jueves, 18 de octubre de 2012

iPad By Davis: “Check the Weather for iPhone review” plus 18 more

iPad By Davis: “Check the Weather for iPhone review” plus 18 more

Check the Weather for iPhone review

Posted: 17 Oct 2012 09:01 PM PDT

Check the Weather is a great weather app for the iPhone that has an elegant, minimalist design yet offers advanced forecast details including current conditions, hazardous weather alerts, and hourly and extended forecasts. For users within the United States it also shows a live doppler weather radar map and Dark Sky powered short term precipitation forecasts.

The main screen of Check the Weather displays the current temperature, an icon that represents the current conditions, a line graph of the temperature forecast for the next 15 hours or so, and a three day forecast that includes the high, low, and icon that represents the weather conditions. At the bottom of the screen, you'll see the time of next sunrise and sunset and in icon that represents the state of the moon (full moon, half moon, crescent). All this information is displayed in a very uncluttered matter and looks clean.

If you swipe up the screen, Check the Weather will reveal a live doppler weather map. You can pinch and zoom on the map and navigate around by swiping and scrolling. The map looks great and performs great.

Just like you can swipe up to pull up the radar map, you can swipe left to view a 14-day forecast or swipe right to reveal a 16-hour forecast. The daily forecast will show the day of the week, an icon to represent the conditions, the high and low, and for the first 7 days, the chance for precipitation. The hourly forecast display the temperature, chance for perception, and an icon that represents the conditions.

The good

  • Elegant design
  • Line graph to represent forecast
  • Live doppler weather map
  • 14-day forecast (3-day forecast on main screen)
  • 16-hour forecast
  • Swipe down, left, or right to reveal the different screens of Check the Weather
  • Save unlimited locations
  • Option for 24-hour time
  • Fahrenheit and Celsius support

The bad

  • Hourly forecasts don't begin until 3 hours from the current time
  • Sometimes the radar doesn't load. Killing the app and reloading usually fixes it.

The conclusion

Check the Weather is a fantastic weather app that will appeal to both the minimalists and those who want a little extra like radars. The only radar included with Check the Weather is a live doppler, but I believe this helps contribute the uncluttered feel of the app. The folks at Cross Forward Consulting did a fabulous job at creating a beautiful, clean, and informative weather app for the iPhone.

$1.99 - Download Now

Apple reportedly buys Bill Nguyen's company. Again.

Posted: 17 Oct 2012 09:02 PM PDT

Apple reportedly buys Bill Nguyen's company. Again. Wait... what?

Apple has reportedly bought troubled, sometimes outright mocked, startup Color Labs for somewhere in the double-digit millions, or at least enough to pay off investors' who forked over $41 million to date. Color Labs was founded by entrepreneur Bill Nguyen, the same entrepreneur who also founded Lala, which was also sold to Apple, also for double-digit millions. So clearly, winning strategy. Ken Yeung and Matthew Panzarino of The Next Web have the story, and a theory as to why Apple would fill Nguyen's wallet. Again.

We would look to Color's patents, which may include one for a file format that they were working on to record HD video. Color said that it had six patents pending at the time of its funding, including its 'elastic' social graph and patents related to GPS location and battery saving. Or its software engineering team could be the target, if Apple was impressed by their work.

Developer Daniel Jalkut also wrote on his Bitsplitting blog that additional patents could be at play:

Interestingly enough, Color has apparently only recently published several patent applications related to sharing of information among "device groups." The applications listed are all published within the past month and a half, and all feature iPhone-like art in the supporting illustrations.

This would be the third alternate ending for Color Labs reported this week, with VentureBeat originally claiming Color was shutting down, and TechCrunch then claiming twas not so.

If Apple did indeed buy Color Labs, and Nguyen returns to Apple, it'll be interesting to see how long he lasts this time, or how long it takes him to leave an create a company names after a smell or flavor.

Source: The Next Web, Bitsplitting

Forums: iCloud contact group help, Best apps for managing documents?

