Cases
Latest
Peripheral vision
Peripherals for the iPhone started with a trickle at Apple and AT&T bricks and mortar stores, but are now building to a deluge as the handsets find there way into pockets across the nation. We thought in this "case" it would be somehow "fitting" (see what we did there? two puns in a row, we are off to an illustrious start) that the inaugural Peripheral Vision features what most users will likely grab first: cases, cases and more cases. Of course, we had to pitch in at least one non case-related item and found a sweet adapter that's "Shure" to fit the bill.
Play-Asia's summer smoothie sale
For the next week, online shop Play-Asia will be selling all of its in-stock items at a 20% discount, excluding weekly specials or anything released in the past 30 days -- cross Jump Ultimate Stars and Doki Doki Majo Shinpan off of your to-buy list. All of the import retailer's eligible products have been marked with the smoothie icon shown on the right, so it's easy to spot which games are on sale. We've picked out several noteworthy bargains that you might want to consider: Moero! Nekketsu Rhythm Damashii Osu! Tatakae! Ouendan 2 - $39.12 Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney Justice for All - $23.92 Naruto: Saikyo Ninja Daikesshu 4 - $15.92 Gyakuten Saiban 4 Limited Edition - $103.92 bit Generations: Orbital, Soundvoyager, Dialhex, Boundish, Digidrive - all $11.92 Urban Life Style Cases, White and Light Blue - $10.32 Headsets, Nintendo - $10.32, Dragon - $5.52 Play Stand DS Lite - $11.92 Though the sale doesn't end until next Friday, a lot of these items won't stay in-stock for long. Don't be that guy who has to leave a comment about missing out on a particular deal![Via CAG]
When you stare at this DS case, the DS case stares back at you
Gametech seems to have a taste for the gaudy when it comes to DS Lite covers, but they totally got it right at least once. This DS Lite case features a kunoichi (female ninja) design in simple white on black fabric. It's cute and striking at the same time.The design looks quite similar to R Stevens' I am Ten Ninjas t-shirt, although much more feminine and much less blocky. We'd love to clothe our DS in such mystery, but at 3,980 yen ($32.26) it's a little pricey for our tastes. But, then, so are most sandwiches.
iPhone accessory mini-review and gallery: Incase Protective Cover
When I purchase just about any electronic gadget these days, I usually factor in the cost of at least a $20-$30 case to buy right along with it. When I went to purchase my 8GB iPhone Friday night, I considered its price to be $630, not $599; there was no way I was walking out of the Apple Store without some way to protect my shiny new gadget, even if I had to get some kind of super-stretchy iPod case to hold me over. Thankfully, my Apple Store was ready to roll with a healthy dose of both in-house and 3rd party accessories, including some from one of my favorite accessory and case manufacturers: Incase (who just recently re-launched their website, finally). With a few different hard rubber and leather case options available, I settled on the $29.95 Incase Protective Cover in black, and here is a mini-review. For those who want the cliff notes: it's a great case that fits the iPhone like a glove, flawlessly providing access to all the phone's controls and ports. I definitely recommend it. Check out our gallery for images of the case in action.To expand a little: this Incase Protective Case is designed really well, and once applied to your phone it hardly shifts in place, despite being slightly flexible, though hardened, rubber. This isn't like the silicon cases from iSkin - it's pretty rigid. One drawback of the case though is the lack of any clear protective cover for the iPhone's display. Considering that PC World has done a pretty good job of exploring how strong, durable and apparently un-scratch-able the iPhone's display is in this video, you might not have to worry about it. Another alternative for protecting your iPhone's display, at least for now, would be to leave on the clear plastic sticker; that's what I did, and my phone touch UI seems to function just fine. If you've already tossed out that sticker, a pack of Crystal Film from Power Support, also available in Apple Stores for $14.95, might do the trick. I picked up a pack of this stuff but I'm honestly wary of using it since I still have the original clear sticker on my iPhone. If anyone tries that film stuff out, please comment with your experience.Getting