Sorry, I meant atomic's. Maybe I should post over in that thread. Sorry about that.
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Alumacase
- Thread starter FtrV8
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Whats funny is I knew that was what you meant and just posted the wrong thing, sorry.
It's
sales@atomiciphonecase.com
Well I received my alumacase;
First off the reason we are not receiving tracking numbers is they are shipping them USPS first class mail NOT priority. First class mail do not have tracking numbers.
Also this case is basically the same thing as an SGP slider, with more color options.
The fit and finish is not nearly as nice as a vapor.
Reception issues are exactly the same as the vapor
I love how these companies claim there cases are "lined" with hi-tec material to alleviate reception issues. The alumacase has foam, similar to that you find in pc packages, in all 4 corners. It's so hi-tec it probably has a fancy name but nope it's just foam.
On a side note kudos to Atomic who I have bashed relentlessly they contacted me and Said they would be willing to exchange my case for the new hybrid.
First off the reason we are not receiving tracking numbers is they are shipping them USPS first class mail NOT priority. First class mail do not have tracking numbers.
Also this case is basically the same thing as an SGP slider, with more color options.
The fit and finish is not nearly as nice as a vapor.
Reception issues are exactly the same as the vapor
I love how these companies claim there cases are "lined" with hi-tec material to alleviate reception issues. The alumacase has foam, similar to that you find in pc packages, in all 4 corners. It's so hi-tec it probably has a fancy name but nope it's just foam.
On a side note kudos to Atomic who I have bashed relentlessly they contacted me and Said they would be willing to exchange my case for the new hybrid.
Glad to hear they're going to work with you on the exchange - and hopefully you'll see the same results that I have with the hybrid case! I spoke via email with Unni this morning: they do also make the "cap" piece in delrin, but only in black and white (delrin doesn't take well to being painted) - but if you like unicolor, that might be a way to go too!
I'm assuming my aluma will be sitting at my house when I get there this evening. Wish I could say that I was still brimming with the overwhelming enthusiasm I originally had for the thing...but with what's been said so far, I'm really thinking more and more that it's just going to go right back the way it came.
Just hope I don't start catching flack when/if I try to return the thing (discouraged as I am, I'll still run it through the bevy of speedtests etc - and yes I will film it and try to speak at a higher volume).
Thanks for posting. I am at work so I can only check back on threads periodically.
I just received my case today (and like others, I didn't have to pay anything. It was sitting in my mailbox.)
Just some thoughts, I had to leave for work, so I won't be able to post pictures until later. It's the Palladium Silver.
It looks good, and I know past reviewers have had problems with the finish, but I prefer the machined, grainy look (I'm no expert, I sell cruises for a living!).
The fit was a little off the first time I put it on, but I played around with it briefly and was able to match the sides up pretty good. I didn't put anything in there, all I did was kind of hold it in place while I screwed both sides on. Not scientific, and I'll be able to adjust it if I need to when I have more time.
One of my major concerns (besides the signal issues) was the recessed power button. It takes a bit of getting used to (I'm coming from the bumper), but it really isn't as bad as I thought. I have teeny fingers though, so I can see where it would be an issue for guys who have larger fingers.
As far as the signal...there is definitely a loss here. I'll be able to report back after I've used it some to see if it actually effects making phone calls and keeping phone calls.
With field test mode: (this is at my home, where I normally average 1-3 bars. I'll do another test when I get to work)
-81 No bumper
-80 With bumper
-99 with Alumacase
Obviously it's effecting my signal, but to what extent it will actually have on my ability to use the phone, hopefully I'll be able to find out over the course of the next couple of days.
Final test was the GPS. I was impressed, it took about 3 seconds to hit on my exact location (the correct home number even!). So, as of right now that seems to be a plus!
Overall, it looks really nice, and I'd like to be able to keep it, but time will tell. If it kills the ability to use my phone, obviously it's a no brainer. I'll report back after using it out in the real world.
Just some thoughts, I had to leave for work, so I won't be able to post pictures until later. It's the Palladium Silver.
It looks good, and I know past reviewers have had problems with the finish, but I prefer the machined, grainy look (I'm no expert, I sell cruises for a living!).
