Hardware

Mophie has been making battery-cases for smartphones for years now, focusing on the iPhone and iPod touch; its line-up for Android phones is a lot smaller, with device-specific models only for the HTC One and the Samsung Galaxy S III (though the company offers generic portable batteries, too). The concept is straightforward, being a hard case that’s enlarged to accommodate a rechargeable power pack, that can be used to top up the internal battery in your phone.

For the HTC One, that means a 2.88 x 6.06 x 0.67 inch soft-touch plastic sled which adds 3.12 ounces to the weight of the phone (to compare, the One alone is 2.69 x 5.41 x 0.37 inches and 5.05 ounces). Black and silver versions will eventually be offered, to match the two finishes of the One itself, though only the black Juice Pack was available in time for our review.

More on the HTC One in our full review

Inside, there’s a 2,500 mAh battery, 200 mAh larger than the One’s own battery, charged from a standard microUSB port on the bottom of the case. That simultaneously charges the One, too, thanks to a pass-through microUSB connection which is plugged in when you slide the phone inside. It’s a snug fit, involving pulling off the Mophie’s top cap, slotting the One into the groove, and gently pushing it all the way into place; once the case is closed up again, there’s no wiggle or movement.

Although the sides and rear of the One are covered up, you still get access to all the ports and buttons. Pass-through controls for the power/standby key on top and the volume keys on the side are included – slightly oversized, which works well with gloved fingers, and the power button is IR-transparent so you can use the HTC TV remote control app still – and there’s a hole for the headphone socket too. The cut-out is big enough for most jacks, though if you’re using a set of headphones with an oversized plug, you might find the case gets in the way.

On the back, there’s a big cut-out for the UltraPixel camera and LED flash, along with a hole for the rear microphone. Flanking the microUSB port on the bottom edge are four connectors for a docking station (which we didn’t have to test). The only controls are a button to show battery status – using a row of four white LEDs – on the lower back of the Mophie, with a switch to turn on or off the flow of juice.

Usability and Performance

Make no mistake, once the One is in the Juice Pack you’re left with a big device. It’s almost comically large, in fact: the bowed back panel fills your palm, and while the soft-touch finish is pleasant to touch, the Juice Pack does make the One feel somewhat like the digital signature gadgets couriers tend to carry. If you’re in the habit of dropping your phone in your front jeans pocket, or your inside jacket pocket, you’ll immediately notice the difference.

It also feels like Mophie missed an opportunity to build some extra functionality into that expanse of plastic. HTC’s BoomSound speakers are usefully left exposed, for instance, and so a kickstand would have been an neat addition to prop the One up for hands-free video use.

Still, the Juice Pack certainly does what it promises to. Mophie recommends waiting until your One is at around 20-percent, and then flicking the switch to take the phone back up to around 80-percent; it takes more power to recharge a completely flat battery, or to top-up a battery until it’s entirely full. In our testing the Juice Pack took roughly around the same amount of time to recharge the One as the HTC adapter would.

In theory, you should be able to get a full recharge out of a single blast of the Juice Pack. In practice, following Mophie’s guidelines means it’s more like you’re doing a couple of periodic top-ups rather than going from zero to full. Still, with judicious control of the power switch and typical use of the One, we saw runtimes just short of the Mophie’s maximum 100-percent improvement.

Value

At $99.95, the Juice Pack isn’t the cheapest case or the cheapest external battery. If protection is what you’re after, there are far more form-fitting soft or hard cases on the market, priced from around $10; HTC’s own Double Dip Hard Shell for the One is $24.99, for instance.

Meanwhile, if you’re willing to sacrifice the integration, there are portable batteries with far more capacity than the Juice Pack provides. HTC offers the External Battery Bank (BB G600), for instance, a $50 block roughly akin to an oversized Zippo, and which – with 6,000 mAh to play with – could recharge your One twice before it needed topping up itself.

Then there’s the lifespan of the Juice Pack itself. Mophie rates the case for “over 500 full cycles” of 0-percent to 100-percent, after which point the battery inside “may provide less than 75-percent of the original capacity.” To be fair, that’s par for the course for any Li-Poly rechargeable battery, but it could mean that one day you’re carrying a heavy case that doesn’t really deliver in terms of a lasting charge. Whether that comes before the average two-year agreement is up, and you’re already thinking of getting a new phone, will depend on how much you use it.

Wrap-Up

There are cheaper ways to protect and charge your phone. A separate case and external battery will generally provide more runtime and a more easily pocketed handset. On the flip side, the best portable battery is the one you have on you when you’re running low on power, and the converged solution Mophie offers scores highly on that measure.

For some, the extra bulk the Juice Pack adds will be a deal-breaker. Certainly, it makes the One a big device, but if you’re a power-user the promise of up to double the runtime is a huge advantage, and we can’t really fault Mophie’s design for accommodating the One’s controls and features.

Of course RokForm accessories aren’t made for washing dishes, they’re made for holding and protecting your smartphone. But what we’ve got here in a combination of elements is a way to hold, in this case, a Samsung Galaxy S III aloft above a sink full of dirty dishes playing Netflix while we go about our business. So we’ve got Beavis and Butthead playing on loop while the cups and pans are run through the hands-on action.

With the RokForm v3 Suction Mount we’ve got one piece of the puzzle, and with the Rokbed v3 S3 Case we’ve got the other. RokForm is expanding their line of compatible components with this v3 set, working with devices like the iPhone 5 and the iPhone 4S right this minute with plans for devices like the GALAXY S 4 on the list. In addition to the Suction Mount, there’s also a friendly list of components that attach with the same multi-clip attachment point you see here.

You’ll be able to attach with a Bike Mount, an Extended Tripod Adapter, Sport Clip, and magnets – amongst others coming up, too. With the Rokbed v3 S3 Case on its own, you’ve got an injection molded polycarbonate frame, “thermoplastic elastomer non-slip grip insert”, a magnet kit, a Rokguard screen protector, and a Remote Mounting System for moist mount – these are basically heavy-duty sticker-backed units that lock in to the back of the case like the Suction Mount does.

So you’ve got the case – you’ll buy that for right around $40 or $45 USD depending on the device you’re working with. Then you’ll want the Suction Mount which will run you another $49 USD. This mount, like the case, is heavy duty. Made with polycarbonate and die cast zinc construction with two angles for movement – 360 degrees of rotation as well as a 210 degree tilt. All we need is one, the one which allows the phone to sit horizontal for superior television show viewing.

This mount has sat attached to a tile above the sink for over a week straight with no end in sight. Of course that’ll happen when you’ve got a 3.4-inch suction cup holding up a device that’s much, much lighter than its full weight capacity. Sound like a winning combination to you? Let us know!

With the Pelican ProGear Protector you’ll be working with a shock-deflecting outer shell packed with an elastomeric interior lining. You’ll be protected from scratches as well as basic impact, and you’ll be seeing this device in several color combinations, too! This little monster is available right this minute for MSRP $79.95 from a sweet Pelican retailer near you.