back to the case though, it also adds a level of grip-ability to the phone's otherwise sleek and possibly too-slick exterior. For anyone concerned about dropping the phone during calls or carrying too many groceries in at once, this case should add all the grip you need. However, one unavoidable drawback to this case - and likely every case made for the iPhone - is that the dock won't be usable without removing the case. Anyone who has used just about any case on their iPod probably won't be surprised by this. You'll either have to deal with removing your Incase Protective Case each time you want to sit your iPhone in its dock, or simply stick with using the cable altogether.Ultimately, I highly recommend the Incase Protective Case. It's another successful effort from an established Apple accessory maker that protects (almost) everything that needs it, while still offering unhindered access to the iPhone's exterior controls and ports. I give the $29.95 cases a 5/5 rating, and you can see more pictures and colors here, as well as the rest of Incase's iPhone lineup here.%Gallery-4455%
Wooden iPhone case
Less than 24 hours after bringing your iPhone home, it may have acquired its very first scratch. Oh, the horror.Check out the iWood case for iPhone. Scheduled to ship in July, the iWood is a single piece of wood that features a polycarbonate sheet to protect the iPhone's face, a cutout for the camera and very nice looks. You can even have the back engraved with your own text and logo (if you have a logo). Pricing starts at €60.[Via MacMinute]
Alienware P2 barebones on offer
In an unusual move for a company known to cram cases full of bleeding-edge components for hardware overachievers, Alienware is offering their wildly popular (and expensive) P2 ATX case barebones style. What will the $399 price tag get you? A black or silver case, "Astral Blue" lighting, a 700-watt power-supply, and... not much else. Hey, with the money you have left you can load this bad-boy up with a 486 and 64MB of RAM.
Flightless game card collection pouch
Available with both red and gray accents, Penguin United's game card collection pouch holds up to 24 of your DS carts in its clear vinyl pages. We're usually too picky about the designs of our accessories to ever use antything so blatantly branded, but like global warming, the Penguin logo on the wallet's cover managed to melt our glacial hearts.Though the pouches are already a bargain, listed at $9.99, UncleBob from CAG clued us into a 12%-off coupon code for you to enter -- 'thankyoufrompenguin' -- that drops the price down to $8.80. March past the post break for more photos of the card case and our flippered friend.
Temperature-monitoring case mod for the Wii
var digg_url = 'http://digg.com/mods/Temperature_monitoring_case_mod_for_the_Wii'; Evolving from the designs of Team Xtender's past mods, the ii-Hot Rock case aims to do more than just light the Wii with colorful LEDs. The $62.95 shell comes equipped with a digital thermometer that displays the console's internal temperature, and the LEDs shift with that measurement. Every 5° change pushes their hue towards either a colder or warmer glow, luminescing a light blue at sub-28°C and glaring klaxon red when temperatures over 55°C are detected. If you're paranoid about overheating consoles, a mod like this would be perfect for quickly warning you to either shut your system off or execute an emergency saucer separation, putting distance between you and the rest of the starship before the Wii's warp core breaches. Let's all hope it never comes to that. Set a course past the post break, and check out a couple more photos of Team Xtender's ii-Hot Rock case.
Bevy of upcoming iPhone accessories revealed
iPhone owners might be putting their treasured handsets into accessory detectin' mode right out of the gate thanks to a plethora of accessories outed in iLounge's iPod accessory guide, which at well over one hundred pages makes it pretty much the be-all, end-all bible of iPod add-ons. As we might expect this early in the game, the goodies are strictly standard fare -- cases, FM transmitters, and the like -- though Belkin's Acrylic Case (pictured) looks like a winner thanks to its ability to support the iPhone on it side for more relaxed widescreen video viewing. Another gem is Crystal Film, which'll cover the entire front of the device with a thin, transparent static cling layer; good idea from a protection standpoint, but we can't help but wonder how that's gonna affect the feel of the screen.
