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Apple has started to get into the case business, with their official case for the iPad and the Bumper for the iPhone 4. The Bumper provides a simple and somewhat elegant solution to protecting your new investment - the iPhone 4.

The Bumper is merely a band of hard plastic and rubber that goes around the stainless steel band on the iPhone 4. This is great to prevent the antenna issues since it happens only when you cover up the black band, but leaves a lot more to be desired on protecting the phone. Though the Bumper does seem to add a bit of lift between the case and the front screen glass and back panel, so it would be saved from damage to the glass if dropped. I did drop my iPhone 4 on cement with the bumper on, and it escaped unscathed, only with a couple of scuffs on the bumper's plastic.

The Bumper protects all of the buttons, including the power button and volume buttons. While the power button is protected by the rubber, the volume buttons get covered in rounded, metallic plastic that are reminiscent of the real buttons on the device, complete with the + and - buttons. The covering on the volume buttons is my favorite part of the Bumper case, simply because it just adds that touch of elegance on the case overall.

The headphone port is easily accessible with the Bumper, although the same can't be said for the bottom connecting port. The opening at the bottom of the Bumper is small, and will only fit the newer 30-pin connector USB cables that are included with the iPhone 4 and iPad so far. The lip of the Bumper is narrower than the older cables, therefore rendering any older accessory or cable useless. The only way to make them work with the iPhone 4 is if you take the Bumper off each time. Because of this, it makes it harder to recommend Apple's Bumper.

If you want to show off the slick glass of your iPhone 4 but want some grip and minimal protection, the Bumper is what you want. Just keep in mind the inconvenience of full protection and compatibility with older cables.

You can obtain the Bumper for free through Apple's iPhone 4 Case Program, along with other third-party offerings from Speck, Belkin, Griffin, and Incase.

Rating: 3 out of 5

Apple iPhone 4 Case Program

Originally published on Beatweek.com

This is similar to the original PixelSkin case that I've previously reviewed, however, the blocks on the back of the case are smaller. It's advertised as "18 dpi" as compared to the 4 dpi of the original PixelSkin. And if you had to choose between the two, the HD is the way to go. Here's why.

Unlike the original PixelSkin, it's not as 'rubbery,' so I haven't noticed much of the stickiness that causes dust and dirt to get stuck on the case. The entire one-piece case has a matte finish on the rubber, combined with the shinier plastic that is in between the tiny block pattern on the back. These smaller blocks combined with the matte finish give the case an overall better grip and feel than the original version.

There is dust that seems to collect occasionally around the edges of the screen. However, the case is so easy to take off and put back on that this really isn't a problem.

There are side and top button guards that add extra protection.The opening for the ring switch is also spacious enough for those with larger fingers to be able to reach in and toggle the switch easily without hassle. The bottom also leaves enough space for the device  to be compatible with older iPhone/iPod cables.

I would say that this is one of the best cases out in the market right now. This is also one of the free cases that Apple is offering for the iPhone 4 Case Program, and probably the best one offered. So either way, it's definitely worth it.

Rating: 5 out of 5

Speck Product Page / $29.95

Speck is a very well-known brand for their fantastic cases, and I am pleased to say that the Fitted case sample I got from them is no disappointment.

The Fitted case is a simple two-piece snap-on case with a fabric like material that covers the back of the hard shell case. The case itself is the easiest thing to apply on the device - place the phone in the back piece and then snap on the front piece until it's securely in place. Taking it off is easy as well (and you'll need to for cleaning every now and then) - just get in between the space for the two halves and gently pull them apart, it can't be any simpler.

The case itself is lightweight and thin, at least to me. It adds a little bit of thickness in order to protect the device from bumps and drops, but it's not enough to the point where it's too much.

It leaves a large space open on the side for the volume buttons and the ringer switch. It leaves enough space so that the user won't have to dig into a small space to get to the ringer switch.

The headphone port and power button openings are cut perfectly and leave plenty of space to get accessed. The camera and flash openings are also precise, which show that Speck has taken their time to get every single measurement right for this case.

