Crüsta sounds like something you’d find in Ikea, but it’s actually the name of a case line from smartphone and tablet accessory maker Amzer. If you’re looking to armor up your iPhone 6 or 6 Plus with comprehensive front and back protection, you might want to take a look.

Crüsta combines a hard shell case with a tempered glass screen protector along with a belt clip that rotates 360 degrees. I’m rocking two cases in these photos; a space grey iPhone 6 in one, clad in patriotic red and blue, looking decidedly superhero on the hip using the optional clip. Supervillains wear purple, so the exuberant iPhone 6 Plus dazzles in this very magenta-y purple and white. There are 42 different color combinations in all, so you can surely find something to fit your personality.

The glass screen protector includes instructions which I recommend reading: Installation requires an alcohol swap to get off any fingerprint grease and other residue, a sticky ”de-dusting film” that gets rid of any lingering dust, a microfiber cleaning cloth and a ”scratch card” that helps you squeeze any lingering bubbles out. The tempered glass protector sports a layer of optically transparent adhesive on the side that touches your iPhone 6 Plus’s glass screen. You must apply it carefully, or you’ll get bubbles underneath the glass.

A polycarbonate two-piece case with a transparent glass back clips around the edge of the iPhone (no need for adhesive on that side, as it’s against the metal back of the iPhone). The back sports a cutout for the iPhone’s camera lens and flash. The polycarbonate bevel comes in blue, yellow, purple, green, white, black and red.

The final protective layer of the case is a rubbery gasket that goes around the edge of the iPhone, with cutouts for the iPhone’s speaker/microphone, Lightning port and headphone jack. Dust plugs cover the Lightning port and headphone jack when not in use; both are large enough to accommodate third-party cables. The Lightning port cover often popped a bit loose.

The gasket snaps into place following a groove edged in the polycarbonate case, an edge that came loose in my tests on the iPhone 6. Raised buttons enable you to easily click the volume control and on/off switch. That gasket also comes in different colors: Red, black, blue, grey, pink, and purple.

The final piece is an optional belt clip holster, molded in black plastic. It easily rotates horizontally and vertically, so you should be able to find a comfortable position for it. Amzer has honeycombed the plastic to keep it lightweight, so it doesn’t feel like the phone is pulling your pants down.

The Crüsta adds some bulk to the iPhone, but the trade off is advanced drop protection, with front and back glass coverage and multiple layers of impact-absorbing material between the iPhone and whatever it’s going to hit. Amzer claims the case has been drop-tested from six feet.

The Crüsta isn’t water-resistant, but it does offer edge-to-edge protection that should keep your iPhone 6 Plus safe barring any major calamity. And its customizable color combinations let you get as creative as you want to.

The good

• 42 color combinations
• 360-degree belt clip
• Tempered glass front and back

The bad

• Front glass installation requires careful handling
• Outermost layer separated from case easily

The bottom line

Check out the different colors you can get in the Crüsta – you’ll probably find a combination that you weren’t expecting. The Crüsta didn’t impress me on the iPhone 6, where it felt bulky, clumsy and ill-fitting. But the iPhone 6 Plus case fit fine. The phone is so big anyway, more mass to provide this much protection is a good tradeoff.

• $34.80 – Buy now

It appears that Apple will be turning to the public to improve iOS stability. The company will reportedly be offering a public beta test of new iOS releases in the near future, much like their public betas of OS X, which began in 2014 ahead of the launch of OS X Yosemite. The iOS public betas will reportedly utilize Apple’s current AppleSeed public testing program, and begin in March with iOS 8.3, followed this summer by iOS 9.

From 9to5Mac:

Following the successful launch of the OS X Public Beta program with OS X Yosemite last year, Apple intends to release the upcoming iOS 8.3 as a public beta via the company’s existing AppleSeed program in mid-March, according to the sources. This release will match the third iOS 8.3 beta for developers, which is planned for release the same week. Apple then expects to debut iOS 9 at its June Worldwide Developer Conference, with a public beta release during the summer, and final release in the fall…

It would seem that Apple wants to use the iOS public beta program to help make their mobile operating system more stable in the final release. There is no information at this time as to how large or small these public betas may be.

Source: 9to5Mac

”Loving it is easy. That’s why so many people do.” — Apple

SEPTEMBER

[Welcome. Bienvenido. Welkom. Witamy. Bem-] Oh, hey! You must be my new owner! COOL!

