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case posts

Thermaltake's brain-melting Level 10 PC chassis gets real, unboxed

by Darren Murph posted Sep 28th 2009 at 5:32PM

Remember that Thermaltake enclosure that blew your mind back in March? Of course -- you're still recovering, after all. Fast forward to today, and that very case -- which had a hint of BMW influence, by the way -- has morphed into reality, and it's far and away one of the most fabulous cases we've ever seen. Amazingly, the finished product looks awfully similar to the concept, with each compartment boasting its own ventilation. There's room for pretty much anything you'd ever want (yes, even room for three Blu-ray writers), and of course, enough LEDs are included to light up the average night club. You should also know that the shipping container weighed 66 pounds and the chassis itself is probably larger than your eight year old, so unless you've got more square footage than you know what to do with, you're probably better off viewing the unboxing shots (there in the via link) from afar.

[Via Maximum PC]

Is this AT&T's HTC Pure, clad in shimmering magenta?

by Tim Stevens posted Sep 22nd 2009 at 6:59AM

Is this AT&T's HTC Pure, clad in shimmering purple?

Last month, a leaked and decidedly non-confirmed listing of random phones mentioned something called the HTC Pure. We've not heard anything since, but now HTCpedia has what it believes to be two photos of the thing, each one enshrouded in an unattractive case; one silicon, one garish plastic. What's inside those enclosures is of course largely unknown, but it certainly doesn't appear to have a slide-out keyboard, does appear to have four buttons on the face, and that's said to be a 5 megapixel camera on the back. The site goes so far to say that this is destined for AT&T and will be the Touch Diamond2 (nee Warhawk), but if that's the case HTC has obviously made some tweaks to the design the last time we saw it. We're not quite ready to say these are anything other than blurry pictures of some random HTC handset, but once we have something -- anything -- a little more conclusive we'll be sure to pass it along.

Update: As a few commenters have pointed out, this is the MDA Compact V, currently available in the UK under T-Mobile, which could explain the magenta case. Is this what AT&T is referring to as the Pure? We wouldn't be surprised.

Instinct HD gear starts turning up at Best Buy

by Chris Ziegler posted Sep 19th 2009 at 4:20PM

A funny thing happens when a major new handset's released on a big carrier: matching accessories come along for the ride. Cases, chargers, armbands, screen protectors, you name it -- anything to get you to double your spend before you walk out of the door with your multi-hundred-dollar phone. Of course, those accessories frequently aren't perfectly synced with the phone itself -- they ship a few days beforehand or after the fact, so stuff like this is bound to happen. In this particular case, the upcoming Instinct HD is getting some silicone protection ahead of time courtesy of Best Buy, which should go well with those invisibleSHIELDs you picked up a few weeks back. Meanwhile, the phone itself is expected just a handful of days from now, so at least it's not totally insane to start stocking up on accessories now.

[Thanks, Matt G.]

Mission-style PC casemod easily slides into your La-Z-Boy collection

by Darren Murph posted Sep 18th 2009 at 2:08AM

Jeffrey Stephenson is to case mods what Benjamin Heckendorn is to console mods. There, we said it. After watching the former pump out wood-grained mod after wood-grained mod, Sir Jeff has issued yet another -- wait for it -- wood-grained mod. The black walnut mission-style side table is actually a full-blown PC in disguise, with a standard ATX mid-tower within that's equipped with an Intel Core i7 CPU, NVIDIA graphics and dual stage temperature-controlled exhaust fans. He notes that it'll be available next Spring for those with fine tastes, though we're sure he'd customize it to fit your living room suite for the right price.

Case-Mate offers $0.99 iPhone recession case... a day after recession ends

by Darren Murph posted Sep 16th 2009 at 10:42PM

In life, you'll quickly learn that everything is about timing. And thankfully for us Earthlings, Case-Mate seems just 24 hours off with this one. A day after Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke declared that this so-called recessions was "very likely over," the aforesaid accessory maker has popped out an iPhone case for those of us who vehemently disagree. The aptly titled iPhone recession case is quite possibly the greatest thing since ~~sliced bread~~ the AirMail, and at just $0.99 including shipping, we figure you'll have a tough time finding a better way to protect your cellie. Or waste $0.99, now that we think of it.

