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Austin M.

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Jul 29, 2010
994
0
Washington
Interview with Draco Design....

Q: Considering other aluminum cases cost in the $70-$150 range, what will be the retail price of the Draco IV aluminum bumper for iPhone 4?

A: The DRAVCO IV comes with 6 different colors: blue, black, red, gray, silver and gold. Blue, black, red and gray colors are retail for $99. Silver and gold colors are limited edition with retail price at $119.

Q: So many aluminum cases found on the market today suffer from signal loss (with the exception of a few), what's the mechanism you have used for minimizing or terminating signal loss in the Draco IV?

A: We considered and studied how to reduce signal loss issue when developing and designing the DRACO IV case. So, when the DRACO IV is installed on the phone, the case frame is designed to mount (hold) to the glass surfaces of the phone both front and back, without physically touching the metal band on the side of the phone. And that’s the key to minimize signal loss issue.

Q: Does the Draco IV have support for other third party accessories, such as headphones, third party cables, etc?

A: Yes, the DRACO IV is designed with compatibility and flexibility, so the case supports for 3rd party iphone4 accessories.

Q: Will you be able to dock the Draco IV in third party docks?

Yes, the DRACO IV can be docked in 3rd party docks.

Q: How much lip does the case provide (lay on the table design, screen not touching the phone, only the case) on both the front and the back of the phone?

A: About 1mm on both front and back.
 
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Well you didn't really answer the only question I have... when and where can I get one? I've been ready to drop my cash the first time I saw it. I was even going to buy it on a web site I found but it would of ended up being about $170 and I like it but not THAT much lol.
 
Well you didn't really answer the only question I have... when and where can I get one? I've been ready to drop my cash the first time I saw it. I was even going to buy it on a web site I found but it would of ended up being about $170 and I like it but not THAT much lol.

It will be available for purchase on their website in a week or so.
 
Just thought I'd add a couple of extra images...

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Am I totally missing their website? What's the URL? I'd like to get one of these to compare to all my other all aluminum cases, and all of the hybrids I currently have. But...mounting it to the glass? Might not be the smartest design. That would transfer the shock of a drop straight from the metal bumper directly to the glass front/back panels...unless there's a shock absorbing polycarbonate/urethane layer in between the case and glass, it's probably going to heighten the risk of a broken screen/back in a drop.
 
Am I totally missing their website? What's the URL? I'd like to get one of these to compare to all my other all aluminum cases, and all of the hybrids I currently have. But...mounting it to the glass? Might not be the smartest design. That would transfer the shock of a drop straight from the metal bumper directly to the glass front/back panels...unless there's a shock absorbing polycarbonate/urethane layer in between the case and glass, it's probably going to heighten the risk of a broken screen/back in a drop.

www.dracodesigninc.com
 
Am I totally missing their website? What's the URL? I'd like to get one of these to compare to all my other all aluminum cases, and all of the hybrids I currently have. But...mounting it to the glass? Might not be the smartest design. That would transfer the shock of a drop straight from the metal bumper directly to the glass front/back panels...unless there's a shock absorbing polycarbonate/urethane layer in between the case and glass, it's probably going to heighten the risk of a broken screen/back in a drop.

http://www.dracodesigninc.com

For everyone, try this link (google translation of the Japanese company's webpage). There are some schematics of the mounting mechanism. It looks like the polyurethane bumpers wedge the case against the antenna, and the aluminum just rests agains the side of the glass (probably doesn't have any strength at that point).

http://translate.google.com/transla....jp/deff/dcb-ip40a6bk-0320/#dcb-ip40a6bk-0320
 
http://www.dracodesigninc.com

For everyone, try this link (google translation of the Japanese company's webpage). There are some schematics of the mounting mechanism. It looks like the polyurethane bumpers wedge the case against the antenna, and the aluminum just rests agains the side of the glass (probably doesn't have any strength at that point).

http://translate.google.com/transla....jp/deff/dcb-ip40a6bk-0320/#dcb-ip40a6bk-0320

Ahh..if that's the case, then it's pretty much exactly how the e13ctron case mounts to the phone, and why it has such good (comparatively speaking) reception for an all aluminum case. So I'd expect it to perform similarly to the e13ctron then, since the only real difference would be the styling of the aluminum making up the case.

Edit: Actually, looking more closely at the pictures in the link you supplied, it mounts more like the Element Vapor than the e13ctron. It just looks like it uses more rigid polyurethane in the corners instead of the cheap "weatherstripping" looking material that Element uses. So I'd think this would be more like the Vapor than the e13ctron s4.
 
Ahh..if that's the case, then it's pretty much exactly how the e13ctron case mounts to the phone, and why it has such good (comparatively speaking) reception for an all aluminum case. So I'd expect it to perform similarly to the e13ctron then, since the only real difference would be the styling of the aluminum making up the case.

Exactly what I was thinking. I think the general consensus from your other thread is that the e13ctron has the best reception handling to date, I just prefer the design of this one (aesthetically speaking). I love that the volume/mute "panel" is closed in and that the buttons have metal coverings...

The irony is that I would have already bought the e13ctron if they had released their CDMA version...
 
nice to see my original thread expand to this..for 99$ i think ill hold off the vapor and wait for this:)
 
nice to see my original thread expand to this..for 99$ i think ill hold off the vapor and wait for this:)

Same here. I am not used to paying for cases but if I had to choose this between the vapor, I would choose this, the Draco IV has very sexy curves.
 
Happy with my e13ctron, but like the curves of this. I think I will order one when they start taking orders . . .
 
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Looking forward to a hands on review. If it's $99 might just skip the group buy unless there is significant savings.
 
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Looking forward to a hands on review. If it's $99 might just skip the group buy unless there is significant savings.

I should be getting one soon. :D
 
GROUP BUY! GROUP BUY! Lets save some cash

At least someone got through them, i emailed so many times no word :confused: None the less, are they willing to do a group buy discount :D
 
Got one today! I was really excited until I found out about this....:(
sigh, I guess handcrafted might not be as good as it sounds....
 

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