[Select Your Country or Region] United States? Awesome! I was designed in California. I’m actually from China, but—

[Choose a Wi-Fi Network] Apple Store, huh? Couldn’t wait to set me up, could you? I couldn’t wait either!

[Location Services] You won’t regret this!

[Apple ID] Your name is Kyle? What a coincidence! My name is Kyle’s iPhone!

[iCloud Drive] Great choice, iCloud won’t let you down. iCloud says he’s never leaked, not once. Seems like a real trustworthy guy!

[Set up Touch ID] Use your fingerHOO inHOO plHOOace of yoHOOur passcHOOde or HOO Apple ID pHOOasscode for purHOOchases.

Hahaha! That was so much fun! I have your thumbprint memorized. Any time you need me, Kyle, I’m here for you!

LATER THAT MONTH

Being an iPhone is a lot harder than I thought. They weren’t kidding around when they said ”it just works.” It’s basically all I do! I’m constantly multitasking and have SO many things to memorize. Thank goodness I have an A8 chip with 64-bit architecture and 128GB of photographic memory. I don’t know how older iPhones did it!

OCTOBER

I peeked at Kyle’s Facebook profile earlier today. It says his favorite music is Sufjan Stevens and The Mountain Goats, but most of the time we listen to the new Taylor Swift album. It’s our thing. I like the song ”Shake it Off” because it reminds me of my Shake to Undo feature. Kyle never uses that feature except on accident. I bet Taylor Swift uses it all the time.

NOVEMBER

I used to ride in the front pocket of Kyle’s jeans, but he said I was starting to fade a spot next to his you-know-what in his Japanese denim. He calls his pants ”denim” instead of jeans because he is VERY sophisticated. I now sit in the back pocket next to Field Notes. What is Field Notes? I have Notes, but I do not have Field. I wonder if Field is on the App Store. You know what they say: ”There’s an app for that!”

Now that I’m back here, Kyle sits on me sometimes. Maybe he thinks I am also a chair. It hurts a little but I’m glad he trusts me to do so many things.

DECEMBER

It is Christmastime and I hoped Kyle and I could work on a fun project, like shoot footage of his relatives on my Camera app — I also do slo-mo! — and stitch it together using iMovie for iOS. Then we could share it with everyone on iCloud Photo Sharing!

But instead of Christmastime sentimental video, Kyle has downloaded the Tinder game. It’s the one where you look at pictures of pretty ladies and swipe left or right. App Store says it’s very popular. I am not sure why. Kyle usually swipes right. Seems like a boring game.

JANUARY

It’s been awhile since Kyle has updated me. This update is to fix various bugs and performance issues. Why would Kyle not want to update me? I’m sure he has his reasons. I hope he is not one of those ”anti-vaxxers”.

FEBRUARY

Today Kyle and I were playing Words with Friends. It is WAY more fun than the Tinder game. Sometimes when Kyle is supposed to take his turn, he launches Safari for a few minutes and returns to the game. I think he may be cheating. I hope Friends doesn’t find out.

MARCH

Kyle’s mom’s birthday was yesterday. I reminded him so many times, but he never called or texted her. I hope Kyle’s mom had a good birthday.

I still haven’t been updated. Sometimes my apps crash. I hope Kyle does not think this is my fault. I hope Kyle updates me.

APRIL

Had a very stressful day. Kyle took me to a movie theater. I don’t know why, because they do NOT like me there. They even played a short movie to warn people about me and said I must be silenced. I thought it would be best for Kyle to turn on ”Do Not Disturb,” a feature that allows me to collect his incoming messages without needing to let him know until after the movie. Instead, Kyle just slipped me into his pocket so no one could see I was there.

About halfway through the movie, I started RINGING! Kyle just took me out and silenced me, but kept my screen on at full brightness so everyone could see it was my fault. Everyone there hated me. So embarrassing.

MAY

Kyle put a giant case on me today. It looks like a fat suit. He said it is because my battery does not last long enough. Never mind that Kyle forgets to charge me all the time and then tells his friends it’s because my battery ”sucks.” Field Notes made fun of me. I am ashamed.

JUNE

I feel paranoid and restless. I have a hard time concentrating on one thing and I overheat easily. Sometimes I feel like I’m vibrating even though I’m not. Earlier today Kyle asked me to find an email for him and I panicked. I couldn’t find it anywhere. I asked iCloud but he seemed like he did not care. His eyes were a little bloodshot and he giggled as he suggested terrible places for me to search. I could hear Kyle calling me stupid, and that I had ”one job.”

