undocopy: Top 30 Health Tips: A garlic a day: Garlic is the mother of all cures. Researchers in Liverpool have found that 5ml of garlic extract lower levels of a dis...
Tuesday, December 22, 2015
Thursday, November 19, 2015
video libraries for free and without registration.
RefSeek's guide to the 25 best online resources for finding free
educational videos. With the exception of BrainPOP and Cosmeo, all
listed sites offer their extensive video libraries for free and without
registration.
http://www.refseek.com/directory/educational_videos.html
http://www.refseek.com/directory/educational_videos.html
Best Screenshot Apps for Android
We tried many apps on the Play Store and here are the best screenshot apps for Android (in no particular order):
Note: Most of the screenshot apps on Android come with various triggers to take screenshots. Not every trigger will work on all smartphones due to access or hardware limitations.
Best Screenshot Apps for Android
Screenshot Easy
Screenshot Easy is a very popular Android app for taking screenshots with ease. The app has a very simple UI, which works well with Android’s Material Design UI guidelines. There are various triggers in the app, which lets you take a screenshot. You can choose to take a screenshot through an overlay button, which keeps floating or using a button in the notification center or by shaking your device. The app also lets you set your hardware camera button to take screenshots and that’s if your smartphone has a hardware camera button. If the app is running in the background and you take a screenshot the conventional way, it detects that and opens the screenshot in the app for your editing needs.
When it comes to the editing features, it lets you crop your screenshots, ZIP it or print it. You can also change existing colors in a screenshot to the one you like. There are options to show date & time on screenshots and save the images in PNG or JPG format. Other features of the app include themes, support for locale & tasker plugins. Moreover, the app is available for free on the Play Store.
Install: (Free)
Compatibility: Android 4.0 and up.
Screenshot Ultimate
Screenshot Ultimate is not the best looking Android app out there but if you want a ton of features in a screenshot app, Screenshot Ultimate won’t disappoint you. It has the most number of triggers to take a screenshot and you might find some of them to be really convoluted. You can take screenshots through an overlay button, notification bar button, shaking your device, power connect/disconnect and more. There are advanced triggers like audio trigger (blow into your device’s mic to take screenshot), interval (set time period to automatically take screenshots), cronjob (set when to take a screenshot in a specific app), proximity (put finger on proximity sensor to take screenshots), intent (tasker & locale support) and more.
Along with the various triggers, the app lets you make adjustments to your screenshots, change formats and more. There are also editing features like draw, crop, add text, rotate, mirror, effects and more. It also lets you share images directly to Imgur. The good news is Screenshot Ultimate is available for free on the Play Store.
Install: (Free)
Compatibility: Android 2.1 and up.
Screenshot Snap
While the Screenshot Snap app doesn’t really bring any intuitive methods to take a screenshot, it makes up with its diverse editing features. The app detects a screenshot being taken and loads it up on the app. You can then edit the screenshot on the go and share it quickly. You can doodle on an image with the pencil or paintbrush tool and you can also insert arrows, boxes, text and more.
The app brings you the option to save images in PNG or JPG, increase or decrease image quality. Screenshot Snap is available in a free version but it is limited when it comes to features and the ads can be a little annoying. The paid version of the app brings some cool stamps, blur tool, cloud uploading and removes ads.
Install: (Free, Paid $0.99)
Compatibility: Android 4.0 and up.
Perfect Screen Shot
Perfect Screen Shot is another cool screenshot app, which stands out due to its unique features. The app feels smooth in operation and it embodies Android’s Material Design UI, if that’s a deal breaker for you. While the app does not take screenshots for you, it detects when one is taken and opens the app with the screenshot right in front. It lets you frame your screenshots inside a device’s frame and you can edit the colors, background and more. There are various options to edit the frames and you can add glare, shadows & blur to the images. You can get frames of various devices ranging from Nexus devices such as Nexus 6P, Nexus 5X to Galaxy S6 Edge, One M9, Moto G and more.
The free “Classic” version of the app is pretty limited when it comes to the number of frames and editing features. The paid “Ultra” version brings you 3D frames, various editing options like background color, custom background images, optional blur and more. You can also choose to edit your screenshots without a frame, if frames are not really your thing. The app also lets you import screenshots from any cloud storage services that you use like Google Drive, OneDrive, Dropbox etc.. To sum it up, Perfect Screen Shot is a cooler way to share screenshots and those screenshots certainly do look better inside a device frame.
