FlexiSkin From Boxwave is Now Available for SP5m

[Mike Temporale]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.boxwave.com/products/flexiskin/flexiskin-i-mate-sp5m-music_720.htm' target='_blank'>http://www.boxwave.com/products/flexiskin/flexiskin-i-mate-sp5m-music_720.htm</a><br /><br /></div><i>"Enhanced with new SmoothTexture™! SmoothTexture™ makes the FlexiSkin™ feel softer to the touch and reduces surface dust. FlexiSkin™ is durable, soft to the touch, and can stretch and flex to help cushion your i-mate SP5m Music from bumps and hard knocks. Usable and protective, FlexiSkin™ the new protective case for your i-mate SP5m Music!"</i><br /><br /><img src="http://www.smartphonethoughts.com/images/Temporale-20051118-FlexSkin.jpg" alt="User submitted image" title="User submitted image"/> <br /><br />Boxwave has released their FlexSkin for the i-mate SP5m and it's available in 4 different shades: Black, Blue, Smoke, and Clear. I had a case just like this for my 5600, and I'm thinking I should get one for my SP5m. I just need to decide on a colour. I was thinking of Black or Smoke, but I can't make up my mind. :? The case is $23.95 regardless of your choice of colour. They are also available for other devices. Check them out!

[ARW]

I picked one of these up and will share my thoughts.

While I like the skin, it appears as if they didn't have an SP5m to work with as a model for laying out the skin.

The biggest issue is that there is no button for the volume rocker switch. There is a button for the Communications Manager button, but it's not quite aligned correctly. This means that using either volume or comm mgr means you have to almost look at the phone to get your fingers placed correctly.

The other big alignment issue is that the skin seems to ride up. Not a huge deal except where the band crosses the music and IE buttons. The buttons for these work okay, but the band is almost on top of the left, right, home and back buttons. I resolved this by trimming the skin and it works okay.

The other alignment issues don't really present a problem, but here there are anyway. The power and bluetooth LEDs and the speaker don't line up, though you can see the LEDs and the speaker is fine. The last item is that the skin pulls away from the sides of the phone on the left and right of the screen. Not a lot, but it doesn't fit as tight there and I can see it getting caught on things.

Overall I like it and would do another, though it's disappointing that it isn't designed better. If you're not afraid to do a little trimming you'll probably be happy with it. It certainly offers good protection.

[roma]

Thanks for sharing this. For me this is a reason not to buy this and take a look at Ebay's USBkits skin when it is released. I'm the kind of guy that finds those little issues you describe too annoying.

[Mike Temporale]

Wow! Good to know, Thanks! Maybe I'll look for one of these from one of the other vendors then. I had one for my Audiovox that came from Martin Fields and it lined up with the device perfectly. :?

[ctmagnus]

I honestly haven't used the FlexiSkin I got for my SMT5600 in ages. I just feel comfortable sticking the Smartphone naked in my pocket.

The only times I've dropped the phone have been onto carpet, or from a height of 1' or less above the surface it collided with, but I know that, no matter what, I _will_ drop the phone from a good height onto a hard, rough surface eventually, so I really should use the FlexiSkin more.