The iEqualizer case for iPhone 5: a kind of silly and pretty useless accessory

Here on the Pure Mobile blog, we like to bring you news about the best gadgets, including the coolest iPhone accessories we can find. We've seen all kinds of iPhone cases and skins in our day, from typical protective gear to more out there designs. Many are good in their own right. But hey, they can't all be winners.

Case in point: the iEqualizer case for iPhone 5 from Strapya World. To be honest, we aren't really sure why Mashable thought this silly and impractical case was worth writing up at all.

In fact, we don't even know why we're talking about it right now, except maybe to prove the point that we've perhaps gone a little too far with our mobile accessories.

The idea behind the iEqualizer iPhone 5 case is that it slaps a sound "equalizer" on the back that does a little light show in response to noise. Ok, sort of cool, I guess. But, as it turns out, the thing's not even a true equalizer.

As Mashable points out, "each of the bars isn't reacting to specific frequencies. Nay, it's just the whole array of blinkenlights reacting to any sound nearby." So, like, whatever.

That on its own isn't enough to really kill this case as a conceptual accessory. Yes, a light-up case could look pretty cool in a dark night club. But if it's just for show, we'd at least expect this iPhone case to look cool over all. But it doesn't.

This total disaster of an accessory actually adds a ton of bulk to your phone, making its thickness almost double. And, to make matters worse, it's got an idiotic-looking plastic appendage at the top, which Mashable says works as on on/off switch.

Seriously? They couldn't think of a way to integrate a button that performs the same function?

Why anyone would dream this up when there are so many great and great-looking iPhone 5 accessories already on the market is beyond us. Except the obvious attempt at a cash-grab, we can't even explain why this piece of garbage exists.

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It's not often that you get a great deal on one of the most popular and highest rated accessories for one of the best and newest phones. But this week, the Survivor series, Griffin's leading carrying case for iPhone 5, is on super sale at Pure Mobile.

With an iPhone 5 accessory as high-rated and well-loved as this, it almost seems like an exercise in redundancy to go through a description. But for those who aren't already well acquainted with Griffin's star iPhone case, here goes:

Griffin proudly claims that the Survivor case is the most protective case they've ever built, which, for this company, is saying something. Unapologetically over-engineered, the Survivor for iPhone 5 is built to military specifications, "designed and tested to meet or exceed US Department of Defense Standard 810F."

Griffin Survivor Carrying Case for iPhone 5 in Black and Blue

With a multi-layer construction that combines shatter-proof polycarbonate with shock-absorbing silicone, the Survivor case has been tested to withstand rain, vibrations, blown sand and dust, and even a 6-foot drop onto concrete.

But this carrying case serves just as well for everyday life as it does in military-grade tests, and handy features, like a multi-position clip make it a practical and functional civilian favorite.

Griffin Survivor Case for iPhone 5 in Black and Green

And with a wide variety of colors to choose from (our sale includes models in basic black or grey, as well as color combos with red, blue, green and more), there's a stylish option for almost every taste.

And right now, we've got the Griffin Survivor for iPhone 5 priced around the $20 mark, which is probably just about the best deal you can get on an iPhone 5 accessory with this level of design and quality.

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Plantronics's water resistant Voyager Legend Bluetooth headset

When it comes to Bluetooth headsets for phones, not all are created equal. And Plantronics' Voyager Lengend, today's mobile accessory of the week, is proof of that. Branded as "the world's smartest headset," the Voyager Legend is designed first and foremost for sound clarity and intuitive use, two areas in which it certainly excels.

Its precision audio provides superior sound quality, thanks to multiple microphones intended to optimize voice and reduce external noise. That, says Plantronics, makes this Bluetooth headset ideal for noisy settings, like airports, windy locations, and busy cities.

And if you're still not sure, you can always check out the sound comparison clips on Plantronics' website.

But what makes a great headset isn't just top-notch sound. It should also be easy to use and uncomplicated. That's where the Voyager Legend's intelligent design features really come in.

