The 5 Toughest iPhone Cases Money Can Buy

Apple’s latest iPhone is surprisingly robust given its light weight. It has been designed to only survive minor drops in a friendly environment. Serious falls, dirt and water aren’t a factor and that’s a problem if you’d like to use your iPhone while camping, hiking, playing sports or in other adverse weather conditions.

A durable, reliable case can be a life-saver in these situations, but tough cases are harder to find than those built to provide aesthetic value with some minimal protection. To save you time, we’ve rounded up five of the best.

Griffin Survivor + Catalyst ($79.99)

The Survivor + Catalyst isn’t closely related to Griffin’s Survivor case despite its similar name. The Catalyst is more attractive, thanks to its transparent materials and colorful frame. And, unlike the standard Survivor, it’s waterproof.

Griffin rates this case as being waterproof up to 9.8 meters, which is bested only by the Hitcase Pro. In addition, this case will help your iPhone survive drops of up to six feet and significant exposure to dirt. The performance of the Survivor + Catalyst isn’t best-in-class, but at $79.99, it’s affordable and you can find it for even less on Amazon.

Hitcase and Hitcase Pro ($89.99/$129.99)

All of the cases are this list are tough and waterproof, but the Hitcase takes durability to another level. It easily trumps the other cases by remaining watertight in up to 10 meters of water (three times better than the Griffon Survivor + Catalyst) while providing full protection from shock, vibrations and dirt. There’s nothing the Hitcase can’t handle.

Adventurers should check out the upgraded Hitcase Pro, which adds a wide-angle lens for the iPhone’s camera and a rail-mount system lets you use your phone as a miniature GoPro Hero.  These features are available elsewhere, but not in conjunction with a rugged case.

These benefits aren’t cheap. The regular Hitcase sells for $89.99, which doesn’t sound bad – but unlike competitors, Hitcase doesn’t slash prices below the MSRP. Going Pro increases the price to $129.99, which is double the price of most of the cases on this list.

Incipio Atlas ($89.99)

Incipio has built its reputation on cases that are sleek and attractive yet also functional. The Atlas, Incipio’s entry into the tough case market, is no exception. Its design adds minimal bulk and, in my opinion, is by far the most attractive on this list.

Yet the Atlas still means business. It is waterproof at up to two meters for one hour and meets military protection standards against water and dust. A shock-absorbent silicon layer inside the case absorbs shocks and jolts while the rigid polycarbonate outer shell protects from scratches and impacts that might otherwise destroy your phone. This isn’t the case for you if maximum durability is the goal, but it provides better protection than most without turning your iPhone into a brick.

The official MSRP for the Atlas is $89.99, which seems a bit high. However, online retailers will sometimes shift this case for as little as $50 and I think anything below $75 is a reasonable price.

LifeProof  ($79.99)

Like Hitcase, Lifeproof is a company that exists only to make tough cases. The company’s case was among the first waterproof designs for the iPhone and has earned a following over the years because of its “four proofs” advertising, which promises protection against water, dirt, snow and shock. Lifeproof will even replace any iPhone or iPad that is destroyed because its case failed.

The case itself is not the most attractive on the market but is relatively slim and adds little bulk to the iPhone’s frame. Water protection is promised for 30 minutes at up to two meters and the case meets various standards for dust, dirt and shock. Overall, the Lifeproof compares closely to the Incipio Atlas – it’s no Ironman, but can survive most situations.

The Lifeproof has an MSRP of $79.99. Shopping around online will save some money, but not much, so you can expect to pay at least $70 after shipping. Again, this is in par with the Incipio, so choosing between them will be a matter of personal preference.

Otterbox Armor ($99.95)

There’s no case company with a stronger brand than Otterbox. At outlets like Best Buy and even the Apple Store you’re likely to see Otterbox in stock. The company became popular because of its commitment to building tough (if bulky) cases, and the Armor is no exception.

This case can withstand water for up to 30 minutes at a depth of two meters, protect your iPhone from a ten-foot drop and withstand two tons of crushing force. The latter two metrics are the most interesting because competing claims about shock and crush resistance are generally far less. Otterbox claims the Armor to be the world’s toughest case and, water resistance excluded, that claim seems valid.

Bulk is the only flaw. Donning the Armor adds four ounces of weight and a nearly a half-inch of thickness to your iPhone for the $99.95 MSRP the manufacturers are quoting. After shopping around you’ll probably have to pay at least $80 for this case, which isn’t terrible, but puts it close to the more attractive and slimmer Hitcase.

