__NOTE:__
Project is more or less finished. If you want to get in contact with me, it would be best to PM me. Also, there is a .step file on page 12 if your 3d printer can't do meshes.
Hello everybody and welcome!
Info
The Andraxis project is 3d-printable mount/clamp/dock/holder thing that, when paired with the awesome Android Sixaxis controller tool, will allow you to turn your Android phone into a real mobile game platform.
The project can be bought from www.shapeways.com, I will be doing my best to keep its cost under $30 USD.
This project is going to be funded entirely by donations. That means on the Shapeways shop, I am not going to get a single penny of profit from each one sold. This ALSO means if I don't get any donations, I won't be able to improve on the design. The total cost for each revision I make for myself, living in Japan, is going to be $30 + $20 shipping. If you want to help me out, any amount of money will help. Just click on the "donate" button to the left, or send some money to my paypal account: [email protected]
What you will need:
Two standard 3mm screws. These are the same screws you can find in your PC case. One is to fasten the dock around the sixaxis controller, the other is used to lock the telescoping arm into position.
Some rubber tack or foam tape. Or if your cellphone has a silicone case, that might do just fine as well. Essentially, you need something that will give it extra traction to reduce the risk of slippage.
The Android Sixaxis controller tool, or some way for your phone to read the input from your sixaxis controller (can't Android 4.0 do that natively now?).
A sixaxis controller. If this project takes off, I might make different versions for other 3rd party controllers as long as they work on the software front. If you have a 3rd party controller you want to work with, give me its dimensions and as long as it doesn't require a drastic redesign I'll see what I can do.
Post-production:
The material used his highly porous and has a rough, gritty texture. The white, undyed material yellows somewhat when exposed to ultraviolet light (read: sunlight). Because of the porous and gritty texture, it also traps dirt and grime very easily. Pretty much, don't expect it to stay pristine and clean without any post-production methods. I hear varnish works well, but there's a whole section devoted to post-production at the Shapeways forum. I haven't experimented with the pre-dyed material yet, maybe it will fare better without any post-production.
Additionally, a number of the tighter interactions will need to be worked a few times to smooth them out. Examples being the locking clasp for the arm hinge and the sliding mechanism for the telescoping arm.
UPDT 11/8/2012
Looking at the competition (Gameclip, Icontrolpad 2), I would say my project is no longer "first there". So unless I come up with an awesome revision idea, there will probably be no more updates to the project.
As I originally planned from the start, along with the ending of this project, I will also be releasing the source so anybody who wishes to make their own modifications can do so themselves (or if they simply want to study it, though I'm terrible at notating stuff, sorry).
The file format is a .3dm file, this is a Rhino3d NURBS modeling filetype. If you can't use Rhino3d, you could still get the .stl file from the Shapeways website.
UPDT 5/23/2012
Due to a large number of pieces getting lost in the printing process, the project is now all one piece, with the arm boom attached to the main body by a small pip. A razor is required to get everything to fit together perfectly.
Just to clarify, Shapeways have been incredible with printing and sending replacements when they lose pieces, but it's inconvenient for everybody involved so I changed the design to minimize these complications.
Revision history:
Note: "Blind" means I haven't received that particular version yet, so I cannot comment on first-hand experience.
Revision 3
- Blind, but no major design changes so it should be fully functional.
URL: http://shpws.me/73sc
MODIFICATIONS:
- Connected the separate arm to the body by a small pip. If getting it clean is too time consuming or difficult, I could work with orientation; my initial intention is to make things easier on the Shapeways crew by making sure Andraxis doesn't take up much printer space when they're printing them.
- Added a little stand in the back. I pretty much eyeballed the dimensions so it's not guaranteed to work, but it should be fairly easy to remove if you have the right tools and it's not doing it's job and just annoying you.
- Shortened the bottom graspers. In my own experience having them extend over the face buttons sometimes meant they got in the way when playing games. Shouldn't be a problem any more, and with how sturdy the grippers are when given foam tape or a silicone case, I'm not worried about decreased gripping power.
Revision 2
- BLIND, though I didn't make any drastic changes to the design so it should work just fine.
- Shapeways link
REV. 2 DESIGN MODIFICATIONS:
- Added a screw hole to the side of the telescoping arm. This should allow it to be more pocketable, without having a big screw sticking out and making its pocket profile larger.
Revision 1 - Updated! 02/24/2012
- Received and fully functional!
- Shop url
REV. 1 OUTSTANDING ISSUES:
- The 2mm size correction from rev. 0 worked perfectly for the length of the project, but the thickness was not needed so now there is an extra 2mm of thickness. This can easily be corrected by foam tape or blue tack for now, doing so still makes it nice and tight. Will take 1mm off the thickness (going slowly to avoid having another non-working model).
- The 0.2mm correction for the sleeve was not enough. That or the dying process I experimented with trying out made the extending arm "swell" a bit. This is probably the biggest concern for rev.1 and is something you should consider if you don't want to wait for rev. 2. A good 30 minutes of sanding and "working" the telescoping mechanism should make it somewhat serviceable, but its still way too tight to expect it to work well for smaller phones. Will change it to a 0.5mm total correction.
- The support walls to the extended lower gripping prongs were mistakenly made a little thin. Its not a huge concern but since the prongs protrude out so much I want to make them as robust as possible. Will change from 1mm to 1.5mm. For those curious, the lower gripping prongs are now a total of 79mm wide. From my testing this has proven to be more than sufficient to hold the cellphone in place.
- The screw hole on the front clasp was made a little too deep. Its still perfectly serviceable (and able to hold it shut despite having two layers of foam tape padding the spaces between the controller and the project), but fixing this will make the clasp even more robust.
- The project information engraved on Rev. 1 is difficult to read. Will switch it to an emboss as what Rev. 0 was.
Other notes
- The screw holes are now a little tight. Unfortunately, a difference of 0.25mm is in the range of "random variance by the 3d printing process" so I don't think I would accomplish much by re-sizing it by 0.125mm. Its not a concern for the clasp screw hole because people aren't going to be unscrewing it all that often, but it might make the locking mechanism a bit of a pain to utilize. I'll keep it the size it is for now and observe if the screw hole gets easier to work with time.
Revision 0
- RECEIVED. Youtube video.
- Non-public.
REV. 0 OUTSTANDING ISSUES:
- The telescoping arm is too tight and its a real pain to insert into the sleeve. Added 0.2mm of clearance.
- The smaller screw hole is too small for any screws. On the other hand, the larger screw hole fits standard 3mm screws perfectly (they're the ones you would find on your PC case, for example). Removed the small screw hole, and resized the larger one by making it 0.25mm smaller to give it extra grip.
- The curves from the analog sticks are not high enough, and the face plate doesn't fit very well.
- Additionally, the hole for the Playstation button is too high. The face plate has been adjusted accordingly.
- The lower gripping prongs are too close-set and they don't extend out long enough. Adjusted from extending 6mm out, to 10mm. Widened the grip on each of the lower prongs from 10mm to 25mm.