With its Smart Call Routing feature, the headset "Intuitively directs calls to your phone or headset, pauses music for incoming calls, and allows you to automatically answer by simply placing the headset on your ear."

And with Caller Announce and Voice Command capabilities, the Voyager Legend also makes it easy to answer, end or ignore calls hands-free, which come in especially handy while driving.

Meanwhile, the headset itself is clearly built to withstand the wear and tear of everyday use, and it's even designed to protected against sweat and moisture witha  nano-coating dubbed P2i technology. That means you don't have to worry about getting caught in the rain or accidentally setting your headset down on a wet surface.

And if you're the type who tends to use more than one device on a daily basis, this headset's Multipoint technology will allow you to pair and maintain connection with two different devices. That's especially nice since the Voyager Legend is compatible with most phones or tablets, from iPhone to Android devices and more.

Any proud new owner of a BlackBerry Z10 is probably facing the same dilemma – having one of the newest phones on the market can make finding compatible accessories hard. Good thing, then that leading case maker OtterBox is already making fun new gadgets and accessories for BlackBerry Z10.

Just in at Pure Mobile, one of the most popular OtterBox carrying cases, the Defender, has arrived for Blackberry's first all-touch phone. The Defender is already among one of the top cases for both iPhone and Android devices, like the Galaxy S3. But, with the celebrated arrival of the new Z10, it only made sense for OtterBox to start making Blackberry carrying cases that offer the same level of protection.

As with the Defender models for other phones, this rugged accessory combines multiple layers for ultimate device protection, including a high-quality polycarbonate shell, a shock-absorbing silicone skin, and a clear screen protector.

The four layers of protection in OtterBox's Defender case for BlackBerry Z10

And, for no-fuss carrying, this super resilient OtterBox case also comes with a ratcheting belt holster that makes it easy to clip your phone someplace handy.

To be sure, it's always harder to find accessories when you've got the latest handset. And you probably won't find as wide of a selection of Blackberry Z10 covers and skins as you would carrying cases for iPhone or other devices that have been around longer. But at least the first Z10 accessories out there are bound to be the high quality stuff, as is the case with OtterBox's Defender.

Well-conceived and well-built, it's surprisingly slim and always reliable. And for protection from dust, drops, bumps and shocks, you'd be hard-pressed to find a better BlackBerry carrying case than the OtterBox Defender for Z10.

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Moshi's new iGlaze Armour Cases for iPhone 5 comes in lustrous metallic finishes

When it comes to cell phone accessories, Moshi is one of the best. And that's especially true in respect to their collection of iPhone 5 cases, which seems to be growing on a weekly basis. Their speciality is in combining sleek and compact designs with a style that borders on runway-worthy. In fact, the company describes itself as a "purveyor of electronics fashion," rather than simply a maker of carrying cases and covers.

It's no surprise then that the latest Moshi iPhone 5 case is just as elegant (some would even say beautiful) as the rest of their accessories. A continuation of their popular iGlaze case series, the iGlaze Armour is a brilliant and lustrous iPhone 5 case with a sleek and rich-looking metallic finish.

Available in either Silver, a gold-like Bronze, or a shiny jet Black, the iGlaze Armour combines a polycarbonate frame with a diamond-cut aluminum backplate, so you get strength at the core and a seriously sexy metallic outer.

We at Pure Mobile are already carrying the Bronze version, and we hope we're not going too far in saying that it's so stunning and so elegant that, in the flesh, it's actually reminiscent of a gold brick.

It's a sophisticated, and more importantly, a practical choice for your iPhone 5. Glamorous for women, and sophisticated for men, it reminds us of something either James Bond or Marilyn Monroe could carry around.

Again, Moshi has proved itself not only one of the best, but possibly the most fashion-conscious of cell phone accessories makers, as the iGlaze Armour iPhone 5 Case goes beyond mere protection and practicality with an elevated and endlessly elegant appeal.

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Music lovers and active types rejoice! There's finally a phone case designed with you in mind, and it's Pure Mobile's accessory of the week. iLuv's SmashBox Pro is a portable speaker case that protects your phone while acting like a mini stereo.

