We have reviewed quite a few Android based devices here at JAMM, so you should have a pretty good idea of what you are getting with that operating system by now.  To be perfectly honest, despite all of the hype, I have never really latched onto android the way I had always hope.  To me, every time I was Android, I flash back to 2005…as in Windows Mobile 2005.  Not that I think it is a fair comparison in terms of functionality or usability, however, I do see many of the same problems  with Android that we saw back then.  Problems like market fragmentation, multiple hardware designs, over-customization, and high learning curve.   That being said, this is not a review of the Android Operating System, but a review of the latest phone to implement it, The HTC Evo Shift from Sprint.

A few months back, I took a look at the Evo Shift’s “older brother”, the EVO 4G.  While I loved the power the hardware offered, I had two major complaints.  First, while the massive 4 inch screen was fantastic for watching videos, it was not terribly conducive to using the device as an actual phone.  Additionally, I absolutely detest on-screen keyboards, so the lack of a hardware keyboard was extremely frustrating to me.  As such, I was quite excited to learn of Sprint and HTC’s follow up device, the Evo Shift.  Everything I loved about the Evo, but in a more manageable size and a hardware keyboard.  Let’s dive in for a closer look.

Buttons and Controls: If there was any doubt that this phone is the younger brother of the HTC EVO, jut take a look at the controls, which pretty well mirror those of the EVO.    The main hardware buttons are located under the screen.  From there you can access the search option on the right.  Moving toward the left is the back button, and then the menu button, which calls up the dynamic menus for whichever screen you happen to be accessing at the time.   The final button on the left is the Home button. 

Tap it once to return to the main home screen.  Tap it a second time to access the thumbnail screen, which will show a screen full of thumbnail images of all seven home screen pages.  Tap and hold the Home button to access the recent apps menu, allowing you to quickly and easily switch to any recently used apps.

The remainder of the face is utilized by the 3.6 inch capacitive touch screen.   Many phones I have tested have screens which are too small.  The HTC EVO, on the other hand, had a massive, 4 inch, screen.  As I wrote when I reviewed that phone, the screen was simply far too large for me.   Which is why I was so excited when I started testing the EVO Shift.  The 3.6 inch screen was just right.  Not so small that it was difficult to read, but also not so large that it was too big to hold easily.  Perfect. 

The volume controls are on the left, just where you would expect to find them on an HTC phone.  The only other button on the phone is the power button, which is on top.   As you would expect, tap it once to send the phone into standby (or to wake it up from standby mode).  Tap and hold to access the power menu, allowing you to power down the phone, or enter airplane mode, among other options.

What I really loved about this phone, though, was the sliding keyboard, which slides out from the left hand side.  One thing which really impressed me was the responsiveness of the screen, which instantly spun from portrait to landscape mode.  This is an area in which many HTC and other phones have struggled in the past, so I was happy to see this one finally conquer this necessary feature.  The keyboard itself is a nice four row keyboard, with three rows of letters and other characters, and the fourth row containing various special and function keys.   I found this keyboard to be comfortable to use.  To the right of the keyboard there is a D-pad controller, which can be used to access any of the features on the phone.  I have to admit that I rarely used this for anything.  It was really not terribly accessible for every day use, and just did not make much sense when the keyboard was open.  I would have preferred it if HTC removed the D-pad, and used the space for a larger keyboard.

Overall, I was extremely impressed by the minimalistic approach HTC has been taking lately with the hardware controls.  In the past, too many phones have offered far too many buttons alongside a touch screen, resulting in a confused mish mash of controls overload, in which nothing really works well together.  Lately, HTC seems to have learned their lesson, going back to the drawing board with this next generation of phones.  The EVO Shift, like the EVO, includes only those hardware buttons which are absolutely necessary in order to control the phone.  That being said, I did miss having  hardware camera button, which really seems necessary in many contexts, but that was a minor complaint.  This is the best designed phone I have ever used.