- The clasp in the front is not needed. Replaced it with a screw hole.
- Despite having given extra space generously, the whole fit of the holder is way too tight around the controller. Added 2mm of clearance on all dimensions.
Other notes:
- The snap-in mechanism for the telescoping arm is a little stiff, but it works perfectly after its been worked a few times.
- The holder is designed to be used with rubber tack for extra traction (or a silicone phone case). The phone slipped out of the holster at the end of the video because I haven't gone to the store to get some tack just yet.
____
Disclaimer:
As you might expect, I take no responsibility if your cellphone drops out and cracks, or if the latest blind revision for some reason doesn't work (if you get missing parts, if the joint fuses, or if there are any other problems that are obviously the result of the printing technology, contact Shapeways and they should straighten things out). As long as I am able to, I intend to address any design issues that may come out, but especially in the early stages of this project you shouldn't expect a 100% working product.
BIG THANKS to:
xda user moviecut for sending a donation before I even had a working version to show!
Okay I'll post here from now, so far great.
Photo of rev1: http://img341.imageshack.us/img341/3389/andraxis.jpg
Will revise v101 this weekend.
When I get my hands on it, I'll test the "SIXAXIS App" on the NOTE with the Datel Turbo Fire 2.
If everything working fine, I'll take accurate* measurements of it for you and we'll PM.
If I'm satisfied with it, I will buy and post one of those to you to. Talk to you later
Okay Rev0 has been great, but it *needs* a design change.
Basically it needs a better way of latching the phone to the cradle [MAJOR], and a comfy fir of the cradle to the controller [MINOR].
#1) What I had in mind, after the plastic is made, the inner-sides of the cradle that make contact to the phone needs to be stickied with a "breathing foam" AKA SCOTCH TAPE!!
This can be had at any arts & craft stores, most newsagents and also at hardware (tool) stores. I usually see them in cheap Chinese stores and local retailers.
Scotch Tape:
http://image.made-in-china.com/2f0j00QBiaTJtEIhqo/Scoth-Tape.jpg
That increases grip to the device, adds more presure for snuggly fit.
#2) Securing the phone in to a "base".
The easiest way to do this is to have a backplate and a frontplate. The backplate we already have, and that is the adjustable arm.
The frontplate is easily accomplished by giving the base a 5mm frame towards the front of the device. This prevents it from falling forwards. This frame needs to be duplicated on the top side of the cradle (the adjustable arm).
Regular: http://img263.imageshack.us/img263/2761/sixaxis.png
Base: http://img823.imageshack.us/img823/7282/sixaxis2.png
The reason for this is because the cradle needs a "base". What I mean by that, is that the phone needs to rest on this peice of plastic. So far the device's top and bottom movement are restricted.
#3) The biggest challenge is that all Android phones come with different thickness, so how thick does the base need to be ??
But I've been on a Google-rampage and found out all the sizes. Basically the thickest Android devices are ~11mm. But just to be sure we need to assume 12mm. For the base:
Naked phone = 12mm (tight/snugly fit depending on phone).
Naked phone + scotch tape (on both inner sides) = 12mm (very tight fit)
Naked phone + scotch tape (on both inner sides) = 14mm (snugly fit).
Silicon cased phone (no scotch) = 14mm
Silicon cased phone + scotch tape (on both inner sides) = 17mm (snugly fit).
Now the front and back movements are restricted too.
#4) Securing the phone further.
So the phone won't fall back, front, up or down....but it can still slide left and right.
Solution: place a rigid block on one-end to secure. It doesn't matter which of the two sides, as illustration I've put the right side. I've done this by adding the block to both the base (bottom) and the adjustable arm (top). Its basically 15mm of vertical plastic (that needs scotch tape). The device still *can* slip to one angle; but the position of the device, tightening of the arm and grip of the scotch tape will prevent that.
Rigid Block-er: http://img607.imageshack.us/img607/3097/sixaxis3.png
Why not both sides?
To prevent fragmentation, so that nearly all android phones/MIDs can slot inside this cradle.
#5) The Adjusting Arm.
Now that we know the general layout/features lets contemplate on one of the most (structurally) important aspects of the cradle, the adjusting arm.
The current rev0 does the job, but it does it poorly. We need it to be strong enough to last 12+ months of wear and tear and prevent phone falling.
I think a suitable means would be to have a " rail system " which you see on most Universal Phone Holders. Its basically two plastic bits slotting into each other like a zipper, examples:
Front: http://img207.imageshack.us/img207/939/adjarm1.jpg
Back: http://img651.imageshack.us/img651/4254/adjarm2.jpg
Neat: http://img208.imageshack.us/img208/6430/adjarm3.jpg
Since one arm (the base) is stable/unmoving, it basically means there is only ONE moving part. This means that piece can be made larger, thicker, and sturdier... meaning it will be even more DURABLE than those Universal Phone Holders.
#6) Finishing touches.
Now I've experimented with the SGS and the SGNOTE and the most ideal angle I found was ~ 45'
-So the base needs to holster the phone on a 45' angle against the controller, this allows your index fingers room for the R + L buttons but also points the display direct to you.
-And the " PS " button needs to be exposed so it can be pushed readily, but the " Pause " and " Start " buttons can be covered up.
-The plastic should wrap around the controller tightly but not choke it, so the dimensions need to accurated as best as possible (Note: most Sixaxis controllers will have same dimensions, very little variance)
-Varnish needs to be applied to keep the plastic strong, but a (better) alternative would be black paint as it will also make the plastic colour match the Sixaxis and most (black) phones.
As you can see, the Official PlayStation 3 Keyboard slots over the controller like the current method. However it fits much tighter/cleaner/superior to yours because it shapes around the contours. The rev2 needs to mimick this.
Snugly Wrap: http://img684.imageshack.us/img684/6828/sixaxis4.png
I design things on Paper + Pen, have no experience whatsoever with 3D Object Tools.
But I wanted to try, so here's draft 1 (first attempt) at Andraxis / PlayDroid:
-I don't have an accurate measuring apparatus, so things are as accurate as my ruler
Things missing:
-The joint arm at the front for the cradle to be screwed in
-The adjustable (rear) arm not created yet
-Proper implementation of things (group the holes to the box, group the base, and group the adjustable arm)
Problems:
-How to visualize/create the adjustable arm like those Universal Phone Holders
Anyways here's the link:
https://tinkercad.com/things/2pqYnbHJpFl
P.S. What did you design your build on, Tinkercad?
I think we should try to use the same 3D Tool, so that its easy for you to edit what I do and me to you....so that we can get the best + accurate structure!
Thanks for your continued interest.
As I mentioned in the first post, it is not designed to hold the phone "naked", either the phone needs to have a silicone case, or rubber tack needs to be applied. Foam tape looks like it could do the job as well, but I think rubber tack would offer much better traction and be much more flexible (rev. 1 has a groove in the telescoping arm where you could apply a bit of tack to add some grip to the back of the phone, for example).
