case mod
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Swap out your iPhone 4's rear glass with a replacement panel from voBack
A few days ago, one of our readers emailed us to ask, "Is this a photo of the Verizon iPhone, or a Chinese knockoff?" It only took me a couple seconds to realize it was neither; it was a voBack replacement iPhone 4 rear panel from Fixxed, a company based out of Christchurch, New Zealand. I'd seen a review of the voBack panel on iPhonewzealand, and based on that review and the images on voBack's site, I decided to give one of them a try. I've always thought that Apple's decision to make the rear plate of the iPhone 4 out of glass was a bit odd, especially since the antennas are on the outside of the iPhone and shouldn't have experienced any interference from a more robust material, like metal. Considering that people drop their mobile phones all the time, it seemed like a recipe for disaster. "Use a case" is the usual answer, but aside from Apple's own bumper case (which does nothing to protect the rear glass), I haven't found a case that looks anywhere near as good as a caseless iPhone. Fortunately, Apple designed the iPhone 4 in a way that makes it atypically easy to dismantle. In the video below, you'll see that even though I fumbled around a bit with the Philips #00 screwdriver I used, it only took about three and a half minutes for me to swap the iPhone 4's standard glass plate with the metal replacement from voBack. (Note that newer iPhone 4 units have five-point Torx screws, a much rarer screw type that's more difficult to remove.) Because I chose a black replacement, from a distance my iPhone looks almost no different than it did before, but I've got more peace of mind now that the backside is made out of something more durable than glass. About the only complaint I have about the voBack panel is it holds onto smudges a lot more readily than the standard oleophobic glass. Other than that minor issue, I'm quite pleased with it. The best part is that, unlike most cases, the voBack plate doesn't change the shape of the iPhone 4 at all, so anything that would have fit a standard-issue iPhone will still fit. My bumper case slid right on with no issues, and my camera, LED flash and wireless reception haven't been affected at all. Worried about voiding your warranty by swapping out the rear plate? voBack itself isn't sure if this procedure will void your warranty or not, but if you keep the original backside in a safe place, you can always swap it back in later. If you've already broken the rear glass on your iPhone 4 anyway, you've really got nothing to lose by replacing it. There are plenty of different colors, styles and materials to choose from on voBack's site, and the prices range from US$24 to $29. Shipping to the US from New Zealand is very reasonable too, though Fixxed says it's looking for international distributors for the voBack panels. Check out a gallery of the voBack panel below, and I've also made a video showing how easy it is for even a clumsy guy like me to swap out the iPhone's rear casing. %Gallery-113763%
Lenovo turns your laptop into a far less portable arcade machine
Technabob has spied a delightful (not so) little laptop case mod from Lenovo during a CES preview. Designed by modder Dean Liou, the case allows you to turn your adequately sized laptop into an arcade machine in seconds, by sliding it underneath the dock's fight stick controller, and plugging said controller into your computer's USB port. Sadly, Lenovo is just showing off the dock as a proof of concept -- as of right now, there are no plans to take the mod to market. Sure, this thing would completely eliminate the portability of your lap-sized computer, but, come on. Look at it! It's like an arcade machine for babies. Could you imagine anything cuter than that? Well, an arcade machine for puppies, we guess -- but modern consumer entertainment hardware science is decades away from perfecting that kinda technology. For now, check out a video demonstration of this human laptop arcade mod posted after the jump.
The XToaster360 can be yours, for enough bread
We were tempted to make a joke about avoiding the unnecessary risk of overheating your Xbox 360 when we saw this video for Nick Carouso's "XToaster360" -- a toaster gutted and turned into a custom console -- but that's a little stale. The case mod is currently up for auction on eBay with a starting bid of $150 ... so we're assuming there's no Valhalla inside. (There's also no hard drive -- just the ability to use USB thumb drives.) While the XToaster is still pretty neat, what with its blue LEDs and novelty factor, there are a couple of other issues with the design: For one, it doesn't actually make toast. Also, Carouso kept the disc drive horizontal, missing the opportunity to insert a game through one of the toaster's bagel-accommodating slots. Maybe he was worried about it ejecting early -- or worse: jamming?
Modder creates robotic Level 10 case, intimidates fellow gamers in the process
Thermaltake's Level 10 chassis is not only pretty bad-ass in its own right, it's also inspired Stephen "LeatherFace" Popa to do a little case moddin'. The outcome of all this, Rog-R, is described as a "remote operating gaming rig," and it features a remote control, motorized base, and robotic arm: just the thing for playing really, really dirty at your next LAN party. Hit up the source link to get a closer look.
Xbox 360 mod mirrors the infinite regress of adulthood (video)
You inhale deeply and step onto the middle rung of the corporate ladder. You return home dazed, alimony unpaid, dishes piled up like a pie in the sky that turned out to be miles too high. You grab a bag of chips and pull up a seat in front of the Xbox Infinite 360 mod. You crawl inside. Lost in a haze of alcohol soft middle age, you exhale.