The fit was a little off the first time I put it on, but I played around with it briefly and was able to match the sides up pretty good. I didn't put anything in there, all I did was kind of hold it in place while I screwed both sides on. Not scientific, and I'll be able to adjust it if I need to when I have more time.
One of my major concerns (besides the signal issues) was the recessed power button. It takes a bit of getting used to (I'm coming from the bumper), but it really isn't as bad as I thought. I have teeny fingers though, so I can see where it would be an issue for guys who have larger fingers.
As far as the signal...there is definitely a loss here. I'll be able to report back after I've used it some to see if it actually effects making phone calls and keeping phone calls.
With field test mode: (this is at my home, where I normally average 1-3 bars. I'll do another test when I get to work)
-81 No bumper
-80 With bumper
-99 with Alumacase
Obviously it's effecting my signal, but to what extent it will actually have on my ability to use the phone, hopefully I'll be able to find out over the course of the next couple of days.
Final test was the GPS. I was impressed, it took about 3 seconds to hit on my exact location (the correct home number even!). So, as of right now that seems to be a plus!
Overall, it looks really nice, and I'd like to be able to keep it, but time will tell. If it kills the ability to use my phone, obviously it's a no brainer. I'll report back after using it out in the real world.
I really hope it works (starting to doubt it now) cause returning it for us Canadians is going to be expensive,
59.95 for the case
$15.00 Shipping
-$5.00 Coupon
$69.95 paid. - Cost to ship it back $16 cdn if I want confirmation, or $6 with non.
So I'm going to get back $44.00 in the end if this case does have reception issues, so I take a loss of $42 on it return it. Hopefully it can fetch a decent price on Ebay, not looking to make a mint, would be happy if I can get back what I put into it is all.
Come on Fusion be the one please!!!!!
Winky
59.95 for the case
$15.00 Shipping
-$5.00 Coupon
$69.95 paid. - Cost to ship it back $16 cdn if I want confirmation, or $6 with non.
So I'm going to get back $44.00 in the end if this case does have reception issues, so I take a loss of $42 on it return it. Hopefully it can fetch a decent price on Ebay, not looking to make a mint, would be happy if I can get back what I put into it is all.
Come on Fusion be the one please!!!!!
Winky
Yea, the GPS will find you if your standing still, it just wont follow you if your driving. That's my problem with it. Who cares if it knows where I am at if I am standing still. I need it to work incase I get lost or something.
I'm not so sure about that. My friend tested his Vapor at my house, and it put him in the same neighborhood, but on the wrong street.
As far as using the GPS while I was moving, it worked perfectly on my way to work. It kept up with me the entire trip, and in the instances I turned it off and turned it back on picked me up right away. So far, in Houston at least, it's a success.
Well from what I have read, yours must be the only one working correctly. My Vapor GPS worked better than the alumacase's did.
Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; U; CPU iPhone OS 4_1 like Mac OS X; en-us) AppleWebKit/532.9 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/4.0.5 Mobile/8B117 Safari/6531.22.7)
Ok WTF????
In NJ here and again today mail came and NO CASE!!!!!
WTF!!!!
Ok WTF????
In NJ here and again today mail came and NO CASE!!!!!
WTF!!!!
Well the difference may lie in our locations. And, I'm not sure that we have heard from everyone that has received theirs. I think the people who encounter problems are a lot more vocal than the people that don't.
Location plays no roll on GPS signal. Anywhere in the US they are the exact same. I take my bumper off and put the alumacase on and my GPS gets all jumpy and stops. Put the apple bumper on and it works perfectly. Go figure. I am glad yours is working, I am just saying from my experience and what I have been reading, yours is the only one who is having success. As long as your happy, who cares about anyone else. That's my thoughts on the situation.
Maybe I don't understand, or I'm just not explaining myself correctly, because I used to travel a lot for work and have been in some podunk towns here in Texas where the GPS on my phone wasn't working at all. Now I'm assuming that has something to do with the signal in that area, which is what I meant.
If it worked with your bumper, and it didn't work with your alumacase, then obviously the problem is with the alumacase. Which stinks, and it was honestly the outcome I was expecting as well after reading everything on here. So, I was pleasantly surprised.
