Database Users

Cases

I am still searching for the perfect case, but I have found one that is better than the original (well, that wouldn't be hard!).
This is 'Inno Pocket' model OX-0313, and I got mine brand new off Ebay 'Buy Now' for £20 plus £3.50 postage.
It is made of "Light weight aircraft grade scratch resistant anodized aluminium" and weighs 75g. It has lots of cut-outs and you can use charger (although not cradle), headphones and camera without taking it out of the case. You can answer the phone, and end a call with it in its case, too (which is what I like), although without being able to access the screen, you still have to open it to dial.
On the downside it isn't very well made - when it's open the cover sort of wobbles on its hinges, although it's OK when closed. It's also not easy to open (definitely can't do it with one hand) and would have been greatly improved with a nice, swish press 'n' spring catch (I'm sure there's a technical term for this...). Also the texture of the case is such that it is incredibly slippery; I'm sure i'm far more likely to drop it, or that it will slide off a surface. Plus it's a bit awkward getting the stylus out. You have to remember to get it out before you open it, otherwise you have to close it again...
But I haven't reverted back to the old case yet...
Has anyone got anything better yet?

I find its best to not put the XDA II into a case, it rattles around in my jacket pocket along with my keys and wallet and stuff and doesnt seem any worse for wear after 4 months like that, i put a scrren protector on as soon as i got the unit and it is a bit scratched but the screen underneath is mint

slippery
It is incredibly slippery. I have already dropped it down two flights of stairs - and no damage!
I use my old Toshiba E570 case.
Also the stylus slips out too easily - so I use my thumbnail sharpened appropriately.
Bill

Re: slippery
BillyO said:
It is incredibly slippery. I have already dropped it down two flights of stairs - and no damage!
I use my old Toshiba E570 case.
Also the stylus slips out too easily - so I use my thumbnail sharpened appropriately.
Bill
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I am using the Proporta Aluminium case for my XDA II. The case itself is slippery so I got some Egrips from Egrips.com to stick on the case. It works for me. A wee bit of bluetack stuck down the stylus slot will keep it there even if you a cartwheel.
Cheers.

When I had the XDA1 I hated the case. I had to use it in the beginning because I was so afraid of it being scratched or damaged. In the end though I stopped using it (even after putting some protective pads on the magnet connectors when I discovered they were scratching the phone) as it looked a bit naff.
The XDA2 one is much better! It's lined with felt and there are no places where it can seemingly scratch the phone. Yeah it's a bit obstructive and you look an idiot if you try using the phone with half the case dangling from your ear (I've found the best way is to take it out when you have to use the phone), but otherwise I'm very impressed with how much better in all aspects the 2 is over the 1. It feels more like an expensive phone (which it very much is) and the case feels more protective than the old one.
I've got a screen protector for it too and though it dulls the screen a bit (annoying in the sunlight) they're well worth having. No more fanatical cleaning (and risking getting bits under the screen) due to fingerprints on the screen etc.
Anthony

DIY scratch protection

I noticed the first scratch on the corner of my Jam today. Since electronics always take the most abuse on the corners, I devised a quick and easy way to protect the corners of my Jam while I'm in Europe for the next 3 weeks. Take electrical tape or clear satin tape and place a piece over the corners. Works best if you cut a slit in the tape so you can fold it around the corner without wrinkles. In all probability the device will land on its corners if dropped or take the most abuse on the corners if scraped against something. Thus, problem solved; I did it to my digital camera too. It doesn't look half bad on either device, and if you can't stand the black corners, just use clear tape. Any tape works as long as the adhesive won't stick to the advice after you remove the tape.

damn that's dead sexy :lol:

Damn! Why didn't I think of that????
Why don't you run the tape all the way round? I think it will look somewhat better!... :wink:

I'm sorry, but that has to be the stupidest looking thing I've seen in a long time. Why don't you just get a silicon case for about $10 off of EBAY? I mean, if you REALLY need electrical tape and that's all you can find...great. But just get a cheap latex or silicon case such as the ones from JavoEdge.com.
Do you put electrical tape on the front and rear bumper of your car too?

