And of course there’s the expected price drop: 8GB for $199, 16GB for $229, 32GB for $299, and the brand new 64GB for $399. Plus, the 64GB is “50% faster” — although we know what that means when Apple says it. It does now support OpenGL|ES, which should improve game performance even further. Now, if only it had a D-pad…

I don’t know if I trust Ubisoft to really make something great out of Assassin’s Creed, since that game relied so much on the rich world you inhabited. But hey, it looks pretty awesome for what it is: a sort of simplified 2-D version of the game. Here are a couple screens:

Then you’ve got Riddim Ribbon, which looks like Audiosurf, and Nova, a first person shooter where, in a shocking twist, you play a space marine! And Madden for iPhone, which I won’t dignify with a screenshot.

Here are a couple hands-on shots of the 64GB.

We’re all pretty surprised at the lack of a camera. It would have been a lot of fun, but maybe they just couldn’t find the space? After all, the iPod touch does have a different circuit layout than the iPhone and it may have been too difficult to incorporate the hardware changes they already were planning as well as a camera.

DiGORO is about 150cm tall, weighs 120kg, has two arms, a camera in his head and moves on wheels. He’s also equipped with a microphone that comes with a voice recognition function to identify his master. The researchers claim DiGORO can learn up to ten movements and is also able to adjust to its immediate environment, for example pieces of furniture placed in a room he’s supposed to clean.

DiGORO is said to be the first programmable robot that’s designed to do housework. His makers plan to commercialize the technology within “several years”.

Via Nikkei [registration required, paid subscription]

Specs:

• Intel Atom 230
• 1 TB hard drive
• 2 GB DDR2 memory
• 5 USB 2.0 ports
• 1 eSATA port
• Gigabit Ethernet

Hardware:

This isn’t a tiny box. It’s a good size larger than the HP MediaSmart. Up-front there are four removable hard drive trays, along with status lights, USB port, and power button. I can’t tell you how much I love the front facing power button. HP continues to place its power buttons on the back of its WHS which is a pain in the ass. Around back there are 4 USB ports, eSATA port, 10/100/1000 Ethernet jack, and power jack. There isn’t anything missing. This server is fully equipped.

Performance:

I was slightly concerned that the Atom CPU would disappoint me, but just like with the HP LX195, this guy works just fine. The low power-consumption CPU handled running uTorrent 24/7, unRARing, and backing-up just fine. I didn’t notice any hiccups or performance issues at all when using this server.

Software:

HP has dedicated a lot to building-up an extensive suite of applications to enhance its line of MediaSmart WHS. The EX line can do everything from stream content to iPhones, back-up Macs, transcode video on the fly, host a photo sharing site, and all this is done through a refined user interface.

Acer hasn’t done any of this with the easyStore. Instead, the company installed a couple of WHS add-ons and shipped the product. That’s fine with me. I could care less about all the extra crap loaded on HP’s boxes – except the OS X compatablilty. Windows Home Server is a solid piece of software by itself and there are a ton of additional add-ons that users can easy install themselves. As long as the server provides a reliable file storage and back-up solution, I don’t think you can ask for more.

There is one thing: OS X backups. The easyStore H340 doesn’t support Time Machine and so it cannot back-up OS X natively like all the new HP LX and EX MediaSmart WHS can.

Price:

This thing is a a great deal at its $399 MSRP. That’s almost the same price of the HP LX195, but comes with a 1TB hard drive instead of 640GB. Plus, it’s $200 less than the 750GB EX485 and $350 less than the 1.5TB EX487. Those HP servers do feature all of the benefits above, but you could add three 1TB drives for a total of 4TB and still come under the cost of the top HP MediaSmart. Storage capacity tops software in my book.

Conclusion:

Besides the small downside of not being Time Machine compatable, I cannot think of a reason to buy any other NAS/WHS over the Acer easyStore H340. The hardware is solid, the performance is acceptable, and the price is stellar at $399. It’s even better at Amazon: this model is $349 right now.

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You know, I have to give props to Microsoft’s ad agency Bradley and Montgomery for a hilarious new ad promoting IE8. It’s full of celebrities poking fun at the Internet with intermittent sprinklings of IE8 that don’t overwhelm and bore you like other MS ads. Kudos all around. Happy YouTube Friday!