Conclusion

There are two classes of case here; tough cases and really tough cases. The Griffin, Incipio and Lifeproof offerings fill the “tough” category, while the Hitcase and Otterbox Armor take durability to another level.

But that doesn’t mean the toughest iPhone cases are the best for you. Price aside, they’re less practical because the bulk that protects your phone also makes it more difficult to use. I only recommend an ultra-rugged case if you’re actually a mountain climber, back-packer, kayaker or otherwise inclined to take your iPhone into challenging situations. Other, lighter cases will still protect your phone from snow, dust an dirt without consuming your pocket.

Have you used a rugged iPhone case? Is $80+ too much for a case? Do you have any recommendations? Let us know what you think in the comments below.

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The Dangers of iPhone Spy Software & How To Detect It [iOS]

There is a growing amount of so-called “spy software” available that promises to log everything the user of an infected phone does while attempting to remain undetectable. Compromised devices are easily traceable via GPS, record all incoming and outgoing text messages and phone calls and can even be used to spy on captured photos and browser history.

Installing such software on Android or BlackBerry devices is morally reprehensible but not quite as damaging as doing so on an iPhone. This is due to the walled garden approach that Apple takes, something the majority of iPhone users take at face value.

Installing iPhone spy software requires you breach this fortress-like security – and that’s just the start of the problems.

A Legitimate Use?

Spy software, by its very nature, is designed to snoop on people. It is for this reason that anyone reading this who is contemplating installing such software probably doesn’t care what I have to say about any aspect of doing so. Clearly if you’re thinking of doing this, morals are not your strongpoint and you’ve probably already ethically justified it in your head. I’d urge you to reconsider this standpoint, but it’s probably a battle I’m going to lose.

Much of this software is marketed in a very broad way. Not only is it advertised to snoopers who want to track the location of an individual or spy on someone’s smartphone usage but it’s also marketed as a legitimate security tool. This is complete rubbish, and will form the backbone of this article. If I can’t change the minds of those who deem such a practice necessary in the first place then I can try to redress the balance for those drawn in by dishonest marketers.

Parents – do not use this software to trace your children. There are free and safe ways of doing this which I will come to at the end of the article. Some marketers even try to target employers and so I must say employers – do not use this software to spy on your workforce. If you’re an employer who feels they need to be concerned about smartphone security then you shouldn’t be allowing non-company devices in the workplace. Period.

Warranty, We Hardly Knew Ye

There is no spy software on the market that will be able to do all it promises – i.e. spy on any activity, trace any location or upload any camera images – without voiding the device’s warranty. Parents installing such software will be voiding their children’s warranty on that device. Paranoid other-halves will be voiding their spouse’s warranties also, and this goes for employers too. Why? Jailbreaking.

Apple takes a hardline approach to security. The iPhone is not designed to run non-App Store software, this is seen as a security violation by Apple, as a restriction by some users and a safety net by others. Android does things differently – unchecking a box in settings allows the installation of non-Google Play apps, and it’s just as easily reversible.

Not so for iOS devices. These devices must go through what is known as a jailbreak, which involves loading custom firmware onto the device which provides greater freedom, allowing users to run all sorts of unsigned software on the device. Spy software is always unsigned for two reasons – it would never be able to perform its spying duties as a standard app due to iOS permissions and Apple would never allow it in the App Store in the first place. Many people don’t realise it but with some preparation a jailbreak can take a matter of minutes to complete.

When you choose to jailbreak an iPhone you are voiding your warranty by running modified firmware on the device. It will also void any AppleCare after-sales packages you have taken on. This is fine if it’s your own iPhone, and you understand the risks involved in doing so. Jailbreaking your device is generally a very safe operation, and even a jailbreak gone wrong is unlikely to “brick” your iPhone. It’s the jailbroken firmware you’re left with that poses the biggest security risk.

Jailbroken phones are able to run unsigned apps and this includes potential malware. If the root SSH password remains unchanged once the jailbreak is complete, malware could run riot on your phone and with no Apple guardians to oversee software, you have to rely on third-party developers to be the judge and jury. If you think about it, spy software is malware by design but marketed as valid software.

iPhones and other iOS devices that have been jailbroken are also often unable to run some genuine App Store apps. Developers have ways of detecting a jailbreak and can now prevent jailbroken devices from using their services. One example would be DIRECTV which delivers streaming video and another reported app is Skype for iOS. Many banking apps are also restricted for obvious reasons, two examples being CommBank and Kaching from Australia’s Commonwealth Bank. Getting these apps working again involves playing a game of cat and mouse between developers and the jailbreak community.