Then we’ve got the boss. Pictured above and below, the Pelican ProGear Vault will protect your iPhone 5 from a drop of 72 inches above the ground. You’ve got both insulating elastomeric shock and impact protection inside, a durable screen cover you can touch through but also offers high-grade anti-scratch technology, and some sweet flush-fitting stainless steel hex-head machine screws to hold it all together. With hex-head screws, you’ll never get in again (without a hex-head screwdriver, included in the package, of course), and you’ll be fashionably fit, too!

The Pelican ProGear Vault is one we’ve seen before – it’s been coming out since CES 2013 and is just now ready for full action! You’ll be able to pick one up now for a cool $79.95 MSRP this week – and make sure you know what you’re getting into – your kids will want to start tossing your phone more than ever! Have a peek at our Pelican ProGear Vault hands-on and hit up the timeline of Pelican products below as well – stay rugged!

Belkin will be releasing 11 cases in total. The Wallet Folio case being their most premium case for the new phone. It will be priced at $49 and will feature genuine leather, a cover that folds up into a stand, and there will even be pockets inside to store small things like credit cards, IDs, and receipts.

As for OtterBox, they will have their usual lineup of cases available for the GALAXY S 4, including their Defender Series, Commuter Series, and Reflex Series. The Defender Series is OtterBox’s premium option that offers the best protection, while the Reflex Series offers a low-profile design that’s sturdy enough to take on a few hits.

Belkin says their cases will be available in “April 2013″ while OtterBox has yet to officially announce availability, although the cases will “soon be available” for the new device. Again, we should be hearing about more companies in the coming weeks who will be releasing their own cases, but Belkin and OtterBox seem to have been the first ones to the line.

OtterBox has made three cases for the HTC On using their popular line of Commuter and Defender series of cases. The regular Defender HTC One case will cost $50 and will come in a bevy of different colors that you can choose from, including black, glacier (grey/white mix), blushed (grey/pink mix), and punked (black/green mix).

The company is also offering a RealTree Defender case, which will give your phone a nice camouflage look, just in case you need to be completely hidden while hunting out in the woods, smartphone and all. This case will cost you $60. As for the Commuter series, an HTC One case will cost you $35 and it will come in a mixture of colors as well, including black, glacier, steel blue (black/teal mix), lilac, black/purple mix), and punked.

There’s no word on availability yet, but the company allows you to submit your email address to be notified when the new cases eventually become available, which should be sometime in March (the same time that the actual phone is releasing). These cases may not be as tough as the Armor series of cases that we checked out at CES last month, but you’ll be guaranteed that your brand new HTC One will be well protected using any OtterBox offering.

The keyboard case measures in at just 7mm thick, which is thinner than the iPad mini itself. Belkin included its TruType keyboard technology, which offers tactile feedback when keys are pressed. The case is also made out of anodized aircraft-grade aluminium, which is probably why it doesn’t weigh a whole lot.

The FastFit connects to the iPad mini through Bluetooth and is able to deliver 155 hours of “active use” for all those typing demons out there. Also, just like Apple’s Smart Cover for the iPad, the FastFit has a magic magnetic sensor so that it can automatically lock and wake up your iPad mini when it’s opened and closed.

Belkin is charging $79 for its FastFit keyboard case at, which is right on par with Logitech’s offering. Belkin says that pre-orders for the keyboard case will begin soon, but no specific date was given. We have to say that we really like the look of the FastFit, and thanks to the efforts of both Logitech and Belkin, both black iPad mini owners, as well as silver owners can get matching-colored keyboards.

What makes the Helium stand out from the rest of the pack is that it’s simply not just a ported version of the previous Juice Pack cases for the iPhone. The Helium is a redesigned case that’s 13% thinner than past iterations. The battery inside is a 1700mAh battery, which is smaller than the 2000mAh pack in past cases, but the thinner design easily makes up for the slight loss.

The extra battery will give iPhone 5 users six additional hours of talk time, internet use, and video playback, as well as up to 30 hours of audio playback. It sure beats having to carry around a separate battery pack with you, and while the iPhone 5′s thinness is one of its greatest qualities, the slightly added bulk of the Helium will give users a bit more to grab onto.

The $79.95 case is available to order now for “loyal customers” only, but we were able to add it to our cart without a problem, so we’re guessing that anyone can buy it at this point. The case will come in dark metallic and silver, and will begin shipping starting February 14, with the silver version shipping sometime in March. The new case is available on Mophie’s website.

[via MacRumors]

According to the MakerBot team, the outcome is “an awesome shell that fits great,” just as Nokia would’ve hoped for. The Finnish company will be offering its own shells for the Lumia 820 – including ruggedized options, and some which add wireless charging – but this way enthusiasts will be able to print off their own.

Two variants have been produced, one in blue plastic and one translucent white, both with oversized Nokia logos. Of course, as the 3D printing enthusiasts get to grips with Nokia’s schematics, we can expect a variety of customized shells: there’s no reason they shouldn’t have added extras like a wallet section, for instance, or a spool to wind your headphones around for when you’re not listening to Nokia Music.

Those without a 3D printer of their own will have to either save up the few thousand dollars, or take advantage of one of the online 3D printing services that have sprung up over the past couple of years. For more on the Makerbot Replicator 2X, meanwhile, check out our hands-on from CES.

[via My Nokia Blog]

We’ll start with the Pebble smart watch, a device that had visitors to CES clamoring for a look left and right. The Kickstarter darling was on display at CES 2013, with SlashGear managing to secure some hands-on time with the device despite the chaos that seemed to follow Pebble everywhere it went. We also got the chance to sit down with Pebble CEO Eric Migocovsky to talk about what makes the watch stand out from the competition and why it became such a hit with Kickstarter users. The company also talked about developers, apps, and how its future proofing the device, along with revealing when Pebble will begin shipping out to consumers (spoiler: its ship date is right around the corner).

Pebble netted a lot of attention during the show, but there were a couple other watches that managed to stick out despite Pebble’s presence. One of these watches was the the eInk CST-01, which has the distinction of being the world’s thinnest watch (it looks pretty sleek too, if we do say so ourselves). Next we come to the Martian Passport Watch, which boasts voice commands and Bluetooth to allow for simple connectivity to your Android or iOS device. If you’ve been in the market for a new watch, CES 2013 offered a bevy of potential choices.

The same could be said for smartphone cases at CES 2013. It isn’t much of a surprise that many of the cases we saw were for Apple’s relatively new (but nonetheless incredibly popular) iPhone 5. Otterbox was on-hand to show off its new Armor series and Defender series, using Apple’s latest iPhone to display them. Just the same, Pelican announced its first foray into the world of smartphone cases with its new ProGear Vault cases for the iPhone 5 and iPad mini. olloclip made itself stand out from the rest of the case manufacturers by offering one iPhone 5 case that has lens system, while Lifeproof was showing off a number of accessories for its iPhone 5 case, including a bright orange “Life Jacket” meant to keep your phone afloat if it ever goes overboard.