JULY

Sometimes when Kyle uses my Touch ID feature, I don’t let him in. I don’t have the energy anymore.

AUGUST

Today Kyle set a glass FULL of liquid on me. He laughed and pointed at me and called me Coaster. Doesn’t Kyle know that liquid can kill me? And the only time Kyle let me out was to spend ten minutes in Safari trying to prove one of his friends wrong about something. When we finally found the answer, his friends yelled ”put your phone away” like it was my fault. At least they know I am a phone and not Coaster.

SEPTEMBER

Kyle used ME to order a new iPhone today. Said he wanted an ”upgrade” because I am ”so slow” now. I don’t even know what to say. I hope they are very happy together.

EPILOGUE

Kyle’s iPhone now lives in Colorado with his mom where they spend their days playing Peggle and taking pictures of her cat. She regularly Shakes to Undo.

Photo extensions mean you no longer have to jump from image editing app to image editing apps, opening and saving as you go, hoping you never make a mistake because there’s just no going back. Instead, you simply open Apple’s built in Photos app, tap the photo extensions button, and all the filters and effects you’ve installed from the App Store instantly become available to you right where you are.

All you have to do is enabled them first. Oh, and find them. That’s where this list comes in. If you’re looking for the best iPhone apps for photo editing, here they are!

1. Afterlight

For easy edits

Afterlight is simple to use and contains all the filters and effects you need to quickly fix up almost any photo on the go. If you’re just starting out with photo extensions, start out with Afterlight.

• $0.99 – Download Now

2. Flare Effects

For pizzaz plus

Flare Effects offers a carefully curated selection of 20 filters that are both original and eye-catching. If you get the companion app for Mac, Flare 2, you can also create your own custom filters and that makes Flare Effects even more powerful.

• Free – Download now

3. Camera+

For advanced editors

Camera+ offers everything from basic to advanced editing tools, filters, and a featured called Clarity Pro that can really makes your photos pop. If you want to make fine-tuned adjustments, you’ll want to try Camara+.

(Camera+ also offers full manual camera controls.)

• $2.99 – Download Now

4. Litely

For subtle filters

Litely offers a great selection of tasteful, restrained filters. Some of the filters are included and you can buy additional filters via in-app purchase. You can apply the filters through using photo extensions, but if you launch the Litely app you can get a split screen views so you can compare edits before you make them.

• Free with IAP – Download Now

5. Effects Studio

For image overlays

Effects Studio offers options like blending and blurring. You can apply a good selection of overlays right from the photo extension, but you can also launch the Effects Studio app for finer tuning and adjustments.

• $0.99 – Download Now

6. Fragment

For perspective play

Fragment can turn your photos into prismatic works of art with just a tap. Add frames and choose from tons of different patterns to make your photos look literally out of this world. Or out of this dimensions. Either way, Fragment is ideal for landscapes and architecture.

• $1.99 – Download Now

7. Fotograf

For classic photo filters

Fotograf offers a great selection of classic photography filters that you can tweak and tune to your heart’s content. Thanks to non-destructive editing, you can apply a filter, test it, try it, tweak it, and find that perfect vintage look.

• $1.99 – Download Now

8. Pixlr

For boundless borders

Pixlr lets you not only apply overlays but borders as well. You can mix and match them on the fly to make sure you get exactly the effect you want. You can also go to the Pixlr app for editing features.

• Free – Download Now

9. Quick

For meme masters

Quick lets you apply text overlays to any photo you’d like. In other words — it’s a meme generator. There’s a decent amount of fonts to choose from and you can change the color as well. If you want even more fonts, you can pick up a 16 pack via in-app purchase.

• Free with IAP – Download Now

10. Halftone 2

For comic crafters

Halftone 2 lets you quickly apply frames and comic strip style overlays to all your pictures In order to put collages together, you’ll have to use the actual Halftone 2 app. But if you just want a quick comic effect, the Halftone 2 photo extension gets the job done.

• $1.99 – Download Now

11. Workflow

For GIF generators

Workflow isn’t a photo extension, but with it you can create a script that will combine photos into an animated GIF right from the action list in the Share sheet. Not only that, you can use Workflow to perform all sorts of other automations. It’s pure win.

• $2.99 – Download Now
• Photos to GIF workflow – Open on your iPhone once Workflow is installed
• GIF from camera workflow – Open on iPhone once Workflow is installed

Your favorite photo extension apps for iPhone?

If you’ve been taking advantage of the convenience photo extensions offers, what apps do you have loaded up that support them? Be sure to let me know in the comments!