On the Side: the FLASHr iPhone case offers a better, brighter notification light

As advanced a smartphone as it is, the iPhone still lacks a pretty common feature you’ll find on budget mobile phones and most Android devices: a notification light. Sure, you can enable the camera flash at the back to work as one, but since it’s at the back, it’s something you’re bound to miss. And if it’s lying face-down, a camera flash might be a little too bright. Here’s a case that addresses that particular lack of a notification system, for the people who hate missing out on updates and messages the second they come in: Called the FLASHr, it’s basically an iPhone case that spreads out the notification light from the built-in LED flash around the phone’s edges.

The case is built using multiple layers that includes what the creator calls a Glow Frame. This clear, colored panel takes the light from the camera flash and spreads it around, virtually making it impossible to miss. The case also comes with a switch that opens and closes the flash window, for the times when you actually need to use the camera’s flash.

The FLASHr features five different colors for the multiple parts (including five possible colors for the Glow Plate), making for 125 possible color combinations. It’s currently listed on Kickstarter, looking to reach a funding goal of $75,000 before August 24. If a case that flashes for notifications is something you’re looking for, head on over to the Kickstarter’s page to sign up for one. $35 will get you a custom color combo FLASHr case, but there are still a few early bird slots left where you can get one for $30.