For the unsuspecting jailbroken victim, apps like these will flatly refuse to run as they won’t be installing the latest exploits to circumvent the restriction.

Detecting Spy Software

There’s actually no guarantee you’ll be able to find evidence of the spy software itself, as such software is designed to be hidden from view. Instead there may be a few left over telltale signs of a jailbreak, and if you find them and but have not performed a jailbreak yourself then you can pretty much guarantee someone’s designated you as a mark. If your partner or parent has jailbroken your device for you then it doesn’t mean you’re being spied upon, but itwill be difficult to prove otherwise without reverting to stock firmware.

One sign of a jailbreak is the Cydia app. Even if this app has been hidden from the home screen, searching for it (swipe left-to-right on your first home screen) should still find it. First go to Settings > General > Spotlight and ensure that Applications is ticked. Then search for Cydia from your homescreen and if the application is there, your phone is jailbroken.

There is no guarantee of finding Cydia, and the careful snooper will probably try all they can to hide any signs of a jailbreak. Other apps to search for that might suggest a jailbreak include “Installer”, “Icy”, “SBSettings” and “Installous”. Similarly, installing an app like those mentioned above might reveal something is up if they refuse to run.

Removing The Software

Because jailbreaking is a game of cat and mouse played between Apple and those who choose to jailbreak, the latest and greatest iOS firmware won’t always be jailbreak compatible. Keeping your phone up to date and performing all iOS updates as and when your iPhone notifies you about them is the best way to remain secure. Eventually iOS versions will be jailbroken and at this stage removal is surprisingly easy.

According to many jailbreaking communities, reverting your phone back to stock Apple firmware does the trick. Myself I’m not so sure Apple isn’t noting down the unique identification numbers (UDIDs) of jailbroken devices via the App Store, but it would seem restoring your phone “as new” will remove all traces of a jailbreak.

For those of you convinced you’re being traced this is as simple as plugging your phone into iTunes and choosing Restore. If you choose to revert to a backup, there’s a chance some evidence of the jailbreak will be retained and if your phone needs attention from Apple (either as part of a 12-month warranty or the extended AppleCare package) then you will be denied service. For this reason, be sure to back up everything you want separately and transfer purchases within iTunes.

Parents Listen Up

There is a free alternative to spy software for parents who are concerned about the whereabouts of their children. Find My Friends works across Apple devices and uses Apple IDs to connect friends and family. By authorising a friend or family member to view your location in Find My Friends, they will be able to see where you are whenever they like. Creepy? You bet.

Find My Friends can be customised to prevent the location being displayed on the transmitting device. This is due to the fact that it is not spy software, but a tool for staying in touch. It gives the user a choice over whether to reveal their location at all times and it does none of the snooping on text messages, phone calls or camera photos. Using Find My Friends doesn’t teach your children that spying on people is the right thing to do, and instead pressures you to enforce basic smartphone safety and talk to your children about why you want to use such a service.

If you’re worried about your children’s uncanny ability to lose things then remember to enable Find My iPhone, a similar service accessible via iCloud. For as long as the phone is left in the same state it was when it was lost it will be traceable using Apple’s own plan B.

This isn’t a lesson in parenting, but a lesson in ethics and trust. It’s also a lesson in not being ripped-off by marketers trying to sell you a wolf in sheep’s clothing. Take a close look at the FAQs and you’ll see the requirement for a jailbreak quietly mentioned, behind advertising phrases like “completely undetectable”.

Finally

All software that promises to spy on an iPhone requires a jailbreak. Some do not mention it in their marketing speak, but it’s a requirement and for as long as Apple maintains its iron grip it always will be. Many of these packages are not one-off payments but subscription models that require a minimum term, which quickly adds up.

Be smart, be safe, be honest and don’t get ripped off. If you have any questions about your iPhone’s safety, spy software or alternative apps for other platforms then don’t forget to ask MakeUseOf Answers.

Have you had any experience with such iPhone spy software? Have you been on the receiving end? Have you ever installed or trialled a service? Is Find My Friends good enough? Get out the soapbox and have your say in the comments, below.

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Middle Manager Of Justice Is Time Management Gaming Is At Its Finest [iOS]

One of the more popular genres of iOS games is known as time management. Most people think ofFarmville when they think of these types of games, and it’s certainly one of the more popular titles in the genre. However, many gamers would not exactly describe Farmville as “good”. If you are looking for a time management game that actually brings something exciting to the table, check out Middle Manager of Justice.

