weatherproof

Consider for a moment that the upcoming iPhone 4 is like the Iron Man of the mobile phone world: sleek, sexy, and powerful. Then an iPhone 3GS wrapped in Magellan's ToughCase would be akin to Iron Man's buddy War Machine: based on slightly older, but still powerful, technology and substantially upgraded with third-party features. OK, so the ToughCase may not add guns to your iPhone or iPod Touch, but that doesn't make it any less ready to tackle almost anything you can throw at it.

Just looking at the ToughCase, it's obvious that this accessory adds considerable bulk and heft to the enclosed iPhone. At just less than 2 inches thick and weighing in at 7.5 ounces, you can all but forget about cramming this case into your pocket. Fortunately, Magellan will ship the ToughCase with a belt clip. There will also be an array of handlebar, windshield, and universal mounts available.

For the increased heft, the ToughCase adds weatherproofing, an extended battery, and--because this is a Magellan product--a more accurate GPS receiver to your iPhone. Starting with the shell itself, the ToughCase is shockproof and IPX-7 waterproof, which means it can be submerged in up to 1 meter of water for up to 30 minutes without damage to the enclosed device. We tossed an iPhone encased in a preproduction example of the ToughCase down a flight of stairs and found no damage upon recovery. We were unable to test the waterproofing claim of the preproduction unit, but rest assured we'll be dunking the retail version when it becomes available.… Read more

It's not the sort of thing that excites your typical Silicon Valley venture capitalist, but companies that weatherize homes could be the sleeper green-business success stories this year.

Many people would like to lower their household energy bills but need an expert to recommend what steps to take as part of a long-term plan.

There's also a substantial amount of government support for energy-efficient retrofits, including from President Obama who has set a target of lowering utility bills at 2 million homes. The federal stimulus plan now being debated in Washington, D.C., sets aside $6 billion to … Read more

Sure, Pioneer is coming out with all kinds of fancy new plasmas today, but tell us this: Can they be dunked under water? And still work, that is.

Water-loving TVs are hardly new, as we've seen those that enjoy an occasional splash by the pool or even a long hot shower. But the "Weatherproof Monitor" from Florida-based Iizell is an LCD that can be submerged a full meter deep, according to Gadgetell. Why one would need to do this is unclear, but we suspect an underwater bar is involved. Or maybe David Letterman will try to see … Read more