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.

Speck's PixelSkin case for the iPhone 4 is another silicon skin that goes over the entire device. It provides a much thicker skin than the other silicon case I tried out from Macally, which is great for more shock absorption. This also adds more lift to the glass than the Macally case, so the front and back glass panels will most likely survive a fall or any impact. The square pattern on the back of the case will provide a better grip. The silicon material also makes the entire device a bit more slip resistant on flat surfaces.

The skin itself has openings only for the headphone port, silent switch, and for the 30-pin connecting port. The holes on the back for the camera and LED flash are perfectly cut, which shows that there has been some time perfecting the fit for the iPhone 4.

The silicon material does not feel sticky in the hand, not even when you slide it into you pocket. It does, however, become a little harder to take out smoothly when pulling out of a pocket, and as a result, it will collect dust and debris on the silicon. Especially in other places where there may be dust, it may get attracted to the rubbery surface, which will be especially noticeable on black (the sample that I received). Though this may be less of an issue with lighter colors.

I also feel that it's important that the PixelSkin case also does not leave the entire bottom open, however, it leaves enough space for the 30-pin connecting port to work with older cables. This is because the new iPhone 4 USB cable has a smaller plastic lip on the 30-pin part than the previous models. As a result, most older iPhone cables would not work with Apple's own Bumper case (I've tried) because of the smaller opening that the Bumper leaves. So Speck decided to make the opening in the medium range, so that it would not leave too much space open for dust to collect, but also big enough to make it compatible with older cables.

A great silicon case, but I have to knock it down a bit because of the tendency to collect dust on the surface.

Rating: 4 out of 5

Speck Product Page

Originally published on Beatweek.com.

I received a box from Hard Candy today, and I opened it with much glee as to what would await me. What I found was a single iPhone 4 case - the BubbleSlider in a glossy chrome finish. Those that do not like silicon cases or one-piece snap-on cases would probably prefer the easier two-piece snap-on cases, such as myself. I found the BubbleSlider to be a pleasant case to use, despite a few minor quirks.

First, the design is simple and easy. The case has two halves - 80 percent of it is the top half, and 20 percent is the bottom. The inside of the case also has two rubberized guardrails that help with shock absorption. Slide the iPhone 4 into the top half and then slid it closed with the bottom half.

One thing I did notice, though, was that when sliding the phone in, it will need to be pushed inward towards the right side of the case a bit. This is because the mute switch and volume buttons are separate, so each of these will need to be slide into separately, unlike the previous generations, where the volume buttons were one button with a slight crease in the middle to differentiate them.

Other than that, there are no problems with sliding the phone in. It's a perfect fit and everything fits in snugly. The case itself gives enough lift to the screen so that any impact that would threaten the front screen will never touch the glass and instead be placed on the case itself. The two pieces fit together snugly, so it actually takes a bit of force to pull it apart. This is great for any drops, because it's very unlikely that the case will come apart while the phone is inside. The rubber guardrails will also help with shock absorption, as previously stated.

The case allows full access to all buttons and ports, and a full opening on the bottom for compatibility with all previous iPhone cables. The bottom opening is significant, because with Apple's Bumper cases, the thickness does not play nice with previous generation cables. It seems that third-party case makers are taking notice of this and making sure that the bottom remains open for this purpose.

The reason this is called "BubbleSlider" is because of the bubbly, dimple design on the back of the case. These little bubbles add a bit of grip when held and also make your phone stand out in a unique, fashionable way. The bubbles also seem to mask out most of the fingerprints that will result from the chrome finish.

The only thing that's missing is a screen protector. The case comes in a Chrome collection consisting of Chrome, Black, and Gold as well as a Soft Touch collection, with matte finishes.

4.5 / 5

HardCandy Product Page

Originally published on Beatweek.com.

The iPhone 4 has been out for a week, and the cases are beginning to roll out, though much slower than with the 3G/3G because if the all-new industrial design. First up is the Silicon Protective Case in black from Macally.

Like most silicon cases, Macally's case slips on easily over the iPhone 4, with no fuss. The rubber has opening slots for all accessible ports and buttons, as well asp perfect openings for the camera and LED flash. Unlike the Apple Bumper case, there is a bigger space allotment for accessing the mute switch and volume buttons. The bigger opening for the side buttons is great for those that found it difficult to access the mute switch because there is no small crevice tongue a fingertip into. It's simply easier to access. Also, the bottom has an open slot that gives full access to the 30-pin connector port while exposing the mic/speaker at the bottom, so all previous iPhone/iPod cables should work without having to take the skin off. The only button that is covered is the power button, but the molded rubber placement on the case is in the correct spot.

The back of the case has a patterned surface that will add more grip and is non-slip on surfaces. There is also a detachable screen wipe in the middle of the back. Simply pull it off to clean your screen when needed, and stick it back when done - no need to carry a separate cleaning cloth for your new phone. An added bonus of the case is that it should help with the signal degradation that some people have been experiencing with their iPhone 4 units (the Vulcan "death grip" in the lower left corner).

