element

We wrote last year about how Element's swanky $79.99 Vapor Case was becoming something of a vanity case for iPhone 4 owners. That said, while the case looked sleek, some users complained it was less than perfect and experienced reception issues when using it. Element claims to have fixed those issues, and has now added a new, improved, redesigned Vapor Pro iPhone 4 case that's being released first in a special collectors' edition that costs a whopping $149.99.

What makes it worth $149.99? We're not sure, but we're told it's made out of expensive materials and some parts are hand-tooled. Read these marketing bullet points from the company to get a sense of its value:… Read more

Elements - Dropbox Powered Text Editor lets you share and edit text (TXT) files on your iOS device via Dropbox. Dropbox is a free program (Windows, Mac, iPhone) that lets you quickly transfer files between platforms with a folder that automatically syncs up between the devices to make moving files a breeze. You'll also need to register with Dropbox in order to use Elements. But with Elements, you'll now have a separate folder in Dropbox where you can place text files and edit them on your iPhone or iPad. Any changes you make will be automatically synced to … Read more

A topic most people once considered as boring as dirt--rare earth minerals--has fast become a matter of international significance with a direct impact on green technologies and consumer electronics.

Rare earth metals are a group of elements that are used in a wide range of products we use every day, including hard drives and hybrid cars. Their properties, notably as light-weight magnets, make them key to the ongoing miniaturization of electronics and the growth of green technologies.

Rare earth minerals have become a hot-topic issue for industrialists and politicians for one simple reason: supply.

China recognized the importance of these … Read more

When Josh Lowensohn bought and wrote about the TyPad--the Bluetooth keyboard and iPad case combo--I knew that I had to have it. Though it's a bit expensive for a case ($129), the included black keyboard and fold-over leather case just seemed too convenient and classy to pass up.

I just received mine today, and I'm already glad I bought it, but it does have some minor annoyances. There is no right-Shift key, for example, which will be tough for formally trained typists to get used to. It also makes it difficult to play a lot of games because with the added keyboard it can be pretty unwieldy. Still, the ability to quickly convert my iPad into a laptoplike experience will be better for working than using the onscreen keyboard, and the controls for music, cursor arrows, and tactile typing make the case worth it to me.

What do you think? Does the TyPad seem like a good deal to you or should I have just bought a laptop if that's what I wanted? Is there a better case/keyboard combo you know about? Let me know in the comments.

This week's apps include an iPhone/iPad text editor that automatically syncs up with your desktop, and a game in which you control a man-eating giant worm.… Read more

Element Case, the maker of high-end iPhone cases, including the Vapor case for the iPhone 4, is trotting out a couple of new "motorsport-inspired cases" for the iPhone 3G and 3GS: the Formula 3 and Ion 3.

According to the company, the Formula 3 is the successor to its Liquid case, and is a three-piece "slide on" case that has flared corners and rubber tone finish. Its bottom piece is designed to easily slip off when docking your iPhone.

Meanwhile, Element is billing the Ion 3 as the most durable case in the line. It's … Read more

With the Dropbox-powered Elements, text editing on the go is more accessible than ever. A basic but functional feature set keeps Elements light, but still incredibly useful.

If you already have a Dropbox account, just sign in when Elements launches and you'll get a new folder on your account to store your Elements documents.

I ran in to some issues when setting up a new Dropbox account from my iPhone 4. The setup link brought me to Dropbox's downloads page for the Mac client and attempts to auto-download. This, of course, ended in an error due to being … Read more

As Apple sorts out its iPhone 4 antenna issues, we're giving away a case that's not only superslick but allegedly solves any and all reception problems. Element Case has made some high-end, high-stylin' protective cases for earlier iPhone models, and now it has one for the iPhone 4: The Vapor.

According to Element Case, the The Vapor "consists of a solid, CNCd aluminum frame made from aircraft-grade metals lined with a new, shock-absorbent liner material to protect and stylize."

The Vapor comes in black, pink, green, blue, and comes with--or without--a full carbon-fiber backplate. Winner gets … Read more

Element Case has made some high-end, high-stylin' protective cases for earlier iPhone models, and now it has one for the iPhone 4: The Vapor.

The picture really says it all, but you should know that according to Element, the Vapor "consists of a solid, CNCd aluminum frame made from aircraft-grade metals lined with a new, shock-absorbent liner material to protect and stylize." It's also designed, like most other cases, to address the iPhone "reception issues" by securely insulating the iPhone 4's frame "with a no-slip grip hold."

The Vapor comes in black, … Read more

Metal recycling is the sleeper growth industry in green tech.

Specialty metals, such as lithium and indium, and rare-earth elements, such as neodymium, are required for production of many green-technology products, including batteries for hybrid cars, LED lights, fuel cells, and solar panels.

But to ensure future supply of these resources, recycling rates needed to increase substantially, according to a report from the United Nations Environment Program. Preliminary findings were issued Thursday, with a full report planned for later this year.

The recycling rates for specialty metals are only about 1 percent, according to a U.N. panel on metals … Read more