As for ways of adding more grip, I feel eventually I will extend the bottom gripping prongs all the way across the controller, at least until it hits the triangle button (at its current state extending past that would partially cover it up). It will probably slowly evolve into that though as I need to make sure I observe the contours of the controller, and judging by how badly rev. 0 fits I can't rely on measurement alone.
I was thinking of adding a pair of horizontal telescoping arms as well. I think I could get it to fit without interfering with any of the core design mechanics.
The device's angle is set at 45 degrees. It feels right, though maybe a more obtuse angle would be preferable to some. Once I get a working model I'll think more on this.
One constraint I have to be constantly aware of is cost; the 3d printing service charges by volume, so adding too many features, or making the features too robust (like the Nokia example you posted) could easily bring the price to the $40-50 range.
With that said, the material is incredibly strong and wall thickness of 3mm is more than enough to withstand any kind of abuse. I broke off the bottom portion of the front clasp to get a better idea of what measurements need to be extended, and it actually took a few tries before it gave.
As for the PlayDroid, all I really need are measurements and I will adjust the fit of the Andraxis. The whole thing is modeled in Rhino3d, which is basically a NURBS modeling program that shares a lot of design concepts with AutoCAD, so its pretty well suited for this sort of stuff. Anyway, I'll just grab the .stl from Tinkercard and work from there.
gilrad said:
Thanks for your continued interest.
It is not designed to hold the phone "naked", I think rubber tack would offer much better traction.
I was thinking of adding a pair of horizontal telescoping arms as well. I think I could get it to fit without interfering with any of the core design mechanics.
One constraint is cost.
The device's angle is set at 45 degrees. It feels right, though maybe a more obtuse angle would be preferable to some. Once I get a working model I'll think more on this. As for ways of adding more grip, I feel eventually I will extend the bottom gripping prongs all the way across the controller, at least until it hits the triangle button (at its current state extending past that would partially cover it up). It will probably slowly evolve into that though as I need to make sure I observe the contours of the controller, and judging by how badly rev. 0 fits I can't rely on measurement alone.
As for the PlayDroid, all I really need are measurements and I will adjust the fit of the Andraxis. The whole thing is modeled in Rhino3d, which is basically a NURBS modeling program that shares a lot of design concepts with AutoCAD, so its pretty well suited for this sort of stuff. Anyway, I'll just grab the .stl from Tinkercard and work from there.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
By the rubber tack, are you referring to " Blu-Tacks " ?
Blue Tack: http://www.instructables.com/image/FJ9FKEFG7DY84RU/Prepare-the-Blue-tack-base.jpg
You might be right that it *can* offer better grip, but I think you'll find that's not really the case. Since these Tacks (despite which manufacturer) gets hardened and old, they lose their tendency to stick. So they only become a "hard creamy filling" . I think Scotch Tape should do a better job because it offers a " textured grip " (not as much as a fresh Blu-Tack) but it lasts, and it creates a physical pressure/sponge grip (superior to hard creamy fillings) to keep the device properly stabilized.
But in the end, it DOES NOT MATTER. These are aftermarket things that people will choose for themselves, as with the varnish / black paint point.
If the phone is to be sleeved in a case, then the BASE needs to be roughly 17 mm wide. 17mm is very large/thick but it will work.
To put it in perspective, an ATRIX 4G (11mm) + Silicon case (3 mm) + Tack/Scotch Tape (3 mm) = 17mm.
Do you know how to make a telescoping arm on the 3D modeller?
I do not, but if you were to show me I might be able to help.
I think that's the best way to move forward... but as I said before we should have ONLY ONE MOVING PART. It makes things much more simple AND durable. So basically just the one telescoping/adjustable one that moves vertically to clench the phone.
I don't think horizontal telescoping arm is necessary. After adding Tack/Scotch and fitting it tightly I doubt it will move sideways. Having a barrier on one end looks like it will do the trick nicely. Besides it makes it more simple and cheaper to print
It is costly printing with this company. I think we should look at finding another Printing Firm, maybe someone local? I have a feeling we need to do 5 - 12 prints until things are perfect. And for the start we need to print with the cheapest plastic available.
And once we have the "perfect mold" I think we can print them with a better plastic for cheaper as wholesale. Nothing too big, just like 200 units or so (which would sell fast), and sell them to people who want it ...basically saving them money and also covering the initial cost of printing.
P.S. I still haven't got the Datel TF2, when I do I'll check if it works on the Sixaxis App. If it does I will PM you for your address so I can post one to you, I think you could measure it more accurately than I.
P.S 2)
I just got 7 GB's free storage on DropBox, PM me soon if you want some instructions for it
Made some progress, draft 2:
https://tinkercad.com/things/2pqYnbHJpFl
But I'm stuck at a roadblock. I need to figure out how to implement the "telescoping zipper" for the adjustable arm for rev3.
I downloaded the Rhino3D program, but failed to make the object. Its just way too complicated for me. But I did test that the .stl from TinkerCAD works so I guess you can just keep downloading the revisions and adjusting it with your program of choice.
I'll stick with TinkerCAD hopefully manage some success with this project I don't want to let anyone down.
To do:
Once I do draft 3 I will print it up, find all faults and fix them up.
In the same time, I will thin down some surfaces as well as thicken up others.
The last piece of the puzzle would be to accomplish the telescoping arm with a thicker layer to make it durable (unlike some crappy phone holders).
After that hopefully the 4th draft is *perfect enough* for everyday use, and ready to be printed for everyone/mass.
Hey,
Yeah, when I mentioned rubber tack, I meant blue tack. I think, even though it might lose it's properties over time, the fact that it can conform to any shape is valuable, especially for devices with curved edges like the Galaxy phones.
Probably about a month away from getting the next revision, not being able to add funds to my PayPal account is really slowing things down.
Before I make a print, I will probably do a ninja revision and extend the base of the grip all the way to the triangle button, and add a part that rests on the shoulder button bump. The whole thing will be attached by a thin strip though, so if my measurements are way off it can still be broken off and the rest of the device will hopefully be useable.
Sent from my GT-N7000 using XDA App
Cool.
Can you do me a favour and upload a copy of your .stl to TinkerCAD ?
Its a great tool to visualize the holster, and I might be able to make some changes/polish things up. Basically I want to contribute more than just a donation
P.S. You can PM it if you like
hi gilrad! thanks for your work, i think i will buy this thing! when will the next revision be available? or should i buy rev1? is it working with the galaxy note and the galaxy s2?
Hello,
You can buy rev.1 right now if you don't want to wait, but I haven't received it yet (I expect it to arrive around the 20th), so I can't guarantee it will work without a hitch.
It was designed to accommodate the Galaxy Note as the largest dimensions, and the iPhone as the smallest dimensions.
Sent from my GT-N7000 using XDA App
I just received the Datel Turbo Fire 2 controller.
I've confirmed it works on the PS3 and the PC as a SIXAXIS remote. I'll test it with the SIXAXIS App (have to buy it first) and then find the dimensions then I'll post them here.
