For an extreme case, generally you need at least three layers of protection. First is an integrated screen protector. No stick-on overlays, and therefore, no bubbles. The other layers include a skeletal hard case to provide structure and stability, along with a silicone overlay that provides initial shock and bump resistance.  Usually the silicone overlay includes either flaps or overlays for the dock and headphone ports to prevent any moisture from accidentally getting int, too. All three together take their design from biology (skin/skeleton/vital organs), and you can think of the overlays as eyelids or a mouth.

Otterbox Defender ($49.99)

For many, Otterbox is synonymous with extreme protection. Up until the iPhone 4, I was generally satisfied with the Defender line, and I still love my iPad Defender case. However, with the iPhone 4, Otterbox streamlined the design. I’ll admit the iPhone 4 is beautiful naked, and I can respect how Otterbox wanted to get a slimmer case so the 4’s design could shine through.problem, though,  is the silicone overlay. It’s much thinner than previous models. I can’t explain why, but after a few weeks the overlay simply wouldn’t stay on its hard shell skeleton. The overlay slipped off in my pocket and despite valiant efforts and multiple replacements by Otterbox, the dock protector would never close properly. The case’s poor design combined with poor materials leaves my iPhone unsatisfactorily protected. I’ll come back for an improved design, but in the meantime I need something better.

Griffin Survivor ($49.99)

Griffin has entered the market with its “k” case, and it’s an outstanding design that seems to copy the old 3G/3GS style of the Otterbox Defender. Griffin claims it’s tested and certified to meet or exceed U.S. Department of Defense Standard 810F and U.K. Department of Defense Standard 00-3. Looking up that standard, it’s pretty impressive, but I don’t intend to go to war with it, just survive the (sub)urban jungle.

The charm (and one critical flaw) of the Survivor involves the silicone overlay. On the corners it’s reinforced with close to a ¼ inch of protection. Wow. Drop it on the corner and it literally bounces off the floor (yes I did try it with a live iPhone 4). It also not only covers the headphone jack, but has a plug to provide a seal making it unlikely water or other debris will get in that port. The dock cover also has a plug creating a seal, and the sides have a small series of holes to allow the sound to travel out. The home and volume buttons are completely covered, and the rotation/mute button uses a flap for protection. All of which is very good.

The critical flaw is the camera protector. It forms a great seal and protects the camera from scratches and debris. The problem is remembering to remove the flap when pulling out the camera and having to hold it while taking pictures. The only way to take pictures is to manually hold the flap open while taking shots. I pondered more than once simply removing the flap entirely, but ripping it off was hard and I gave up. I then realized that if I really want to protect my iPhone, I can’t leave this critical port uncovered. Griffin has a video showing all the extreme things they did with the case.

Ballistic HC Series ($29.99 at current sale price)

The final case I tested was the Ballistic HC Series. Similar to the other extreme cases, this also offers three layers of protection, but is much slimmer than the Survivor. Its silicone overlay does not protect the camera, and offers slightly enhanced padding on the corners. The flaps protecting the headphone jack, dock and mute/rotate switch do not form a full seal like the Survivor, but close significantly better than the Otterbox. The main flaw is that it is nearly impossible to remove with a coin or other implement. Most users probably will just keep their iPhone in one case, but I have various docks and battery extenders and often have to take the iPhone out. Both the Otterbox and the Griffin, on the other hand, were easy to open.

If you do get one of these extreme cases, I recommend Cable Jive’s dockStubz to help your new iPhone case work with standard dock connectors, as many iPhone peripherals expect a flush connection with the 30-pin connector. CableJive also makes a dockXtender which works in situations in which the dockStubz doesn’t. Of all the cases, the Ballistic had the hardest time connecting items to its dock connector.

So which case was my favorite? Obviously I was unhappy with the fatally flowed Otterbox Defender, and went back and forth between the Ballistic and the Griffin. Ultimately the Griffin won out. That extra protection and tight seals far outweighed the annoyance of the camera flap.

Disclosure: All manufacturers provided samples of the cases. Some manufacturers we contacted for this roundup were unable to provide cases as they were modifying designs to accommodate the Verizon iPhone.

