Twelve South

Hands-On With Twelve South’s Stealthy BookBook iDevice Cases

The modern man is clearly embarrassed by tablet computers. It’s a common trend to disguise the slate computing device as a book. I guess it affords owners an air of class and sophistication as it appears they’re toting around a well-loved tome rather than a dull, lifeless computer. Twelve South has taken this practice to the extreme with redesigned iPad and iPhone cases.

The BookBook is one of the finest iPad cases ever tested by TechCrunch. The construction and materials are top-notch. And thanks to a zipper and relatively thick sides, it wraps the device in a fair amount of protection, too. It feels fantastic in the hand. The vintage-looking leather adds a good amount of character and seems to age well. Inside, the iPad is secured with a leather sleeve that also features a kickstand that props up the device at a 30 degree angle.

The cases are a bit pricey at $79 and $59 for the iPad and iPhone versions, respectively. That’s par for the course though. The other options from DODOcase, Pad and Quill and XHiBT are priced similarly but the BookBook actually features a bit more protection. Plus, it feels better in the hand than the other cases I’ve tried. I hesitate to recommend the iPhone version for the reasons outlined above but the BookBook for iPad is fantastic.

Summary: This case for the iPad 2 is the best way to roll stealth-mode and a great way to Bring Your Own Device into unfriendly corporate territory.

BookBook Vol 2 ($79.99) is a cover-case for the iPad 2 that makes it look like its wrapped in a rich leatherbound book. And it is. The best part about keeping your iPad 2 in a BookBook case (besides the obvious 360 degree wraparound coverage, yadda, yadda) is that it doesn't look like an iPad case, in fact it doesn't look like an anything case -- it looks like a book, a 100 percent convincing book.

Easily the best BookBook feature is its low profile. You could easily take it onto a subway in the worst part of town and no one would give it a second glance, let alone thing about mugging you for it. You can even use it, opened, book style without drawing the attention of anyone in the immediate vacinity.  

The other nice feature of a stealth case like BookBook is that you can bring it to the office without drawing the ire of Corporate IT goons that forbid non-authorized computer hardware. While it might be hip to use Apple products on some corporate campuses, there are still many that frown upon anything the isn't corporate issued, remotely administerable and locked to a rigid policy.

Vol 2, as the name implies, is the sequel to the original 2010 BookBook for iPad (see my review). It's a totally new installment that improves on the original in many ways. Vol 2 holds the iPad much more securely than the original, and it also flips open (see photo below) such that you can still use the iPad 2/3 to take photos and videos while in the case, a feat not possible with the original BookBook.

Thanks to it ingenious new enclosure design BookBook can be used flat, at a slight angle (perfect for typing) and even propped up on a table in moving-watching mode.

The Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) trend is huge right now and more and more people are bringing Apple products into the workplace. Some companies tolerate it, others allow it and some even reimburse employees for using their own machines. But if your company is more rigid about BYOD, BookBook allows you to bring your iPad to the office without any questions. You can even use it on the DL.

BookBook pays dividends even in offices that tolerate iPads. Because it's so stealth, BookBook saves you from those ackward "is that an iPad?" moments that steer the conversation from the topic at hand to who's-using-what gadget. Work is supposed to be about work after all, right?

TwelveSouth makes BookBook in black, brown and red, and if you don't have an iPad, you can get similarly cool-looking BookBooks for everything from the MacBook Pro to the Air to the iPhone 4. BookBook isn't inexpensive, but like the iPad itself, quality items rarely are.

BookBook is one of the few enclosures worthy of holding an iPad. Case closed.

In the world of iPad cases, price and quality run the gamut. When you’re looking for high-end cases, however, there really aren’t many choices. One of the standouts for Mac and iOS device accessories is a company called Twelve South and its BookBook case for the iPad is certainly no exception to its rule of quality craftsmanship.

The first thing that you’ll notice about the BookBook when you take it out of the case is the aroma of well-preserved leather. The entire outside of the case is made from the stuff. The next thing that you’ll notice is that the case doesn’t flop about. Just like a hardcover book, the front and back are stiff and the spine is too.

Inside of the case you’ll find a velvet-soft material that does a great job of keeping scratches off of your device. There’s a sleeve on the inside that your iPad slides into, and snaps on the back of that sleeve keep your iPad in place when you’re using the Book Book as a folio.

Like most leather products, the more that you use it the better it is going to look. I’ve gotten a couple of notable scratches on my BookBook in the past month of use, and it just adds to the character. Though it’s notable that never once have I felt that something scratching the outside was going to affect the device inside. The protection offered by the Book Book case is second to none.