GHETTOOOOOOO

Just curious, what specifically do you expect to happen in Europe over the next three weeks that would necessitate such a precaution when you don't prepare against similar risks at home :wink: ?

hehehehe... Good point JPreston!!! :lol:

I don't get it! People seem to get very upset when they discover they scratched the ball mirror on the back of their JAM. Now we have a JAM covered in electrical tape. Should we all carry our devices in the original box? Or better yet never use them to keep them in pristine condition? I am not saying I didn't get a little ticked off when I found a nice big scratch in the corner after a small drop but come on! I think we're all getting a bit too precious. Anyway, to each their own.
Of far more concern is the gunk that gets on the screen from my face every time I hold the JAM to my head! I mean yuck! What the heck is up with that? Is there that much oil on my face??? I just washed it! I gave my phone to my friend the other day to make a call and his face left some sort of super oil on the screen that wouldn't scrub off for several minutes! Its gross and embarassing! I think we need some sort of face oil protector!

Does anybody have any idea for cheap screen protection? I think the prices are outrageous for the slices of film sold as protectors.

I use the cheapest of them all...
They are made for Palm devices and are sold on flea markets or "One Dollar" stores... :lol:
They cost $1 dollar the 12 Pack!
Just cut them to size and go!

scratch? i've droped my mini 2 times and got 3 dent edges. damn sad. The stupid casing they gave me is getting pretty loose. I put it on my belt.... so everytime i knock it seems that pouch just flings out. The screw and the plastic seems to have worn off.
I think i'm gonna go to a skinning shop to hide the dent edges.

try to buy a leather case for Nokia 7610. it fits.
You dont use that in the box lether case. It will easily fall of that tiny hook.
Wit the lether case of Nokia, it is mounted sideway into the belt by a leather that is sewed.
mine has never fallen. Even if it falls off the belt when you undress, the leather case is so stiff that it will not dent the mini.

@Emil...
Can you post a picture of your JAM in the Nokia case for us to see?

vmirage said:
scratch? i've droped my mini 2 times and got 3 dent edges. damn sad. The stupid casing they gave me is getting pretty loose. I put it on my belt.... so everytime i knock it seems that pouch just flings out. The screw and the plastic seems to have worn off.
I think i'm gonna go to a skinning shop to hide the dent edges.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Dropped mine on a concrete floor from about 1.5 meters and got a really ugly dent on one of the corners of the battery cover. The cover wouldn't even go back on!
Easy fixed though. Just took a plastic pen and pushed the dent out from the inside. It still shows a slight dent and small scratches if you look closely, but what the heck...

Anyone know of any metallic paint (model, SKU, UPC code) that I could use on my JAM? I rarely put on my seatbelt, and the one time that I decide to play safe, I scratch up the corner of my JAM. I'd never go "ghetto" as one person put it in the thread, but I'm sure there's something out there to match it up. Any ideas?

Get the jam off of your belt and put it in a proper car holder and you will not only protect it from getting scratches from your seatbelt, you will also get it charged while driving. And also one less reason not to wear a seatbelt that could save your life in the case of an accident.

Incidentally, can anyone recommend a decent car kit for the JAM? I want one I can mount with some amount of ease somewhere on the console... I don't like those ones that stick on the windscreen.

elyl said:
Incidentally, can anyone recommend a decent car kit for the JAM? I want one I can mount with some amount of ease somewhere on the console... I don't like those ones that stick on the windscreen.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
www.brodit.com

Just don't order it from Expansys as all their product descriptions for Brodit are messed up. Does anyone know where else to buy Brodit because I still need the mounting clip for my car (Expansys kept sending the wrong one). Can you buy from them (Brodit) directly?
Thanks.

Loose hinge. Fixable?

Help
I've only owned my exec a couple weeks and already I notice the pivot hinge loosening.
Has anyone tightened theirs? If so, any tips?

Get in touch with HTC and see if its warrantied.
Likely just needs something tightening.
Altho I work in a customer service department for a laptop repair workshop and they would likely accuse you of having bent it the wrong way and class it as "Accidental Damage".
In which case you'd be getting a bill for a hinge (£12) and labour (£130).
You may find HTC are a little nicer than my lot tho. Hehe.

