Omni’s smartcase fattens up your MacBook to double its battery life

Did you buy a new MacBook and just not diggin’ the laptop’s battery? Want something sturdy to protect its pretty exterior without blocking the USB-C port? Omni Technology may have what you’re looking for with the world’s first “smart case” for Apple’s MacBook that’s crammed with an extra battery and ports, making it a great accessory when out and about on the road.

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Called the Omni Smart Case, this MacBook expansion is currently a prototype on Kickstarter that’s looking for investors to fund for production. The built-in Lithium-ion battery promises an added 9 hours to the MacBook while three provided ports (USB-C on the left, USB 3.0 and HDMI on the right) make connections even easier to accomplish without having to buy additional adapters.

The protective shell includes a bottom portion that plugs into the MacBook’s USB-C port and a lid. It measures 7.88 x 11.58 x .67-inches on the whole and weighs 10.4 ounces, keeping the overall MacBook experience light, thin, and rather curvy. The shell itself is highly durable and lined with shock absorbent material to keep those accidental bangs from harming the delicate hardware seated inside.

“The Omni Smart Case will follow the same specs as the Apple MacBook but slightly larger,” the Kickstarter page states. “By having the same curvature as the MacBook, the Smart Case will feel like an extension of your laptop by having the same feel.”

As with the new 12-inch MacBooks released just weeks ago, the new Omni Smart Case is offered in four different colors including space gray, silver, and gold. When the MacBook is installed, owners simply recharge Apple’s laptop by plugging into the case’s USB-C port, which supports passthrough charging. Overall, MacBook owners benefit from the added protection, battery expansion, and additional ports without having to use a bulky solution.

The Kickstarter project launched on April 8 and has 13 days to go as of this article. It has only generated $3,310 from ten backers, and ultimately requires $65,000 to move the project forward, so there’s a lot that needs to be invested before the deadline on May 15. The idea behind the project is really solid, so we’re curious as to why more pledges haven’t been made thus far.

The Omni Smart Case is expected to sell for $200 according to the project’s rewards system. Backers pledging $150 or more will receive one Omni Smart Case in any one of the four colors (an Early Bird special) in July. Pledge $160 or more and get one Omni Smart Case in any color in August. Backers can even get three in July for pledging $450 or more, or 12 units in July for pledging $1,700 or more.

The most recent update on the Kickstarter page states that the company has added a rose gold version to match the new 12-inch rose gold MacBook introduced last month. Apple’s refreshed MacBooks arrived in two flavors: a $1,300 version with 256GB of storage and a 1.1GHz Intel Core m3 processor, and a $1,600 model with 512GB of storage and a 1.2GHz Intel Core m5 processor.

“We at Omni have teamed up with some of the greatest designers and engineers to bring you the world’s first smart case for the Apple MacBook,” Omni Technology says. “With our patent pending technology, the Omni Smart Case will change how you use your MacBook.”

Additional information regarding the Omni Smart Case Kickstarter project can be found here.

from Planet GS via John Jason Fallows on Inoreader http://ift.tt/1rOvpIj
Kevin Parrish