Install: (Free Classic, Paid Ultra $1.99)
Compatibility: Android 4.0.3 and up.
Capture Screenshot
Capture Screenshot is very similar to Screenshot Easy but Capture Screenshot is a great screenshot app in its own right. The app is fast and is designed beautifully, so full marks to the developers on that front. It brings you various triggers like overlay button, notification shade button and shake to capture. Once you click the “Start Service” button, the app starts running in the background and detects whatever screenshots you take.
Once a screenshot is taken, Capture Screenshot lets you crop, draw, rotate, invert, add text and more. It also brings a number of filters like Boost, Grayscale, Gamma, Hue, Vignette etc.. There’s ability to save screenshots in PNG or JPG image formats. Along with that, the app brings you themes and you can choose the color you like for the app to give it a personalized look. While the free version of Capture Screenshot packs in most of the features, the “Pro” version removes ads and brings more filters.
Install (Free, Pro version $3)
Compatibility: Android 2.3 and up.
Monday, November 16, 2015
Websites to Download Creative Commons Music For Free
If you’ve wondered where many of those YouTube videos get their
background music from, you’ve come to the right place. Music with Creative Commons licenses
are music compositions written, produced and shared by people who do
not charge anything when you use their music for your own use,
commercially or non-commercially.
Basically, they make the music and keep ownership and copyright of it
and you get the permission to use it for your videos, film or small multimedia productions, as long as you credit the creator properly.
There are many sites out there that house music with Creative Commons licenses, sites where you can download music for free
(and legally). These sites make it very easy for you to use, all you
have to do is pick an audio clip you like and save it as an MP3, and
there you have it, your free music download.
Jamendo
Jamendo has more than 350,000 audio files on their database, which
includes music in a few different languages and from different
countries. Its advanced search will help you narrow down what you’re
looking for on their large database.
There is also a ‘Radio’ option where you can listen to music like on a
radio channel based on genre. By registering and logging in, you can
save personal favourites to your account.
Freesound
Freesound is a collaborative database for Creative Commons Licensed
sounds. This database here is filled with sound effect such as ambient
noises, synthesized sounds and sounds produced by musical instruments.
Browse, download and share sounds on Freesound; you can also upload
your own audio clips to their database after registering for an account
on the website.
ccMixter
Music on this site can be downloaded and shared with anyone,
anywhere, anytime. Clips here focus on instrumental samples that are
mainly used for remixes on DJ music. There is a wide variety of samples
to choose from, which can be sorted by tags that describe the audio
clips.
Kompoz
Kompoz is an online community that prides in collaboration between
artists from all over the world. Artists post their clips on the website
where anyone can download it and use it for their own productions. They
can also add their own instruments or creative mix to the original clip
and upload it on the website again.
As more people collaborate on the original clip and the clips after
that, it will eventually become a creative collaboration of multiple
musicians.
SoundCloud
SoundCloud is a very popular website where famous artists share their
new tracks to the world. There is a section under Creative Commons
license where you can download other people’s tracks. You can stream the
available clips and it takes just a simple click to get the MP3 file
without any registration.
Note that some tracks however require you to ‘Like’ their Facebook page before you can download their clips.
BeatPick
On BeatPick, you have a music player kind of interface where you can
listen to any song on a list. To download any song from the website,
you’ll have to register for an acoount. Most of the clips are
instrumental, with very little vocal input.
The clips also come with descriptions of what it sounds like, which can be useful to match to whatever the theme your clip is.
Restorm
This is a website mostly used by indie artists who want a platform to
sell their music to the public and have their works licensed under
their name. You too can do the same, or download some of their free
selection of music just by creating an account.
The full songs available on the website can be streamed to help you
decide if you want to download it. Some of the artists also have songs
in their native language not just English.
Musopen
Musopen is a website where you can find free music from individual
instruments in an orchestra: violins, cellos, violas, etc as well as a
combination of instruments. It caters to the genre of quieter music like
classical music or jazz.. Best of all, you can also download sheet
music.
