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When Verizon came out with the Droid I was one of the first in line to get it. I don’t use the cell phone much, but I could sure use a mobile Internet device. However, it didn’t take long to realize that I couldn’t drop it carelessly in my purse like I did with my cell phone. Gladus (my Droid’s name) needed a protective case! Not just any case, but a custom- made fashionable case.
This case has a couple of key features that make it perfect for these types of devices. It’s very padded to give the screen lots of protection from hard-edged surfaces in my purse or from walls, doors or other hard surfaces that I might trip into. The closure does not touch the surface of the phone so it can’t scratch the screen. But the best feature of all is the lining. It is lined with the fabric that is used for eyeglass cleaner cloths. My screen gets cleaned each time I insert and remove Gladus from her case.
To determine the size of the pouch, measure the width, length and thickness of the device. This is the only tricky part. The Droid is 2 3/8” x 4 5/8” and is 5/8” thick. There’s only one template for cutting and it will be:

(width + thickness + 112”) x (length x 2 + thickness + 3” for the flap)

For the Droid that is:
(2 318+518+ 112)x((4518x2)+518+¼*+ 3)
Finished Measurement = 3 112” x 13” (rounded to the closest 1/)
* The is the foldover allowance for the flap.
Cut the following pieces to your finished cut measurements:
• One outside fabric (I used metallic painted cotton)
• One piece of Timtex or other stiffener
• One piece of batting, any medium-weight scrap batting will do
• Mistyfuse or other lightweight fusible web
You will also need:
• One or two eyeglass cleaner cloths, depending on the size of your case. I was able to get my lining out of one cloth.
• Velcro for the closure - about 3/4” square
• Decorative thread for the stitching around the case. You will use the decorative thread in the needle and bobbin.
Cut the lining pieces. I cut two pieces 3 1/2” wide and about %“ longer than half of the length or the cut pieces for the case—about 6 ¾”.
Fuse the lining pieces to the batting. The photo below shows the batting on the bottom, a layer of Mistyfuse and then the lining pieces. The lining pieces are lined up with the edges. The photo shows that they overlap in the center.
After it’s fused, topstitch through all layers at the overlay point. This will be on the inside back side of the case and it’s sufficient to have it overlapped. A seam is not necessary.
Fuse the outer fabric to the Timtex. Stack the lining layer on the outer layer with the batting and Timtex together in the middle. (Outer fabric is on the bottom, then Timtex, then batting and the lining is on top.)
Now we are going to identify the fold lines. In the photo below, I am measuring from the right side. From one edge measure the length of the device (4 5/8” plus about 1/2”). This is at the 5” mark on my case. The next line is that measurement again, plus %“ (5 %“). Chalk that line across the case lining and then baste it together through all layers.
Flip the case over and sew the rough hook piece of the Velcro to the outside cover. Position it in the center about ½” from the top edge. ONLY SEW THROUGH THE OUTSIDE COVER AND TIMTEX. Do not sew through the batting and lining. You are sewing the hook piece here so that you have the softer loop piece closest to the device. (In this photo you can also see the basting line for the bottom edge of the case.)
These next few steps may not make sense at first so I want to explain the concept of “turn of cloth”. This is a term that I learned in garment construction when sewing collars on coats and jackets. Threads Magazine has a great article explaining it in detail (see link at end of document). Basically, when you have thick layers that you are forming into a shape, the inside shape will be smaller than the outside shape.

