CES 2014: NueVue Introduces Antimicrobial Cases for iOS Devices

And not before time. Only last week I caught bubonic plague from my iPad's Smart Cover.

I like it bare with screen protector. Not a lot of hiding place for bacteria with that setup I hope.

We have immune systems for a reason.

Is it me or has CES become a big bore? I see posts like this and think is this really what CES is about now? It seems the nature of the tech industry has changed to the point CES like other big trade shows is obsolete b/c

1) Big companies more frequently host their own private product announcements when product is ready, not when January rolls around, and sites like Verge, Gizmodo, and Engaget are more than happy to supply the publicity.

2) Smaller companies and entrepreneurs with ideas go to crowd source funding to debut product concepts, relying less on retail buyers as a first step.

That leaves CES with big TV (but small viewable content), souped up appliances with smartphone connectivity. (Oooh! I forgot to turn the washing machine on... let me launch the app!), and, yes, more overpriced iDevice cases.

People read books in the bathroom, so I imagine they read iBooks in the bathroom too.

Bleaching an iPad probably wouldn't work so well, though it might help with those moisture sensors.

No case for the ipad air as far as i can see. Why do all case makers seem to think ipad air owners are happy to settle for an ipad case, its too wide!! Impossible to find a decent case/sleeve for the air.

"...up to 99%..." Whatever that means.

Berserker-UK said:

People read books in the bathroom, so I imagine they read iBooks in the bathroom too…..

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Touchy subject?…..

Marketing nonsense.

Berserker-UK said:

People read books in the bathroom, so I imagine they read iBooks in the bathroom too.

Bleaching an iPad probably wouldn't work so well, though it might help with those moisture sensors.

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Hands up, who's reading Macrumors in the can right now?

I only read The Verge in the can.

I really think all these antibacterial things are a bad idea. There is a reason we now have antibiotic-resistant superbugs beginning to circulate.

notjustjay said:

I really think all these antibacterial things are a bad idea. There is a reason we now have antibiotic-resistant superbugs beginning to circulate.

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Yep. We're breeding them so the "1%" that survive that "99%" of microbes killed are the ones who reproduce. Score one for parnoia marketers, zero for the rest of us.

It's so weird that this seems to be coming to tech. First anti-microbial glass and now cases.

All this while the FDA is challenging all products that are anti-bacterial to demonstrate that there is any benefit at all, since there currently is no real science to back up the claims that they make.

Edit: here's a link in case someone's curious about the FDA http://www.cnn.com/2013/12/16/health/fda-antibacterial/

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curmudgeon32 said:

Yep. We're breeding them so the "1%" that survive that "99%" of microbes killed are the ones who reproduce. Score one for parnoia marketers, zero for the rest of us.

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From the FDA on Soap:"Millions of Americans use antibacterial hand soap and body wash products," the agency said in a statement. "Although consumers generally view these products as effective tools to help prevent the spread of germs, there is currently no evidence that they are any more effective at preventing illness than washing with plain soap and water.

Further, some data suggest that long-term exposure to certain active ingredients used in antibacterial products -- for example, triclosan (liquid soaps) and triclocarban (bar soaps) -- could pose health risks, such as bacterial resistance or hormonal effects."

This is BS. If you're worried about bacteria on your tech, do yourself a favor and wash your hands.

When I was in high school, we had this discussion with our English teacher one day about how she was so disgusted that most of the girls who went to the bathroom while she was in there too, did not bother to wash up after doing their business.

Most people don't do it because they think it's a waste of time, especially when you have to do the whole getting your hands wet, putting soap, washing them, and then drying them off. Well, a few years ago I heard on a BBC newscast that they did research and just putting your hands under water for a few seconds is just as good. So you really have no excuse not to just do that.

Stuff like this just drains your wallet. There's absolutely no benefit to it. And even though the bacteria won't get into the leather/cotton/canvas, you know what will? The sweat from your hands, which is far worse.

Jessica Lares said:

This is BS. If you're worried about bacteria on your tech, do yourself a favor and wash your hands.

When I was in high school, we had this discussion with our English teacher one day about how she was so disgusted that most of the girls who went to the bathroom while she was in there too, did not bother to wash up after doing their business.

Most people don't do it because they think it's a waste of time, especially when you have to do the whole getting your hands wet, putting soap, washing them, and then drying them off. Well, a few years ago I heard on a BBC newscast that they did research and just putting your hands under water for a few seconds is just as good. So you really have no excuse not to just do that.