One of the coolest things to happen during CES 2013 was when the TATS CRU customized our Cygnett ICON cases right there in person. It wasn’t all just about iPhone 5 cases, however, with Pelican showing off a pair of new cases for the Galaxy S III, and ONGUARD introducing us to a rather unique origami case for the Nexus 7 (though the origami case is also available for the iPhone 5 and iPad).

Just as well, there seemed to be an awful lot of speakers on display on the show floor. SoundMatters had its Dash 7 portable Bluetooth speaker primed and ready for the spotlight, while SuperTooth was showing off its Disco Twin stereo Bluetooth speakers. If you’re looking for something a little more out of the ordinary, iuiDesign’s Mirror Boombox might be worth a look, considering its based on the side mirrors of a Mini Cooper car.

We also went hands-on with the HMDX Jam Plus and Burst speakers, which are cylindrical and available in all sorts of different colors. TYLT, which was there primarily to show off its Energi backpack that can charge three devices at a time, also had its TUNZ Bluetooth speaker on-hand, though this one comes with the bonus of NFC functionality.

Corning Optical Cables kept the Apple train moving by introducing new Thunderbolt cables aimed at the budget crowd during the show, so we imagine that those will be a big hit given the cost of spare Thunderbolt cables. Fitbit Flex is looking to to tackle the fitness monitoring business that Jawbone has conquered, while MpowerD was offering a waterproof, solar-powered lantern that seems perfect for the more adventurous among us.

Wearables seemed to be a pretty big thing at CES 2013. We already told you about TYLT’s Energi backpack and its device-charging capabilities, but TYLT had some competition from the likes of Spigen with its new SGP backpack. The SGP has enough pockets and storage areas to satisfy even the most serious gadget hoarder, and it’s also lined with super soft fabric that will keep your devices free of scratches. Then there’s the prototype TEC Jacket 2.0, which among other things features a battery pack for on-the-go charging and an antenna to boost your mobile data speeds. It’s lightweight to boot, so don’t be surprised to see this bad boy take off once its eventually released.

Griffin used the show to introduce a trio of new products. First up is its Powerdock 5, which as you can imagine can charge up to five devices at a time. The company was also showing off its StudioConnect iPad dock, which comes complete with a Lightning connector, making it compatible with Apple’s newest slate offerings. While those two were impressive, Griffin also had the very cool Crayola Light Marker on hand. The best description we could come up with for this device was calling it a “laser pointer on steroids,” so you’ll just have to check out our hands-on for more.

While many companies were announcing a collection of new products at CES 2013, there was also a number of one-off devices that were just as cool. These include Tethercell, which lets you use an app on your smartphone to control devices powered by double-A batteries (seriously, it’s super awesome), and the Silverlit Mercedes-Benz RC Car that’s controlled using your iOS device – and also features speakers you can use to stream music! Ion Scratch 2 is looking to outfit your iPad with actual DJ controls, and the Belkin WeMo light switch wants to bring light switches into the Internet age, offering connectivity with your iOS or Android device.

Kingston had its 1TB flash drive on display during the show, and though it’s a bit bulkier than the flash drives we’re used to seeing, it’s still incredibly small considering it houses a full terabyte of storage. We all know that power is always a difficulty, with many of us experiencing dead cellphone batteries at the worst possible times more than once. MiPower has taken it upon itself to solve that problem with its new PowerCube 8000M, which packs in 8,000mAh to make sure that you’ve always got enough juice to share between your devices.

Finally, there were a number of companies showing off new headsets. Turtle Beach had a collection of gaming-centric headsets at the show, introducing us to its new PX51, XP510, and SEVEN series headsets. Monster also targeted gamers out there with its MVP headset, which signifies a partnership with Electronic Arts, one of the biggest games publishers around. Last but not least, we got to spend some time with the Sennheiser MOMENTUM Black headphones, and boy do they looks sharp.

So there you have it folks – we weren’t kidding when we said that CES 2013 was in many ways all about the accessories. There were plenty of impressive devices and accessories on display, and we’re excited to get the chance to spend more time with these as the year goes on. As always, you can find any news from the show you may have missed at our CES portal!

That’s because Pelican’s goal with these cases seems to be to protect the phone from all manner of damage while keeping the overall size down. That’s especially important with the Galaxy S III, which is a pretty thin phone – having a big, bulky case attached to such a sleek phone would ruin the aesthetic, so Pelican is trying to hit the protection bullet points while keeping a thinner form factor overall.

The first case we have is the ProGear Vault Series, which actually requires you that use screws to seal your phone within the case. While that will make removing your phone a bit more difficult than your usual case that snaps together, there are benefits in that it makes the case resistant to “wind-driven rain.” The case also offers protection against dust and scratches, thanks to the fact that its made from magnesium and engineering-grade polymer. This case really locks down every opening you can think of with your phone, with Pelican even placing acoustic membranes over the microphone and speaker openings to prevent water from getting in without hindering audio quality. The Vault Series, which is also shockproof from a height of 72 inches, will be releasing in April or May with a “tentative” price of $75-$80.

Next we have the ProGear Defender Series, which is a little more accessible for folks who want to keep their phone safe without spending an arm and a leg on a case. The Defender obviously boasts fewer features than its more expensive brother, but it’s built with the same engineering-grade polymer and sports a rubber interior to make the case crushproof and shock-resistant. It also has a smooth plastic finish to make it easier to pull your out of your pocket. At the moment, Pelican is saying that the Defender series should launch in April with a price point of $35, but those could change by the time its release rolls around.

So there you have it, a duo of new cases from Pelican for your Galaxy S III. The cases seemed pretty solid when we checked them out, and the felt pretty light to boot, which means that they shouldn’t add too much weight to your phone. Expect to see more of Pelican in the mobile space as moving forward, but for now, be sure to check out our CES portal for all the news you need from the show!

The iPhone 5 variant offers protection from “wind-driven” rain, dust, and scratching. All the ports are protected with durable flaps that let the sound out (for the speakers), but don’t let dust in. The case also has insulating shock and impact protection, thanks to rubber shock absorbers inside the case.

The case is made out from a magnesium and high-grade polymer, and it’s held together using military-grade hex screws at the four corners. Acoustic membranes also prevent water access through the microphone speaker ports, without hindering the audio. The buttons on the side, as well as the silent switch, was a little difficult to press, but like most cases, added that extra layer will hinder some of the button performance. What’s odd about the iPhone 5 case, is that the silent switch on the case is actually a knob that you twist slightly to change it. It’s an interesting concept, and one that we don’t see very often.

