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Threadless Has Pretty Threads For Your iPhone

J.R. Bookwalter — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 11:06:14 -0600

What do you get when you match original art from the Threadless.com community with a sleek, smooth-to-the-touch case for your iPhone from Griffin? One awesome case!

With two retail outlets in Chicago and another office in Boulder, Colorado, Threadless.com has been helping artists expand their creations onto wearable products for almost ten years. The online design community picks the best user-submitted designs and the winners have their work put up for sale.

It all began when founder and CSO Jake Nickell won a T-shirt design competition for an event in London, which inspired he and friend Jacob DeHart to form the company. “We’re always looking for new opportunities for artists,” proclaims Nickell in a Flash video on their website. “Griffin came to us with this idea about making iPhone cases that would have artwork on it. We made it happen, and it’s awesome.”

Griffin Technology is a familiar name in the gadget world for its wide variety of iPod and iPhone accessories. “In the iPhone space, we’ve seen a lot of collaborations that were more about just getting a certain name or a certain logo and gluing or stamping it onto the back of a case,” explains Griffin president Mark Rowan. “We really want to start from a deeper level, get the outside design influence, have them talking to our designers and coming up with something that’s really unique for the channel partners.”

The first two designs available are “Birds of a Feather” by Ross Zietz and “Clouds Within the Thunder” by Joe Van Wetering (shown here). “This design came to fruition after I defeated Zeus in a bar fight,” says Chicago-based Van Wetering of his winning creation. “With my bare hands.” He’s been a Threadless member since 2004 and has 8 printed tees.

You can visit the Threadless site to buy the matching T-shirt or case (compatible with both 3G and 3GS models only), download iPhone wallpaper and learn more about the artists. Budding artists can also join in the fun to be considered for future releases. As Threadless puts it: “You never know, your design could be next!”

Your iPhone Needs Some Brand-New Armor

Leslie Ayers — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 13:39:22 -0500

Three cases that keep your iPhone's delicate parts protected.

The Incase Frame Case ($29.95, www.goincase.com) is a hybrid of the injection-molded Incase Protective Cover and a hard-shell plastic case, fitting your iPhone 3G firmly, while making it easy to grip and protecting the phone with a translucent back panel made of durable plastic. Available in muted cyan, vivid green, and vivid orange.

It's like one of those safety vests that highway workers wear, only for your iPhone and with actual protective properties.

You can feel safe knowing your phone is protected by the Incipio duroSHOT ($24.99, www.myincipio.com), a three-part case made of flexible silicone, hard plastic, and a clear screen-protecting film that’s easy to apply and is the least prone to bubbling up of all screen films we’ve tried.

One case, three layers of protection.

If its resemblance to a tractor tire is any indication, the Speck ToughSkin for iPhone 3G ($34.95, www.speckproducts.com) offers plenty of protection. It even lets you dock your phone without removing the case—so your iPhone can remain eternally armored.

Like wrapping your iPhone in a rubber-tire tread.

OtterBox iPhone Defender

Roberto Baldwin — Thu, 08 May 2008 18:39:40 -0500

The Defender keeps your iPhone safe...and easy to find.

If you lust for an iPhone, but your lifestyle is too extreme for an expensive, fragile überphone, The Defender series should be able to handle day-to-day roughhousing.

The Defender equips your iPhone with an inner plastic shell and then covers that with a silicon wrap that adds grip to the device and lets you cover and uncover the headphone jack and sync port. The water-resistant case can handle rain and snow, just not underwater dunks. Its plastic inner shell snaps closed in five places and can be tough to open without fingernails. Add the secondary rubber bumper and the resulting lock is sturdy enough for snowboarding, biking, and loaning to total klutzes. All the functions of the iPhone, sans the Silent switch, are accessible with the Defender case on, including the membrane-covered touchscreen.

The bottom line. The Defender is perfect for the active user who might also be a klutz.

Defender

COMPANY: OtterBox

CONTACT: www.otterbox.com

PRICE: $49.95

REQUIREMENTS: iPhone, active lifestyle, butterfingers

Great protection without adding too much bulk. Good for rainy climates.