Posted: 17 Oct 2012 07:40 PM PDT

From the iMore Forums

Found an interesting article you want to share with iMore? Have a burning question about that feature you just can't figure out? There is ALWAYS more happening just a click away in the forums. You can always head over and join in the conversation, search for answers, or lend your expertise to other members of our community. You check out some of the threads below:

If you're not already a member of the iMore Forums, register now!

iMore show special edition, special night, special time -- 6:30pm PT, 9:30pm ET, 2:30am BST

Posted: 17 Oct 2012 05:48 PM PDT

Tonight the iMore show special edition is on a special night, with a special guest -- Jim Dalrymple of The Loop, at a special time, to discuss a special event.

Join us LIVE at 6:30pm PT, 9:30pm ET, 2:30am BST. Set an alarm. Bookmark this page. Be here.

Want to go full screen? Head to iMore.com/live. Want to watch via iPhone or iPad? Grab the Ustream app and search for "mobilenations". Want to subscribe to any or all of our shows? Head on over to our podcast page.

Microsoft: The Surface has a keyboard, kickstand, is fun, and convoluted

Posted: 17 Oct 2012 05:38 PM PDT

Microsoft has released the first Surface commercial (look up) and pricing information (look down). The commercial is interesting in that it's musical and fun, like an iPod ad, but also focuses on what Microsoft probably perceives to be differentiators against the iPad -- the keyboard, the kickstand, and dancing people in suits (i.e. business users using Office).

John Gruber of Daring Fireball is positive on it:

Surface is an iPad-size tablet with a magnetic keyboard cover and it's fun. That's a pretty good message.

Jim Dalrymple of The Loop not so much:

The Surface ad sucks balls

Early BlackBerry Playbook ads focused on differentiators as well, like smaller size and the ability to run Adobe Flash, as did early Android tablet ads, as well as Tegra2 processors, you know, for the wives. This is better than that. It does lack the power of Apple's original "technology is not enough" iPad 2 ad, and the magic of most of the series of "look what you can do with iPad" commercials that followed, however. It also splits Microsoft's focus, the same way RIM split the PlayBook's focus, between commercial and business users, even if they're dancing in suits.

That's not new for Microsoft, though. Unlike Apple who's recent success has been predicated on not mistaking their products for their business, Microsoft's past success has been all about Windows everywhere. That "no compromises" focus has been a cangue around their neck for years now, only a few interesting products like Xbox and Kinect escaping its gravity.

Which brings us to the convoluted part, and Surface pricing. Apple isn't innocent here, with 2 generations, 2 colors, 3 sizes, and Wi-Fi and Wi-Fi + cellular models in several carrier and region specific flavors. It starts at $399 (for now, wait for the mini), then goes up in $100 increments for more storage, with a $130 surcharge for cellular. That's a voluminous, but still a fairly simple product grid.

The Surface seems similar, on the surface (sorry), starting at $499 for more storage but lower resolution, but given it has two keyboards -- flat multitouch and less-flat clickety-clackety type -- and one comes with it but a different color is an additional charge, and the RT (what does that stand for?) version won't be the only one on the market, and it quickly makes my brain bleed slowly.

No compromises is the ultimate compromise -- it's surrendering authorial voice and dumping decisions onto users. Whether it's which keyboard to get, which operating system version to get, which mode to use it in, etc. etc. it's piling indecision on top of indecision, and it's making murky what should be crystal clear.

I've heard both great and terrible things about the Surface, other Windows 8 tablets, and Windows 8 in general. Some seem to love it and see limitless potential and others see it as iOS 6 Maps writ large across an entire operating system and product category. The truth, as usual, likely falls somewhere in between.

Next week the first look at the iPad mini will be followed almost immediately by the second look at the Surface, and the next great stage of the tablet wars, such as they are, will begin. And I don't think Microsoft is really ready. (Where's my Xslate with exclusive Halo 4 and Office Touch?)