Remember when we basted the layers? We did that just for this step. The middle section (back of the case) is the flat section. When you fold the lower section up into its final position you can see that the lining layer sticks out above the outside layer by about %“. Trim off the excess from the inside layer.
Now we are going to do the same with the flap. Fold the flap down into the closed position and draw the edge shape you want. Cut the edge shape through all layers. I wanted a curve and used a can as a template to trace the shape.
When you open the flap again you might panic if you see this—don’t worry about it. It’s going to work out perfectly.
Now it’s time to add the other piece of Velcro to the flap. Fold the bottom of the case up and the flap down and use chalk to mark where the Velcro needs to go.
Sew the Velcro in place, but only through the lining/ batting layer.
Using your decorative thread in the needle and bobbin, align the top edge of the lining/batting and outer fabric/ Timtex. Using a satin stitch (I set my zigzag at .04 length and 5.0 wide), sew across the top edge. Yes, your case should have that bulge.
Baste around the other three edges, stitching very close to the edge. You will stretch the lining a bit in this step to keep all of the edges aligned. That’s OK. The batting and lining have give and will stretch to fit. It will all lie properly when the case is folded in its final position. Remove that basting stitching now (the stitching that you did across the bottom and top folds).
Now fold the front up and stitch through all layers very close to the edge. This holds everything together for your satin stitching. The satin stitching will cover the straight stitching.
Starting at the bottom of one side, satin stitch around all the unfinished edges.
I satin-stitched the flap twice to make the edge prettier.
Now Gladus is well protected in my handbag and gets frequent screen cleanings as a bonus.

The best camera is the one that's with you. It's an old saying, probably the words of a frantic photojournalist who once had to grab his mom's box camera and shoot the blazes out of a bank robbery.


But it is a saying worth remembering, especially for iPhone camera users. It is not the best camera in the world but is a pretty good one that you often carry since it serves as your cell phone, Internet access point, weather advisor and so much more.


"You might actually be amazed at what all you can do with this little camera," says Alan A. Reiter, president of Wireless Internet & Mobile Computing. As a Washington D.C. based consultant, he maintains an interest in cell phone cameras and offers several general comments on how to get the best shot using the camera.


Patience and practice


More than anything else, good photography requires patience and practice—a great photo might come when you have just about given up. It also requires that you know your photography equipment so well that its use becomes second nature when the time comes to take the shot. Practice before the big moment arrives, Reiter says.


Keep your camera steady


Start by finding the most comfortable way to keep your camera steady. The photographer's enemy is movement. "It's insidious, you don't always know when you're doing it," says Reiter who advises using the same techniques to shoot photos as used in shooting a gun.


"Don't hold your breath. But take a breath and exhale slowly. Take the photo at the end of exhaling. Always use two hands to steady the camera. Back up against something solid, if you can. Keep your elbows braced against your sides, pressing your elbows against your body—don't have ‘wings'."


It helps to use a tripod—available even for iPhones. "Or lean your iPhone against a wall or place it on a rock. While an iPhone is praised for the way you take photos—by touching the screen, this can be a problem, making it hard to hold it steady."


Get close to your subject


While you're out experimenting, try getting close to your subjects. The iPhone lens has a relatively wide angle and is good for close-ups. The 3GS lens angle is even wider than the earlier model, but generally, distance distorts and objects often appear smaller. "You're going to get tiny people and tiny buildings, so practice getting up close, but not so close that your picture blurs. This way you will get better lighting and colors. Fill up the frame with the image you want. Practice taking photos of flowers, for instance. See how far or close you can get and still stay in focus."


Crop while you're shooting


Try and crop photos while taking the picture; don't wait to crop when using software, Reiter suggests. "Forget the car and buildings or people, unless you want them in the photo. Most iPhone photography that is good is taken close to the subject.


Shoot first and keep shooting


If a newsworthy moment arrives, don't worry too much—just start shooting. "In the future, people will accept even the poorest photograph or video if it's an important piece of news," Reiter says.


For example, at the Virginia Tech student massacre in 2007, a student's photography was shaky and blurry, but CNN purchased it. "Consider the context; if you're the only one with equipment, people want something to capture the moment."


You can keep shooting as long as you have battery power and space. You don't have to worry about running out of film. "Professionals shoot dozens, literally hundreds of the same scene. You can't judge a photo taken on your phone until it is printed on paper or brought up on the computer screen where, preferably, you will do video editing," Reiter advises. "If you have a newsworthy photo, just leave it alone and get it to the experts" for final photo editing.


Tried and true tips and two apps


Here are a few more photo shooting tips from Reiter and some apps that he (and I) found useful:


• Be aware of the sun. If the bright light is in back of the object, you get a silhouette, so most of the time you want the sun to be behind you. If you are indoors, look for light sources such as candles, windows or flashlights. (Reiter carries an LED light on a key chain that has come in handy as a light source for his trips to countries where the electricity is spotty.)