This game is made by Double Fine, the team behind Xbox classic Psychonauts. Tim Schafer is the genius behind the brand, and his reputation in the gaming industry speaks volumes. When I noticed that this team had made a time management game for iOS, I knew it would be worth a second look.

As expected, the game is packed with personality, which makes the simple gameplay feel like something much greater.

Gameplay

In Middle Manager of Justice, you play as a character tasked with managing a branch of super heroes. You will be performing all sorts of assignments with the ultimate goal of making your super hero branch the best in the world.

Gameplay involves recruiting new heroes, training them, keeping them happy, upgrading your facilities and sending those heroes out to fight crime. Each of these tasks is accessed through the various menus in the game, and navigating is a smooth and painless process. The tutorial at the beginning of the game introduces you to the main concepts so you will know what you are doing without issue.

The fights can be handled in one of two ways. First, you can click Watch and actually manage the fight yourself. You can also click Delegate to send you heroes to fight automatically. The game will let you know your chances of success, and I found that by managing the fights manually, I could win fights even with low chances. When your branch grows, and you have a lot more heroes, performing each fight manually is incredibly inefficient.

The biggest thing that separates this game from the competition is that you can play it all the time. Instead of setting up things that take hours to complete, every task in Middle Manager of Justice is quick, so you can play the game as much or as little as you want.

To put it simply, this game is just fun. It takes the best parts of the genre and strips away some of the annoying aspects to create a game that is simple and effective. Double Fine’s production adds a sense of character that you will not find in other games of this type.

Audio & Visual

The cartoon art works perfectly for this type of game, and anyone accustomed to Double Fine’s work should feel right at home with Middle Manager of Justice. It’s usually the addictive gameplay most gamers look for, but Double Fine has clearly chosen not to neglect the visuals either and the developers clearly took the time to make sure the game looks great.

The sound is also quite good. The music is not at all distracting, and even adds to the overall experience. The same goes for the sound effects. In-game dialogue is not voiced, which is understandable as some of it is repeated, and a lot of it is just general talk between the heroes and the bad guys. Even without voiced characters, the written dialog is done well, and is actually quite funny in multiple instances.

Game Life

Like most of these games, there is plenty of fun to be had if you get sucked in. You can essentially play this game forever, and it’s free, so you certainly cannot complain. There are in-app purchases, but you can play the game as much as you want without ever spending a dime. Spending real money on these items speeds things along and they are nice to have, but they are by no means a necessity, which is exactly what I hope to see from this type of game.

Conclusion

Generally, I avoid time management games like the plague. The only reason I was willing to give this one a chance is because Double Fine made it. I am glad I did, because I spent quite a few hours playing with it, and I had a fantastic time. Now that I am done writing this review, I am going to play it more, which means it has obviously sucked me in a great deal. That probably explains why it’s on our Best Of iPhone Games page, along with our other favorites.

Have you played Middle Manager of Justice? Are you a big fan of Double Fine and Tim Schafer? Let us hear your thoughts in the comments, below.

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Use Your iPhone as a Webcam: Here’s How [iOS]

If you’re wanting to use your iPhone as a remote webcam, Apple’s FaceTime is probably the best option, but there are a few other free and inexpensive apps that are useful and offer a few features missing in FaceTime. I downloaded and tried out a handful, and while I found none of them to be perfect, I did discover a few that will work well in a pinch. They are also less expensive than purchasing a dedicated remote wireless camera.

Using your iPhone as a remote webcam might be useful for home surveillance, if you need to monitor a baby in another room, temporarily watch your front or backyard, or because you need an alternative external webcam to use with Skype, Google+, Windows Live Messenger, AIM, or other messaging applications.

Simon has already come up with a wireless webcam solution for Android, this is for iPhone and the iOS platform. And Joel Lee shared three fun tools to get more out of your webcam.

FaceTime as a Webcam

If you are a Mac user you can use the built-in FaceTime application (why by the way can beused over cellular by AT&T users) as a webcam which comes installed on your iPhone and Mac. To use FaceTime on your iPhone to connect with FaceTime on your Mac, you need to make sure they are not using the same contact number or email address on both devices, a relatively easy set-up.

Open the Settings app on your iPhone and scroll down to the FaceTime button (FaceTime on the iPhone is not a separate app), and where it says “You can be reached by FaceTime at:” be sure just your phone number is checked, which is probably how most people will connect with you on FaceTime anyway. You can also choose an email address instead of your phone number.

