Bumpers have been an option for your iPhone ever since the iPhone 4 was launched and thanks to the fact that the iPhone 4S uses the same form factor they’ve continued to be used and have even been transferable for those people that have upgraded from one to the other.

This market has been dominated by Apple who have sold theirs for a dollar under $30 in a variety of covers and the Apple bumper in black has always been my go to case.

There is a new challenger for the crown of the bumper market in the form of the iCoverSkin Bumper though and it offers a couple go significant differences to the Apple alternative.

The first one is pretty obvious in that the top, bottom and sides of the bumper are clear allowing the sides of the iPhone to be seen and if your iPhone is wearing a full skin such as the ones that you can also purchase from iCoverSkin.com then that will show through as well, while you still benefit from the protection that you get from the bumper.

The other significant difference is the strength of the bumper which is constructed from a more rigid plastic than the Apple alternative while still providing a snug fit and access to all ports and buttons.

The irony in this case is that in providing such a form fitting bumper for the iPhone it can result in any skin that is being used on your device from being pushed up around the edges of your phone especially if you take it on and off regularly.

The iCoverSkin bumper comes in a choice of either black or white and can be purchased from iCoverSkin.com for $19.95 at present though you can get 50% off of that price using the steps below:

The coupon code is TOUCHREVIEWS. Offer expired Jul 31, 2012.

How to Redeem the Coupon:

• Visit iCoverSkin.com
• Select desired products by clicking “Add to Cart”.
• When finished, click “Checkout” button.
• Provide shipping information and click “Apply” at the bottom.
• Select Shipping Method.
• Enter the redemption code TOUCHREVIEWS into the “Coupon code” field on the right and click the arrow button.
• Provide credit card information.

Enjoy!

What we like

• Rigid plastic offers strong protection
• Clear sides provides great visibility
• Competitively priced

What to know

• Snug fit can push up skins if used

Apple Inc. (AAPL) MacBook Pro model has been around for quite some time now, serving as the perfect combo between a consumer and pro product, in accordance to the vision of late CEO and Chairman of Apple, Steve Jobs. AAPL introduced MacBook Pro in 2006, and replaced the Powerbook G4, launching the Cupertino company into a wave of success for many years to come.

In recent weeks, rumors have been floating around the web that suggest Apple is going to drastically redesign the MacBook Pro and introduce a design very similar to that of the MacBook Air.

On Monday, Ming-Chi Kuo with KGI Securities, predicted that Apple may discontinue the 17 inch MacBook Pro indefinitely. Kuo noted that declining shipments from Apple were the main cause of speculation. It is very likely that Apple may discontinue the high end Pro, possibly because of the high price tag, and the company’s obsession with making their products thinner and lighter.

Kuo has a solid track record, previously indicating the discontinuation of the 13.3 inch polycarbonate MacBook, which was phased out of Apple’s product line and educational offerings last July. Apple’s redesign of the MacBook Pro, and discontinuation of the 17 inch model shows Apple’s dedication to simplify their product lineup and keeping the original vision for their products, making them more portable without sacrificing usability.

{via AppleInsider}

CASELLET Review

When heading out of the house you always have to make sure that you have at least 3 things, your iPhone, your keys and your wallet. Head out of the house without 1 of these items and you could be in trouble, arrive home without one of them and you could be in an even worse position!

Having fewer things to worry about would certainly make things easier and using the CASELLET iPhone case certainly achieves that as it’s part iPhone case, part wallet. (Although it has to be considered that if you do lose this will you are out you will lose both your iPhone and credit cards).

The case part of the CASELLET clips around the two sides and provides full protection for the back and sides of your iPhone while leaving all buttons and ports available to be used without having to take it out of the case.

The difference comes though when you turn the CASELLET over to reveal the wallet part of the case. It goes without saying that this adds considerable bulk to your iPhone but considering that you combining two items the overall size probably provides a net gain in the amount of space it takes up.

