The Griffin Motif for iPhone 4 ($15) is available as one of the cases in Apple’s Free iPhone 4 Case program, but we find it’s not one of the better choices. We didn’t like the semi-transparent TPU material the case is made out of, as it has a sticky feel and poor shock absorption. Even an interesting diamond pattern that shimmers in the light can’t save this below average case.
The iPhone makes it a snap to activate call forwarding. You simply activate it in the iPhone’s Settings. Just follow these instructions (note that the time you talk on a forwarded call will count against your iPhone’s minutes, even if it’s on another phone):
1. Open Settings:
2. Scroll down and tap Phone:
3. Tap Call Forwarding:
4. Swipe Call Forwarding to On:
5. Tap Forward To:
6. Enter a 10-digit phone number:
7. Tap the Call Forward button in the top left of the screen.
8. And that it’s. You’ll have to wait a second for the iPhone to contact and activate AT&T’s call forwarding services for your account (requires that you have a cell signal). When it’s activated, you will see a special call forwarding icon appear in the iPhone’s top task bar:
Note: You’ll only have to enter in the forwarding phone number once, and from then on, just slide call forwarding on or off to activate it for that number. You can, of course, change the number.
Be sure to check out more of our posts on iPhone Basics.
The Cellet Jelly ($8) is one of the most inexpensive cases we’ve seen yet for the iPhone 4, and while not particularly spectacular in any area, it features solid design (its only flaw being a loose fit) and doesn’t get in the way of using the iPhone, making the case a good value.
Our only complaint about the Cellet Jelly is a semi-loose fit that occasionally allows a corner of the case to slip off when removing from pockets. It’s not the worst fit we’ve seen, and the case will stay on the iPhone in normal use, but it’s nevertheless a minor annoyance. The loose fit also causes the case’s frame around the iPhone’s screen to take on a slightly bent or warped look at times.
But that’s about the only fault we could find with the case. Its most standout feature is not any one design element, but rather that, overall, the case doesn’t get in the way of using the iPhone on an everyday basis. If that seems like a no-brainer design wise, it’s telling that so many case manufacturers get it wrong.
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iOS 4 brought with it a new way to make playlists on the iPhone, replacing the clunky “On the Go” playlists from the previous version of the iPhone software. Now, playlists can be created, named, edited, and synched back to iTunes. Here’s how to create a playlist on the iPhone:
1. Tap the iPod app to open it:
The Minisuit Smoke Skin Circle for iPhone 4 ($15) is a transparent plastic case that suffers from bad design and bad looks. There’s little about this case that should interest an iPhone owner other than its affordable price.
The Minisuit Smoke Skin is made out of a rugged material called thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU). The material is slightly pliable but has more in common with hard-shell plastic than it does with the more common silicone rubber. The case is transparent and decorated with a semi-transparent pattern of concentric cicles, which come in 6 different colors (pink, blue, black, green, orange, red, and whitish clear).
MiniSuit Smoke Skin Circle iPhone 4 Case
Price: $15
Art of the iPhone’s Rating:
★★★★★ (1 star out of 5)
Review Summary: The Minisuit Smoke Skin case has an unappealing aged look to it and makes using the iPhone’s sleep/wake button hard to use.
The main reason we can’t recommend the Smoke Skin Circle is that it makes the iPhone’s sleep button very difficult to press. The case covers up both the sleep and volume buttons with its own raised areas of plastic. The problem is that the material is so inflexible, it takes too much pressure to push and activate the iPhone’s sleep button through the case. It hurt our fingers to do so. While the volume buttons are not affected quite as much, they still are much more difficutlt to press with the case on.
The case offers only average protection for the iPhone. The material is stiff and not conducive to shock absorption. On a positive note, it does have a thick rim that sticks up above the iPhone’s screen, which should take the brunt of an impact should it be dropped on that side.