You can also browse music by sorting it by composer, instrument and even the period of time the music clip resembles.
Vimeo
You might recognize Vimeo as a place only for videos, but it also
offers free music which you can use as long as you give credit to the
original artist. After clicking download, your download will start and a
pop-up window will appear with the details of the clip’s title, artist
and website.
For example, when using a music for a YouTube video, you would use
those details and place it at the credits of your video or video
description.
ArtistServer
ArtistServer has over 11,000 MP3 downloads by more than 10,000
artists and you can be one of those artists too when you sign up with
them. They have clips of many genres for you to choose from which you
can download for free.
It is also possible to preview the entire clip before making your selection and downloading it.
Audiofarm
Audiofarm has a wide selection of genres to choose from, uploaded by
ordinary people who want to share their music. You can easily download
any song you like by clicking the download link – no registration
needed.
The full song can even be played while browsing for one that fits
your needs. By registering, you can upload music for other people to
download.
iBeat
If you’re a DJ or anyone else looking for some free beats and loops,
iBeat has a wide database of clips which are free under Creative Commons
licensing. The beats available come in a variety of genres such as rock
beats, hip hop beats and even acoustic or electronic beats. No
registration required.
CCTrax
CCTrax is a directory of free music. It has a database of Creative
Commons license music for music lovers. Plenty of awesome sound track
albums are available for free download here, like Alexander Saykov,
Baumfreun, Stiver and more.
JewelBeat
On JewelBeat, you search through free background music and sound
effects with keywords. These free background music clips can be used for
whatever video production you are making. The audio clips here are
mostly instrumental and consist of short loops. Besides the free
selection, there is also a $0.99 selection that you can choose from.
Audionautix
Clips found on Audionautix are released under Creative Commons
license 3.0 – you can use the audio clips available even for commercial
purposes so long as you credit the Audionautix website. Clips are named
to what the artist feels it should resemble; you can preview the clip by
clicking it and if you like it, right click the clip and select ‘save
target/link as’ to save it to your desktop.
FMA
FMA stands for Free Music Archive which has a wide selectionof
high-quality, legal audio downloads. It works like a music station where
you browse for clips and if you like the clip, you can add it to your
music player. You also can opt to download the full clip. You can use
the music player and download the clips without registering for an
account.
Purple Planet
Purple planet is the creation of two people, Chris Martyn and Geoff
Harvey, who let you use their music for free. You can use any of their
audio clips on online videos so long as you link to their website at the
description of the video. Their style of music falls under effects that
accompany a horror, dramatic or mysterious scene.
Incompetech
Incompetech hosts a wide variety of royalty free music. You can
browse their selection by genre or feel. "Feel" would include things
like: Action, Relaxed, Intense or Humorous; you can select a combination
of ‘Feels’ and it will check its database for selection matches. Clips
can be played on the website and instantly downloaded as well.
Bump Foot
Bump Foot originates from Japan and focuses mostly on techno, trance
beats and electronic dance music. You can download the files and use it
for your own non-commercial work as long as you give attribution to them
or the featured artist.
There is no way to stream music as there are only download links
avalable on the site. You don’t need to register for an account to start
downloading.
More
- CASH Music – CASH Music is a non-profit organization that hosts digital tools for musicians and labels to share their music. The digital tool allows for uploads and downloads of songs and sharing is made easy.
- Josh Woodward – This work of a single person, this site features more than 180 songs that are free for download, sharing and use. Do give this generous man attribution if you use his clips in your productions.
- PacDV – This is a small database of free audio clips organised by mood or emotion such as: Warm, Loving, Serious or Lonely.
- SampleSwap – SampleSwap is also a forum for other musicians. When a clip is uploaded, the floor is upon for discussion about the clip, as well as a free download.
- DanoSongs – This is also a one-man wonder site. You get to use his wide variety of self-made clips, arranged by genre such as soundtrack, pop/rock band and even techno/electric.
- Public Domain 4U – This website has a wide selection of genres of free music you can download. The genre leads to another website which houses the album and description of the album. You can download your tracks there without registration.
- Orphan Songs – This website is created by Carl-Otto Johansson who is a musician who writes and records his own music. He uploads his two albums and a few tracks licensed under Creative Commons for public use.
