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Release Date: August 05, 2009
Genre: Games
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Release Date: September 29, 2009
Genre: Rock
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Discover New Music

  • Another Day on Earth

    • 10 out of 10
    • Brian Eno
    • In his first proper solo release since 1996's relatively cold "The Drop," Brian Eno has constructed a whimsical and ecclectic masterpiece which is arguably one of the year's strongest records thus fa
  • The Wall (Deluxe Packaging Digitally Remastered)

    • 10 out of 10
    • Pink Floyd
    • Okay, someone had to say it, and though others on the iPO staff are more qualified to review this album, I decided the time was now. This is the quintessential concept album. Though others came before
  • Mezzanine

    • 6 out of 10
    • Massive Attack
    • "Black Milk" knocks me off my feet in this collection of moody and eclectic songs. Massive Attack uses samples and keyboards in a very unique way, but not all the songs pack the same punch.

  • Suspended Animation

    • 8 out of 10
    • Fantomas
    • Mike Patton may well be one of the hardest working men in showbiz these days, and his latest with Fantômas underscores just about how far out he is willing to travel.

      Suspended Animation

  • Trouble

    • 8 out of 10
    • Ray LaMontagne
    • At first, Ray LaMontagne might strike you as just another breathy-voiced knockoff of folk/rock guitarists like John Mayer and Jack Johnson. But he's actually got a better voice than either, he tell

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In-Depth Review

Griffin Elan Form

Griffin Technology's Elan Form is a new hard-shell case for iPhone 3G. On the outside it's top-grain leather; on the inside it's durable polycarbonate. It's relatively slim as iPhone cases go; it doesn't add a lot of bulk to your iPhone, so it still fits easily in most pockets.

Its fit and finish are first-rate. The pebble-grain leather (also available with a brown front and pink back) is handsome; the seams line up precisely; and all of the the cutouts for switches, ports, and controls are elegantly beveled.

It's the first case I've tested with Griffin's new EasyDock design, which lets you slide the lower part of the case off so it's easier to use in devices with a dock.

It's a smart idea and I found it quite useful although the case itself is so slim that I was able to dock it in some of my devices without having to remove the piece. Still, it's a fine answer to a vexing issue with many other cases, and if you dock your iPhone, it may be the best reason to consider this case.

Speaking of vexing, while I liked this case quite a bit overall, I did find a couple of things that could be improved, at least in my humble opinion.

First, while the Web site says you'll receive a "static peel screen protector," mine came with a rigid plastic one instead. I'd have much preferred the static peel kind. The rigid one decreases screen sensitivity somewhat and allows dust to collects beneath it, which means I have to remove and clean it more often. That's not a huge problem or a dealbreaker, but I'd still have preferred the softer static peel type.

The second thing is that there's no belt clip nor a way to affix one if you wanted to. This is strictly a slip-it-in and slip-it-out of your pocket or bag type of case.

The Bottom Line

The Elan Form for iPhone 3G is slim and elegant. And if you use a device with a dock, the EasyDock design is sweet. I prefer a flexible static peel screen protector over the included rigid plastic one, but I can live with it. Although it may not provide as much shock protection as some rubber or silicone cases, it offers adequate protection against impact and good protection against scratches and abrasions.

Just The Facts

Pros:Doesn't add much bulk, EasyDock design useful for docking, elegant looking with nice fit and finish.

Cons:Rigid screen protector decreases touch screen sensitivity, dust collects between screen and protector, no belt clip.

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