By Kevin Song (ksong12)
News Editor/Moderator
12/20/2007

Developer/Vendor: Otterbox (http://www.otterbox.com)
Price: US$49.95
Rating (out of 5):

Features:

• Accommodates both 4 GB and 8 GB Apple iPhones.
• Touch interface is completely protected while still being fully useable through a patented touch-screen membrane.
• Includes 3 Layers of Protection.
• The phone in its entirety is protected even during use as all surfaces are covered at all times.
• Slim Design, that protects from accidental drops and bumps.
• Case has external silicone jacket that enables excellent grip and drop protection.
  
• Sync/charge, Headphone jack, volume controls, sleep/wake, home buttons and proximity sensor all accessible and fully functional through case.
• The Silence switch is not usable through the case.
• Case includes a swivel belt clip that provides full impact protection for the screen.

Package Contents

• Instruction Manual
• Instruction Sheet (Addendum)
• Otterbox Defender iPhone Case
• Swivel Belt Cip
• Some protective bubble wrap that's addictive to pop ;-)

Testing Environment

Tested with 8GB Apple iPhone, at a variety of places included but not limited to:

• Great Wolf Lodge (indoor waterpark) - Poconos
• At school and home, regular working conditions - North New Jersey (Temperatures 0-70 degrees F)
• Princeton University (Conference environment - 4 days)

Installation

Summary - Installation could have been better. Otterbox included a instruction packet, but confusingly, also a sheet containing instructions that was apparently left out of the packet. They are both very important. Furthermore, at this point, I would like to state that it maybe be better if one simply threw away both packet and sheet, and watch the instructional video online. The instruction sheet (which happened to come out of the box first), has a heading stating "Opening the Case".

A word of caution: Use the instruction PACKET first. I went ahead and followed the sheet, not noticing the packet sitting at the bottom of the box. Big mistake. Obviously, the case wouldn't open, because the other half ot he instuctions, the part stating to remove the sillicone skin first, was in the packet. Later, reading the sheet, I missed the part where it says to remove the protective film. That problem was easily fixed, however, after I tried to take a picture and discovered it blurry because the film was still there.

All in all, the installation could have been smoother, if they had simply consolidated the manuals, or directed users to the much-more-helpful online video.

Usage

Installation issues aside, the case is very nicely built. It feels very sturdy, and its holster is accessible. However, I noticed that if you put the holster in your pocket, and take put just the phone, putting it back can be annoying, depending on the type of pants you are wearing, since the fabric can get jammed between the case and the holster.

Every port is available, except of course, the dock, and the vibrate switch. The dock is of little issue, since the sync cable still works. However, the lack of the silence/vibrate switch is a major drawback. Being in a school environment, our phones must be on vibrate at school, and the loss of such a direct switch was a major thing to get used to upon first using the case. However, leaving the switch on Ring, and lowering the volume through the volume controls when not playing music accomplishes the same task, just a little bit more annoying. Although it hasn't happened to me yet, I can envision the volume accidentally being hit and the ring turning on yet again.

Such a drawback is major issue to consider for those who frequently attend meetings or those who attend school. The website, although not the box, advertises this case as being water resistant. It was indeed water resistant, but by no means waterproof. Sound could still be heard both through the microphone, speakers, and earpiece very clearly, with no noticeable reduction volume caused by the water protective material covering those areas of the phone. The touchscreen was still very responsive as if there were no screen protector: there is indeed a screen protector built into the case. As for the rest of the controls, they felt very solid. The power button was easily presses, as with the volume buttons. The home button, if presses a certain way, was a little bit harder to press than neccessary, but not too hard. I found that for best results, pressing it directly over the square was important.

However, upon first putting on the case, there were several air bubbles, moisture pockets, and strangely, rainbowish looking bubbles, as if there was an oil spill. Upon cleaning it carefully, the bubbles still persisted. I'm sure this problem can be solved, however.

More importantly than this, however, was the the scratching problem I encountered. According to the instructional video, the inside (the part that touches the phone), is not scratch resistant, but the outside is. However, using it for about a week, it already has numerous scratches, despite taking good care of it. If the screen protector were replaceable, it would be acceptable, but alas it is not. It is possible that in manufacturing this unit, the plastic was somehow cut upside down, and the inside is scratch resistant instead of the the outside (not a single scratch so far, despite taking it out numerous times and cleaning with my shirt).

Closing Words

This is a very fine case, very nicely made. However, the lack of a vibrate switch may be detrimental to some people in a very meeting-oriented business setting, and in a school environment. Other than this and the screen protector quality, there were no major drawbacks. These two problems dropped its score to 3.5/5, but it is still a very nicely made case, and out of the current available ones, can be recommended, despite its comparatively high price.

Pros:

• Very finely made - very sturdy
• Integrated screen protector
• Water resistant to some degree
• Holster is nicely made, although it can fall out occasionally if held upside down or sideways and given a gentle shake
• All ports accessible besides a dock

Cons:

• Difficult/way too much of a hassle to take the phone out of its case repeatedly
• Cannot access vibrate switch
• Screen scratches VERY easily

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