Sound reactive DS Lite mod
var digg_url = 'http://digg.com/mods/Sound_Reactive_DS_Lite_Mod'; When we last checked in with Acid Mods forumer Rocky, he had outfitted his DS Lite with a clear shell and several LEDs, wowing all the ladies and fellas with its electric blue brilliance. His latest experiment adds a sound amp chip that floods the LEDs with light in time with the handheld's audio. Don't feel like driving out to the dance club tonight? Just find yourself a dark room, load up Darude's "Sandstorm" on your DS Lite, and you've got the same experience right in your hands! Sort of. Rocky has posted a photo tutorial of the installation process, but we're much too squeamish to replace our stock casing or do any sort of soldering. If that seems like too much hardware hacking, you can settle with just watching a video of the jazzed up DS Lite flickering along with music tracks and video game sounds after the post break. Though we can't condone his use of a flash cart to load backed up games, we won't let that get in the way of imagining how cool it'd be to play our favorite rhythm titles with this mod.
A couple of interesting GameStop price drops
Scurge: Hive tortured everyone who was waiting for it with frequent delays. If you have, in turn, delayed your purchase of the isometric Metroid-esque game, you have been rewarded with a shot at a really cheap copy. GameStop has new copies for $10, which is pretty much worth it for the boxart alone.Speaking of superficial matters, GameStop is also selling a cheap DS Lite case from Intec with smart-looking game storage compartments for $4.99. Sure, it's no $3 leather case, but it looks pretty nice and keeps scratches away. Plus, with no color, you don't have to worry about what color case you'll end up with.
Cut-rate cases at Circuit City
Looking for a decent case to clothe your DS Lite with, but not willing to spend more than a few bucks? Even if you lack the craft skills to create one from scratch, there's still hope for you frugal folks.Circuit City has thrown Intec's DS Lite Ultimate Leather cases into the bargain bin, selling the magnetic clasping cover for $2.99. You could probably buy one with just the change you'd find on the electronics retailer's parking lot or in its pay phone coin returns. Try not to be too obvious about it though. You'll look like a homeless vagrant foraging for pennies, and the store manager might call the cops to escort you off the property.Intec's cases come in white, pink, black, blue, blue, and camo, some of these colors having "Crocco" variations or only being available with the crocodile texture. The sale is available both in-store and online, but much like Nerf's DS Lite Armor, the styles are shipped randomly. Even the vagabonds will point and laugh if you come around with the pink, crocodile-leather case that you'll inevitably get after ordering from Circuit City's site.[Via CAG]
Philips to acquire DLO, expand peripheral offerings
Continuing the hot streak of industry madness going down on this eventful Friday the 13th is Philips, as it has announced plans to acquire Digital Lifestyle Outfitters (DLO) in an attempt to compliment the firm's headphone / DAP offerings with a smorgasbord of other peripherals and accessories for mobile devices. Essentially, Philips is hoping that the deal will allow it to "become a leading player in peripherals and accessories market for the mobility domain," and considering the vast amount of DAP / PMP toting individuals out there eying such niceties as the HomeDock, iBoom Travel, and the obligatory colored carrying case, it's probably not a bad move. Interestingly, Philips is actually taking over a firm who pumps out products for two competing music players, but a spokesperson for the company played the rivalry down by suggesting that DLO's products were "designed for all of the players on the market." Although pricing details weren't readily available, Philips is planning to complete the acquisition by Q2's end, and hopes to make DLO more predominant "outside of the US while broadening its product portfolio."[Via Reuters]
I-Case spring fashion show