The wallet is held close by a plastic push in button which is secure but can take a little getting used to until you can open it quickly and swiftly. It also snaps shut securely leaving you confident that the contents are going to stay where they are meant too.

I’ve being using the CASELLET for a few days now and although it took a little getting used to, both in respect to opening the case and thinking that I’d left my previous wallet at home it now feels quite comfortable. If fits nicely in your hand when using it for texting, emailing or as a phone and even doesn’t feel too bulky when using it as gaming device.

The CASELLET is made from tough plastic and has a brushed aluminium back plate which gives it a good look, the white case on the white iPhone looks particularly stylish, but it is also available in pink and black. There are a few imperfections in the case but only show up under close inspection.

Providing both functionality and style the CASELLET could provide a great alternative to carrying both an iPhone and a wallet with you everywhere you go and is available from CASELLET’s website.

Would you consider combining your wallet and iPhone case together? Let us know in the comments below or send me a tweet at @4forkssake.

What we like:

• Two accessories in one
• Secure fit
• Easy access

What to know:

• Obviously bulky
• A few imperfections
• Lose your phone and your wallet at the same time!

Last night the Apple online store went down for some maintenance, and when it came back up, the white iPhone 4 that the company has been promising since last June had vanished. The device’s SKU was removed from Apple’s database, and images on Apple’s website that previously showed the white device had been changed to show a black one instead.

Apple has been experiencing issues with manufacturing the device that has delayed – and possibly cancelled – its launch. Speculation has put the delays down to problems with the white paint, light leakage and even camera issues, but the Cupertino company is yet to give an official reason as to why the white iPhone 4 still hasn’t launched.

The removal of the white handset’s SKU from Apple’s database doesn’t necessarily mean that the company has ruled the device out altogether – it could be updating its system with a new SKU – but the eradication of the white iPhone 4 images on Apple’s website doesn’t look too promising.

Apple’s senior vice president Phil Schiller announced in a message on Twitter in mid-March that the white device would be available this spring. However, it seems Schiller may have been a tad too optimistic.

I personally believe that the white iPhone 4 will be the device that we never had the pleasure of meeting. I believe Apple has removed all evidence of the device from its website as a subtle sign to inform would-be white iPhone 4 owners that it has given up on trying to deliver the device, and that they too should give up and purchase the black device instead.

Of course, it could be a sign that there will be an iPhone 5 this summer after all. If Apple was to release the white iPhone 4 this spring and announce a fifth generation device just months later, there’s going to be a large number of unhappy customers with a device just months old that’s already a last-generation iPhone. To prevent this upset, Apple may have decided its best to just rule out the device and hope that people forget it ever existed when the new device is announced in June.

Earlier this week we reported on rumors about Apple introducing new iPhone 4G / HD in white and black color options. A Taiwanese website had managed to get hold of spare parts of the iPhone 4G prototype and published images of the white color front panel of the new iPhone.

There have many reports which state that the fourth gen iPhone leak by Gizmodo has proved to be a major loss for Apple in terms of iPhone 3GS sales however, it is worth noting that almost every year around WWDC speculation about Apple’s new products and services reach a new high. So, the actual impact of fourth gen iPhone leak would probably have little or no impact on actual sales. Any person who follows or has studied Apple’s yearly product timelines would wait for the Worldwide Developers Conference official announcements. When David Pogue questioned Phil Schiller about Apple’s withdrawal from Macworld Expo in 2009 he noted:

He noted that Apple marches to certain annual product cycles: the holiday season (Novemberish), the educational buying season (late summer), the iPod product cycle (October), the iLife development cycle (usually March), the iPhone cycle (June).

We have seen many fancy concept pictures of Apple products in the past but this time the details about iPhone 4G are clearly perceptible. Italian website iSpazio recently published their concept pictures of the white color iPhone 4G (or HD) and it certainly looks stunning.

Do you like the white color iPhone HD or would you like to see more color options? Let us know in the comments section.

White iPhone HD (Concept Pictures)