I've contacted a couple factories in China via email about making plastics. One has refused to service (demands an order of at least 200,000) and another says he can't do the task. I'm waiting for response from the others. If they agree, I'll be ordering a small batch from them (a dozen) when I've done tweeking it (rev4 ?). I'll be comparing the quality to the print service like Shapeways. If its acceptable, then I said I would negotiate a price for a larger order but I haven't discussed the size of the order (I'm thinking about 200 units for $10 each, they'll probably demand over 50,000 for $20 each). This was the same problem we faced with the OpenPandora and iControlPad.
Anyways, Did you see my previous post before?
Can you upload your .stl to TinkerCAD so its easy for me to modify/visualize.
Dude, don't bother looking for a way to get these produced with a Chinese plastics company unless you're willing to get a startup company loan, then devise a way to sell tens of thousands of units. There will be a large up-front fee coupled with a minimum order and month-long lead times. If these projects are getting plastic molded, it will be because an established company steps up and does the legwork.
Anyway, I don't want to release the stl until much much later. When you have confirmed your controller works with the sixaxis pair tool, I'll work on adapting my current model to it's dimensions.
Sent from my GT-N7000 using XDA App
@Kangal: do you use the rev1? How is it? im short before ordering. just want to make shure, that everything is working alright.
@gilrad: donation is on the way!
moviecut said:
@Kangal: do you use the rev1? How is it? im short before ordering. just want to make shure, that everything is working alright.
@gilrad: donation is on the way!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the interest.
I haven't printed my rev1, I think its on-par with Gilrad's rev0.
Just wait for rev1 from Gilrad and it'll be much more decent. The last thing I want to do is rush it and have one of the arms snap (because it has no support) and have it drop someone's expensive phone. But I'm planning on morphing my design and Gilrad's design together sometime soon (I just need a free but easy to use 3D tool).
After that I'm going to differentiate and make a new version that supports the Datel TF2, a much better controller than SIXAXIS.....although I've still yet to test that thoroughly
I've been super busy these past 2 weeks (work from 7am to 10pm, 6 days a week plus living away from home) which is why I haven't made much progress.
Good news everyone!
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Revision 1 just arrived and I can confirm that it is the first fully functional working model. There are of course some caveats, check the changelog on the first post. I'll get a video of it in action when I can convince one of my friends to bring a video recorder (since my best recorder is on the phone that I will use to demo the project). Until then, enjoy these snapshots I took:
I've been keeping an eye on this and it looks brilliant! I think I could wait for Rev 2, but on the shop, in black, it's costing me about $50 - £35, which is a bit pricey...Is there anything you can do to reduce the cost or is it down to the store? Also, when do you think you'll have rev 2 done? I don't mean to be a pest, I'm going on holiday 29th March and would love to have it by then!
Awesome! This is just what is needed. I can't stand playing games on the touchscreen.
I just made the modifications for rev.2 and uploaded the model. Its now available.
As for shipping, well its really unfortunate but its out of my control. Its the only shipping option the 3d printing service offers right now, despite nearly every international customer begging them to allow for something cheaper. I guess if there is anything you could do, you could go to their forums and ***** about the expensive shipping costs
And for those worried about it not holding on to the cellphone very well, I can confirm that with foam tape used as traction on the gripping prongs and "filler material" to make the rest of it snug around the controller, it is quite firm. It has even passed the "passerby bump" test, where I "accidentally" bump into some random stranger on the street
Hi, I´m interested in your Project and want to buy it... What would it cost???
I´m from Germany, so sorry for my poor english
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Well... after what seemed an eternity my Zenus E'stime in Chocloate Brown Case finally arrived from Korea.
Item was ordered on Tuesday 24th May and arrived a fortnight later on the 7th June.
I have now found the time to review the case properly and as such please read below my personal comments on the E'stime Case.
For anyone who wants to get straight to the photo's simply click here.
There you will find no less than 23 photo's taken from various angles and differing examples both with and without the phone.
So... without further ado, let us commence the review....
Packaging [5 out of 5]
The packaging was nothing but excellent.
Extremely well packaged the boxed case had been placed in a waterproof plastic bag that had an enormous amount of internal bubble-wrap applied. You simply could nor tear open this plastic outer case and took several attempts with strong scissors to open.
After finally opening the wrapping I was then presented with a lovely box to next establish my skills at opening.
As you can see from the photo's the box itself is very well presented, clearly the advertisers had done a good job in the marketing of this product, which is always a clear sign that the manufacturers of the case believe in excellence.
Opening the box you then find inside the case and a screen protector.
Now I can not comment on the screen protector as I don't use such items on my screen so sorry, if anyone is expecting me to pass judgment you will have to ask separately.
Quality of the case (include does it mark easily, quality of leather, stitching, overall professional look and feel). [4.5 out of 5]
Just by looking at this case it oozes excellence.
It is soft leatherette style with a semi-hard outer skin (very pliable) and can be opened back on itself very easily.
This makes it easy to hold in the hand as often cases that open from the top simply end up hanging at the bottom and often get in the way.
I find once the case is open I simply bend it all the way back on itself and the result then being the phone appears and feels as if it is in a 'back case' and not a complete case.
The exterior part of the case is shiny and has a soft springy feel to it.
I expect if you apply something sharp it is going to mark this outer skin easily.
It is however very easily cleaned. I dropped a dollop of jam the other day onto this outer brown skin and am happy to report it wipes off nice and easy.
The quality of the materials used are very good and from an initial stance you would easily believe this to be from the finer leather stables.
Stitching is strong and accurate and overall the case has a very professional feel to it. It certainly does not look out of place inside my expensive tan interior vehicle nor on my mahogany desk at work.
General protection (include screen, corners and camera). [4 out of 5]
The phone slotted very easily into the case and once held inside it feels quite well protected.
There are a couple of areas where the case offers no to little protection noticeably at the top of the phone.
Here the only protection is a small bent piece of the case that grasps the phone in place.
Another area is the volume control strip. The phone is exposed not just by the volume controls but all the way to the top.
However, unless you drop the phone on this side where something is sticking up that makes a direct connection with this exposed part the phone is otherwise protected very well on this side.
The bottom is a different story, the case gives complete protection to the phone.
The back is covered well with only the camera and speaker not covered.
The cut-out for the camera is carried out well, fitting around the camera nicely.
When laid flat on it's back the camera is then resessed and as such does not make any contact with the surface the case is laying on.
The speaker grill is nicely added and will stop dust etc from entering into the phone.
I have tried the speaker operation whilst in the case and can not hear any differences in tones are audible quality.
What kind of bulk it adds in reality. [5 out of 5]
Surprisingly it adds very little bulk to the phone.
The case has lovely simple lines which enhance it's slimness.
It fit's in pockets easily and adds little extra in weight or body.
How practical it is to use. [5 out of 5]
Extremely usable. The phone can be placed in and taken out of the case very easily.
Once placed inside it the phone feels securely snug and tight.
How long this tightness stays will be the telling part as it may start to work loose over time... but that would be down to how many times you insert/remove the phone from the case.
