UK iPhone

As promised, Apple is now offering a free iPhone 4 case to every iPhone 4 owner. The process is being managed through a free app, which you can download through the App Store.

There is a choice of cases, from Apple’s own bumper case through to a range of third-party cases, so you should be able to find the case you want.

UPDATE: Turns out that link is for the US store: looks like Apple haven’t launched the free case programme in the UK yet. Will update with news on this. The programme has launched, and the link is now fixed.

A lot of cases seem to put all their emphasis on protecting the front and back of your iPhone. But let’s face it: if you accidentally drop your phone, it’s quite likely to land on one of its edges, or even a corner. You really need excellent edge protection to keep your phone safe in that scenario.

Enter the iBand iPhone protector. Thanks to its d30 substance, it’s a lot more protective than a standard case. Said to offer 100% more protection than a standard case, it also gives you full access to the front, back and all controls. And at under £20 it’s a good investment in protection.

Find out more at Firebox: iBand d3o iPhone Protector (New 2010 edition)

This cool-looking iPhone dock is much more than just a dock. Sure, it’ll accept your iPhone’s USB cable so your iPhone can be charging or syncing while it’s sitting in it, but it also contains some clever acoustic design.

It actually amplifies the sound of the standard iPhone speakers, using nothing more than swirly, curvy airtubes that amplify sound like an old-fashioned gramophone horn. Nothing old-fashioned about the clear acrylic design of course! And it doesn’t need any external power whatsoever.

Get your AirCurve here for under £20.

Your iPhone really can do it all! With this special protective, infra-red emitting case, and included app, you can use your iPhone as a universal remote control! Get rid of your TV, satellite, DVD, Blu-Ray and hifi remotes, all you need is your iPhone! Future-proof, as new remotes can be downloaded onto your app as soon as you get a new piece of kit. Genius!

Get it here!

Protecting your valuable iPhone investment requires some serious case technology. One of the most highly-rated manufacturers is Otterbox, with a range of cases from the inexpensive Otterbox Impact Case, up to the virtually bulletproof Otterbox Defender.

With three layers of protection, the Otterbox Defender cradles your iPhone in a clear membrane, which is held within a tough polycarbonate skeleton case, that is itself encased in a silicon rubber outer case that is the only protection in some lesser cases. The Defender is perhaps the ultimate protection for your iPhone, in black, white and pink, for around £40.

The Otterbox Commuter has a similar three-layer protection construction, although not designed to stand up to the same level of abuse, it does cost about half as much, whereas the Impact Case is a more standard silicon rubber case for more casual protection, for around £16.

Your purchasing options are as follows:

• From Amazon, the Otterbox Defender Case in Black or White or Pink.
• From Play.com, the Otterbox Commuter Case in Black or Red.
• From Amazon, the Otterbox Impact Case in Black or from Play.com, in White.

So your iPhone is great for listening to music on the tube or in the car, and of course you can listen to that exact same music through iTunes when you are in front of your computer; but what about when you’re chilling in the lounge, or have some friends over for a few drinks?

That’s when you need a good-looking set of speakers to plug your iPhone into. We’re usually talking about a small dock with a couple of speakers built-in.

Those dinky little speaker sets are fine for a bit of background music but if you want to make a serious impression on the air in your room, you need the power of a subwoofer. This Sony conveniently connects the 50W subwoofer wirelessly, meaning no cables to trip over, and you get Harmonic Sound Bass Boost with 4 presets as well.

If you get tired of the music on your phone, no problem: the dock includes a DAB and FM tuner, with 40 presets and timer, while the convenience of a remote control rounds out the package.

Get the Sony subwoofer speaker dock for a great price here: Sony AIR-SW10Ti Wireless Speaker / Subwoofer With iPod / iPhone Speaker Dock

I’m loving these amazing Star Wars covers for the iPhone. I’ve never used a cover for my iPhone, but the number of dings and scratches on the case would suggest that I re-think that decision! If I were to get one it would definitely be one of these Star Wars ones, as I’ve been a fan since I was a kid. The only question is, which one?

Get them here: Star Wars Stormtrooper Silicon Soft Cover Case For iPhone 3GS / 3G or Star Wars Darth Vader Silicone Soft Cover For iPhone 3GS / 3G for only £17.99 each.

Now that the iPhone and iPod Touch have become significant gaming platforms, you might be wondering if there is any way to improve the actual interaction with the iPhone itself. Unlike console games, the iPhone is its own game controller, and the difficulty of holding a small and somewhat slippery device like the iPhone might just be holding you back from getting the top score!

Here are a couple of accessories that make getting to grips with your iPhone a bit easier:

The iPhone Gaming Grip from Exspect

This gaming grip is kind of like a largish phone protector. Made of silicone, it features emphasised corners to make your iPhone easier to grip, and includes a screen protector. You could probably leave your phone in this even when not playing.

Buy it here: Iphone Gaming Grip: Black

Game Controller Unit

This product will make your iPhone feel much more like a traditional game controller. Reminiscent of the controllers that are built to hold the Wii remote, your iPhone plugs into the centre of this controller, making driving or flying games much more naturalistic to play.

Buy it here: Play.com Game Controller Unit For iPhone 3G / 3GS