Marware’s C.E.O. Premiere for iPhone 3G and iPhone 3GS. [$34.95 - TiPb Store Link] is a horizontal case with a belt clip and top flap. Either you love that style or you hate it, but there is no denying their popularity among iPhone owners. Marware has been making iPhone cases since day one and some pretty good ones at that. What did we think of the Marware C.E.O. Premiere?

Follow us after the break!

The Marware C.E.O Premiere has the classic horizontal holster case design that covers your iPhone in a textured, soft leather with quality stitching and an ultra-slim non-removable belt clip. The interior of the case is made up of microfiber cloth which is a welcomed addition that promises not to scratch your device while it is in use.

The flap that encloses your iPhone stays closed with the help of Velcro. Though I would have preferred Marware to use magnets, the Velcro does it’s job. However, when I am in a quiet room and need to get to my phone I’d like to get it out in silence rather than hearing the sound of Velcro tearing open.

The C.E.O. Premiere is designed only to provide access to the headphone port while your phone is inside. This design allows you to listen to music or take calls with the iPhones headset while you are out and about, but like all other cases of this style, no other controls can be accessed when the it’s is closed. Keep that in mind if it’s a deciding factor when you’re looking for a new case.

Marware was kind enough to include a decent screen protector in the package as well.

If you prefer the horizontal case and can get past some of the Marware’s minor shortcomings, the C.E.O Premiere as it’s truly a quality case.

Learn more at TiPb’s iPhone Store >>>

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Review: Marware C.E.O. Premiere for iPhone 3GS & iPhone 3G

The Marware Sportsuit Convertible for iPhone 3G is available and can be purchased in the TiPb Store for $34.95. If you are looking for an armband case for your iPhone, this might just be it! Let’s see how it measures up after the break!

Design

The Marware Sportsuit is a convertible armband for the iPhone that is made primarily of neoprene for soft, stretchable, secure use. The iPhone is held in place by a faux leather case with a clear plastic front (to cover the screen) and a strong elastic at the bottom (to prevent the iPhone from falling out). The neoprene is laced with Velcro to adjust to any arm size. The armband comes with the ability to remove the iPhone case component to use separate if desired and there is another optional carry compartment for a couple of keys, cash, etc. 

Daily Use 

When GPS and all of the running/walking apps were announced for the iPhone I was so excited. I thought surely Apple would release their own armband for the iPhone like they have for the Nano and iPod Touch. Alas, this did not happen. Well, thank goodness for companies like Marware for releasing their take on what an armband should do/be for the iPhone. 

First things first. if you have any fear or apprehension of the iPhone falling out while running, you can set those aside. The iPhone fits very securely in the accompanying case. The iPhone is held in by the case itself (very, very snug) and the strong elastic at the bottom. There are no snaps or other contraptions to keep the iPhone in place. This elasticity is sufficient. The encapsulating case is attached to the armband via a plastic snap-in option. This plastic clip attaches to the neoprene armband AND a convenient belt clip; that is right, you are done working out and you can remove the case from the armband and clip it right on your belt with the supplied belt clip. Also, the case has a clear electrostatic cover, so the touchscreen is accessible in the case. Very nice indeed.

The armband is comfortable and does not pinch the arm. The area where the iPhone attaches has a slightly curved plastic piece that conforms to the arm. This adds stability and is also the area which the case attaches to the armband. The accompanying carry compartment is also non-intrusive. It is very small and slides onto the armband just about anywhere you want it. I as able to stuff a key, cash and a credit card into it (hey, you never know when running if you are gonna need supplies, buy a paper, or get some additional water).

While exercising, the armband stayed in place, but not without some effort. I want to make it clear that this is through no fault of the armband, but rather the weight of the iPhone 3G (iPhone 4.7 ounces, iPod Touch 4.05 ounces and the iPod Nano 1.3 ounces). As you can tell, the iPhone is clearly the heaviest of the bunch. Because of this, I found I had to make the armband rather tight. The good news is that the armband held securely through my running travels. The downside is that my arm became “numb” from having to tighten the armband securely enough to where it would not slide down my arm. So, to try to circumvent the “numbing factor” of my upper arm, I tried attaching the armband to my lower arm, just below the elbow. This seems to be more comfortable (and don’t worry, the running apps still seemed to work OK. Most of them register your movement via the accelerometer, and placing the armband lower on the arm, still gives the iPhone the motion it needs to register your movement. 

Conclusion

I really liked the design and flexibility of the armband. I can’t say I am a huge fan of the case as a stand alone case, but it works just fine for what it is made for. The added functionality of the additional compartment really makes things easier for carrying more items with you.

As a quick extra tip, there are a couple of cool apps out there to help you make the most of your new armband. I recommend; iMapMyRun, Pedometer and RunKeeper.

Pros

• Its a sports armband for the iPhone! (Why doesn’t Apple make one?)
• 3-in-1 armband!
• Adjustable armband that will fit anyone
• Soft neoprene elastic texture
• Case is removable
• Extra storage for keys or money

Cons

• Can become uncomfortable for extended periods of time (due to the iPhone’s weight)
• Can be tricky to remove the iPhone from the encapsulating case
• iPhone case is not really useful or flattering if used independently of the armband

TiPb Rating:

This is a story by the iPhone Blog. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

Review: Marware Sportsuit Convertible for iPhone 3G

The iPhone 3G has plenty of case options that range from hard polycarbonate cases to soft rubber options, from colorful designs to more understated lines. The Marware Sport Grip for iPhone 3G ($19.95) is a soft rubber case that incorporates subtle design and offers superb protection. How does it perform?

Read on for the rest of the review!

Design

The Marware Sport Grip for iPhone 3G is a silicone rubber case that protects the corners, the entire back, and even the home button on the iPhone. The Marware Sport Grip also comes with an adequate adhesive clear screen protector that covers the entire front face of the iPhone 3G. There is a quirk in design that exposes the multitude of sensors on the iPhone 3G but this oddity is due to maintaining the function of the sensors.

The Marware Sport Grip is available in three opaque colors: black, white, and pink. What makes the Marware Sport Grip case stand out is that it protects as much of the front face of the iPhone 3G as possible—the home button and ear speaker is protected—leaving only the touchscreen open for ‘direct’ access. Few cases offer as much protection.

The volume buttons and sleep/wake switch are also covered via exterior rubber buttons—no worries, the buttons don’t lose much sensitivity with the protection, the molded rubber buttons are very easy to press. The silent/ringer switch is made available through a small cut out in the case.

Usability

Make no mistake, the Marware Sport Grip’s main purpose is to protect the iPhone 3G offering few frills and no gimmicks. Whereas other companies choose to sway consumers with eye-catching design, the Marware Sport Grip focuses on function. The design is simple—cover as much as the iPhone 3G as possible. And to that extent, it definitely succeeds. You can’t possibly cover more of the iPhone 3G’s exterior without losing some functionality, the protection that the Sport Grip offers is simply superb.

There is also a cutout for the speaker grilles on the iPhone so the sound won’t get muffled behind the silicone. There will obviously be some thickness added with the case but it isn’t bothersome. Overall, the Sport Grip performs solidly and the rubber used is thick enough for better protection but not too thick where it detracts from the iPhone’s form factor.

Even though the Marware Sport Grip is made from a silicone rubber, it doesn’t offer the tactile feel or grip of similar options. The case also attracts a lot of lint and dust but perhaps this is due to my testing with the black version. Also, though the holes for the iPhone 3G’s sensors are purposeful, it is still an odd design choice that clutters the front face of the iPhone 3G.

Final Thoughts

Overall, the Marware Sport Grip will fit anyone who wants a simple case that offers the most protection possible without sacrificing function. The case adds minimal thickness and the iPhone 3G feels secure and protected. Obviously, those looking for a more unique design should look elsewhere but the Marware Sport Grip is as solid a case as it gets with the iPhone 3G.

PROS:

• Superb, Complete Protection
• Maintains All Functionality of iPhone
• Adds Minimal Thickness

CONS:

• Attracts Lint & Dust
• Little Grip Added
• Cluttered Front Face

FINAL RATING:

This is a story by the iPhone Blog. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

Review: Marware Sport Grip for iPhone 3G

Need a place to keep your hands free when you hit the gym? Looking for the ideal workout case for your iPhone? The Marware Sportsuit Convertible case for iPhone 3G ($34.95) and original iPhone ($34.95) is a workout case that keeps your iPhone always within reach and your hands free to lift weights, use the yoga ball, run faster etc. It also doubles as a slim-profile sleeve case. And even triples for a clip-on case that is attachable via belt clip. How does it all perform? Does it hold up over time?

Read on for the rest of the review!

What Comes In The Box

• Marware Sportsuit Convertible
• Arm Band
• Belt Clip
• Key Pouch

Design & Fit

What’s unique about the Marware Sportsuit Convertible is its versatility. Marware stresses that you are able to use the workout case as an independent case as well. Though it may look unsightly, the case itself offers great protection with padded backing and edges and a full screen protector.

The Marware Sportsuit Convertible leaves room open for all of the iPhone’s sensors, the camera, ear speaker, and headphone jack. The belt clip works as well as any other belt clip. Most of my testing concerns the Marware Sportsuit Convertible Case as a workout Case.

Usability

In my testing, I found the case to be extremely comfortable and usable. I found the case easy to remove from the arm band and most of the iPhone’s buttons easily accessible. There are gray outlines that detail where the buttons on the iPhone are (not like you would forget, but a nice touch). Though the iPhone does lose some touch sensitivity behind the plastic screen protector, it didn’t seem to be a deal breaker for me. Whatever I needed to get done in the gym—changing playlists, increasing volume, make a quick call—the Sportsuit Convertible handled well enough.

The material of the arm band is great and I rarely noticed my iPhone attached to my arm when running. The velcro attaches well and the arm band is always secure. The quality of material that Marware uses in the Sportsuit Convertible was a great choice. As a workout case, the Marware Sportsuit Convertible succeeds.

Final Thoughts

Though it was a complete pain to remove the iPhone from the case, when it was in the case my iPhone felt safe and secure. There was never an issue of looseness and my iPhone was never in danger of falling onto the treadmill (oh the horror!) or getting smashed by some free weights. Obviously, if you were to use this as an everyday case, the plastic screen protector wouldn’t be the most ideal for heavy touch screen usage, but the Sportsuit Convertible is perfect for a trip to the gym and is rugged enough for any physically demanding exercise.

PROS

• Great Build Quality, Neoprene feels soft
• Secure Arm Band
• Useful Key Pouch

• A VERY, VERY tight fit. A little difficult to remove the iPhone
• Not the prettiest design
• Loses some touchscreen sensitivity

This is a story by the iPhone Blog. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

Review: Marware Sportsuit Convertible Case for iPhone