Tech21 iBand follow up – Maybe I need a better recipe.
If you recall, I bought a Tech21 iBand for my iPhone 3G. It supposedly makes your iPhone/iPod touch nearly indestructible. The problem is, it renders it useless too, since it covers every button on the device except the home key. My original review is HERE.
I emailed them about it, and they told me to boil it. Yeah. That’s right. Cook it.
This is not a standard product and you have to use the iBand for a few days to allow the d30 to get softer and then you will have full access to the mute and volume buttons.
This process can be speeded up slightly by gently stretching the iBand or placing it in boiling water.
The iBand is not a normal case it is a highly shock absorbing case which offers extreme impact protection for your iBand.
Of course, while saying that there was nothing at all wrong with the design that doesn’t let you use any of the buttons, there’s a new model coming out with cutouts for the buttons!
I am happy to say that since the launch of the iBand 1st generation we have already had our engineers work on a new iBand (2nd Gen) which will have all buttons exposed, it will also have d3o up each side of the cut’s still allowing for maximum protection.
Working with d3o is not as easy as you may think it is a 3 stage moulding process, and takes a lot of time to integrate the material.
We take customer feedback very seriously and have addressed our customers concerns with the new releases.
Right, there’s nothing wrong with the design, that’s why we changed it!
At any rate, I decided to cook my phone case, and see if it helped.
I boiled some water.
Dug out the iBand
And put it into boiling water.
Since the recipe was kinda vague, I only left it in there for a minute or so, i didn’t want to overcook it.
It looks the same, but I’m not really used to cooking my iPhone accessories.
I set it out to dry/cool.
And put it on my phone…
(The reflection looks really odd there, but my screen isn’t broken).
And…*drumroll*…it sucks cock. It might suck a little less cock, as it did seem to be a little easier to hit the lock/unlock button, but it’s still far from usable. The very fact that they have come out with a new version with cutouts for the buttons is pretty much an admission that the original design is terrible and worthless. If they had any goddamn dignity, they would send the people who bought the first (worthless, beta) version a second gen in which the hardware buttons can, you know, be used. As it stands, I’d rather put a lit emergency flare in my ass than buy anything they make. Buy a Capsule Neo or Capsule Rebel instead.
Rating: 