Opening the case is done from the top by pulling/prizing open the top cover. It is held firmly in place but again does not take an excessive amount of force to open.
Once open, the front will hang down if left on it's own.
As I mentioned previously, the best way to hold the phone with the case open is to bend the front cover back on itself thus turning the phone basically into a bar as opposed to a case.
This actually adds further protection to the camera and does not interfere with the speaker grill.
Does it build up any heat. [5 out of 5]
Not in the slightest. I was quite surprised to find when the phone is either running hard or being charged there was no heat on the case and no additional heat on the phone.
I checked the temperature of the phones processor and it showed no difference.
Are the holes aligned correctly. [5 out of 5]
Simple answer.... Yes.
Apart from the Volume control where the gap covers more than the switches all other holes are fit exactly to purpose.
As mentioned previously, the speaker hole has a grill that is recessed and provides additional protection.
Does it interfere with the sound, camera, Power, Volume controls, Headphone socket and micro-usb connector. [4.5 out of 5]
Not in the slightest.
To charge the phone you do have to open the front cover, but apart from this all holes as said are aligned correctly and you have complete access to all controls.
Is it easy to remove from the case for phone maintenance. [4.5 out of 5]
Again as mentioned above ~ I have removed the phone several times (purely out of research) and am happy to report the process is simple.
I found the easiest way to remove the phone is to hold the phone in the left hand with the thumb on the base and the second finger at the top. With the right hand place your thumb on the bottom right holder and lift the phone with the left hand.
This allows the phone to be removed easily.
Can the flap be used to act as a stable prop in Landscape mode. [5 out of 5]
Most certainly.
Because the base of the front flap is very pliable it allows you to both bend and twist the front cover back on itself thus using the front cover as a stand for watching movies.
Does the Closure interfere with the operation of the phone. [5 out of 5]
Not at all.
First it in 'Non-Magnetic', so to all those who have concerns as to magnetic properties interrfering with the phone, there are no magnets on this case.
The closure is small and is both tight enough to hold the front cover in place but loose enough to come free with a small amount of pressure.
I personally feel it is the right balance ~ Strong enough to stay closed but loose enough not to end up with the phone flying through the air when you 'SNAP' it open and loose the phone in your hand.
Conclusion
It is a very well made case and will not look out of place anywhere you place it.
Strong enough to protect the but supple enough to allow you complete access and use of your phone.
Is it worthy of the high price-tag it sells by ~ Quite obviously a personnal opinion but I was happy to part with the $44.99 USD or £28.60 it cost at the time of purchase.
The seller I found to be most helpfull. Not only did he answer my messages in a timely manner but provided exact measurements to ensure this particular case would fit the European or thinner Galaxy SII.
Overall Verdict [4.75 out of 5]
Nothing left unanswered..gr8 review..thanks..
Sent from my GT-I9100 using XDA Premium App
Hi Beards
Thanks for posting such a excellent comprehensive review. I'm waiting for my red one to arrive!
Miss Diva
Bought case from market stall for £5 waiting for delivery of review case .
Case arrived quickly despite SK shipping ,I agree with the review .
But in reality its vastly overpriced compared to the two cheap ones i bought .
jje
Got mine yesterday. Love it.
This may be a dumb question but does this case have a belt clip?
Sent from my GT-I9100 using XDA Premium App
wow·~~~~~nice~~~~！
sumeshd said:
Nothing left unanswered..gr8 review..thanks..
Sent from my GT-I9100 using XDA Premium App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks... appreciate the kind words.
Now leave me a vote of Thanks so my Nurses can grab my wallet..
MISSDIVA said:
Hi Beards
Thanks for posting such a excellent comprehensive review. I'm waiting for my red one to arrive!
Miss Diva
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Nice to see you over here Miss Diva.
JJEgan said:
Bought case from market stall for £5 waiting for delivery of review case .
Case arrived quickly despite SK shipping ,I agree with the review .
But in reality its vastly overpriced compared to the two cheap ones i bought .
jje
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It is pricey I agree but that is only against the crop of many cheap case. However, when you compare it with the likes of the Noreve cases and other luxury type cases it then becomes quite good.
lichbane said:
Got mine yesterday. Love it.
Click to expand...
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What colour did you get?
kurtkbee said:
This may be a dumb question but does this case have a belt clip?
Sent from my GT-I9100 using XDA Premium App
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Click to collapse
No.... All that came with the case is what you saw in the photos I provided.
82mars said:
wow·~~~~~nice~~~~！
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Yes, without doubt it is a lovely case.
Thanks to everyone who contributed and also to those who gave their vote of Thanks. I know my Nurses will love dipping back into my wallet again...
Beards said:
What colour did you get?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Got the brown.
thats called a great review. thanks a lot
I'm also very very pleased with this case:
5 by JulesHolleboom.nl, on Flickr
Beards said:
Are the holes aligned correctly. [5 out of 5]
Simple answer.... Yes.
Apart from the Volume control where the gap covers more than the switches all other holes are fit exactly to purpose.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So the holes are aligned correctly... But they aren't? 5 out of 5?
Beards said:
Does it interfere with the sound, camera, Power, Volume controls, Headphone socket and micro-usb connector. [4.5 out of 5]
Not in the slightest.
To charge the phone you do have to open the front cover, but apart from this all holes as said are aligned correctly and you have complete access to all controls.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Doesn't interfere with connectors in the slightest but interferes with the USB conenctor. 4.5 out of 5. Why would I want to open the cover just to simply charge the phone? What if I accidentally pull the plug and the phone drops on the floor and breaks? If I bought a case for my phone I'd buy it to protect the screen which it doesn't do when you're charging the phone. I'd give that feature 2 out of 5. Two points for not having to remove the phone from the case to charge it.
Thanks for your nice review though. Apart from the too high scores you gave it was very good and inclusive. I might actually buy this thanks to your review. Though I'd surely cut a hole on the bottom to be able to charge it
Jiia said:
So the holes are aligned correctly... But they aren't? 5 out of 5?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
As I stated, they are aligned correctly.
The Volume keys are aligned, it's just that there is a larger gap on either side of the vol+ & vol- which I clearly explained and my photo's show.
My score of 5 out of 5 still stands.
Doesn't interfere with connectors in the slightest but interferes with the USB conenctor. 4.5 out of 5. Why would I want to open the cover just to simply charge the phone? What if I accidentally pull the plug and the phone drops on the floor and breaks? If I bought a case for my phone I'd buy it to protect the screen which it doesn't do when you're charging the phone. I'd give that feature 2 out of 5. Two points for not having to remove the phone from the case to charge it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What I am saying is when using the phone the case does not interfere in the slightest as after all when using the phone the front cover is open.
I understand what you say about the charging USB point being fully covered with no access hole and that is why I knocked 0.5 from my score. To me it did not represent actually using the phone, as such I did not think it needed the score to be lowered by a great amount.
Also, I have provided pictures that show the hole is covered when the front flap is up, that is more important than a score.
My score of 4.5 out of 5 still stands.
