Do you often find yourself using your iPhone 3G/3GS to capture spur of the moments photos? What about if you’re standing infront of a nice view but have no one to take your photos? Wouldn’t you wish the iPhone case you are using had a built-in stand? This is primarily what the Standing iPhone Case aims to address. It not only protects your iPhone from bumps, dents and scratches, but also give you a case that serves as a stand.

The staff at Appletell spent a good amount of time in 2009 using and writing about iPhone cases, but we know we were only able to cover a fraction of the options out there. We’re starting a new year, and CES has already seen many new iPhone case announcements. I expect there’ll be more come Macworld Expo 2010. To make sure we’re ready, we’re clearing our drawers of 2009 releases with one more roundup.

First impressions are everything, and the OtterBox Commuter series of iPhone cases certainly know how to make an entrance! Careful attention to detail, quality construction, and several other thoughtful features make both cases continually satisfying to use. Depending upon your needs, either the Commuter or Commuter TL cases are standout choices among the bevy of soft silicone iPhone cases.

A few weeks ago, I took a look at some hard shell cases for the iPhones 3G and 3GS. Those tend to be the pretty ones, since it’s easier to be fashionable when you’re not worried about bending. But there are many people out there who’d rather protect their $200 to $300 phone than show it off like a well-coifed purse poodle. It’s to you kings and queens of the road that I dedicate this review.

When it comes to the iPhone, there are two types of cases: actually, that’s not at all true. There’s a ridiculous number of types of cases. And since I’m not about to base an entire roundup review on a faulty premise, we’ll just pretend I never said that and get right to the review. Here, we’re looking solely at thin cases for the iPhone 3G and its “S”ister.

What separates the Clarifi from other Griffin cases with EasyDock is that it comes with a special, attached lens for your iPhone’s camera. This lens, which easily slides into and out of place, offers the ability to get better clarity when taking close up images. That’s it, really, and it’s something you’ll likely rarely use. Griffin’s site says it’s good for photographing things such as business cards for reference capture using programs such as Snappr.

There’s a theory in the scientific community that if the world is ever wiped out by nuclear holocaust, the cockroaches alone will survive to repopulate the planet. I’m all for this, because a planet of walking, sentient cockroaches sounds crazy cool, and because if humans ever do destroy our ability to survive, then the cockroaches deserve their chance in the driver’s seat.

What the scientists are missing, though, is that there’s another creature with an even stronger ability to adapt and survive. Change its habitat, change its food supply, smash it with a hammer…doesn’t matter. It’ll survive. It’ll continue to grow and populate, and it’ll always do its best to match your purse. I’m talking, of course, about the iPhone case. Here are some for the new iPhone 3G. No need to be creeped out by them, but best to keep a can of Raid handy.

• Speck PixelSkin
• PDO TopSkin
• JAVOedge JAVOskin
• Griffin Wave
• Griffin Nu Form