The commercial and the pricing, like Windows 8 and the Surface themselves, are audacious yet hobbled, aspiring towards a post-Windows future yet stymied at every turn by the fears and complexities of a regime still shackled to the past.

I hope I'm wrong, I want the Surface to be great. I want Apple and the iPad to have as much competition in tablets as the iPhone has in handsets, but right now the Surface and Windows 8 look to me like the product of lesser angels, the heartbreaking hint of what Microsoft could, but can't do.

We'll find out more next week.

Source: WPCentral

Lightning to 30-pin Adapters hands-on

Posted: 17 Oct 2012 04:22 PM PDT

While Apple managed to ship the iPhone 5 to dozens of countries within the span of a couple weeks, it's taken almost a month to get the 30-pin Dock to Lightning connector adapters shipped and into stores. So, now that they're here, how are they?

Okay. Pretty much exactly what you'd expect.

30-pin Dock to Lightning adapters hands-on

The dongle isn't really small enough to avoid being annoying, but that's what you get when you need something to translate the new, all-digital Lightning signal into the old, partly analog Dock signal and vice versa. If all you have is an old legacy cable, either stand-alone or as part of an in-car system, it works fine. Anything that's cramped, however, or relies on wrapping around the base or back of the iPhone for stability, probably won't work.

That brings us to the cable. It's the same as the dongle but includes a short length -- 20 cm or 7.8-inches -- of USB cable as well. So, for example, you could attach it inside a battery case or even some types of media docks and still, awkwardly, use them with your iPhone 5, iPod touch 5, or iPod touch 7.

Both are expensive, neither is ideal, neither supports video, and they took far too long to get into stores. That said, if you have a legacy accessory that absolutely needs a 30-pin Dock port to work, it's something you're going to have to pick up.

I tested both out with the iPod connector kit in my car and they both worked fine, exactly how the iPhone 4S worked with the traditional, direct Dock connector. My music played out through the car, and the car controls were recognized by my iPhone 5.

  • $39.95 - Lightning to 30-pin Adapter (0.2 m) - Buy now

  • $29.95 - Lightning to 30-pin Adapter - Buy now

When it comes to ecosystem, Apple proves size does matter

Posted: 17 Oct 2012 01:46 PM PDT

With ecosystem, size does matter

I've argued for a while that iTunes was the tip of Apple's sword. Being able to take payments and sell content in more countries than anyone else let them push the App Store farther, faster than any of their competition. Now, years later, no one else is even coming close, and when viewed as an ecosystem play, there still isn't any viable competition. To make matters worse, Apple's model allows them to sell the iPad (and soon, the iPad mini in 90+ countries. And, because they make their money off hardware, they can even sell it where there's still no or limited iTunes support. That lets them seed the market so hardware is in hand when iTunes eventually, and inevitably follows.

By contrast, Amazon's content appliance strategy with its heavily discounted hardware doesn't allow them to sell the Kindle Fire line in any country without an Amazon content store to subsidize it. They literally can't afford to. That means no seeding, and since Amazon has been nowhere nearly as successful as Apple in pushing their content store internationally, very limited distribution.

Talking about it is one thing though. To really appreciate the difference, you have to see it. That's where Graham Spencer of MacStories comes in. He's taken the time to map the media ecosystems of Apple, Microsoft, Google, and Amazon, and as they say -- a picture is worth a thousand words. (Or in this case, really shows the cost vs. value prop for an iPad over everything else in the market right now.)

Whichever company is the "winner" depends on your circumstances (location, device, etc), but if you were to generally draw a conclusion I think it is clear that Apple would lead, Microsoft would be second, Google third and Amazon fourth. Again, that is a gross generalisation of all the above data but ignoring the exceptions (such as Amazon's eBook dominance), I think it's fairly evident which companies have put the most emphasis on international availability.