- Sonnyboo – To use songs from this website, you have to credit the owner and writer of the songs, Peter John Ross. The song selection he has ranges from Jazz to
Tuesday, November 3, 2015
10 Lists to Keep If I Want to Be Successful
The human mind is truly incredible, and we should all strive towards
creating a tenacious memory we can rely on. Many lucrative professions
or hobbies require such a trait—actors, musicians, artists and
entertainers in general do countless drills, just so the required
information can be embedded in the memory with certainty. Clearly
numerous doors that lead to a successful future are unlocked if one has a
great memory. Although beneficial, it is not an essential ingredient
within the success formula—what you lack in memory can always be
compensated with diligence.
Keeping track of crucial elements in your life through list-making is
still an unrivaled tactic for counterbalancing feeble recollection. By
utilizing constant reminders, we can have significantly greater
organization, we won’t be under the impression we have forgotten
something, and we will have a clear insight into which task has a stamp
of immediacy attached to it. Here are ten suggested lists that warrant
implementation, in order to track achievements and nurture ambition.
1. List of Goals
“What you get by achieving your goals is not as important as what you become by achieving your goals.”
—Zig Ziglar
Goals and ambition is what drives us and motivates us, but we need to
ask ourselves what is it that we want in order to feel truly
accomplished. Your list of goals should consists of all the items that
you deem are necessary to truly respect yourself. It can be financial
stability, a place you can call your own, starting your family, being
independent, etc. People have different criteria when it comes to goals,
and this list in particular is ever-growing; it changes as you mature,
but it always feels great when you cross something out of it. Without
such a list, you lose direction of where your life is heading, and we
all need some inner guidance to focus on—a good reason to get up in the
morning.
2. List of Tasks
“Happiness does not come from doing easy work but from the afterglow of satisfaction that comes after the achievement of a difficult task that demanded our best.”
—Theodore Isaac Rubin
Tasks are actually milestones on the road to goal completion, and
these lists have a tendency to become quite copious. New tasks emerge on
a daily basis, regardless of whether you are an employee, a student, or
a freelancer. Despite the fact that they are arduous, we always have
some sense of achievement once the task is complete, or when a certain
problem is solved. By avoiding to make such lists and lists of our daily
tasks, they’ll simply pile up and eventually become a hindrance.
In the event you have larger tasks that need more than a day, a week
or a month before they can be completed, then break those tasks into
smaller daily assignments, and put them on the list as well. As long as
you monitor larger tasks while completing minor daily milestones, you
will have a greater grip on progression and continuous source of
motivation. List and sticky notes are actually quite potent tools for increase in productivity, especially while we are working from home.
Lastly, it is worth mentioning that you should also have a list of
personal tasks, or tasks you do for the sake of self-fulfillment. These
are related to your personal goals, and governing passions—writing a
book, painting, crafting etc. These tasks will define you and offer a
much greater sense of achievement, so give it your all to create
something you can be proud of.
3. List of Contacts
“Wishing to be friends is quick work, but friendship is a slow ripening fruit.”
—Aristotle
It would be delusional to assume you can make it all on your own;
however, at the same time, a flawed partnership can result in disastrous
outcome as well. It is extremely difficult to find compatible allies
and contacts, since friends and family—in other words, people close to
you—may not be the best choice for a business partner. If you want to
enter into a partnership with someone, make sure the person shares the
same vision. Tread lightly and try to ascertain your potential partner’s
level of reliability.
Throughout life, we come across skillful, capable and talented
people, whose competence might be needed in the future, depending on
your line of work of course. Do not be hesitant to offer a helping hand
when they are in need, since you can gain a valuable contact. The point
being: make a special list of all important contacts, like reliable
programmers, handymen, lawyers, etc. Remember not to only reach out when
you are in need. You need to maintain a healthy and natural
relationship and be there for those people if they require your
assistance. Truth be told, it can be arduous to forge strong friendship
bonds, but having important acquaintances and becoming an important
acquaintance is very much possible.
Without such a list, you are leaving yourself vulnerable to possible
future complications; moreover, make sure this list is well-kept since
once you lose a contact like this one, it can be somewhat troublesome to
recover such data. Just be sure you have recovery data tools at your
disposal to mitigate the damage if something were to happen to your phone.