This is one tough, yet elegant bag that will carry your gear in style. I have a
lot of bags, a whole closet full of ‘em. Although I usually don’t get bags in
the $200+ dollar range, (I’m kinda cheap that way), this bag is worth the price
if you need an incredibly well made bag that can go from casual to client
meeting.

Unpacking the Waterfield Cargo bag I was struck by how thick the material is.
It’s the same ballistic nylon used in bullet-proof vests. Seams are thoroughly
stitched and reinforced. This bag is rugged but it still looks stylish. The
simple silver and black check pattern is distinct enough to be unique and classy
enough to fit in anywhere and the nylon has a nice sheen to it that has yet to
wear off after weeks of use. The only downsides of the beefy construction is
that the bag is a little on the heavy side, weighing in at 4lbs, and is a bit
stiff initially.

Compartments are numerous. There is a thin one on the outside of the front flap,
a medium zip compartment for accessories underneath the flap (which has an inner
pocket as well), a velcro pouch under the flap, the main compartment with laptop
separator and five more pockets (including a business card holder), a rear
compatment for magazines, books, newspaper, etc., and a drink pocket on the
side. The rear pocket also has a zip opening on the bottom to allow it to fit
over the extendable luggage handle, a must for any frequent flier.

The shoulder strap is thick, which provides strength and helps distribute the
weight. The included shoulder pad is made of thick padding and has an excellent
non-slip rubber surface on one side. The pad on the Cargo Mambo bag slides along
the strap so you can keep the pad on your shoulder as you shift the bag from
your side to your back. This bag also has one of the easiest adjustment
mechanisms around. The strap is fixed on one side. On the other side is a large
plastic clip that you can flip open and closed to adjust the length of the
shoulder strap. The end of the adjustment strap does not hang loose either. This
bag is too clever for that. It is held in place via an adjustable slider. If you
commonly switch between two different strap lengths, say one for hanging out and
another for biking, you can adjust the excess strap to the right length for the
longer setting so that whenever you let out the strap, it will stop where you
want. When you’re ready to take off, flip open the clip, pull the shoulder strap
to the right length for the ride home, snap it shut, and hit the road.

The Cargo Mambo Combo comes with a laptop sleeve that fits your laptop. They
have over 40 different sizes so you can get the one that best fits your machine.
I had a 17″ MBP when I ordered the bag, but got downsized to a 15″ MBP shortly
after it arrived. It hasn’t been a problem. I just have a very roomy laptop
sleeve. One minor inconvenience is that there is a velcro strap on the sleeve
itself as well as on the compartment in the bag that the sleeve fits into. As I
leave the sleeve inside the bag, I don’t need two straps. Given how well thought
out and well made these bags are, I would have expected a small patch of velcro
that would let me secure the extra strap so it isn’t dangling about. No big
deal. Just tuck it out of the way.

There are two buckle options. I got the buckle that is used for paragliding. You
can also get the familiar airline buckle that you’ve seen flight attendents
demonstrate ad nauseum. I think the paragliding buckle is cooler, it opens
easily with one hand, and with some practice, I can close it with one hand as
well.

The Combo deal includes the bag, with your choice of buckle and color, the
shoulder pad, medium-sized pouch for cables and gear, and many customizable
options for your laptop sleeve, including its own strap, ‘piggyback’ mini-bag
attachement, flap, and orientation option. These would let you use the sleeve as
its own bag and can add to the price. Prices range from $220 for the small bag
with no extras to over $300 for the large bag with lots of customizations. If
you just order the bag by itself (with shoulder pad), the range is $179-$269.

There are very few downsides to this bag, but I do have a few minor points that
would improve it, but that should not dissuade you from getting it. First is
access to the main pouch. Unlike most messenger-style bags that require you to
open the flap to access the main compartment, you access the Waterfield Cargo
bag’s main pouch via a zipper on the top of the bag. While access is easier, I
feel like the opening is not quite as large as some other messenger bags I’ve
had. This would only be an issue if you are carrying one extremely large parcel
and should not effect most users. The comparment itself is quite large.

