By now we’ve all seen the hardwood/bamboo iPhone cases from Vers, which offer stellar protection and an exceedingly-unique design. Coming soon is the above pictured iPad iteration of the steel-reinforced wood case, which also offers an optional wood prop for table-top use. I also notice the case shields the Home button area on the iPad; can you guys implement that feature on your iPhone cases, too? Word up.
To “welcome the Spring/Summer 2010 season”, Hong Kong retailer JOYCE commissioned iPhone case designs from 6 high-end brands. Apparently the gist is that these designs carry over themes from each brand’s current collection… including the giant freakin’ oblong rock-like case. Who said opulence and practicality don’t mix?
Yes, that is what it looks like. iMaxi – The Apple iPad Case with Protective Wings takes the obvious moniker joke to the extreme. Etsy seller Hip Handmaids says the case “shields [the iPad] from all those unsightly and embarrassing data leaks that would make any motherboard worry!” See what they did there? The case also comes in a… red-threaded interior version. True story, bro.
Never before have batteries made me so horny. Well, there was that one AAA Energizer…insanely arousing. In any event, Sanho Corporation’s three new HyperMac battery pack collections (Nano, Micro, and Mini) come in all 9 iPod nano colors. The HyperMac Nano can recharge an iPhone 1.5 times, the Micro doubles that, and the (not-so) Mini…yep, doubles that, at 6 times.
The Touchy Remix from Intactlab is an interestingly-designed, table-like computer with a curved fiberglass base and 40 inch touchscreen (1366 x 768 resolution). Powered by a fully-integrated Mac mini, it also has four USB ports and an optional iPhone dock. You can get all Touchy feely with this video demonstration.
The iPhone app addLib, as described by WOW, “mixes the Grid System, a fractal theory, the golden ratio and the Facial Recognition System, and then creates graphic design. It seems the layout is made at random, but it comes from the rigorous calculated system.” So in short, it takes your ugly-ass photos and attempts to lesson their horrific nature via embellishments of typography, form, and placement. Get it via iTunes now.
You know what really grinds my gears? Urinals without that divider thingy between them (a little privacy goes a long way, man). Also, when I think concept designs are actually real. The Linos Portable USB vinyl player from Charlie Pyott is a compact wonder that would facilitate jamming to your records sans turntable. Beautiful form and function on this concept. Make it in meatspace, please.
The arrow is probably the oldest and most basic of graphic symbols. From the paintings of Klee to the iconography used on today’s iPod, here’s a great read on the symbolic pointer by Phil Patton.
The bondi iMac-looking Mu Space concept from designers Yuan-Hao Hsu & Lin Tzu Hsuan is a portable, MP3-playing, sleep-facilitating system. Simply unzip the side compartment, unfurl the relaxation mat, lay your weary head down on the fluffy pillow, and let your Raffi tunes lull you to sleep.
With the announcement of the iPad, a whole new world of cases and protection for the device has presented itself. I’m a big iPhone case whore myself (with the Switcheasy Colors still my favorite), so this type of development intrigues me greatly. Griffin already has a line of iPad cases available, including the FlexGrip (pictured above), Elan Passport and Sleeve, and the Jumper. As with most iPhone cases, my main protection gripe applies here, too: why doesn’t anyone ever protect the home button? (except for you, my dear Switcheasy Colors case).