Next, on your Mac, launch the FaceTime application and click FaceTime > Preferences in the menu bar and select a different contact email than the one on your iPhone. The purpose of doing this is to make sure that when you use FaceTime with either device you won’t get a busy signal. If need be, you can also add another unique email address for FaceTime on your Mac.

To use your iPhone as a webcam—for example to monitor activity on your front porch—locate your name in your Contacts on your iPhone, scroll down and tap on the FaceTime button and select the email address you entered for your FaceTime connection on your Mac.

Mobiola WebCamera ($4.99)

Of all the third-party apps I tested for the iPhone, Mobiola WebCamera ($4.99) works the best on my Mac. As an iPhone app it connects to your Mac or PC using a Wi-Fi connection, though you will need to download connect to the desktop client viewer in order to use it.

Both the app and web client connect automatically, but when you first launch the Mobiola WebCamera app, the camera resolution is set to low. If you want and need a higher resolution, you will have to tap on the Settings button at the bottom of the screen and change the capture quality to High.

In Settings, you’ll notice that Mobiola WebCamera also includes a flashlight, speaker, and mic. However, the latter two features never worked for me. The app also includes video and snapshot capture, but using the former feature caused the app to crash several times in my test. It worked better when I changed the camera resolution to Medium. All of your WebCamera captures are saved by default to your Movies and Pictures folder on your Mac.

The Mobiola is not good as using FaceTime, but it’s a good option if you don’t want to tie up your iPhone when using it as a webcam.

PocketCam (Free)

PocketCam is the best free webcam app that worked in my tests. The free lite versionprovides only black and white resolution, while the paid version ($4.99) supports full color and audio.

As with Mobiola WebCamera, you can adjust the video resolution and compression rates to low or high, and you will need to download and install the Windows or Mac software client to use as the viewer.

You can also change the webcam position in PocketCam, including the ability to flip the screen vertically and horizontally.

The Bottom Line

While you will never use your iPhone as a dedicated webcam, FaceTime and these third-party apps are handy to use and cheaper than buying a more expensive web camera. Let us know how these apps work for you, and if you have a better solution, please share your recommendation.

Do you use your iPhone as a wireless webcam? What apps are best for you? Share your thoughts with us in the comments at the end of this post.

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How to Access Region Locked Video on Your iPad or iPhone [iOS]

The main reason most people take up pirating is, in my opinion, not out of spite. Nor is it because they refuse to reward the content creators. In the end it all comes down to usability. Pirating is often more user-friendly than paying for your content.

Regardless, people are willing to go to great lengths to access their content. And great lengths are indeed required, as content often doesn’t become available for a big part of the world until months after its initial release. More so, even though there are websites like Hulu and Netflix boasting the infrastructure to offer that media globally, they actively work to keep people out.

If you want to watch region-blocked videos on your iPhone or iPad, or entertain yourself with region-blocked apps, you’ll have to take matters into your own hands.

1. Proxy And VPN Services

To access region-blocked content, proxy and VPN (virtual private network) services work in largely a similar fashion. You’re unable to access the region-blocked content because the computer recognizes your computer (or rather, its IP address) as being outside the serviceable zone. So, instead of connecting directly to the server and giving away your location, you connect to an intermediary client that does reside in the serviceable zone.

In the case of a proxy, you connect through another client. All your browser activity is routed through that intermediary client. A VPN, on the other hand, denotes network. You connect to a network with serviceable clients and your browser activity is once again routed through an intermediary client. The big difference then is that a proxy is placed between your web browser and the server; it only reroutes the websites you visit through the intermediary client. A VPN reroutes all your network activity, including instant messaging, VoIP, and such. A connection over a VPN can also incorporate additional security measures to protect your communication (emphasizing the P in VPN).

1.1 Downsides

As Chris Hoffman discussed at length in his recent article VPNs Are Old: Better Ways to Access Region-Blocked Video, the main disadvantage of VPN’s and proxy servers is speed. Having to reroute your communications with the server through an intermediary client impacts the speed and latency of your internet connection. A chain is only as strong (or as fast) as its weakest link.

If you’re connecting over a high-quality proxy server or VPN, its speed should exceed that of your internet connection or, at the very least, the access speed of the region-blocked content. However, because of its nature, there’s always a chance that you’ll outpace the service’s speed, especially in the case of high-traffic utilities. Freely available web proxies can be useful in some cases, but usually can’t handle the traffic load that comes with streaming video.