My other minor nit is on the rear pouch, where I usually keep whatever book I’m
reading (at least until the next gen Kindle comes out). This pouch is secured by
a velcro patch ~6″ long. During an absolute torrential downpour, this didn’t
quite close the compartment completely and a small amount of the water that was
running down my back got into this pouch. My book got slightly damp, but not so
much as you noticed once it dried. Everything else was bone dry. I was walking
around outside without an umbrella in a Boston monsoon and my book got a little
damp. Not bad. If the velcro went all the way across, I don’t even think that
would have happened.

Waterfield makes all their bags in San Francisco so a side benefit is that
you’re supporting a company that keeps its manufacturing in the good ol’ US of
A.

Bottom line: Top notch bag. Built to last. Space aplenty. Price to match.

Product
Page

There isn’t too much to talk about here, but this gorgeous little case from Acme Made deserves a look from anybody looking for an expensive but lovely little gift for a spouse or lady friend. Pictures and such after the break.

This little case comes in two colors, black and “Tuscan Orange.” This one is (obviously) of the Tuscan Orange variety, and it feels as good as it looks, like the other bags I recently reviewed. The leather is grippy and thick, and the color is very tasteful. The zipper is metal and has a solid feel.

Inside, you have a spot for you camera, clearly, and then a couple spaces for other things. I found out after I took the pictures that it’s easier to put the batteries up top and the cord below, but hey. There’s a little spot for an SD card (it won’t fit anything larger) and a pocket behind everything where a quick reference manual or prints can be stored.

It’s really quite a nice little object, and that’s probably why it costs so much — the version pictured costs $90 and a black one costs $110 The prices changed considerably the day after this review published: to be precise, they were nearly halved! That puts these in stocking stuffer territory! The one I had will set you back $65, the small “solo” version $40. There are littler ones, but they seem less useful. Of course, a camera case like this is already a luxury: point and shoots are meant to be carried by themselves, and any extra bits like cables can be stored in your backpack or what have you. So if you’re going to buy something impractical, it may as well be expensive too, right?

What is it about airports that bring out the worst in humanity? Is it waiting in long, arbitrary lines?  Is it being forced to reveal to everyone the holes in your socks?  Is it the $100 beers at the airport bar?  I try pretty hard to be a “good citizen” when I travel: my carry-on luggage doesn’t exceed the maximum dimensions permitted by the airline; I make sure I put all of my metal objects through the x-ray machine; and I try to make sure I can whip out my laptop to send through the x-ray machine separately from the bag in which I carry it.

Travelon has recently released its own line of TSA-approved Checkpoint Friendly laptop bags, designed to make it easier to get through the security screening without having to unpack your entire kit.  I admit that when I received my review models I exclaimed “WTF?”.  At first glance, it doesn’t look like these things will actually save any time.  But for you, dear reader, I put myself through the indignities of airport security to provide an accurate review of these bags.

The bags themselves are pretty nondescript, and look like just about every other laptop bag on the planet.  The fabric is rugged, and the overall construction seems solid. There’s ample padding for the laptop pocket, so your precious computer should sit fairly comfortably through the jolts and jostles of air travel. The backpack model has a nice criss-cross design for the shoulder straps, which surprisingly helps distribute the weight better, making it less uncomfortable to lug your laptop between terminals.  Interestingly, this design makes it less comfortable to hang the bag from a single shoulder.

The backpack model has another minor shortcoming, in my opinion: the largest pocket isn’t very deep.  You can fit your cables easily enough, but I could not, for example, comfortably fit the body of my Canon DigitalRebel XT camera.  Don’t expect to use this bag for much more than your laptop and necessary peripherals: it’s not a general purpose bag.

The gimmick on the entire line of Travelon Checkpoint friendly bags is a sleeve attached to a tether that sits inside the laptop compartment.  So you place your laptop into the sleeve, and then place the sleeve inside the pocket.  At airport security, you pull out the sleeve containing your laptop, and slide the bag plus sleeve through the scanner together.  This gives the TSA screeners an unobstructed view of your laptop, and also keeps your laptop close to your bag.

