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Aluminum locking case

Ran across this today searching for cases for the Epic. Anyone using one? Its interesting in that it locks the slider during normal use and hinges open if you want to use the keyboard.
http://www.pdair.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=10100000_10000000_11001061&products_id=31414

Now this looks like quite a nice case for functionality.
Now if they just took off the whole part in the back for the clip and form fit the corners a bit more and offered it in more colors that'd be nice.

This may be the best thing I can do for now, I have been scouring for a jelly case to slip over the epic, since I never use the keyboard

Now, if somebody has the ability to cleanly cut aluminum and wants to sell a matched set consisting of this case with a hole cut in the back for the hump on the extended battery the other guy is selling to poke through... (strokes credit card and sighs)
It's hard to tell from the pics... does the case snap onto the lower half, or does the phone just rest inside?
How firmly does it secure the phone when the case is closed? Does the power button still cause the two halves to separate a little, or are both held firmly in place from both sides?

bitbang3r said:
Now, if somebody has the ability to cleanly cut aluminum and wants to sell a matched set consisting of this case with a hole cut in the back for the hump on the extended battery the other guy is selling to poke through... (strokes credit card and sighs)
It's hard to tell from the pics... does the case snap onto the lower half, or does the phone just rest inside?
How firmly does it secure the phone when the case is closed? Does the power button still cause the two halves to separate a little, or are both held firmly in place from both sides?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There are videos on you tube. The bottom looks like a very snug press fit. Top must be looser to allow for the hinge to work.
Sent from my SPH-D700 using Tapatalk

...
I had a similar case for my old HTC Titan. I LOVED it. Being a pretty serious phone abuser, that case kept my phone together!
-Rob

I used to have a similar case for my Treo and they are extremely well made. I irregularly dropped my phone from about 5 feet in the air onto hard linoleum and it never suffered any indignities. These come in both black and silver so if you want a different color you would want the silver so you could send it out to be powder coated.
I just ordered one.

Mine came last night.
The good: locks the slider firmly closed. No wobble or "play" at all when pressing the power button. Phone easy to remove (for GameGripper purposes).
The bad: Feels terrifyingly slippery compared to the Seidio ActiveX. Obstructs "slide down" gesture for notifications.
The seemingly fatal (a big one): my "back" fake hardkey keeps randomly going berserk... but ONLY that specific one. The foam in the top half seems to be confusing the capacitive sensor.
Sent from my SPH-D700 using XDA App

Update: I've had the 'search' fake hardkey freak out a few times on me, too.
Another problem: it's definitely affecting reception. 4G and GPS barely work with the case in place.
Sigh. So close. So agonizingly close. It's awesome to not have the phone shear and jiggle apart every time I hit the power button, and the fact that it allows the phone to be easily removed for the Game Gripper without really compromising the slide-out keyboard's usability is very cool.
I'm really convinced that this case went straight from plastic prototype to mass production before anyone actually tried to use it in an area with 4G service, high humidity (presumably what's screwing up the foam and touchscreen), and who didn't just assume that the GPS was dysfunctional because Samsung sucks.
Sigh. Too expensive to throw away, and really nice in ways that ultimately don't matter because the touchscreen-button problem makes it totally unusable

The plot thickens: more touchscreen observations:
* Oddly, there's NO FOAM around the lower part of the screen where the phantom-pressed fake hardkeys are.
* Last night, it went completely berserk with phantom button presses on cue when I rubbed the latch a certain way.
This suggests that the problem's root cause might extend to the electrical conductivity of the case itself. It's strange, because I wasn't able to find reports of the same problem for users of Monaco cases for other phones (like the Droid). Lots of complaints about signal attenuation, but no reports of touchscreen problems.
I'm seriously tempted to buy some liquid electrical tape and coat the inside of the lid to see whether it helps. The problem DOES seem to go away when the lid is no longer in contact with the screen. However, if it's happening because the sensor is acting kind of like a Hall Effect sensor and the case is acting like a Faraday cage, nothing short of making the case (or at least the top lid) out of plastic is likely to fix the problem. Still, it's worth a try since I really like the case itself, and my alternative is to basically chuck it.

Update: as an experiment, I wrapped black electrical tape around the bottom lip of the top part. It helped a lot. I think I might have also found a contributing cause: cat fur. I think wisps of cat fur might be bridging the metal case & screen and carrying static electricity to the sensor. Oddly, though, some of its *worst* back-arrow spasams have occurred with the phone laying on the desk, untouched, 3 feet away.
I'm still trying to think of a good way to plastic-coat the case without making it look bad & get a nice, even black rubbery coating on it.
Sent from my SPH-D700 using XDA App

How thin is it compared to the other plastic cases?