Stuff like this just drains your wallet. There's absolutely no benefit to it. And even though the bacteria won't get into the leather/cotton/canvas, you know what will? The sweat from your hands, which is far worse.

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Not just no benefit, The FDA is requiring the people that make the antibacteria product to provide proof that it's doing more good than harm. If they can't substantiate it, they will ban the ingredient. It's been proven that soap and water will kill germs and bacteria just as well. Also it does not kill viruses so you are still likely to get a cold when using it, which is pretty much the reason people use anti-bacterial products.

I can't see the benefit. So my phone is (up to) 99% germ free, but EVERYTHING else I come in contact with is not.

Jessica Lares said:

This is BS. If you're worried about bacteria on your tech, do yourself a favor and wash your hands.

When I was in high school, we had this discussion with our English teacher one day about how she was so disgusted that most of the girls who went to the bathroom while she was in there too, did not bother to wash up after doing their business.

Most people don't do it because they think it's a waste of time, especially when you have to do the whole getting your hands wet, putting soap, washing them, and then drying them off. Well, a few years ago I heard on a BBC newscast that they did research and just putting your hands under water for a few seconds is just as good. So you really have no excuse not to just do that.

Stuff like this just drains your wallet. There's absolutely no benefit to it. And even though the bacteria won't get into the leather/cotton/canvas, you know what will? The sweat from your hands, which is far worse.

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"Hmmmm..I just used my hand to flush a toilet in a public bathroom. Now let me just walk out because it is a terrible incovienence to wash my hands"...Who would ever do that? When I go into a public restroom I don't touch ANYTHING. And I wash my hands EVERY time. And once I wash, I use the paper towel that Im drying my hands with to open the door. I have a whole ritual...Don't ask. But that's because public bathrooms are just plain disgusting.

testcard said:

"...up to 99%..." Whatever that means.

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They can't promise 100% because if they did and someone got sick, they'd get sued. Leaves them an out.

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sulpfiction said:

I can't see the benefit. So my phone is (up to) 99% germ free, but EVERYTHING else I come in contact with is not.

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You don't put everything to your face and by your nose, eyes, and mouth.

Not a good way to look at it anyways. "Everything is already covered in germs so why wash my hands after taking a poop."

bretm said:

Hands up, who's reading Macrumors in the can right now?

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oh great, now i just dropped my iPad on the bathroom floor.

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OldSchoolMacGuy said:

They can't promise 100% because if they did and someone got sick, they'd get sued. Leaves them an out.

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You don't put everything to your face and by your nose, eyes, and mouth.

Not a good way to look at it anyways. "Everything is already covered in germs so why wash my hands after taking a poop."

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its not just things that you put up to your face that transmit bacteria/disease/virus/plagues, its the act of touching something infected and then using the same unwashed hands to touch your face or food. both of you are sort of correct. having an antibacterial case is probably not going to decrease your chance of illness by nearly the amount that would make this case worthwhile, but then again, if you never wash your hands, nothing will.

A ripped-off/rebranded Beyza Case?

http://www.beyzacases.com

99% refers to a log value in microbiology studies. 90% is 1 log, 99% is 2 logs, 99.9% is 3 logs and so on. A log reduces the bacteria count 10-fold. Which means if 1,000 bacteria are on 1 square inch of a surface, you can expect a 2-log reduction that will still leave 10 bacteria on the same area. 99% has nothing to do with infection rates, sickness or anything other than how many bugs will be reduced on the surface over time. It could be 99% over 2 hours. And who knows exactly what germs will be reduced! Without real data, the claims cannot be justified.

Now that you passed micro 101, just wash your hands. Much of these antimicrobial claims for products like these don't mean anything other than marketing hype. That's why the FDA is cracking down on many companies. There are some good antimicrobial products out there but this case may not be one of them. Unless of course the case company wants to share their data.

Oh, yes! No.

notjustjay said:

I really think all these antibacterial things are a bad idea. There is a reason we now have antibiotic-resistant superbugs beginning to circulate.

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This isn't really a concern in this case. This kind of system employs physical ways to kill germs (copper, silver nanoparticles, etc), while the issue of super bugs has risen due to the use of antibiotics. Even if it were possible, resistance to physical ways to kill bacteria would have no effect on resistance against antibiotics.

That's one reason why surgery centers clean equipment using high temperatures, yet we get no surge of resistant bacteria from there.