Exclusive Review: Two Elegant iPhone 4 Cases Have Carbon Fiber Skins

[[posterous-content:pid___0]]Element Case rolled out two new carbon fiber-backed instances for iPhone 4, and we have both the Ion 4 and Formula 4 (picture above) models here for an exclusive hands-on assessment.

 Element Case is really finest recognized for its series of “Vapor 4? aluminum circumstances for iPhone 4, which are beautifully produced and cautiously crafted, with optional carbon fiber backing. One of the most recent Vapor 4 case cleared up a slight reception concern noticed with its predecessor, although still retaining that high style.

In my testing of both the earlier also as by far the most recent models, besides their high $80 price (which originally was a whole lot additional than that), those Vapor 4 instances had been also inconvenient, requiring a tedious removal of tiny screws to install or eradicate an iPhone 4.

That’s all distinctive with these two new instances.

1. Ion 4 Case

Initially, let’s take a have a appear at the $49.95 Ion 4 Case, a soft polymer enclosure that feels like silicone and has an elegant carbon fiber skin. In spite of the truth that that’s a smaller piece of carbon fiber, it can be not an optional feature as it was using the Vapor 4 case, and you commonly don't uncover anything with carbon fiber on it for such a low price.

The Ion case is exceptionally thin, adding hardly any thickness to the iPhone despite the fact that protecting the front and entirely covering the back. As opposed to its Vapor 4 brethren, the iPhone installs inside it as effortlessly as an Apple bumper case, but feels so a whole lot superior. Its grippy sides give you having a firm handhold, and there’s a gradual recess leading to each and every single of the iPhone’s buttons that gives you effortless access, regardless of no matter whether you might be working with an iPhone 4 from either Verizon or AT&T.

Although this Ion 4 case costs at least $30 less than the Vapor 4 case, I like it a whole lot far better. It looks great and fits perfectly in the hand. Gone are those sharp aluminum edges, replaced by cushy and flexible rubberized material. The only downside I could obtain is that it truly is a little wide on the bottom, which prevented me from inserting it into all the speaker/charging docks I tried.

 

Settlers of Catan board online game Coming to Android

A prevalent board on the net game going by the name of Settlers of Catan are going to be generating the jump to mobile, especially Android, inside the truly near future. The game itself is normally a mix of Settlers and Risk in terms of game play using the objective of becoming the dominant group on the island. It sounds like this on the web game will in all probability be coming in two flavors.

Absolutely the on the net game play will differ from the actual Catan board game but the thought might be the identical, be the dominant party by generating settlements, roads, cities and further. It truly can be a turn-based game exactly where each and every and just about every turn you will gather resources and have the capability to expand you empire. Settlers of Catan also sounds like it is going to be coming in two flavors: Very simple and 1 that consists of the Seafarers expansion. Both versions of the on line game nevertheless won’t come optimized for tablets appropriate away. Will need to the game see success on Android plus the tablet marketplace continue to grow, which is will, then the developers will most most most likely update it with tablet support at that time.

The distinction between this plus the iOS version apparently will most likely be new graphics but in terms of game play and updates, those will remain identical to the iOS version. Settlers of Catan are going to be released tentatively sometime in mid-June based on the developers. Pricing doesn't appear to be set either as in-game purchases is becoming regarded as in some fashion but a quantity becoming thrown about right now is $5.77 (exchanged from the Euro expense) for the fundamental. The completely expanded 1 using the Seafarers expansion may well be priced greater. Both pricing is still not set and could come down actually must in-game purchases fundamentally grow to be a reality.

Side note: For those of you questioning, it looks like Settlers of Catan will come having a hot-seat multiplayer mode. Also the Seafarers expansion could fairly nicely be 1 of the items supplied via in-game purchases as an option to a second version. Additional information when we get it.