my thoughts so far...
- The loop/eyelet thing was a pain to install. I had all but given up and was trying one last time that night and i got it to work. *I see you already know that but putting it out there
- The Apple Remote snapped in place with ease. I have not tried to remove it just yet.
- The case overall feels fine. a hard case would not be my first choice - I have a soft/silicone case.
- Even with the lanyard/loop and the ribs on the side. I have found myself trying to use the remote backward. *My kids have done that on occasion too
- I was concerned the size/height would be an issue as my soft-case is slim, but it hasn't been a problem, and it feel fine. I do like the suggestion above to somehow differentiate the ends a little with a curved/angled length.
- Not truly bothersome but I wish the ends has a slight bevel or rounded corners. they aren't sharp but stick into my palm more than any other remote i have.
- One thing to note, it seems the click button works a small percentage better in the hard case versus the soft case, perhaps the soft case has some squishiness that doesn't allow the click to be registered at all times.
That's some feedback now. I am at work, so I can't remember everything or go back and look/feel the case.
I will continue to use it and see if anything else stands out.
BJMRamage, thank you for your feedback!
Yes, the lanyard holes have been reworked - I changed them to slots and they are much easier to thread through now.
Very happy that the remote fits well - that was my major concern but, much like the Gen 3 remote, it seems Apple is on their game here as well and all the remotes are identical!
I also reworked the program so the case now has a much larger radius on the bottom corners, as that was pointed out to me by another tester.
As of right now, I don't have a good way to make the case tapered. If it takes off and I end up making a plastic injection mold for these, that's something that can be easily done, but as of now, I'm still machining these from raw stock, so tapers and contours are a problem. It's definitely something I'll keep in mind for the future though.
I'm glad to hear that the button clicks better in the hard case. I've noticed that the remote is much stiffer in the hard case, so maybe that helps.
Thanks again for your help - I'm very grateful for your input!! Jay
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Got mine Saturday, so I've had a few days with it now.
Lanyard went in fine. Remote snapped into place perfectly. So far the only real problem is that my cats want the lanyard.
I love the thickness. Not everything should be wafer thin. I find myself holding it with my index finger in the big hole that shows the logo. Makes it very comfortable.
I think if you tried any kind of angling to force it to fall into your hand bottom down, it would ruin the feel for gaming. It needs to remain balanced for that.
AlliFlowers, thank you for your input! I'm sorry to hear about your lanyard/cat problem! If that's the biggest problem though, I might be on to something here! My cat is entirely uninterested in the lanyard - I had to check! ;-)
I agree on the thickness of it - that was the very first intention when I started building the Gen 3 Case - to make it as thick as possible while still being comfortable.
Interesting take on the taper issue - I hadn't thought about gaming but you're right - taper would definitely throw off the balance. Maybe I could make two versions at some point. One oriented towards gaming and another towards comfort.
The logo hole does make for a good grip too. I've had several other comments about how it breaks up the look of the bottom, and I agree somewhat. It was originally put there as a window for the logo but I have other plans for it now. I've added a pocket inside that a Tile bluetooth locator fits into and the button on the Tile shows through the hole so you can use your remote to find your phone, and vice/versa.
Thank you so much for your help on this project - I couldn't do this without your help!! I'm loving all the input! Jay
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My feedback:
Thickness: I guess it is OK, though I'm not sure it's fully necessary. I think I'd prefer it if the back thickness was roughly the same as the sidewall thickness. I think it could be designed to still allow for the lanyard insertion. Maybe you already tried this and it just didn't feel right? I just think the current design detracts somewhat from the sleek feel of the original remote design.
Lanyard: I would prefer it to be black. The idea to slightly elongate holes is a good one to make attaching easier.
Fixture Holes: I'd rather not have them, but it sounds like they are needed for your manufacturing process. Given that, I don't think the ring around the top one is necessary. I'm guessing you did that to provide another directional cue to the user. However, I think the lanyard, side scallops, and notch for the microphone already provide enough cues so that this one isn't truly necessary. It just makes the back look busy. I do like the hole to show the Apple Logo.
Logo Sticker: I do appreciate you wanting to promote your company and design, but for someone who already owns your case, it adds no functionality and only clutters the simple design of the remote and case. At most, I would suggest etching your MD logo in black on the back. If you want to give more detail, I would then affix a logo sticker on the inside of the case. This would allow me to have a clean looking case, but when a friend comes over and wants to know where I purchased such a cool case, then I can just pop out the remote and see your web address, etc. I can't think of one Apple product with a sticker on it (not even Intel Inside), so I prefer the case to not have one either.
Other Features: I really do like the protection this gives the remote. It is way more solid than the flimsy silicone cases I've seen online. I like the ability to add a lanyard. The scalloped sides along the trackpad along with the notch for the microphone provide much needed directional feedback in the dark. Very cool that you're making locally and appreciate the chance test a prototype and to offer feedback. I hope my feedback will be taken positively even if you don't incorporate all suggestions into the final model.
All the Best!
BruiserB, Thank you for your feedback!
The thickness is a love/hate kind of thing it seems. The original intent of the case was solely to make it thicker but other functions came into play when I started using the remote. The intent was to make it as thick as possible while still being comfortable to use! It's just a matter of taste or opinion after that.
The lanyard is definitely an issue - I fixed the holes, but as far as the lanyard itself, after lots and lots of research, I'm ashamed to say that I just bought the cheapest lanyards I could find. What I found is that you can spend 10 cents or 20 dollars on a lanyard, and I just figured that rather than increase the price, I'd go cheap and if the user wanted something fancier, they could get whatever they wanted and swap them out.
I agree with you on the logo sticker. I've had several comments on that! I deleted the pocket and added engraving for a small MD logo. I'm happy to say that the rendering looks much better!
I appreciate you taking the time to help me on this project! I'm getting some great feedback and I'm absolutely positive that the end product wouldn't be nearly as awesome without your help! I'm a small time, one man, low budget operation so sometimes (most of the time) I need all the help I can get!!
Jay
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I have another thought: Will the exterior of the finished product be smooth, or will it be textured? I only ask because early trial plastic parts for vehicles that I confirm quality have smooth parts until dimensions are confirmed, and then textured plastic parts are sent in for the next trial phase. While the grooves help with grip, the texturing will help even more. However, I don't know how much this will affect cost for you.
jljue, that's a great question! Unfortunately, for now, there's no easy way for me to add any sort of fine texture to the case. In the future, if demand increases and I build a mold so these are injection molded, I'll definitely add texture to the outside of the case. For the time being, they are being machined from solid stock, but I will absolutely add that to a high priority list for when/if this takes off! Thanks so much for taking the time to help me! Jay
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I am loving it so far and wishing I had a second one. My one and only thought on changes would be some sort of texture, rather than the smooth and glossy black.
Hoosier317, Thank you for your input! Unfortunately, for now, there's no easy way for me to add any sort of fine texture to the case. In the future, if demand increases and I build a mold so these are injection molded, I'll definitely add texture to the outside of the case. For the time being, they are being machined from solid stock, but I will absolutely insist on that for when/if this takes off! Thanks so much for your feedback! Jay
