When I bought my iPad on day one, I also bought the official Apple case along with it, and the official Apple docking station (doc). I’ve already hacked up my case to make it compatible with the doc, but I’m about to get out the scissors, again.

After using this iPad combo for a few weeks, I’m having two problems, one big, one small, speaker coverage and orientation-lock blockage. The case has little holes so that sound can escape from the speakers, but, at least on mine, the don’t align with the speaker grill. The iPad fits in snugly so there really isn’t any wiggle room. The holes are simply in the wrong spot. WTF?

Secondly, and more importantly, the case has a sort of annoying and uncomfortable flange around the body. The flange seriously blocks the orientation-lock switch, and, to a lesser degree, the volume control. I’m going to hack these real-soon-now(tm).

Fix 1 (optional): Docking Station Compatibility

Fix 2: Uncage the Speak Grill

Fix 3: Free the Volume and Orientation-Lock

Now, my hacks are pretty ugly, I know. The rubberized case isn’t very easy to gracefully cut with scissors, and, truthfully, I didn’t put too much time into it. Yours will probably turn out better.