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Looking at images of the removed iPad 2 case designs, it’s obvious that manufacturers were indeed in possession of accurate information regarding that device’s design. The speaker and camera both appear right about where they do in the final design, albeit with minor modifications (which may have been tweaked by Apple prior to release). At the time, one of the companies behind the iPad 2 cases claimed to have firsthand info about the upcoming hardware design from Hon Hai Precision Industry (Foxconn in the U.S.), one of Apple’s key manufacturing partners.

If the new case designs are accurate, the iPhone 5 will bear the same physical dimensions as its predecessor. The iPhone 3G and 3GS shared the same external case design, so it’s something that Apple has been historically known to do. Recent rumors have also suggested the design will be similar, albeit with a larger screen made possible by extending it even closer to the iPhone’s edge. That’s still a possibility, since the new case designs leave the front of the iPhone uncovered.

While it’s always best to proceed with caution when it comes to these early rumors, case designs tend to be a fairly reliable source when it comes to the physical design of upcoming products, and this is in keeping with the idea that the iPhone 5 will likely be an evolutionary, rather than a revolutionary update.

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Although the hot air associated with “Antennagate” has mostly blown over, it hasn’t altered the physics of iPhone 4 signal attenuation, but there’s an app for that. Apple will provide you with one of their bumpers in many colors or one of many third-party offerings for free, but a bumper isn’t for me.

From the 19th century fob pocket to the 21st century “Jobs pocket,” I prefer my iPhone in that little pocket-in-pocket in my jeans, which means skinning. While there are many options available, I prefer the original art from GelaSkins. The vinyl adheres without sticky adhesive to my iPhone 4, including the all-important sides, has a nice texture, and can even be removed and reused, plus wallpaper is included. GelaSkins cost $14.95.

For the display, I use a brand of screen protector sold at Apple Stores until all such protective films were banned for no good reason earlier this year. I like Power Support films,because you get two in the package for $19.95, meaning you can save one when upgrading to a new iPhone, and they make tortuous installation process as painless as possible.

Unless you wear a bunny suit and live in a particle-free clean room, a speck of dust can bubble your transparent film and ruin the view of your iPhone 4 Retina Display. That’s why the best time to install a screen protector is when you remove the protective wrapping on a new iPhone 4. If not, the included adhesive film for removing dust really helps. The Crystal Film set is $19.95, or $24.95 for front and back films.

Unless you’re a silhouette person wildly dancing in a music ad, it’s just common sense to also have a pair of Bluetooth stereo headphones for your iPhone 4. If not, sooner or later you’ll be at the gym on a treadmill or vacuuming the carpet at home when your headphone wire catches on something.

To avoid finding out just how durable the glass of my iPhone 4 is, I use the Motorola S305 Bluetooth Stereo Headset. While there are many headsets to choose from, the S305 costs about $35 at Amazon.com, provides decent sound, good battery life, doesn’t skip, and can even pair with multiple devices pretty easily. On the downside, people say it sounds like I’m calling while falling down a deep well, but the S305 is for listening, not talking, and for iPhone 4 safety.

For personal safety as well as iPhone safety, a car kit is a must. I use the custom mounts of ProClip. The two-part system is designed specifically for your vehicle and your iPhone, though it turns out the iPhone 4 fits rather nicely into the iPhone 3GS holder. The many mounting options start at around $60 and can end at well over $100.

I also use a charging/audio input solution from Griffin Technology that I bought for my iPhone 3GS, but is no longer sold. While there are many options, I’d be interested if anyone makes a cable that does not generate that annoying “not optimized” notification every time I plug the iPhone in.

Finally, if you’re also unfortunate enough to be chained to AT&T’s second-rate network, an AT&T 3G MicroCell can be the difference between five bars and none, which would be five. By leeching off my broadband provider, the 3G MicroCell makes my iPhone 4 usable at home for $150 upfront. However, some AT&T customers have apparently been offered free MicroCells. An angry call to AT&T customer service couldn’t hurt.

If this all seems like a lot of trouble for a phone, remember that in the end it’s not just about survival, but also about enjoying your iPhone 4. Otherwise why not just buy the Android flavor of the month?

