iLounge

First Looks

Welcome to our new, continuously-updated First Looks - a collection of previews showing brand new iPod, iPhone and iPad accessories that we’re currently in the process of testing. Here’s what’s hot right now:

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Company: Mophie

Website: www.Mophie.com

Model: Workbook

Price: $60

Compatible: iPad (2010)

Mophie Workbook for iPad

Substantially similar to many other leather folio-style cases we've previously covered, Mophie's new Workbook for iPad ($60) combines an iPad holder with a folding front lid system that protects the screen when not in use, and opens to provide varying angles for video viewing and typing. Made from faux leather, Workbook is more distinctive for one of its colors -- orange with a black elastic flap strap -- than anything else. All-black and white with gray versions are also available. While the build quality is solid, the me-too design is not what we've come to expect from the normally more innovative minds at Mophie.

Company: US+U

Website: www.usplusu.com

Model: Swivel Pro

Price: $60

Compatible: iPad (2010)

US+U Swivel Pro for iPad

What looks at first like a typical -- though unusually thick -- leather folio for the iPad turns out to be a somewhat more interesting design: US+U's Swivel Pro ($60) unfolds into three sections, one with a spot for papers, the center an iPad holder, and the last with a hand strap, folding backwards together to become a case with the ability to hold the iPad on your hand. The novelty here is the strap's 360-degree rotation, which enables you to hold the iPad in landscape, portrait, or diagonal orientations as you desire; there's also a kickstand that pops out for typing, using magnets to hold itself in place when not in active use. If you're concerned about compass-related magnetic interference, the impact appears to be relatively minimal.

Company: SwitchEasy

Website: www.switcheasy.com

Model: Nude

Price: $20

Compatible: iPod touch 4G

Switcheasy Nude for iPod touch 4G

Switcheasy's Nude for iPod touch 4G ($20) is a continuation of the same-named series of hard plastic shells from the prior-generation iPod touch and more recently the iPhone 4, resembling the former more than the latter. Made from either clear or smoke black plastic with soft curves and a 1mm thickness, Nude is bundled with two color-matched headphone and Dock Connector port covers, two screen protectors, an applicator card, and cleaning cloth. The shell has gaps for the rear camera and microphone, side and top buttons, and full iPod touch face, feeling like barely anything's covering the iPod touch at all.

Company: STM

Website: www.STMBags.com

Model: Vertical

Price: $70

Compatible: iPad (2010)

STM Vertical Shoulder Bag

STM continues to experiment with different case and bag form factors for iPad users, and the aptly-named Vertical ($70) bag is the latest product in its range to couple an iPad pocket with a larger compartment for your laptop. Vertically oriented such that everything stands tall rather than wide, the soft-lined laptop compartment of Vertical Small (shown here) has enough room for the full-sized MacBook Pro 13" model, with obvious extra space for the thinner MacBook Air, while the iPad pocket directly in front of it is large enough to fully protect the tablet, with enough extra room to put it inside its own separate case or leave it bare. While the iPad pocket isn't as soft-lined as the computer compartment, Vertical provides coverage on all sides, sealing both of the areas with a Velcro top flap. Two more pockets are found on the inner front, with two more zippered ones on the closed front -- one on the flap, one below it -- and a full-sized notepad pocket on the back. Hand and adjustable arm straps are included, jutting out from the water resistant ripstop polyester bag. A version called Vertical Medium has space for a 15" MacBook Pro or comparably sized laptop.