My earliest memory of Pac-Man is how quickly it devoured my weekly allowance—one quarter at a time, it made its way through each bit of my seven-year-old self’s disposable income like so many dots. So it’s funny to see Pac-Man make an unexpected appearance in this week’s iPad-case roundup. But don’t worry—if ghosts and little dots aren’t your thing, there’s plenty more in our weekly mix of new protection products.
Fabrix Cases: Cuteness alert! The Pac Maze (iPad and iPad 2; $33) is a soft sleeve with a design that’s clearly inspired by a certain famous arcade game. An inner “pillow flap” ensures that the iPad stays firmly in place to help avoid accidental drops.
iFrogz: If your iPad feels a little spineless, you may want to consider adding a Backbone (iPad 2; $35) to it. This snap-on case protects the back of your tablet without interfering with the operation of Apple’s Smart Cover. The case comes in numerous colors, matching the range of hues available for Apple’s own protective accessory.
Inno Pocket: The Elite Folio (iPad 2; $199) is a case made of black carbon-fiber material. It features a clamshell design with a metal hinge capable of 360-degree rotation for maximum comfort. The case can be arranged for landscape or portrait viewing, or as a typing platform.
Mivizu: The Sense (iPad 2; $60) is a folio-style case made of genuine leather that can double as a viewing or typing stand. Available in black, blue, green, pink, or grey, the Sense includes a magnetic closure compatible with the iPad 2’s auto-sleep/wake feature.
Otterbox: The company’s popular Defender Series case (iPad 2; $90) has finally been updated for Apple’s newest tablet model. This ultra-sturdy case is built using layers polycarbonate and silicone to be both tough and comfortable, and it comes in black with a clear, clip-on front protector.
PadTab: The clever PatTab system (iPad 2; $20–$30) features a connector that attaches to the back of an iPad 2 that lets you mount the tablet on a special tab you attach to a wall or other flat surface. The company has updated the PadTab line to support the iPad 2 with a specially-designed case.
Priority Cases: The LifeStyle (iPad and iPad 2; $50) is a shoulder case that can hold your favourite tablet and a lot more. With pockets for everything from cables to credit cards, it even has enough room for an iPhone or iPod, and it comes in black, grey, or blue.
The Journey (iPad and iPad 2; $50) is also a shoulder case, with many of the same features of the LifeStyle. It’s available in red, tan, or black, and it includes a detachable pouch for your phone. Also available is the Journey Neo (iPad and iPad 2; price unavailable), which comes in vibrant colors such lime green, cherry red, tangy orange, powder blue, pretty pink, perfect purple, or classic black.
The Sportif (iPad and iPad 2; $50) also comes with plenty of extra space, with a sporty, casual look and an external pocket for a phone of iPod. It can be had in a number of color combinations, include navy and blue, grey and green, black and orange, black and carbon, dark grey and wine, or neutral and wine.
For a more classic design, Priority offers the Plus (iPad and iPad 2; price unavailable), which comes in black and features a magnetic metal clasp in the front.
Simplism: The Semi Hard Case Set (iPad 2; price unavailable) is a combination of a rigid snap-on case—available in one of three colors—and a front screen protector. The case features all the appropriate openings for the iPad 2’s buttons, switches, and ports, and it includes a handy stand.
The Crystal Gaban (iPad 2; price unavailable) is a slim, snap-on cover made of polycarbonate that comes with two carabiner hooks that you can use to connect a shoulder strap to carry your tablet around. The case also includes a screen protector.
The Leather Smart Shell (iPad 2; price unavailable) and Leather Flip Note are folio cases that can each work as a typing platform or viewing stand. The Smart Shell features three different viewing positions, is available in three colors, and features a magnetic closure that can also put the iPad 2 to sleep.
For simpler needs, look no further than the Leather Sleeve, which sports a smooth, flat exterior with an extra pocket for cables or a phone and a soft interior made of a velour-like material designed to protect your iPad from scratches and bumps.
The Smart Back Cover (iPad 2; price unavailable) is a snap-on shell that protects the back of Apple’s magical device while retaining compatibility with Apple’s Smart Case. The Back Cover is made of tough, impact-resistant polycarbonate and comes in three colors.
The Flip Silicone Case Set (iPad 2; price unavailable) includes a case made of soft silicon that protects your iPad 2 from bumps and scratches; you can roll up the front of the cover to transform it in a viewing or typing stand. The Set comes in four colors.
Speaking of Silicone, Simplism also makes the Silicone Case Set (iPad 2; price not available), which features a simpler design in four colors and comes with a foldable stand.
SGP: The Griff (iPad 2; $50) is a snap-on back case made of leather and designed for compatibility with Apple’s Smart Case. It features all the appropriate cutouts and is available in blue, brown, red, lime green, pink, or white. Its interior is padded with soft, microfiber Chamude to protect the aluminium backside of the iPad.
Solid Line: The RightShift (iPad 2; $99) is a folio case that features an integrated Bluetooth keyboard. The case can be used as a viewing stand in landscape mode, and it folds up to both protect your iPad and help you carry the keyboard around. The case comes in black, red, white, or brown.
iPad (1st generation) Family