Support Our Site
Get Better Gear!
- Kensington Windshield/Vent Car Mount with Sound Amplified Cradle for iPhone from Kensington, $39.99
- SigFx Energy iPhone Case Contains Smart Battery from SigFx Energy, US$69.95
- NAVIGON AG - True GPS Software for the iPhone from NAVIGON Inc., 89.99
- Tweetie 2 from atebits, $2.99
- Snood: Flawed Casual Play from Electronic Arts, US$3.99
Premier Sponsors
Top 5 Free Apps
iTunes New Music Releases
Top 5 Paid Apps
Discover New Music
- The Who
Quadrophenia is everything that Tommy wanted to be, a rock opera that told a story, but one where every song could still stand alone. It was also Pete Townshend's farewell tribute to the Mod
- Poe
Dropping like a bomb on some of the blah musical offerings of her contemporaries, Haunted was one of the best albums of 2000, obliterating the competition.
Ostensibly a tie-in to her brot
- Nine Inch Nails
In the sprawling post-A&R rock and roll world, there are two camps: the Beatles and the Stones. The Beatles are the artists that like to explore, evolve, and change styles. The Stones are the artis
- Rush
- We all know it, right? Well, ya just gotta have it. 2112 finally showed Rush out on their own, doing their own thing, and doing it well, IMHO.
- Ladytron
Reader Specials
Visit Deals On The Web for the best deals on all consumer electronics, iPods, and more!
In-Depth Review
Elan Holster iPhone Case
Friday, July 20th, 2007 at 8:00 AM - by Bob LeVitus
The Elan Holster case from Griffin Technology is pretty much what its name implies: an iPhone holster with élan.
What's élan? According to the Mac OS X Dictionary:
élan
noun
energy, style, and enthusiasm : a rousing march, played with great élan.ORIGIN mid 19th cent.: from French élan, from élancer ‘to dart,’ from é- ‘out’ + lancer ‘to throw.’
I'm not sure about energy or enthusiasm, but I definitely think it's got style. Here's what it looks like from the side, front, and back:
The leather-covered clip is removable, so you can attach it vertically (as shown), horizontally (insert it in the slot on the right instead of the slot on the top as shown), or remove it altogether (although that kind of defeats the purpose of a holster).
The only other thing of note is that it includes a static peel screen protector you can use if you like, and a "premium cleaning cloth," in case you lose the one that came with your iPhone.
I've been using this case for a few days and I'm still not sure I'm a holster kind of guy. Your iPhone fits snugly inside it which is both a blessing and a curse. It's a blessing because there's little chance of it falling out accidentally. But it also means that removing the phone quickly is sometimes a challenge. I didn't miss any calls because of it but there were a couple of times it was close. Still, if you prefer this type of case and don't mind having to remove the phone each time you use it, the Elan Holster provides good protection, craftsmanship, and looks.
By the way, someone commented that an iPhone may get hotter when you use it in a case than when you use it without. I haven't found that to be a problem with the Case-Mate Signature Leather Case I reviewed last week, but if heat during use concerns you, this case may be a better choice, since it's a holster and you have to remove the phone to use it.
One last thing: While researching the whole heat/case issue I came across this warning on the Apple site:
Charging your iPhone while in certain carrying cases may generate excess heat, which can affect battery capacity. If you notice that your iPhone gets hot when you charge it, take it out of its case first.
From: Apple - Batteries - iPhone
http://www.apple.com/batteries/iphone.html
So regardless of which case you choose you should probably remove it from that case before your recharge it.
The Bottom Line
The Elan Holster from Griffin Technology is a stylish, well-made case for anyone who prefers a "remove-it-to-use-it" holster-style case.
Just The Facts
Pros:Quality materials, flexible clip, screen protector.
Cons:Can't use phone without removing it from the case, can be a challenge to remove quickly.
Recent Headlines
- Apple TV 3.0.1 Update Fixes Missing Content Bug
- Taiwan Leak Shows Verizon UTMS/CDMA iPhone for Q3 2010
- iPhone Moves Into RadioShack
- Dictionary, Dictionary, Dictionary, And More
- The Latest App Store Games: Gravity Sling, RocketBird, Ground Effect, Checkers!
- iPhone Game Developer Sued for Collecting User’s Cell Numbers
- Apple May Be Bringing RFID to the iPhone
Post Your Comments