I'd even argue Amazon's eBook "dominance", because like Serenity Caldwell pointed out at Cingleton deux, all of Amazon's early ebook efforts were little more than black and white scans of black and white books. They were and are the volume leader, but until recently they didn't even compete in the quality game. For a certain segment of the market, better is better.

Check out Graham's magnificent graphics and thorough breakdown of media by geography via the link below, and factor that into any tablet or tablet-like-device purchase in your future. Absent content, they're little more than paper weights.

Source: MacStories

Notable New iPad Apps: Reddzine – Magazine Style Reddit Client

Posted: 17 Oct 2012 01:27 PM PDT

   Reddzine for iPad

Reddzine is a new magazine-style Reddit client for the iPad.

I have to admit that, prior to today, I'd never spent much time at all with Reddit. I was aware that it's a hugely popular site, but I had never quite made the move over to it when Digg started losing steam. So when I received a promo email about the new iPad app I thought it was interesting, and also about time that I took a peek at Reddit – and I'm glad I did.

The app has got a basic, easy to use interface that makes it easy to browse around all of Reddit's good content. It opens to the /Pics section which is full of good stuff – and it's easy to move around to other sections (are these subreddits?, I'm a rookie) with just a couple of taps.

(...)
Read the rest of Notable New iPad Apps: Reddzine – Magazine Style Reddit Client (220 words)

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Infinity Blade: Dungeons delayed until 2013

Posted: 17 Oct 2012 12:01 PM PDT

Cue up the sad trombones - Infinity Blade: Dungeons, the hack-and-slash fantasy action game that wowwed crowds at the announcement of the new iPad, won't see the light of day this year according to Epic Games. PR manager Wes Phillips explains the situation. 

"Ever since the talented team at Impossible Studios got their hands on Infinity Blade: Dungeons, they've been busy adding their great ideas to the game. There was also the matter of getting the Impossible Studios team up and running with desks, chairs, staplers and computers. The logistics of a new studio and implementing all these great ideas required a little extra time, so Infinity Blade: Dungeons will hit iOS in 2013."

Honestly, this game should have been ready for the launch of the new iPad. The fact that we're going to see another iPad launch before it's ready may leave Apple thinking twice about whether to let Epic share the stage with them at another keynote. Infinity Blade was apparently more profitable than Gears of War, but that's hardly a guarantee that this new studio will be as successful, even with the established and successful brand behind it. The trailer still looks nice, but will it live up to the wait and the now-rising expectations?

Source: AllThingsD

Apple acquires HTML5-focused startup Particle

Posted: 17 Oct 2012 11:43 AM PDT

Apple acquires HTML5-focused startup Particle

Apple has acquired Particle, a firm specializing in the design of HTML5 websites and web apps. Particle has previously done some HTML5 work for Apple, along with others such as Google, Amazon, and Motorola and they are also behind video sharing service Robo.to. The deal for the acquisition happened last month, and is mostly a talent, rather than product, acquisition. It is unknown what the team will be working on, though Josh Lowensohn at CNET speculates that it has to do with Apple's heavy HTML5 focus for its web content:

As for the purpose of the buy, Apple has put a big focus on HTML5 on its product pages, iAd advertising, and on iCloud.com, which serves as one of the only places Apple has true Web applications.

Particle is a company that has focused predominantly on user experience in the past, and that background can be put to use almost anywhere in Apple's ecosystem. Reworking the iCloud web apps, making them faster and more responsively, is certainly an option. It is also possible that Particle's experience with iTunes Extras means that they will work on media content. The sky -- or more appropriately, the cloud -- is the limit.

While most of Apple's focus has been on native applications, web content is very important to Apple's interaction with users. Even the iTunes, iBooks, and App Store apps on iOS devices are HTML5 web apps with some native trimming. Given how quickly content needs to change in either store, for the time being, this is neccessary. It's quite possible that the team brought in from Particle will be used to impove the overall store experience, doing their best to make it more responsive, or perhaps even improving search.

What would you like to see the Particle team work on? What areas of their web experience does Apple need to imporve the most? Give us your thoughts below in the comment.