The case is a discussion piece, for sure. Almost every time that I’ve had it out in public, it has gathered attention as I’ve unzipped it and started using my iPad. Flipping the back cover around gives you a nice hand hold for your device whether in portrait or landscape mode, and that grip helps to take away from what would otherwise be a detracting amount of bulk added to your svelte device.

My only minor gripes about the case all come from that internal sleeve. There’s a bit of a gap around the edge, where the sleeve stands up from the screen. The home button doesn’t line up exactly right with the detent at the bottom and there’s a pretty large gap around the volume rocker which takes away from the high quality standards that the rest of the case has. My final niggle comes from the cutout for the 30-pin cable, which requires that I pull the case out of the way slightly in order to plug in my device.

Otherwise there’s simply no topping the Book Book when you’re talking about a classy, quality-made protective cover for your treasured device. Nothing else on the market looks this good while protecting this well. Twelve South has set the bar by which all other “high end” accessories will be judged.

At $80 it’s no bargain case, but chances are you’re not looking for bargains if you’re in the market for a full leather folio case for your $500 iPad.

Oh, and if you want a Book Book for your iPhone, Twelve South has that too.

TwelveSouth’s New BookBook Case For iPad Proves Sometimes The Sequel Is Better Than The Original

Whether squirreling away a pistol, a bottle of Laphroaig or the true secret of the Mummy’s Curse, leathery hollowed-out tomes are a staple hiding place for both the bibliophile and posturing quasi-literate alike. And no wonder: there are few hiding places that are attached with the same sort of pungent and mysterious romanticism as an empty book.

For the last couple years, TwelveSouth has been trying to apply some of that mystery, romanticism and pungence with their line of BookBook cases for Apple devices. The cases, which protect your Apple device or computer in a leather-bound cover that could pass for an old folio if you don’t squint at the title too hard, are undeniably a little precious, but I’ve also found time and time again that they generate a lot of compliments from strangers.

Some of TwelveSouth’s BookBook experiments have been better than others. For example, we really loved the BookBook Case for the MacBook Air, but thought there were a lot of problems with the BookBook for iPad. TwelveSouth must have been paying attention, because they’ve released an updated version of the BookBook for iPad, and it addresses pretty much all of our criticisms of the first model, finally turning it into a case that you can truly love, even if it does still have a few problems.

In our original review of the first BookBook for iPad, we cited some major issues with the case’s design: it was too thick, it didn’t fit the iPad very well, the zipper came too close to scraping the device, you couldn’t use the iPad camera, there was no real way to type on it, and the stand functionality was pretty chintzy. For the second round, TwelveSouth has fixed all of these issues, to a greater or lesser extent.

First of all, TwelveSouth managed to slim down the BookBook for iPad to about 22mm, a diet of about 3mm. That doesn’t seem like a lot, but combined with the new iPad’s weight gain compared to the iPad 2, it makes the new BookBook for iPad feel a lot more comfortable and a lot less bulky in the hands. It’s just a pleasure to hold, and while it undeniably adds more bulk than the official Smart Cover or Smart Case, it also protects your iPad a lot more while retaining much of the same functionality. TwelveSouth’s New BookBook Case For iPad Proves Sometimes The Sequel Is Better Than The Original [Review]

TwelveSouth has also changed the way the iPad is held within the BookBook. Previously, TwelveSouth favored elastic straps at each corner to frame the iPad, but now, they use a separate leather sleeve inside the case to keep things secure. This sleeve is responsible for a lot of the BookBook’s improvements, as it not only keeps the iPad from getting accidentally scraped by the case zipper, but it also allows you to “unfold” your iPad from the binding of the book to take pictures with the back camera, prop it up so you can watch a movie or even type by folding back a small leather flap. This sleeve also features a couple of tiny brass snap buttons on the back, so when you aren’t taking a picture or adjusting your iPad’s angle, it stays secure in the binding without flopping around. This is a really deft touch. TwelveSouth’s New BookBook Case For iPad Proves Sometimes The Sequel Is Better Than The Original [Review]

Otherwise, the new BookBook is the same as the rest of the line-up. The leather covers are individually distressed and gilt, giving them a vintage look and making sure no two look exactly alike. The cover bends back with ample suppleness, making it easier to read your iPad than many folio-style cases. And boy, is the suede interior lining soft: I tend to dislike Folio style cases, but the in interior coating is such a pleasure to hold that I may not take the BookBook off my iPad for awhile. The Bad

In truth, there’s not a lot to criticise about the new BookBook. We found that the inner leather sleeve, while curing a lot of the previous generation BookBook’s faults, also introduces a few. It doesn’t quite fit the new iPad like a glove, leading to a slight bulge in the leather above the Facetime camera, as well as making it a little harder than it should be to access the volume control, orientation lock and Apple dock connector port. We’ve also been unable to exactly line up the leather sleeve’s tiny perforations with the new iPad’s speaker holes, leading to slightly muted volume. There’s also no magnet inside the cover to turn off the iPad 2 and new iPad’s automatically when the case is closed, which is disappointing. Not deal breakers by any means (and a little exacto knife surgery would solve the speaker problem entirely), but they’re slight dings what is otherwise an excellent case.