4. List of Expenses
“A wise person should have money in their head, but not in their heart.”
—Jonathan Swift
This may be a quite mundane piece of advice, yet it is very often
neglected. As we all know, there are two types of expenses: those that
are necessary, (bills, taxes, food) and those expenditures used for
indulging some personal cravings. There is a degree of restraint that
the majority of us lack in order to approach the matter with a
satisfying level of prudence. To say it bluntly, we treat our wants like
our needs, and necessities and primary obligations are pushed in the
background. Of course, this may sound a bit exaggerated, but the truth
is the pressure of a consumer’s culture eventually becomes overwhelming,
resulting in a purchase we shouldn’t be able to afford at the time.
This kind of behavior can be avoided by utilizing lists, and turning
them into an omnipresent reminder of what is truly important.
By making lists of all the monthly expenses we are obligated to pay,
we’ll have a clear overview with how much resources are there at our
disposal. On the other hand, without this list filled with meticulous
calculations, we are prone to believing that we have more freedom to
engage in a shopping spree, ultimately causing our bills to pile up;
thus, we end up a step closer to a financial suicide.
Handling finances properly, or the fact that we prioritize the costs of
living, is a responsibility that signifies maturity. Success is
commonly measured by the amount of wealth and without adequate spending
tactics, you prevent its accumulation.
5. List of Useful Tools
“If you’re the type of person who has to fulfill your dreams, you’ve got to be resourceful to make sure you can do it.”
—Vin Diesel
Today’s society vastly depends on the use of technology—we exchange
information, conduct calculations, measure time, etc. This level of
reliability also suggests liability. If something were to happen to our
cell phone or personal computer, it would be a sizable setback that
could harm our capabilities severely. As mentioned, losing contacts can
truly be troublesome. It is even worse however, to have your life’s work
lost and compromised.
Useful tools are not only limited to recovering damage; they also
encompass tools that make your job easier. With efficiency and a greater
level of competence, you are a step closer toward success. Using the
right apps and tools can make up for our lack of skills in a particular
area, or simply help us manage our work in a more timely manner. Keeping
a list of useful tools will come in handy whenever you are faced with
more common problems, like finding a good restaurant for a business
dinner, driving through unfamiliar terrain, task management, learning,
and there are even tools capable of helping you recover stolen property.
Even though the list is not as crucial as the ones mentioned so far,
it is undeniable that having it can save you a lot of time if the need
for it ever arises. The Internet is a vast sea of both useful and
useless tools, and by filtering out those that are irrelevant, you won’t
have to conduct countless searches when you are in need of adequate
tools for problem solving.
6. List of Self Improvements
“The minute that you’re not learning I believe you’re dead.”
—Jack Nicholson
Reasonable to assume this one is unavoidable, and it always deserves
to be mentioned. It is safe to assume we are all aware of our
shortcomings; if not all of them at least some of them. Think about
yourself, make a list of all the things you would like to improve or change,
then consider how to implement those changes. Despite the fact that
those who are close to you do not pressure you into changing or
improving, you should always make constant endeavours to do so, for your
own sake.
The list of improvements should consist of physical changes, changes
spiritual in nature, abandoning bad habits etc. No one expects you to
change entirely in a short time period, but making a decision to change
one thing on a yearly basis is a viable resolution, quite easy to
execute. The list is there simply to remind you which improvement to
prioritize, and build up your confidence after each completion. Refusing
to change can either result in lack of confidence and depression, or
becoming an overconfident and self-absorbed person that no one will
tolerate for long; both of these traits are contradictory to your quest
for a successful future.
7. List of Creative Ideas
“Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.”
—Waldo Emerson
Throughout history, people who made the most significant impact on
the world were those with a revolutionary way of thinking, those who
dared to challenge the established order and alter the status quo. For an idea to be classified as creative,
it needs to be new, it needs to make sense, and it needs to have some
sort of use. For example, creating something to help the disabled
communicate online, or simply type—that way, people who have lost their
limbs could blog or become creative writers, and show the world a piece
of their mind. Thus a keyboard in a form of braces could enable them to
type using their tongue; however I am not an engineer, so I do not know
whether something like this is possible.
