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iPhone 3GS oleophobic coating wearing off?

According to iLounge and Engadget, a user is complaining that the iPhone 3GS' oleophobic screen is wearing off prematurely.

The reports are based off of complaints by a 3GS user, "Samsas Traum", who has shared pictures of the problematic screen on his iPhone 3GS. You can see the original complaints translated from German here and here.

According to iLounge: "Traum claims that the localized nature of the damage is likely due to repeat playings of Flick Fishing. While we have yet to see a second report of such extreme wear in such a short time, iLounge editors … Read more

New iPhone gets fingerprint-resistant coating

The iPhone 3G S promises faster hardware, a better camera, and an unannounced feature: a multitouch screen that repels skin oil. We discovered this new feature while browsing the iPhone How To--Cleaning iPhone, which reads:

To clean iPhone, unplug all cables and turn off iPhone (press and hold the Sleep/Wake button, then slide the onscreen slider). Then use a soft, slightly damp, lint-free cloth. Avoid getting moisture in openings. Don't use window cleaners, household cleaners, aerosol sprays, solvents, alcohol, ammonia, or abrasives to clean the iPhone. If your iPhone has an oleophobic coating on the screen (iPhone 3G … Read more

New material may soon make cars scratch-free

Scientists at the University of Southern Mississippi developed a polyurethane coating that heals its own scratches when exposed to sunlight. This breakthrough uses chitosan, a substance found in the shells of crabs and shrimp, to make scratches in polymer coating disappear.

"When a scratch damages the chemical structure, the chitosan responds to ultraviolet light by forming chemical chains that begin bonding with other materials in the substance, eventually smoothing the scratch. The process can take less than an hour," according to an article in Yahoo! Tech News.

The self-healing material can be used in the coatings that protect … Read more

Improving solar efficiency by coating cells

Australian solar energy start-up Xerocoat has invented new antireflective coating that it is says can improve power output across all solar energy technologies, from traditional silicon wafers to thin film and solar thermal.

The idea is simple: most solar cells are covered by glass and glass reflects light. Reflected light reduces the light available to make electricity.

By coating the solar cells, the glass reflection decreases by 3 percent at noon, and by 6 percent mornings and afternoons, according to the company. This increases the light absorption by the cell, and thus power output by 3 percent on a peak … Read more

Blue Coat grabs market share, networking expertise

On Monday, Blue Coat Systems bought competitor Packeteer to bolster its position in the WAN acceleration market. This move was probably motivated by two objectives.

First, while Blue Coat grew up in Web caching, Packeteer's strength has always been deep packet and protocol expertise. The two technologies complement each other quite well, covering the gamut from application to file access acceleration.

The other thing Blue Coat gets is scale; competing with Riverbed and Cisco Systems demands deep pockets and feet on the street. Blue Coat gets bigger instantly. All in all, it's good for Blue Coat, bad for … Read more

Zegna's 'iJacket' lets you talk to the coat

In an odd way, the fashion industry may be uniquely qualifed to keep pace with consumer technology. Both fields, after all, can change with the wind--and often do.

Ermenegildo Zegna is becoming something of a poster child for that marriage, as shown last year with its iPod jacket and continuing with such innovations like its solar collar. Now, using "smart fabric" made by Eleksen--maker of such crazy stuff as a double-sided fabric keyboard--Zegna has created a coat that employs Bluetooth technology that can be used for mobile phone conversations.

The "iJacket" is a piece … Read more