Very interested in getting the Monaco Aluminum Case, which is very similar to this one. My last concern, how thin is it compared to Seidio Innocase Surface?

DIY Smart Cover idea. Feasible?

So while I was looking at various case solutions for a number of tablets, I came across the repeated notion that any tablet without magnets cannot have a smart-case style clip on cover. While this is generally true, I had a thought....
The TF101 has the added bonus of having 2 great big clips on the bottom for the keyboard dock.
This lead me to wonder, how realistic would it be to make a smart cover/origami cover style case that clips to the side using these docking clips.
Once the cover can clip to the bottom, it's easy to attach that system to a chopped up existing case and boom, we have a simple clip on screen cover/stand.
I don't have the keyboard dock so I dont know how the clips work, so does anyone think there's any real potential in this?
My honest guess is that this is too ambitious and will never work, but it's always worth putting the idea out there
Edit: Crap, wrong section. Accident, my bad. Can a mod move this to accessories if that's more appropriate? Thanks

Hi!
I think the way the dock locks it up is with a switch in the hinge, which makes some kind of connection in the connector. That's just my guess though.
If I'm right, obviously the "smart TF cover" would have to include a dock connector and some kind of simple switch to do that connection...
Maybe 2 metal plates that when they touch the aluminum Bezel (and therefore contact between them is made), shut off the screen.
Someone that has dissassembled the dock can check and confirm how it works. I just bought it so I'm not willing just yet.

MrNago said:
Hi!
I think the way the dock locks it up is with a switch in the hinge, which makes some kind of connection in the connector. That's just my guess though.
If I'm right, obviously the "smart TF cover" would have to include a dock connector and some kind of simple switch to do that connection...
Maybe 2 metal plates that when they touch the aluminum Bezel (and therefore contact between them is made), shut off the screen.
Someone that has dissassembled the dock can check and confirm how it works. I just bought it so I'm not willing just yet.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
To be honest, making it do the "smart" stuff like that would be awesome but is also more complicated than I was thinking.
I was just looking at it doesn't look like theres even a dumb version of the smart cover, which is essentially what I was thinking.
I mean this as in, it doesnt need to control the display, it just seems like a more stylish, slimline way to protect the screen and use as a stand if it clips onto the side and only covers one face of the tablet.

Would attaching magnets to a third party keyboard case be a bad idea?

So I just ordered a third party keyboard case for my N9, it's a sleek on that says it's designed for 8.9-10 inch tablets.
Thing is, I don't think it had magnets to hold the tablet in place. Personally, I like the idea of the extra stability magnets provide in this case.
So, I got this crazy idea that after it arrives and I try it out, I go out and get some tiny magnets and super glue them to the case, thus achieving the same effect as the official Keyboard Folio.
TWO QUESTION:
1) Would this work? As in, do any old magnets have this effect, or does it take special magnets?
2) Would this in any way damage my device? I don't want to put too powerful of a magnet next to it and scramble the system or something.
Thanks.

1) I think any magnets would work as long as they're neodymium magnets.
2) If they're small I don't see them having any negative effects, other then possibly scratching the surface where they might rub when you put on the case

rooCase and GearIT cases for Tab S 8.4

Hi all,
This is my first post here, following my upgrade from a venerable Nexus 7 (2012) to a Tab S 8.4 in November. I'm grateful for the numerous posts in the XDA community that instructed me on things such as disabling the capacitive buttons, so I thought I'd share some feedback on a couple of cases for which I don't see much discussion.
I started out with a rooCase Origami that I purchased from Amazon, because I wanted the ability to stand the tablet in portrait mode while keeping a reasonably slim profile. I really liked that the case added minimal bulk to the tablet, but the floppy, multi-fold cover was annoying, mostly because the magnets couldn't hold it closed. Also, the tablet didn't stand too well in portrait mode (tap a little too hard on the screen and the kickstand would give away). So, I returned the Origami in favour of a GearIT 360 spinner (also via Amazon).
The GearIT case has proven to be perfect for my needs. The tablet is very secure in the cradle, but pops out easily when you need it (which is necessary to access the card slots). The speakers, camera, ports, and IR blaster are fully exposed, and the camera is deeply recessed so it'll be hard to scratch the lens. The exterior is a twill fabric that's really nice to grip, and the magnets are reliable for waking the tablet and keeping the cover closed. As well, the cover folds in such a way that the soft inside rarely touches other surfaces (unless you fold it back like a magazine), so it won't leave dirt and debris on your screen. I've also been pleasantly surprised that the case hasn't attracted much cat hair (which is easy to clean off with a sticky roller or tape).
The 360-degree rotation enables you to stand the case in a variety of ways while maintaining a surprisingly slim profile for the tablet, and the best part is that you can properly use all of the angles available to you. With non-rotating cases (such as the Origami and Samsung Book Cover), you sometimes find that the screen will be upside down in landscape mode (when apps only rotate in one direction). You can solve this with an app to force screen rotation, but with the GearIT you just turn the tablet around 180 degrees. This also means that the power/volume keys are always on the top when in landscape mode. One of my favorite ways to use the case is to fold it into landscape typing mode (lowest angle), then rotate the tablet into portrait mode. It's the same effect as propping up one end of the tablet on a book.
After about five weeks of daily use, the case still feels solid. The folds are definitely looser than when I first got it, but that's to be expected given how often they're flexed. The rotating hinge ratchets so that your tablet doesn't swing around at will, and it's still nice and tight.
Perhaps the only thing I don't like is that the chrome trim doesn't match the bronze trim on the tablet. Although if I had a choice, I would have taken chrome over bronze...
Cheers!