Thanks for your nice review though. Apart from the too high scores you gave it was very good and inclusive. I might actually buy this thanks to your review. Though I'd surely cut a hole on the bottom to be able to charge it
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I fail to see why I gave the case too high a score or do you mean two sections were scored higher than they should.
If so I still stand by my scores. Don't forget everyone will have an opinion of these cases. Obviously yours is different to mine but having actually used the case now for some time I am still more than happy with the review and scores I gave.....
... and I did notice you didn't leave a Thank You Vote despite thanking me here, so do I knock a point of your reply.
Cheers for the great review, Beards. I was umming and ahhing about getting one of these, but you've tipped the balance now.
Incidentally, it appears that our phone choices seem to be in synch, like ladies that live together
johncmolyneux said:
Cheers for the great review, Beards. I was umming and ahhing about getting one of these, but you've tipped the balance now.
Incidentally, it appears that our phone choices seem to be in synch, like ladies that live together
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Click to collapse
Aye-Up John.... Nice to hear from you again. True... our paths do follow. Put it down to the fact we both have good tastes. That's better than Ladies living together
Yes, you won't be disappointed with one of these cases. It's a great case and I do love the fact that front flap can be so easily pushed all the way back so you don't have to worry about 'the hanging front flap syndrome'.
Catch you later mate.
Mike
Good review. I also have a zenus case (carbon). They are really good looking but you get tired of opening it everytime you take it out of your pocket. I switched to a regular silicone case.
I have just returned my carbon black one as it was so slippery in the hand if fact it was worse than holding the phone on it's own. You don't mention this problem so I assume it's not the case with the brown leather one. Whilst the clip was nice it was a faf to open and close and rubbed on the top of the phone albeit I doubt any damage would occur. I posted a quick review of the Official Samsung flip case which I got yesterday for £15 and find it much better to use but is a bit thicker. I agree that the Zenus case is far easier to get the phone in and out of though the Sammy one is tricky and not something you would want to do often.
Well just got my Carbon black.
Despite the review, i think the case is of poor quality and build !
I was expecting a much better quality product tbh.
Yes its functional and it fits - it just looks cheap !
My misses got one for hers - not got the model to hand for half the price and it blows mine!
Each to their own i suppose.
I would NOT Recommend to anyone.
Looks very nice! could use a whole gallery tho
snout said:
Well just got my Carbon black.
Despite the review, i think the case is of poor quality and build !
I was expecting a much better quality product tbh.
Yes its functional and it fits - it just looks cheap !
My misses got one for hers - not got the model to hand for half the price and it blows mine!
Each to their own i suppose.
I would NOT Recommend to anyone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Each to their own... I have no problem with that.
This is the trouble with reviews... they are all subjective and as such open for debate.
That is why I tried to cover as much as I could and produced 23 photos.
Just a very quick review of my Easecase E5 which arrived about a week ago.
You can see pictures of it by search eBay for "Easecase E5 galaxy note" (without quotes), there's one here : http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/E5-EASECA..._MobilePhonesCasesPouches&hash=item5ae4059699
(I did get a bit of a shock when I saw that - that is my actual one - with my name on it, I was just searching for one at random)
Delivery time:
As mentioned in other parts of this forum, delivery times for Easecase are pretty woeful. I ordered on the 25th of November and, it arrived here a few days over a month later in Sweden. The problem seems to be largely that they ship via China Post which is quit slow - they dispatched it (with trackable* shipping) within about a week. I bought it through eBay, so I am not sure if they have another outlet, and, they make it very clear on their eBay items that they will take a looong time to ship, so, I can't take any points off them there.
Build quality:
It is beautifully put together. There's a slot running down the inner spine for the stylus, and my name is embossed on the front. I would characterise it as high quality.
Outside:
I opted for the magnetic clasp. It isn't a very strong magnet, but does the job.
Apart from the clasp, there's just the embossing on the outside, and, a neat seam around the edge.
Inside:
There are 2 bill pockets inside, both of which are *very* deep. They're about as deep as the note is high.
When it is fully opened, there are 5 credit card pockets on the left. Note that these seem to be individual pockets, separated from each other internally. Cards fit vertically into these pockets. The front of the pockets stretches a bit over 2 thirds of the way from the far left of the case to the spine. Behind the pockets is a sleeve about 1/3 wider than the short side of a credit card where you could fold bank notes* (remember this, I'll come back to it.
As I said, along the inner spine is slot for the stylus.
On the right is where the not goes. It slots in (quite snugly) from the top. The top is open, so you can get to the headphone port. There's a hole in the left for the volume control, a hole in the right for the power button, and, a hole in the bottom for access to the USB port.
Looking at the front, the home and hardware buttons are all accessible as part of the screen area. They've also neatly cut out around the top speaker and, the front camera.
Protection:
Very good. If the magnetic clasp doesn't come undone during a fall, then, it'd be very hard to break the screen. It is nice thick leather, and you might even be able to drop a brick on it when closed without breaking the screen.
It still won't help you if you drop it in the toilet as some poor chap here has apparently done.
Usage:
It is very bulky. Like one of those filofax jobs people used to (still?) have.
I'm used to big gadgets, so I cope, but you wouldn't get it into tight jeans pockets. I do squeeze it, with some discomfort into my front trousers pocket.
You don't want to talk on the phone with the cover on for more than brief calls, you look like an idiot. Most of the time I pull it out of the cover for calls, or, use a bluetooth headset.
Using the rear camera requires removing from the cover.
General browsing/emailing etc is fine with the cover on.
Fortunately removing the phone is a fairly quick procedure, as is putting it back it. I imagine it'll get easier still as the leather stretches a touch.
One annoyance is, as the leather reaches right to the top of the touch screen, if the phone slips up slightly, it can be difficult or impossible to pull down the notifications bar. When in landscape, this isn't an issue as the phone can't move left/right in the case.
Summary/thoughts:
I wish I'd bought the one without the bank note pockets. That'd reduce the bulk considerably and you could still stick notes behind your cards (see * above). You can also use the rear facing camera with the non-bank note version (E4).
On balance, I am pleased I bought it though, it is of high quality and, it is great having your phone and wallet all in the one thing - it also means you can ring your wallet to find it when you are in a hurry to head to work
If anyone has any questions, I'd be happy to answer them.
My recommendation for anyone thinking of getting one of these is to get the E4 and not this.
They don't seem to have any E4's on eBay at the moment for the note, but I am sure I have seen one there. Here's one for the Desire HD - I am sure it gets the point across.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/E4-EASECA...sesPouches&hash=item5647be7cbf#ht_5657wt_1016
Cheers,
Kent
kentmartin said:
You don't want to talk on the phone with the cover on for more than brief calls, you look like an idiot. Most of the time I pull it out of the cover for calls, or, use a bluetooth headset.
One annoyance is, as the leather reaches right to the top of the touch screen, if the phone slips up slightly, it can be difficult or impossible to pull down the notifications bar. When in landscape, this isn't an issue as the phone can't move left/right in the case.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Two quick thoughts:
1) When calling, can't you fold the case cover back 180 degrees?
