Review: Piel Frama HTC Tytn (Hermes) Case.
As part 5 of our HTC Hermes multi case shootout review I have for your delectation the Piel Frama HTC Tytn (Hermes) Case. Piel Frama have been creating quality leather products for over half a century and produced a case for the Wizard which other than a few errant button
pressing issues was top notch. Can this latest offering live up to their excellent reputation?
Read on to find out!
Special thanks go out to Angelica from Piel Frama for supplying us with a review sample.
Supplier: Piel Frama.
Product: Piel Frama HTC Tytn Case.
Cost: 60 Euros including global postage.
Supplier Web Site: http://www.pielframa.com
Supplier Product Web Site: http://www.pielframa.com/htc_tytn.htm
For your delectation all photographs are thumbnails which, may be clicked on to load an image.
Introduction
Most PDA case manufacturers are, first and foremost suppliers or manufacturers of Pocket PC accessories. Piel Frama however has a heritage in creating quality leather goods that predates the computer, let alone Microsoft, and Pocket PC's. Piel Frama has been stitching for more than 50 years. Their reputation for hand made quality products using top class materials is born from fact, but the PDA case market is also reliant on functionality. It was here the Wizard case stumbled, with the flip interfering with the day to day device usage. Can these veteran Spanish masters keep up with the state of the art?
Read on.....
Aesthetics
From the first second you open the tidy cream and claret coloured box, it's instantly apparent that Piel Frama have come from a leather goods background as opposed to a PDA accessories one. When you first set eyes on the case it looks more like a boutique bought wallet than something to put your phone in. In fact looking at it next to my wallet on the desk, it's obviously not only much higher quality, but with the Tytn inside, an awful lot fuller too.
The distinctive hand stitching is a change from the machined look we are used to, and there's not quite the same precision on the edges, but is very easy on the eye. You can almost feel the pedigree in the lines, the materials and the craftsmanship. There's none of those grey stitching on black leather shenanigans either. It's all black with a lovely soft tan interior. Very nice.
Piel Frama makes cases in a range of colours and materials. Aside from the natural Tan colour for which they are usually associated for the Tytn there's Red, Tan/Black and now all Black. You also have the choice of leather, with the more exotic Vachetta, Crocodile and even Ostrich leather options added to the usual Cowskin.
Phone Functionality
The flip cover for this latest Piel Frama offering differs to the last in that it utilises the book style horizontal opening method compared to the vertical opening of its predecessor. This does make it a little more difficult to use when answering a call, but much easier for keyboard use. Personally I've always preferred the flip to open this way because I'm primarily a PDA user as opposed to a phone user. If you place more emphasis on the telephony aspect of your device this may not be the case for you. The inside of the flip contains two SD holders. Unfortunately these are placed centrally on the flip and press against the screen when the flip is closed and when pressure is applied to the flip. I don't think it's enough to damage the device, but would be enough activate a today plugin if you gave it a good squeeze. The flip also rests against the Mail and Explorer buttons when the flip is closed, so you would need to ensure you turn your machine off before shutting the flip. It's strange how the way I use my device has differed between the Wizard and the Tytn. I found this a real issue with the Wizard, but didn't even notice it with the Tytn. It had to be brought to my attention by one of our eagle eyed readers! (Thanks Paul!). For some reason in the transition from Wizard to Hermes I've just become used to turning off my device when I'm done with it. Bizarre.
Keyboard access is taken care of by a plastic insert which sits over the top of the keyboard holding it in place. I've always hated plastic in a case, but this is a good example of how the execution matters more than the material. The device fits in the case nicely once seated, although it's a little fiddly getting there. You wouldn't want to be taking the Hermes out and reseating it too often, but I found I didn't. It's the first time for a long time I've put my phone in a case and left it in there throughout the whole review period. That in itself makes this Piel Frama a little bit special.
From an accessibility perspective you have good access to all the ports and controls of the Hermes, possibly with the exception of the soft reset hole. You can get to it with your stylus, but it sometimes takes a little bit of a root around to find it. The clip is a standard affair, one that has a slight hinge to attach around a belt or to grip to a waistband. You connect the clip to the case using a special knob. The knob is screwed into the case using the tool provided, and seems sturdy with no sign of movement. Piel Frama include as standard three connector "blanks" so that should you remove the connector you can plug the hole underneath. A nice touch. I used the clip in the office and while cycling, and it did its job, for the most part, but I did catch it on desk edge at one point which flipped the whole thing onto the floor. Luckily the excellent protection kept my device safe and sound.
One thing I really did like about the clip is that Piel Frama has changed the orientation of the device from hanging on your belt in portrait to landscape. I found wearing the case on the belt in landscape just below my kidneys very comfortable indeed, much more so than the regular portrait hang.
Physical Security
From a security perspective Piel Frama's creation does the job. The case offers full coverage of the device, the majority of the Hermes being sandwiched between the very well padded front cover and the reinforced rear. There's also a thinner strip of leather sculpted around the external controls providing a last line of defence should the covers part. While the front and back covers will provide solid protection, the thinner strip wouldn't save your phone from a serious slippage. As I stated earlier, my Hermes has met the hard stuff in person when the clip failed to keep it on my belt. The case did its job, unlike the clip, and my device remained unscathed.
Value
60 Euros (Including postage!) (£40 Approx).
At 60 euros the case is not cheap, although this does include global postage. Other cases have postage charges in the 5-10 Euros range, making the price about 50 Euros in comparison with other cases.
This is quite expensive for a case these days, but again, hand made items are always that bit more expensive and this really is a quality item.
Pro's
Exceptional craftsmanship.
Can use Keyboard with device in case.
Great looks and feel.
Excellent access to controls.
Complete device coverage.
Good clip connector.
Stylish packaging.
Con's
Poor plastic belt clip.
Case presses against the IE and Mail buttons.
Centrally placed SD slots press on screen.
4WM Rating
89%
Conclusion
Piel Frama have made a fair few design changes since the Wizard version and while the latter struggled to earn a 4WM Bronze medal it's only the weak plastic belt clip that's kept me from awarding this one a Gold one. The old issues with the errant screen presses do not seem to be a problem for me with the Hermes even though they still exist. Whether they will be a problem for you will depend on whether you power off your device before you close up your case or not. This time around, from my own perspective I've found the Piel Frama's flaws merely minor annoyances (bar the clip) and really have a lot of time for it. The case is made from top quality materials, has been beautifully finished and offers excellent functionality. My Hermes hasn't been out of mine since the postman dropped it through my door 10 days ago. A first for me on this platform!
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Waveydavey
4WM Moderator & Reviewer.
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