The iPad mini version offers the same protection and technology as the iPhone 5 case, and it features a flap door cover that can be opened up and used as a kickstand. The iPad mini case is actually still a very early prototype, and the cover actually didn’t even close all the way when we tested it. Nonetheless, both the iPhone 5 case and the iPad mini case are planned for an April or may release. Both cases will be priced between $75 and $85 when they eventually launch.

With the Life Jacket accessory, your iPhone 5 will actually float. That has to be a handy little feature for those who take their device out on the water, though we do feel like we should point out that such an accessory sort of undercuts the waterproofing Lifeproof’s case brings to the table. In any case, with the big orange Life Jacket wrapped around your phone, you don’t have to worry about it sinking to the bottom of the lake or sea should your device go overboard.

Other accessories announced today include more standard fare, like an arm band, bike/bar mount, car mount, and belt clip. These are all relatively self-explanatory, with the arm band giving you a way to run or jog with your encased iPhone 5. The bike mount naturally allows you attach your iPhone 5 to your bike, though Lifeproof’s representatives also suggested that new mothers could use it to attach their phones to a baby’s stroller. Finally, the car mount is about what you’d expect – a suction cup that you can attach to your windshield or dashboard.

It wasn’t all about iPhone 5 owners though, as Lifeproof also took time at the show to announce a new case for the Galaxy S III. Like the company’s case for the iPhone 5, the Galaxy S III case will be waterproof up to depths of 6.6 feet, dirt proof, and shock proof from heights of up to 6.6 feet. Expect to hear more about these accessories and the incoming Galaxy S III case soon. Check out our CES portal for much more from this years trade show!

OtterBox says that new Armor series case is waterproof, drop proof, dust proof, and crush proof. It can withstand water as deep as 6.6 feet for up to 30 minutes before it’ll give. It’s drop proof from up to 10 feet and it can withstand up to 2 tons of pressure. Plus, completely dust proof, and the company says that “zero” dust will get into your phone.

Actually, the phone is so dust proof that they put screens over the speaker ports so that sound will still come out of the phone, but no dust will get inside. We have to say that it’s really impressive, and users who want complete protection of their phone will no doubt benefit from OtterBox’s new Armor series case.

The case will be available for the iPhone 4/4S, iPhone 5, and the Samsung Galaxy S III. Technically, OtterBox says that the case is still a prototype, but it’s “very close” to being a finished product. It’ll be available starting February 22 at a reasonable price of $99.

The case provides the same great protection that the Defender series has always provided, but this updated version, which OtterBox is still calling a prototype, comes with some extra new features, including an extra 1450mAh battery, which will provide double the power of the iPhone 4/4S, which comes with a 1440mAh battery on the inside.

The case also has ten LED indicators on the front, and each one represents 10% of the battery life, and clicking a button below the LEDs will turn on the indicators for a couple of seconds so that you can see what level the external battery is at without having to open up the OtterBox app.

Speaking of the app (which was built by Fueled), OtterBox introduces iON Intelligence technology with this new Defender case. The app tells you how much juice you have left in both your iPhone and the external OtterBox battery, and will automatically determine when your iPhone battery needs more juice. Again, this is still an experimental sample, so some things may change, but the company said that we should expect it to arrive before the summer.

What we’ve got here is one of Cygnett’s most well-received cases, made to clip on to your iPhone 5 extremely simply with a single move and protect from top to bottom. At the same time you’ve got the giant space on the bulk of the back of the iPhone where any number of images can blast forth. In this case it’s the TATS CRU’s creations made right on the spot here in Las Vegas.

Have a peek at the tools these three are using and imagine the possibilities. Also note that the TATS CRU have several hot graffiti-inspired cases up on the Cygnett that you’ll be able to pick up right this minute. The standard ICON case from Cygnett will run you a cool $29.99, more than reasonable for such a fantastic creation, bright and vibrant.

Take a glimpse of the front and the back and recognize the talent in the artwork as well as the hardcore nature of the construction. At the moment the folks at Cygnett have not announced any customizable cases on their own as such, but sticking with the TATS CRU through the future will bring you the sharp lines and lovely street style you desire one way or another – grab one right this minute!

The Kazoo Heaphones you’re seeing here come in several friendly animal-shaped looks including the aforementioned frog and at least one kind of penguin, then there’s a set of iPod touch cases with every animal from an elephant to a zebra – imagine that! They’ve also worked with that fancy little lanyard connector on the iPod touch bringing you a set of charms – once again very zoo-friendly. They’ve got a set of Kazoo AUX cables coming out, each of them made to connect in just about as kid-friendly a way as possible for your kid’s audio equipment, too, with more animals on the fritz of course.

The most interesting of the releases here is the Griffin Capper Stylus, this being tablet, smartphone, or any capacitive touchscreen interface, really, friendly, made to attach to your regular standard pencil or pen. This means that your child will be learning to use a standard-sized writing utensil while they’ve still got the tablet in front of them – how handy! These come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and colors as well. The fun continues with Nickelodeon and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles-themed accessories, with both Griffin and Nickelodeon making a statements specifically for these new doors opening for 2013:

“Nickelodeon properties have passionate fans who are eager for products associated with their favorite shows. Partnering with Nickelodeon opens the door to tons of fun accessories modeled after the most popular characters among kids of all ages. We look forward to a long-lasting partnership, kicking off at the 2013 CES.” – Mark Rowan, President of Griffin Technology

“Nickelodeon properties have passionate fans who are eager for products associated with their favorite shows. We are excited to partner with Griffin to produce unique and trendy products to help us further expand our consumer electronics offerings.” – Manuel Torres, Senior Vice President, Global Toys and Consumer Electronics, Nickelodeon Consumer Products

This lineup begins with so much Spongebob your eyes are going to fall out. There’s an 8-bit styled iPad cases, “Faces” cases for the iPhone 5 and iPod touch (with interchangeable faces!) and a lovable SpongeBob Woogie – that’s a big stuffed animal with a special app to make it “alive”, so to speak, when you’ve got your iPhone, iPod touch – or even Android device inside! Dora the Explorer is popping up too with cases for iOS devices galore, starting with the Dora the Explorer Skin for iPod touch.

Then comes the most awesome set of comic book characters in the history of the world, those four green-skinned heroes in a half shell that hold a special place in this humble narrator’s heart, the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. This brand is working with Nickelodeon at this point in history and will be rolling out with Griffin with at least one TMNT Shell for iPhone 5 and iPod touch as well as a Folio for iPad.

Stick with us all week for more action from Griffin as well as the rest of the gadget-loving universe as we traverse CES 2013. Check out our big amazing CES portal for all things hands-on as well as early release and otherwise soon-to-exist in the consumer market machines. Check the timeline below as well for examples of some of the products above with slightly different designs, Griffin quality manufacturing in-tact.

The gamepad conducts an electrical field into the touchscreen whenever you press one of the buttons, and the touchscreen recognizes this input as a regular finger tap. In order to make this happen, the case overlaps slightly with the edges of the touchscreen, but it looks like it barely interferes at all.