The thing I like most about this case is that the bottom is left open so any of the older iPhone/iPod cables can fit with the iPhone 4. This is a great thing because since the new iPhone 4 cable is a bit smaller than the old ones, older cables will not work with the phone when it's in something like the Apple Bumper case, which is specifically tailored for the new, smaller cable. So since this case has an open bottom, I can continue to use it with my older car charger and any older cables.

Overall, I will say that this is another one of my favorites out of the iPhone 4 cases currently available. It adds enough to protect the device, give it a good grip, and be stylish with a fabric, patterned back, all while being lightweight with an easy application and removing process. The only minor problem I have with the case is that dust can collect around the edges of the screen where the case is. But with the easy removal process, it can be wiped clean in a snap.

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

Speck Product Page

Originally published on Beatweek.com.

The iPhone 4's Retina Display provides a much more enjoyable experience for all your videos, but who would want to hold the phone the entire time? Well, there's a case for that. The Macally snap-on case & stand provides a simple, barely there case that also has a kickstand, like the HTC EVO 4G on Sprint.

The kickstand is pretty stable and stiff, so you can easily use it to display your iPhone 4 on a flat surface and kick back and watch videos on it or display photos. You'll need to have nails or small fingers to get the kickstand out, since it's pretty firm and flat. There isn't much else to do with this, though.

Getting the case on is pretty simple - just insert your phone in to the corner enclosures and you're set. However, getting it out requires a little more work, which I found to be a hassle.

While this case is marked as 'protective', I have to question how they find such a case 'protective'. The only thing it would protect is the back, but it leaves the entire front completely vulnerable. There is nothing to protect the sides of the phone as well as the front glass. If the phone is dropped with this on, I would doubt that it would survive unscathed, or at least half of it. I suppose if you're not going to use your phone besides watching videos and stuff with the kickstand, you wouldn't need to worry about the little protection this case offers.

The kickstand aspect is neat, though.

Rating: 2 out of 5

Macally Product Page

Originally published on Beatweek.com.

It seems that Speck sure know their way when it comes to designing some pretty unique and great iPhone cases. The GeoMetric case sample I received from them is no different.

The GeoMetric case is basically a silicon case that slips on over the iPhone. The material is not exactly silicon, but rather, has more of a rubbery-plastic feel to it. This is great, because it's easy to apply like a silicon case but since it's not silicon, it doesn't attract a bunch of dust and debris onto the case itself, like most silicon cases do (from my experience). So getting this case on and off is easy - it's just a matter of pushing the device in and out of a snug skin.

The bottom of the GeoMetric case is open, although not to the extent of other cases like the Hard Candy BubbleSlider and Speck Fitted cases that I've reviewed previously. The GeoMetric's 30-pin connector opening is reminiscent of the opening on the Apple Bumper case (which renders old cables useless unless it's taken off, defeating the purpose), but it's just a teeny bit wider - wide enough to accommodate older cables. So with this design, the case protects more of the device but also allows older iPhone/iPod cables to be used, which is fantastic for those that own other iDevices.

The volume and power buttons are covered by molded buttons. The ringer switch is left open, but there is still enough space to access the switch without needing to dig into crevices. While I understand the design of the button molds, I feel that it's rather tacky looking. Although they are great because it adds more of a tactile feeling to the buttons when they are pressed. I suppose that it's all just a matter of personal preference. The hole for the camera and flash are also cut to precision, once again showing the care that Speck has placed into the designs of their cases.

The most unique thing about the GeoMetric case though is the triangular-patterend back. It contains a mix of the rubbery-plastic material as well as harder, shinier plastic in various triangle shapes. Because of this, it also has some minor 'bumps' on the back that are extremely noticeable when you have the device flat on a table. Though it can get a bit annoying when typing on it flat on a table, the unique pattern actually adds a better grip when held in the hand.

But it's most definitely guaranteed that you'll have something unique for your iPhone 4 with this case on.

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

Speck Product Page

Originally published on Beatweek.com.