Whenever a new idea comes to your mind write it down, then browse the
web to see if you indeed have stumbled upon something ground-breaking.
Once your list has grown, then you need to start pondering on the
subject to see whether it holds closer scrutiny. Ask for a second
opinion and see what you would need to realize your idea. In a majority
of cases, this is how successful people are created. Rest assured that
it is very possible that people won’t be impressed with your creativity
as much as you are, but do not allow yourself to be discouraged—after
all, perseverance has a crucial role in a career as well. Monitoring
your thoughts incites productive thinking and hones your focus; it keeps
our mind occupied. Letting your good ideas slide is only a wasted
potential that will put your progress in a halt.
8. List of Future Plans
“The future is uncertain but the end is always near.”
―Jim Morrison
We have all heard statements like “Tomorrow is a mystery,” “Live for
today,” and “You can’t affect the future.” Personally, I heavily
disagree with such a point of view. Although I do agree that, in
particular circumstances, making plans for the future is doing Sisyphus
work, not planning it at all seems utterly mortifying. I also believe
that everyone makes some sort of plan; the problem is this fear of
uncertainty that thwarts our will to act.
To make your resolve more adamant, compile a list of your future
plans, see what you need in order to make them come true. This one is
very similar to the first list—the one with goals; the difference is, it
does not have to involve your personal future. Rather, it is list of
upcoming important events, important changes in law, or upcoming trends,
useful software, etc. It will keep you well-informed and prepared,
since staying updated and relevant are essential virtues for lucrative
businessmen.
9. List of Contingency Plans
“You pray for rain, you gotta deal with the mud too. That’s a part of it.”
—Denzel Washington
Every action has an equal and opposite reaction, meaning there is
nothing you can do without consequences. Every attempt to be more
successful usually has a set of barriers attached to it, or risks. Even
though risks are inevitable, being prepared for the aftermath is always a good
and necessary thing. When you plan your business incentives, or when
you plan to invest in something, make sure you compose a thorough pros
and cons list, as well as a list of possible negative scenarios. In the
event that positive aspects outweigh the negative ones, you can be more
encouraged to proceed further.
Make an effort to be constantly prepared for the backlash of major
initiatives, and contain the possible damage. The lack of contingency
implies recklessness, and it was adamantly made clear how this approach
contradicts advancement. Make leaps of faith only when you have no other
options to explore.
10. Bucket List
“The bitterest tears shed over graves are for words left unsaid and for deeds left undone.”
—Harriet Beecher Stowe
Finally, learn to live for the sake of experiencing what life has to
offer. It is invigorating, to say the least, and it keeps your regrets
at minimum. One of the reasons why we want to be successful is to
actually fulfil our dreams or complete our bucket list, to look back on
our life during old age with a warm smile rather than a frown. Feel free
to put even the impossible things on your bucket list, and find the
next best thing using your creativity. Whenever you reach a rough patch
in your life, take a look at you bucket list and see what is the most
plausible thing to do in order to restore your will power and keep
going.
Best cases and covers for your brand-new iPhone 6S
Updated on 11-2-2015 by Simon Hill: Added cases by Burkley, Adopted, Rhino Shield, iDeal, and Grovemade.
To help narrow down your choices, these are the best iPhone 6S cases we’ve seen so far.
