Hands on review: Milante 8700 Hydrofoam Case
 

Milante Hydrofoam 8700 Case

Hands on review by lgreenberg

Price as reviewed: $29.95

Itxxx8217;s me, lgreenberg, the original case meister, back with another case review. Always first to bring you the products you want to see. A product you asked for the Milante Hydrofoam 8700 case. I stumbled upon this case while viewing the 8700 case page of Blackberry Stuff.

The material used in the case will be familiar to most of you. RIM uses Hydrofoam in some of their OEM Blackberry cases. Very compact but simple, premium hydrofoam material cases offer versatile durability and a fashionable look for your BlackBerry device.

This case comes in a plastic package to protect it during shipping.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...e/IMG_0699.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...e/IMG_0700.jpg

The case is made in black Hydrofoam and has the Milante logo smack in the middle of the case. My least favorite spot for company logos.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...e/IMG_0701.jpg

Although the Blackberry Stuff web site says this case comes with a fixed clip it actually comes with one that swivels. The clip is too short for my taste. If you like to wear wide belts you probably wonxxx8217;t feel safe with this case on your hip.

You'll also notice Milante felt the need to add their logo to the clip as well. I guess once wasn't enough.

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http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...e/IMG_0703.jpg

The clip ratchets into nine different locking positions.

While in the case the audio jack, track wheel and escape keys are left exposed. The profile button is covered.

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http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...e/IMG_0709.jpg

Youxxx8217;ll notice the case has elastic sides allowing it to accommodate both the slim and extended battery of the 8700. However, for some reason the sleeper function does not appear to work with the extended battery installed. It looks to me like when the 8700 in inserted into the case with the extended battery the keypad is being pressed. This does not allow the device to lock.

This does also seem to occur with the regular battery but not a often. There clearly is a problem with the keypad being pressed which prevents the sleeper function from activating.

Slim Battery

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...e/IMG_0704.jpg

Extended Battery

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...e/IMG_0711.jpg

The case does appear to have a sleep magnet but Ixxx8217;ve yet to figure out if itxxx8217;s working properly. When I insert the 8700 into the case the screen does not immediately turn off. It does however lock the device (which is how I have my device set (lock upon inserting in holster)) so it does seem to be seeing the magnet. The screen however stays on for what appears to be the time I have specified in settings (20 seconds).

My OEM RIM case on the other hand turns off the screen and locks the device the moment I insert it into the case.

The sleeper function works very inconsistently. The problem seems to be caused by the keypad being pressed by the case. Ixxx8217;d suggest utilizing the manual key lock function each time you put your 8700 into this case.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...e/IMG_0708.jpg

I would think this will have some effect on battery life.

The case does offer a very slim profile when worn on the hip.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...e/IMG_0705.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...e/IMG_0706.jpg

This case is probably best for someone who plans on carrying his or her Blackberry in a purse, bag, pocket or briefcase. Ixxx8217;m not a fan of this style of belt clip and donxxx8217;t trust that it somehow wonxxx8217;t come off onexxx8217;s belt.

Also with the poor operation of the sleeper function due to the keys being pressed itxxx8217;s also probably best for someone who doesnxxx8217;t have to worry about battery life.

I give this case 2 out 5 Blackberries.

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Pros: Slim design, durable material.
Cons: Sleeper magnet inconsistent, small belt clip.

Well, look like I'll be selling mine after i find another one to use... Thank for a great review.

Yeah...bummer...guess that's what I get for not waiting until someone posted a review...

Same here...

I REALLY wanted to like this case. My main requirements, is that the case be thin and stylish, not scratch my device, and have a sleeper magnet.

I received mine this morning and I can not get the sleeper function to work at all. I too have my BB set to lock when holstered, and it does not seem to lock at all when holstered. I cannot determine that the sleeper function is working.

I still like the style -- the size of the clip does not bother me because I rarely wear it on my belt. I just hate that the sleeper function does not work and for that reason would not recommend it.

...and the reviews just keep getting better. Mine should be here today. I wish the Forte' slim one ready to ship already!

I'm thinkin' about going to Michaels or some other fabric store to grab some magnetic sheeting...and just layer the inside bottom half with sheeting, and then cover it in felt. Should work, right? :razz:

You actually only need a magnet that's about the size of a dime or even smaller. It just has to be placed in the proper place to work. They sell them at craft stores too.

But I really don't think that's the problem with this case. I think the issue is the keys being pressed because the case is too tight. When a key is pressed it's then over-riding the sleeper function.

Lgreenberg:

Thanks for the review (even though I could not wait for it -- my bad). How are you ever able to get it to sleep and recognize the magnet? I've tried every type of positioning and can never get it to recognize the magnet -- though I think I feel it in the lining.

Disregard my last post. I just saw your above explanation that you posted as I was typing my question.

Thanks!

I'm not doing anything special to get the magnet to work. Again it's not working 100% of the time and with the extended battery on it doesn't work at all.

As I said in the review when it does work I'm not sure it works the right way anyway since the screen remains on for 20 seconds and the device locks. With other cases the screen turns immediately off when inserted.

I just got a Seidio kick-a$$ holster ordered, too, so I'll probably just use this for storage or protection in the car or something, and use the Seidio for normal daily stuff. I don't wear this thing on my belt often, so I don't really NEED a case/holster...but on the rare occasion I do, it'll be nice to have something that's better than the Launcher.

Just to add to the review...

My Milante came in yesterday. It's actually not as bad as I thought it would be.

I, like most, can't get the sleeper to work even half the time, and I see what you mean about the key press issue.

But, all in all, it's not as bad as I expected it to be. I probably won't use it much, but I'll get my $20 worth, I'm sure.

Would I buy it again? Probably not. But, I'm considerably less frustrated than I thought I would be.

Note to self...ALWAYS wait for the review from the gurus. ;)

Yep, hope you learned your lesson. :)

I disagree with your evaluation that its the keypresses that is causing the BB not to sleep. I put the BB into an email compose mode, so any keypresses would be recorded. I inserted it, both ways, and none were recorded. However, using the magnet from the OEM BB case held up against the Milante, I can trigger the sleep if I get the right spot.

Perhaps the magnets they were using weren't strong enough?

Piece of s**t case. I like the slim profile. But the whole reason I bought it was counting on the sleeper function to work. I can't ever get mine to work and can't even feel that there's a magnet in there.

Oh well.

But that doesn't explain why my 8700 is locking when it's in the case but the screen doesn't immediate turn off does it?

I turned on the lock when holstering function...and mine doesn't lock.

Looking at it again, the magnet is sewn it to the left of the case (if you're looking at the front of it). Messing around w/ the OEM magnet, its pretty apparent that it has to be dead center for it to activate. Dammit Milante.

Photographic evidence:

Milante case, centered:

http://www.jimmychow.net/pics/BBF/dsc_0016.jpg

Milante case, moving it to the right so the magnet can be centered on the BB:

http://www.jimmychow.net/pics/BBF/dsc_0015.jpg

And with the RIM holster:

http://www.jimmychow.net/pics/BBF/dsc_0017.jpg

http://www.jimmychow.net/pics/BBF/dsc_0018.jpg

So the magnet placement is definitely too crappy to properly activate the sleep function.

Nice evidence!! And now that you show that, I've found my magnet - way off center as well. What the hell???