SURFACE™ Plus & CONVERT® Plus Giveaway!

EDIT: Thank you everyone for the wonderful responses we received! We have sent an email to our two lucky winners! Congratulations and thanks for playing!

Calling all iPhone 4/4S Battery Hogs! FREE SURFACE™ Plus & CONVERT® Plus Giveaway!

Does your iPhone 4/4S not make it through the day? Do you find yourself searching for an outlet every couple of hours? Do you need just a little more power to finish that last level on Angry Birds? Fret no more iPhone users! Seidio has a solution that will have your iPhone 4/4S back in action while still on-the-go, and we want to give you one for FREE!

Why limit what the iPhone 4/4S can do for you? Our new SURFACE™ Plus and CONVERT® Plus cases give you power on-the-go. Now you will never miss that phone call, text message, or email. Better yet, you will have plenty of power to use all those apps that your friends can’t ever use because their phones keep dying. PLUS, these are the first iPhone 4/4S power cases with a removable battery, certified by Apple!

Have you ever had your phone die during an important phone call? While waiting for a text from that special someone? Right before your car broke down in the middle of rush hour traffic? Let us know! Write a comment below about why you need this power case for your iPhone 4/4S to be entered for the chance to win either a SURFACE™ Plus or CONVERT® Plus case!

    

Giveaway Rules:

•  Giveaway runs from Friday, May 4th – Monday, May 7th (until midnight CST)
•  2 winners will be randomly selected to win (one winner will win a SURFACE™ Plus case and the other will win a CONVERT® Plus case)
•  One entry per person, limited to participants in the United States
•  For more about our SURFACE™ Plus & CONVERT® Plus cases, visit: http://www.seidio.com/plus/

Product announcement: SURFACE™ & CONVERT® Plus, all new power accessories from Seidio!

The first few days of April have brought more than showers to our headquarters in Houston! We have just released some exciting new accessories that we have been working on for some time. We would like to introduce you to SURFACE Plus and CONVERT Plus, accessories that provide power plus protection for the Apple iPhone 4/4S.

In true Seidio fashion, the cases are part of our full line of power accessories. You may have seen other power cases for Apple devices, but the SURFACE Plus and CONVERT Plus are different. These cases have removable batteries so you can buy our spare battery, the Innocell 1700mAh Replacement Battery, and pop it in when you need another power boost. Not only that, you can charge the battery and your phone at the same time (through an outlet or USB port) with our Multi-Function Battery Charger. 

For those that do not want to give up the protection rugged cases have to offer when choosing a power case, the CONVERT Plus is the perfect option. The first power case on the market that is both rugged and convertible, allows users to convert between rugged and sleek protection, depending on their needs, all while keeping their iPhone charged and powered up.

Additionally, we designed holsters that are compatible for each case and provided color options for those that like to express their personalities through their case.

To learn more about our newest product additions, please visit our SURFACE™ Plus and CONVERT® Plus page here.

Or visit seidioonline.com and browse through our Apple iPhone 4/4S accessories. We have a special deal for early adopters. Purchase a Plus case between now and April 5th and we will give you the Innocell 1700mAh Replacement Battery for free. Check back here to find out how you can win one of these innovative cases!

SXSW – Intermingling of music, film, interactive & Seidio

Every March, creatives descend into Austin, Texas for a laid back music, film and interactive festival. Last year, we attended SXSW for the first time and gave out cases from our booth. This year, we decided to do things differently.

After a short drive from Houston to Austin, with a trunk full of cases and t-shirts, we arrived at the Mashable SXSWi House. We gave away t-shirts and met up with a few of our reviewers and attendees.

We started Monday off walking around the show and then passed out cases to attendees walking around the downtown area. In the evening, we gave away 50 cases in about 15 minutes at an event held at Fogo De Chao.

While we were walking back to our car, we got a little treat! We walked by the premiere of 21 Jump Street and got to see Jonah Hill, Dave Franco and Channing Tatum! After walking around all day promoting Seidio, it was nice to take in a little more of what SXSW offers.

Between passing out the rest of our shirts and cases, we had time to stop by the Nokia Lab and the Samsung Smart Wall.

From showcasing the speed of their phones to the quality of the lens on the camera, Nokia created a unique experience for users viewing their new devices. Samsung had an artist drawing caricutures of people on the new Samsung Galaxy Note, which was a fun way to see a phone that carries tablet features.

Did you go to SXSW this year or a previous year? Share your favorite part of the weeklong festival in the heart of Texas!

Seidio 2012 Tradeshow Update

Sorry for the hiatus, readers! 2012 has been busy with shows in Las Vegas and San Francisco! Here’s a recap of where we were and where you can find us next!