Review of the Roocase Executive Portfolio Case for the Galaxy Tab S 10.5

I received this case from Roocase for evaluation and wanted to share here. As you'll see, the review is not entirely positive. I asked the Roocase people if I could post in a public forum and they said "yes" without even seeing the review. To me this is a good sign of a company that cares what its customers think, and isn't afraid of negative feedback. I haven't changed the review, and while I still think that this case is probably a "don't buy" I will certainly consider Roocase the next time I'm in the market for a tablet case.
I tried to give as critical a review as possible. To me, when a product is titled “executive” it receives an additional layer of scrutiny, especially for an image-conscious businessperson whom might be a target consumer. Thus this review considers of particular importance the looks and usefulness as a business tool.
Here is an Amazon link to the case: http://amzn.to/1Vy5AGv
I received the portfolio in a nondescript cardboard box that was adequately sized to protect the case. The packaging was simple, which is a positive in my mind. I’m not a fan of big unrecyclable plastic boxes. That said, a product called “executive” should probably have a slightly more premium-looking packaging. I suggest reviewing the images, fonts, and content of the current packaging to something matching other, more modern designs.
The exterior leather is adequately solid and the stitching is tight enough to give a premium feel. The only error in the stitching is where the binding strip overlaps itself on the bottom corner at the fold. The error here is small and will probably not be a point of failure, so I’m not overly concerned. The interior stitching left something to be desired. On the inside left, the card slots and pockets have a little too much give, leaving a “pouch” look. Probably useful if one plans to keep a lot of papers in there, but it doesn’t look great when empty. The stitching around the inner tablet was not perfect, but that’s just being nitpicky.
The zipper is tight but the zipper handles are annoyingly large and there is absolutely no reason to use a double-ended zipper since they both need to be completely retracted to open the case. The handles have a small point on both sides of the base that causes the zipper to catch; every second or third time I used them they got momentarily stuck. That said, they feel solid; I’m not concerned that they will break any time soon. Another annoyance is that the zippers hang out even when completely retracted; holding the case against your stomach you end up with the zipper sticking into you (this would be solved by using a single-ended zipper, BTW). Finally, when completely closed the zippers sort of clatter together, not a big deal, but annoying. Besides these points, the zipper looks and feels good and did not have any problem closing the case, even when filled with materials.
The Roocase logo is attractive and nicely embossed in a good place on the cover. I appreciate that you understated the logo and hope you (and everyone else!) will continue to do so. I would not have had a problem with a second logo in the same place on the back, or an embossed logo on the interior.
The pockets on the inside left are adequate, though I personally do not think I’d use them much. They are too small to fit a standard sheet of paper (though this is the size of the tablet, not the case). The credit card/business card holders are of an appropriate depth and held tight to even a single card. The windowed pocket is similarly good, though I don’t see myself using it for anything. It might make sense to have more specific pockets, such as for a particular size of notebook. For me, I’d probably forgo the pockets altogether, or make a single pocket in which a (smaller) notepad could be hung horizontally.
The sides and spine are a perfect combination of rigid and thick and work well for both protecting the device and preventing objects held in the case from impacting on the screen. The overall feel in the hand is satisfying, though, considering the weight of the tablet is so low, it might be nicer to have a little less weight in the case.
The interior tablet holder is, unfortunately, where this case fails. There are several problems. First, the enclosure looks and feels cheap, both with and without the tablet. I personally hate tablet cases that cover the bezel; on the tab s 10.5, one of the more important gestures (swipe in from the right) is actually hindered by the case, which is unacceptable. The interior case should have used the hard plastic/metal corner compression style. As it is, the interior case looks and feels like strapping a bit of cardboard with some loose plastic on the front to an expensive tablet. The Velcro slipped under the bottom of the tablet causes a slight lift, bulging the bottom end of the tablet out. This means that when placed flat on a surface the bottom middle pushed up just enough that the whole thing wobbles when touched, even when using the small integrated lifting mechanism.
