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AQUA TEK S – the first waterproof, ruggedized, solar-powered battery case for iPhone

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If you're hoping to attract investors to get yet another iPhone case to an already crowded market, it had better do more than just protect a phone from bumps and scrapes. Snow Lizard Products is giving itself the best possible chance of raising funds for its new AQUA TEK S case for iPhone 4 and 4S with an offering that not only boasts ruggedized protection, but also includes a solar panel, built in battery, and is waterproof up to 20 ft (6 m).Aimed at outdoorsy types who want to stay connected when heading off the beaten track, the case features a waterproof and dirt resistant poly-carbonate ruggedized casing that packs its own built-in battery to extend the life of the the iPhone. The company is still investigating the best battery to fit the form factor so the capacity of the unit hasn't yet been finalized, but it will be able to recharge from the power of the Sun via the solar panel built into the rear of the case. The encased iPhone can also be recharged and synched by opening a thumb screw on the bottom of the case.
The top-loading case features rubber grips and adds quite a bit of bulk to an iPhone, but provides full access to the phone's touchscreen, camera, volume buttons and speakers.
Snow Lizard Products plans to make the AQUA TEK S available in up to nine colors, including Signal Orange, Black Night, Urban Camo, Reggae Camo, Navy Camo, Desert Camo, Jungle Camo, Pink Camo and Leopard.
The company already has a number of cases on the market for a range of mobile devices, but has turned to Kickstarter to source funding for the production and tooling of its latest offering. If the project reaches its US$75,000 goal and the AQUA TEK S is put into production, it will retail for $129.99. Getting in early with a pledge of $100 will secure one at that price, while pledges of $175 will entitle you to two, a $350 pledge to four, and pledges of $5,000 to 100 cases. At the time of writing, the project had raised just over $3,300, with 24 days remaining.

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