Difficult to open case. Ringer button inaccessible. Hilariously giant swivel belt clip.

Silicone iPhone Suits

Roman Loyola — Mon, 08 Oct 2007 12:48:06 -0500

Silicone iPhone cases protect your iPhone without adding a lot of bulk. A silicone case also makes the sleek metal device a lot grippier. The tackiness of each case also prevents the iPhone from slipping out of a pocket. Best of all, we didn’t experience any overheating problems with the three cases reviewed here, all of which fit the iPhone snugly.

The Silicrylic combines a silicone sleeve and an acrylic hard case.

SILICRYLIC

COMPANY: Incipio

CONTACT: www.myincipio.com

PRICE: $29.99

SPECIFICATIONS: iPhone

Hard acrylic case protects back and sides.

Doesn’t provide much face protection.

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The Sport Grip: A simple silicone case that succeeds.

SPORT GRIP

COMPANY: Marware

CONTACT: www.marware.com

PRICE: $14.95

SPECIFICATIONS: iPhone

Affordable. Includes clear film for screen protection.

A magnet for pocket lint.

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iSkin says the revo has “antimicrobial protection” to fight germs.

REVO

COMPANY: iSkin

CONTACT: www.iskin.com

PRICE: $39.99

SPECIFICATIONS: iPhone

Removable plastic screen protector. Privacy film makes it hard to see the screen at an angle

Pocket lint loves to latch on to the case.

iPhone Cases: In Case of Emergency, Dial C-A-S-E

Roman Loyola — Tue, 04 Sep 2007 14:10:39 -0500

You paid a whole lotta money for your iPhone, so why not invest $25 to $35 in a solid protective case for it? We’ve rounded up some of the first iPhone cases to hit the market. The type of case you want will depend on how much you’re willing to fiddle with it. For example, holsters such as the Elan Holster, Slim-Fit Case, and the HipCase won’t let you use the iPhone while it’s encased, but they do offer a means of protection. More iPhone cases are being released as you read this, so you can bet we’ll be taking a look at those too.

The iPhone is tough enough to go without a case, but a little extra protection can't hurt.

1. SLIM-FIT CASE

COMPANY: Belkin

CONTACT: www.belkin.com

PRICE: $29.99

Protects screen. Mesh bottom allows for speaker output and mic input.

Blocks dock, unless you insert the iPhone upside down. iPhone easily slipped out of case. Black only.

2. SPORT ARMBAND

COMPANY: Belkin

CONTACT: www.belkin.com

PRICE: $29.99

Completely covers iPhone. Can use touchscreen through the screen protector. Handy key pocket. Reflective.

Won’t fit Hulk Hogan-like biceps.

3. ELAN HOLSTER

COMPANY: Griffin Technology

CONTACT: www.griffintechnology.com

PRICE: $29.99

Adjustable clip. Clear plastic screen protector doesn’t hinder touchscreen controls. Good screen protection.

Have to insert upside down to unblock speaker, which means the Sleep/Wake switch presses against the end of the case, turning on your iPhone. Black only.

4. ELAN SNAP-IN

COMPANY: Griffin Technology

CONTACT: www.griffintechnology.com

PRICE: $24.99

Slot for sync cable. Swivel clip. Clear plastic screen protector doesn’t hinder touchscreen controls.

Minimal protection. Black only.

5. HIPCASE

COMPANY: DLO

CONTACT: www.dlo.com

PRICE: $34.99 leather, $29.99 nylon

Leather is attractive. Available in black or brown leather, or black nylon. Good screen protection.

Clip fixed in horizontal position. No access to dock.

6. JAM JACKET

COMPANY: DLO

CONTACT: www.dlo.com

PRICE: $24.99

Silicone skin available in black, blue, frost, and pink. Nifty headset organizer. Adds grippiness. Can still use iPhone while in case.

Silicone skins tend to attract lint in your pocket. No screen protection.