Thanks for the reply. I was hoping to be able to unscrew the hinge myself, but I wanted to know if anyone's tried it themselves yet.
My other stupid question is; How do I get in touch with HTC? Anyone have a link? Can't google it.
I bought my unlocked O2 Exec new, but not from O2. I'm in the U.S. and I'm afraid they might not help me because I'm not a customer.
Nowhere I can just drive to for repairs either, because this unit isn't sold here.
Thanks again.

I don't have a loose hinge yet, but I'm sure we will all be at that point eventually. I noticed two small screws on the inside of the hinge (underneath the screen part) when you twist the screen half way around. I wonder if they do anything useful

I've noticed those screws as well. There's also a single screw on the base side. The base metal piece is the wiggly part on the non-screw side (right).
I'll wait another day or so to see if anyone has tried this yet. If I don't get a response, I'll hold my breath and give it a go.
If it works and I end up tightening my unit - great.
If not, then I've just made a very expensive mistake.
Either way, I'll update my post here with the results..
I can't be the only person with an exec/universal that has a loose lid. Pls excuse the pun.

hazer said:
Thanks for the reply. I was hoping to be able to unscrew the hinge myself, but I wanted to know if anyone's tried it themselves yet.
My other stupid question is; How do I get in touch with HTC? Anyone have a link? Can't google it.
I bought my unlocked O2 Exec new, but not from O2. I'm in the U.S. and I'm afraid they might not help me because I'm not a customer.
Nowhere I can just drive to for repairs either, because this unit isn't sold here.
Thanks again.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
HTC warranty the product unless a third party warranty provider is nominated - which is very unusual in the first year tbh.
Normally you return to the point of sale and they will either repair it or replace it themselves and bill HTC or send it back to the manufacturer.
In this case the product is less than 28 days old? So in the UK you would be covered by the Sales of Goods Act 1979 and entitled to a repair or if you so choose an exchange. This would probably also be the case in some form or other in the USA, but I suspect since this was a product originally intended for the UK market (and if the seller was British) you would be bound by this law.
Since you're in the US you will likely have no warranty with the retailer ie. o2 since large companies often operate warranty services within the borders of the nation it was originally purchased in and never beyond.
So you're best bet is to contact HTC - whom are an international company - and they will assess the claim and arrange shipping to and from either a) an authorized local repair agent or b) back to the main repair and warranty facility in whichever country that is.
As far as I am aware you should definately either contact the point of sale if a large company and enquire as to the repair service route or just skip them compeletely and go for the manuafcturer.
For the European Union the warranty provider is: http://www.htceurope.com/
There doesn't appear to be one for the USA.
I'm sure there is but its likely going to be a case of shipping it back to Dubai or wherever anwyay so ping them some mail and see what they say.
Either way you must act quickly and keep a record of all correspondence.
In the UK we call consumer rights 'statutary rights' and the electronics world often goes far far beyond these in terms of warranty repair/s.
The only caveats are often companies assume that since you arent asking for or invoking your rights on a certain issue that they don't need to inform you of them.

YES, I have opened mine up & can give some insight. firstly it's all very robust and safe to open the hinge on the base side (have not opened screen side). it'a ALL metal - screw, plate u can see, & chassis screw goes into - so little/no danger of loosening things by unscrewing.
u will 1st find that the single screw on the base side may be half a turn loose. tightening it with a jewelers screwdriver will make a hug defferenc4e. possibly same benefit screen side but there r more screws there so I doubt it.
if u undo screw, base pops out as it hooked at one end, and thus only held by this 1 screw. u will find a nice, strong, ropey cable linking 2 halves - NOT a ribbon that breaks the moment u open this up - so safe again.
next, u can bend the plate slightly so that it sits lower in the middle. this makes a huge difference to screen looseness or play when in position. it's like tensioning a bow.
so, all very easy and safe FOR BASE SIDE. screen side looks way more delicate & hopefully someone will update this thread with similar info.
I found that when I dropped mine a few times, the screw came loose. a bit worrying cos it means a thread miust have skipped. but now I know that if the screw ever strips I can get it re-tapped by a jeweler and a new screw put in. there's enough chassis 4 this I think. please let us know how it goes.