2) Some launchers (adwlauncher does this) allow to swipe down anywhere to lower the notification bar, so you don't need to touch the very top.
- Frank
ChodTheWacko said:
Two quick thoughts:
1) When calling, can't you fold the case cover back 180 degrees?
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Click to collapse
No, the banknotes pockets kind of open so it gets more bulky and wants to spring back to about 180 degrees (where 0 is closed, 180 is wide open and 360 is the position you suggest), but I suspect you could with the E4 model.
2) Some launchers (adwlauncher does this) allow to swipe down anywhere to lower the notification bar, so you don't need to touch the very top.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes - I read about that setting a while back, but have never used it, thanks for reminding me - it is now enabled for the swipe down gesture (hide dock was annoying me anyway).
Hi, thanks for the review, i've been stuck deciding between the E5 and the E4, due to the E5 having the bill slot, which i would think is really good compared to folding the bills under the cards.
Can you take a picture of the case when it's fully loaded, both open and closed?
e.g. all card slots used, and the bills folded and slotted under the cards
That would probably help sway my decision, if that slot + cards do not bulk up the entire wallet.
More info // pics in my thread. http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1419678
I love those case, but it's sucks when they cost so much!
It's should be 10$ max.
peanuts and monkeys
i hope to order this case by the end of this month, i've emailed them some questions on customisation, hopefully it's permitted, then can go forward with this.
the E5 with wallet style slot is definitely too bulky. I bought one for my Desire HD with modified size to fit the DHD with Otterbox. After receiving it, tested once with DHD and sit in my drawer collecting dust ever since.
EvoFighter said:
the E5 with wallet style slot is definitely too bulky. I bought one for my Desire HD with modified size to fit the DHD with Otterbox. After receiving it, tested once with DHD and sit in my drawer collecting dust ever since.
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Ya know I thought the same thing at first, but I just got a pack of 3 extra batteries and I find I can put two of em in the wallet and also a cleaning cloth and everything fits great.
In terms of customizations I wonder if a small bit for some change could be added.
Its beautiful.
Easecase E5 looks good.
This is a genuine leather case, and very good quality construction. They also responded well to my customization request (I wanted a 65mm horizontal belt loop added to mine).
Only $10 max is out of the question. Worth 3 to 4 times that much. It includes branding of your own name as well. It's a very classy leather case/wallet.
Could you please share a photo were the Note is next to the case just to compare the size of the case?
Hey great review. I really love the customization of these cases and I recently bought a galaxy note us version from ATT so ive been doing some research for a quality wallet type case for my note (will arrive monday) I was just wondering, would this case or the E4 case which is what ill probably get be fine for the american ATT version. Im pretty sure the dimensions are about the same but im not so sure about the button placements or the charger placements.
The only thing I dont like is the shipping time but not much I can do about it but this case seems to be the best so far that ive found besides the vintage leather case but those dont come in black and have magnetic strips.
Any reply would be appreciated.
So just to recap - will my US ATT galaxy Note i717 be a good match with this case?
dreamstealer2045 said:
Hey great review. I really love the customization of these cases and I recently bought a galaxy note us version from ATT so ive been doing some research for a quality wallet type case for my note (will arrive monday) I was just wondering, would this case or the E4 case which is what ill probably get be fine for the american ATT version. Im pretty sure the dimensions are about the same but im not so sure about the button placements or the charger placements.
The only thing I dont like is the shipping time but not much I can do about it but this case seems to be the best so far that ive found besides the vintage leather case but those dont come in black and have magnetic strips.
Any reply would be appreciated.
So just to recap - will my US ATT galaxy Note i717 be a good match with this case?
Click to expand...
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When I dealt with them, I found them quite responsive, I suggest asking them if it'll fit the i717 - odds on if it doesn't they'll have one that does even if they haven't advertised it yet.
Although I haven't seen it, I'd definitely recommend the E4 over the E5 - I find I don't really need the slots for notes (you can slip folded notes in the bit behind where credit cards go anyway) and, it the banknote pockets block the camera (by necessity) which drives me a bit mad.
DODOcase has revealed their line of products for the new Nexus 7. For the crowd that desires a more premium offering when it comes to device preservation.
**DODOcase Nexus 7 2013
I like the look of the dodocases, but the least expensive cover (34.95) has a mention that they recommend holding the device in with glue!
The more expensive cases don't seem to have any superior retention strategies.
I'm surprised. When I made a very similar case for my nook color, I spent time figuring out how to fit latches at the lower left and upper righthand sides so the device would stay in place even if the case opened.
The one on the upper right was movable, so I could release the Nook for the (many) times I wanted access to the sdcard slot.
With real tools, I'd have thought Dodo would've been able to do something similar by now that looked better than what I came up with. (Mine was a half a stopcock fastened inside the cover. I took a hacksaw and cut one of the "ears" off the stopcock, then cut the total length of the unit to the right length for my purpose. With that done, the half-eared top can be removed from the butt end, and screwed in in reverse so the wide end is flush with the cover and the remaining ear is able to rotate out to hold the device in, or rotate back to let you remove it from the cover.)
Pad and Quill have a nice computerized lathe as well, and I think their cases are better than the Dodocases. (Dodo benefits from being in San Francisco and able to invite the tech press to visit.)
The P and Q cases now have a kind of retention system in them, nice to see someone at least trying.
http://www.padandquill.com/all-pq-cases.html
Sadly, only available for Apple and Amazon devices at this time.
Hmm, where do you see the suggestion of additional glue? I had the hardcover classic for my original - ended up handing it off as I preferred my Treegloo case (won't be doing that again) - and the adhesive strips were more than strong enough during my use and the use it got from the other party. Never had to seek out additional means of securing the device, and obviously resorting to glue would be a terrible alternative lol
I'm assuming the more traditional bookcase styles still have the same leather inserts they used before to adequately secure your device. I haven't heard any horror stories and, truthfully, while I can't vouch for that specific model, I've heard nothing to suggest they don't hold your device as securely as a Portenzo or Treegloo.
It is too bad that P&Q don't have an offering, but one can hope! Some good alternatives, though, in Portenzo and the aforementioned DODO.
Check ou the "super duper adhesive" section on this listing for the hardcover classic.
http://www.dodocase.com/products/hardcover-classic-for-nexus-7-2
This is the closest thing I see for what you're talking about...?
Industrial-grade adhesive used to secure the Nexus 7 is reusable and residue-free. Wiping the adhesive down with water restores the stickiness.
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It's a double sided adhesive tape, 3M, that can have the stickiness restored by wiping a damp cloth on it. Should the adhesive even need it. I'm not sure where you're getting the suggestion to use additional glue. Sorry. This is the method of holding the device in this particular case. It may sound kind of odd, but I can attest to the adhesive working as advertised. As for the proper bookcase styles; the leather inset works as advertised, too, to securely hold the device. No further means of retention required.. DODO may not offer the same level of options as Portenzo, but they are quality cases made with quality materials. I can attest to that.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus
We're talking about the same thing, it's a matter of how you apply the adhesive to the device. I had not realized they were talking about double sided tape.