1.2 Netshade (Proxy & VPN)

The VPN I’m fond of using is called Netshade. Like most VPNs, Netshade requires you to pay a usage fee. Although Netshade offers a 3-month Proxy+VPN or a 1 year Proxy plan for $29, the best value option is the year-long Proxy+VPN plan for $59. This will give you access to Netshade’s Proxy and VPN services, which are most easily managed through the free Mac and iOS applications.

To configure your iOS device for using Netshade, open the Preferences app. Under Wi-Fi, tap the blue arrow next to the currently selected network. At the very bottom of the next screen, under HTTP proxy, select Auto and enter “http://pac.netshade.net/“, without quotes.

Next, download and install the free Netshade app from the iTunes App Store. Tapping Device Setup will help you with the step above. If you’ve already added the proxy address to your settings, hit Launch Netshade. From here, you can already select a proxy server and start accessing region-blocked content. Netshade comes with premium proxies for several locales, including the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Czech Republic, Netherlands, Germany and France. Optionally, user proxies can be added manually.

If you want to use Netshade’s VPN, you can automatically configure your iOS device from the VPN tab. This will install a VPN profile to your device. After installing this profile, you can select a locale in the VPN tab in your Preferences. Note that if you’re using the VPN, you don’t need to select a proxy in the Netshade iOS app.

1.3 Tunnelbear (Alternative VPN)

There are a lot of other VPN services besides Netshade. One such alternative is provided by Tunnelbear, which was reviewed in detail by Erez Zukerman. Compared with Netshade, Tunnelbear offers a more attractive pricing plan, but only a US and UK VPN. Contrary to Netshade, Tunnelbear also offers a Windows desktop client. Interestingly, Tunnelbear offers a free version with 500 MB transfer per month. You can earn an additional 1GB by tweeting about the service, each month. The monthly $9.99 (temporarily $4.99) plan offers unlimited data usage, whereas you can purchase 1 year’s worth of unlimited Tunnelbear for $60 (temporarily $49.99).

To install Tunnelbear, download the free app from the iTunes app store. Tunnelbear offers only VPN and no Proxy servers, so the setup process is slightly less convoluted. Simply install the iOS settings when prompted by Tunnelbear. Similar to Netshade, you can then select a locale in the Preferences VPN tab.

1.4 The Speed of Switching Regions

If you want to enjoy the American Hulu, as well as the UK BBC iPlayer, you’ll have to switch between regions. This can be done by selecting a different VPN profile in your iOS settings. Although this doesn’t take a lot of work, the work adds up when you have to switch between different regions more often.

2. DNS Tunneling Services

As Chris argued in his article on VPNs and DNS tunneling, the latter offers most of the same benefits, but with hardly any of the disadvantages of VPNs. Instead of rerouting all your traffic through an intermediary client, DNS tunneling works its magic to let you connect directly to the target server. Better yet, DNS tunneling can differentiate between different websites, meaning you can keep browsing regular websites as usual. This means you don’t have to toggle the service on and off every time you want to access region-blocked content.

2.1 UnoTelly’s UnoDNS

One of the DNS tunneling services that comes most highly recommended is UnoTelly’s UnoDNS. Pricing starts at $3.99 monthly. For $4.99 monthly, UnoDNS will even throw in bonus US and UK VPN’s, so you can have the best of both worlds. UnoDNS supports mosts region-blocked content, including Hulu, Netflix and Amazon Instant Video, but also websites from Swiss and Norse locales. If you visit one of these website, UnoDNS will automatically help you pose as coming from the right region. This way you can have Netflix open in one tab and BBC iPlayer in another!

To set up UnoDNS, go to the Wi-Fi section of your iOS preferences and tap on the blue arrow next to the currently selected internet connection. Write down your current preferences to restore them later, or take a screenshot. Select the closest DNS server from UnoDNS’ Global DNS Clusters page and copy over the IP address in the DNS field.

Finally, fire up your web browser and head to http://unotelly.com/quickstart2/ to view a status report and finish configuring the service. If this is your first time using the service on this IP address, you’ll have to sign in with your UnoTelly account. Once you’re done, there should be a green bar topping the page.

3. Downloading Regional Apps

If you want to use locale-specific apps like Hulu and Netflix in an unsupported region, the above will certainly help. However, all that won’t do you much good unless you’re able to download the apps in question. To do this, you’ll have to create a new iTunes account from the country of the app. Luckily for us, you can download apps with a US iTunes account, log back into your own country’s account and keep using the US apps.