Whether the new BookBook for iPad is for you ultimately has a lot to do with how much you like folio cases and how much of a kick you get carrying a faux book everywhere you go with you. As we said, it’s undeniably a little precious, but there’s a reason these sell so well: they look fantastic, spark a lot of interesting comments and envy from strangers and they go above and beyond the line of duty when it comes to protecting your device, while also potentially obscuring your iDevice or MacBook’s true nature from would-be thieves or muggers, who can’t sell an old book on Craigslist. And let’s face it: being a little precious can be a lot of fun.

The new BookBook for iPad is a great case, and pretty much the first folio-style case for iPad I’ve ever actually liked. We’re glad TwelveSouth got it right this time around: for the iPad — a living book — more than any other Apple device, TwelveSouth’s BookBook makes perfect sense.

Reviews: Twelve South BookBook for iPad 2/iPad (3rd-Gen)

Beautiful. That's the first word that came to mind upon seeing Twelve South's new BookBook for iPad ($80) and the impression only grew stronger when we got our hands on it and had a chance to really use it. With support for the iPad 2 and third-generation iPad, this is actually a significantly revised second version of the case. The company made some dramatic changes, making it more protective and functional. Compared to BookBook for iPhone, MacBook Pro, and MacBook Air, it's the strongest member of the family so far. BookBook for iPad is available in Vintage Brown, Vibrant Red, and Classic Black.

From the outside, this BookBook is virtually indistinguishable from its predecessor. It’s made of very high quality reinforced leather with gold trim. As with other Twelve South cases, a little bit of weathering is a good thing here; it adds character. The spine looks just like that on an old book, with more gold accents including the phrases “BOOK BOOK” and “VOL XII,” the latter of which represents the company’s name. It would fit in perfectly with other tomes on a shelf. A zipper takes up the remaining three-quarters of the edge, with a pair of pulls attached to brass rings.

Opening the case reveals a whole new setup for holding and using your iPad. Gone are the lazy-feeling elastic band and leather corners. They’ve been replaced with a soft, thin leather frame on the right side; a pair of snaps on the left edge holds it place against the suede-lined interior. While many holders of this style leave the corners or edges exposed, this one covers all of the iPad’s aluminum back and sides as well as some of the bezel. To insert the tablet, you simply lift the frame off and slide the device in through the other edge, followed by a flap that helps keep it in place.

The openings for the ports and buttons are just a little rough, but allow for easy and full access. Using the iSight camera without removing the iPad is the most problematic aspect of BookBook. The hole is large enough, but the setup requires the rest of the case dangle below for landscape shots or be held awkwardly in portrait mode. For those who rely on their iPads for photography this may be a deal breaker, but for everyone else it’s just a minor inconvenience. We were surprised, however, by how comfortable the case feels with the front cover folded underneath. It’s well suited for both one- and two-handed use.

BookBook supports typing and viewing angles, both in pretty intuitive ways. For the former, simply unsnap the frame and fold out the small stand attached to the back. Position that stand against the male end of the snaps and it holds its position, securely and at a comfortable angle. For video viewing, one simply leans the holder against the edge of the front cover. We found that jamming the edge underneath the typing stand to be a good way to hold the position, although you can play around with it a bit to find your preferred position. There’s not a lot of range to the viewing angle, although the bottom edge that’s attached to the rear cover does allow for some.

Like most of Twelve South’s products, BookBook is an object of lust. Seeing it online is one thing, but holding it’s a whole other experience. It’s clear the company knows just what it’s doing when it comes to materials and design. Thankfully, this is also one of Twelve South’s more practical options. The case offers very good protection and totally usable stands, all while feeling great during use. There are some drawbacks such as the clumsiness in using the camera and lack of screen-locking magnets, but BookBook for iPad is still a very good case and is worthy of our strong general recommendation.

Twelve South recently updated the design of the Twelve South BookBook iPad case, and the company wasted no time in getting TUAW a sample to review. The new BookBook Volume 2 for iPad (US$79.99) picks up where the earlier version (reviewed here) left off and adds some new features that you're sure to love. Read the review, decide if it's for you, and then enter our giveaway to win this classic iPad case or a BookBook for iPhone 4/4S.