Source: CNET

Deal of the Day: 54% off the Qmadix Xtreme Protective Case for iPhone 4S and iPhone 4

Posted: 17 Oct 2012 10:03 AM PDT

Today Only: Buy the Qmadix Xtreme Protective Case for iPhone 4S and iPhone 4 and save $18.99!

The Qmadix Xtreme case integrates innovative design and engineering to provide maximum protection for your iPhone. This protective carrying solution offers a dynamic blend of shock absorption material with the revolutionary Duro-Vest Protector to give you the ultimate defense against drops. The integrated kickstand also allows for convenient viewing.

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Oh – New Glamour Shots of the Brydge iPad Keyboard Case

Posted: 17 Oct 2012 09:06 AM PDT

Brydge iPad keyboard case

I got another Kickstarter update email about the Brydge iPad keyboard case. The project team's status update included the news that packaging is complete and more.

It also mentioned that a number of backers were keen to see what Brydge looks like paired with a white iPad. As you can see above, it looks great.

(...)
Read the rest of Oh – New Glamour Shots of the Brydge iPad Keyboard Case (91 words)

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Coverage? App for iPad Updated: Map Update for AT&T LTE Coverage

Posted: 17 Oct 2012 08:27 AM PDT

Coverage app for iPad

Coverage?, the excellent app that lets you examine US cellular carrier's 4G and LTE coverage areas, has been updated this week – to Version 2012.10.

This update is listed as special rushed map update. Here's more info on the details and purpose of the update, via the Coverage App Store page:

AT&T rolled out a ton of new LTE coverage last month, but didn't have their own maps ready in time the iOS6 / iPhone 5 update.
This update includes map updates for both AT&T and Verizon, as well as completely redone and improved Sprint maps. We hope to have all new improved and detailed T-Mobile maps for our next update too.
We have been working hard behind the scenes to improve our map creation techniques.
We continue to monitor the carriers, and will time our next update to best capture the LTE roll-outs. While we only promise 'at least' quarterly updates to the maps – so far we've been issuing them every 2 months. Keeping up has been a tricky and labor intensive endeavor this year, and we appreciate your patience and support.
The goal of Coverage? has always been to assist with travel planning and routing for those of us who need to keep connected as we roam – where finding unexpected signal is a delightful bonus. Although we do realize that many folks are also using the app to help select which carrier to purchase a phone with. We are doing our best to balance the needs of these differing expectations.

I like the style of their update text a lot. The developers haven't gone overboard with giving us too much back story, but they've shared enough to make us aware of their challenges and efforts to keep all users happy.

(...)
Read the rest of Coverage? App for iPad Updated: Map Update for AT&T LTE Coverage (61 words)

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Shots of supposed iPad mini display leak

Posted: 17 Oct 2012 07:55 AM PDT

Pictures of what are supposed to be the display of the unannounced iPad mini have surfaced recently. The dimensions measure 162 mm x 124 mm, which works out to the same 4:3 aspect ratio of the full-sized iPad. According to the markings on the rear, LG is apparently the manufacturer of this particular part. The source of the pictures, ETrade Supply, also posted shots of the battery, which line up with what we had seen previously. 

Plenty of other rumored parts have shown up over the last few weeks, but there are few meaningful details we can glean about a finished, final product from all of these isolated parts. It's a good thing we won't have to wait long to find out what Apple's been working on. What do you guys think - does this look legit, or is it too early to tell, or even worth trying to guess? What are the odds that we'll see full Retina-grade resolution on the new iPad mini display? 

Source: ETrade Supply via MacRumors

How to find movie locations, showtimes, reviews, ratings, and trailers using Siri

Posted: 17 Oct 2012 07:13 AM PDT

How to find showtimes, view trailers, ratings, and more with Siri

With iOS 6 your Siri virtual personal assistant has also become quite the movie buff, able to tell you not only what films are playing at which theaters, but provide you with their ratings and reviews, and even play you their trailers.

