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Twelvesouth introduces $35 leather SurfacePad jacket for iPhone users who don’t like cases

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iPhone-cases

If you are like these guys (right) and don’t normally use a case on your iPhone, Twelvesouth has a product that might make you change your mind.

The new SurfacePad is a fine-stitched Corinthian Napa Leather ‘jacket’ enclosure for the iPhone that comes in three colors: Pop RedModern White, or Jet Black. The leather product has a stickie back that cleanly adheres to the back of the iPhone and can be removed and added hundreds of times, according to the makers of the popular Bookbook cases.

Twelvesouth probably best sums it up by saying, “Holding an iPhone wrapped with a SurfacePad feels like curling your fingers around the leather steering wheel of a luxury automobile.”

I had a chance to use the SurfacePad at an event last night, and I can confirm it is credit card thin. It feels great in the hand, taking the edge off the iPhone’s square corners. I’m normally one to go without a case on my iPhone (unless I want to give it to my drooly toddler, and then it gets a LifeProof case), but I’d seriously consider this one.

Perhaps the most impressive—out of all of the demo units they displayed— is the one that had been in normal use for three months and had a nice worn in leather feel. The SurfacePad jacket also can prop up an iPhone 4,4S and 5 for watching videos or FaceTiming.

The SurfacePad is available from Twelvesouth, and it will be at retailers like Amazon.

We have galleries, video, and full press release below:

Here is the packaging from the event yesterday:

[slideshow ids=”260491,260495,260494,260493,260492″]

Here are some press images:

And the video…

I
Twelve South | http://twelvesouth.com
Meet SurfacePad for iPhone.
Introducing a whole new kind of protection for iPhone, aimed at users who would rather use none.
Charleston, SC, January 31, 2013 – Twelve South introduces SurfacePad for iPhone, the first accessory designed for the millions of iPhone users who prefer no case at all. SurfacePad for iPhone is a new breed of cover for iPhone crafted from a credit card-thin layer of Napa leather that weighs less than an ounce. It’s not designed to withstand a two-story fall or a dip in the pool. SurfacePad shields your iPhone from the keys in your pocket and the concrete countertop at your favorite restaurant, all while letting the beautiful iPhone still look like, well, an iPhone. Made exclusively for iPhone 5 and 4/4S, SurfacePad for iPhone is available now at TwelveSouth.com for $34.99. More info and images can be found here.
What makes SurfacePad special is what it’s not: a military-style rubber grenade for your iPhone. SurfacePad is an ultra-thin, luxury leather cover that shields iPhone 5 or 4/4S from the more typical hazards of life, like the change in your pocket, jump drive in your backpack or the nail file in your purse. It allows you to set your iPhone down on rough spots like a concrete bench or stone tabletop without worrying about scratching the sleek surface of your iPhone.

Click above to watch the SurfacePad for iPhone video
The modern, minimal design of SurfacePad beautifully complements the stylish design of iPhone. Holding an iPhone wrapped with a SurfacePad feels like curling your fingers around the leather steering wheel of a luxury automobile. Whether you choose Pop RedModern White or Jet Black, SurfacePad gives iPhone a distinct, luxury look and elegant feel.
SurfacePad for iPhone attaches to the phone using the same special adhesive as the  SurfacePad for MacBook, which leaves zero residue behind when removed. The re-useable adhesive makes installation easy and allows users to peel off their Modern White SurfacePad and put on the Jet Black version when the mood arises.
The surprise feature of SurfacePad for iPhone is its built-in display stand. The stand is sewn into the back of this micro thin cover, allowing SurfacePad to flex just enough to prop up iPhone horizontally on any flat surface. This nifty, built-in stand makes a great cartoon player at a slow restaurant, bedside alarm clock or a stand for hands-free FaceTime chats.
“There are many iPhone owners who wouldn’t be caught dead with their iPhone in a thick, oversized plastic case,” said Andrew Green, Creative Director of Twelve South. “So, just as we did with BookBook for iPhone, we’re inventing a whole new category of covers. SurfacePad is a gorgeous layer of luxury leather that shields and enhances the look and feel of iPhone. With SurfacePad covering iPhone, there’s still no doubt you’re holding an iPhone. Just don’t call it a case… call it a SurfacePad.”
Made with premium Napa leather, SurfacePad for iPhone does not interfere with any of the iPhone buttons, ports or camera. The feather light cover is less than 1/10th of an inch (1.7mm) thick and weighs less than one ounce (25 grams). The smooth leather cover is backed by a soft, supple microfiber to protect the iPhone screen. SurfacePad for iPhone is available in Pop RedModern White and Jet Black for iPhone 5 and 4/4S. Enhance the look and feel of your iPhone by wrapping it in a thin leather SurfacePad. Order today at twelvesouth.com.
About Twelve South
Twelve South is a company dedicated to making one-of-a-kind accessories exclusively for Apple products. The company was formed in 2009 by former executives from the fashion and consumer electronics industries, and its design team includes the original designers of landmark products like the Griffin iTrip and iCurve, and the DLO HomeDock and DLO Relaxed Leather cases. More information is available at twelvesouth.com.

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Avatar for Seth Weintraub Seth Weintraub

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