You know that feeling when you see an invention and marvel that no one had thought it up sooner?  Take a look at this iPhone accessory that has already been successfully funded through Kickstarter (with over 3 weeks still left on its fundraising campaign).  This is the TidyTilt, which solves a major problem and provides an additional couple of features.  Problem: how do you store your headphones/earbuds?  You’re probably not alone if the answer is wrapping it several times around your iPhone or tossed haphazardly in your bag.

The TidyTilt is primarily a cord wrap that will protect the integrity of your headphones and attach to your iPhone for on-board storage.  It is comprised of a thin magnetic frame that attaches to the back of the iPhone as well as a soft, magnetized polyurethane panel.  The panel is designed to fold around the headphone cord to keep it tangle-free.  When folded it can then also be used as a ”kickstand” for tilting the phone screen up, ideal for typing or watching movies.  Since both pieces of the system are magnetized, the iPhone can itself be mounted to any magnetized surface and the earbuds can be mounted and stored separately as well.

Currently the TidyTilt is made exclusively for the iPhone 4/4S.  It isn’t an iPad case–it will provide no screen protection–but it is compatible with many pre-existing cases.  TidyTilt can be preordered now through their site (which will link to Kickstarter until the fundraising campaign is over) in pink, green, blue, or black for $19 ($36 for a 2-pack) and are planned to start shipping in February.

Filed in categories: iPhone, iPad, iPod related, News

Tagged: Headphones, iPhone accessory, iPhone Stand

Keep Your iPhone Earbuds Neat & “Tidy” with TidyTilt originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on January 5, 2012 at 12:36 pm.

The fob, case, and app are all parts of a system of protection.

Back of case, showing camera port, power meter/switch, and card slot.

The fob is similar in size to a car key fob.

Case lock and mini USB charging port.

BungieAir with card installed for desk stand use.

When you put on the case without the app installed, you get a warning message that you need the software. Nice touch!

Filed in categories: iPhone, iPad, iPod related, Reviews

Tagged: iPhone 4 external battery and case, iPhone accessory

Kensington BungeeAir Wireless Security Tether Review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on January 1, 2012 at 12:00 pm.

Belkin’s LiveAction Camera Grip is an accessory attachment that you slide over your iPhone’s dock connector.  It features a camera grip similar to the ones on DSLR cameras.  It has 2 buttons, one for taking photos and another for videos.  The camera shutter button is a fast shutter button for those quick snapshots of your kids running around.  Good thinking on Belkin’s part is to make this accessory case-compatible as well.  It requires Belkin’s own LiveAction App for the Camera Grip to work.  It’s priced at $49.99, direct from Belkin.

Filed in categories: Digital Cameras and Gear, iPhone, iPad, iPod related, News

Tagged: dock connector accessory, iPhone accessory

Make your iPhone feel like a DSLR originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on November 17, 2011 at 4:00 pm.

I read a recent story over on SlashGear that iPhone is the most-used camera for pictures posted on Flickr right now.  After all, many people say that best camera is the one you have with you, and most people have a phone with them.  I saw an item for sale on Photojojo that will allow you to use your collection of Canon or Nikon lenses with your “best” camera.  However, unless you tend to always carry your expensive lenses with you, I’m not sure the iPhone SLR Mount is going to be anything more than a gimmick.  The system starts with an aluminum case with UV filter that’s going to give the back of your phone a bug-eyed look.  The case has loops at the end so you can attach a neck strap and a tripod mount.  When you need it, attach the lens adapter to the back of the case and you can attach any of your camera lenses.  Models are available for Canon or Nikon lenses.  The iPhone 4 system is $249;  iPhone 3 is $190.  (The quote under the above picture comes from the Photojojo site.)

Filed in categories: Digital Cameras and Gear, iPhone, iPad, iPod related, News

Tagged: Camera lens adapter, iPhone accessory

Turn Your iPhone Into a DSLR originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on July 8, 2011 at 3:00 pm.

The NewKinetix Rē universal remote control is a combination of hardware and software that aims to turn your iOS device into a high end universal remote control. If you’ve ever been tempted by one of those $200 plus touch screen programmable remotes, you’ll find the Rē to be a capable substitute. In many ways, it surpasses the performance of those other remotes. Of course the drawback is you’ll need to use an iOS device as your remote!

I’m a multifunction remote junkie. I admit it freely. Anyone with any kind of home theater soon finds juggling three or four remotes just to watch media gets to be comical. The typical progression of obsession is to go from one of those 3 or 4 function remotes, to perhaps one of the medium-priced learning remotes, and finally to end with a high end programmable touch screen remote. After your child drops one of those $200 suckers and kills it, it’s back to the medium tier, but the longing for crafting that PERFECT remote often lingers on. The Rē combination seems like a great solution – with the addition of a small IR dongle and a nice app (which is a free download in the app store- so you can play with it all you want before you commit to paying for the dongle)  you can turn you iOS device into a very high end programmable remote.