Jeffry Thurana wrote about How To Create A US iTunes Account (& Access US-Only Contents) Without A Credit Card. Of course, without a credit card, you’ll only be able to download free apps. To download paid apps, you’ll need to add a payment method. For some countries you can create a virtual credit card, which you then charge with your real credit card. EntroPay is a virtual US Visa service which comes suggested by UnoTelly’s UnoDNS.

What region locked videos are blocked for you, and which service will you use to get to it? Share your experiences in the comments section below the article!

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Never Buy a Phone From Your Carrier! Buy Unlocked Phones and Save Hundreds

Did you know it’s much cheaper to buy your phone independent of a carrier? The big cell companies sell phones at a tremendous markup, disguising their overpricing through subterfuge: The true price of the phone gets rolled into the monthly cellular bill.

Never buy a smartphone from a carrier—ever. Most consumers don’t know that they can purchase their phones from retailers and pay less than if they did from the carrier. The key word that you’re looking for is unlocked. Unlocked phones can work withMVNO plans, which offer the same service as the big carriers for about half as much.

The six phones presented in this article provide excellent value, with prices starting at $120 and going as high as $650. However, if you are looking to sign a contract with a carrier (and I strongly suggest that you do not), check out Matt Smith’s list of the best phones you can buy right now—he’s absolutely correct. However, if you need reasons to dump your carrier and hook up with an MVNO, read about it here.

Two Kinds of Phones

As I’ve mentioned before, there exist two kinds of unlocked phones—those that work with GSM networks, those that work with CDMA. I should note at this point that other technologies exist, but they’re not entirely mainstream and largely based on the ubiquitous GSM standard.

CDMA: CDMA technology semi-locks phones into a single network, so while these phones can unlock, there’s all kinds of associated hassles in transferring them from one carrier to another. For GSM phones, however, phones can migrate to another network by simply changing the SIM card. CDMA technology in comparison does not use any kind of card.

• In the US: Verizon Wireless, Sprint Nextel, MetroPCS and US Cellular.
• In Japan: DoCoMo.

GSM: Internationally, GSM remains the dominant cell technology. CDMA does exist in almost all markets, although it’s generally associated with third tier carriers. It’s only in the US that it possesses the lion’s share of the market. Consequently, most dual-SIM international phones are GSM based.

• In the US: T-Mobile and AT&T.
• In India: Airtel, Reliance Communications and Idea Cellular
• In the United Kingdom: O2, EE andVodafone

The phones presented in this article are specifically labeled with the correct network that they function on. When purchasing a phone, always make sure you’re buying the right model for your network. If you’re switching to an MVNO, the MVNO will correspond with a particular network—for example, Ptel (which rents spectrum from T-Mobile) only works with GSM phones, both AT&T and T-Mobile. I explain in detail in this article.

Criteria

I use three factors in determining the phone’s final grade: First, the best features of the phone are weighed. Second, the worst features of the phone are weighed. Third, I divide the price of the device by the aggregated consumer feedback scores from Amazon, Newegg or other review websites (whichever was available). The final result shows how much you pay per star of rating. This measure isn’t intended as a serious metric, although it should indicate better overall value, rather than raw performance.

BLU Dash 4.0 ($119.46 via Amazon)

BLU Product’s Dash 4.0 is the cheapest Android 4.0 smartphone you can buy unlocked,anywhere. While the manufacturer is a newcomer, their products have been getting solid reviews. And they’re also the only manufacturer that specializes in unlocked cell phones.

Networks: GSM

Pros:

• The lowest priced, unlocked Android phone with Ice Cream Sandwich.
• Dual SIM for international travelers.
• Good value for its performance and features.
• Great value and lowest total price for a brand-new phone.

Cons:

• This phone may not receive an update to JellyBean.
• No root access or custom ROM community.

Per star rating: $119.46/3.8 stars = $31 per star.

Apple iPhone 3G 8GB ($174.94 via Amazon)

Apple’s iPhone 3G still works great, even though it’s aging. If you’re locked into the iOS app environment, the 3G provides the cheapest entry point for a mobile device that’s still functionally modern. Also, for refurbished phones, consider purchasing an after-market replacement plan.

Networks: GSM

Pros:

• The cheapest entry point for iOS.
• Inexpensive replacement parts.
• Inexpensive cases and peripheral devices on secondary markets.

Cons:

• Old: The iPhone 3G is already several years old.
• Poor value: For what you pay, this is a very poor deal.
• Refurbished.
• No iOS 6: While a jailbroken 3G in theory might take iOS 6, the performance would likely be terrible.

