What's the most aggravating thing about a new gadget? When it gets scuffed up and loses its "new gadget" shine. You know this, I know this and the entire industry that's grown up around providing cases for our mp3 players, cell phones and portable game systems not only knows it, they've made quite a buck selling items to help us avoid the problem. For example, I just dropped $20 on a silicone case for my Q whose sole function is to keep the case from getting scratched and dirty - to think that case will protect the phone in the case of a serious fall is sheer fantasy.

However, for everyone who's ever spent money on accessories that do nothing put preserve the gloss, there's a sign of hope; according to NewScientistTech, Finnish cell-phone maker Nokia just filed a patent for a tough coal-based coating that not keeps plastic from getting scratched, but also repels dust and adds a metallic glow to the surface. The coating, which is also biodegradable, has a composition similar to diamond and is versatile enough to cover even the cheapest of plastics. No word on when this coating will hit the streets, but when it does, I'm sure it will change the gadget market forever.

Via Slashdot