And while we've reviewed both portable speakers and phone cases on the Pure Mobile blog before, we've never seen an accessory that quite so perfect a hybrid between the two.

Back in the old days, when you went out jogging, hiking or cycling, you took along a discman (remember those?) or a walkman (geez, you've got to be old if you know what that is.) But portable music is all about smartphones these days, which is great. We can almost hear Gandalf voice in your heads, saying "one device to rule them all, and in the darkness bind them."

But your phone is pretty fragile, at least for a mountainside hike or the constant impact of a hearty jog. And though you can always listen with headphones, earbuds do tend to pop out when you're active. So the idea behind the SmashBox Pro is to let you listen with speakers, while protecting your phone inside a totally enveloped zip case.

It's designed so it can be fastened to your backpack or even to the handlebars of your bike. And where you go, your music goes with you, thanks to exterior controls that not only let you play and pause your tracks but also answer and end calls.

As for sound quality, the general consensus from reviewers is that the sound is big and clear, much better than you'd expect from a set of speakers that's so compact. Meanwhile, the case is ultra-protective and secures your phone in place to keep it from jostling around.

It's also designed to fit almost every phone model, from all incarnations of the iPhone, to Samsung devices like the Galaxy S3, BlackBerry handsets and pretty much any other model you can think of. And thanks to the fact that it's powered by AA batteries, it won't unnecessarily draw power away from your device.

And though you obviously won't be able to use the SmashBox Pro as a case for your tablet or laptop, its speakers are still compatible with those devices too, so you won't really need any additional portable speakers. But we still love it best for high-quality on-the-go sound for when you're out and about or peeling around on your bike.

So, if you've ever wanted to cycle past a car blasting your own favorite tunes as the driver next to you wonders where you're hiding your stereo system, you've finally got your chance. Thanks iLuv.

PureGear's PX360 ExtremeCase for iPhone 4/4S comes with cool built-in features, like bottle opener and wrench

Today's Pure Mobile accessory of the week would make any outdoorsman proud. Basically the Swiss Army Knife of cell phone accessories, PureGear's PX360 ExtremeCase for iPhone 4/4S is more than just an iPhone case, it's also touted as an "extreme protection system."

Voted by Men's Fitness as the "most functional" on their list of "best cases for your iPhone4/4S" the ExtremeCase offers a crazy level of protection, in an ultra-sporty design. There's no risk of your iPhone unexpectedly coming out of the case if it drops; the ExtremeCase is secured by six screws and acts as a 360-degree shield, witha built-in screen protector.

But what makes it really great for the rugged, outdoorsy type or active athlete are additional features, like the built-in loop at the top, which comes with a carbiner, so you can secure your phone when you're on the go or when you've set up camp.

And, aside from the fairly standard kick-stand, PureGear's ExtremeCase offers cool details rarely found in an iPhone case, like a built-in bottle opener and wrench. So even if you're out of service area, your iPhone may just be able to get you out of a sticky situation.

We always look forward to Friday. Undeniably the best day of the workweek, sometimes we wish it could last more than 24 hours. And this week at Pure Mobile, it's going to – sort of.

We're celebrating the Friday to top all Fridays, Black Friday that is, with a special 4-day Black Friday Sale that'll make you wish it came around more than once a year.

Starting this Friday, November 23, and running until Monday, November 26, Pure Mobile will be offering crazy discounts of up to 70% off on the latest and hottest mobile accessories.

From cases and covers for iPhone 5 to skins, cases, headsets and more for Android phones – like the Samsung Galaxy line – it's the perfect chance to save huge on the gadgets and accessories that top your holiday shopping list.

The sale covers Apple and Android products, as well as fun gadgets and practical accessories for BlackBerry phones, like keyboard protectors, styluses and pens. You'll also find incredible deals on best-selling and top-rated items from the world's leading accessories makers, like Griffin, Incipio, and OtterBox.

So make the most of your Black Friday and check out our collection of cases and skins, chargers and docks, speakers, headphones, car chargers and holders, BlueTooth kits, and more for up to 70% off on the best mobile accessories around.