Team Xtender, the group behind the chrome casing and Black Knight Wii mods, plans to diversify its line of I-Case replacement shells with a more colorful look. The mod manufacturer has posted photos of its concept models in their new outfits, dressing the Wii and its stand in red, yellow, green, blue, and pink.Nothing has been finalized yet, so don't expect to see these vibrant kits on the market for a while. The I-Case's pricing has been a little more competitive than the SHOCKii's ($40 versus $50), so we're glad to see some competition in the replacement shell market. Click past the post break for more glamour shots from the Wii runway. [Via DCEmu]
NIS America to sell DS Lite kimono cover
NIS America just opened their own online shop, and it's already decently stocked with neat stuff. This kimono-style DS Lite cover isn't exactly one of them right now-- it's available for preorder only-- but as soon as it's available we're considering getting one. The cover comes in eight colors, all of which add an air of serene beauty to your DS as well as a barrier against unwanted contact. Touching is good, unless it's your keys "touching" your DS in your pocket.[Via Game|Life]
Wooden iPod cases
Website CoolAsFunk tracked down these fabulous wooden iPod cases from Japanese wooden-toy manufacturer Asuka Koubou[1] via distributer Rakuten. Your 5G or nano iPod slips into the case, leaving access to the docking port, scroll wheel and screen. It's not entirely clear what keeps the iPod from slipping right back out again, but given how marvelous these things look, who is going to quibble about mere functionality, darling? If my ability to read Japanese pages works--and, frankly, it rarely has--it looks like these cases sell for about 5775 Yen each, or about $50 in US currency.[1] Thanks Calexifan
Belkin announces TuneBase, TunePower, and slew of cases for Zune
While Griffin hems and haws about unleashing an expected bevy of accessories for Microsoft's forthcoming PMP, Belkin's not making any bones about its intentions to deliver a fleshed-out set of Zune-specific add-ons. Up first is the $79.99 TuneBase FM Transmitter, which doesn't stray too far from its iPod-friendly counterpart, and sports a (probably unnecessary) 3.5-millimeter line-out for times when those FM signals just aren't cutting it. It also touts a "flexible steel neck" for easy in-car positioning, large LCD display, and three memory presets. In case the 12-14 hours of audio playback isn't longevous enough for you, the TunePower will reportedly extend the playtime of your Zune "by up to six hours," and add an additional bulge on its rear as well. Additionally, the device acts as a kickstand for portable video viewing as well as a protective case, and the $59.99 pricetag also buys you a separate AC adapter for charging. Sure to be amongst the hoard of similar alternatives are a few uninspiring $29.99 case offerings, including an Acrylic flavor, "Folio Kickstand," Holster Case, Neoprene Armband / Case, Sports Jacket Armband / Case, and the obligatory $14.99 ClearScreen overlay to safeguard that scratch-prone LCD. Belkin's assortment of cases are slated to hit in "mid-November," while the FM transmitter and extended battery pack will land just before the month's end.
DS Lite cases calmly cuddle cartridges
They don't stop there, either, taking on all comers including GBA games, as well as the DS Lite itself. With a couple solutions to the dilemma of trying to keep one's most precious gadget safe from enemies both foreign and domestic, we're wondering if we should trade up to one of the cases pictured and just toss out our case we received at E3 last year. We've included some of the pictures into the post, past the break.[Via Go Nintendo]
An injeanious DS Lite case (and a very bad pun)
Having decided that a mere pocket wasn't enough to protect his brand new DS Lite and games, inventive blogger John Spain decided to grab a pair of old jeans and thoroughly molest it with a rotary cutter, copious amounts of glue and intricate Origami-style folding techniques. The DS-friendly end result is nothing short of amazing, proving yet again that pants are far better off in the hands of a bored man than on the legs of a busy one.That sounded a little weird.[Thanks jps!]
A quick glance at MacBook sleeve cases
Now that laptop case manufacturers have had a few weeks to react to the new MacBook, they've started to release an array of sleeves that fit perfectly around the MacBook's refined curves. There's something for everyone here, whether you want a sleeve with a little more padding than usual, a sleeve that makes a colorful statement or one that keeps your nether regions nice and cool. Read on for the round-up.