Interface: The interface here is the same Android operating system (2.2) which we have seen before, so I am not going to go too deeply into that.  For more, check out some of our previous reviews of Android based devices.  On top of that basic OS is HTC’s SenseUI, which I really like.  Most importantly, it expands the number of pages available on your home screen from three to seven.  When you factor in all of the widgets and other options available to customize your home screen, these extra pages will make a huge difference. 

Speaking of widgets, I did notice that HTC has made some significant improvements to the widgets offered with the SenseUI.  At times, it was almost as though they could hear me complaining about the limitations of one widget or another.  Take the calendar widget, for example.  This has always been a sore spot for me, which previously included only two equally ineffective views.  This latest version of the widget now features an agenda view.  While this improvement may come at the chagrin of several third party developers, I absolutely loved it.   This agenda view shows me everything I have coming up at a glance.  Although this has been available from third party developers in the past, it has not been included with the native calendar until now.

The other widget I wanted to mention here is the Friendstream, which is one of HTC’s more recent widgets.  It combines your Facebook, Twitter feed, and Flickr account and drops them all in one place, right there on your homescreen.  This is fantastic as it allows you to quickly and easily monitor your social networking sites all at the same time, without opening a single app.  I do think this widget could have been made even better by allowing access to more accounts (LinkedIn, Plaxo, 4Square…).

Overall, the interface should feel pretty familiar to fans of Android, especially those who have used previous installments on HTC phones.  To That being said, everything about the interface just felt refreshed.  I found color, for example, where there had not been color before.  Additionally, many of the menus included more refined icons.  These and dozens of other tiny touches really gave this version of the Android operating system a more professional polish than we have seen previously.

Phone: The phone interface on the EVO Shift is pretty much the same thing we have come to expect from Android devices.  You can dial/text directly from a contact card in the persons app (Android’s name for contacts).  Or you can pull up the phone and dial from the dial pad directly.  You can also access your phone’s history in order to return calls or redial. 

What was really nice here is that once you connect the device to your Google account, all of your Google contacts will be automatically loaded onto the phone.  In addition to your Google account, you can also sync contacts from Facebook, Flickr, or Twitter.  While this was all nice for someone like me whose life revolves around my online Google account, it would still be nice if other email services could be directly synced, such as Yahoo or Hotmail. 

Making and receiving calls worked fine for me, though I did find that I typically had at least one fewer reception bar on the EVO Shift than the HTC Hero.  This was a bit disappointing.  Once connected though, I found the call quality on this phone to be exceptional.  One problem I have had in the past with Android phones was locking up when a call came in.  The processors simply were not powerful enough to process the call while handling whatever other tasks might have been underway at the time of the call.  The result was quite a bit of frustration as calls would not only be dropped, but also require me to reboot my phone before I could return them.  I never had this problem with the EVO Shift which relies on the Snapdragon processor to ensure that it could handle any activity I required, even answering the phone.

Other features of the phone include the standard Android caller Id, and visual voicemail, which allows you to see who left you a voicemail before you listen.

Data/4G: Like the EVO, the EVO Shift connects to Sprint’s ultra-modern high speed network (dubbed 4G).  To put Sprint’s 4G network into perspective, switching from the industry standard 3G (as in Sprint’s normal network) to 4G is like being stuck in traffic and then suddenly entering the Audubon with 100 mph speed limits.  The problem though is that Sprint’s 4G network is still a cobbled together patchwork of partially enabled connections, meaning it is not quite ready for prime time.  When it works, the 4G network is blazing, but it is also prone to dropping the connection without warning, making it terribly ineffective and unstable.  In other words, it is more like driving on the Audubon, during construction season.  You are speeding down the road at one moment, and stopped short the next.  Still, the potential for this high speed network is clear.  Hopefully Sprint will continue to improve coverage in order to make the 4G experience finally live up to it’s own hype and promise!

