Perhaps you remember Case-mate's 99-cent cardboard iPhone "recession" case, which we wrote about back in September and deemed one of the better product publicity stunts in recent memory. Well, Case-mate is now hosting a decorate-your-recession-case contest with users submitting photos of their creations. The pic with the most votes wins a Suzuki moped from the '80s.
We gotta say, the entries are pretty amusing, and while cardboard is never going to look upscale, the decorated cases are pretty hot in a sort of avant garde way.
Check out the slideshow below and feel free to let us know your favorite. We'll add more photos as entries come in (thanks to Case-mate for allowing us to post them here).
Note: The contest ends at 11:59:59 p.m. ET on November 30, 2009. To enter, visit recessioncase.case-mate.com.
Enlighten: Case-mate's solution for nighttime reading on the Kindle.
We've seen a few Kindle cases that offer built-in lights so you can read in dimly lit environments, but Case-mate's Enlighten is unusual in that it features a lighted acrylic panel that sits on top of your Kindle instead of an LED light with a flexible neck.
Due out in December, Case-mate's billing the $79.99 Enlighten as "the first case on the market equipped with a LED-powered light for nighttime reading as well as an interior side pocket for storage."
Here are its key features:
- Clear acrylic panel with integrated LED light with two levels of brightness
- Old English book style with genuine leather exterior and locking hinges to secure the device
- Interior side pocket for storage
- View prior pages using the previous page button
- Two AAA batteries (included) provide a maximum of 24 hours reading time
- Available in December ($79.99)
We've been playing around with an early unit, and it works pretty well although the light doesn't splay across the screen as uniformly as it does in the included press-release images (on the left side, the light leaks onto the Kindle screen and creates an interesting ripple effect). Hopefully, Case-mate can tweak the lighting a bit before launch because overall the design of the unit--aside from making your Kindle substantially heavier--is attractive and the acrylic panel does offer another layer of screen protection.
What do you guys think? Hot or not?
Additional reading: Top Kindle cases and accessories
I got the Jesus phone and a Platinum Plus card. Isn't that enough street cred for you?
(Credit: Dong Ngo/CNET)I'm not a fan of protective case for gadgets (which, as long as they function, are fine the way they are, even with a few scratches). For this reason, the only things I've put on my iPhone 3GS so far, and only when I travel, are the Mophie Juice packs, which add more battery life to the phone.
I just, however, found a new protective case that I actually am going to use more regularly, for the sake of convenience. It's the Case-Mate I.D. case.
Unlike other protective cases that try to be as slim as possible, the I.D. case deliberately bulks out at the phone's back to create a small pouch that's just large enough to fit two credit cards or, in my case, my driver's license and a library card (yes, I read).
Of course, you can swap these out for any two cards you want. The point is this is very convenient, especially when the iPhone is something a lot of us don't want to be separated from. And I would like to stress the inseparable notion, as you definitely don't want to lose the phone and the two important cards attached to it.
Despite the added functionality, the case actually only adds another 2.5 mm (about one-tenth of an inch) of thickness to the phone, compared with other purely protective cases.
Other than that, the Case-Mate I.D. is very much like most protective cases. It comes with an easily attached protective film for the phone's screen and another protective layer for the back of the phone (so the card won't mess up all the fingerprints you've gathered).
The Case-Mate I.D. works with both the iPhone 3G and 3GS. It comes in eight colors and costs $30, which is a little more expensive than other cases that add no extra usability to the phone.
(Credit:
Case-mate)
Marketing and PR folks take note. In one of the more brilliant publicity stunts in recent memory, iPhone accessory maker Case-mate is going downscale. Really downscale. And green, too.
It's created a 99-cent cardboard "recession" case along with free "Sharpie Script" personalization (yes, some dude or dudette will inscribe your case by hand). And these babies can be bought in bulk: Case-mate is offering 10 for $7.99.
I'm impressed. This is something you'd expect to see from the Onion News Network, not from a real tech company. And while the recession has hopefully ended, plenty of people are still hurting, even a couple of iPhone owners.
Here's the FAQ on the case, in case you want to buy one:
Q) Is it waterproof? A) No, so don't put it in the dishwasher.
Q) Is this case flammable? A) If you light it on fire it is.
Q) Does it come assembled? A) No, see our animated gif for a step-by-step demo!
Q) What device does this case support? A) iPhone 1G, 3G, and 3GS.
Q) How does this case stay together? A) It has locking tabs at the bottom and top of the case, as well as an adhesive strip to keep the case held together.
Q) Can I use this case to microwave my frozen pizzas? A) I don't see why not, although we can't ensure quality taste.
Q) Will this case make me awesome? A) I think that goes without saying.
Q) Is there a warranty? A) No, it is cardboard, after all.
Q) Can I get a paper cut on my ear while using this case? A) My first guess would be no, but anything is possible, we don't promote unsafe use of the recession case.
Q) How long will the case be sold? A) As long as it needs to be to get us out of this recession! Or while supplies last.
Q) Does it come with a screen protector? A) No, we are in a recession!
Q) How long will the product last? A) Forever as long as you don't destroy it!
Q) Is this case made from recycled cardboard? A) 100 percent of only the best for you!
Q) Will the product scratch my device? A) No! its cardboard not brick!
Q) Is the CM logo impressed on the case? A) This is known as the "people's case."
Q) Will this product be sold at Case-mate retail locations? A) Nope! The recession case is sold exclusively here at case-mate.com!
Comments?
(Via Engadget)
(Credit:
Case-Mate)
The Xylo "Touch Thru" hard-shell iPhone case we wrote of earlier this week boasted that it was "the first of its kind," but we're always dubious of such claims in the hype-driven gadget universe. Sure enough, just a few days later Uncrate is featuring a similar product from Case-Mate called the "Naked Case" that goes for the same price.
Other than bearing a far more provocative name, this acrylic case appears to do the same things its rival promises--allowing touch-screen access through a clear protective cover. (Case-Mate credits its "electrostatic membrane" while the competing Xylo talks of "ultrasonic signals." Whatever.)
It's unclear which came first, but it really doesn't matter--this is already way too much time spent on the given topic. Suffice it to say that there's more than one way to protect and use your iPhone and iPod Touch screen for $35.
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