The Griffin California Roll for iPhone 2G and 3G is in stock and ready to ship from the iPhone Blog Store for $19.95. Personally, I’m not much for sushi, but this is a California Roll I can sink my teeth into. If you want something to carry your iPhone, iPod, iPod Touch and other small accessories and to organize them into one case, Griffin’s California Roll could be what you are looking for. Follow me after the break to get to know this case a little better!

Overview and Design

Made of durable high-tech synthetic materials, the Griffin California Roll has a stylish design with built-in elastic band for securing your valuable items. The exterior of the case is glossy with an interesting visual design. It’s a bit difficult to describe, but there appears to be a dark green textured material just under the glossy exterior material, making the outside of the case interesting to look at.

Opening the case reveals a tri-fold configuration with a Velcro-secured middle compartment with similar Velcro-secured compartments on either side. The side compartments are constructed with a mesh material so you can get a better idea what’s in the pockets without having to remove the item. Each of the compartments are about the same size and the interior of the Roll is a soft suede-like material to gently cushion your valuables and protect from scratches and impacts.

Usability

I was able to fit my iPhone 3G in the left pocket, my big fat iPod 160GB Classic in the middle, and a set of earphones in the right pocket. I then folded up the case and secured it with the built-in elastic band and was ready to roll (no pun intended). The case folds up reasonably well, even with all that stuff packed inside of it. The whole point of this case is that it’s soft and flexible, allowing you the most flexibility with different kinds of devices and accessories. The stitching around the case seems top-notch and the elastic band for securing the case is sewn into the case well and stretches just enough to secure the case but is tight enough to stay in place.

Conclusion

The Griffin California Roll case is one of those cases that will meet certain needs. It may not be a case that you use for everyday use, but then again, if you are “gadgety” and carry a phone, iPod, earphones, and other stuff around with you on a regular basis, this is a great case for securing everything in one place and it offers some protection against the cold, cruel world that would be harsh and unkind to your expensive tech gear. I think it makes an excellent travel case, perfect for keeping everything together for use on the airplane, then easily taken with you to your rental car, and finally resting at your side by the swimming pool while you sip a drink.

But why limit yourself to traveling? This is a good case for just carrying all your stuff around with you, secured in one place inside the Roll. As you can see in this picture, I successfully crammed my iPhone 3G, my iPod, and not seen are the earphones stuffed in there as well. Even if you aren’t a fan of sushi, for $19.95, you may want to give this California Roll a try.

Pros

• Flexible case to accommodate many types and sizes of devices
• Built-in elastic to secure items
• Three storage compartments

Cons

• A little big to carry around as your regular case

TiPb Rating:

The PDA Skins Horizontal Organizer Case can be purchased in the TiPb Store here and is available in both a microfiber version for $19.95 and a leather version for $39.95. If you have a bit more to carry than just your iPhone, this case can accommodate more items in an organized fashion. I had the chance to use the leather version for a while and can let you know how it measures up after the break!

Design and Quality

I can’t specifically speak to the quality of the microfiber version of this case, but the leather version is durable and well-constructed. The stitching all the way around is seamless and the case I used is constructed of quality top-grain glove leather. The front of the case has a Velcro-secured expanding compartment to hold your iPhone or any other smaller item. The reverse side of the case has a standard leather belt loop, Velcro-secured bag-strap latches to secure the case to a carrying bag, and two small metal D-rings to attach an optional carrying strap. It’s nice to have several options for carrying the case.

There are two zipper tabs to secure the case closed, and when opened, the case reveals additional organized storage within. There is a pen loop, a removable money insert that holds credit cards and I.D., and other pouches and slots for items you may need with you. The interior of the case is large enough to accommodate other PDAs or phones up to six inches long. This case can be a good travel companion, easily fitting your passport and other personal items. The interior is padded nylon to protect your valuables.

Performance

Although I don’t normally use a case of this size, the PDA Skins Horizontal Organizer case is compact and is a great way to carry phone, PDA, pen, small pad of paper, passport, credit cards, I.D., and other sundry items that you want to keep organized while on the go. It is excellent for traveling and I like the several carrying options. For me, the case is a little bulky to carry on a belt for every-day casual use, but for the traveler, it’s nice to have the option.

The belt loop is durable and fits most belt widths. The bag-strap latches Velcro firmly in place and make it convenient to attach the case to a larger carrying bag so you still have access to your iPhone and other valuables. A detachable carrying strap is convenient if you need both hands for something else and aren’t wearing a belt or other bag with a strap to attach your case to.

With several pockets and pouches inside the case and a convenient pen loop, it’s easy to keep the little things organized that you have to or want to carry with you. If you have more to carry with you than just your iPhone, this case is a great option if you need a small compact carrying case for credit cards, money, notepad, pen or pencil, or even your iPod so you can carry your entire music library with you.

Conclusion

The PDA Skins Horizontal Organizer Case, in either microfiber or leather, is a quality case offering several carrying options and will help you keep your mobile items organized. It has the convenient Velcro-enclosed compartment on the outside to carry your iPhone and offers more storage on the inside for your valuables, like credit cards, cash, I.D., etc. Although it’s a bit bulky to carry on a belt for every-day use, it’s a great travel companion and just a great place to throw all the little items that you would otherwise carry in your pocket or purse. It is durable for lasting use and is a great solution for the business person or traveler.

Pros:

• Durable construction
• Lots of pockets and pouches for storage
• Several carrying options
• Exterior storage for easy access to iPhone

Cons:

• A bit bulky for every-day use (i.e., wearing on belt)

TiPb Rating: