How you choose to protect--or not protect--your iPhone is a matter of personal choice. Sure, plenty of people like to leave their iPhone naked, reasoning that any protective cover diminishes its sleekness. But the majority of iPhone owners realize it's probably a good idea to give your precious device some degree of armor, particularly if you don't like the idea of seeing your iPhone's lovely finish dinged and scratched up over time.
Going rugged isn't always pretty.
If that's the kind of heavy-duty shielding you're looking for, this is the list for you. Now, we can't guarantee all these cases will protect your iPhone--and particularly its screen--in the event it gets dropped or has a large object fall on it, but at least they give it a better chance of surviving unscathed.
While we tried to pick tough, protective cases that look good and don't make your iPhone too bulky, we should point out that a few of the cases have more extreme designs that aren't intended for everyday use. We should also note that some of the more rugged cases can be a bit of a chore to remove and aren't friendly toward iPod docks. And finally, before slipping your iPhone into any of these case, be sure to wipe your iPhone off carefully because having any bigger dirt particles wedged between your case and the back of your iPhone or the chrome trim can lead to scratches.
Click on any image to begin slideshow.
Note: The top 20 is listed in alphabetical order, not by ranking. If you don't agree with our choices or feel we missed some, please submit a comment, and we'll consider making changes in our next update of the list.
If the new swine flu vaccine doesn't give you the right dose of inner peace, there's another layer of protection at your disposal. It comes from Japan, which means it looks good, too.
The new anti-H1N1 suit doesn't just make you look dapper, it supposedly also helps keep you disease-free.
(Credit: Haruyama Trading)According to the U.K. Telegraph, Japanese menswear company Haruyama Trading has developed a suit that it claims can protect wearers from the H1N1 virus.
The suit is coated with titanium dioxide--a chemical commonly used in toothpaste and cosmetics--that breaks down when reacting with light and supposedly kills the virus upon contact. (If you read Japanese, here is the company's press release.)
Despite the new layer of protection, the suit seems pretty much like other suits commonly worn by Japanese white-collar workers. Each suit costs about $580, about how much a decent suit at Men's Wearhouse costs. The suits go on sale Thursday and in four colors and styles, including medium gray, charcoal, navy, and a gray pinstripe. The company says the suit will retain its protective capability even after being washed multiple times.
Japan, like many other places in Asia, has been gripped by the swine flu since its outbreak a year ago. According to the World Health Organization, more than 340,000 people have been infected with H1N1 worldwide; the disease is responsible for 4,100 deaths.
Generally, most of the new cases were reported to take place in urban areas, where population density increases the risk of transmission. It's unclear if there will be a female version of the suit; it's also unknown when or if the suit will be on sale in the U.S.
I got the Jesus phone and a Platinum Plus card. Isn't that enough street cred for you?
(Credit: Dong Ngo/CNET)I'm not a fan of protective case for gadgets (which, as long as they function, are fine the way they are, even with a few scratches). For this reason, the only things I've put on my iPhone 3GS so far, and only when I travel, are the Mophie Juice packs, which add more battery life to the phone.
I just, however, found a new protective case that I actually am going to use more regularly, for the sake of convenience. It's the Case-Mate I.D. case.
Unlike other protective cases that try to be as slim as possible, the I.D. case deliberately bulks out at the phone's back to create a small pouch that's just large enough to fit two credit cards or, in my case, my driver's license and a library card (yes, I read).
Of course, you can swap these out for any two cards you want. The point is this is very convenient, especially when the iPhone is something a lot of us don't want to be separated from. And I would like to stress the inseparable notion, as you definitely don't want to lose the phone and the two important cards attached to it.
Despite the added functionality, the case actually only adds another 2.5 mm (about one-tenth of an inch) of thickness to the phone, compared with other purely protective cases.
Other than that, the Case-Mate I.D. is very much like most protective cases. It comes with an easily attached protective film for the phone's screen and another protective layer for the back of the phone (so the card won't mess up all the fingerprints you've gathered).
