As a result, they really cater towards different iPad mini users. Take a look a my comparison to see what I mean:

While both of the Zagg keyboard cases provide some protection for an iPad mini, there’s no closure mechanism on either. I’m not a fan of that as the case could easily open if dropped. I do like the wireless keyboards, however.

The 7-inch model is a bit too cramped for my tastes, but of course the 9-inch version is bigger and heavier. It’s a question of sacrifice: Do you mind extra bulk and weight for a wider keyboard or would you rather use a minimalistic keyboard and case? That depends on your preferences, of course. Either way, Zagg has you covered.

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The CruxSKUNK’s keyboard is definitely thin; just 6 millimeters. Atop the standard QWERTY keys are special function buttons specific to the iPad and its iOS software. Using a Bluetooth connection to pair with an iPad, the battery should last roughly a month between charges and a USB is included to recharge the internal battery. A zippered case is also part of the deal. A standout feature though is surely the hinge and the way an iPad is held by the keyboard; take a look:

I like the idea of the keyboard doubling as a adjustable angle stand for watching content or gaming. Others must as well: with just over two days left on Kickstarter, the project smashed through its $90,000 funding goal with nearly $233,000 pledged. So will I be backing this one for the $155?

I’m passing since I already backed the Brydge, a similar product. The Brydge hinge only moves 180-degrees, but a key differentiator  is an option for two integrated speakers; something that the CruxSKUNK lacks. If that doesn’t bother you, this may be a good option. Don’t wait though: The project funding closes on Wednesday this week!

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For those looking just to protect their Nexus 7, Google’s own case is a solid choice. But I like consuming various bits of content on my small slate and I don’t always want to hold the device. That’s why I prefer a case like the Blurex model: I can prop up the Nexus 7 in three different angles to watch a movie, read a book or play a game. I’m still not sold on the hand-strap this case offers, but I don’t have to use it, so it’s not bothering me. All in all, this was $15 well spent to protect and enjoy my $249 Android tablet.

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Natural beauty

The Blackbox is a handmade case, currently available for iPad 2 and MacBook Pro. I got the chance to check out the upcoming MacBook Air version, and it’s a beauty in natural bamboo. The good looks owe as much to the craftsmanship as to the materials, as this is one clean-looking case with smooth lines that echo those of the MacBook Pro case created by Apple’s own industrial designers.

Rugged and ready

The experience of having your MacBook Air in the Blackbox feels a little like nestling it inside a cutting board, and that’s a very good thing. Thanks to the leather strap, the corners of your computer are protected, and a snug, secure fit is guaranteed. The wood feels solid despite being hollow, and there seems to be almost an inch of coverage on the edges, making sure that there’s no weak connection points that will come apart or snap apart during a minor tumble. It also means you can stack plenty of weight on top of the case with your computer inside without worrying about hurting your Mac.

Life resistant

Blackbox cases are treated with a water-resistant finish that helps enhance their good looks and also make sure that an accidental spill won’t fry your machine. I tested it out by dripping a bit of water on top and then wiping it clean; definitely looks like it’ll hold up to all but the most grievous of Starbucks incidents. Thanks to the weight resistance and a very snug fit, it should also stand up well to be tossed in a bag with other loose kit. Just make sure there’s nothing in there with edges that might scratch the exposed portion of your MacBook, as the top is open save for the strap.

Not trim, but light

The one downside, especially if you’re using an Air mainly for its portability, is that this case does add considerable girth to your device. In fact, it more than doubles the height of the Air at its thickest point. But the Blackbox is surprisingly light despite its added bulk. On its site, Blackbox says that the existing versions only add around 1.5 lbs, and I’d say that’s about where the MacBook Air model is, too. It’s not heavy at all, considering how durable these things are.

A good friend you see only once in a while

That’s how I’d best describe the Blackbox MacBook Air case. You won’t need it every time you need your Mac, but for adventurous outings, and times when bringing dedicated computer bags separate from your other luggage isn’t practical, the Blackbox is a rugged performer that’ll give you peace of mind when transporting your valuable, but fragile-feeling MacBook cargo. It isn’t yet available on the Blackbox site, but according to the Kickstarter site for the project it’ll retail for $109 when it arrives sometime soon.

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Tweeting while in the shower? Blogging while in the bathtub? The Lifeproof iPhone case makes it possible, and even manages to do so without adding much girth to your device or sealing it away in a cumbersome bag-style cover, like other alternatives.

