review by Bill Palmer

One of the relatively few closed-face iPhone cases to come to market this year, Marware’s Accent reminds me of the flip-open cases for the traditional full-size iPod that were so popular back when the traditional iPod was still popular itself. In contrast, iPhone users seem to be leaning toward open-face cases or shields in order to keep the touch screen easily accessible. But there are always going to be users who want to keep their iPhone’s front face hidden, either or protection or discretion, and for those users the Accent does a pretty nice job overall.



That is, of course, if you like the shiny leather material and the flower design featured on the front face of all eight available colors, which comes down to a matter of personal taste. From a functional standpoint, the Accent provides easy enough access to all the ports and controls (including the screen, once you lift up the flap). Just as importantly, you can easily remove the iPhone from the case (not a given for this type of case) by pushing up through the bottom dock connecter cutout, which is a good thing since it’s unlikely that you’d want to spend any real amount of time talking on your iPhone while it’s inside the case, with the front flap hitting you in the back of the head – so you’ll likely be wanting to quickly remove it from the case any time the phone rings.



Why not a higher rating? Something about the Accent feels a bit less sturdy than it could be, as evidenced by the fact that the front flap’s velcro pieces have to be aligned each time you close it; allowing it to close naturally can result in it lining up a bit too high or low. Perhaps it’s a trade-off for being able to get the iPhone out of the case so easily. I really don’t know how many people are still looking for this kind of case in 2009 – but if you’re one of them, this’ll get the job done.

Learn more about the Accent at Marware.com.

review by Bill Palmer

Vendors wouldn’t keep offering more and more iPhone shields if they weren’t so popular with users, and now that the industry’s biggest names are joining the fray, shields are seemingly here to stay. And with good reason, as they’re generally easier to attach and remove than a full-blown case, and don’t interfere with the iPhone’s touch screen functionality. I’ve tested iPhone shields ranging in price from $9 to $60, and so Marware’s $29 MicroShell falls somewhere in the middle.



And wow is it ever pretty. The metallic red model in particular is shiny all around and manages to catch any light in the room. A single piece of plastic, the MicroShell gets its biggest functional props for including a left-side cutout that’s large enough for the iPhone’s silencer switch to be easily accessed, which can’t be said for far too many other iPhone shields I’ve tested. On the other hand, like most other shields, the MicroShell stops just a millimeter or two short of covering all of the left and right sides of the iPhone’s chrome bezel, something I’d love to see someone finally get right.



The essential question with the MicroShell is whether this single piece of plastic is really worth its $29 price tag. It’s thicker, a lot sturdier, and much better-looking than the generic $9 competitors out there, so as is often the case with products of this type, it’ll largely come down to your budget. The MicroShell does come with bundled screen film, which helps in the justification of its price tag.

Learn more about the MicroShell at Marware.com.

by Bill Palmer

Marware’s multi-function Convertible cases have taken on a number of incarnations over the years with various iPod and iPhone models, but they’ve generally centered around the idea of a case that comes with a belt clip and an armband, and can be used with either or neither, depending on the scenario.



The new SportShell Convertible comes in the form of a two (technically three) piece hard plastic dark grey shell that slides onto the iPhone which, while it would be “just another iPhone case” if not for the included attachments and functionality, is well done in its own right; for instance the cut-out for the volume buttons and silencer switch is done perfectly, which is still not always a given, even with the iPhone having had the same identical body style for more than a year now.



But you buy this case because of what it can be converted into. The third grey plastic piece on the back can be substituted with a frosted clear piece that has a vertical belt clip attached. And the belt clip can then be slid onto the included adjustable armband in a way that locks it into place and allows it to feel a lot more comfortable than you might expect for something that sounds potentially cumbersome until you see (and feel) for yourself that it does work well.



Using an iPhone on an armband presents two quandaries, of course. The first is whether you want something that bulky on your arm while you’re active (some iPhone users keep an iPod nano or shuffle around for just this reason), and the other is the fact that Apple has inexplicably still not included a setting that allows you to turn the auto-rotation off in the iPhone’s iPod app, causing the screen to keep rotating back and forth as you try to twist your arm to get the iPhone out of that useless Cover Flow mode. But I digress – and that’s Apple’s fault anyway, not Marware’s.



In all, the SportShell Convertible is a very impressive product. As long as you actually look at the directions first, assembling and removing the various components is easy. My only complaints center around the belt clip, which is oddly large to begin with. And while it can be turned upside down, it can’t be used horizontally, which many users find more comfortable. That aside, this is a great multi-function value.

Learn more about the SportShell Convertible at Marware.com.

by Bill Palmer

Seemingly every iPhone case maker who dabbles in leather has at least one product like Marware’s C.E.O. Premiere: a leather case that clips horizontally to your belt and closes around front via velcro. When I first tested the Premiere last year, I found it to be one of the more well-done cases of its kind, feeling sturdy, looking good, and offering a ribbon across its front face that divides the surface into perforated and non-perforated leather, giving the entire thing a touch of understated class.



Such cases have obvious advantages, as they allow you to carry your iPhone in plain sight without immediately giving away the fact that it’s an iPhone. This can come in equally handy an environment where carrying a visible iPhone attached to your hip might not be considered professional, or in one where carrying a visible iPhone might not be a safe idea. But the drawbacks have always been just as obvious: you have to remove your iPhone from the case in order to access any of its controls, and once you do, it’s no longer protected from drops or scratches beyond the bundled screen film.



This new version of of Marware’s case, the C.E.O. Premiere Plus, sets about improving that by including a tinted see-through hard plastic shield that snaps onto the back and sides of the iPhone, and the leather case is just large enough to fit the iPhone with the plastic attached. It’s a clever idea, as iPhone users continue to come to the consensus that their device’s back and corners, not its screen, are actually the most vulnerable to impact and scratching. And in my tests I found that it worked well – the plastic shield snaps on and off easily, and the whole thing slides easily in and out of the leather case.



A couple of issues to note. The belt clip doesn’t rotate, meaning you can’t wear it vertically (in fairness, neither do most similar competing products). And while the plastic covers most of the iPhone’s chrome bezel, it leaves a bit exposed, especially on top and bottom. But as prices go it’s a comparatively good deal, as the Premiere Plus is only $5 more expensive than the regular Premiere (without the plastic), whereas plastic shields generally cost $10-$20 on their own. Only currently available in black leather, even thought the regular Premiere also comes in white.

Learn more about the C.E.O. Premiere Plus at Marware.com.