Shame no pics ...!
:lol:

yeah, exec battled 2 take pics of its own arse when dissembled

First let me say THANKS to Gubbs and Craigie!
Unfortunately it's now past closing time at HTCEUROPE, so I'll have to try and call them tomorrow.
I tried to take the pda apart and concur with Craigie regarding its simplicity. The wiggle in my Exec comes from the pivot and not the base plate with the single screw. I tried to remove the lid side plate by unscrewing the 4 screws that hold it, but it cannot be removed w/o spreading the plastic housing which holds the LCD. Scary.
There are 2 additional screws which bind the plastic housing (can be seen w/o taking anything apart). There are also 2 rubber inserts at the tip (tried, but can't pull out). So, my theory is that by removing the 6 lid screws and these rubber inserts, I'll be able to separate the plastic halves and remove the metal plate. Again...SCARY.
I'm hoping there's a screw which tightens the pivot. From what's visible it is made up from a press fit washer and a bent spring washer around a metal shaft. If there is a screw, it's on the side I can't get to. If there isn't a screw, then it's got to be another press fit washer used to hold the assembly together. I can use pliers to squeeze the opposite washers toghether if I can get to them.
If I have to, I'll send it to HTC. But I'd rather try and fix it myself to save the time lost and expense. Granted I should stay away from coffee or any other caffinated products before I do.

Just seen this posting by "stot" selling a replacement screen for the Universal, he gives a link showing instructions for stripping down the Universal, any help with tightening the hinge?
Thanks Stot!
http://www.artworkfiles.com/XDA/
Regards

When I did open up the screen there is no inherant way of adjusting the tension of the spring. It is basically a rivet with a curved washer that gets squashed and provides the tension.
Only thing I could suggest would be to squash the rivet section on 2 sides with a pair of pliars, or vice grips may be better so that you can set the pressure, i.e. close the vice crips and adjust them so that they are snug on the edge of the rivet, open them, adjust them closed evvver so slightly and then close them on the rivet. This will basically put more tension on the washers.
Its from the school of smack it til it works but its all I can think of.
Ill put some more pictures up of what I mean on that link shortly.
BTW. wanna buy a screen?! :wink:
Thanks
Stot

I think it was the swivel action some were interested in any suggestions to tightening that mechanism? Photo's would be good too, or is that one a case of squash it with pliers too?
I dont need a screen myself sorry my friend
Hope you find a buyer!

Hi,
Yeah Its the swivel I mean, not the opening mechanism. Pics are up you'll see what I mean.
Just noticed this is the idea Hazer had and ill agree thats the only way to do it.
Cheers
Stot.

Brilliant Stot! Great work my friend, the pictures are perfect. Thanks
Regards

These pics are fantastic gooroo.
All of you who have contributed to this tread - THANK YOU.
As soon as the kids are asleep tonite and the wife is watching tv - I'll get started. I'll need the peace and quiet required when handling such a delicate operation.
Think I'll wear a mask and gloves, just to make it official. I guess I won't be needing my tablesaw or reciprocating saw. Too bad.
I've gotten as far as spliting the lid from the main section, but I was afraid to split the lid in half in order to get at the metal plate. No more.
I'll report soon.
Thanks guys.

Pictures unavailable?
It seems http://www.artworkfiles.com/XDA/ is no more available!
Has anybody downloaded the pictures and instructions?
Can you please sent them to me?
I have the same loose hinge problem...
Thanks in advance
Anton
anton.ruzicATijs.si