[Thanks, Andy]

Hama cases foreshadow 5G iPod nano, 3G iPod touch at IFA: hands-on

by Darren Murph posted Sep 4th 2009 at 5:15AM

We know you don't really need any more evidence that Apple is gearing up to unveil at least two new iPod revisions at its forthcoming 'rock and roll' event, but are you seriously going to hit the ignore button on these? If you'll recall, last year's visit to Hama's IFA booth gave us early access to cases of Apple's then-upcoming round of iPod nanos, and this year the company seems to be disclosing all of Cupertino's secrets once more. On hand were cases for Apple's fifth-generation iPod nano and the third-generation iPod touch, both of which seem to make room for a built-in camera. Of course, these lovely peripherals could be nothing more than a complete waste of company resources, but we'd encourage you to browse the gallery below before jumping to that conclusion.

Gallery: Hama cases foreshadow 5G iPod nano, 3G iPod touch at IFA: hands-on

Video: Tech21's iBand protective case and its mystical, magical, non-Newtonian goo

by Tim Stevens posted Aug 31st 2009 at 7:51AM

If you're the clumsy sort you have absolutely no shortage of protective cases and coatings to shroud your pricey gadget in, but most are ugly, bulky, and likely ineffective. The iBand from Tech21 isn't particularly attractive nor svelte, but after watching the video below there's little doubt about its effectiveness. It's made of a substance called d3o, which is a fancy orange non-Newtonian substance, starting out stretchy and gushy but, when put under pressure, hardening and protecting its precious contents. We've seen this stuff applied to high-impact applications like motorcycle armor, but we're glad to see gadgetry getting a little attention too. The video is a bit curious as it appears that the d3o is just applied around the edges of the case and yet the enclosed device survives a face-down landing, but it's an impressive demonstration nevertheless. Right now the £15 ($25) iBand is only available for the iPhone and iPod Touch, but future gadgets should receive the oobleck treatment soon.

Continue reading Video: Tech21's iBand protective case and its mystical, magical, non-Newtonian goo

EXOvault case wraps your iPhone in cold, hard steel

by Darren Murph posted Jul 14th 2009 at 1:54PM

Do none of the gazillion iPhone cases currently on the market suit your fancy? Are you still looking for a holster that's really built to take abuse? Look no further, as the handcrafted EXOvault is an all-metal sheath that can be ordered in aluminum, brass or titanium. Beyond that, details are surprisingly scant, leaving us to assume "what you see is what you get." Be sure to make clear what kind of iPhone you have when ordering, and be extra sure to have $95 / $95 / $300 (respectively) in liquidated funds available before pulling the trigger.

[Via Boing Boing]

Translucent XCM Eye Candy case encourages licking of DSi

by Darren Murph posted Jul 9th 2009 at 12:57PM

Oh sure, the DSi was the definite hotness when it sprung onto the scene earlier this year, but if you're growing somewhat bored of the same old camera + touchscreen action, why not spruce things up with an all new exterior? The case you're looking at above does require the disassembly of your console, and thus, you can kiss your remaining warranty goodbye. Frankly, we view the sacrifice as thoroughly worth it, as XCM's Eye Candy shell is practically guaranteed to get more eyes, fingers and tongues on your machine. And really, who wouldn't want that?

[Via Boing Boing]

Brando's Paper Storage Box inconspicuously hides your HDDs

by Darren Murph posted Jun 3rd 2009 at 5:42PM

Oh, Brando -- how you make our hearts flutter. One day, you're pumping out new kit fit only for our Crapgadget roundup; the next, you're delivering gems such as this. The 5-bay HDD Paper Storage Box with Cover covertly hides up to five of your precious 3.5-inch hard drives, and it likely provides more security for your personal information than a fireproof lock box. 'Cause really, what data thief is going to shuffle through a cardboard container looking for valuable platters?

Nyko launches Type Pad Pro for Wii, gonzo Zoom Case for DSi

by Darren Murph posted Jun 2nd 2009 at 9:00AM

Oh, Nyko -- always keeping us on our toes. After showcasing the Wii Pistol Grip at CeBIT, the company is swinging big at E3 with a few new accessories. Starting things off is the abomination you see above, which sure looks an awful lot like some janky knockoff cellphone we peeked back in August. Officially, the Zoom Case for DSi protects your handheld and provides an 8x zoom for magnifying the external camera; never mind the fact that it makes your DSi infinitely less portable. Moving on, there's the Charge Grip Flex, a accessory for the PSP-2000 and PSP-3000 that sports a built-in rechargeable battery and a bonus gripping surface. For the Xbox 360, there's the SpeakerCom 360, which enables your parents to hear all those whining tweens brag in fantastically high tones about how they just "pwned you." Lastly, there's the Type Pad Pro for Wii, a wireless keypad (via USB) that makes typing in Opera or messaging your pals a heck of a lot simpler. Mum's the word on pricing and availability right now, but all that should change soon enough.

