPad mini and the keyboard attach securely and firmly together and the cover wakes the iPad when opened and puts it to sleep when closed. The keyboard closes over the minis screen and offers protection to the glass front, and as you can see in the picture below the overall size of the mini is hardly compromised.

The Logitech Ultrathin is available in black, white and red – although at this moment in time red is only available to US market, the keyboard retails at £69.99 and to buy or for further details take a look at the Logitech site here.

For fans of the Iron Man franchise and to coincide with the forthcoming release of the Iron Man 3 movie, e-blue have come up with the ultimate wireless mouse, which has been licensed by Marvel Comics themselves. The mouse is presented in a stylish case that is modelled on the superhero’s Arc Reactor, and some would say, looks too good to use and would be better left as a display piece.

The mouse itself is crafted as a replica of the Iron Man mask, with its angular lines and includes imposing and penetrating glowing eyes. Finished in gleaming metallic gold with red detailing, it features 3 buttons with 1 wheel and is powered by 2 AAA batteries. Although no manufacturing figures have been released the mouse is on a limited edition run and is sure to be snapped up by die-hard followers of the Iron Man trilogy.

Whilst the angular design of the mouse may not be the comfiest design you will ever lay your hands on, there is no denying, it is one of the coolest you will ever lay your eyes on. So if you fancy yourself as a millionaire playboy like Tony Stark and are looking for the ultimate piece of Iron Man memorabilia to decorate your workstation, e-blue may have the perfect mouse for you. Unfortunately at this time the Iron Man mouse is only available on sale in China, to find out more see the the e-blue site here.

For anyone looking to continue with the Iron Man theme we have previously reported on an iPhone 5 case themed around that famous armored suit.

The Iron Man 3 movie is released May 3rd 2013 in the United States.

This week we have been taking a look at the Ballistic iPad mini case, and include our review below. The cover we have been reviewing is the Ballistic Smooth Series, made from TPU rubber, this case is built to withstand everyday abuse and Ballistic even claim to have drop tested the cover between 3 and 15 feet. Whilst I didn’t fancy deliberately dropping my mini to test this claim I am satisfied that a clumsy accident in the home with the Ballistic fitted, would easily protect the iPad.

The cover is real easy to fit, simply stretch the corners out over the tablet and slip your iPad tightly into the case. The corners grip securely and there is no danger of your tablet falling out of the cover. All ports are left accessible and tough moulded rubber shrouds the on/off and volume buttons.

One of the nicest features of the Ballistic Smooth are the interchangeable bumpers that are included, meaning you are able to pimp your case according to your mood. I have been reviewing the purple option, which includes 4 different bumper sets in black, purple, white and teal (green/blue), the pictures below shows the four options fitted to our case.

Ballistic also offer the Smooth series in Black, Hot Pink and Charcoal and to see the bumpers available with these options, then take a look at the Ballistic site here.

Whilst there is no doubt the cover keeps the screen protected if the iPad is placed face down on a table, it does not offer any protection to the screen should the tablet be placed in a bag or pocket. I am used to the Otterbox Defender case and the protective screen and hard cover for transportation definitely give more confidence than the Ballistic Smooth. However for an iPad that never leaves the house the Smooth Series case offers ample security and if you wanted a meatier Ballistic case you may want to consider their Tough Jacket Series.

This robust but slim case is available for $39.99 and with the interchangeable bumpers you are effectively getting 4 cases for the price of 1. Let us know which color case and bumper scheme you would go for.

Over the last couple of weeks we have managed to get hands-on with a number of Cygnett iPhone 5 cases, the models we tested included a range of designs and colors. On this page you will see several photos of each model and a little about that design with its main features, and while some of the designs weren’t to our taste it is fair to say there’s something for everyone.

All the Cygnett iPhone 5 cases on this page are snap-on, so they fit pretty easy and we had no problems during our test.

WorkMate Shock-Absorbing Case – Reminiscent of a Star Wars stormtrooper suit the Cygnett Workmate case is built to withstand an intergalactic attack. Without being bulky and cumbersome this sleeve offers protection with its dual material construction comprising of an impact resistant silicone inner, shrouded by a heavy-duty shell.