Hey,
It's easy tightening the hinge! Mine was lose, and when I say lose I mean basically spinning 360 degrees! So what did I have to lose... nothing. I took my Exec apart.
When you rotate your screen.. to the right of the light sensor and 'Xda Exec' text there is a grey metal panel, with a small standard 'phillips' screw in there. Undo this one screw, and the metal plate will lift of. In there you will find a thick cable that connects the screen and the hardware keyboard. Simply twist the wire up a bit (you'll understand what I mean) and then put the panel back on, screw it up, and the screen will be tight as it was new..
I have started to notice that the hinge is starting to get lose again - wait there and I shall do the above proceedure again (undo the metal plate, unwrap the cable, wrap it back up and screw up) - oh look it's tight as brand new.
Don't worry about loosing anything whilst un-screwing you exec, NOTHING pops out!
Good luck - you won't need it!
I'll keep an eye on the thread incase there is any questions.
Pete

That's a brilliant post Pete. When my hinge comes loose I will not have any fear about following your instructions. Luckily, the missus is an optometrist, so she has plenty of tiny screwdrivers, etc. Maybe I can get her to do it, that way if she breaks it, it's not my fault... :wink:

replacement Screen Help
I read the post and I thought someone said they have a link on where to buy a replacement screen for the HTC Universal. Can someone help me... I drop the device and the screen cracked Lcd.

Recommended Prophet cases?

Which case for the Prophet would you recommend?
My main criteria are:
- Screen protection
- As slim as possible
- Leather (desired)
- Cheap :wink:
Any advice is greatly appreciated.[/list]

the slimest there is... you can't use the touchscreen unfortunatly (or am I wrong maybe?)
anyway I havn't seen a leather case that wouldn't make a brick out of a prophet. I find it strange - you can quite comfortably put a prophet in your pocket, wich makes it very portable, but you can't have a case that doesn't spoil it.

You might find the following case suitable. I believe it adds the least volume to the unit given that it is conformal and very thin. (There might be something better, but I'm not aware of it.)
http://www.ebcases.com/Detail.bok?no=3331
There is also the possibility to customize the case as well for a fee. Thus one can ask the supplier to minimize thickness rather than providing the maximal protection to the unit.

After much pondering I came to the conclusion that having no case was best. It keeps the prophets small foot print and is still very useable. Invest in a good screen protector though.

drwhitesnake said:
After much pondering I came to the conclusion that having no case was best. It keeps the prophets small foot print and is still very useable. Invest in a good screen protector though.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I felt exactly the same until I accidentally dropped mine about 2 1/2 feet onto a tile floor and it dented/scratched the top corner of the device. Not extreme, but it was only a light tap on the ground.
I immediately went out and bought a gel skin made for the Prophet. Adds nothing to the weight/size/form-factor of the device.
I saw one that had a flip down plastic screen protector as well, but figured that was a little overkill.
Of course, these are in cell phone shops all over Asia, don't know about other countries.
I've found many people on the street using these skins instead of cases just because of the form-factor element. It's a shame to ruin such portability and, dare I say, elegance, to protect it.
But even now I feel like one of those guys that leaves his television remote control in the cellophane wrap so that it won't get any wear and tear... it was made to be used!

vsc said:
You might find the following case suitable. I believe it adds the least volume to the unit given that it is conformal and very thin. (There might be something better, but I'm not aware of it.)
http://www.ebcases.com/Detail.bok?no=3331
There is also the possibility to customize the case as well for a fee. Thus one can ask the supplier to minimize thickness rather than providing the maximal protection to the unit.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi vsc, that is a great case - the best I have seen so far! Thanks for the link.
I see that this case is for the Jam though - are the Jam and Jamin 100% identical (the form is identical (I believe) but not the button arrangement, right?).
I will contact ebcases directly also.
Thanks!

I asked the guys in the UAE and was told that the JAM / JAMin are identical. From the spec sheet they are within 0.2mm in size.
To be honest I had one of these in hand a few weeks ago and there was no issues with button placement and fitement in the case.