The Case-Mate I.D. works with both the iPhone 3G and 3GS. It comes in eight colors and costs $30, which is a little more expensive than other cases that add no extra usability to the phone.
When friends and family ask me to show them a useful application on the iPhone or iPod Touch, I have no trouble pulling up four or five that convince them it's a solid platform. "A Virus Protection Mask" is not one of those apps. This 99 cent gem (which usually costs $2.99) simulates a protective face mask...for your phone.
There are a dozen mask colors to pick from, all of which sport the same design, and do not actually protect you or your phone from anything. Especially a "you paid for that?"
(Credit:
Apple/CNET)
Related:
10 absurd new iPhone apps
10 (more) absurd iPhone apps
No power? No problem. The APC 550VA battery backup will keep you running for up to an hour.
(Credit: APC)If you're using a notebook and there's a sudden power outage, no problem: The battery will let you keep on workin'.
Desktop users aren't so lucky, which is why it's essential to plug everything into a battery backup (aka uninterruptible power supply). If the lights go out, you'll still have a few minutes in which to save your work and safely power down the machine.
Best Buy has an APC 550VA Battery Backup System for $39.99 shipped. It includes a total of eight outlets, all of them surge-protected and four powered by the 330-watt battery.
The 550VA promises up to 65 minutes of runtime, depending on the power demands of your hardware. It also has phone/fax/modem and USB ports to keep that gear from getting fried.
APC offers a $75,000 equipment-protection policy, meaning if your gear does get zapped while plugged into the 550VA, the company will reimburse you.
As someone who works at a desktop nearly every day, and who has lost work due to sudden power outages, I consider a battery backup essential equipment. Normally they're a lot pricier, so I'm liking this deal a lot.
Updated July 7, 2009.
While the Kindle--and now the Kindle 2--haven't created the huge accessories market that Apple's iPod and iPhone have, there's a small cottage industry of Kindle accessories forming. Here's a quick look at some of the top cases and accessories. In the comments section, feel free to suggest any products you think we missed. We'll add to the list as new accessories come out.
Slideshow (click any product image to begin):
1. Amazon Kindle 2 Leather Cover ($29.99)
2. Belkin Neoprene Sleeve Case for Amazon Kindle 2 ($24.99)
3. Patagonia Book Case for Kindle 2 ($39.99)
4. Mighty Bright XtraFlex2 Clip-On Light ($16.00)
5. iGo Everywhere Universal Wall (AC) and Auto (DC) Charger with retractable cable ($19.99)
6. Cole Haan Hand-Woven cover ($119.99)
7. Cole Haan Pebble Grain cover, Black ($99.99)
8. Cole Haan Pebble Grain, Saddle-Tan cover ($99.99)
9. Amazon Kindle 2 Replacement Power Adapter ($14.99)
10. GelaSkins Protective Skin for Amazon Kindle 2 (Bookshelf) ($19.99)
11. GelaSkins Protective Skin for Amazon Kindle 2 (Gold Flowers) ($19.99)
12. M-Edge Prodigy for Kindle 2 ($44.99)
13. M-Edge Platform Jacket for Kindle 2 ($44.99)
14. M-Edge e-Luminator light ($14.95)
15. Octovo sleeve ($21.95)
16. Oberon Design Kindle 2 covers ($75)
17. Decalgirl Kindle 2 skins (14.99)
18. CaseCrown Double Memory Foam Pouch Case with a front pocket ($21.21)
19. Incipio Technologies underGROUND Case for Amazon Kindle 2 ($19.99)
20. JAVOEdge Amazon Kindle 2 Flip Case ($49.95)
21. JAVOEdge Amazon Kindle 2 Book Style Case ($49.95)
22. M-edge GO! Jacket ($29.99)
23. OCTO Metal Stand ($14.99)
24. OCTO Splash Proof Case ($19.99)
25. Flex Neck Reading Light ($14.99)
On Sale Now: $29.99
View the latest prices for Amazon Kindle 2 Leather Cover
On Sale Now: $39.99
View the latest prices for Patagonia Book Case for Kindle 2
(Credit:
Chrome Bags)
Chrome started with a couple of guys in Boulder, Colo., who set out to built a bag that could stand a lifetime of daily abuse. Eight years later, the operation is now based out to San Francisco, where Chrome bags have become the staple of bike messengers, students, and packrats alike. Today, Chrome also announced its sojourn into the techie commuter market with the release of two stripped-down, laptop-friendly bags: the Vega and Corsair.