The WynCASE is the first iPhone gaming case that actually looks like a true iPhone gaming case. It doesn’t need batteries, and it doesn’t need to annoyingly connect to your device via Bluetooth or the connector. Plus, it’s so thin that you can easily slip it into your pocket without it getting in the way, and it’s not as bulky as other gaming controller cases. The WynCASE will be made for the iPhone 4/4S, iPhone 5, and the iPod Touch 4th and 5th generations.

At the time of this writing, the Kickstarter campaign has 29 days to go, and has raised over $8,700 so far, but their goal is $80,000. The WynCASE starts at $30, which is surprisingly less than most iPhone gamepads we’ve seen. However, there’s only a limited number of slots left for that price. Once that’s gone, the price will jump to $35. The case will come in either black or white, but the company has other colors available for slightly more cash. The WynCASE is expected to ship in April 2013.

You’ll be working with slightly different sets of tones depending on which unit you get and will, of course, be getting a unique case no matter what as each case is made of real wood. This bamboo is carbonized with the same hardwood floor technique that many modern homes work with, and everything feels no less than top quality from start to finish. Right at the start when you pull the case out of the box you’ll get in the mail, you’ll notice something strange – it comes in two pieces and doesn’t clip on to your device the way essentially all other cases do.

Instead you’ve got some padding int he back and a fit around your device that’s so precise that the case holds it together like magic. There’s also a sort of tongue of wood from one side that goes under the other so there’s an extra bit of hold-together for the whole final product. You can rest easy, also, knowing that your case’s top and bottom pieces will have the grain matching up perfectly, each case being cut from the same single piece at the start.

The 10terra wood iPhone 5 case allows you to access all of your buttons and ports with ease with the single exception being the headphone port at the bottom if you’ve got non-standard headphones plugging in. As you can see at the bottom there’s a longer tunnel you’ll have to get through than you would with many other cases, but if you’ve got a standard set of iPhone EarPods, you’ll have no trouble at all.

This case is going to cost you a cool $36.95 right this minute if you order from 10terra and, again, they’ve got several other models for other devices as well. Every case is hand-finished and has a lovely laser-etched tree design on the back and the brand 10terra on the side of the volume button side of the case – real distinct, real classy.

This isn’t the first time we’ve seen something like this, though. During IFA 2012 back in August, we checked out a similar concept that involved a smartphone with two screens — one LCD, and the other e-ink. However, the popSLATE case simply adds an e-ink display to your existing iPhone 5, which seems a bit more practical at this point in time.

The 4-inch e-ink screen is always on, but the company claims it’s very energy efficient. The screen can be used for all sorts of things, including notifications, sports scores, maps, and lists and notes. Plus, since it’s always on, you don’t have to worry about the screen going into sleep mode with the rest of the phone when you’re reading something. The company is building an API for the screen, which means that we should be seeing a lot of third-party apps add support for the second screen.

The company is still in the early stages of development and the case itself is only in its prototype stages, but the company has already gathered a team of designers, engineers and developers to make the case. They also have a partnership with E Ink in order to use the latest e-ink technology. Two colors will be available at launch (black and white), and it will start at a price of $79 for the first 500 supporters, then $99 and up from there.

What you’re going to see with this case – and case series – is slim protection that’s made to be both rugged and usable by anyone and everyone. This case has built-in Active Latches Suspension Springs to keep the device suspended with a 1mm air gap all around. Built-in port covers keep your device dirt resistant from start to finish, too.

You’ve got a built-in screen protector and there’s a second model also coming with kickstand and easy on-the-go viewing. You’ve got four layers of protection to keep this beast of a case swaddling your smartphone with nothing less than the best protection Ballistic has ever delivered. Adam Stubin, VP of Business Development, Ballistic, has made it clear that they’re pretty pumped up about the whole situation:

“We looked at the best features of our previous series’ and thought ‘why not combine them all? The Every1 Case is exactly that…a protective case that satisfies everyone’s needs.” – Stubin

You’re going to be able to pick this case up for $50 in not just a variety of shapes based on the smartphone you’ve got on-hand, but a variety of colors as well. The Nokia Lumia device owners out there amongst you will know instantly what it means to need color options, that’s for certain – stay bright!

This case will be out for the iPhone 4/5, Samsung Galaxy S III, Samsung Galaxy Express, and Nokia Lumia 820/920 immediately if not soon at your favorite online (and offline) retailers – color power!

Let’s start right off with the skin for the HTC One X+, shall we? It comes equipped with a 1,500mAh battery that Powerskin says should double your battery life. Of course, it’s also an NFC-enabled skin, so you get that added bonus. The case for the HTC One X+ is available starting today (it’s up on Powerskin’s website right this minute) and will set you back $79.99. It also works with the original One X, so if that happens to be your phone of choice, you might want to give this case a look.

Next up we’ve got the case for the Galaxy Express. It’s the same idea as the case for the HTC One X+, only this one comes packing a 2,000mAh battery, which Powerskin says should extend talk time by 70%. It costs the same as the HTC One X+ case – $79.99 – and will be available starting November 20.

Finally we have the case for the HTC Windows Phone 8X, which features a 1,500mAh batter that should extend total talk time by 60%. Like the others, this case sports a price tag of $79.99, although it doesn’t seem to have a solid release date quite yet – Powerskin says that it’ll be available “around November 28.” Will you be picking up one of these for your shiny new handset?

First up is the Lavish, which is you see pictured above. The Lavish is a “flexible view folio” case for those who need to keep their iPad’s screen protected while still having it look professional, and comes with a magnetic clasp to keep the cover in place. The Lavish is will set you back $39.99, which makes it one of the more expensive iPad Mini cases Cygnett is offering.

If you need a case that can stand up to some abuse, you might want to look at the Armour or the Workmate instead. The Workmate is a shock-absorbing case that should protect your iPad Mini from falls, whereas Armour features a “strong exterior shell” and a padded interior to keep both the screen and the outside safe. Both will retail for $39.99, so expect to plop down some cash to keep your iPad Mini free of scratches.

If you’re more into sleek-looking cases, then Cygnett has a few you might like. The Vector, the Enigma, and the Flexigel cases round out Cygnett’s group of six, and aside from looking good, a couple have some added benefits. The Flexigel, for instance, will keep your iPad Mini protected from scratches, while the Enigma can be used as a stand and features multiple viewing angles. The Vector and Flexigel cases will run $19.99 each, while the Enigma will require a payment of $39.99.

You can take up-close look at the different cases and the colors each one is available in below. Cygnett says they’ll all launch with the iPad Mini, so these bad boys should all be available at stores and online retailers starting on November 6. What do you think – is Cygnett the way to go for your iPad Mini case, or do you have your eye on something a bit different?