We liked the durability of the case. TPU is known as a tough material that resists abrasions and tears well, and is also oil and grease resistant. After putting the case through heavy use for a week, the case came out scratch free.
The case had one of the best fits we’ve seen on any silicone or other semi-pliant case, hugging the corners with no bending or warping very similar to how hard cases fit.
In terms of style, we didn’t find the Smoke Skin Circle’s aethestics appealing. The transparent material arrived with almost a slight yellowish, aged look. The circular pattern is neat, but not neat enough to rescue the case from a cheap look. The case leaves a clear circular area on the back so the iPhone’s Apple logo is visible.
The case has a stiff, vinyl-like feel that we were indifferent to. It lacks the stickiness of cases made of similar materials, but its smooth surface only slightly improves the iPhone’s grip.
This case has trouble putting the iPhone to sleep.
A fatal flaw ruins Minisuit Smoke Skin Circle ($15), as the case makes the iPhone’s sleep button much too hard to press for everyday use. The case is average in most other areas, with the exceptions of fit and affordability, leaving very little to compel an iPhone user to consider the case. Our rating: 3.5 out of 10, not recommended.
Is the wrong email address showing up in the iPhone’s From: field by default? Here’s how to change it. Note that the default email address only works for new emails created in the “All Inboxes” view and in emails created outside of the iPhone’s Mail app. For example, in third-party apps.
1. Tap Settings:
The SwitchEasy Colors case for iPhone 4 ($15) continues its tradition of being one of the best-fitting silicone cases out there. And what it lacks in style, it makes up for in functional design and fit and feel.
A lot can go wrong with the design of an iPhone case (and often does), so that’s why it’s a pleasure to come across a case like the SwitchEasy Colors, which gets almost all the details right. Our favorite feature of the Colors is a perfect fit and feel. The case hugs the iPhone 4 like a glove, with very little looseness and no sagging that some lesser cases experience. Its surface has a pleasant soft texture that feels good to hold, where some silicone rubber cases take on a sticky rubber-tire feel.
The Empire New-Skin for iPhone 4 ($15) is the type of case that benefits from slick marketing photos, making it look like it’s made from better materials than it really is. In reality, the New-Skin looks cheap and suffers from durability issues. But it’s not all bad, as the case doesn’t get in the way of using the iPhone like some cases do. And it does have at least one feature of note: a cut-out for the iPhone 4’s SIM tray, something we haven’t seen yet, and which may appeal to frequent SIM switchers.
A glimpse at the extra thick silicone of the Gumdrop MotoSkin ($30) is enough to know it offers excellent shock absorption for accidental drops. Unfortunately, at least one major design flaw ruins the usability of the case, making it an also ran in the growing pantheon of iPhone 4 cases.
Our main problem with the MotoSkin is that it makes the iPhone’s sleep button difficult to press. The sleep button is probably the iPhone’s second most-used button, and to interfere with its functionality is unacceptable. The case fails to leave enough room for your fingertip to access the button, so when you press down, you’re pressing the silicone of the case. Extra force is required to press down both silicone and button. While it’s not impossible to press the button, it’s much too difficult.
The Case-Mate Barely There iPhone 4 case ($25) is an eggshell-thin, plastic hard case that doesn’t offer up much in the way of protection or any other area for that matter. Its poor design makes it hard to justify the expensive price tag, even as a possible remedy for the iPhone 4’s external antenna atennuation.
When we reviewed the original Barely There case for the iPhone 3G, we were able to overlook its lack of shock absorption and give it a mild recommendation thanks to its stylish glossy exterior that matched the iPhone exactly and its scratch protection properties. But the new iPhone 4’s front-and-back glass have changed the iPhone case priorities away from scratch resistance toward shock absorption.
Unfortunately, the Barely There’s eggshell-thin plastic offers almost no shock absorption. The case’s rim around the iPhone’s screen barely rises above the surface, so the full force of a drop would be fully felt on the iPhone’s glass.
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