Mobile Hotspot: One of my favorite trends in the latest generation of Smartphones is the inclusion of a mobile hotspot.  Lately, I have been using the Sprint Overdrive, and while I love its speed and 4G connectivity, the need to carry an additional device in order to connect my iPad to the Internet  can be a bit cumbersome.  The idea of combining the Overdrive with the phone I am already carrying, therefore, was quite appealing.

The mobile hotspot on the EVO Shift is incredibly easy to use.  Just turn it on, and setup the ID and password for encryption.  It took about 60 seconds taking my time to get it all operational.  What I really liked here was that since the phone is already turned on, all you need to do is connect, which takes a few quick seconds.   This is significantly faster than using the Overdrive, which needs to take a minute or so to boot up and reset each time you use it.

The connection itself was about the same speed as the Overdrive.  I found the 3G connection to be acceptable, but what really impressed me was the 4G connection, which was absolutely blazing.  Unfortunately, as I mentioned, the 4G network where I love is extremely spotty, and really became quite frustrating to use.  Hopefully, Sprint will continue to develop this 4G network in order to ensure a more stable user experience.

One of the biggest questions I had about this mobile hotspot was how it would interact with the other functionalities of the device.  Really, if connections with the mobile hotspot interfere with the primary purposes of the device, then it really can become more of a burden than a benefit.  So, I tested the mobile hotspot fairly extensively and was really impressed by how well it was implemented in this device.  You can send and received text messages or surf the Internet from your phone without interfering with the mobile hotspot.   Making and receiving phone calls was a bit more complicated.  Sprint’s network does not allow you to talk and surf at the same time.  As such, making or receiving a phone call will interrupt the hotspot connection.  What I liked, though, was that the call is given priority, so if someone calls the phone, it will automatically drop the hotspot connection in order to connect the call.  Given that these devices are primarily telephones, this is exactly how I would have expected it to work. 

Camera: The camera on the EVO Shift is much the same as what we have seen from Android in the past.  It can take both still photos and video, although switching between the two is not easy.  Android really needs to incorporate a control button directly on the screen to toggle between the still camera and video.  As it is, you need to open the sliding menu in order to toggle the camera and video radio buttons.  Really, that is just a little cumbersome. 

Unlike the EVO, there is no front facing camera, which means the EVO Shift will not be able to carry you into the latest video chat craze.  That is really too bad.  I do not think a front facing camera would have required a lot of additional space in terms of the hardware, and the lack of such a camera really puts this device at a disadvantage when compared with some of the other top phones available.

The camera itself features a 5 megapixel processor.   As I have said time and again, this camera will never be destined to replace a standard camera for serious photographers.  However, it works extremely well for capturing that spontaneous moment.

Processor: As mentioned, this one sports the latest and greatest Snapdragon processor under its hood.  In fact, it features the second generation Snapdragon processor, with speeds up to 800 mhz.  Not too shabby for a phone.  This is really impressive considering it is nearly double the processor speed previously available.  The HTC Hero, for example, which was considered extremely fast, clocked in at a maximum speed of just 528 mhz, and speeds went down quickly from there.  The Snapdragon chip truly makes this every bit as much a small computer as it does a large phone.   The end result is a device which is absolutely blazing!

Battery: as usual, the battery in the EVO Shift proved to be the weak link.  I was really disappointed by how poorly the battery performed.  This device can do an awful lot, but none of that means anything if the battery is dead when you need it most.  On a typical day, I leave the house in the pre-dawn hours between 5:30 and 6:00.  I generally do not get home from work until after 6:00 in the evening.  This means in order to be useful, the battery in my phone must last in excess of twelve hours on an average day.  I put the EVO Shift through the paces of my average use with email, phone calls, Internet, and more.  The battery lasted about six hours, or roughly half of my need.  Not terribly impressive.  Toss in the mobile hotspot and that goes down even further.  This all means that I cannot stray far from the charger or the EVO Shift becomes a really heavy pocket protector.   I know this was not HTC or Sprint’s fault…but this problem has lingered long enough.  It is beyond time for someone to come up with a battery which can keep pace with today’s hottest technology.

