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A "gaming shield" for the iPhone and 3G
I have a feeling people will probably love these or hate these, but personally, I like the fact that they look a little different than most iPhone cases out there. The folks at Element Cases sent us a note about their new "gaming shields" for the iPhone. If you're trying to make your iPhone look different, they'll certainly help. Marketed towards gamers, the cases offer impact protection and an easier form factor to hold on to, even during raucous games of MotoChaser.I also like their "Flip-Lid" idea -- the front of the case is retained by magnets, and can be "flipped" to the back of the case for storage while you use the iPhone. It's a neat way to keep the front covered without that awkward flap that some cases use.My iPhone is currently sitting in an iSkin Revo (I like how thin and tough it is, even though it grabs lint from my pocket like crazy), and my iPod is in an awesome leather Vaja case. However, if I ever picked up an iPod touch for using around the house, I'd definitely consider this -- at $99US it's a bit pricey, but for a custom-built case that adds rugged style to your iPhone, it's worth checking out.Special note: next week TUAW will be giving away 5 of these. Each case is a custom order, so winners will be able to customize the case before they receive them. - Ed.
Add some class to your Wii's top panel
As useful as the Wii's hidden GameCube controller ports and memory card slots are, the console's flip-open panel is an eyesore when left ajar while accessing these backwards compatibility features, especially if you compare it to the system's otherwise sleek design. You have the option of removing the panel, of course, but the resulting black hood doesn't look right either. Cyber Gadget has come up with an elegant alternative with its replacement lid, allowing you to cover the ports/slots and protect them from dust without having to expose everything whenever you need to just plug in a GameCube pad. The new panel has shutters for each individual controller port which slide back, and both memory card slots have rubber caps that you can peel back without disturbing any of the console's other cavities. Cyber Gadget is selling its replacement panels only in Japan for 980 yen (approximately $8.70), but we're crossing our fingers that an import shop like Play Asia or NCSX will eventually have them for sale. You can see more photos of the product past the jump.
Nokia patent app envisions touchscreen input lids
In an apparent effort to make using a touchscreen possible sans eyesight, Nokia has filed a patent application describing "slider inputs lids." Essentially, these lids would be placed onto a touchscreen to enable users to input certain commands without actually having to look at what's going on. For instance, a circular lid could give you easy access to volume, while a horizontal version could easily slide through music tracks or voicemail messages. The documentation points out that lids could contain a switch that would allow users to access a second set of user interface inputs "based on the position of the lid in relation to the touch sensitive area." Granted, this does seem like a stretch, but there's a hint of promise in there somewhere, we suppose.[Via UnwiredView]
Super Toilet Seat Bros.
As far as we're concerned, Mario spends way too much time saving princesses, racing karts, and partying with minigames. Meanwhile, we've got leaky pipes, a shower with almost no water pressure, and no one around to fix them in sight. For a guy posing as a plumber, Mario doesn't devote much of his day to practicing his plumbing trade.Extra Life's Scott Johnson, bathroom gamer extraordinaire, devised an evil stratagem to put the lazy plumber back to work. Drawing upon the power of ancient gods whose names were long forgotten before our sun even birthed its first flames, he set off a chain of inescapable events that left Mario's visage and eternal soul trapped on a toilet seat lid. What once was an ordinary lavatory now serves as his dark prison.Scott captured the sorcery on video, which you can watch past the post break. It's impressive to see that the only tools he used throughout the entire project were a Sharpie marker, a sheet of paper, and several demonic runes blessed by shadow priests of the underworld.[Via Infendo]
