Contour Flick Case

[taphil]

I bought the black version but returned it. I have BSE on the back of my iPhone and it makes sliding the iPhone into the case very difficult. It also makes flipping the bottom flap on and off difficult. Overall having the BSE on makes the iPhone just a tad too big to fit in the case properly.

 

[MrSugar]

I bought the black version but returned it. I have BSE on the back of my iPhone and it makes sliding the iPhone into the case very difficult. It also makes flipping the bottom flap on and off difficult. Overall having the BSE on makes the iPhone just a tad too big to fit in the case properly.

I see how that would be the case. The case is really snug, and having anything on the back/edges would create issues with it fitting. Minus something super thin like the paper towel I mentioned in the last post.

Still, the front is fine and I imagine you can put most any protector you want on it.

 

[b8b]

Is everyone still happy with this case? If you dropped it on a flat surface but on the screen,is there enough side protection to keep the screen from striking a flat surface? How is the black case doing in terms of scratches (should I go white?)? Is the case scratching your phone?

 

[oclor]

First off let me just say that I think this is the nicest looking case there is.

But...

What's the point of it? Why would you get this case? It doesn't seem like it offers any protection. The front is completely unprotected, meaning if you drop your iPhone the chances of your screen shattering are the same as if you didn't have it on. And if you got this case to protect the back from scratches, why didn't you just get a protective film that will do the job without hiding any of the iPhone's beauty?

I'm personally thinking about getting a contour hardskin because that one seems to offer a lot more protection, especially on the front of the phone. I cracked my iPod touch's screen and I do not want the same to happen to my iPhone.

 

[MrSugar]

To answer a few questions:

the casing around the rim is slightly over the screen, but on a hard fall I wouldn't trust it to stop the screen from striking the ground if the screen was facing down.

Also, there is definitely a point to having the case. Although it may not be tons of outward protection, it absolutely is better than dropping the standard 3g case on a hard surface. I'm not saying the impact couldn't still break the screen, but I am saying that it would avoid cracking or severely damaging the back of the phone. The case feels great but does take on scratches pretty easily. With my white case I don't really notice it since scratches don't show up too much on white.

Also, the case doesn't seem to be scratching the phone at all. The only potential area that I could see problems with is the small metal rim around the phone. But... to be honest that's probably going to take on more scratches with or without the case.

Overall after a week or more of use I'm still happy.

 

[thor79]

Just got my black version of the case.
I have a BSE skin on my phone and the case fit fine, snug, but fine.

The only issue with it was the little flaps around the bottom corners of the phone. When I put the bottom case flap so it fit around the bottom, it moved the part BSE skin that was in the way. Cutting it away worked fine. Without the BSE skin in the way on that part of the phone the case flap closes fine.

If scratches appear on the case I don't really mind...since IT'S THE CASE and not my phone. I left the BSE skin on to protect the phone while it's within the case. In order to fit the case and use it properly (read: the case flap) you pretty much have to expose a small portion of the phone that would otherwise be protected by the skin. Since the flap covers that part of the phone when you close it, that's not a problem, though after prolonged use it could cause wear on the phone.

I don't know if it's the fact that the BSE skin is on it but the bottom part of the phone seems to have more chrome trim exposed than the top portion of the phone, which seems to be completely covered.

One thing I noticed was that you can use the case flap to stand the phone up on it's own...not handy for videos...but it's better than nothing.

Overall I love the case (keep in mind I've had mine less than 1 hour)..it offers me what I could not get with just the BSE skin on...the smooth feel of the phone, without the phone being exposed to wear. Will it protect it if I drop it...unlikely..the case is basic protection, it'll protect it against scratches, but I don't expect much protection beyond that.

I will post some pics of my case when I get around to taking some.

 

[thor79]

Here's a load of images of my phone with the BSE underneath the case.
The BSE looks like crap in some of the pictures because I modified it after I put it into the case. I may take the phone out and redo the bottom of the BSE (I had the 2 piece kit) and properly cut out the necessary pieces before putting it into the case. After removing the necessary parts of the BSE the flap on the case slides on and off much easier.

just linking images because I didn't modify their size at all...these are direct from my Nikon camera.

In the Dock:
http://www.thunder-god.net/images/iPhone/contour_flick/DSCN0259.JPG
http://www.thunder-god.net/images/iPhone/contour_flick/DSCN0260.JPG
http://www.thunder-god.net/images/iPhone/contour_flick/DSCN0261.JPG

Standing on it's own (does it...but not incredibly stable, especially on slick surfaces like my wacom tablet)
http://www.thunder-god.net/images/iPhone/contour_flick/DSCN0262.JPG

The part of the BSE I had to cut away - normally there would be two flaps on either side, I had to cut away both on the side of the phone (right side of the picture, and one on the bottom (left side) to make the case flap fit.
http://www.thunder-god.net/images/iPhone/contour_flick/DSCN0287.JPG (Best Shot)
http://www.thunder-god.net/images/iPhone/contour_flick/DSCN0286.JPG
http://www.thunder-god.net/images/iPhone/contour_flick/DSCN0264.JPG
http://www.thunder-god.net/images/iPhone/contour_flick/DSCN0265.JPG