thulsey said:
I felt exactly the same until I accidentally dropped mine about 2 1/2 feet onto a tile floor and it dented/scratched the top corner of the device. Not extreme, but it was only a light tap on the ground.
I immediately went out and bought a gel skin made for the Prophet. Adds nothing to the weight/size/form-factor of the device.
I saw one that had a flip down plastic screen protector as well, but figured that was a little overkill.
Of course, these are in cell phone shops all over Asia, don't know about other countries.
I've found many people on the street using these skins instead of cases just because of the form-factor element. It's a shame to ruin such portability and, dare I say, elegance, to protect it.
But even now I feel like one of those guys that leaves his television remote control in the cellophane wrap so that it won't get any wear and tear... it was made to be used!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That is the reason why I really think that a protecting case is necessary (in case the device falls that is) - specially for a $600 device.
On the flip side, adding unnecessary bulk to a device which was purchased due to its slim form factor is kind of contradicting. Thus, I am searching for a very slim case, which still provides protection.
thulsey, which silicon case are you using? Have you heard of Skintight cases from Pamwarelabs http://www.palmwarelabs.com/Products/ProdList.aspx?CateID=36 ?

vsc said:
I asked the guys in the UAE and was told that the JAM / JAMin are identical. From the spec sheet they are within 0.2mm in size.
To be honest I had one of these in hand a few weeks ago and there was no issues with button placement and fitement in the case.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks vsc!
As long as the cut outs are not covering buttons, I guess thats fine then.
So, from the pictures of their website, the case really looks very tight and it appears that it doesnt add any (at least not too much) bulkiness to the s200. How does the case appear if you saw this it in person and on a Prophet? Do the pictures reflect the impression given on their site?

What about these?
Has anyone tried out the aluminium cases like the ones sold on expansys? Or this one for example
http://www.seidioonline.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=71
I know the last one is kind of not a case, but a carying holster, but nevertheless...

Yes the pictures are a good representation of the actual case.
Note that the cover flap has padding on the outside surface, but the supplier can manufacture the case without the padding to reduce volume. There is a hard card within the flap, so I don't consider the padding to serve any purpose.
On the other hand the case I'm using while I wait for the leather case is from Brando,
http://shop.brando.com.hk/bwsiliconecase_details.php?id=49
Simply put the unit in your pocket with the screen facing inward.

vsc said:
Yes the pictures are a good representation of the actual case.
Note that the cover flap has padding on the outside surface, but the supplier can manufacture the case without the padding to reduce volume. There is a hard card within the flap, so I don't consider the padding to serve any purpose.
On the other hand the case I'm using while I wait for the leather case is from Brando,
http://shop.brando.com.hk/bwsiliconecase_details.php?id=49
Simply put the unit in your pocket with the screen facing inward.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I will contact the supplier to see how much the case would be without the padding. Anything, which makes the case a little slimmer helps - specially for that price.
Btw, is it cumbersome to put the silicon case on and off? I was thinking about the silicone case but I would have to put the device out of the case every day (for charging in desktop cradle and car mount, etc) and dont want o fiddle with this each day. Way easier to simply slight it into a case.

Changes to the case were US$10.
With respect to the Brando case...seconds. The problem is really related to the material's affinity for dust. Drop it in your pockets and you would be amazed as to the mount of crud it picks up. It wipes off with a microfiber cloth or cleans up with water.
Craic Dub said:
I will contact the supplier to see how much the case would be without the padding. Anything, which makes the case a little slimmer helps - specially for that price.
Btw, is it cumbersome to put the silicon case on and off? I was thinking about the silicone case but I would have to put the device out of the case every day (for charging in desktop cradle and car mount, etc) and dont want o fiddle with this each day. Way easier to simply slight it into a case.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

got a brando silicone skin and it tore in the corner of the screen where it is thin. It also had a spot on the keypad that was thicker making it look like a black dot and not transparent. I found it to fit very well, but was a little thick, felt like a Wizard when holding it. Dust isn't too bad if you're not a dirtbag.

got a brando silicone skin and it tore in the corner of the screen where it is thin. It also had a spot on the keypad that was thicker making it look like a black dot and not transparent. I found it to fit very well, but was a little thick, felt like a Wizard when holding it. Dust isn't too bad if you're not a dirtbag.