Related: Best iPhone 6 cases
Burkley Walletcase ($34)
Here’s a hand-crafted wallet case in high quality leather that comes
in a variety of different finishes. You’ll find a black, polycarbonate
shell inside that your iPhone 6S snaps into. It’s minimalist, with
cut-outs for all the buttons and ports. Around that, you have a leather
folio with a diagonal flap that contains a magnetic closure. On the
inside cover there are three card slots, and you can also fold the cover
back to act as a landscape stand. There’s a cut-away on the back to
enable normal camera use. If the eye-catching, limited edition, fiesta
red isn’t to your tastes, check out the other finishes, including the
gorgeous antique coffee.Available at:
Amazon
Adopted Frame Case ($40)
This case has an expensive look and feel to it, but it’s really a
bumper, or a frame, rather than a typical iPhone 6S case. The frame and
the button covers are aluminum, and it has genuine, full-grain leather
panels to provide contrast, comfort, and grip. There’s a latch at the
bottom left corner, which makes it easy to put on and take off, and
there are openings for the ports and the side switch. It extends beyond
the iPhone body front and back to provide all-round protection. Even
though it’s just a frame, it does add bulk; it almost squares off the
rounded corners of your iPhone. We’re not sure about drop protection,
but it certainly fits nicely with Apple’s design.Available at:
Adopted
Rhino Shield PlayProof Case ($30)
It was the Crash Guard bumper
($25) that first brought Rhino Shield to our attention, and it’s still
worth a look, but the case maker has now widened its line-up with the
new PlayProof case. This is more of a traditional fitted case, blending a
hard shell with a shock-absorbing hexagonal pattern on the inside that
promises drop protection at up to 11.5 feet. The case is easy to fit,
the cut-outs are generous for easy access to ports, and the button
covers are pronounced, so you can find and use them easily without
looking. It’s a lightweight, slim case, considering the level of
protection, and you can get it in a wide variety of different finishes
(plain color cases are $5 cheaper). The only thing we don’t like is the
slippery back.Available at:
Evolutive Labs
iDeal Swipe Wallet Case ($44)
The Swipe Wallet case for the iPhone 6S combines a number of really
smart features. There’s a minimalist hard, plastic shell in black, which
you can snap your iPhone 6S into. It has the full range of cut-outs and
a textured finish that aids grip. It attaches to the fake leather
(polyurethane) wallet portion via magnets, so you can take the jacket on
and off as you like (iDeal also sell magnetic mounts).
The wallet has two card slots on the back for easy access, a magnetic
closure, and there’s a window in the front to display the time, incoming
calls, or music
controls. A series of four, shiny metal segments, near the bottom of
the cover, enable you to answer and hang up calls without having to open
the wallet. It can also double up as a landscape stand. You’ll enjoy
the clever design and stylish feel of this iDeal case.Available at:
iDeal
Grovemade Walnut Case ($100)
You can’t help falling in love with Grovemade’s wares, but they’re
not cheap. Crafted from Oregon Claro Walnut, each case has a unique
grain, and they’re all sanded and finished by hand in Portland, Oregon.
The natural wood looks and feels fantastic, the button covers work well,
and there are openings for the ports, camera, and side switch.
Grovemade has struggled to produce wooden cases that don’t add a lot of
bulk in the past, and its solution here is to offer a bumper and a
separate back plate that adheres directly to the back of your iPhone 6S.
It’s not all style over substance, this case will offer some protection
for your iPhone, but it is thin wood at the end of the day, so the case
may not survive a drop or bump unscathed.Available at:
Grovemade
Nodus Shell Case ($61)
We loved the folio style Access Case
by Nodus, so we were excited to hear about the new design for the Shell
case. It’s crafted from the same full grain Italian leather, but this
case is a slim, polycarbonate shell with a soft, microfiber lining that
your iPhone 6S will fit snugly into. It’s very slim, has accurate cut-outs for your ports and the camera, and sports
subtle button covers. There’s no distracting detail, just an embossed
octopus logo on the back. The Shell case also comes with a small
magnetic dock (a square of metal bearing that same stylish octopus logo)
that you can stick wherever you want. It’s a handy way to keep your iPhone 6S safe while charging, or to use it hands-free.Available at:
Nodus
Cover-Up Woodback Snap Case ($26)
Natural wood grain is always a pleasant look, and Cover-Up’s cases
strike a nice balance between style and affordability. This a slim case
that snaps onto the iPhone 6S. The main shell is black polycarbonate
with openings for all of the buttons, ports, and the camera. The back
panel comes in a wide variety of different natural wood finishes,
including padauk, bamboo, and blackened ash. These cases aren’t going to
provide rugged drop protection, but they’ll guard against scrapes and
bumps. The wood is all sustainable, hand-sanded, and waxed, and each one
looks unique.Available at:
Cover-Up Amazon
MagBak Case ($39)
Here’s another iPhone 6S case with a magnetic touch. The MagBak, as
the name suggests, has a magnetic strip inside it, and it ships with two
MagSticks, which are small magnetic strips with adhesive backs that you
can stick on the car dash or the kitchen tile for mounting your iPhone.
