Miscelleneous by stefan @ 2012-01-04
The Kraken Case for iPad 2 offers the protection you need for your tablet, covering all necessary spots and comes with a preinstalled screen shield, which is really easy to install and can be cleaned as many times as we need. The silicone parts give the product an overall rugged look and the Home button is fully covered, to avoid dust accumulation.
At first I would like to thank Trident Case for offering a sample of their Kraken Case for Apple iPad 2 for testing and reviewing.
"Who are we?
Trident Case is a designer, manufacturer and distributor of profoundly durable cases and solutions for the mobile electronics industry.
What the heck does that really mean?
Basically, we make the best rugged cases on the market for smartphones, tablets and other mobile devices.
When/where did we come from?
Trident Case was founded in March of 2010 in Chino, California. Our first product (the Kraken for iPhone 4) launched later that summer. Since then, we've been growing rapidly. In April of 2011, we moved down the road to a larger facility, still in Chino, which has been our home ever since.
What makes us so special?
We go above and beyond the status quo to ensure top-quality products and customer satisfaction. We adhere to the strictest levels of safe products (100% RoHS compliance) while staying environmentally conscious. All of our cases go through rigorous testing to ensure each customer gets a quality product.
We're committed to giving you the best protection available for your mobile devices and we'd love to hear back from you."
Total Protection
Constructed from impact-resistant polycarbonate and double-enforced with a shock absorbing silicone inner-sleeve. Corners feature double-thick silicone for outstanding protection against drops and other impacts.
Clear PET Screen Shield
Scratch-resistant clear PET screen protector shields the device from fingerprints, smudges, scratches and moisture while maintaining complete touchscreen interactivity.
Dust and Debris Insulation
Built-in screen protector seals edges of the device while the headphone jack and the 30-pin connector port are fully protected under silicone plugs when not in use. The speaker is protected underneath a micro dust filter, keeping out dust and debris particles.
Firm Clasps
The top of the case is outfitted with snug clamps for maximum security and a reliable hold.
Plastic covers are made of polycarbonate and the outer-wrap is silicone.
All materials are 100% RoHS compliant.
The Kraken Series iPad 2 case from Trident Case is shipped inside a transparent plastic packaging with a cardboard frame, so we can see how the product looks like before purchasing:
By flipping the packaging on the other side, we can see the bottom side of the product:
On the cardboard frame we can also find a barcode which can be scanned to reveal a link to a video for more details about the product:
After removing the outside packaging, we can look at the pre-assembled case, with some product specifications located inside; on the front we can also see the impact resistant polycarbonate black plastic frame:
Unlike the cases reviewed in the past, this product also has a cover for the Home button, which is made from black silicone:
Silicone shock absorbing material can be also find in the corners and on the laterals:
To keep the case securely closed, two locking clamps are located on the top side of the case:
On the back side we have a clear circular window through which we can see the Apple logo, along with the Trident Case debossed logo:
The Data/Charge port and Audio jack are covered by the silicone material, which is really easy to raise:
The speaker orifices also have a filter underneath, to avoid dust accumulation:
The Mute switch is protected in the same manner and the Volume rocker is fully covered:
Near the orifice for the camera we can find the Sleep/Wake button cover:
After the removal of the top polyurethane frame, we can discover that the preinstalled bubble-free screen protector is glued to it and is really easy to maintain; a piece of the protector extends to the frontal camera area:
With that removed, we remain with two extra pieces, the silicone layer along with the bottom part, which is also made from impact resistant polycarbonate:
Here is how the silicone layer does look like on the front and also on the back; this represents the first case component we must put the iPad 2 in:
On a closer look at the bottom shell, we can see that the orifice for the logo is also covered in a transparent plastic protective film, to avoid accidental scratches in this area:
The silicone layer is soft and flexible, so it can be easily installed on the iPad 2:
Before mounting the frontal plastic frame, we must make sure that the protective screen is dust free; the frame must be first fixed on the bottom, then on the laterals and lastly on the top, so finally it can be secured with the two locking clamps:
Let's take a look again at the covered ports/orifices; first we can observe the speaker openings along with the dust filter:
The silicone can be lifted really easy off the Data/Charge port, the Audio jack and the Mute switch:
On the back of the case, we can clearly see the Apple logo:
Here are also the two camera orifices:
The Kraken case for iPad 2 from Trident offers a lot of protection for the tablet and gives it a rugged look; the silicone on the sides offers a nice grip and the manufacturer made sure to cover each and every hole, to avoid dust accumulation and/or damages. A nice touch is also the visible Apple logo on the back of the iPad 2 and the frontal Home button is also covered, something that we haven't seen at the other reviewed cases.
The integrated protective screen is really easy to work with, which means that it is easy to clean on the front and on the back, does not contain any adhesive and the touch screen is responsive enough even if we put it over a preinstalled screen shield. This also means that we do not have to pass through the "nightmare" of installing standard shields which are very sensitive in case they catch dust underneath or because of the air bubbles.
This case does not give though the possibility to sit it in different positions like for reading/typing or watching a movie and also does not feature a top cover, which means that the screen must be cleaned regularly of accumulated dust. Also, when holding the case in landscape mode, the plastic clips feel a little weird. Because of the shape of the case, it is possible we won't be able to mount the tablet on a dock for charging, so we will have to use only the original cable for this.
While looking at the main website, we can find out that this case comes in more colors besides black, like blue, green, pink or red.
The Kraken Case for the iPad 2 can be found in the online store for about 59.9 Euros.
I would like to thank again to Trident Case for making this review possible!