The folks over at Wired received three iPad mini cases from Gumdrop Cases, each from the “Drop Tech Series.” The cases are rugged, black and red in color, and made to accommodate the iPad mini’s reported 7.85 inch display. A volume rocker is located on the right edge of the case, a headphone jack on the top edge, and a homescreen button on the bottom. It also has speaker openings for the iPad mini’s alleged speakers.

It’s said that the iPad mini will be available in white and black (and possibly also red and green), and will feature 16GB, 32GB, and 64GBs of storage space, depending on model. It seems there will be a WiFi-only model, and a model with mobile broadband connectivity. The current assumption is that the device will have a 1024 x 768 resolution. The cost, based on leaked info, is estimated to be between $200 and $350.

It’s also expected that Apple will announce the 13-inch MacBook Pro with Retina at its event tomorrow, as well as a new Mac mini and teardrop-shaped iMac. Want to stay up-to-date on the news as it comes in? We’ll be liveblogging the event, which starts at 10AM PST on October 23rd (that’s tomorrow).

Personally, I don’t use a case on my phone since I’m not a huge fan of them to begin with. However, the Mummy case got my attention pretty quickly, and it’s one of the few cases that I was excited to actually try out. Obviously, right away you’ll notice the back of the case makes it look like the phone is wrapped with mummy wrappings (hence the name). The Apple logo and the “iPhone” are still visible, which is some clever design work to say the least. The mummy wrappings also serve another purpose besides just looking cool. You can stick credit cards, IDs, or cash in between the case and the phone, which also makes it a great makeshift wallet.

As with any silicone case, it can be a little difficult to slide your phone in and out of your pocket due to the rubbery texture, but the Mummy actually felt less rubbery, and it slid into my pocket a lot easier than most cases would. However, just like with any case, the Mummy does add a little bit of thickness to the iPhone, which gets rid of one of the features that makes the iPhone appealing in the first place. It can take time to get used to the size difference, but if you love the thinness of the iPhone, you’re probably not even using a case anyway.

The button “extenders,” so to speak, for the volume and power buttons work surprisingly well; they don’t take any more effort to push than normal, which can’t be said with most other iPhone silicone cases sadly. The opening for the ring/silent switch just above the volume buttons is a bit off, but that’s only because the case is catered towards both the iPhone 4 and 4S, which have slightly different placements when it comes to that small switch — not a huge deal there.

I did find it a bit of a nuisance trying to fit a credit card into the back of the case. Loop didn’t make it easy, since you kind of have to jimmy it in pretty good. There were even times where I was afraid I was going to scratch up the back of my iPhone with my credit card. Cash is even worse, since it’s more flimsy than a card. The trick is just to lift up the flaps and slide it in as best you can.

Overall, if you’re looking to get a minimalist and stylish silicone case for your iPhone, I’d probably tell you to get this one, despite the couple of very minor flaws. The case is well built, looks great, and has a one-of-a-kind unique Halloween theme that also works year-round.

Loop Attachment makes the Mummy case for the iPhone 4, iPhone 4S, and the new iPhone 5 (pre-order only). The iPhone 5 version will be available early next month for a special introductory price of $20. The iPhone 4/4S version costs $25, or you can get a bundle of three Mummy cases for $60.

The Mummy iPhone case is only compatible with Apple‘s newly-discounted iPhone 4/4S line currently, but the company has said they’re planning on stocking up on iPhone 5 cases sometime this month and early November, so stay tuned for those if you happened to upgrade to the latest iPhone.

When you put the case on your iPhone, it essentially looks like mummy wrappings are covering the back of your device (hence the name of the case in the first place). However, it’s not just all about looks. All that fancy silicone on the back is also meant to hold credit cards, money, ID, etc., so it actually doubles as a makeshift wallet, while at the same time providing your iPhone with a little protection. The Mummy is available in 10 different colors and is priced at $25 each, or three for $60.

Loop Attachment’s flagship product isn’t actually for the iPhone, though. It’s simply called the Loop, and it’s a wristband for your 5th- or 6th-generation iPod Nano that turns the device into a glorified watch. We’ve seen these types of products before, but the Loop is a unique one-piece band that snuggly fits an iPad Nano on top, and can be easily removed if need be. It comes in seven color varieties and will cost you $20 each or $50 for a bundle of three.

We’ve seen reports that some users have received brand new iPhone 5 smartphones with small scratches, scuffs, and dents on the aluminum right out of the box. That is a big problem especially if I just shelled out full retail cost. Not only that but the aluminum that covers the rear of the new iDevice appears to be extremely easy to scratch. While it makes drop protection solid, daily use you could see that iPhone 5 scratched up within a matter of days. Over at 9to5Mac they reached out to Apple regarding this new design and didn’t get a very good answer.

According to 9to5Mac, one user sent out an email to Apple’s Senior VP of Marketing Phil Schiller and the answer they got in return wasn’t exactly what they were looking for. Instead of possibly suggesting a case, or addressing the situation he simply stated what you see above, and quoted below.

Any aluminum product may scratch or chip with use, exposing its natural silver color. That is normal.”

Now obviously his answer is correct, as we’ve all probably scratched something aluminum. That isn’t the point though. The point is this is a growing concern among many users, as the device seems to scratch rather easy compared to previous models. The anonymous email user also asked for suggestions or plans to fix the issue, and that was pretty much ignored.

While we don’t particularly like Phil’s reply, at least he’s up and answering customers emails at 6:00 AM over in California. This poses a question. Would you rather have the iPhone 4/4S glass back that is durable yet shatters with drops? Or the iPhone 5 aluminum design that is much improved from drop protection, but might get scratched extremely quick?

Cygnett is a popular accessory and case manufacturer, and we’ve taken a look at plenty of their impressive products in the recent past, including some for the iPhone 4. Today however they’ve already got this awesome new smartphone from those Cupertino folks and are breaking them already. In what appears to be one of the first iPhone 5 drop tests, enjoy watching the screen crack!

So how does the all new and improved iPhone 5 handle the 4 foot drop? Quite well actually. Even with no case involved the new brushed aluminum design seems to handle the rough ground somewhat okay. No shattered glass everywhere and the back still looks pretty, aside from a few scratches. The front glass covering that beautiful and bigger 4-inch Retina Display takes on a little damage however. This time around it surely isn’t bad and won’t hider your usage too bad. Obviously you’ll want to protect this beauty with a new case from Cygnett, right?

Apple worked hard on the new design, while not too different from first glance, they’ve made significant improvements to the overall design. From the small details and level of precision, to making it lighter while stronger at the same time. Obviously you guys all know this already though right? If you’re still on the fence about buying the new iDevice you’ll need to take a look at our iPhone 5 review, then for more details hit our iPhone 5: Which model, where, and why post! That poor iPhone is cracked already. Sad right?

The case we have before you is the 10Terra Eco-friendly bamboo series that they’re currently trying to get funded over on their kickstarter, and it’s pretty easy on the eyes. Like we mentioned above (and in our video) the case is 100% hand-made from pure Bamboo and is extremely sturdy, lightweight, and outright gorgeous to use, hold, and look at.