Memory Card:  Like most HTC devices, the EVO shift includes a pretty minimal on board storage space.  Fortunately, it does also allow you to add storage via a microSD card slot.  There is a 2GB card included, but you can utilize up to a 32 GB card.  The only problem here was that the slot for the card is located under the battery, meaning you must remove the battery in order to access it. 

While it is nice to be able to add such a huge amount of memory, I was disappointed to find that Android 2.2 still does not allow users to store apps on the microSD card.  This means all of your apps, along with their required data in the minimal on-board storage space.  Google has indicated that a fix for this is finally coming, and I was really hoping that it would have happened by now.  Given the fact that Windows Mobile was able to store apps and data on external memory cards, Android’s inability to do so constitutes a glaring omission.

Overall Impressions:  Wow.  What can I say?  I absolutely loved this phone.  In the past, I have had a real love-hate relationship with the Android operating system.  As in…I really want to love it…but I just don’t.  In one way or another, I have always felt like Android and Android-based devices simply failed to live up to their hype.  That changes with the EVO Shift and its Snapdragon processor.  HTC did an absolutely fantastic job of finding the perfect compromise in areas such as screen size (large enough to watch videos, but not so large as to turn it into a small tablet), hardware controls, camera functionality, and so much more…even including a slide-out keyboard.  Frankly, if I was going to design my ideal phone, it would like an awful lot like this. 

The HTC EVO Shift is available from Sprint for $149.99  (including instant and mail in rebates) with a two year contract from Sprint (www.sprint.com).

Really…how can you go wrong with a game called Death Worm.  So, when I saw this one as the featured app on www.freeappaday.com, how could I pass it up? The basic premise is pretty simple really, you play a  tunneling giant worm, a la Tremors.   You burrow your way under the surface, diving out of the ground only to attack people, animal, and vehicles passing by overhead.  If this sounds a little too easy, don’t worry it does get more complicated. 

While you will start off chasing harmless animals and unarmed people, before long, you will find yourself chasing enemies with guns, helicopters with machine guns and rockets, and even mortar firing tanks.  Those all will cause some serious damage.  Once your health meter runs down to empty, your game will come to and end.  So, you want to try eating everything in site, without getting hit by any of their firearms and other weapons. 

I did think, though, that it would have been nice if there had been some way to replenish your health, especially after reaching the more powerful enemies like flying saucers.  Which is not to say there is nothing out there to help you.  Eat through enough enemies, and you will earn an upgrade.  You can choose from increased size, speed, skin, and other upgrades.  You can even earn fireballs, which you can fire at your enemies to blast them out of the sky; or nitro, which allows you to flu high into the sky, knocking down higher flying airplanes.

There are two main playing modes.  In campaign mode, you will be given goals (such as eat 10 people) which you need to complete in order to advance.  complete enough levels to unlock the next stage.  In survival mode, you need to…well, you need to survive.  That’s it, just survive.  See how many people you can eat without taking enough hits to run down your health.   Additionally, there are two mini games (with more to come) which add an extra layer to the game.

The controls for the game are also easy and intuitive.  Use the virtual joystick on the left to control your worm.  The buttons on the right fire fireballs or activate the nitro power.  You can even use the zoom slider to zoom in for a closer look at the action.

Like many new games, this one also links into Apple’s new Game Center, allowing you to earn achievements online and check out the worldwide leader boards). 

I downloaded Death Worm on a whim when I saw it posted on Free App A Day, because…you can never go wrong with free.  I have to say though, I have been absolutely thrilled by it.  The graphics are fantastic, and gameplay is smooth and original.  This is probably the best free game I have ever downloaded on my iPad.    Head on over to Free App A Day to download this one while it is still free.

