Marianne Schultz

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First Impressions Review: Vaja Agenda 2 Case for iPad

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As I mentioned last week, my Vaja Agenda 2 case arrived recently and I’ve now spent a few days using it. I recorded a video today going over the case and my initial impressions of it:

(A quick note on the video – I meant to say “sleep/wake switch” instead of “home button” when showing the top of the iPad in the case.)
This is one of my longer videos at just under 10 minutes (I am nothing but thorough when it comes to a $200+ accessory, it seems) and I recorded it using my iPhone 4. I actually think it looks better than the other videos I’ve shot using my husband’s Flip Mino HD and I’ll probably keep using it unless my iPhone 4 is the subject of the video, of course.
In short, I have already grown to love this Vaja case. It’s well-designed and absolutely gorgeous. It has a few minor issues and is incredibly expensive, on the other hand. So far, I’m quite glad I got this case and it is most thoroughly edging out my DODOcase as my favorite.
I do plan on writing a full review of this case after I’ve spent more time with it, so stay tuned. If there’s anything you want me to cover in the review or if you just have any questions about it in the meantime, email me at marianne@macgirl.net or use the contact form here.

Just In: Vaja Agenda 2 for iPad

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I am far too excited about this case and wanted to do a quick blog post about it. The Vaja Agenda 2 case I ordered in early August arrived today and it is absolutely fantastic. I do plan to make a first impressions video of it soon (over the weekend at this rate) so you can see more of it shortly.

Vaja Agenda 2
I ordered it in black and red. The outside is Vaja’s standard grained floater leather and the inside is a smoother red leather stamped all over with the Vaja name. Like Vaja’s iVolution line, the iPad “pops” into a leather-covered plastic frame and is held securely without anything obscuring the screen, buttons, or ports. It’s a book-style case with nothing holding the cover closed.

In terms of functionality, it’s essentially a leather version of Apple’s own iPad case. A far more expensive, luxurious, and nicer smelling version, that is. (Why is the scent of tanned dead cow skin so wonderful? There must be something wrong with me.)

Like Apple’s case, it has a tab on the back that the front cover slides into to stand it up in landscape orientation for movie watching or place it at an angle for bettering typing/viewing on a table or your lap. Unlike the Apple case, the Agenda 2 is padded and offers more protection overall without adding too much bulk. I loved the functionality of the Apple case but hated the material out of which it was made – it showed dust and lint far too easily and felt like it offered no drop protection at all. The Vaja case is looking to be a perfect, higher-quality substitute for me.

Stay tuned for my video and review coming soon!
In case you’re wondering, I still love my DODOcase. However, the Agenda 2 appears to have the features and style to unseat it as the King of iPad Cases in my small collection.

iPad: The Final Countdown

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WOO HOO! Only a 47 hours, 43 minutes, and 10 seconds until the iPad is released! I will be at my local Apple Store bright and early on April 3 to pick up my pre-ordered iPad. I think I’m going to shoot for being in line at 7:00 am or so to ensure I’m somewhere close to the front of the line and can get in and out quickly to get home and play with it as quickly as possible.

Of course, reviews by the big tech journalists are out now and I find it odd that they really didn’t seem to tell me anything I didn’t already know about the iPad from the initial announcement or the new guided tour videos Apple put up. None of them have changed my mind about getting one – not that any were overly negative anyway and I doubt that even terrible reviews could have changed my mind.

I’m still keeping an eye out for promising iPad cases and have found a few more that are intriguing. Among them is a case by TwelveSouth that should look like this case they make for the MacBook Pro – I’m hoping it will be a play-through case for the iPad. I also like the Wallet and Clutch cases planned by Happy Owl, though I would prefer just a simple notepad slot on the other side instead of an accordion pocket. There is a fantastic thread over at MacRumors.com that lists all case and iPad accessories on the horizon, which is where I found out about these two.
Also, Vaja is coming out with iPad cases as well, god bless their little hearts. I have always been a sucker for their cases (see my reviews of a couple of their iPhone cases here and here). Vaja has indulged me by putting out some of their iVolution cases for the iPad, but I’m waiting for one that opens like a book. Well, I’ll hold off for as long as I can, anyway.
The New York Times mentioned that Amazon is working on a Kindle app for the iPad (here’s the article I wrote about it on MacRumors.com). I think this is great news. As an avid reader who absolutely loves ebooks, I’m anxious to see Apple’s own iBooks app plus any other iPad app that makes it easy to browse and buy ebooks. While it still remains to be seen, I don’t think that Amazon will be able to include the ability to directly purchase ebooks in their app since this would allow it to compete directly with Apple’s own upcoming ebook store. Apple hasn’t allowed any app that allows you to purchase and download media directly to your iPhone (though streaming doesn’t seem to be an issue, as found in Pandora, Sirius XM, eyeTV, and others) and I don’t see any change to their general rule to prevent “duplication of functionality.”
iPad apps are already showing up in the App Store database – you can see some of them at AppShopper.com here.
Crap. That reminds me. I think I need to stock up on some iTunes gift cards (ideally purchased at a discount somehow) to help defray the costs I will inevitably incur this weekend downloading iPad-specific apps. Costco, here I come!

Vaja iVolution Dockable case problems – video

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I ordered the Vaja iVolution Dockable case for my iPhone 3G a little while ago, expecting it to be like the Incase Slider in functionality but with a little more panache. Unfortunately, the case did not fit well at all, putting constant pressure on the volume buttons, rendering my iPhone unusable (or at least unpleasant to use) while in the case. I recorded this video for Vaja’s customer service department to show them what I meant in addition to describing it in my email. I admit I didn’t make this video for macgirl.net, so it lacks the amount of preparation and polish (and I would have done my nails, dammit!) I would have attempted in that case, but I thought I’d put it up here for your viewing pleasure anyway. 😉 For the record, Vaja promptly issued a return authorization, so this case is on its way back to them for a refund…

Vaja disappoints and no gloves for me!

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Just a quick update since I need to dive into work and not come up for air for the next week or so. I received the Vaja iVolution Dockable case late last week and it doesn’t fit well. In fact, it fits so poorly that it’s not even usable – it applies constant pressure to the volume buttons and causes the volume indicator to appear constantly on my iPhone’s screen. *Sigh* I’m going to contact Vaja’s customer service department soon, and everything I’ve heard to date about them indicates it may well be a long process to address this. I’d be fine with a replacement, though I’ll also opt for my money back if possible, since it was a bit of a frivolous purchase to begin with, I must admit.

My Dots Gloves order was canceled and my money refunded, though not at my request. According to an email I received, they are not taking orders until they are capable of fulfilling them within 48 hours of placement and expect to have the gloves in stock in January. They offered to keep my place in the order line for this time, and I’ve taken them up on that. 
I’ve actually got a couple of reviews ready for posting, but just haven’t gotten around to taking the pictures to go with them. Stay tuned!
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