The faux leather hangs loosely around the screen no matter how tightly I pushed the Velcro attachment. The exterior case may be leather, but the inner case is clearly not. Pressing buttons on the tablet on the top and side is hindered, though this is a relatively minor nuisance. The port for the charger cable is accessible, but the 3.5mm headset jack is close; my best headphones have a square-ish connector that can’t be turned while the case is on. Both front and back cameras are fine, as is the light sensor. The fingerprint sensor, home button, and two capacitive buttons are fine, but the bezel-covering looks the worst here, sticking up from the screen. The case I received is slightly different than the one pictured on Amazon; they've (smartly) removed the strip of leather above the home/capacitive buttons.
The hand strap is tight and nicely recessed; the material touching the back of my hand was OK but should have been better; if I’m going to hold this thing with a hand strap for any amount of time the material should be a bit less abrasive. The small lifting mechanism on the back is also a nice touch, it worked well and gave the tablet a small lift when placed flat on a table. That said, I’d never use this case alone, and the rest of the case is intended to prop the tablet up already, so I don’t see when I’d be using this. The small lift also is placed just behind the button attachment (discussed below) so that it cannot be comfortably extended or replaced while buttoned in the case. This might actually have been a useful mode for the case; I briefly used it like this and found that it held the top of the case open fine, and provided some top-down privacy on the screen. I think certain business users might have actually liked such a feature.
Beside the bezel-covering faux leather, the single worst feature of this case is the button clasp that attaches the inner case to the outer. When the inner case is placed flat on a surface, the button always touches first, though not excessively. When attaching to the outer case, the button must be pressed very hard; this required placing pressure on the middle of the screen. I did not enjoy doing this. I assume the tablet can handle it, but I won’t be doing it again for fear of damaging the screen or the electronics.
When attached in the full case, the case works well in both landscape and portrait. While more options for angles are always nice, I think the angle you get is pretty good. I found it odd that, when used, the logo is on the table; I don’t like logos, but I’d think Roocase might!
The pen/stylus was a nice though unnecessary addition. It works about as well as most styli, and feels acceptable in the hand, if a little small. The tip feels very cheap. I did notice that it has both black and blue ink pens, but unfortunately you can’t tell which until you start writing. A perfectly good free add-on; nobody is buying this case for the pen/stylus.
The outer case is solid and I’d be confident that my tablet would survive a significant fall so long as the zippers were closed. However, if the zippers were open or if only using the inner case I’m sure that even a small fall would result in disaster. The bezel-covering inner case doesn’t even cover the lower corners of the tablet, which hangs out just enough to be the first thing that would impact in a fall. It becomes difficult, with this description, to even call the inner case a “case.”
In summary, the case looks nice from the outside, though the zippers are a bit annoying. The outer case is sturdy, tough, and would provide exceptional protection from both falls and pressure applied to the exterior. The interior pockets are fine, but I don’t see them being particularly useful given the application and size. Using the tablet propped up was stable in both tablet and portrait orientation, and the angle of the screen was good. The inner case feels cheap, particularly the loosely-fitting bezel-covering faux leather, which made an expensive tablet look cheap and negatively affected both my ability to use swipe gestures on the screen and the 3.5mm audio connector, and caused the tablet to wobble when placed without the outer case on a flat surface. The button clasp is also unacceptable, as connecting it required putting pressure in the middle of the screen. Both of these things would need to be corrected for me to be able to recommend this case to anyone. As it is, I am unlikely to use this case, which is a shame, considering that from the outside it is very nice looking and clearly would provide a lot of protection.

Nice Review, I too got the same Case and haven't done a review yet, as I wanted to get to know it a little and use it as much as possible. I have to say I like the product a lil more than you describe. Somethings I totally agree on. Such as the inner case covering the bezel. A little less would be adequate, But I do notice its soo tight on the tablet, it pulls it one direction causing the left side of the screen to become covered up. I remove it from the outer shell a lot to utilize the hand grip while I'm at work, which I use it to pull up blueprints and what not, so I love that feature.
Gotta say you put more detail in a review than most people. Good job.