As I said, I didn’t see this saving me a whole lot of time.  But at the security gate, I found it wonderfully convenient to keep the laptop tethered to the bag: when I cleared the screening, I was able to pick up the sleeve by its handle, and carry both it and the bag to which it was attached a comfortable distance away to put on my shoes and gather up my junk.  I didn’t have to stand there at the end of the conveyor belt making a fool of myself with handfuls of loose, miscellaneous stuff.

On the backpack and briefcase models I received, the laptop sleeve could be unzipped from its tether, allowing you to use it separately from the main bag.  This might be handy in some situations.  Also available from Travelon is just a sleeve, which you might put into an existing laptop bag.  Be sure to watch the video review, below, to see what’s so special about this sleeve!

In addition to the minor complaints already made, I have two other beefs against these products.  First, they’re made in China.  Don’t get me wrong: I’m not some die-hard anti-globalization America First! nutcase.  But I would like to see American manufacturing deal with the largely American problem of insane airport security processes.  Second, the TSA screeners have pretty much carte blanche authority to inspect any bag they want, at any time.  So even if you shell out big bucks for a fancy “TSA Checkpoint Friendly” approved bag, the TSA can still make you remove your laptop.

Bottom Line

These are good quality laptop bags that provide a surprising level of convenience to the frequent traveller.  It’s not likely to be your go-to bag for quick trips around town, but it will be the bag you want to take with you on a flight.

The Funny

Inside the laptop sleeve is a warning, admonishing you to follow the TSA screener’s directions since they can still require you to remove your computer from the sleeve.  You are also cautioned not to place anything on top of the laptop that might obstruct the x-ray view.  No paperwork, cords, accessories, or Les.  Poor, poor Les — always getting stuffed into laptop bags.

It works! The Seattle Sling Dry Bag is waterproof thanks to a dry bag so I decided to put it to the test. Thankfully for the Hitachi Blu-ray camcorder within (love you, Hitachi) it works as advertised. There is more to this case than just a waterproof dry bag though, but simply put, I’m satisfied. 

The Seattle Sling Dry Bag isn’t your ordinary camera bag thanks to the waterproof inner sack (which works, btw). There is a tripod holder in the front and a sling strap for transportation on the back.

It’s larger than the pics make it appear and holds a DSLR, lens, flash and charger easily, but not that much more. Because of the waterproof feature though, there isn’t pockets on the outside of the case for extra batteries or memory cards so you’re going to have to throw everything inside the dry bag which makes for clumsy retrial

Honestly, the bag doesn’t work well for daily tasks. The dry bag requires a good couple of seconds to open and 10-20 seconds to close properly. Thankfully though, the dry bag can be removed but the velcro lid ise NASA-tough. I think you could tow a trailer with this velcro but it certainly does its job of holding the bag together and keeping dust out. 

Overall though, it’s a nice camera case. It might be a little large without that much storage space, but the waterproof feature might be indispensable if you’re a kayaking nature photographer or plan on visiting Niagara Falls. The $150 price will turn off the weekend hobbyist but as camera cases go, this one is well built, offers a niche feature and does it well so the price is well justified in my book.

Zagg makes the InvisibleSHIELD line of gadget protectors.  The one I install in the video above is for my Canon DigitalRebel XT camera, but they make screen protectors for a dizzying number of cameras, phones, laptops, and more.

Bottom Line

Installation is quick and easy, and it really is invisible once installed. For a couple bucks, these are a pretty nice investment for protecting the display screens on your expensive gear.

I can’t help but compare Kata’s ‘digital rucksack’ to the Lowepro Fastpack I reviewed earlier this year. Its looks, features, and price are similar, but it all boils down to personal preference and what you’re looking to do with it. My initial reaction when the Kata made it into the office was that it was a cheap knockoff of the aforementioned Lowepro, but after a few weeks I’ve changed my mind.

As I mentioned before the Kata and Lowepro are very similar. However, the Kata is roughly 0.5 pounds lighter and offers a few extra features that the Lowerpro does not. But the Kata has thin walls all around I worry that my cameras and laptop will get damaged easier than they would in the Lowepro. Of course, I won’t be testing that theory anytime soon.