Well, my friends at Sprint came through in a big way for me today.  The just announced Sprint HTC EVO Shift showed up on my doorstep.  I have had the phone, which is scheduled to be released commercially on Sprint’s network on January 9, for only a few hours, but it is already quickly becoming my favorite Android based phone.  When I reviewed the HTC EVO, I had two main complaints.  The phone was just too big for me to easily utilize, and there was no hard keyboard.  I am just not someone who likes to use an onscreen keyboard anymore than I have to.  So, stay tuned.  We will be checking out these features and a whole lot more in the coming weeks.  In the meantime, here are the complete specs to tide you over.

HTC EVO Shift™ 4G

As the 16^th 4G-capable device from Sprint, HTC EVO Shift follows in the footsteps of the award-winning HTC EVO™ 4G, bringing customers an attractive, compact design and an impressive list of features with the addition of a sliding QWERTY keyboard. Beyond the highly acclaimed HTC Sense user experience, HTC EVO Shift also boasts the power of 4G, Android 2.2™, a 5MP camera, 720p HD camcorder and a 3.6-inch capacitive touchscreen display with pinch-to-zoom capability.

Additional key features include:

• HD Video Recording
• Wi-Fi^®
• Sprint Mobile Hotspot (supporting up to eight Wi-Fi enabled devices)
• Android Market™ with access to more than 100,000 apps
• Messaging – Personal and business e-mail, IM and text messaging
• Social Networking Integration – Facebook^®, Twitter™, Flickr^® and more
• Visual Voicemail
• Google™ Mobile Services, including YouTube™, Gmail™, Google Talk™, Google Voice™ and Google Maps™
• GPS Navigation
• Stereo Bluetooth^® wireless technology
• microSD slot (supporting up to 32GB memory card)

A few months ago, I posted a roundup featuring a number of unique and impressive cases I had been testing for my iPad.  Unfortunately for me, but fortunately for all of you, that article turns out to have been woefully incomplete.  Since posting it, numerous cases have come to my attention, which warranted inclusion in that article.  So many, in fact, that I felt the only responsible way to handle them all would be to write a follow up to my original article.  While there are a few familiar faces in here, such as Waterfield, Sena Cases and Noreve, there are also plenty of newcomers, featuring some fantastic, creative, and intriguing new ideas.  But enough from me, let’s jump right in and hear from the cases themselves.

Noreve Case: I have used Noreve cases on virtually every mobile device I have owned, and featured them prominently here on JAMM.  In fact, one of their iPad cases received fairly high marks in my previous iPad case roundup.  So, it was with no small expectations that I started to check out the Noreve Tradition Leather B case.  It is similar, but not identical to the Tradition Leather case we looked at previously.  The biggest difference is that, like Apple’s own iPad case, it protects the iPad by covering the bezel on the face of the device.  This worked fine, but I found it odd there was nothing holding the iPad in place on the open end.  This means even with the protection offered by this case, your iPad is never as safe as it should be.  The lack of any kind of strap or closure holding the iPad in place means it is free to slide around quite a bit, especially when holding it in landscape mode…with that open end facing the ground. 

Like the Noreve Tradition Leather case, the cover is double hinged, allowing you to hold it open at an angle for reading the screen.  This is a nice feature, which mirrors that on the Apple iPad case.  Like that case, however, the hinge is not well reinforced.  I found it constantly slipped, leaving the case lying flat.  It would be nice if these hinges could be better locked in position, so that it would remain in position.

That all being said, the case is extremely well made, using Noreve’s signature fine leather.  Additionally, I am always impressed by the palette of colors featured by Noreve.  The one they sent me to review was light blue.  If that is not your color, then feel free to select from any of the over 20 color selections in four different leather options.

