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Uncommon
Which would you rather have protecting your iPhone: a boring black shell, or a beautiful color photo of your kids, dog, significant other, etc.?
Uncommon turns any uploaded photo into an attractive, durable case for your iPhone or iPod Touch. (Custom cases for iPads are coming soon.)
The service offers four case options for the iPhone 4 and one each for the iPhone 3GS and iPod Touch (third- and fourth-gen). Most are priced at $34.95, though the Capsule model for iPhone 4 and 3GS runs $39.95.
I ordered the $34.95 Deflector for iPhone 4, an ultraslim wraparound case that’s compatible with both AT&T and Verizon versions. Using a simple, stylish photo tool, I uploaded a snapshot of my kids, fiddled with the zoom and orientation, and placed my order. The whole process took all of five minutes.
You can upload any photo you want, so long as you own it or have license to use it. Uncommon also offers a gallery of designs from “the world’s top progressive artists”–and, indeed, there’s some snazzy stuff in there. But obviously the appeal here lies in using your own photo, design, company logo, or whatever.
Turnaround was fast: I placed my order on a Wednesday and received the case the following Monday. And it looked great: smooth, glossy, and colorful. This isn’t just a photo pasted onto a case; it’s embedded into the plastic, so it won’t rip or peel.
The fit is tight, which is good–though getting my iPhone out of the Deflector was something of a challenge.
Ultimately, I think this is a great way to customize–and protect–your iDevice. Why spend $34.95 on something like the basic-black Incase Snap Case when you can get a case adorned with your favorite photo for the same price?