The lower compartment reveals six or so slots for lenses, flashes, SLR bodies, etc. It can be customized to fit your needs. The entire compartment can be pulled out so you’re not limited to a fixed number of compartments. Versatility is where the Kata trumps the Lowepro. A small compartment located to the right side of the compartment reveals a netted holster for a water bottle or other trinkets.

The topside compartment has ample space for all types of gadgets and gizmos. There are three outer zipped pockets (two are smaller side pockets while the third goes from side-to-side) located on the topside compartment for smaller doodads as well.

The laptop compartment holds up to a 15-inch laptop and loads from the top. I much prefer to have a side-loading compartment because you have to push the shoulder straps away to get at the compartment on the Kata and sometimes I need to quickly remove my laptop, but this is one of those personal preference things.

Is the Kata comfortable? For short trips around the city I found the Kata to be comfortable enough, but for longer treks where I’d use the chest strap and waist straps it wasn’t as pleasant. The waist strap is nothing special and it’s the type you’d find on a cheap bag.

I mentioned before that the Kata and Lowerpro were comparable in terms of features but that the Kata had a few extras and while said extras wouldn’t make me choose it over the Lowerpro, they are worth mentioning. Included in the lower compartment is a small pouch that contains a rain cover for the bag should youencounter some rain along your travels. Another neat feature is a strap located on the backside of the pack that allows you to slide the handle of your rolling cart/bag through it so you don’t have trek through the airport with a heavy bag like I often do.

The Kata runs about $10 cheaper than the Lowepro on Amazon, but I’d drop by your local camera shop and take a look at both. The Lowepro feels more solid and well made whereas the Kata is less rigid. And to be honest it feels and looks cheap compared to the Lowepro. But, I’d take a look at both in person before deciding.

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The Proporta Gadget Bag is a handy way to store all the stuff that comes with your gadget lifestyle: batteries, battery chargers, media sticks, cables, etc.  The Transformer-like nature of this bag means you can take the right-sized compartment for the trip to the coffee shop, or assemble the whole thing to organize your gear for a longer junket.  Perfect for those who just have to organize their stuff.

Music by Force Majuere, by way of the Internet Archive Open Source Audio collection.

Naneu makes high quality camera bags that double as backpacks. We reviewed the K3 last year and found one minor problem but the K4L has addressed the issue and I believe it’s one of the best camera/laptop bags I’ve used.


To test the bag we loaded it up with a DSLR and some lenses, clothes for two, and two heavy laptops. The bag kept everything well padded and once you hoisted it on your back it was quite comfortable to carry even though we had about forty pounds of stuff in there. The front opens up and features filter pockets while the bottom camera pocket can hold two separate cameras. There is a large central pocket, two side pockets for chargers and smaller devices, and a surprisingly large back laptop slot that fit two laptops.

Best of all, the K4L is well strapped and padded for travel. This is not a “lug around town” backpack. It’s definitely a piece of luggage. Any photographer could easily pack a few day’s clothing, two cameras, and a laptop in this with no problems. Best of all, it has a rain cover for rough situations.

The K4L is launching right now for $199.99 and it comes in black and slate blue.

# Weight: 5.30 lbs
# Exterior Dimensions: 20.5H x 14W x 13D in
# Laptop Compartment Dimensions: 16H x 13W x 1.5D in
# Camera Compartment Dimensions: 11.75W x 7D x 7.5H in

This is a great bag with plenty of room for just about anything.

Well, now that we all know what side my bread is buttered on let’s take a look at the first of the iPhone 3G cases to hit these shores. While the Proporta Dual Skin case can fit any iPhone, this thin silicone case is made specifically for the 3G. It slips on like a rubber sock and keeps your the phone’s precious case from scratching against objects in your pocket or bag.


The $21 case comes in White and Black – I tried the white one and it looks great on the white 16GB. It fits snugly over the iPhone and special raised nubs cover the power, volume, and mute buttons, which is slightly disconcerting at first. Only the mute switch, however, is difficult to move with the case on. The other buttons are fine.

