So we?re firmly rooted in August, which means throngs of college students will soon be packing up the car and heading to campus housing. And many of them will be bringing along their smartphones. Good thing, too. Those devices will serve them well, allowing access to online syllabi, emailing professors, networking with study groups or taking videos of the dorm to show the folks.

All this lead me to thinking about my beloved iPhone. The handset already has built-in apps that are essential for students ? like voice recording for capturing lectures, GPS to navigate a confusing new neighborhood, email, web, texting, etc? But if I were going off to school today, there would be a few other things I?d want along for the ride.

I started making a short list of helpful things for iPhone-carrying students and I wound up having so many entries, I had to break them up into segments. These Top 5 lists were culled with college kids in mind, but many could be handy for those lucky high school students who are actually able to use smartphones at school.

Since there's no point discussing apps or other accessories if the phone itself doesn't work, I?m going to start with iPhone cases. When it comes to phones (as well as other things), let's just say protection matters.

The following are five designs, in no particular order, that suit a variety of different tastes.



Gearheads and Macho Dudes
CASE-MATE VROOM: It's cheap ($14.99), rugged and looks like it would bounce if dropped on the floor at a kegger. ?Nuff said.






Sneaky Nerds
HIDE-A-POD: This case may be a burn to the competition, but it's still flat-out clever. For $29.95, customers can discourage theft by disguising an iPod Touch or iPhone in a gutted Zune.






Comics-lovin? Chic-Geek Gidgets
GOGO HM SERIES: It's cute, soft and comes with a free LCD screen protector. It's also tough to break, but thin enough to prevent lots of added bulk. And at $19.99, it won't break the bank.






Bookworms and Academics
GRIFFIN CLARIFI: It's a hard-shell case with a close-up lens built-in. With the standard iPhone lens, you need to back up about 18 inches for the auto-focus. With Clarifi, you can take shoot from just 4 inches away and get images that are cleaner, crisper and more vibrant. Just what you need for snapping a classmate's notes or a page from a library book. ($34.99)





Jocks or Health Nuts
ARMPOCKET: iPhone armbands are a dime a dozen these days, so if all you want is a simple strap, you've got plenty to choose from. But, if you need a little something more ? like, say, room to stash an ID card, energy bar, dorm keys and a few bills ? then consider one of the Armpocket solutions. They?re not the sexiest-looking cases, but they?re lightweight, water-resistant, roomy, operable with the phone inside, reflective (for visibility at night) and made from eco-friendly materials. (var: $22.95?32.95)

Neither this list nor the upcoming ones are meant to be comprehensive; they?re just a collection of some of my favorites. Feel free to add to it, if you see an outstanding item that deserves a mention.

Look out for the next list: Top 5 iPhone apps to boost that grade