The Noreve Tradition Leather B costs $78.82 from Noreve USA.

iShine Microfiber Sleeve: One of my biggest disappointments about the iPad stems from the word “oleophobic. “ It means the screen repels oils, such as the oil on your fingers which cause finger print smudges on your screen.  To hear Apple explain this, the iPad screen is fingerprint-proof.  Fingerprints would simply not form on this screen.  Anyone who has ever seen my iPad screen knows that this is far from the truth.  What “oleophobic” really means in this context, however, is not that your screen will never get fingerprints on it.  Instead, it means that the fingerprints will be easy to wipe off.  Admittedly, I did find that light fingerprint smudges were slightly easier to wipe…though heavy fingerprint build up was really not significantly different than any other device.  Really, the only protection against finger print smudges is a good microfiber cloth, kept constantly in your possession.  The problem is that many of the cases I use do not have pockets in which to store a microfiber cloth for all that constant wiping of smudges.

The solution to this problem is the innovative microfiber sleeve from iShine.  This sleeve is made from the very microfiber material which you need to constantly wipe the screen on your iPad.  So…by day, your iPad can nestle snugly within the warm embrace of the sleeve.  By night, just slide the iPad out and use it to wipe the screen.  This is just about a perfect solution for keeping your device free of dirt and smudges.  .  My only problem was that this sleeve really does not protect your device from bangs and dings, and offers no protection while your device is in use.  This is really less a complaint about the case itself, and more a comment about how I use my device.  I simply am not a fan of cases and sleeves which leave my iPad vulnerable and unprotected while in use.  Otherwise, the iShine sleeve is a fantasticly innovative option, which combines your need to protect your iPad while transporting it, with your need to wipe all those smudges off the oleophobic screen.  Perfect.

The iShine Microfiber Sleeve is available from iShine for $14.95.  A separate microfiber pouch is also available for the iPod for $5.95.  Purchase both together for $19.95.

Kensington KeyFolio Case: Here is the problem I have found with my iPad.  I love using to write while I am commuting on the train.  Whether that means jotting notes for something at work, or crafting the next big post for JAMM, I always have something in the works.  The problem is…I hate using the onscreen keyboard for anything longer than a brief email.  So, for some time now, I have been eyeballing the Apple Bluetooth keyboard, which I finally got for the holidays this year.  I love the keyboard, and have found it works perfectly.  The only problem is that when I am on the train, everything has to balance on my lap…and my lap is just not all that big, so balancing the iPad as well as a detached keyboard can get tricky.  What I need is some way to combine my iPad and the keyboard into one unit.  That is exactly what Kensignton offers with their Keyfolio case.  This case includes a built-in Bluetooth keyboard. 

Let’s start with the obvious.  I absolutely loved the concept behind this case.  Putting the keyboard right into the case means it is always accessible, and that there is no danger of dropping your iPad while attempting to balance a keyboard on your lap (or vice versa).   The keyboard itself was a bit smaller than I would have liked, and the keys felt a bit looser than I would have preferred.  Still, once you get used to the size of feel of it, the keyboard works great. 

Unfortunately, I had a few problems using this case.  First, while the case is designed to prop up the iPad for easy viewing while typing, I was never quite able to adjust it to a position which was comfortable for my needs.  I always felt as though I was straining my neck a bit too much while holding the iPad on my lap.  More importantly, however, there is simply  no way to hold the iPad in the case when you are not using the keyboard.  There should be a way to fold the case relatively flat in order to “stow” the keyboard while still accessing the iPad screen.  Still, I absolutely loved the idea behind this one.  The Keyfolio is exactly the type of innovation I had hoped to find when I set out to write this article.

The Keyfolio wireless keyboard with case is available from Kensington for $99.95

Krypton: Yes, this is the one which is named after Superman’s home world.  No small expectation there or anything.  This one is not so much a case as it is a collection of protective accoutrements, offering protection for your iPad’s primary trouble spots.  Most iPad users will quickly identify the iPad’s two main trouble points: the slippery, drop-inducing back, and the fingerprint-prone “oleophobic” screen.  Krypton has solutions for both problems.

