Element Case, Ivyskin out iPhone 4 cases specifically to deal with reception issues

Can't find an official iPhone 4 bumper? Driving yourself mad trying to give your new smartphone white glove treatment? Fret not, as a couple of case makers have outed new iPhone 4 clothing that's meant to specifically dodge those naughty reception issues that seem to occur whenever your sweaty palm makes contact with that now infamous metal band. Element Case -- the same folks responsible for the downright lust-worthy Joule stand for iPad -- has just revealed their first iPhone 4 case, the Vapor (shown above). The company claims that its $79.95 enclosure provides an aircraft-grade, CNC'd aluminum frame lined with a shock-absorbent material, the latter of which "addresses iPhone 4 reception issues caused by direct hand to phone cradling." For now, it's up for pre-order (shipments are expected to start next week) in black / black and black / pink, with more colors to become available in the future. As for Ivyskin? It's stepping things up even further by naming its product the "iPhone 4 Reception Case." No need for subtly, we see. Hailed as the "world's thinnest polycarbonate shell" for Apple's latest iDevice, this here sleeve is the one to get if you're look to minimize added bulk and not cover up any of Cupertino's design cues. Best of all, this one retails for just $14.99 and ships with both front and back scratch-free body armors. Crazy that it has come to this, you know?

Update: We're seeing reports that Ivyskin is charging but not shipping its case. Buyer beware.

Element Case Vapor, Formula and Ion + Ivyskin iPhone 4 cases

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Simple Design for Superior Protection – ElementCASE Debuts "Vapor" for iPhone 4

Makers of the renowned Joule iPad Stand release the ultimate customization and comfort solution for iPhone 4, the Vapor Case

July 1, 2010 – San Francisco, CA – Element Case (www.elementcase.com), California's premier independent designer of luxurious, customizable Mac accessories, today launched its latest product, the iPhone 4 Vapor case. The Vapor provides an aircraft-grade, CNC'd aluminum frame lined with a shock-absorbent material for the ultimate in iPhone protection and style. The full case weighs less than 30 grams, Element's lightest design to-date.

The Vapor snugly and securely shields the iPhone 4 with two aluminum frame components, available in a variety of color combinations and selections. An ergonomic shape provides a sure grip while specially design cutouts provide access to the volume and silence controls, and an integrated, machined "on/off" button has been added to complete the clean lines of the Vapor. A carbon-fiber back plate can be added for enhanced scratch protection and a bold appearance.

The Vapor's aluminum frame is insulated with a special lining to address iPhone 4 reception issues caused by direct hand to phone cradling. This material is made from a slow rebounding compound that also offers shock absorption benefits.

Starting at $79.95, the Vapor brings Element's legendary design and quality craftsmanship to iPhone owners with our renowned customization options. Starting at At $99.95 the Vapor case will include the V4Carbon back plate. Custom laser engraved graphics will be available soon.

Available for pre-orders today, the Vapor will begin shipping in limited quantities from July 12. Please allow two to three weeks for delivery.

Element Case offers Mac enthusiasts unrivaled designs that are crafted in the USA to the highest quality. Please visit www.elementcase.com for full product information, ordering details, pricing and customization options.

About Element Case & Sasaki Designs

Jeff Sasaki, a seasoned Industrial Designer, launched Element Case (www.elementcase.com) in 2007 with his first product, the Alloy iPhone case. Followed by the Liquid Case, Joule iPad stand and other premium accessories, Element Case prides themselves on the highest quality workmanship, full customization on any product, and the most color and graphic options available to consumers from any iPhone and iPad accessory manufacturer.

All Element Case products are locally designed and manufactured in the San Francisco Bay Area. For media inquiries, review units and interview requests, please contact us at [e-mail].

[greezyg Posted Jul 7th 2010 4:04PM]

Pretty. But not $80 pretty.

[BlackedOut Posted Jul 7th 2010 5:39PM]

Its a fashion statement.
It doesn't need to make sense or function.
It tells people at a glance who I am.
I'm a sheep.

[dark star Posted Jul 7th 2010 5:47PM]

@greezyg

i didnt know anything could cost more than Apple! thought it woulda cost 15 or even 20 bux.

[nuclearopts Posted Jul 7th 2010 10:36PM]

@greezyg

i'll wait for the Chinese to put them on the street for $10.