The case itself adds some much-needed traction to the slippery iPhone. Except for some slight fit problems around the bottom it’s a great way to keep your iPhone safe and sound without resorting to bulky covers. It even comes with a lanyard so you can wrap the bugger around your wrist and look like a real champ.

Bottom line: A cool little case that offers quite a bit of protection.

Much like its big brother the Fastpack 250, the Flipside 200, has been a great addition to my arsenal of travel luggage for gadgets and cameras alike. The Flipside 200, however, has primarily been my camera bag for the better part of the last three months. My Pentax K200D with battery grip and two extra lenses fit nice and snug into the compartments that are revealed by zipping open the main pouch that’s accessed through the back of the bag. Some might think this is a pain in the rear, but it protects you and your gear from being ripped off if the zippers were exposed. On the exterior of the bag at the base there’s a concealed compartment that can be unvelcroed and taken out to support the feet of a tripod. It’s pretty handy, but it’s not as deep as I would have liked it to be. The Manfrotto tripod I’ve been using wasn’t very stable at times, but it never popped out, thankfully.

On the inside you’ll find four compartments for varying size lenses, but you won’t be toting around any telephoto lenses save for one that will fit along the main slot for the body and lens. There’s also a zippered pouch at the top of the inside of the Flipside for whatever you feel like storing there. On the side of the bag you’ll find a zippered pocket with tiny slots for memory cards and filters. A comfortable and padded handle on the outside makes it easy to maneuver through tight spots where a bag on your back might not be conducive.

Overall, the Flipside 200 is perfect for the prosumer with a DSLR and a few extra lenses. For only $80, the lightweight pack does the trick and it’s built like any other Lowepro pack. I give it two thumbs up.

In the long, storied history of bag reviews (see Mark Twain’s What Shall I Put In My New Canvas Sack? from the January 1897 issue of Harper’s Monthly for an example of the proto-bag review), it has been the journalist’s imperative to offer a fair and intelligent comparison of the “usefulcasity” of the bag when compared to other bags of the same or similar capacity. The earliest reviews often ignored this simple requirement — that all bags designed to contain objects must and can be compared to each other.

To that end I have decided to compare the Golla Chorus 15.4-inch bag to a plastic bag received for free at the local food market. The reader’s initial reaction, when reading that last line, is to expect the writer to be on crack. This, however, is not the case. He is, instead, hopped on on snark and coffee.

We begin our exploration by explaining that the Golla Chorus bag is quite nicely built and fits 15-inch laptops perfectly. It costs about $20 and comes in multiple sizes and styles. The black version is the 15-inch model, the green version holds a 13-inch laptop, and the blue version fits 17-inch models. A MacBook Pro and Lenovo ThinkPad fit in the sleeve quite nicely and there is also a pocket for chargers and other accouterments.

That said, we discovered that a plastic bag from a grocery can hold a few more singular items than the Golla Chorus. However, the plastic bag does not have the same design and quality characteristics found in this Finnish laptop sleeve.

We began by placing a ThinkPad and a MacBook into both receptacles. The sleeve fit them both perfectly, as did the plastic bag. However, I found carrying laptops in the plastic bag to be quite a precarious proposition. I would, in this case, cede the battlefield to the Golla bag.

In other situations, however, the plastic bag was far superior. Both bags held children’s shoes with no problems but only the plastic bag could also carry a rubber ball. However, if the rubber ball had been deflated, the Golla would have been the victor.

I attempted also to carry a large, novelty margarita glass, a copy of Carcassonne, and the rolls of paper that came stuffed in the Golla bag with similar results — the plastic bag held them all admirably but the Golla bag was much more stylish.

What can we therefore assess about the Golla line of laptop sleeves? That they are ideal for laptops and not so good for other, less-laptopish items.

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The Otterbox Armor Series iPod Touch case is waterproof, dustproof, dirtproof, sandproof, and drop-proof while at the same time allowing access to most of the Touch’s functions. While the extra added bulk might scare some people off, those who need maximum protection at a not-too-shabby price will appreciate this case.

Features

The Otterbox Armor Series case protects an iPod Touch on all sides with impact-absorbing rubber while allowing use of the touch screen through a thin-but-tough membrane. There’s an external headphone jack that hooks into your iPod’s headphone jack, a rubberized main button, and a belt clip on the backside of the case.

