Showcase for the iPhone

I have been trying to find cases for the iPhone that are not only a bit unusual, but which also preserve some of the elegance of the iPhone's design. I've found a great example in Contour Design's Showcase. The Showcase is a plastic/rubber shell into which the iPhone slips. The case opens like a clamshell and the phone is slipped in. There are cutouts for all the functions and the alignment is exact. You can't fit the phone/case combo into your cradle, but you can connect to your computer through the opening at the bottom. The case is rubberized around the sides and makes the iPhone easy to hold and less slippery in your hand. The front of the case is open, of course, so you can get at the screen and the back of the case is really neat. Here it is (see to the left). This clear back, which reminds me of some watch cases, is a really nice touch. Along with the case comes a snap-in holster. The holster has a belt clip, which rotates so it can be horizontal or vertical, and you can insert the phone either face in or face out, another nice touch. All-in-all, I am extremely pleased with the Showcase. As a matter of fact, the Showcase has become my primary iPhone case. The case isn't too thick, so when I am working in the garden or doing something "dangerous" I simply take the case out of the holster and slip it into my Nutshell pouch to give me complete protection from dirt and water. Unlike a gel case, the rubberized sides don't prevent the Showcase from sliding in and out of a pouch such as the Nutshell. The Showcase is available from Countour Design and you can find it here at $34.95. I am a sucker for an innovative design that's exactly what the Showcase represents. Well worth the price.