Craic Dub said:
thulsey said:
I immediately went out and bought a gel skin made for the Prophet. Adds nothing to the weight/size/form-factor of the device.
Of course, these are in cell phone shops all over Asia, don't know about other countries.
I've found many people on the street using these skins instead of cases just because of the form-factor element. It's a shame to ruin such portability and, dare I say, elegance, to protect it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That is the reason why I really think that a protecting case is necessary (in case the device falls that is) - specially for a $600 device.
On the flip side, adding unnecessary bulk to a device which was purchased due to its slim form factor is kind of contradicting. Thus, I am searching for a very slim case, which still provides protection.
thulsey, which silicon case are you using? Have you heard of Skintight cases from Pamwarelabs http://www.palmwarelabs.com/Products/ProdList.aspx?CateID=36 ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The one I'm using is very similar to the one from Palmwarelabs. It even has raised icons on each of the buttons so you can (sort of) feel what you're pressing. I think it's a local brand here in Taiwan, but I'll look into it and see if I can find it on the web.
When I was searching, I noticed that there are several different thicknesses of silicone, and various levels of craftsmanship that go into cutting things out (like the screen area, infrared port, etc.)

Get the flexskin from www.boxwave.com!!
You won't be dissapointed!

Hey...
Aluminium cases anyone???

vsc said:
You might find the following case suitable. I believe it adds the least volume to the unit given that it is conformal and very thin. (There might be something better, but I'm not aware of it.)
http://www.ebcases.com/Detail.bok?no=3331
There is also the possibility to customize the case as well for a fee. Thus one can ask the supplier to minimize thickness rather than providing the maximal protection to the unit.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
hey vsc, I talked to EBCases today and they said that the case for the Jam wont fit the Jamin due to different button arrangements.
According to EBCases' customer service agent (very friendly and helpful!), they are working on a new case right now, which will then fit the Jamin. The new case would probably take another 4 weeks in order to be released.
I might just wait for this new case, since their case really is the best I have seen so far (and I have looked at a lot of them).

crack phone case and case covers.

i though i would share my thoughts on this case cover that i just bought. cost less than 5 bucks shipped from hong kong shipped (sambo-store). got it in 8 days from the time i ordered it.
fit was nice, not loose and easy to clip on. i was a bit concerned when i bought this because of the cross bar. i though it would interfere with the soft keys but to my suprise it really didnt. i press the soft keys anyways with the nail on my thumb so its no bother. if you use just the flesh of your thumb, then it will interfere. there is another case cover that you can buy without the cross bar. i bought one of those too but havent got it yet. i bought the case cover without the cross bar from a california company (ebay), for less than 8 bucks shipped and w/ california taxes. right now im happy with the cover i got on know and if for some reason it brakes, i got a spare.
even though the ad didnt say it, the case has a rubber coating on it that makes it feel grippy. also, the case does not add a lot of bulk to the phone.
my phone, x1a silver, and does not have any cracks. i can see that this case, nicely fit, can protect the phone and maybe prevent cracks. i say this because the case covers the area prone to cracking. i can see how phones may crack near the area of the battery cover because of the way the plastic angles to a thin point. i can imagine this area getting caught on the fabric of the pants or coat pocket and maybe causing the cracks. also maybe it can protect the area by the stylus by the way it kind of adds additional support around the area. it though may not help if you kind of stress the area if you happen to reinsert your stylus in a wrong manner.
if you have cracks in your phone already and tired of shipping or dont want to ship your phone back for repairs, then this case would pretty much cover the cracks. either that, get your phone repaired and then try one of these cases.
as for durability, i read that these cases break easily. i can see some truth to it becasue just by feeling around the case, i can feel and see how the edge of the case could get caught on something and would tend to pull the top cover and snap the little flimsy clips that holds it to the phone.
as mentioned, i have an x1a silver and the black case really acents the phone nicely. also, if wanted a black x1 but for some reason or another you got a silver one, putting this black case on pretty much makes it look like a black x1. most of the silver is covered and the chrome trimming is what is mostly showing.
the picture below is the type of cover that i bought even though it was from that paticular vendor. i just use the photo because it mostly matches what my phone looks like with the black case on. heck for 5 bucks, what have i got to lose.
View attachment 165334

i have the same case.. but that case cracked relatively easy.. so i bought another one. it's the same kind but it's transparent. the material for the transparent ones are different in the sense that it's stronger and i must say it looks better too. it reveals a lot of the x1a's shine.