Bloom County's Banana Jr 6000 lives on as a fantastic case mod
If you're too young to remember it, the Banana Jr 6000 was a thing of beauty that appeared in the comic strip Bloom County, which used to run in these things we called newspapers. (You can find out more about newspapers on Wikipedia and by asking your older relatives.) To this day, Bloom County still cracks me up, and I can quote you more of those strips word for word than is probably healthy. Anyway, Bloom County featured a character/computer called the Banana Jr 6000. I loved him so. He made his grand debut just about the time that I got interested in the machines made by another fruit-named computer company. He was a clever little television worshipper who taught me that Dan Rather was a god, tequila hallucinations are to be avoided, and poor translations are hilarious. Eventually he strolled off into the sunset, and I always wondered how things went for him after that. At one point he was threatened with having his memory chips put into programmable toaster ovens, but thankfully that never came to pass. Instead, John from the RetroMacCast took his love of Bloom County and some free time and built his own Banana Jr 6000. It is a glorious thing to behold. He posted a few progress shots on his Ning blog, and getting to see it take shape is fun to watch. Get a good look at the gallery for the finished product and see if that last photo doesn't remind you of something. This is the sort of case mod that I love most. It's done with such care and attention to detail. It helps that it includes something I love (like that Millennium Falcon/Mac mini case mod from back in the day), but really, anyone who puts this sort of time and effort in deserves all the accolades they can get. I adore this case mod, and I love even more that it can actually be used with current software since there's a mini inside. I give this one four Basselopes. Thanks to exiledsurfer for the tip!
DIY casemod features fins, automatically vents your rig
Truly epic casemods grace the humble pages of Engadget from time to time, but here's a spoonful of liquid awesome you might actually be able to try. Using an off-the-shelf fan controller, servo motor and Arduino board, plus some water-cut styrene parts he farmed out to an online shop, user SXRguyinMA outfitted his NZXT Tempest Evo case with a rad robotic cooling system. When the Arduino detects the temperature changing, it automatically actuates the servo to raise or lower the louvers accordingly, and the rig features a pair of supercapacitors that can store enough power to close the vents even if power is lost. There's also the all-important little red button to instantly make jaws drop. Video after the break, full worklog at our more coverage link.
Stunning BioShock PC case mod proves utopia is not underwater
Most people who order 5 gallons of mineral oil are looking to help a constipated horse make a BM. Not this dude: He used the stuff to create one of the most impressive PC case mods we've ever seen.
Honey, Daryl Brach shrunk the Cray-1 supercomputer
The original Cray supercomputer, the Cray-1, is an iconic piece of computing history, so big it had a ring of padded seats around which engineers could sit and contemplate esoteric questions of life whilst the machine humming behind them answered the more finite ones. This semi-hexadecagon shape has been brought back to life, scaled down quite a bit, by case modder and woodcrafter Daryl Brach. The original 5.5 ton behemoth is now a desktop-friendly size, and though those seats are now too small for human behinds they're still leather-covered and padded, hiding a pair of DVD-ROM drives connected to not one but two motherboards. We're not sure what other hardware Brach populated the thing with internally, but given that original Cray-1 had 8MB of memory to work with we're guessing this modern version would have no problem computationally wiping the floor with its inspiration.
Mini Altair 8800 looks authentic, runs Windows 7 (video)
It was just a few weeks ago that we lost Dr. Henry Roberts, the pioneer whose company created the Altair 8800, and while this project isn't exactly a tribute to the man it is at least a sign that his legacy lives on. Bob Alexander had always wanted an 8800 of his own, but now that he could afford one didn't want a gigantic blue case filling up his life. So, be bought a repurposed Altair 680, little brother of the 8800, and set about stuffing it with an Intel Core i5-650 processor on a Mini-ITX motherboard with 4GB of RAM, 80GB of SSD and 500GB on platters. That's all standard fare, but the front of the case pulls it all together, a custom-made, USB-powered circuit board with LEDs that turn on and off similarly to how the 8800's would. Those blinkenlights and the rest of the project are demonstrated after the break, but sadly there's no word of whether Kill the Bit is playable.
Master Chief's bullet-riddled Xbox 360 case mod auctioned off for charity
Sure, Kim Kardashian and Russell Crowe signed airbrushed Xbox 360s bearing their likeness for the David Peachy Foundation's "Konsoles for Kids" charity auction, but Weta Workshop co-founder Richard Taylor built his donation into a badass diorama. That's Halo's Master Chief venting the console with his trusty assault rifle, sending chunks of circuit board, capacitors and LEDs out the other side. According to its eBay seller, the PAL system's still fully functional, and ships with controller, cables and a full warranty. Auction lasts till April 24th; bidding is presently at $810 AUD.