CES 2012

Seidio Booth 3818 | CES 2012

We went all out this year to make this our largest and most successful appearance at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, NV.  With our signature red found throughout booth #3818 and one of the largest banner situated within the infamous iLounge section, we were easily spotted by Seidio fans everywhere. Our t-shirt and case giveaways brought in many consumers in a line that kept growing! Thank you for stopping by. We had a blast meeting every one of you!

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MacWorld | iWorld 2012

Seidio Booth 1047 | MacWorld | iWorld 2012

One of our favorite cities to visit, San Francisco welcomedus this past January with their annual exhibition of everything Apple.  Seidio (#1047) greeted Apple enthusiasts from all over the world and the response was overwhelming!  Tons of people stopped by and raved about our ACTIVE^® case for the iPad 2, as well as our new SURFACE^TM Reveal for the iPhone 4/4S.  As the rumors for the next iPad heat up on the internet, we will be sure to release some great accessoriesto protect the newest Apple product!

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EMS Today 2012

Known as the first Emergency Medical Services tradeshow every year, EMS Today caters to local, state, and federal first responders and their institutions to improve their work in all aspects.  At Seidio’s booth, #3120, we will showcase the innovative CONVERT^TM Combo, which is 2 cases in 1, that offers superior protection for on the job use that easily converts when users are looking for a slimmer case that is easy to carry, we are preferred by many as their go-to accessory maker.  We are very excited to meet everyone at Baltimore next month starting March 1^st through 3^rd!

2011 Retrospect and a Look Ahead

This year marked another year of firsts for Seidio. We introduced new products and added functional features to our product lines. Here’s a look at just a few of the products we launched and a preview of what is coming in 2012.

Charging Vault
Our newest charging solution, the Charging Vault, is a universal portable battery pack that is a convenient must for every smart phone user. Two ports allow you to plug in your existing cable or one of ours and charge when you are low on battery power and away from an outlet.

Kickstand cases
We launched our first kickstand case when we built one into our HTC ThunderBolt cases in May and since then, we have incorporated kickstands into our SURFACE and ACTIVE as well. Next week, in 2012, we will launch our first metal kickstand case for the iPhone 4/4S, the SURFACE Reveal with kickstand.

Extended cases
While extended cases are nothing new, we launched our first ACTIVE Extended in 2011 for the HTC ThunderBolt. We launched our first CONVERT Extended with the HTC EVO 4G in 2011 and continued in 2011 with the HTC ThunderBolt and the HTC EVO 3D. We’re hoping to expand our line of protective cases that accommodate our power solutions in 2012.

Check back in 2012 to see our new innovations that will change the way you use your smart phone!

Last Minute Holiday Gift Guide

 

If you are trying to avoid the crowded parking lots and packed malls and shopping centers this holiday season, we have complied a gift guide that will allow you to shop from the comfort of your home! While online shopping is nothing new, we have included some great ideas for the techie in your life that cannot put down their smart phone. Some great applications are free and great for use year around, while other useful apps are inexpensive.

Sincerely – Application available on both the Android market and iPhone App store
Sincerely is a great app for the card or photo lover in your life. Simplify sending cards or printing photographs for him or her by gifting them with one of these great apps. Sincerely offers a variety of apps; the Dotti app takes 12 shots and delivers the prints to your door and Sincerely Inc allows users to snap a shot, add a holiday background and submit it to be mailed out. Other great apps allow users to send postcards and photo booth cards.

Epicurious – Application available on iPhone, iPad, Android and Windows Phone for free
The holidays and food go hand in hand, but being in charge of the whole meal or even just one item can be stressful. Epicurious is not just a large catalogue of recipes, it makes shopping simple too. Simply add a recipe to your shopping list and it will organize the ingredients by grocery store sections, eliminating emergency trips to the grocery store!

TripIt – Application available on iPhone, iPad, Android and Windows Phone for free
TripIt makes traveling easier. Now you don’t have to fumble around looking for your flight itinerary, hotel and car rental reservations that are in three different e-mails. Not only will everything you need be in a central location, you can also track your flight and check your terminal from the app itself.

Back to Basics Toaster and Egg Poacher – Pricing varies
With this 3-in-1 you’ll cook breakfast everyday! Toast a few slices of bread, warm meat and cook eggs all in one device. Not only does it speed up cooking, cleaning is a lot easier with this all in one appliance! Now the smart phone addict in your life can make breakfast without putting down his or her phone!

Seidio’s System of Accessories – Pricing varies based on accessories
Seidio offers a system of accessories for your device. While many other accessory manufacturers focus on cases alone, we want to provide users a system that works together with their device in order to bring efficiency into customers’ busy lifestyles. We develop our Desktop Cradles and Innodock Jr.’s knowing that many professionals like to dock their phones while using the case they purchased to protect their device. Why not make a co-worker, friend, or loved one’s life easier by getting them a system of accessories that fits their device and their lifestyle? Show now at seidioonline.com

 

The Evolution of Technology – and Seidio

Smart phones and the technology behind them have evolved significantly in the last year and a half. These devices have always allowed users to text, check e-mails and browse the web relatively quickly. Manufacturers took it a step further when they began to build phones with added capabilities in 2010 but the networks were still a little behind. Watching television shows or movies meant there was lag time and streaming was often interrupted.

