cases

When a hot Apple product hits the market, it has a tendency to spur a cottage industry of accessories. The MacBook Air is no exception, with several companies making MacBook Air cases and covers.

Since the Air's design hasn't really changed in the last couple of years, most of the cases, covers, and sleeves that worked for the older 11- and 13-inch 2010 and 2011 models should work with the updated 2012 MacBook Air versions.

As always, feel free to make your own suggestions for cases and covers you like and we'll consider adding them in the next update.

Click on any image to start slideshow. Cases are listed in alphabetical order.

Updated August 8, 2012 with four new cases.… Read more

What's flat, black, circular, and holds your iPad?

No, not some weirdly molded LP record. The answer is Rolling Ave.'s iCircle, one of the more stylish and versatile iPad cases I've come across.

(Quick note: The vendor's Web site isn't quite finished yet, so you may notice some placeholder text. But you can order the iCircle directly from Amazon if you're interested.)

The iCircle is a glossy plastic shell that clips onto the back of your iPad 2 or new iPad. Its most prominent feature: a circle that pops out from the rear and … Read more

The new iPad -- or the iPad 3, as I incorrectly like to call it -- has been out for a while, but the new cases keep on coming.

If you've already seen an older version of this list, I apologize, but the good news is that it's been updated.

As most people know, Apple barely changed the design of the third-generation iPad and a lot of existing iPad 2 cases fit the iPad 3. While a few of those iPad 2 models are represented in this round of top cases and covers, I did my best to include plenty of new models, as many accessory makers have refreshed their lines in the last few months. … Read more

Like the idea of looking like a gunslinger in an old Western?

Online Japanese design shop Roberu has created a leather carrier that looks like a gun holster to carry mirrorless interchangeable lens cameras (ILCs) such as the Sony Alpha NEX-5N, Olympus Pen E-PL3, and Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF5, to name a few. … Read more

Every iPhone owner should have two things: a protective case, and a warranty that covers accidental damage. You know, the kind inflicted by toddlers, car tires, and sudden bursts of gravity.

Don't believe me? A post I wrote two years ago -- "Shatter your iPhone 4 screen? Here's how to fix it" -- has been viewed more than any other post I've ever written. In other words, iPhone damage happens all...the...time.

You can buy a case, yes, and you can buy accidental damage protection from the likes of Apple or SquareTrade. Or you … Read more

I have to put our Always On supervising producer, Eileen Rivera, on front street a little bit this week: that woman hates the Samsung Galaxy Beam. More accurately, she hates the cheeseball YouTube videos that promote the Beam's signature feature: its built-in pico projector. And I agree ... those ads are bad. Like, bad, bad.

But after spending some time playing with the Beam, I have to confess, I was kind of taken with its little parlor trick! I can't imagine using it often, unless it was for work, but it would certainly thrill the grandparents as a better … Read more

Editors' note: This post was updated December 21, 2012, with five new products, including cases from Aduro, Covert, Samsung, Sena, and Urban Armor Gear.

The Samsung Galaxy S3 has quickly become one of the most popular Android smartphones, and like the iPhone, has spurred a cottage industry of cases and covers.

In boiling down the best of what's currently out there, I tried to provide a good mix of well-designed, affordable cases with more expensive models that offer some unique attributes.

One thing to watch for when buying cases these days is that you can come across pricier products … Read more

If you're still enjoying the dog days of summer, sitting by the pool drinking lemonade (hard or otherwise), good for you. But here in CNET-land, we're already gearing up for the fall rush. This week, we've had our noses to the grindstone reviewing Samsung's most lovely laptop, as well as do-it-all NAS drives, among other tech products. We had a little fun too, though, with an iPhone case you can use in that pool should you decide you absolutely have to surf the Web while you surf the waves. (You don't by the way, but … Read more

Seth Froom was the victim of a violent robbery last summer. His response was to create the Yellow Jacket, an iPhone case crossed with a Taser. The project is currently up on Ingiegogo for fundraising.

As far as stun guns go, the Yellow Jacket makes sense in that you are likely to have it with you at all times, in a convenient place where you can reach it when you need it.

However, you might be nervous about having 650,000 volts of electricity surging around your phone. Froom says that tests of the prototype have shown that calls stay connected during discharge. … Read more