Photos showing how well the phone fits in the case...remember...this is WITH a BSE skin on the phone.
http://www.thunder-god.net/images/iPhone/contour_flick/DSCN0269.JPG
http://www.thunder-god.net/images/iPhone/contour_flick/DSCN0270.JPG
http://www.thunder-god.net/images/iPhone/contour_flick/DSCN0271.JPG
http://www.thunder-god.net/images/iPhone/contour_flick/DSCN0274.JPG
http://www.thunder-god.net/images/iPhone/contour_flick/DSCN0275.JPG (good shot of one of the bottom corners)
http://www.thunder-god.net/images/iPhone/contour_flick/DSCN0276.JPG (good shot of one of the bottom corners)

Volume buttons and vibrate toggle button (no the volume button isn't crooked on my phone...it just looks that way in the photo due to the way the case fits)
http://www.thunder-god.net/images/iPhone/contour_flick/DSCN0279.JPG
http://www.thunder-god.net/images/iPhone/contour_flick/DSCN0283.JPG

Headphone jack...all but the widest standard headphone plugs should fit. All the plugs I've tried fit fine (standard headphones and earphones).
http://www.thunder-god.net/images/iPhone/contour_flick/DSCN0268.JPG
http://www.thunder-god.net/images/iPhone/contour_flick/DSCN0280.JPG

The sleep/power button is covered by a rubber button...makes it a bit more difficult to press the button. I may try to remove the button since I don't like the way it feels.
http://www.thunder-god.net/images/iPhone/contour_flick/DSCN0282.JPG

I tried to get a photo of how the case fits around the phone's camera but none of the pictures turned out to be good. The fit is ok...doesn't interfere with the camera at all...but it's not an exact fit on my phone.

edit: just realized it looks like my camera has some stuck CCD sensors or something...that's what those random pixels of color are in the photos.
And it seems the case has already gotten some minor scratches after only a few hours of use...only really visible on black if you hold it up and see the reflection of the scratches in light. This does not bother me.

 

[thor79]

Ok...so I decided to remove my case to try to correct the look of the BSE on the bottom by reapplying a fresh bottom on the back. Also I am going to try taking out the rubber cover for the sleep/power switch.

After struggling to remove the case...very tricky to do with the BSE on there...I noticed something on the back of my phone...dimples.

http://www.thunder-god.net/images/iPhone/contour_flick/DSCN0290.JPG
http://www.thunder-god.net/images/iPhone/contour_flick/DSCN0291.JPG

It seems the two slight ridges on the inside back of the case have slight imperfections which caused these dimples. Fortunately I have the BSE on there so my phone should be fine. I'm wondering if the same can be said for phones without the BSE or equivalent invisible skin on them. Has anyone tried removing their case and examining the back of their phone?

I think the ridges are left as a result of the manufacturing of the case. I'm probably going to take some sandpaper to mine to smooth my case out before I put my phone back in the case...

 

[ratbatblue]

If you're after something unobtrusive, which will protect the back of the phone and part of the bezel from scratches (except those it, itself, may eventually cause), and you like the shiny black plastic look, and you don't mind that the plastic is very typical soft polycarbonate and therefore takes on smudges and hairline finish scratches simply by virtue of being exposed to air, and you're ready to shell out $35 + tax & s/h for the privilege, then this is the case for you. I'm in a quandary. I can't make up my mind if I'm satisfied or disappointed. I can definitely rule out "thrilled"; I don't find it "beautiful", as I did the Incase Slider for the 1G iPhone, but then it doesn't add the amount of bulk that the Slider did. I did pull the phone back out of the case a couple of times right after installing it, to remove the little power switch cover and check for case-caused scratching/marring on the back of the phone. Saw some smudges caused by the little rubber strips incorporated into the inside of the case to hold things snug, but the smudges rubbed right out with little effort. The case is similar to a couple of others in its class in the area around the bezel. I fully anticipate that crap will build up in the space between and scratch the bezel. I also anticipate that the rubber hinge holding the two case parts together will wear out in less than a year, if one docks the phone, particularly if the atmosphere where one lives is dry. It's well made, I think, but there's only so much constant opening and closing that something on this scale will take. Finally, anyone who thinks the Flick will provide any type of protection against shock damage caused by a drop is kidding themselves. It's much too thin. Bottom line: I would probably return the case if S/H hadn't cost $8, with another $8 or more to return it via UPS.

 

[thor79]

As a followup to my last post...I ended up taking a dremel moto tool to the ridges with a fine sandpaper drum on it. Smoothed them out..they still aren't completely smooth...but they are significantly better than they were before. I have no fear of it scratching anything now...or damaging the BSE skin on mine.

Oh and after removing the first BSE skin to put on the second...I found that there were absolutely no marks on the phone itself despite the marks in the BSE skin...it protected it completely.

I am still perfectly happy with the case.