A thin, yellow, rubber strip helps seal the case tight. While I didn’t take it in the shower, I did take the empty case into a bathtub multiple times and saw absolutely no leaks inside. I wasn’t quite adventuresome enough to try it with my iPhone inside, but third-party tests and user reports suggest it works as advertised. All the iPhone physical buttons are protected, and an integrated screen protector covers the home button. A screen top protects the headphone jack, and a flip cover protects the dock connector. The screen protector also didn’t take away from the quality of the iPhone’s Retina display. The speakers are protected with Gore-Tex, designed to let sound pass through but prevent water from getting in.

I was unwilling to fully test the shock protection with my own current-use device, but  I did a few drop tests with already cracked iPhone screen components and the protection was impressive.

As a functional daily case it had some drawbacks for me. The dock port is tight, and the only cable that fit in my tests was the one my iPhone came with. If you have a lot of third-party sync/charge cables, you may want to think twice about this purchase. However, Apple’s own cables fit just fine, so this may not be a limiting factor.

The headphone jack is deeply recessed in the case, requiring an adapter (included with the case) to use most headphones. It’s annoying, but not a major problem since you can easily keep an adapter attached to your favorite pair of headphones. I lost the tiny screw top protector (which seals the headphone jack when not in use) multiple times. Fortunately, Lifeproof provides an extra protector in the box.

While the home button is easily accessible through the screen protector, I found other controls such as the volume and sleep buttons a bit difficult to use. It’s not a deal-breaker, but it is inconvenient.

Removal of the iPhone from this case was a breeze. I often had to remove it to work with my other iPhone-enabled devices. Typically, cases with high levels of protection require multiple steps to remove the iPhone, so the ease with which the Lifeproof comes on and off is a big plus.

Although callers did not notice a difference in sound quality during normal phone calls, they reported reverberation and feedback during speakerphone calls. I noticed the quality of the sound was a bit muffled, but I was told I received a faulty unit and the second one had improved sound. I also reviewed the instructional videos Lifeproof had online about the case, and made sure it was seated properly. Be sure to watch those videos, because properly fitting the case to your device can make a big difference in sound quality.

Generally, I really liked this case and would recommend it to anyone who works in environments where water damage could become an issue, or for anyone who simply wants more protection without a lot of bulk and complication. The need to use an adapter for the speaker jack, as well as some third-party accessories was annoying, but the cost of those is still much cheaper than replacing a water-damaged phone. Overall, this is one of the best rugged cases out there, with the added benefit of extremely high water resistance.

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Case Mate's iPhone 5 designs were live on their site briefly in September before the company pulled them.

AT&T retail stores are reportedly taking delivery of iPhone 5 cases a little early, according to a new report. Photos obtained by MacRumors show boxes of new cases allegedly delivered to one AT&T store late Thursday. The cases feature a tapered back design and what appears to be a mute switch opening on the opposite side of the phone relatively to where it’s currently located.

A tapered back redesign is in keeping with some other early case leaks we’ve seen from Chinese accessory makers and other vendors, although separate rumors have suggested we’ll see a new iPhone that closely resembles the previous generation. One theory is that Apple will unveil two new models of iPhone on Tuesday during its special media event, one of which is a modest evolutionary upgrade of the iPhone 4 as a low-cost option, and the other a complete redesign.

The cases could be fake or based on an uninformed, just-in-case ordering decision on behalf of AT&T or this store in particular. Some have pointed out that the packaging seems unrealistic, but AT&T retail is known to repackage products from accessory-makers in generic packaging. And considering how close we are to the iPhone 5′s reveal — Apple is holding an iPhone launch event on Oct. 4 – it’s more likely that important partners like AT&T would be privy to some knowledge of the next iPhone’s actual design.

Personally, I think we’ll see redesigned hardware, and the tapered look seems to be garnering the most support. For Apple to wait 16 months just to introduce a minor refresh would not go over well with consumers, as we’ve seen from recent survey results.

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The Blackbox Bamboo was originally designed based on creator Lance Atkins’ experiences travelling with a MacBook Pro on an African backpack safari, during which time the neoprene sleeve he was using provided inadequate protection, resulting in a broken Mac. He created the first Blackbox Case out of oak in 2010 to provide a heartier alternative to traditional soft sleeves. Now, the company wants to expand their business and provide an entire, new line of cases made out of the more sustainable bamboo.

The Blackbox Bamboo will come in a choice of two colors, either with a carbonized brown stain or in natural bamboo finish. It will also come in a variety of sizes, including one that fits the iPad 2 with or without the official Apple Smart Cover attached, one for both the 11 and 13-inch MacBook Air, and one each for 13, 15 and 17-inch MacBook Pro models. All varieties come with a leather strap with a snap closure for securing your device in the Blackbox Bamboo.

Kickstarter backers qualify for pre-orders starting at $79, which gets you the iPad 2 version, and range up from there depending on which model you’re interested in. It’s a pretty cool product that appeals to the outdoor adventurer in me, though I’m not sure I wear that mantle often enough to qualify. Anyone else’s fancy tickled by the Blackbox Bamboo? Be sure to check out the video below before you answer.