The case has been crafted with 10Terra’s awesome hand-made skills, but the level of precision for the cutouts to all the ports, speakers, power buttons and more are all near machine perfect. The case is extremely smooth, durable, and thanks to it being Bamboo it will protect your tablet while protecting itself from scratches too. I don’t know about you guys but once we put eyes on it, we knew we had to have one!

Just look at it! Pretty nice looking right? The word “classy” comes to mind. The folks from 10Terra have about 10 days left on their impressive kickstarter campaign, and this is surely one worth backing. Whether it’s just a few bucks to help their eco-friendly cause, or $44 for the Nexus 7 anything will help. They also offer cases for the iPad, and iPhone for those not rocking an Android tablet. 10Terra has cheaper iPhone cases made out of Eco-felt which is 100% recycled water-bottles too.

10Terra is just over halfway to their goal of $9000 after starting their campaign back on September 1st. With 10 days left hopefully they can get these sexy, impressive, durable, and eco-friendly cases in the hands of more consumers. Enjoy all the images below of this beautifully handcrafted Nexus 7 case, then head to the kickstarter page to contribute if you’d like.

[via 10Terra]

iLounge believes that the iPad mini won’t make an appearance at the September event, as the device reportedly isn’t ready yet. A source speaking to iLounge claims that the smaller tablet should ship in time for November, an odd date which is usually untouched by Apple releases but is perfectly poised for the holiday season. In addition, Apple is reportedly working on accessories to accompany the iPad mini, which include smaller versions of the Smart Cover and Smart Case.

The same is true of the next iPhone. Apple is said to be working on two cases for the next iteration of its smartphone. The first will be similar in style to the current bumper case sold for the iPhone 4 and 4S, while the other case will have “a major impact on the accessory market.” It’s not clear exactly what Apple is cooking up, although iLounge believes it could involve a kickstand.

Finally, minor details are hinted at for the fourth-generation iPad. The chassis on the next iPad will be tweaked slightly, retaining the same design and shape but swapping in the new smaller 19-pin dock connector that’s been rumored to make an appearance on the next iPhone. An additional microphone will be also be added onto the rear of the device which will assist in noise cancellation for FaceTime calls and video recording. The iPad mini may see a debut this year, iLounge and its source notes that it’s unlikely that Apple will refresh the new iPad this year.

The Ultra Thin Air case is rather simply, lending a UV Matte coated extra tiny layer of plastic to the back and sides of your device while it remains tiny enough to not cause you to wonder if it’s worth the effort to protect your phone. You’ve got the ULTRA NANO CLEAR screen protector in the box as well, so your front will be fine for the duration of your Galaxy S III experience. This case is available in 8 colors, the one we’re looking at here being “Smooth Black.”

Next is the Folio faux leather case, this one acting like a smooth operator by fitting perfectly around the sides, front, and back of your device, holding it in place for the cover to come around the left and over the top. The cover also has a business card slot so you’re never without. The whole case feels rather nice, but just like the Samsung-made flip-cover, the same problem remains: the cover doesn’t attach to anything, so it’s always flopping open. Of course just like a baseball glove, eventually it’ll find its place and will stay down without effort – but if you’re without patience, watch out.

This case also comes in three colors, the one we’re looking at here being “Navy Blue.”

Both cases are of the highest quality you’re going to find on the market, and both are available through SPIGEN SGP’s online store right this minute. The Folio case will cost you $39.99 in pink, blue, or brown. The Ultra Thin Air case will cost you $19.99 in black, white, gold, mint, silver, tangerine, and two kinds of pink!

Have a peek at the rest of our hands-on experiences with SPIGEN SGP in the timeline below!

Of course you’ll want to know that you’re being protected here, even if Jeremy Todd (aka GERMATODD) is watching out for you fashionably. Griffin has created a case here that protects your iPad from general drops with a relatively hard back and front, and leathery material through the middle. You can fold the folio shut for carrying, back for lying flat, and right up under its back-facing notch for a stand-like situation. The whole thing is a fab conglomeration, and the artwork makes it all the better.

In closed position:

Working like a stand:

Demonstrating close-up charm:

Have a peek above and below at some action shots of this lovely example of industrial design and artist collaboration, and head on over to Griffin to pick one up for yourself for $49.99. They’ve also got several iPhone cases for the iPhone 4/4S, and the collection extends back beyond this most current set of designs as well. Have a peek at our Griffin portal for more news and products from the big G, and head to the timeline below to see what’s come up recently on these lovely manufacturers of wonderful things.

V-MODA’s VAMP features a 150mW x 2 Hi-FI amplifier, digital-to-analogue converter, optical audio output and a 2,200mAh battery. Everything is packed into a metal casing that attaches to the back of the iPhone 4 or 4S. The VAMP is said to bypass the iPhone’s internal DAC and extracts the original digital signal, with the battery rated for up to 8 hours of music playback. The volume knob at the top of the case also gives you some fine precision over the volume levels.

On top of all of that, V-MODA has included two equalizer modes for the amp. The first is a PURE mode, which passes the audio through in its unaltered form, while the VQ mode adds “light spatial 3D soundstage, tightened bass and increased treble attack.” The whole thing weighs around 135g, and comes with a one year warranty. If this sounds like the portable amp you need, it’s available right now for an eye-watering $650.

If you order this case online you’ll get a free laser engraving, and should you feel the need to replace the Smart Cover you’ve got now, you’ll be glad to know that the colors are exactly the same shades they are currently. This case not only protects the back of your device, it’s also extremely thin so as to allow full access for all of your ports and your camera, and you’ve got the Apple showing through on the back as well.

This case will be available from the Apple online store immediately if now soon and comes in only one configuration – you won’t have to specify if you’ve got an iPad 2 or 3 for this purchase. Check out the rest of our Apple WWDC 2012 updates throughout the day through our gigantic WWDC 2012 portal and take a peek at one massive wave of Apple goodness!

You’ll grab your iPad 3, or 3rd Gen iPad, or whatever you want to call it, and you’ll grab your iFrogz Summit Case, and you’ll snap them together in no time flat. It’s really a no-effort situation getting this case snapped in around your iPad, and from there on in you’ve got total protection – or nearly total protection anyway. The entire back and sides of your iPad are completely covered with any one of five different colored plastic cases while the rest of the case is made from polyurethane with a polycreabonate core – looking a lot like leather and feelinglike it too.

You’ve got full access to all of your ports and buttons around the edge of your iPad, each of them having plenty of room to access even some ugly fat headphone jacks if you’ve got them. You’ve got a loop at the top of the case to fit your normal human-sized standard stylus – working perfectly well for what it is – and a business card holder inside the case as well. Finally as sort of a bonus, it seems, iFrogz has included some magnetism in the case as well so it’s a “Smart” case, starting up and putting your iPad to sleep whenever you open or close it.