Chrome Vega
(Credit: Chrome Bags)The Vega draws inspiration from the classic "musette" bags used to feed cyclists in the middle of a big race. Since weight is everything to these pros, the bags have to be minimalist and utilitarian, and the Vega is no different. It's light, tough, and can easily fit up to a 15-inch laptop.
It's important to stress the tough material used in the build: 1,000 denier Cordura material, a heavyweight nylon with a urethane coating to protect from water, abrasian, and grime. Make no mistake about it: these are some of the toughest bags you can get.
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Fashion trendsetter Hiroshi Fujiwara and his company Fragment Design are typically known for releasing limited-edition fashion collaborations, but lately it seems like the company is looking more frequently at tech accessories.
Case in point: back in April 2009, Fragment teamed up with Incase for the second round of an exclusive iPhone case. Well, it must have done well, because HighSnobiety got an exclusive look at the latest venture, a soft wrap for photo equipment and other tech accessories.
According to HighSnobiety, the wrap is made of a soft, thick material that simply folds over to protect your technical equipment from damage on-the-go. Conveniently, the wrap only comes in one size, with the added benefit of universal fit for your most delicate gadgets.
It's hard to tell from the picture, but it sort of looks like RoadWired R.A.P.S.! Advanced Protection System Wraps designed to swathe phones, cameras, or whatever else in a big neoprene blanket. The Fragment Design Soft Wrap will be available soon, although no prices have been announced.
More pics after the jump.
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Following a long wait after my first blog, I finally got my hands on Mophie's Juice Pack Air for the iPhone 3G. The company announced the availability of the accessory Tuesday with a price tag of $79.95.
If you own an iPhone 3G, you know how bad the device's battery life is, especially when you have 3G, GPS, and Wi-Fi turned on. For this reason, extended batteries, such as the original Juice Pack from Mophie are a must. However, this juice pack is rather bulky and doesn't cover the top of the phone. This is where the Juice Pack Air comes into play.
The new Juice Pack Air is thinner, though not by much, and has a top part to make it a complete protective case for the iPhone 3G while doubling the phone's battery life.
Unfortunately, the Juice Pack Air comes with a Micro-USB port, instead of the Mini-USB port that's used in many handheld devices, including the original Juice Pack. This makes it a little inconvenient to use. Other than that I liked it.
Before making the purchase, make sure you read the full review of the unit here.
You have your iPod Shuffle 3G clipped on your arm when working out and it looks cool. So now, how about making it look yummy, too?
You can start by putting it in a ChocoShuffle, a new protective case for the iPod Shuffle 3G from SwitchEasy.
The first thing that came to mind when I saw the photos of the ChocoShuffle is that I just wanted to take a bite out of it. The case looks exactly like a piece of chocolate. It even comes in three colors, representing different kinds of chocolate: milk, white, and strawberry. It's made out of shock-proof silicon and offers a nonslip thumb grip.
Is it a coincidence that a tasty piece of chocolate happens to have the perfect size and shape to be a protective case for an MP3 player? Probably. But it's still a neat idea.
The ChocoSuffle is available now and costs a little more than a Hershey bar, at $9.
Now the problem is, will the ChocoShuffle make it harder for those who are on a diet? Or will the fact that it's not actually edible help with their willpower? I'll just stick with my iPhone for now.