Beginning late last year, major carriers have improved their networks, with Verizon and AT&T launching their LTE networks. With faster networks, you don’t have to worry about lag time while you are streaming a clip on YouTube or a show on Hulu.

We’ve made changes to our product line as well by providing more extended life batteries, developing the Charging Vault and offering cases with kickstands for more phone models. This year we added a kickstand to some models of our SURFACE and ACTIVE cases so you can prop up your device while catching up on your shows.

Kickstands have not become an integral feature, like our soft-touch coating, of our cases yet, but should they be? Will kickstands be a necessity for the smart phones of the future?

Feel free to sound off and let us know if kickstands or any other feature is the deciding factor for you.

Kindle Fire!

This week, there’s no question that Amazon’s Kindle Fire is stealing the stage. The icing on the cake? It shipped a day early!

The early release prompted an influx of early adopter/blogger reviews, and so far, it looks like the sparks are flying. Some of our favorite fiery features are the battery life (8 hours of continuous reading remains competitive, especially for this mid-size device) and full Amazon integration (access to books, magazines, movies, and music is centralized, no need to go back and forth between apps) Keep your eyes peeled for Hulu Plus and Netflix, too!

The form factor is familiar, so nothing too incredible there, but it still fits nicely in the hand and is practical for business travelers, teenagers, and conference-goers alike.

Keeping the $199 price point in mind, the Kindle Fire is a welcome addition to the tablet market in a struggling economy. Keep your expectations realistic (it is not an iPad and is not trying to be an iPad) and you will enjoy this svelte media machine.

No smokescreens here – check out a few reviews for yourself and let us know your thoughts! Worth it? Over hyped? Waiting for iPad 3? Nook Tablet fan? Why?

Reviews from The Verge, Technolog (MSNBC), Engadget, and Techland from TIME.

Interested in hearing from us when Seidio accessories are available? Sign up to be notified by sending an email to kindlefire@seidio.com

E-reader wars continue

E-reader manufacturers have been, er, on fire, lately.

Amazon’s latest addition to the Kindle family, the Kindle Fire, is scheduled for launch November 15th, good news for the thousands of folks who pre-ordered the $199-priced 7″ tablet. Admirers praise the dual-core processor, the sleek, black hardware, and Amazon integration.

With Borders closing its doors and the Kobo e-reader headed into endangered species land, the playing field now consists of only the two main players: Amazon and Barnes and Noble.

We’ve seen what Amazon has up their sleeves for the holiday season, but it won’t be until tomorrow morning that we see what’s in store for Nook fans. Barnes and Noble is holding a press event tomorrow morning at 10 AM EST, and we’re guessing it’s got something to do with a new Nook Color.

Between Best Buy dropping $50 off the original Nook Color and reported leaks on BGR, we wouldn’t be surprised if the newest Nook Color came out with a bang. Sources speculate that the form factor will remain the same, with just a boost to the internal features, but I’m hoping that we’ll see a refresh of the build, perhaps with a larger screen and less weight.

I think the rubberized back and SD card slot should stay, but who knows? It gets harder to make drastic refreshes when manufacturers have to keep coming up with the next best thing to keep up with the competition.

Follow along with BGR or The Verge for a live blog of the event tomorrow. We’ll be watching too, so feel free to sound off in the comments after the event.

 

Are you a huge Seidio fan?

Seidio has built its brand around innovative engineering and professionally styled products, but our fans are what make us most proud. It is important to us that customers find our products functional (and fun!), and your enthusiasm says that we’re doing a pretty good job. However, we are always looking for ways to improve and rely heavily on your feedback to provide a direction for where we should go next.

One of the ways we obtain feedback is through our loyal fans who become reviewers. This could mean that someone discusses how our product fits into their lifestyle in a YouTube video or posts a written review on their blog/social media site. We’ve been privileged to partner with both independent reviewers and folks affiliated with larger sites like Android Police, CrackBerry, and Buy Me an iPhone.

If you have a consistent social media audience and love our products,  we’d like to hear from you. If you’d like to be a reviewer, consider the following questions:

• What sites would you post your review on?
• Additionally, would you be willing to share your experience/feedback on your social media sites?
• Would you be able to try out the product and write a review within a 2 week time period?
• If part of a larger site/video channel, would you be interested in hosting giveaways or contests?

If you’re still interested, feel free to leave your contact information in this form. We’re looking for reviewers for the following devices: iPhone 4 / 4S, Droid Bionic, Galaxy S II devices, newer BlackBerry models, and other up and coming devices.

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