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I’ve been reading all the reports, like this one from our own Darrell Etherington, about how Apple is removing film-based screen protectors from its stores. Multiple accounts suggest that this is for one or both of two key reasons: First, the mere presence of them in the store suggests somehow that the iPhone needs them when in fact it doesn’t; and second, the liability to Apple of imperfect applications is simply too great to ignore.

I’ve got both a case and screen protector on my iPhone 3GS, and I used cases and screen protectors for the original iPhone and iPhone 3G as well. Upon reading these reports, I did the same thing that any cautious and deliberate person would do. I threw caution to the wind and tore off the screen protector, which was in need of replacement anyway.

Despite my hesitation, I have to say that I prefer my iPhone without a screen protector. Images are more clear, the user interface responds to touch controls much better, and the screen is really easy to keep clean with a quick wipe on my t-shirt or another clean soft cloth (as long as I’m not eating chips while using the iPhone). I also realized that I long ago set the brightness of my iPhone really low to conserve battery power. I used to travel much more than I do now, and often found myself needing to conserve my battery for necessary phone calls and email. Now I’m always closer to a power source for a recharge, and a friend gifted me a Mophie Juice Pack not too long ago for times when I’m off the grid.

I haven’t gone completely native, though. I kept the case. I’ll have to do some digging to remember which one it is, but it’s a very low-profile, hard shell case that simply and easily snaps on without adding any significant weight or bulk. I keep my iPhone in the same pocket as my keys, and I really want to preserve the back for resell value. Without the case, I’d be afraid that it would be scratched too much. The case also has a slightly more matte, tactile feel that still slides in and out of my pocket easily but doesn’t slide across the table or get slippery with sweaty palms (I know, I know).

If you’re using a screen protector, you might want to do what I did and take it off. It’s almost like getting a brand-new iPhone.

Image courtesy of Flickr user williamhook

I sent out an “all call” for iPad cases and agreed to only look at cases that are ready for sale today, not pre-production or preview units. These are all cases that vendors told me are in stores or able to be ordered online for immediate delivery. Here are some of the ones I liked.

Belkin Pleat Sleeve: $39.99

The Belkin pleat sleeve is a basic iPad sleeve with something extra. The front pleats aren’t just stylish, but provide a thick cushion to give extra protection to the screen from daily mishaps as well as provide a pocket for your headphones and other accessories. I was able to fit quite a bit of stuff in that little pocket. This will be the normal in which I carry my iPad. The front pocket is the killer feature for me.

Hard Candy Bubble Sleeve: $49.95

As Chris wrote, Hard Candy was ready for the iPad release today and easily got me a case for the new member of the family. The Bubble Sleeve provides serious protection. This isn’t a typical neoprene sleeve. The case has thick, sturdy padding on all sides to protect your new investment. Similar to the Belkin sleeve, the Bubble Sleeve has extra cushioning to protect the screen. What I like about this case in particular are the red rubber grips that hold the iPad securely in place. This case will be my travel case. I’ll want to add a little bulk if I’m going to be putting this in an overhead bag or under a seat on the plane. The Bubble Sleeve will be perfect for students who will put 30 pounds of books in a backpack along with their iPad.

Griffin Elan Passport: $49.99

The Elan Passport is weak on protection, but strong on style. While it provides a hard front and back for the iPad, it does nothing to cushion it or protect the sides. Very similar to Apple’s iPad Case, the Passport is a portfolio. Open it up and you’ll have your iPad to the right and slots for business cards and other information on the left. I’d use this case for daily work on the job to maintain a professional and classy image. This is the case I’d want to see on my doctor’s desk.

Three very different cases, all available today. The future will bring more of these protective gizmos, but Precious needs one today! How can I even think of leaving this “magical” and “revolutionary” device unprotected? Apple’s loss is Belkin’s, Hard Candy’s and Griffin’s gain.

According to a report on Cult of Mac, the features and dimensions of the next versions of the iPod touch and iPod Nano, while officially a secret in America, are China’s worst-kept secret. Apparently, manufacturers in China have started producing cases for the devices, and CoM offers dozens of photos of them in all their silicon glory.

If they’re genuine, there are no big surprises, save for the fact that the iPod touch camera is located in the top center of the device, not in one corner, as one would find in its iPhone cousin. Also noted, the Nano’s screen will get wider, making its click wheel smaller.

