I did lots of research (as usual) and reading of reviews and it seemed Case-mate was one of the first to release a variety of cases specifically designed for the Verizon iPhone 4.  There are many different case styles but I don’t like to use a belt clip and prefer a case that has a combination of a solid spine (to protect from impact in case you drop it) but also has a rubber on the sides to help increase the grip to it doesn’t feel like it will slide out of your hand.  The Case-mate Pop case seemed to fit the bill – so I ordered one and in this video I show my unboxing as well as my review of this case.  Although I need to see if it stands the test of time so far I am VERY happy with this case and feel confident it will keep my precious iPhone 4 safe and sound.

Watch my video review and unboxing below:

What case did you pick for your iPhone and what do you like most about it?  Share your thoughts by posting a comment below!

Like this Post? Check Out These...

1. Tokbox – A great free tool for video conferencing and video email Whether you are collaborating with team members across distance or...
2. How to send mail from your own domain using Gmail and your iPhone In my blog post yesterday I showed you how to...
3. How to sync your iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch with Gmail, Google Calendar and Contacts If you have an iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch and...

It has certainly been a learning curve and in even the just the short time I’ve been a Mac user I’ve learned A LOT about some of the differences between the two operating systems, found some really cool new software and utilities, and basically been having a ball.

Sure I’ve been a bit less productive while making the transition but it is well worth it (and at least the lost productivity isn’t due to blue screens and dll errors)!

The video below is Part 1 of a 2 part series I shot about why I made the switch from Windows to Mac and why I felt I could make this jump without too much grief (my first project in iMovie):

Along with this post and video goes out a big heartfelt apology to all my family and friends who have been long time Mac users.  I gave you all a lot of shit over the years about living in your “Mac world” and not using a “realcomputer” but let me tell you . . . I’ve drunk the koolaid and it’s good!!

I got tired of troubleshooting technical issues and just wanted to be able to get work done and have fun while doing it.  I’m not so foolish to think that I won’t have any problems on the Mac side – but I can already tell it’s a world of difference and it has opened my eyes.

Here are links to the 2 software programs I mention in this video:

• eCamm Call Recorder for Skype – This program is great for recording Skype audio and/or video calls on the Mac.  This is something I tried desperately to do on Windows but none of the programs I tried did a very good job.
• Telestream ScreenFlow – One of the best programs I have ever seen for creating screencasts (where you record everything happening on your computer screen).  I loved Camtasia on Windows but this program blew me away! I’ll be posting a screencast video I made with this soon about how to setup a USB drive for automatic backups using Time Machine on the Mac.

I’ll be making a lot more videos, screencasts, and podcasts sharing some great Mac and cloud computing tips so be sure to check back.  Next week I will post part 2 of the video so stay tuned!

Have you made the switch to Mac or been thinking about it? Post a comment below and let me know your thoughts, what has made you want to switch, or what is keeping you on Windows.

Like this Post? Check Out These...

1. Switching From Windows to Mac – Part 2 This is the second of my 2-part video series on...
2. Switching From Windows to Mac – Cut the Learning Curve This video is the basically part 3 of my series...
3. Two Phil’s Talk About Switching From Windows to Mac As you know I have done a series of posts...

1. My arms are only so long so I couldn’t hold the camera out far enough to get much of me and the background in the shot
2. The camera shook a lot so the video jumped around a bit

As I always do when looking for the solution to a problem I searched Google and found a solution – the XShot 2.0 camera extender.  This amazing device is only 9″ in length and weighs 5 ozs. when closed but folds out (like an antennae) to 37″ long and can hold a camera up to 1.25 lbs.  It includes a standard tripod mount on the end that swivels up to 180 degrees so you can attach your point and shoot digital camera or your pocket camcorder (like the Flip video), simply extend it and get yourself and others in the shot!  I was jonesing on trying it out so I contacted XShot and they were kind enough to send me one so I could give it a try and review it for you.

Watch this video below where I do a quick demo of how it works:

Ever since I’ve had a digital camera I’ve always done the single-arm stretch to take photos of myself and others without having to ask someone else to take the picture.  These have been some of the best (and fun) photos I’ve taken – but the problem was always how close the camera was and you could only get 2 people in the shot.  Not anymore thanks to the XShot!  It’s solid, extremely light, and at full extension can get several people in the shot as well as the background.  The swiveling camera mount on the end allows you to reach high spots in crowds and concerts, take photos from fun angles and in other places difficult to reach. I’m looking forward to trying some of these situations out and will post more photos and videos to the blog when I do.

The XShot makes it easy to take pictures and videos on the go to post on your blog or social networks and it’s great if you want to do video interviews at trade shows or other events where setting up a tripod is difficult.  Best of all it fits in your pocket or camera bag so it’s a prefect tool for your Anywhere Office! It’s a great tool not only for travelers and photographers but also for bloggers, people involved in social media and entrepreneurs. It sells for $25 and along with my Joby Gorillapod and my Flip Video Camera will now be a permanent part of my mobile video setup.

For more info visit the XShot’s website.  Check out their Gallery and Video pages to see some great examples of all the different creative ways people have used it – including video while skiing and paragliding!

I love a creative solution to a problem and XShot has certainly come up with one. Post a comment below and let me know what you think . . .

Like this Post? Check Out These...

1. Tokbox – A great free tool for video conferencing and video email Whether you are collaborating with team members across distance or...
2. Video Review of the Case-mate Pop Case for Verizon iPhone 4 (great case) I recently updated from my iPod Touch to the new...
3. The Online Video Explosion During our last show we were talking about the recent...