[tricheboars Posted Jul 7th 2010 4:05PM]

80 dollars to make a phone be a phone. jeez.

[TomSawyer Posted Jul 7th 2010 4:05PM]

@tricheboars
get over it, pal. You don't even own one, and probably never would. Consumer Reports called the whole thing a non-issue. Stop drinking the hater-aid.

[TomSawyer Posted Jul 7th 2010 4:16PM]

@jon
I may defend them, but find me a post where I do so unreasonably.

[uckApple Posted Jul 7th 2010 4:17PM]

@tricheboars

That's what all the unwealthy people say.

[TomSawyer Posted Jul 7th 2010 4:17PM]

@szaidi04
i HIGHLY doubt you had one and returned it immediately. Highly, highly doubt it.

[TomSawyer Posted Jul 7th 2010 4:24PM]

@cdsfire
did you even read the link you just posted??

"Our findings are not definitive, by any means; they are informal tests by journalists rather than lab tests by Consumer Reports testing staff. And among the scores of comments on our last post on this topic are those that report fine and consistent signal experiences with their new iPhones."

[jr67 Posted Jul 7th 2010 4:42PM]

@TomSawyer
just to help you out, from the same blog:
"And when I initiated a series of calls to editor Paul Reynolds, and then placed my pinky over the gap in the iPhone 4's band as I continued speaking, the calls consistently deteriorated. Paul first heard my voice breaking up, followed by static and the dropping of the call; again, the elapsed time from the placing of the pinky to the call being dropped was about 5 seconds."

[ajsobers Posted Jul 7th 2010 4:48PM]

@tricheboars

Pretty ridiculous isn't it!

[jroff Posted Jul 7th 2010 5:40PM]

@TomSawyer
Wow.. Apple really worked you over good. You are so in denial over this whole issue that it's depressing to watch. Are you the same way about your homosexuality?

[Ninetysix Posted Jul 7th 2010 4:05PM]

@cwalters74 Congrats lefties!

[VSpike915 Posted Jul 7th 2010 4:06PM]

@cwalters74
Nice, but you shouldn't NEED it

[huskie fluff Posted Jul 7th 2010 4:07PM]

wouldnt mind one on my droid (dont use cases)

[doga2001us Posted Jul 7th 2010 4:07PM]

>It's stepping things up even further by naming its product the "iPhone 4 Reception Case." No need for subtly

Did you mean subtlety?

[ktown3d Posted Jul 7th 2010 4:07PM]

did I read that right, $80 for a CASE? Wow. Steve, your doctor called. Your liver was fine, your body was just holding it wrong.

[mrphillipawood Posted Jul 7th 2010 4:19PM]

@ktown3d Bazinga.

[GeneralThade Posted Jul 7th 2010 4:22PM]

@ktown3d

Ouch...low blow. You should send that message to his email box...he'd go ape-shit on you.

[Tiptup300 Posted Jul 7th 2010 4:53PM]

@ktown3d

The docter's call couldn't make it through. He has the new iphone.

[tobsmonster2 Posted Jul 7th 2010 5:01PM]

@ktown3d
Wow ive been really annoyed with the whole blown out of all logical proportion situation but THAT was the best comment evar.

[captnlove Posted Jul 7th 2010 7:44PM]

@GeneralThade not Steve silly, a "hacker". Steve's a nice guy who NEVER says anything hurtful to another human being. Just ask apple PR.

[paul34 Posted Jul 7th 2010 4:07PM]

So... how does a big aluminum cover on top of an antenna help reception?

[jr67 Posted Jul 7th 2010 4:14PM]

@paul34
I was thinking the same thing. Sure, you might not detune the antenna or introduce interference with direct contact, but the case itself will shield the antenna from proper reception.

[Pipsy Posted Jul 8th 2010 1:58AM]

@paul34 If this doesn't solve it, Apple will come up with a $120 rubber band to solve it. ;-)

[recharged95 Posted Jul 8th 2010 3:30PM]

@paul34

As much as a carbon fiber plate helping WiFi reception.

[uckApple Posted Jul 7th 2010 4:08PM]

@cwalters74

I agree, I like how they used those screws to tighten the bumper so that it doesn't get loose.

Wish they had a simple carbon fiber version of it.