Design Like the original BookBook for iPad, the new model mimics the look of an old book. While most other iPad cases of this genre tend to use nice, new materials on the exterior, Twelve South has always made the BookBook look like something that you picked up at a library book sale twenty years ago and gave to the kids to beat up. That's not a bad thing -- the distressed leather exterior is designed to look like an old book and hopefully keep burglars from picking up your iPad. Of course, they may think it's a rare first edition of A Passage to India and try to sell it at a book auction for $10,000...

The BookBook Vol 2 comes in a nice little drawstring bag, although you may not see that packaging detail in retail stores. The case comes in three different finishes: classic black, vintage brown, and vibrant red. All have gold ink highlights on the cover and a realistic title and volume number on the spine.

Frankly, I wasn't a fan of the cheesy straps that held the iPad in place with the original BookBook. Now TwelveSouth has replaced those straps with a snug leather enclosure that you slip the second- or third-generation iPad into. That enclosure has a new function as well -- there are two snaps that hold it into place for regular use, or you can unsnap the enclosure and flip it up to use a new leather kickstand to hold the iPad in a comfortable typing position. Take that, Microsoft Surface!

Functionality When you've reviewed several hundred iPad cases, it's easy to become jaded. Let's face it; they all do the same thing -- protecting your iPad in one way or another. With a case like the BookBook, most of the value of the case comes not in the level of protection provided, but in how cool it looks on your iPad.

The old BookBook for iPad, in my opinion, didn't do a very good job of holding the iPad in comfortable viewing positions. That has changed in the new BookBook, which props up nicely in landscape orientation and also (using that little leather kickstand) a typing position. The inside of the case has a soft, fuzzy material that also serves to pad and protect the screen of the iPad.

If you like retro or antique-looking materials, then you're going to fall in love with the BookBook for iPad. The best way to describe it? Beautiful.

Conclusion The few gripes I had about the original BookBook for iPad have been addressed. I honestly can't think of any negatives about this case -- it's beautiful and functional, it gracefully ages with scuffs to the exterior, and it's priced perfectly for the type of quality you're getting. Twelve South has created a top-notch iPad case at a reasonable price point.

Review: Twelve South’s new BookBook case for iPad

While I have reviewed several iPad cases since the device’s initial release in 2010, I’ve never used an iPad case long-term. I have reviewed several fantastic, protective cases that I could recommend to iPad users, but I’ve never used an iPad case long-term because it’s simply my preference to use the iPad without a case. Enter Twelve South’s new BookBook iPad case: that preference has changed. The new BookBook is unlike any case, but it protects your iPad and props it up via a book-like accessory.

The new BookBook (hence the name) is an iPad case that turns your Apple slate into book-like form. The case is very light, yet stable and secure for your iPad. Its tough book-cover enclosure will protect from drops and scratches while closed. The iPad is secured into the BookBook via a zipper system that keeps the case shut. The exterior is well-designed, and seriously can get confused for being a closed book. Inside, the case features a soft, suede-like material, and the iPad, itself, sits in a well-crafted leather sleeve. This leather sleeve is snapped into securing buttons so your iPad can’t fall out of the BookBook while in use.

The case offers access to the USB connection port, headphone jack, home button, FaceTime camera, silent/orientation switch, and volume rocker. This is while the BookBook is unzipped. However, the iPad case features a dual-zipper design. With this, the two zippers can be maneuvered so certain ports and components can be accessed while the BookBook is zipped up. This is handy if you want to listen to music via the headphone jack while the iPad is on sleep mode, or if you want to charge your iPad while it is in the BookBook.

Since the BookBook design features the front and back book panels, in addition to the un-snappable leather sleeve, the iPad is easily able to be propped up for both typing and video consumption positions. To prop up for typing, simply unsnap the leather sleeve from the book-cover, and place the leather sleeve over the snapping mechanism. From here, your iPad is securely and comfortably able to be typed on. To prop the iPad up for video watching, simply unsnap the leather insert, and place it on top of the back cover as you fold the back piece forward.

Twelve South’s BookBook iPad case is a beautifully designed and unique approach to iPad protection. It’s also versatile with its ability to easily prop and position the iPad to a user’s liking, and its hard, book-cover like materials also offers substantial protection. Because of its unique, protective, and versatile design, we recommend this case to iPad users. The case comes in either red, brown, or black (we tested the black), and it sells for $79.99. The iPad BookBook supports the iPad 2 and third-generation iPad.