• One fun shot is a photo of people huddled around a candle while they are seated in a bar. "The iPhone has auto focus spot metering. Just shoot and it averages the light."

• Time some shots, if possible. Early morning and late afternoon usually offer a warmer light than other times of the day. "Look for where the sun is and make it your friend."

• Take good care of your iPhone camera. It doesn't have lens protection—there is no lens cover so keep it in your pocket or use some sort of cover that protects the lens from scratches, dirt and finger marks. You can use a regular lens cloth to keep it clean.

• Photo management is important; store your work rather than deleting a shot even if you don't particularly see the need to save it at the moment. "Even if you think it is not your best shot, keep it. If nothing else, save your work on the drive because you may need some of the shots in the future...Your picture of your deceased uncle you took at a family reunion might end up being the last photo taken of him in the past five years."


While we all may not end up being a famous photographer like Annie Leibowiz, with a little knowledge and practice and patience, we can produce some great photos with our iPhones.

I had some fun with a free app called HDR (High Dynamic Range), which aids in lighting areas of a scene and let's you send out photos to twitter. It's great for the non-techie who appreciates an interesting photo. I took some pictures down on the Mississippi River that came out beautifully using the ability to alter the background. HDR Camera, an upgrade, costs $1.99.


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With over 100,000 apps now available for the iPhone and iPod touch, finding the right one can be like looking for the proverbial needle in a haystack, Sure, the App Store organizes the apps into categories and sub—categories, making it a little easier to narrow down the field It even provides you with a number of Top Apps lists and highlights Staff Favorites, What’s Hot, and New and Noteworthy apps. Still, the apps in those lists comprise less than one percent of the titles in the App Store—-a lot of good stuff slips through the cracks!

The Best Apps (and some great accessories)

We dedicated a large portion of this issue to helping you find the best apps out there. Beginning on page 20, we look at over 90 of the best apps available for the Phone and iPod touch. This section leads off with an article by Jeff Scott of l48app.com reporting on the favorite apps of members of the “Best App Ever 2009” nominating committee. You’ll want to check out BestAppEver corn for a complete listing of their nominations and winners. Regular iPlione Life bloggers and magazine contributors Nate Adcock, Cindy Downes, Werner Ruotsalairten, and Heather Dale also discuss their favorite apps in this issue,
Although not formally part of the Best Apps section, we review other worthy apps. Augmented Reality is a hot topic these days, and we look as some of the new apps that combine virtual reality with the real world, Other articles focus on personal productivity, security, women’s healthcare, and apps that help make a busy mother’s life a lot easier.
We also look at some hot new accessories in this issue, including wireless bicycle speakers, a travel battery pack, a mobile printer, and a number of cases for the iPhone and iPod touch. One of the more interesting articles is our CES show report, which focuses on “appcessories”—a whole new category of accessories that include an iPhone app component.

Who uses an iPhone?

Describing the average Phone user is even more of a needle-in-a-haystack activity. People in a wide variety of professions take advantage of the iPhone’s capabilities and the App Store’s Variety. In this issue we profile a Navy pilot and a Baptist minister; we show how one man runs his home office with the iPhone, and we look at how business professionals use Remote IT apps to access business data and apps when they’re traveling.
Finally, we were awaiting news about Apple’s new Tablet and the new iPhone OS 4.0 when I wrote this Editor’s Message. If the rumored January 27 announcement happens, we’ll include it towards the beginning of this issue. Check the table of contents for more on this.
There’s a lot more in this issue that will help you sift through the every-growing potential of the Phone and iPod touch. Hopefully it will help you sift through the haystack of apps and find the gold and silver needles you’re looking for.

- Highly durable Polycarbonate for long lifespan.
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- Provides maximum protection from scratches and scrapes.
- Full access to all ports and touch screen while applied.
- Two piece design with snap-lock design
Personal Review: inspiretech Apple iPhone 3G Full Protect Cases (Blue)
I had one of these for over a year before it broke in a drop. It had protected my phone against many drops and dings before, but this was the straw that broke the camel's back. I didn't have enough time to order another one as I was leaving on vacation soon, so I ordered an iFrogz clone of this case. Worst purchase ever. That product was just terrible. It chipped easily and didn't stay together. Every time I pulled the phone out of my pocket,
the other half of the case was still in the pocket. Finally, I threw away the iFrogz and bought another one of the Inspiretech cases. Hopefully it will give me another year of service, too. The Inspiretech case really is a great product. It feels solidly put together and the tolerances are much tighter than other cases.

Slip your iPhone into a slim-fitting iSkin solo and instantly give your beloved device a fashion makeover with bright, bold color and glamorous style The iSkin solo FX features an ultra high-gloss finish, and is designed to perfectly encapsulate the iPhone contours, giving you the sleek look of a hard case, but the shock absorbing protection of a soft case. The iSkin solo FX raises the bar with an embossed designer pattern that screams chic, and features a unique mirror screen protector for the ultimate lookCode coming from Compatibility Field CompatibilityiPhone 3G (8/16GB
Features:
* A Beautiful Fit - crafted for a precise fit, the iSkin solo and solo FX perfectly encapsulate the iPhone 3G and 3GS
* Protection & Coverage iSkin solo FX is thoughtfully designed to protect your iPhone 3G and 3GS without sacrificing functionality
* "make it a duet" - The solo FX is compatible with the revoClip for solo
* Breeze Blue
Personal Review: iSkinSolo Fx Case for iPhone 3G, 3G S (Breeze Blue)
I really don't like cases, but I have seen far too many friends iphones get ruined in the past year that I couldn't let my brand new 3GS iPhone go unprotected! I have tried a few other cases, one was a cheap silicon one from Marshall's ($6). I noticed with that one, my bezel by the dock connector was getting scratched because the silicon material was too flimsy and was not really covering the bezel up most of the time. In addition, I hated how the silicon would cause the case to stick when I tried to slide it into my pocket. I've also tried the incase slider. The Incase slider is pretty nice, but if you drop it on the concrete, it will most likely crack. In addition, I've heard those little strips on the back of it actually
scratch your iphone. On the other hand, the iSkinSolo FX is perfect! First of all, I dropped it, FACE DOWN, onto the concrete last week, and I was horrified to pick it up off the ground, but astonished when I found not a scratch on my iphone, the glass was protected perfectly, and I didn't even install the included mirror screen protector (because it looks cheasy). The shape of the iSkin is designed to take the impact of a face down drop of your iphone! In addition, the material used to make the iSkinSolo slides into your pocket PERFECTLY, but yet still provides excellent grip when holding the iphone or when setting it on the dash of your car or other places where you want your phone to stay put. In addition, I really like how you can see the Apple logo and the chrome bezel through the case. Overall, I think this is the best case on the market. However, be aware, the color shown in the photo for this iSkinSolo is not exact. It looks really bright, but in fact the one I received is a few shades of a darker blue, I'm not sure if it's the lighting, or if they have the wrong photo on this particular product, but I still enjoy my iSkin!!!!

Protect your iPhone 3G with this luxuriously Purple Amethyst coloured CaseCrown Soft PolyCarbonate iPhone case. This iPhone case allows you to use all of your phones features without having to remove your iPhone from the case. Such as taking pictures,
Features:
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Personal Review: CaseCrown iPhone 3G and 3GS Polycarbonate Glider Slim-Fit Case (Red Garnet)
I've had this case for a while now and I do not have a single complaint.
The color is very nice and well represented in the pictures. It has a metallic hue, but it feels soft and smooth to the touch. It has the good feel and non-slip grip of soft cases, but all the advantages of a hard case. I have dropped my phone on a couple of occasions, and nothing happened to it or the case. No trouble getting it out of your pocket like some silicone cases.
The two pieces fit together and to the phone *perfectly*. I have never had them slide off as was happening all the time with my previous ifrogz case. After my bad experience with ifrogz i was hesitant to buy another glider case, but this casecrown exceeded my expectations.
It provides good covering all around the phone (some other cases leave top and bottom uncovered).
Finally it does not interfere at all with the screen protector as my previous case did. No bubbles caused by case pressure as I experienced with the ifrogz case.
I am VERY happy with it and I would highly recommend it to anyone.