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Comment by gonzo | Hacker News Reader

We make a LEGO-compatible case for iPhone 4, 4S and 5 (and the 4th-gen iPod Touch). (I'm sure that one admission will drive my karma into the basement.)

Shortly after we began shipping, LEGO called. They were very gracious, and only had a couple of TM-related issues they wanted fixed. Nothing unreasonable, really.

When were were done, I offered to send the attorney on the other end of the call a BrickCase. He declined, as he already had one on his phone.

So it's not just kids that they have a great interface with.

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I have one of these and it is hands down the most practical smartphone case I have ever had.

Need a stand to watch a movie on a long flight: add some stubby wing pieces from my Y-Wing set.

Need a way to hold the phone on a stand for Facetime between the toddler and Grandma: a few extra pieces of lego and a rubber band.

Need to hold the phone in place on my car's dash: the studs of the not-legally-lego back help hold it in place.

The only real downside is that the shape of the hole in the back for the camera and flash (iPhone 4 model at least) isn't large enough that the flash doesn't kick off a bad reflection across any image you use it with.

You make a really cool product I'd never heard about before. Definitely of interest to parents who let their kids play with an ipod touch.

Kudos.

(link for the lazy: http://smallworks.com/ )

I love your slogan: "brick your phone"

I'll downvote you for not linking to your product on Amazon with your referral code! (j/k, :P, etc.)

Based on what I've learned here, it's my understanding that shameless self promotion is a spectacular way for individuals to provide for their own needs and for people important to them. It is foolish to begrudge anyone this when they are contributing value to the conversation.

And the context is certainly appropriate.

FYI, I went to check out your case (which looks cool!) and you have a dead YouTube link on your iPhone page [1]. ("This video is no longer available because the uploader has closed their YouTube account.")

[1] http://www.smallworks.com/iphone.php

I love it. If only there was an option for other phones (Galaxy Nexus here).

If it's not available, make it! Stir the hacker spirit up from deep inside :)

I am sure they were extremely easy to work with, since they no longer have a patent on the LEGO brick and thus have no leverage over you:

http://boingboing.net/2011/10/21/expired-patent-of-the-day-l...

Patent =/= trademark.

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