Got my red alumacase today and since everyone has done some extensive reviews with pics, I'll keep it short
1. I'm happy - quality is good, fit is good if you tighten as you match up up the parts. No problems with anodizing - parts look the same and it's a nice match.
2. signal looks about the same as other cases, but I have not pinstriped the interior yet. I don't use GPS.
3. Rear CF plate is nicer than Element but I still like the softer SGP texture one better.
Overall, it's a keeper and makes it into the rotation schedule with the Element Red frost and the brushed Atomic ...
1. I'm happy - quality is good, fit is good if you tighten as you match up up the parts. No problems with anodizing - parts look the same and it's a nice match.
2. signal looks about the same as other cases, but I have not pinstriped the interior yet. I don't use GPS.
3. Rear CF plate is nicer than Element but I still like the softer SGP texture one better.
Overall, it's a keeper and makes it into the rotation schedule with the Element Red frost and the brushed Atomic ...
Mine arrived today - will try to do a vid review this evening after the family has gone to bed (they get embarassed FOR me when they see me talking to my computer). First impression - looks nice...carbon fiber backing is the same as the one that came with my atomic...sortof playing card thickness, smooth (not raised) carbon fiber. Haven't even put it on yet, will do so a bit later on and run some speedtests again and post a vid: will try to speak a bit louder this time (can't do anything about the camera looking at me instead of the phone as I use a webcam).
The vampire red looks nice, feels substantial etc, but as they say the proof will be in the pudding once it's on the phone.
The vampire red looks nice, feels substantial etc, but as they say the proof will be in the pudding once it's on the phone.
Threw the thing on because I had to go for a drive and so far GPS has been spotty. Not massively off (in one area it lost signal horribly and the search ring got huge) - but for the most part it was 20 - 30 feet off...not front to back but laterally, which is a much bigger problem.
For me at least, no external power button is a huge issue as well: makes putting the thing into sleep mode (something I do a billion times a day) very inconvenient.
For me at least, no external power button is a huge issue as well: makes putting the thing into sleep mode (something I do a billion times a day) very inconvenient.
Got mine today and I prefer this over the Element Case. I never warmed up to the design of the Element Case.
Fits snugly with Power Support front and back overlays. It did lift the edges but I just took a credit card and massaged the edges back down.
One big plus is that I can use 3rd party chargers with this case.
I still have to test out the reception.
Fits snugly with Power Support front and back overlays. It did lift the edges but I just took a credit card and massaged the edges back down.
One big plus is that I can use 3rd party chargers with this case.
I still have to test out the reception.
Vid review is now posted here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cpCGkQRU32g
For any that don't want to sit through it, here's the skinny: resuls are actually worse than the results for the all aluminum atomic case. A.K.A. - not good. GPS is bad, signal is actually the worst I've seen so far....
Anyway if you want more feel free to watch me ramble. Even get a brief guest appearance from my cat in this one (little bastard decided to pick a bad moment to jump ON my laptop)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cpCGkQRU32g
For any that don't want to sit through it, here's the skinny: resuls are actually worse than the results for the all aluminum atomic case. A.K.A. - not good. GPS is bad, signal is actually the worst I've seen so far....
Anyway if you want more feel free to watch me ramble. Even get a brief guest appearance from my cat in this one (little bastard decided to pick a bad moment to jump ON my laptop)
haha, hello Puck! that was pretty funny. Thanks for the review. it seems like majority of people are having reception and gps issues. I hope alumacase can address that in a new version.
I've been checking on this thread everyday since the Alumacase Store opened....and this thread is fast becoming a collection of tragic experiences. I ordered the case last Oct. 11, 2010 and I only got the change in Status to "Shipped" this morning. That's 8 days after I got confirmation from Paypal and Alumacase. There is a "Message" option in the Store section of Alumacase and I asked if they ship via USPS, UPS or FEDEX for International Order. They answered "USPS" a few days later. I followed up my question with "How much to upgrade shipping using UPS or FEDEX? How I can pay and if they can use the latter couriers instead." These inquiries were sent 5 days ago. I did not get any answer anymore and now I get the notice that my items were shipped already. 
Sigh! My excitement in receiving the Alumacase has now actually turned to dread! Oh well!
Sigh! My excitement in receiving the Alumacase has now actually turned to dread! Oh well!