With inches of soft padding the TheO, currently being shown at Toy Fair 2012 in New York, might be the toughest smartphone case you'll ever find. But it's actually designed as a simple appcessory for interactive games like bowling.
Like the endless wave of Wii accessories that flooded the market, TheO is nothing more than a large foam ball with a cutout for your iPhone, iPod, or Android device that makes playing certain games feel more real. Take bowling for example. Instead of swiping your finger on-screen, you can now literally roll your smartphone across the floor while its accelerometer translates the motions into the game.
It also appears to turn your iPhone or iPod into the most expensive stress ball money can buy. But since it's just been revealed at Toy Fair, there's no word on pricing or availability just yet, although you can probably assume the cost of the various game apps will be rolled into TheO ball's price tag. [TheO via Chip Chick]
Photo: Chip Chick