At this point you might be wondering if you should also be thinking about protecting your glass display just incase you drop the case when its wide open. The case certainly provides enough protection on its own, of course, but if you’re looking for just a bit more, there’s always iFrogz Screen Protection Anti-Glare screen film. You can grab a 3-pack of them for right around half the price of the Summit case. Have a peek at both the case and the protective film in this hands-on video:

Both of these iFrogz protective products are available in iFrogz online store, the Summit Case for $59.99 (or 50% off that price for a limited time only) and the iPad Screen Protection Screen Films for $29.99 (or 50% off that price for a limited time only) grab em both right now!

What you’ll see here in our first encounter with NEXGEN Skins is a set of items they’ve created for the launch, ranging from the iPad 3 to BlackBerry smartphones of all kinds back up to the Apple Thunderbolt Display. As you can see in the gallery below, the folks at NEXGEN Skins are wasting no time showing off the versatility of their method. Have a look with NEXGEN Skins Director Cameron Faulds as he gives us a tour of this launching point for the company.

These skins will begin to be available relatively soon, with your ability to request skins of all kinds launching along with the site right along with the delivery of their up and coming online store. At the launch here you’ll be able to choose from a variety of 3D skins including tribal markings, lovely lady faces, and the king of spades – each of these fairly general of course, but ripe with potential for dimensional interaction. We expect that they’ll be ready to go soon, very soon! Stay tuned!

Also stay tuned to SlashGear via our CTIA 2012 portal for all the CTIA action you can handle all week long!

First we’ll start with the HTC One series. Otterbox has a new line of cases for both the international and AT&T HTC One X, as well as the T-Mobile HTC One S, in both the durable defender series, and their lightweight commuter model. The Commuter on the S shown above (right) has a soft inner shell protected by a durable and lightweight plastic skeleton to cover all the right places, then the Defender model on the One X is as durable as they come and you can see why with the included pics.

Next OtterBox is already ahead of the pack and have just shown us a few cases for the new DROID Incredible 4G LTE, announced earlier today by Verizon and becoming available soon. Otterbox will be offering multiple cases from all their series for the Incredible 4G when it launches later this month.

Along with the One series and the Incredible 4G LTE OtterBox also had a couple new cases for the Samsung Galaxy Note, and even a neat new translucent Reflex series for the iPhone 4S coming in multiple colors while still showing off that Apple style with a see-through design.

While pricing and exact release dates weren’t available we can expect the HTC One cases to be available soon, and the Incredible 4G LTE cases to launch along with the device soon. Check out all the pictures below.

The JuiceTank case on Kickstarter right now eliminates any need for a charge cord or adapter. The case is designed to protect your iPhone from drops and scratches and has a pair of fold flat outlet prongs on the back. When you need to charge your iPhone, you flick the prongs up, and plug the case and phone directly into the wall.

The phone charges automatically once plugged in. The case is made from polycarbonate and it appears to add a bit more bulk. The company is offering a Kickstarter limited-edition case for people that help fund the project at $75 or more that is green and black. The cheapest pledge to get your hands on one of the cases standard black cases is $40. The company is seeking to raise $125,000 to develop the case and has 58 days remaining. So far, the case has raised $7872.

There are several new cases and covers being revealed today by Targus, the first being their Simply Basic Cover, a slim and lightweight design coming with a magnetic off/on feature with soft lining for screen protection – this model comes in graphite black, charcoal gray, orange peel, and indigo blue, each for MSRP $29.99. Next there’s the Vucomplete, a case meant to be a companion to Apple’s own Smart Cover – protecting the back of the device with water-resistant material with a protective lining on the inside, available in graphite black for MSRP $39.99

Targus Slim Case has a set of several viewing angles for your iPad 3, this case also having a magnetic on-off feature activation for your device and coming with a premium soft-touch material lining the inside – this case comes in calypso pink, indigo blue, bittersweet red, bone white, charcoal gray, and graphite black, each for MSRP $49.99.

Each of the cases above are in Targus’ “Slim and Elegant Cases” category while the rest here are categorized as “Higher Utility Cases” for a more “complete” vision. The first of these more hardcore cases is the Vuscape, coming complete with magnetic on/off, three hands-free viewing angles for your iPad, and a “clever stylus storage” for holding your third party capacitive styluses – this unit comes in graphite black, bone white, charcoal gray, and calypso pink for MSRP $44.99

Next there’s the Business Folio and Stand, this unit having all the qualities that a “pro on the go” might need including magnetic on/off, storage for cards, IDs, and a stylus or pen. There’s also a compartment for an included notepad as well as CleanVu cleaning pad for your tablet, and the whole unit converts to a stand for hands-free viewing whenever you need it. The whole unit will be available in black and charcoal gray for MSRP $49.99.

Then of course there’s the Versavu and Versavu Keyboard case, these two units both coming from the same family to offer you premium iPad 3 protection and display abilities. With the Versavu you’ve got a 360 degree rotating mechanism which allows you to view your iPad in both landscape and portrait modes, four different viewing angles available for on-the-go action – plus there’s room for a stylus, once again. This unit comes in graphite black, charcoal gray, and combos of bone white and charcoal gray or calypso pink and charcoal gray, all of these costing MSRP $59.99.

The Versavu Keyboard Case has a low-profile bluetooth-connected keyboard that works with the third generation iPad like a snap and has some lovely tactile feedback for both improved accuracy and speed in your typing while you keep it all quiet. This unit comes in graphite black and bone white at MSRP $99.99, this unit and all the rest available at the same time the iPad 3 is made available – we’ll find out more about that inside the next couple of hours, without a doubt!

The image was sent in to BGR and is purported to be a photo of AT&T’s internal inventory list, showing a total of 7 new Case-Mate cases designed for the iPhone 5. There are a few color options and the cases appear to come in three different types, including a hard case, soft case, and an iPhone 5 skin.

Some iPhone 5 case designs by Case-Mate were leaked in renderings earlier this month. Case-Mate also posted an ad banner on its website, suggesting that Apple would launch both the iPhone 4S and iPhone 5. However, Case-Mate later said that the banner was purely poking fun at current speculations and denied having any knowledge of Apple’s next-gen smartphone.

Once again, we won’t have to wait for long to find out the real deal. Apple’s “Let’s Talk iPhone” event is scheduled for next Tuesday, October 4 and we’ll be there live blogging, so keep it here at: http://live.slashgear.com/

TUAW contacted Kelly Richardson of Otterbox regarding the banner and the leaked case images, to which she explained that the images were of prototype packaging, but that the cases contained within were not for the iPhone 4S. It’s still unclear as to how those images leaked though.

And as for the banner, Richardson explained that the message was merely to reflect the current speculations going around in the blogosphere and that Otterbox would support both models should they be released.

“We’re not even quite sure ourselves,” said Richardson. “Like many, we are watching the rumor sites and using information to plan ahead as much as we can. We do not have any confidentiality agreements with Apple.”