If you’re lucky enough to be one of the early owners of an iPad 2, you probably also own an Apple Smart Cover. While the Smart Cover is a great product, the main problem with it is that it leaves the back of the iPad 2 exposed to dirt, scratches, or scuffing.

San Francisco-based DODOcase has a solution that might appeal to you. The company is better known for their unusual and beautiful “bookbound” cases for the iPad and Kindle, but they do sell other products as well. The BOOKback is a simple sheet of material designed to cover and protect the rear of the iPad 2, and in fact it is made from the same Moroccan fabric that they use to create the full  DODOcase.

The BOOKback isn’t much thicker than a piece of art paper and has a pleasing, tactile, slightly rough and pebbled surface. In fact it feels like a thin piece of expensive leather.  It is meant to attach to the iPad2 merely by peeling off an adhesive backing. There’s a discreetly embossed “DODOCase” logo in black, in the corner above the speaker grille. You can also choose to order the logo in bright red if you like, but it’s not a small logo and it might be a little too flashy.

I’m notoriously bad at applying any sort of screen protector or film to my gadgets, so I wasn’t too sure if I could trust myself to affix the BOOKback to my beloved iPad. Especially since I was already having an extremely crappy day, gadgetwise. That morning my Huawei 3G modem accidentally took a trip through the washing machine and and our office janitor seemingly threw away the filter attachment to my Aeropress coffeemaker. Ugh.

Back to the BOOKback. I found reassurance in the accompanying instruction sheet which pointed out that the adhesive they used was designed for multiple removal and reattachment. Regardless, I exposed only a little bit of the adhesive surface and took extra care aligning the edges and the necessary cutouts (camera and speaker) before peeling off the rest of the paper backing. After gingerly smoothing down the entire sheet, it looked absolutely great and I saw no need to readjust.

I’ve had the BOOKback on for a few days now and it really does add a nice grippy feel to the back of the iPad. It makes my favorite position a lot more comfortable (lying in bed, iPad propped on my chest, reading books or magazines, if you must know). Plus, it looks terrific together with my black Smart Cover and white iPad 2. A very handsome combination.

It’ll take a bit more extended usage to find out if the adhesive holds up and the BOOKback doesn’t peel, fray or stain. But I’m really happy with it so far.

US SRP: $19.95

Vic

Vic spends entirely too much on gadgets. So rather than try and kick the habit, he decided to become the Reviews Editor of Technoodling. Now, he has a perfectly good excuse. It's not an addiction: it's a job. His favorite noodle: Pappardelle.

email: vic@technoodling.netwebsite: http://www.technoodling.net