How to find movies and showtimes in your area with Siri

  1. Press and hold down your Home button to activate Siri.
    2. iphone 5 siri launch
  2. Tell Siri to "Find movies playing in my area" or ask "What movies are playing near me?"
    3. iphone 5 siri movies
  3. Wait for Siri to pull up a list of movies and their show times for today.
  4. Tap a movie to get more information, including cast and crew, rating, synopsis, and the trailer.

You can be even more specific if you want to, and mix in other criteria. For example, you can tell Siri to "find all g-rated movies playing in my area" or "find any movies starring Justin Timberlake playing near me"

How to get information about a movie, director, or actor with Siri

  1. Press and hold down your Home button to activate Siri.
    2. iphone 5 siri launch
  2. Tell Siri "Show me info on the movie Taken 2." or "Show me movies directed by George Lucas."
  3. Wait for Siri to bring up the movie widget.
    4. movie info director

The movie widget will contain lots of information and some, like ratings or trailers, can be tapped to see and learn even more about the movie. You can even ask for movies that haven't been released yet, or movies that are no longer in theaters but are available in iTunes or through other services.

If a movie is available through iTunes, an iTunes link will let you buy it right from the Siri widget.

How to watch movie trailers with Siri

  1. Press and hold down the Home button to activate Siri.
    2. iphone 5 siri launch
  2. Tell Siri to "Play the trailer for Despicable Me." or "Play the Despicable Me trailer."
    3. movie trailers with siri
  3. If Siri finds multiple matches, it'll ask you to choose the specific one you wish to view.

This is a great way to go directly to a movie trailer without having to go to the information widget first.

How to check movie ratings with Siri

  1. Press and hold down the Home button to activate Siri.
    2. iphone 5 siri launch
  2. Tell Siri "Show me moving ratings for Despicable Me." or "What kind of ratings did the movie Taken 2 get?"
  3. If Siri finds more than one match, she'll ask you to choose the name of the movie.
    4. ratings choose movie
  4. Tap on it and ratings will then be displayed from Rotten Tomatoes.
    5. siri movie ratings

How to get directions to a movie theater with Siri

  1. Press and hold down the Home button in order to activate Siri.
    2. iphone 5 siri launch
  2. Tell Siri to "Find movies playing near me." or "Find a movie theater near me."
    3. iphone 5 siri movies
  3. Siri will show the theater name at the very top with movie listings underneath it. Tap on the theater name and address at the top.
    4. siri showtimes
  4. You will be routed to the built-in Maps app and the theater will be shown on a map.
    5. siri map theaters

From here you can route directions to the theater of your choice.

How to view info on multiple movie theaters with Siri

By default Siri will only show you showtimes for your current location. If you're planning a trip or going out of town and want to pre-plan, this probably isn't much help. You can, however, override the defaults to find out about theaters and showtimes outside of your area.

  1. Press and hold down the Home button to activate Siri.
    2. iphone 5 siri launch
  2. Ask Siri something like "Find theaters in Chicago, IL." or "Find movies playing at the Metreon in San Francisco."
    3. siri movies different location

This will make Siri override your current location and look for movies and theaters in the area you are asking for. From here you can view showtimes and theater information just like you would locally.

(Sponsor) Germs & Fingerprints all over your iPad?

Posted: 17 Oct 2012 07:25 AM PDT

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Foxconn says the iPhone 5 is the most difficult device they've ever assembled, hopes practice will make perfect

Posted: 17 Oct 2012 06:51 AM PDT

Foxconn says the iPhone 5 is the most difficult device they're ever assembled, hopes practice will make perfect

iPhone supply shortages happen almost every year, but with the iPhone 5 they've been compounded by quality assurance concerns -- namely chips and scratches occurring at the factory before the devices are as much as opened by customers. A Foxconn/Hon Hai official, who declined to be named, told Lorraine Luk of the Wall Street Journal that it's hard to satisfy both aesthetic and practical needs:

The iPhone 5 is the most difficult device that Foxconn has ever assembled. To make it light and thin, the design is very complicated. It takes time to learn how to make this new device. Practice makes perfect. Our productivity has been improving day by day.

