iPhone gets a stainless steel clamshell case, we'll wait for the titanium version

You know, for all the praise the iPhone has received in its time, we never thought it looked quite Matrix-y enough. Thankfully, that all-important deficiency has been remedied by a man named Ryan Glasgow up in Portland, who has just started selling the above case to all who care to have one. It's built out of stainless steel on the outside and silicone padding on the inside, with strategically located cutouts for wireless signals and heat emissions to get through. You can flip the front plate open, turning it into a rather outsized clamshell, or you can just talk with the lid closed, it's all up to you. Aluminum and engraving options (how about "my other phone is a Vertu"?) are also available with each case costing a slightly spendy $95. See more of it in the gallery below.

Solid steel iPhone case

[NeonMonster Posted Mar 4th 2010 3:51AM]

Looks kinda nice. But how much would it protect from dropping? Solid steel seems like it wouldn't do much shock wise.

[Keng Posted Mar 4th 2010 4:55AM]

@NeonMonster

And I wonder if it is water-proof too!

[barry99705 Posted Mar 4th 2010 7:13AM]

@NeonMonster That would be the silicone's job on the inside.

[grobbo Posted Mar 4th 2010 7:32AM]

@NeonMonster
It's be great against scratching though. I keep my N1 in it's little bag case because I carry it in my pocket and bag with keys, coins, etc.

I find myself longing for a clamshell everytime I pull the phone out of the case...

[Wwhat Posted Mar 4th 2010 5:38PM]

I like it because you could get an iphone without people realizing you are one of 'those' people.
Bit late though since now you don't have to pick an iphone for some functionality anymore.

[ftyoo7 Posted Mar 4th 2010 3:51AM]

nice!

[NAME Posted Mar 4th 2010 10:42AM]

@ftyoo7

Nope.. ugly as sin... the case is nice though!

What we need is how hack a custom LCARS UI onto that iPHone and then it will be awesome,.

[Thunderbuck Posted Mar 4th 2010 3:01PM]

@ftyoo7

Butches it up pretty good, don't it?

[evilspoons Posted Mar 5th 2010 12:43PM]

@ftyoo7 I think it looks fantastic too.

But they forgot one thing... cold weather plus this thing - your phone would stick to your ear. NOT a good thing. Yeesh, that's making me cringe just thinking about it.

[wickywills Posted Mar 4th 2010 3:55AM]

...well at least people can't complain that holding the iPhone is like holding a bar of soap anymore!

[bigcow05 Posted Mar 4th 2010 4:37AM]

@wickywills

They'll start complaining that it can't hold a bar of reception. It's bad enough without the case...

[Luke Posted Mar 4th 2010 9:03AM]

@bigcow05

Awww snap.

[pika2000 Posted Mar 4th 2010 3:56AM]

I wonder how's the reception will be using this thing.

[Lahdekorpi Posted Mar 4th 2010 4:01AM]

One made of titanium would probably kill the reception (not that it's any good now).

[mark29 Posted Mar 4th 2010 4:29AM]

@Lahdekorpi To my knowledge titanium is better, didnt someone replace the back half of the casing with a single piece of titanium?

[barry99705 Posted Mar 4th 2010 7:13AM]

@Lahdekorpi Doesn't matter what kind of metal it's made of.

[barry99705 Posted Mar 4th 2010 7:14AM]

@mark29 It was fake... All metals, anything that conducts electricity really, will block FR transmissions.

[MONKEY Posted Mar 4th 2010 12:33PM]

@barry99705 Actually, it does matter. Denser metals block more electromagnetic radiation. You think they use lead blankets to block x-rays just for kicks?

[Nvtwist Posted Mar 4th 2010 4:01AM]

Looks like bent up stainless sheet.

[Chroma Posted Mar 4th 2010 7:17AM]

@Nvtwist
It doesn't even appear to completely fold 180 deg. What a purchase kill :(

[Spartikiss Posted Mar 4th 2010 4:02AM]

$hiz... Why have an iphone when you can have your very own tricorder?!?!?!?!?!