First is the back.  For that, they have designed the Dreamcoat case, which is available in four colors (white, black, red, and clear).  It is a simple plastic cover, which snaps onto the back of your iPad, wrapping around the sides in order to ensure a secure fit.  This is a fantastic solution, as it protects the back and sides perfectly, but leaves all of the buttons, ports, jacks, plugs, and other connections wide open for easy access.   Most importantly, however, this adds a significantly grippier option than the naked iPad.  

Of course, this all does nothing for the most important part of your iPad, the screen.  This is where all of your interactions with the device take place, so protecting it is going to be critical.  Krypton offers two solutions for your screen: the Screen Armor Ultra-Clear and the Screen Armor Anti-Fingerprint.  Although Krypton sent me both to test, I opted for the Anti-Fingerprint version, because…I hate fingerprints on my screen.  Application was no more or less difficult that application of similar screen protectors, like Invisible Shield…but then again, I never found those to be particularly easy to apply either.  What I did like here was that they include a great system of squeegees and wipe cards, making it easier than ever (when coupled with the application spray) to remove as many air bubbles as possible.  Once applied, the protector worked great.  I have not noticed a single fingerprint since I started using it.  I also found that the texture of the protector is much more comfortable for prolonged use than the naked screen. 

The Krypton system may not be the prettiest case covered in this article, but it does offer fantastic protection for the iPad’s trouble spots, without adding more than minimally to the size of the device.  Plus, for those of you who find these things important, all Krypton products are eco-friendly to help ensure a green planet (all of their products are carbon neutral…all day, every day).

The Krypton DreamCoat for iPad is available from Krypton Products for $12.99.  The Screen Armor Ultra-Clear and Anti-Fingerprint are available from the same place for $19.99 and $24.99 respectively. 

Waterfield iPad Wallet: One of the great things about the iPad are all of the accessories you can find to make it an even more productive tool.  One of the drawbacks, however, is finding a place for all of those things.  My iPad, for example, travels most of the time with a Bluetooth keyboard, Sprint Overdrive 4G modem, portable battery (for the modem), a camera kit, and various loose cables.  Needless to say, finding a way to keep this all put together can be a challenge.  With that in mind, I was eager to check out Waterfield’s latest addition to their line of iPad cases/bags, with the hopes that the loose accessories floating around my briefcase would soon be contained. 

The bag itself is made from the same durable materials we have come to expect from Waterfield, with soft foam inserts padding and protecting your gear on the inside.  A large main compartment will hold your iPad.  The great thing here is that this pocket is large enough to hold your iPad without removing it from your everyday case.  That makes the iPad Wallet very much a travel vehicle, leaving you free to protect your iPad in any way you see fit while it is in use.    The inside of the bag is divided into three additional pockets.  The first is sized perfectly for the Apple Bluetooth keyboard.  This is the only bag I have used with a dedicated pocket for the keyboard, which was exactly what I needed.  The other two pockets are ideal for carrying any other gear, accessories, or cables you might need.  One opens to the top of the bag, the other to the side, allowing you to access you gear on whichever manner suits you best.  The only problem I found here was that the zipper did not open fully on the vertical edge of the case, making it difficult to fully access one pocket.  It would have been better if the zipper could fully open along three edges, allowing the case to butterfly open and lay flat.  That is really just a small complaint, however, on a bag which otherwise so perfectly carries all of my iPad related gear. 

Back to the outside of the case, you will find a mesh pocket on the back, which is perfect for carrying any papers or manuals (all the better for ignoring the instructions) you might need. 

The iPad Wallet is available in six colors for $79 from Waterfield.  You can also add a shoulder strap for an additional $5-$19 dollars.

Sena Cases:   Sena is another brand of cases which has been protecting my numerous devices for years.  I first encountered them with my Dell Axim, and have been using their cases on just about every device I have owned since then.  So, I was pretty excited when Sena once again offered to send along not just one, but two iPad cases for inclusion in this article.  This time around, they sent the uber-unique Collega case (above) as well as the Zipbook.

