The PodiumTablet isn't a case-stand combo like the official iPad sleeve or . It's just a spider-shaped array of eight flexible steel legs covered in rubber, arranged in free form around your tablet.

I find this appealing for a few reasons:

One, I hate cases. At best, they ruin the beauty of whatever design work went into the tablet itself, and at worst, they add bulk and weight. Two, the PodiumTablet works with any tablet, whether it's an iPad, Galaxy Tab or . Most importantly, you're not bound to any particular angle of incline. You can ever wrap the stand around the back of a car seat, turning the tablet into an in-car video viewer.

If you can get around the fact that the PodiumTablet looks like giant spider, it'll be available later this month from for $35. A smartphone version -- that is, a less menacing arachnid – is already available for $20.

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