When fitted this figure hugging case leaves all ports accessible and the rubber moulding protects every button, enabling easy use at all times. We have been reviewing the white WorkMate as featured in our pictures but this case is also available in green or grey, retailing at £19.95

After a couple of days of using the WorkMate case, I have to report that whilst offering a satisfying amount of protection there is minimal compromise in terms of overall size of the phone and is easy to get in and out of the pocket.

An interesting video showing the designers at Cygnett performing drop tests on the iPhone 5 with or without WorkMate protection can be seen here.

More photos of WorkMate Shock-Absorbing Case

UrbanShield Aluminium Case – With its precision-engineered brushed aluminium back the UrbanShield cover oozes sophistication whilst offering ample protection from day to day bumps and scratches. Extremely slim fitting the UrbanShield feels great in the palm of your hand with its silky rubber side panels.

The UrbanShield is incredibly slim and snaps securely around the phone enhancing the already lustrous appearance of the iPhone. This cover would look great in the office environment but would look just as stylish on an evening out socialising. Cygnett offer the UrbanShield in silver or black for £19.95 and a gorgeous looking carbon fiber case for £24.95.

More photos of the UrbanShield Aluminium Case

Vector 3D Tough Case – The Vector 3D with its rubber construction and raised edges has been designed for use within the urban environment and features an angular design on the back. The designers have modelled this particular case with a chiselled angular pattern that was inspired by city life.

The inspired design of the case ensures a good grip on the phone but also allows the phone to be slid in and out of a pocket with ease. All ports remain exposed for simple connection and the volume and on/off buttons are protected by the moulded case.

Available in purple as seen in our pictures or also in a combined gloss and matt black design, these cases retail for £14.95 including free shipping.

More photos of the Cygnett Vector 3D Tough Case

Tats Cru & NYC Mural Kings Case – The Tats Cru are world renowned graffiti artists from the Bronx who have been commissioned to add a touch of street art to this Icon case. The bright colours and entwined sharp lettering look as though they have come straight from the side of a NY subway train.

The case snaps securely to the iPhone 5 and whilst allowing easy access to all buttons and ports, offers protection to the rear of the phone and the raised sides protect the screen from scratches.

Available form Cygnett for £19.95 including free shipping, this case will get you noticed and will exude cool everywhere you go.

More photos of the Tats Cru & NYC Mural Kings Case

Apollo Hybrid Case – Available in black or blue, the Apollo case is an anti scratch and fingerprint proof casing that snaps securely to the phone and offers all round assured protection. Raised edges ensure the screen is protected when the phone is put down, and the case offers some shock absorbency through its grooved design to the interior.

Cygnett retail the phone for £19.95 direct from their website and as with all the cases includes free shipping.

More photos of the Apollo Hybrid case for iPhone 5

As well as free shipping all of the featured cases also include a free screen protector and microfiber cloth and are available direct from Cygnett. Below you will find a couple more images showing all the cases we have been taking a look at.

Feel free to let us know which one you would choose? If you love the Kate Spade brand and own an iPhone 5, then you might want to visit our earlier article that takes a look at some of the latest cases.

As iPhone docks go, this latest Kickstarter product called the MiDock certainly appeals, both in terms of aesthetics and quality of manufacture. In fact MiDock set out with the aim to ‘create the dock Apple would have made…’ I don’t think they are far off at all.

This British made product is extremely simple but immensely elegant. The dock itself is formed from one solid piece of aluminium, which helps keep the weight to a minimum but adds extreme durability. The unibody design has also been crafted with sound channels, allowing sound to pass through the dock making sure your iPhone still pumps out tunes at a level of quality you are accustomed to. Don’t be concerned that the lightweight aluminium dock will be unstable either, as the MiDock is fitted with suction pads beneath the base allowing the dock to be securely placed anywhere around the home.

Another nice feature is the ability to adjust the height of the lightning cable from the dock. This means that you can use your iPhone with its case still on, certainly an issue with some other docks I have seen. The MiDock is also fitted with protective foam strips preventing unsightly scratches on the phone when docking or undocking.

This distinctive dock has been seeking funding through a Kickstarter project and we are pleased to say that funding goal has been surpassed and full-scale production is imminent, plus there is also a dock for the iPhone 4/4s in the pipeline. For more information on the MiDock including the range of colors available or to make a pledge to get one of the initial docks hot off the production line then visit the MiDock Kickstarter page here.

Thanks to iPhone Rumors.