No word on camera resolution, or whether the Nano will be able to record video, though the assumption is made that the iPod touch will.

The revised iPod models are due in September, when Apple usually refreshes that product line.

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Material/Build quality

There’s only so much you can say about leather – it’s a great material, and obviously has a level of class to it (and adds to the price). If you love the luxurious “feel” to leather (though it’s hard to describe), then you’ll love this case. It has the “rough” texture in the leather, and feels very thick and durable, like a very strong piece of material.

The “toffee” name is embossed into the back, bottom left corner of the case. The inside stitches with white thread hold the entire thing together, and seem to be fairly strong. Now, I don’t know much about fabrics or sewing, but it seems to be built like the Jansport backpack that I’ve had since my high school days. We’re talking a good 8 years. I’d imagine, under fair day-to-day gentle use, this case will outlast the MacBook it’s meant for.

Protection

The durable leather feels thick enough, and from my light tests, seems that it could hold up to what I would imagine would be normal use. For instance, I stick my MacBook Pro into an Incase slipcover, which then goes into a bag with the power supply and a whole array of pens, pencils, and other things which could be pointy enough to damage the case. The Incase slipcover, however, allows for sharp objects to cause damage to the computer – I have a couple dings on my MacBook Pro to attest to that fact. However, it’s good at softening minor bumps, drops, and blunt hits.

The Toffee leather slipcover is the other way around, it seems. My mechanical pencil wouldn’t be able to affect the computer (although the MacBook’s plastic is also better at avoiding that damage). However, the inside of the case isn’t as soft and “spongy” – which means it may not protect the computer from those bumps and bruises. This is just my guess… what, you thought I was going to test this theory out on my perfectly working computer?

Where to buy

I found my way over to the Apple Store on Michigan Avenue here in Chicago, but they only had the Incase and a couple other versions in stock – not the Toffee.

Fortunately, you can find them on Toffee’s site. I got the red one for the MacBook, but they have numerous colors – even for the old iBook and Powerbook models. Not-so-fortunately, the price is a bit more than I’d like – $85. Now, this is a leather case, so the price makes sense. The 17″ cover costs $7 more.

If you like the leather look (it’s pretty stylish), then the Toffee leather slipcovers will be a great fit for you. If you’re looking something cheaper, one of the other neoprene cases out there would probably be better, and are quite a bit cheaper.

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Speck makes the SeeThru Hard Shell for both the 15″ and 17″ MacBook Pro, as well as the MacBook. The SeeThru (available for about $50) is a polycarbonate shell that fits over your laptop to protect the casing from getting damaged. The shell comes in 8 different color including clear, red, and black. It has vents on the bottom half so the shell helps keep the laptop cool and has cutouts for the ports on the side of the laptop. Techshell makes a similar product (starting at about $60) except it does not have any vents on the bottom part of the case, so I have to wonder about how well heat is dissipated.

When it comes to heavy duty protection, the MacTruck doesn’t look like it plays any games. It is a combination laptop enclosure and briefcase. As an added bonus, the case doubles as an angled stand for when you are ready to use your laptop. The downside to the MacTruck–pretty darn expensive with prices ranging from $199 to $229. To be fair, do you know what it costs to replace your MacBook’s casing? The same as the MacTruck, sometimes plenty more. MacService will replace either the top or bottom of the MacBook Pro casing for $225 each (that’s $450 if both the top and bottom get damaged). DT&T Services will cost $250 for the top casing, $295 for the bottom casing, and $495 to replace both casings. As a lesser expensive option, if you don’t mind looking like a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle, you could get a hard shelled backpack over at eBags.com and protect more than just your laptop.

Again, there is a lot of incentive to taking proactive measures to protect your MacBook or MacBook Pro. Replacing your case can be expensive, not only in terms of dollars, but also in terms of time. You’ll have downtime without your computer if you send it in for repair or you’ll have a new experience while trying to rebuild your laptop from spare parts you found online. Keep in mind, I am only talking about cosmetic damage which is largely not covered by AppleCare. Some of these cases may protect more than your Mac’s pretty case.

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