This is nothing that anyone looking at working conditions in China and the complexity of the new iPhone assembly and finishing process couldn't reasonably deduce all on their lonesome (add your own cliche about good, fast, and cheap here).

As to rumors of a labour dispute compounded by the iPhone 5 production difficulties, the same executive waved the "stay clam, carry on" banner.

The Zhengzhou site, which was set up in 2011, is still pretty new to us. We are still learning how to manage the work force there.

Apple pushes the bleeding edge when it comes to manufacturing, inventing a lot of their own processes along the way. Quality will no doubt improve over time, whether or not it eases worker strife.

Source: Wall Street Journal

MacBreak Weekly 321: Hollow it out Like a Tauntaun

Posted: 17 Oct 2012 06:58 AM PDT

Leo Laporte, Alex Lindsay, graciously allow me to sit in on MacBreak Weekly #321. We talk everything from the finally-shipping Lightning adapters to space jumps to Thunderbolt Displays to, oh yeah, the upcoming Apple event on October 23.

More download and viewing options below.

Source: MacBreak Weekly #321: Hollow it out Like a Tauntaun

SGP GLAS.t premium tempered glass screen protector for iPhone 5 review

Posted: 17 Oct 2012 06:11 AM PDT

There's a story about Steve Jobs deciding to switch the original iPhone's plastic screen for a Gorilla Glass screen just scant weeks before launch because he believed it was better. If you've ever put a plastic screen protector or film on your iPhone, you know there really is a difference in the way it looks and feels. That won't bother some of us, but it will others. If it bothers you, SGP offers the GLAS.t premium tempered glass screen protector for iPhone 5. It's the closest you can get to putting a second glass screen on your iPhone.

SGP GLAS.t premium tempered glass screen protector for iPhone 5 review

Included in the SGP GLAS.t box is the protector itself, an applicator squeegee, alcohol swap for cleaning, pink, green, white, and black epoxy Home button stickers, and a micro-fiber cloth.

The SGP GLAS.t is made with real glass, which they say is ultra-hard coated and rated just over 8H, enough to prevent scratches from knives and keys. It also has an oleophobic coating just like an iPhone screen so it resists finger prints and other oily residue. Combine the hardness of the glass with the smudge protection of the coating, and it's really like you have a second screen on your iPhone that you can remove and replace far less expensively if any damage occurs.

Like previous versions of the SGP GLAS.t, the iPhone 5 version is thicker than plastic and does rise above the surface more than plastic screen protectors. That can make hitting the Home button more awkward, so SGP provides a few different Home button stickers to raise it back up to flush, including some fun colored options. Because the SGP GLAS.t is made of glass, however, the raised edges along the side can get dinged and chipped and lead to cracks. That's why SGP recommends using a case along with the GLAS.t, to prevent any side impact that could break the screen protector prematurely. (And if any chips or breaks do occur, an anti-shatter film makes sure to minimize any sharp pieces that could result, increasing safety and making clean up much easier.)

The SGP GLAS.t adheres to your iPhone 5 screen via a strong silicon adhesive that makes it easier than most screen protectors to apply and makes air bubbles easy to press out. (See the video above.) Because of the excellent adhesion, it also transfers capacitive multitouch taps and gestures extremely well, so there's little if any loss of sensitivity.

The good

  • Feels just like iPhone glass -- spectacular!
  • Oleophobic for easier cleaning
  • Scratch resistant

The bad

  • Not as thin or chip-resistant as plastic.

The bottom line

My opinion on the SGP GLAS.t hasn't changed. It's still the best screen protector I've ever used on an iPhone, and now I can use it on the iPhone 5 as well. Once you try it, it really is hard to go back.

$27.99 - Buy now
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