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The Joli Originals MacBook Air sleeve might just fit the bill. Joli makes hand-crafted leather sleeves for iPhones, iPads and the MacBook Air, and has recently made the jump from Etsy to its own Shopify-based e-commerce site to sell the Apple device accessories. Joli sent me a sample sleeve to test with my 11.6-inch MacBook Air. Here’s what I’ve found after nearly a week of use.

All dressed up and everywhere to go

Joli’s sleeves are hand-made in The Netherlands, using soft leather finished in Italy on the outside, and 100-percent wool felt for the interior. You can choose from a number of customization options, including four colors of leather and up to four colors of felt, depending on which color leather you choose. My test unit has a brown leather exterior and an orange interior, which makes for an attractive combination.

As soon as you hold the sleeve in your hands, everything about it screams quality. It has a significant weight to it that makes it feel like it can offer a decent amount of protection from bumps and maybe even drops of small distances. The soft leather looks great (as does the stitching holding the two sides of the sleeve together) and feels even better on the hand. The fit is snug, which help makes the sleeve look even better when it’s actually holding the Air.

Despite its good looks and high-quality materials, the Joli surprisingly doesn’t feel like it needs to be coddled. In fact, it strikes me as the kind of leather product that might look better after a certain amount of stress from wear and tear. I’ve been throwing it in the backpack with various other items, and I think the cat’s taken to using it as an impromptu bed; so far, there doesn’t seem to be a mark on it.

Fit and features

Like I said, the fit is snug. In fact, it actually takes quite a bit of shimmying to get the Air into the sleeve to begin with. It does get better with use, and using two hands, it shouldn’t prove unduly stressful. Plus, the grip means you don’t have to worry about your Air sneaking its way back out in a moving bag.

The Joli is open-ended, so one side of your Mac will be exposed, although it is deep enough that the edge of the computer won’t stick out. The open edge actually proves quite useful if you want to charge your Air while it’s encased, which is something I found myself doing often. The lack of a zipper or flap also didn’t seem to negatively affect my Mac during the course of my use, although if you plan on using it regularly on a sandy beach, you might have cause for concern.

Price and availability

The Joli MacBook Air sleeve retails for €55, which works out to around $79 U.S. before tax and shipping. Considering that a basic neoprene sleeve will likely cost you around $40 at the Apple Store, it’s not a bad price for something that’s hand-made using premium leather. Joli sleeves are available right now, and shipping estimates vary based on where you’re located in the world.

Verdict

If you want something to house and protect your MacBook Air that’s as stylish as the Air itself, the Joli sleeve is a very good choice, especially if you’re looking for a unique case that you’re unlikely to see carried by others very often.

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The Swoop project is said to be “great for kids” on the product’s official website, but it might appeal to adults, too, since apparently a whole lot of us sleep with our devices anyway. This just means you can keep it even closer, and in fact even rest your face against it so that you never have to worry about missing a late-night email again.

Swoop isn’t a reality just yet. The project’s creators still have a ways to go before they meet their modest $7,500 goal. A $25 pledge on Kickstarter qualifies as a pre-order, so if you feel like the only thing your iPhone is missing is slightly softer edges, this might be the project for you.

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PowerSkin offers a protective flexible case made of 100 percent recycled silicone rubber, but it trades the internal hard plastic shell of extreme cases for an external battery. The outer case is similar to that of the Otterbox and Ballistic cases, but the PowerSkin case doesn’t include any covering for the screen; I recommend that you get a separate screen protector. The PowerSkin’s case also doesn’t overlaps the edge of the screen very much.

The added power is definitely nice, though. The manufacturer says that the 1500mAh battery can provide up to 480 hours of talk time and 350 hours on standby beyond the phone’s built-in capacity. The case allows for both charging and syncing with the provided cable. There are LEDs on the bottom of the case that show the battery’s status. Not surprisingly, charging time is increased because it’s necessary to charge both the phone itself and the external battery. The case charges the internal phone battery first, then the external battery, which makes sense if you don’t have time to give both batteries a full charge. But once both are charged, of course, you’ll have access to a lot more phone time.

Not surprisingly, the whole assemblage is thicker (0.77 inches) and heavier (around 3 oz.) than most cases, although it’s still pretty comfortable to hold and use.

If you need the extra battery capacity, and are willing to live with slightly less protection for your iPhone 4, the PowerSkin is worth looking into. Models for HTC, Samsung and Motorola phones are also available. At present, the manufacturer’s web store is offline, but it is selling its products through a number online retailers; prices vary.

How do you protect and power your iPhone?

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