The case has no problem with getting into a pocket - it slides in without sticking to fabric. However, silicon will attract those little bits of debris, and it will stick to the case. And from previous experience, it's not much easier to get the debris unstuck - or to prevent it from happening at all. This is why I'm not particularly big on silicon cases. The case also is not a particularly tight fit - I notice that the sides seem to be a bit loose, and the bottom slides up easily. But there seems to be a good amount of thickness to absorb impact if dropped, since the screen glass is protected by the lift if silicon on the edges. It's better than a cracked glass screen, at least.

2.5 / 5

Macally Product Page

Originally published on Beatweek.com

"It's the biggest leap since the original iPhone."

Steve Jobs is right. Thankfully, there was no overuse in the words 'magical' and 'revolutionary' this time around, but one thing is for sure - this iPhone is a complete game changer to the iPhone line.

Design

Let's go over the build first. This thing has two pieces of glass that serve as the screen/front display as well as the backside. Jobs claims that this glass is 30 times stronger than sapphires, so it is pretty good at being scratch resistant. I've been using mine for 4 days now, normal use, and no scratches. But also keep in mind that I have my phone separate from everything else (as should you, really).

Despite my lust for a white iPhone originally, I decided to just deal with a black one because I wanted to have it first, and frankly, I couldn't wait until the second half of July. I've noticed that the black model doesn't really show fingerprints as much as the previous models, and if it does, it's easy to clean - I found that this screen as well as the iPad screen can get cleaned simply by wiping with the bottom of your palm. However, dust can show up much more, but that's easy to clean too.

The stainless steel band that surrounds the exterior of the phone is just a gorgeous design, despite the reception issues that it is reportedly causing (though a software fix may be out soon to address this). Because of the unibody, square design of the phone, it felt a bit weird to hold compared to the previous three generations (I've had them all). But after a while, it felt much more natural to hold in the hand, because it didn't have the curved back of the 3G and 3GS, though I still believe that the first generation's back casing is the best.

I felt that the glass on the front and back made it a little weird to hold, but surprisingly it isn't so slippery anymore. I believe that the stainless steel antenna band helps alleviate this problem.

The design of the iPhone has undergone a very thorough change, and for the most part, it's for the better. I just wish that Apple did not make the back with an easily breakable material and did not have problems with the antenna.

I would believe that it would still be wise to invest in a Bumper or a case since the phone is made of a very easily-breakable material - glass. Better safe than sorry.

But the new redesign of the hardware is a welcome change - since it's the "biggest leap since the original iPhone", it would be wise to start it off with a brand-new design. For better or worse, a new look doesn't seem to hurt the most popular smartphone on the market.

Camera

The camera on this thing is a fantastic upgrade from the 3GS. 5 megapixels, LED flash, and illumination sensor to help take pictures in low light. It's the iPhoneographer's dream.

Picture quality of the photos I've taken is great, the colors seem just about right and nothing is really too over-saturated or washed out. It captures the scene as it was intended to be. Although if a scene is getting some parts washed out or blown out (such as the sky against a foreground), the tap-to-focus that originated from the 3GS is still there so such problems can be easily fixed. There is also 5x digital zoom, available because of iOS 4, that will activate once the screen is tapped (tap-to-focus).

The LED flash is controlled by the on-screen controls in the upper left corner (On, Auto, Off) and is easy as pie to use. Since the iPhone 4 also comes with a front-facing VGA camera, there is also a button in the top right to switch to the front facing and back again. The Camera app will also remember your settings the next time you go back in the application.

Video recording on the iPhone 4 is shot in beautiful 720p HD resolution. There are still the basic video editing options that are built in, but there is also the iMovie application that Apple has released specifically for the iPhone 4 because of the processor, memory, and HD capabilities.

The biggest downfall though, is that currently HD content cannot be uploaded directly to YouTube through the device - it must be transferred to a computer and then uploaded through the web. There is no iPhone workaround for this. This limitation is also there because of upload performance, though even trying through Wi-Fi will yield the same result. Apple has dropped the ball on this one - if HD content must be sent to a computer first, then it is no different than having to use a Flip Mino HD or the like, besides having everything else with you in one. Hopefully this will be addressed in the future, if not, then Apple has let down a lot of people.

Retina Display

This display is sharp and crisp. And I mean REALLY sharp and crisp. I didn't even think the 3GS screen was that bad until I saw this thing for the first time - it completely blows the 3GS display out of the water. Typography that is completely zoomed in on will display no showing of pixels - this thing makes everything like real print. Even tiny text can be read clearly now without the need for much adjustment. Everything will just look better with this display (except for the surplus of third party apps that aren't currently updated with support for the Retina Display - they're all pixelated).

Not much else I can say about the Retina display, other than it's just awesome.

FaceTime

FaceTime calls can be placed initially through a regular phone call or directly through the "FaceTime" option when viewing a contact's information card (only viewable if the user has displayed their phone number for use with FaceTime, available in the device Settings).

When placed through a regular call, once the FaceTime is started, minutes are no longer being used since it will be handled over to the Wi-Fi connection. Video is decent quality for a VGA camera, and the images can be in either portrait or landscape mode. Audio is also pretty good with the current hardware.