[MilGP Posted Jul 7th 2010 4:10PM]

80$ more so I can finally make calls??? Oh god... Is this case for left and right handed people??? Lol

[BerkleyBerkley2011 Posted Jul 7th 2010 4:10PM]

Man you iPhone 4 owners are suckers.. $80, you should send the bill to Steve Jobs, your overlord.

[XxTheRemedyXx Posted Jul 7th 2010 4:14PM]

@BerkleyBerkley2011

$99... You HAVE to have the carbon fiber backplate!

[tranceformer978 Posted Jul 7th 2010 4:11PM]

So, I have to carry around a set of allen keys to take it out of the case? I'll pass.

[Dev one Posted Jul 7th 2010 4:12PM]

I will take one.

[wookieecrisp Posted Jul 7th 2010 4:13PM]

it costs $75 more for a working phone?

[TomSawyer Posted Jul 7th 2010 4:13PM]

@VSpike915
i don't NEED it for my iPhone 4. Works perfectly fine without a bumper. Do you NEED one for your iPhone? Or do you just complain about something from the sidelines without ever owning one?

[DragonAsh Posted Jul 7th 2010 4:14PM]

finally, an $80 fix for a $200 broken phone!

[jonbruc Posted Jul 7th 2010 4:14PM]

That shot of the element case looks like an iphone 3G.

[statickeith Posted Jul 7th 2010 4:14PM]

@cwalters74 Well, if Apple had done it right from the beginning, you wouldn't have needed to spend extra money for those bumpers JUST to make calls which is what every phone is supposed to do right!

[GeneralThade Posted Jul 7th 2010 4:15PM]

If it were any other device with such a big issue, people would dismiss the phone as flawed...useless...move on, nothing to see here. The Apple apologists truly amaze me.

[ebgolfin Posted Jul 7th 2010 4:59PM]

@GeneralThade

Yeah, I wouldn't ever both with a phone that I couldn't make calls on. However, I have been making calls, both left and right handed, on an iPhone 4 since launch day. It hasn't dropped a call yet, regardless of where I'm at.

[SirNoDroin Posted Jul 7th 2010 5:21PM]

@ebgolfin

you are obviously lying or not making phone calls, because, even without the antenna issue, it is impossible to make more then 20 calls on AT&T without at least one of them getting dropped.

[XChrisX Posted Jul 7th 2010 5:53PM]

@GeneralThade Almost like everyone did with the EVO and the screen, and touch screen issues huh? Should I even bother to link to those articles. There are blatantly over the top fan boys on both sides of the fence. Please don't kid yourself in thinking they're only on Apples side. The EVO fanboys came out of the fence swinging HARD as the first reports of bad screens, etc...were reported about the EVO.

[audi2009 Posted Jul 7th 2010 4:16PM]

the bumper business can thank S Jobs for messing up the "engineering magic" antenna of the iphone4

[anthonyyang Posted Jul 7th 2010 4:17PM]

Doesn't aluminum attenuate radio signals, hence the reason why Apple does use aluminum anymore on iphones? Therefore, wouldn't this be even worse for the antenna problems? I am a lefty and an iPhone 4 owner and I don't have an antenna issue.

[Failbait Posted Jul 7th 2010 4:17PM]

@cwalters74

I like how they say "for direct hand to phone cradling", as if it's unusual behavior while using a phone, and you're doing something wrong.

You wanks really let apple bend you over.

[engaged Posted Jul 7th 2010 4:18PM]

I can't belive that Apple will be ignoring such sentances from press-release:

" The Vapor's aluminum frame is insulated with a special lining to address iPhone 4 reception issues caused by direct hand to phone cradling. This material is made from a slow rebounding compound that also offers shock absorption benefits. "

this is not in apple's interest that some other company publicly report their problems and ask people to pay to them to fix this problem

what will be answer from apple pr and legal teams to such announces (I expect other companies to use this situation)?

[blairy Posted Jul 7th 2010 4:19PM]

$80 to fix your flawed phone. What a fucking joke.

[chansthename Posted Jul 7th 2010 10:20PM]

@blairy
a sexy joke however

[Roger Moore Posted Jul 7th 2010 4:19PM]

@statickeith
$80. Really? I mean, REALLY?!

[FORDY Posted Jul 7th 2010 4:19PM]

@cwalters74
I didn't think it was possible for the exterior of the iPhone 4 to get any sexier.