My point is that I'm disappointed that the high end case makers have done so little about keeping the devices in place. I came up with a latching mechanism that leaves the device free of adhesive. It still works 2+ years in on my GFs case and both my nieces' cases, keeps the device in the case even upside down with the cover open.
I'd rather buy a nice case that can do that than make another myself, but I'm not interested in buying a pretty case that isn't as good as cases I've made, since they came out looking great.
Attached is a pic of my gf's case after 2+ years of daily use, showing the latches and magnetic closure. sleep / wake by cover isn't a feature of the nook tablet but would be trivial to build into one of these as well.
I had a Portenzo case (and ordered a new one). I never had my old N7 fall out. Even when I went to sell it, I had a good time peeling it off my Nexus 7. Does a great job, cleans up with water, and is ready again. I removed mine a few times during the trial run but eventually just left it alone. I didn't have the wood around mine either, so the glue is really good.
Shame these are so expensive. Almost $40 after shipping. I know each one is custom made, but they don't look too complicated. Oh well. Portenzo people are really cool, so I don't mind paying a little extra for some good customer service, good product, and a good laugh (you ever chatted with them?).
roustabout said:
My point is that I'm disappointed that the high end case makers have done so little about keeping the devices in place. I came up with a latching mechanism that leaves the device free of adhesive. It still works 2+ years in on my GFs case and both my nieces' cases, keeps the device in the case even upside down with the cover open.
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I see, but not sure why you think these cases need any additional means of securing the device. A latching mechanism would certainly not be needed, and would only serve to spoil the appearance of the case. And there is no residue left over on the actual device with the aforementioned models. The adhesive is a curious means of securing the device, and I can understand the skepticism, but it works extremely well in my experience.
@player911 I do agree that even the cheaper models are more expensive than most would want to consider, but such cases are meant for a particular crowd.
Ordered mine with portenzo
Some decent selection.. I have a P and Q with my Ipad and like these better.
http://shop.portenzo.com/new-nexus-7/
Portenzo has some very nice options :thumbup:
Sent from my Nexus 7
mmegalodon said:
I see, but not sure why you think these cases need any additional means of securing the device. A latching mechanism would certainly not be needed, and would only serve to spoil the appearance of the case. And there is no residue left over on the actual device with the aforementioned models. The adhesive is a curious means of securing the device, and I can understand the skepticism, but it works extremely well in my experience.
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Click to collapse
Well, the use of adhesive is (to me) an additional means of securing the device. And I didn't come up with my mechanism for it idly - I repeatedly had the devices fall out while reading, especially in bed.
It is possible to make a latching mechanism that doesn't spoil the look if you have the right tools and time. Two years is more than enough time. One very simple mechanism would be to put one of the wood sides (probably the one normally at the 'top') on a hinge (countersunk underneath) and have it slot into the two sides it abuts with a swiveling peg latch mechanism on either end.
Make all four sides not rectangular but 3/8" at the base and 5/8" across the top and you'd have a natural and simple slide-in, slide-out retention bezel. It would look very, very similar to the current line of products.
And now that I've thought about it, I think I have the parts in the house to make one, and I may do that although I'll probably use jewelry hooks to catch the top beam against the cross beams.
roustabout said:
Well, the use of adhesive is (to me) an additional means of securing the device. And I didn't come up with my mechanism for it idly - I repeatedly had the devices fall out while reading, especially in bed.
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The adhesive is the only means of securement on this particular model. And this won't be happening, which is why these (all their models, including the likes of Portenzo, Treegloo) cases don't require additional means of retention.
It is possible to make a latching mechanism that doesn't spoil the look if you have the right tools and time... ....It would look very, very similar to the current line of products.
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I'm all for DIY, so if you can make a case that looks half as good as a DODOcase - or a Portenzo - I would be genuinely interested in seeing it.
Slightly random question, but can anybody with the Zenwatch advise on how large the strap is? As in, what size wrist it'll accommodate?
My wrists are stupidly large (don't ask, I have no idea), so I'm wondering whether I'll need to swap the band out. They''re about 220mm (about 8.6 in). That's assuming it ever gets to my country.
The included strap will not fit anything above roughly 7.5 inches. However, the strap is extremely easy to change out, and there should be plenty of 3rd party straps that will fit your needs.
As a note, the watch is pretty long so after market straps will have an exaggerated length. I'd say I have a medium wrist but I'm using the shortest setting on the aftermarket strap I bought.
Thanks for that guys - looks like an after-market strap. I don't suppose the Asus clasp can be redeployed onto a different strap, do you think? I've seen similar accessories out there, but I don't know much about that sort of thing.
I highly doubt it. The bottom part could probably work if you found just the right band but the top part (the clasp past that says "asus") is pinned and I can't imagine it would be very easily modified. Not even sure the pin can be removed. The way Asus made the band removable from the watch is pretty slick though and makes me think they plan on coming out with different interchangeable bands. Who knows when though....
Thank you. After having a look, a lot of the places that sell straps also sell "deployment clasps" (a new term for me). An after-market option that replaces the buckle of a strap with a unit that then slots into one of the holes. They seem to be fairly universal and, whilst possibly not being as slick as the supplied clasp they perform the same task. It would seem that you could replicate the advantages of the stock strap.
Something like these (I think) http://www.watchworx.co.uk/pages/access/deploy.html (random Google result - I have no affiliation)
Yes, you CAN reuse the ASUS deployment clasp.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/zenwatch/general/replacement-band-t2951630
l_stevens said:
Yes, you CAN reuse the ASUS deployment clasp.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/zenwatch/general/replacement-band-t2951630
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Thank you - yes - I'd seen that. Would appear you need a band that tapers from 22mm to 18mm (or can do some modifications.
The Taotronics Car Smartphone Mount. (Model # TT-SH06) is a very great little product. I have owned other smartphone car holders. None of them were this easy to use, nor were they anything close to the quality of this one.
It doesn't require any assembly at all. Ready to use, right out of the box. The unit is made of a nice hard plastic. The clips on it, clamp right on to your car vent. Really cannot get any simpler than that. As far as I know it should clamp onto any cars vent. I used it in-between two of my cars with no issue at all. It stays in place perfectly. It has full 360 degree free flow movement. Along with rubber protection on the side brackets and bottom arms. This is to prevent scratches to your mobile device and also to create a nice firm like fit. (The adjustable hold arm width is between 1.97”-3.70”). It has an adjustment knob for a loose or tight fit. It is very small in size and weighs in at 2.5 ounces.
It also comes with a 12 month standard warranty. But you can gain an additional 6 months once you submit the warranty online.
My overall opinion is that it is excellent product quality, design and shape. It keeps the phone very secure. You can adjust it with the free flow 360 towards yourself or the passenger. I really like the ability to keep the phone at or near eye level. Great for safety. It doesn't take up much space at all either. Also the ease of use between vehicles is a great feature. To me it is a winner.