The display of FaceTime will have the other recipient of the call being shown on the main screen, and a smaller window that will show your own video on the screen, and this window can be dragged to any of the screen's corners. You can also switch to the back camera to share your surroundings if you desire.

The camera may not be the best out there, but for quick sharing of moments, it's perfect. FaceTime is great for catching up in a fun new way.

Software

Because of the iPhone 4's 1GHz processor and 512MB of RAM, everything just runs much faster and snappier. iOS 4 definitely was not this speedy even on last year's 3GS model. There is virtually no lag on anything, even games. Everything is just clear and crisp, and blazing fast.

Conclusion

This really is the biggest leap for Apple's iconic phone. Aside from the design flaws and HD uploading problems, there is little else that absolutely needs to be changed.

If I must give this device a rating, it would be 4.5 out of 5 right now.

Now that I have bought the keyboard dock for the iPad and have been using it, I feel ready to share some thoughts on the product.

First, this is an excellent product to buy if you're like me, on a budget and you don't have a bluetooth keyboard. Since I do most of my work on my MacBook, I did not have a spare bluetooth keyboard handy like most other people. And the use of a bluetooth keyboard would require a stand of some sort for the iPad itself, which means an additional cost just to use the keyboard properly.

So before I go further, I would like to say that I feel that the Apple iPad Keyboard Dock simply kills two birds in one stone for me. Cliché, I know, but it's true. The dock itself is a stand for the iPad that makes a nice addition to my growing workspace, and it adds the keyboard, which, in my personal opinion, is just a *must*.

Typing with the iPad's on screen keyboards aren't exactly what I would conclude to be 'dreamy', as Steve Jobs himself said at that Jan. 27 keynote. The portrait mode keyboard is barely hunt-and-peck-able for me, and the landscape keyboard, while resembling a typical keyboard with more spaces for your hands and fingers, just isn't cutting it. I have tried to type on the landscape keyboard without looking at the keyboard part of the screen and by simply what I have been doing all my life since I was able: type without looking. On the iPad, that simply isn't justifiable.

I've barely had my Keyboard Dock for one complete day but I can already tell you that it will change how I use the iPad. When I bought my iPad, I wanted it as a new blogging tool that was accessible to me, and something that I could simply use to get blog posts and articles out into the world of the Internet (and anything else, such as school papers and whatnot, the less exciting stuff). I was excited when I got my iPad, but as I started using it and discovering the on-screen keyboard, it was just not the same feeling that I had with the iPhone's virtual keyboard. I could not adapt to it quickly, it would result in an unusual position for my hands to be in, I could not rest my hands on the virtual keyboard like I could with a physical keyboard, and I could not adapt to it enough that I didn't have to look at the screen to type. And I ended up making countless errors and typos as I typed, and that was simply unacceptable.

While I read that the iPad's keyboard will make your typing slower, but the autocorrect should make up for that slightly, I found that it just isn't enough. The overall result of using the virtual keyboard on the iPad is that you type slower than you normally do on a physical keyboard. For someone like me that writes all the time, using only the virtual keyboard is simply not an option.

Now, while I was able to get that out of the way, let me say that I am currently typing this entire piece on Pages for iPad using my keyboard dock. And I must say that it is a fantastic experience.

If there's one thing that made me want this more than a bluetooth keyboard (aka the Apple wireless keyboard), it's the fact that this keyboard dock has iPad specific buttons similar to the Spaces and Exposé on regular keyboards for Macs. These buttons include one to go back to the home screen, one to go to the Spotlight Search feature of iPhone 3.0, two to adjust the brightness of the screen, one to instantly start a photo slideshow, and another to make the on-screen keyboard appear or hide it (in case you need to get those fancy looking letters with those tone marks and what not). There are also iPod playback buttons and volume adjustment buttons, a mute button, and a device lock button (lock the device or instantly unlock it, no sliding required). You can use most of the traditional commands on the keyboard as well, such as command + X/C/V for cut, copy, and paste.

The keyboard itself is just like that of the regular Apple keyboards - aluminum body with white chiclet keys that have become a signature of all Apple keyboards. It is everything I love about the slick-looking keyboards that Apple offers for the Macs, but this time all specifically tailored for the iPad.

That isn't to say that this keyboard is without flaws though. The iPad itself isn't tightly secured in the dock, so the keyboard will have to be placed on a flat surface and you'll have to make sure that nothing will hit the iPad. But if you are using it in a pretty safe spot then you should be okay. Another negative is that this dock only works in portrait mode - since it plugs in to the iPad via the 30 pin connector, there is no way to use this keyboard with the device in landscape mode. If you desire more freedom, then the bluetooth keyboard alternative is the way to go.

It's also a bit heavier than you'd like - at least a pound - and doesn't fold away, therefore it may not be the best choice for road warriors. But that means that unlike a standard dock, it will stay put when you pull the iPad out.

For myself though, I've been pretty satisfied with this purchase. It also eliminates the need to buy a separate stand as well, so I can finally add my iPad to my workspace with my MacBook.

While the iPad may eliminate the need for a mouse, it still has a very long way to go to eliminate the need for a physical keyboard - if this is at all possible.