I wouldn't touch that thing with someone else's... er... hand...

[Ridgecity Posted Mar 4th 2010 4:03AM]

Don't ever wear it inside your pockets, it will probably slice off your cojones.

[UrAwFuL Posted Mar 4th 2010 4:14AM]

@Ridgecity

It can be used as an iSword!

[UrAwFuL Posted Mar 4th 2010 4:04AM]

Why didn't they make one of these sooner? Haha. I'd love one of these, prolly for my next iPhone if it came out this year..

Also, does anyone think it reminds you of those communicators on Star Trek when it's flipped open (first picture)?

http://www.bookofjoe.com/images/2008/04/17/rtyewyrytwe.jpg

[Marko Posted Mar 4th 2010 4:07AM]

this is hideous!

[NewL Posted Mar 4th 2010 4:47AM]

@Marko - yeah. Absolutely awful...

[DougieBear Posted Mar 4th 2010 5:20AM]

@NewL

Don't iPhone me bro?

[Zaeed Posted Mar 4th 2010 4:09AM]

It looks like a taser..

[Wiggy Fuzz Posted Mar 4th 2010 4:09AM]

looks like titanium iphone guy wanted to see if it will blend

[bighap Posted Mar 4th 2010 4:11AM]

I am not an Apple fan by any means, but why would you want to make a sleek and sexy device a sharp jagged piece of steel?

[fighterfelix Posted Mar 4th 2010 4:12AM]

Looks sharp man

i saw a very thin profile genuine leather case somewhere....Piel Frama IINM. Now thats cool.

[drumdbeat Posted Mar 4th 2010 5:00AM]

@fighterfelix

http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/04/iphone-gets-a-stainless-steel-clamshell-case-well-wait-for-the/

[drumdbeat Posted Mar 4th 2010 5:01AM]

@drumdbeat
Major fail.... I meant this >>>

http://www.pielframa.com/iphone-3gs-aluminium-cases.htm

[iNguyen Posted Mar 4th 2010 4:29AM]

Looks like the Decepticon logo.

[JQuB3 Posted Mar 4th 2010 7:21AM]

@iNguyen

I was rather thinking of coloring red and blue and giving it to Optimus Prime.

[nowayman Posted Mar 4th 2010 4:46AM]

and i almost thought its the 4th gen iphone..

[Smigit Posted Mar 4th 2010 4:49AM]

looks rather shit if you ask me

[Wil2Win Posted Mar 4th 2010 4:52AM]

Now that is slick.

[Bobot Posted Mar 4th 2010 5:02AM]

Almost cool...

[Spiky haired boy Posted Mar 4th 2010 5:42AM]

Fail at trying to be a droid.

[pickleJar Posted Mar 4th 2010 6:05AM]

Pocket says "ouch"

[thumbtack Posted Mar 4th 2010 6:24AM]

Something about it makes the phone look cheaper. That, and I don't like cases. If there were less holes, less clamshell, and more anodized aluminum, I'd be interested. It would kind of look like everything else Apple has made, but there's a reason they've favored anodized aluminum so much.

[good grief Posted Mar 4th 2010 6:59AM]

Perfect case for Super Shredder's iPhone.

[Trashbat Posted Mar 4th 2010 7:11AM]

A good lesson in how to make something already beautiful, look really ugly!!!!!

[mattonk Posted Mar 4th 2010 7:30AM]

Chuck Norris owned this case 2 years ago.

[angel9232000 Posted Mar 4th 2010 9:51AM]

imagine having a touchscreen on the other side, so when you open it you have dual touchscreen.

[kabloink Posted Mar 4th 2010 7:31AM]

What happens when you battle Magneto and need to call for backup? They didn't think of that did they?

[CHICHIgetdaYAYO Posted Mar 4th 2010 7:52AM]

@kabloink

niiice..

[AttOrlando Posted Mar 4th 2010 8:34AM]

Ehhhh that's not 95 dollar cool. It's about 21 dollar cool.

[mcdj Posted Mar 4th 2010 8:35AM]

It looks like Terminator pooped out a Razr.