Gallery: Nyko launches Type Pad Pro for Wii, gonzo Zoom Case for DSi

Continue reading Nyko launches Type Pad Pro for Wii, gonzo Zoom Case for DSi

Engadget's recession antidote: win a mophie Juice Pack Air for iPhone 3G!

by Darren Murph posted May 27th 2009 at 12:00PM

This whole global economic crisis, and its resulting massive loss of jobs got us thinking. We here at Engadget didn't want to stand helplessly by, announcing every new round of misery without giving anything back -- so we decided to take the opportunity to spread a little positivity. We'll be handing out a new gadget every day (except for weekends) to lucky readers until we run out of stuff or companies stop sending things. Today we've got two of mophie's Juice Pack Air units, which promise to provide lots of extra iPhone 3G runtime while doubling as a case. Read the rules below (no skimming -- we're omniscient and can tell when you've skimmed) and get commenting! Hooray for free stuff!

Major thanks to mophie for providing the gear!

The rules:

Leave a comment below. Any comment will do, but if you want to share your proposal for "fixing" the world economy, that'd be sweet too.
You may only enter this specific giveaway once. If you enter this giveaway more than once you'll be automatically disqualified, etc. (Yes, we have robots that thoroughly check to ensure fairness.)
If you enter more than once, only activate one comment. This is pretty self explanatory. Just be careful and you'll be fine.
Contest is open to anyone in the 50 States, 18 or older! Sorry, we don't make this rule (we hate excluding anyone), so be mad at our lawyers and contest laws if you have to be mad.
Winner will be chosen randomly. Two winners will receive one (1) mophie Juice Pack Air iPhone 3G case / battery extender in Black. Approximate retail value is $79.95.
If you are chosen, you will be notified by email. Winners must respond within three days of the end of the contest. If you do not respond within that period, another winner will be chosen.
Entries can be submitted until Wednesday, May 27th, at 11:59PM ET. Good luck!
Full rules can be found here.

Waterproof 5D Mark II housing allows for 1080p under the sea

by Darren Murph posted May 21st 2009 at 3:59AM

People are already using Canon's groundbreaking 5D Mark II to shoot feature films, but we never thought we'd see the next Jaws captured with a DSLR. 'Course, whether or not Mr. Spielberg will actually choose to use one remains to be seen, but at least the option's there now. Famed underwater imaging company Sea&Sea has just outed its newest waterproof casing, promising to keep the 1080p-capable DSLR safe for up to 60 meters under the surface. The only issue? It'll set you back almost as much as the camera body, or ¥283,500 ($2,998). Good thing you've got a Hollywood-sized budget, yeah?

[Via Akihabara News]

Insane Russian casemod shamelessly puts good taste to bed once and for all

by Laura June posted May 18th 2009 at 10:31AM

We see plenty of wild casemods around here -- staying on the pulse of what's new with the cool kids is part of our jobs. We've never really seen anything like this one, however. We don't know a terrible lot about the case -- just that it's made of what appears to be solid evil dipped in bronze, and lit by the blood of a terrifying hellbeast. Regardless: it's going to look great in your living room... once you convince Satan to sell it to you for a reasonable price, that is. One more terrifically horrendous photo after the break.

Continue reading Insane Russian casemod shamelessly puts good taste to bed once and for all

Vertex aluminum pyramid PC case looks better in the forest than on your desk

by Laura June posted May 12th 2009 at 8:18PM

Something about the mystical look of the pyramid must entice and seduce people into shaping PC casemods into them, because this isn't the first one we've seen. This one -- called the Vertex -- is laser cut aluminum, has an LED power indicator, Scythe Kama-Flex sleeved fans, and suspension for the hard drive. The case also comes with a motherboard, power supply, and a DVD bay, plus side-mounted USB, Firewire and audio ports. For $400, one of these can be yours in red, black or blue, but don't blame us if it doesn't make your desk seem less cluttered -- looks like a real space hog to us. There's one more photo after the break... if you dare.

[Via Technabob]

Continue reading Vertex aluminum pyramid PC case looks better in the forest than on your desk