The case itself comes in six different colors, feels malleable and soft
to the touch, and has a black microfiber lining inside. There are
cut-outs for the ports, switch, and camera, and subtle button covers.
It’s very slim, so it may not provide much drop protection, but the
magnetic docks are potentially very handy.Available at:
MagBak
Encase Leather Wallet Case ($32)
This case is padded and covered with neatly stitched, genuine leather
in black or brown. Open up the magnetic closure, and you’ll find a full
wallet replacement inside, with three card slots and a larger money
pouch at the back. Your iPhone 6S clips into a tough, polycarbonate
frame with the full range of openings for access to controls and ports.
It’s an unobtrusive case that won’t draw undue attention to your iPhone
6S, and it offers complete all-round protection from falls, bumps, and
scratches.Available at:
Mobile Fun
Trident Aegis Pro Case ($35)
You may think you’ve seen the Aegis before, but Trident has
redesigned it for the iPhone 6S. It’s still a seriously tough case that
meets military drop test standard 810G, by blending tough polycarbonate
on the outside with a shock absorbent TPE inner. This case also features
good button covers, plugs to protect the ports, and a raised lip to
safeguard the screen. It has a lanyard loop, and it comes with a screen
protector. There’s a texture on the back to aid grip, and it has a
clever slide on design for an easy fit. It is definitely bulky, but it
will also definitely protect your iPhone 6S if you drop it.Available at:
Trident
Caseology Envoy Series Case ($17)
You don’t necessarily have to spend a lot of cash to get a case that
looks expensive. Caseology is best known as a budget case manufacturer,
but it brings plenty of style and a fashionable aesthetic to this
minimalist line for the iPhone 6S.
The Envoy Series combines a flexible TPU bumper case with a PU leather
backing. There’s a raised lip on the front to protect the screen,
rubberized button covers that are easy to find and press, and accurate
openings for the ports and the camera. The frame has a metallic gold
finish, but you can get a variety of different effects on the back
including black or white carbon fiber, or a blue, brown, or gold faux
leather.Available at:
Caseology Amazon
X-Doria: Defense Lux Case ($60)
Can you have solid protection and style in the same case? X-Doria
certainly thinks so. The Defense Lux has a soft rubber inner, an
impact-resistant polycarbonate back, and an anodized aluminum frame. The
whole package meets military drop test standard 810G, so it will
survive falls from up to 6.6 feet. You can choose from a range of
luxurious finishes on the back including carbon fiber, soft leather, and
crocodile skin. There’s a lip on the front to safeguard the screen, and
metallic covers to protect the buttons.Available at:
X-Doria Amazon
Otterbox Strada Series Case ($50)
The Strada Series is something a little different for Otterbox, a
company usually known for its highly protective cases. You still get a
solid shell the iPhone 6S snaps into, that offers real drop protection,
but there’s also a genuine leather cover and a metallic highlight
bearing the Otterbox logo on the side for a classy look. The metal plate
has a magnetic latch to keep the cover securely closed in your pocket
or bag. The inside has a soft lining and a single slot for a business card or ID. The button covers and openings are precise. You can get this in classic black, or reddish brown.Available at:
Otterbox Amazon
Skech Ice Case ($30)
Here’s a nice, practical case from Skech which isn’t too bulky. It
features a classic combination of soft interior wrapped in a hard shell.
The openings are large, so there’s no interference with the camera or
ports. The button covers are easy to find and not too stiff. It’s a
comfortable case to hold thanks to the soft touch finish. We also really
like the protective rim, which extends to protect the screen should
your phone land face down, and also covers the back to prevent
scratches. This grippy case comes in six different colors.Available at:
Skech
Silk Innovation: PureView Clear Case ($12)
The cheapest case on our list is a slim bumper with an internal tread
that promises to absorb shock. It has a clear back to allow Apple’s
iPhone 6S design to shine through. The button covers are quite large,
and there are big openings for the ports and camera. It looks quite good
for such a cheap case and should provide basic protection. You can pick
it up in gold, black, transparent frost, or grey. It’s easy to
customize this case by slipping a picture into the clear back section —
there’s even a template provided so you can trim the picture for a
perfect fit. You also get a screen protector in the box.Available at:
Amazon