I was really intrigued by the Collega, which has the look and feel of a small briefcase.  Despite its appearance, however, the case does not open from the top as you might expect, but from the side, where you will find a pseudo-hidden zipper, giving you access to the inner compartment, which is lined with soft padding to ensure your iPad will be protected.  This is a fantastic and original design, and I loved the creativity behind this one.  The only problem I had was that the inner compartment was not large enough to hold your iPad with another case.  This means the Collega case will only protect your iPad while in transit, but not during use.  A snap pocket on the front is ready and waiting to carry many of your accessories.  This pocket is perfect for those of you who use the Sprint Overdrive or other mobile broadband modems with the Wifi version of the iPad.  Unfortunately, however, there is no pocket ready to hold the Bluetooth keyboard.  It would be nice if Sena had included a second external pocket in which you could tuck the keyboard. 

The Sena Zipbook offer pretty much the maximum protection of all the iPad cases I have reviewed (with the exception of the Otterbox cases from the last article).  What I really liked here was that both the cover and the back are reinforced, protecting the iPad against dings and bumps during transport.   The case unzips on three sides to open book style.  I was a bit concerned that the zipper might interfere with my use of the iPad, but that never really became an issue.  The zipper did a great job of being right where you needed it, but staying out of the way when not in use.   I did notice, however, that the cover on Sena’s Folio case is chock full of pockets and compartments, allowing you to carry business cards or a microfiber cleaning cloth.  There are no such compartments or pockets on the Zipbook, which was a noticeable omission.   Nonetheless, this case has replaced the Sena Folio as my favorite everyday case.

The Collega and Zipbook are both available from Sena Cases for $150 and $89.99 (discounted from $99.99) respectively.

The original iPad case roundup I wrote a few months ago was inspired by the Apple iPad case, which I absolutely hated.  It was everything I did not like in a case, and I set out to find better options.  Now, two articles later, not only have I found significant improvements upon Apple’s own case, but also a variety of creative and innovative solutions.  I cannot wait to find what further innovation will make its way into the third installment…

One of the favorite holiday decorations in my house are snow globes.  You know the ones.  They depict a tiny town or scene, frozen in time, and surrounded by a plastic or glass bubble.  Shake the globe and snow falls, covering the scene in the glistening white sheen of a fresh snowfall.  Sometimes, I like to imagine real people living in those frozen scenes, unable to move beyond that transparent bubble, and their world periodically (and randomly) shaken violently until the sky crashes down upon their heads in the form of that fake snow.  But I digress.

Just in time for the holidays, our friends at Seehere Studios released their latest interactive eBook.  Unlike their previous offerings, this one is really not a story.  Instead, I would term it the eBook equivalent of a coffee table book.  Each of the six holiday-related snow globe scenes consists of two pages, and introductory page explaining the scene you are about to view, and then the globe itself.

What is really cool here is that the globes are not just static images, or pop-up images as you might expect.  They are fully interactive.  Tilt the globe, and snow will fall (though I did think the snow could have fallen heavier) across the scene.  Additionally, each scene has an interactive element, which allows you to control the animation by tapping the screen.  You can control the lights on the Christmas tree in Times Square, make the gingerbread couple dance, and even reveal Santa’s presents. 

Additionally, each of the globes can be viewed in either traditional 2D or eye popping 3D.  I was really impressed by how crisp the 3D looked on this one.  I will say that it kind of stinks that you still need to use those red and blue cardboard glasses to view the 3D.   You would think that this technology might have improved in the last 50 years or so.  Then again, I cannot really knock Seehere for that.  Their app is simply limited by the state of the current technology, which will hopefully continue to improve.

I have been extremely impressed by Seehere in the past, and snow Globes certainly lived up to that reputation.  They did a fantastic job with this one, creating digital snow globes with stunning graphics and animation…and the 3D is not too shabby either.  What a great holiday ornament for your iPad.  Oh and Merry Christmas to All, and to all, A GOOD NIGHT!

Snow Globes is available from Seehere Studios for $1.99 for a limited time over the holidays.