Per star rating: $174.94 / 2.8 stars = $62.48 per star

HTC Nexus One ($155 via Amazon.com)

HTC built the first phone in the Nexus series. While the phone’s single core CPU is starting to feel its age, it retains one of the strongest followings within the Android development community. Also, for refurbished phones, consider purchasing an after-market replacementplan.

Networks: GSM

Pros:

• Strong custom ROM support and easy to root—support for JellyBean!
• Inexpensive replacement parts.
• Inexpensive cases and peripheral devices on secondary markets.

Cons:

• Old: The 1GHz single core CPU
• No warranty.
• Refurbished.

Per star rating: $155 / 3.7 stars = $41.90 per star.

BLU Vivo 4.3 ($188.99 via Expansys)

BLU Products manufactures a range of low-cost Android smartphones. Although an relative unknown in the US, it provides some of the best deals on an unlocked phone around. Additionally, it recently committed to upgrading the Vivo 4.3 to JellyBean. As a result, the Vivo provides a great deal to those who want a good performing phone, without the potential for modifying the ROM.

Networks: GSM

Pros:

• OS Upgrade forthcoming: JellyBean (Android 4.1)
• Decent quality camera.
• Pentaband (high compatibility with GSM networks) and dual-SIM.

Cons:

• Development support for unlocked phones unlikely.
• Dual core processor not comparable to cutting edge smartphones.
• Lack of LTE.
• Not rootable and no custom ROM community.

Per star rating: $188.99 / 4.2 stars = $45 per star.

LG Nexus 4 (8GB $299, 16GB $349)

The Nexus 4 is part of Google’s Nexus program, where Google picks the parts and the manufacturer produces it. The Nexus series remains one of the best performing phones on the market. As an added bonus, these phones are highly prized because they can easily be rooted and modified with a custom ROM. Full disclosure: I own a LG Nexus 4 and love it more than my own family.

Networks: GSM, rumors of a Sprint and Verizon CDMA model on the horizon.

Pros:

• Best valued smartphone in terms of cost-to-performance.
• Great custom ROM support and easy to root.
• High quality construction.
• Good camera.

Cons:

• No microSD support.
• No official LTE support.
• Partially sealed in battery: The Nexus 4 battery isn’t entirely user replaceable. Removing the battery requires a Torqx screwdriver and a hairdryer or heat-gun.
• Fragile: The glass back shatters easily.

Per star rating: $299 / 4.5 stars = $66 per star and $349 / 4.5 stars = $77 per star.

Samsung Galaxy S3 ($439.95)

Samsung, recently scandalized by possible phony HTC reviews, currently dominates the smartphone market. Their flagship phone, the S3, comes well regarded and is compatible on all major networks in the US. However, the GSM version works great internationally.

Networks: GSM, Verizon-CDMA, Sprint-CDMA

Pros:

• Remains one of the fastest handsets around.
• Android 4.0 (ICS).
• Large Super AMOLED screen at 4.8″.
• Good community support for rooting and installing custom ROMs.

Cons:

• Soon to be replaced by the Galaxy S4.
• Samsung does not update their phone’s operating systems.
• International edition doesn’t have LTE, although it does have a quad core CPU.

Per star rating: $439.95 / 4 stars = $110 per star.

iPhone 5 ($650 via Apple Store)

The most ubiquitous brand in this article, Apple created the smartphone market.

Networks: GSM (requires contract for Verizon-CDMA and Sprint-CDMA)

Pros:

• Latest, state-of-the-art product from Apple.
• Cutting edge features.
• iOS, if you are locked into the Apple app ecosystem.

Cons:

• Most expensive phone you can buy.
• Small screen, although high quality Retina display.

Per star rating: $650/3.7 stars = $175 per star.

Conclusion

If you’re looking for an unlocked cell phone with good value, BLU Products Dash 4.0 or the BLU Vivo 4.3 provide the best products on the market. Unfortunately, because of the relative obscurity of their manufacturer, few reviewers have given credit to otherwise value-packed phones.

On the other hand, the best reviewed, unlocked cell phone on the market is the Nexus 4. Personally, if I weren’t so obsessed with custom ROMs, I would have preferred the Dash or the Vivo over my Nexus. Combined with the right plan from an MVNO, you can save hundreds of dollars a year and still have a great phone.

Anyone own a BLU phone? Or does anyone else prefer MVNOs/prepaid plans? Let us know in the comments.

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