Pros

The Armor Series feels like it can take a beating — like a drop from a moving car and getting run over by the car behind it kind of beating. It feels that tough.

I didn’t test the claim that the case is waterproof up to 3 feet or drop it out of a moving car because I’m not insane and the thought of replacing a device I bought for $400 and use almost every day makes me bunch up a bit. I would, however, take this out to the beach without worrying that I was going to ruin the precious cargo inside.

Also, at $50, the price is nice for what you get. It’s my opinion that too much of a premium is put on “rugged” devices and cases. You could probably find similar cases selling for $80 an up. This seems like a good value if you’re going to be using your iPod in some pretty rough conditions. Those of you in the military, especially, could use this.

Cons

One glaring drawback is that the Armor case makes your otherwise svelte and pocketable device into a considerably larger, plastic-covered device. You’d have to have mighty big pockets to carry this around without using the belt clip or the included lanyard. That being said, it’s being marketed for toughness, not portability.

The second minor gripe is that, while you’re still able to control the Touch, the gentle finger swoops that you’re used to become much more deliberate presses thanks to the membrane that covers the screen. Don’t get me wrong, it’s cool that the screen even works while in this case. It looks like it wouldn’t. It’s just not as elegant. Also, the power button on the top of the iPod Touch gets covered up completely. Not a huge deal since the device will eventually go into sleep mode.

Other Stuff

This could be a pro or a con depending whom you ask, but the belt clip positions the iPod Touch upside-down (notice where the headphone jack is located in the photo on the right).

It works well for looking down and futzing with the controls, though.

Conclusion

The Otterbox for iPod Touch Armor Series case is a great buy for anyone looking for some serious protection. Everyone else could easily get by with a slimmer, cheaper solution. The build quality and the price of the Armor case make it a winner, though.

Waterproof iPod Touch Cases [Otterbox.com]

It seems my never-ending quest for the ultimate gear bag has come to an end. LowePro, purveyors of everything camera related, appears to be the definitive winner at the moment. I’ve been testing out the Fastpack backpack over the last couple weeks and it’s been a great experience. It’s meant to be a photographers gear bag, but I’ve found that all the pockets for lenses and flashes are great for all the gadgets I tote around with me while traveling.

The first test run with the Fastpack took place when I went to Philadelphia which was subsequently followed by a short trip across the country to San Diego. First things first, the Fastpack can hold a boat load of gear which is rather apparent by the photo gallery. A side loading slot can handle up to a 17-inch laptop depending on whether or not you have the 250 (15.4-inch), which is what I have now or the 350 model. The lower compartment can hold an SLR that’s still easily accessible if you place the zippers on the side so that you can swing the bag around onto one shoulder. There are five smaller compartments that are reconfigurable to suit your needs and equipment as well. I have a handful of chargers, batteries, phones, cables and other random things occupying said compartments. There are two smaller pouches that you can store memory cards in within the lower compartment. On the outside of the zippered flap is another pouch to store whatever else you feel like carrying with you.

The top loading pouch has ample room for a laptop charger, headphones, books, etc. I stored my Able Planet noise canceling headphones, Amazon Kindle, MB charger, Novatel dongle and other doodads with room to spare. Two velcro pockets can easily store business cards, condoms, filters, gum, etc. There are two slots for pens and a webbed pouch as well. Same as the lower compartment, an external zipper pouch is perfect for, well, whatever else you feel like cramming in there.

Overall, I’m ecstatic over the LowePro Fastpack and its ample room for all my gear. Even as I upgrade my DSLR or acquire other accessories for it, I’ll more than likely still have enough room for all the gadgets that accompany me on long trips and on a daily basis. It’s comfortable to pack around considering I’ve got about 20 pounds or more strapped to my back. If you find that you don’t need a laptop bag then the Fastpack 100 or 200 should be more than sufficient enough for your needs. The 100 can handle a DSLR, an extra mid-range lens, flash, and a slew of other personal items while the 200 adds another slot for lens or flash. What’s even better are the prices that top out at $150 for the 350. I give this one two thumbs up. I think my search is finally over.