Zenith 5-S-29 radio case mod explained in excellent, water-cooled detail
The trusty old desktop rarely gets the love it deserves these days. Losing gamers to consoles and casual users to laptops, it's left only with a loyal band of enthusiasts, but what a gorgeous bunch they are. Gary from the Bit-tech forums has put together the above case mod, inspired by the styles of early 20th century electronics, and reminded us all that big can be beautiful. He's managed to fit an entire water cooling setup inside, while leaving no detail undocumented in a thorough, pic-heavy walkthrough of the project. We'd have considered the stunning wooden case enough by itself, but Gary has taken care of the little touches as well, as exemplified by the spare PCI slot covers matching the external construction. Hit the source link for images of the build and the insides laid bare.
Kratos case mod watches you while you play Solitaire
It's likely your computer already hates you, what with all those Clay Aiken tracks and Joanie Loves Chachi episodes you store on the thing's hard drive. So why not allow the outside to properly convey the hatred it has for you on the inside? One individual has done just that -- while simultaneously paying homage to Sony's God of War franchise -- all with the Kratos case mod you see above. We'd comment further, but we think the mod is disturbingly close to being a sentient, living Kratos and would you want to piss him slash it off? Yeah, didn't think so. Jump past the break for a brief video showing off the mod. [Thanks, Regis]
Cygnus X1 PC casemod mixes otherworldly design, old world charm
We've seen plenty of PC casemods that look more like a traditional piece of furniture than a computer case, and plenty that take a decidedly more modern approach, but we haven't seen many that combine the two as effectively as this so-called Cygnus X1 built by Attila Lukacs. As you may notice, the top of the case bears a striking resemblance to some of Alienware's latest rigs, but it seems that might not be the source of Atilla's inspiration, as he actually started building the case way back in 2008. Of course, the real eye-catcher is that beautiful, hand carved wood casing (made West Australian Jarrah), which actually swings open on both sides -- no small feat when each panel weighs about ten pounds. Eager to see more? Then hit up the link below for a thorough account of the complete build process. [Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
Xbox 360 Elegant Edition shows Microsoft how it's done
You know, we've pretty much all been enamored with the Zune HD's industrial design, but one unintended consequence for Microsoft was that it made its console look even more childish and toylike. It was inevitable, then, that a group of industrious Swedes would take up arms against this injustice and right the world with their Elegant Edition mod. Featuring three 120mm cooling fans, an aesthetic borrowed straight from the 1980s, and absolutely no shame about its bulk, this mod is cooler than the original in both the literal and colloquial sense. We'll accept no arguments to the converse. Better still, if you're willing to part with some cold hard cash, these fellas will build one for you too. We've got a few less glamorous shots of the redressed box after the break.
OS Xbox Pro casemod build video is mesmerizing
We've certainly seen plenty of hackintoshes in our time, but Will Urbina's OS Xbox Pro is also one of the cleanest casemods we've ever seen. Built so that Will can run Final Cut Pro for his job as a video editor, the machine is based on an EFI-X hackintosh dongle, and inside it sports an 2.93GHz Intel Core 2 Quad Q9550s paired with an NVIDIA GeForce 9800GT card, 8GB of RAM, an 16GB SSD, and four traditional hard drives: one each to boot Windows 7 and OS X, and two 500GB 7,200rpm drives in a RAID0 array for video editing. Will says his total parts cost was under $1,500 for a system that matches a $4,500 Mac Pro, but that obviously doesn't include the value of his time -- which, judging by the totally captivating build video, should be plenty expensive. Check it below.
Neptune's Trident case mod honors the god of liquid cooling
What do you do if your Battlestar Galactica case mod has conquered Earth and space with its awesomeness? Why, you conquer the seas, of course. Brian Carter is back with this Neptune's Trident mod, a lovely blue thing with three separate cooling loops, one for each of the three EVGA GeForce GTX260 video cards inside. The result? A powerhouse for sure and something that we think would look quite appropriate in Tron Legacy. You reading this, Mr. Bridges?
ION Cube case mod wins NVIDIA design contest
We haven't seen a ton of ION-based case mods just yet, but it looks like NVIDIA itself has kick started the scene in a pretty big way with a case mod design contest, and it's now crowned a winner. Built by Bill Owen of Mnpctech.com, the so-called ION Cube draws on a few fairly obvious influences, and makes use of a combination of CNC milled sheets of aluminum and laser cut pieces of acrylic which, combined with the rest of the build, apparently took over a hundred hours to complete. On the inside, and one of the impetuses for the contest, is the ZOTAC ION ITX 330 motherboard, which is intended for small, low-power systems just like this (and less flashy ones, too). Head on past the break a video, and hit up the link below for a look at the build.
Mission-style PC casemod easily slides into your La-Z-Boy collection
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.
Ben Heck's Atari 800 laptop is 800 kinds of awesome
We find it hard to keep from gushing about every Ben Heck project, and his latest is no different. Heckendorn crams the inner workings of an Atari 800 (mostly rainbows and magic) into a laptop-style case (much like every other project of his), but what makes this one special is that we want it and we don't have it. Seriously, look at that sweet keyboard. We can totally imagine the siren's song of those keys clicking and clacking as we boot up some Centipede. If the image above only managed to whet your appetite, head past the break for a pair of videos showing it in use.[Via Engadget]