The Hardware

The IR dongle is a small and light rectangle that mates to and integrates well with iPhone/iPod Touch devices. I don’t have an iPad, but its dock is also on the bottom, below the home button, so I’d suspect it would work more or less the same. I also expect it to be a bit more awkward to use!

Once mated to an iOS device, you’ll notice right away that you’ll be using your device “upside down”. After all, you really do need to point the IR beam at the stuff you want to control. When you launch the Rē app, the display flips over, and you’re good to go:

The Apps The Thing

The Rē app (in the app store, free) is the key to this product. It lets you create a nearly limitless supply of remotes. The app breaks down this daunting task by organizing your remote life into Rooms, with Devices. Once you’ve defined some devices (essentially these are your software replacement remotes for the pile of physical remotes you have) you can then create Activity remotes, where the buttons you need from each device all appear on one remote. After a bit of head scratching, it all makes sense and works quite reasonably. Let’s do a quick tour of some of my living room remotes in Rē – I’m skipping over a lot of screens and options simply because there are so many tweakable things we could be here all day.

You begin by adding a new Room. Once you name it, you proceed to add a Device for each remote controlled device in that room:

Tap Devices, then Edit:

You can delete or rearrange the order of devices, or tap the + to add a new one. We’ll add a new one, our Sharp DVD player. First we select a Brand, and then a Type of device, which leads to the last step, trying all the variations for IR codes for the device:

You can allow the software to try the codes one after another, trying to power on the device, or one of the other actions listed at the top. When your device seems to do something encouraging tap Stop Search, then Test Remote. You’ll be presented with a full remote for that device code to test. When you’re sure you have the right one, Tap Next again, give it a name, and you’re done.

Once you have a room set up with devices, you can use Rē as a multi-function remote. Select the room, then tap Devices, and you’ll have all the remotes available for that room:

The view scrolls up and down to show all the buttons, and a left/right swipe flips between remotes in the room. Double tapping any blank space will go full screen, getting rid of the top and bottom bar so more buttons are visible. That’s pretty nice, but the real power is in Activities. You create those for a Room in much the same way as you create devices, except the app guides you through a series of questions about which devices are needed for what function in this activity. Based on your answers an initial “combo” remote is created, which you can then edit. For example, here’s my “Watch PVR” remote:

Editing Remotes, Macros, Learning, and Databases

Every remote is fully editable. Tap the Edit button, and then you can tap and drag any button anywhere. They snap into a grid pattern – which is a little limiting but does keep you from making unusable remotes. You can double tap a button to delete it, change its graphic, add a label, and change its function. Double tapping the background gives you the option to add a new button, learn an IR code from an existing remote, and change the background “skin” of the remote.

If you edit an activity remote you can create unlimited macro buttons – each button is actually a macro, or a pointer to one or more buttons on a device. For example, my Watch PVR activity remote above has an Input button – this button switches the TV and Receive to the correct inputs to watch the PVR, by using the right input button from each device for that function.

The Rē comes with an impressively large database of remote codes, and perhaps even more impressive, if your device is missing you can request that it be added. In my case I found they did not support the Hauppauge WinPVR remote. I posted a query on the support forum and was surprised to find they had updated the database the next day. That’s pretty decent support.

IR Details, Actual Use

Although its fun to edit remotes all day, in the end you really do want to just use the thing while sitting on the couch. So, does it work as a remote? There are three things that a remote has to do – it has to reach the devices without undo careful pointing, it has to work reliably – doing the right function when you press the button for that function, and it has to work without looking at it. The Rē combo does the first two very well and fails at the last, because there are no physical buttons. As far as range and angle of attack go, it’s a winner. The IR emitter is very strong, easily reaching the 15+ foot viewing distance in my living room, and working so long as the dongle end is pointing in the general direction of the device under control. I only experienced one non-response to a button press, so the reliability factor is a win – no double actions or odd side effects were seen in testing. The only downfall is that this is a “heads down” remote. You must look at it to know what you’re pressing. It seems obvious given the lack of physical buttons, but if you are a heavy duty couch jockey chances are good you can work any remote with physical buttons by touch alone – no need to peek – and that’s just not going to happen with the Rē. You’ll need to decide if this is a major problem for you or not.

It’s Too Much, Let Me Sum Up

I’ve really only scratched the surface of the Rē app – if you’re remotely interested, I suggest you download the app and check it out. I was impressed with the power of the app, the extensive database of codes, and the responsive support from the company. The physical IR hardware has good power, and the software was battery friendly and uses a fairly intuitive method of creating activity-based remotes. If you are considering a dedicated high end programmable touchscreen remote, the Rē is very much worth your consideration.

Filed in categories: Audio, Video, TV Gear, Home Tech, iPhone, iPad, iPod related, Reviews

Tagged: Apps, iPhone accessory, Remote

NewKinetix Rē iPhone/iPad/iPod Touch Universal Remote Control Review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on November 14, 2010 at 9:30 am.

Have your kids asked you for the umpteenth time, “Can I play with your iPhone?”  Then check out the Woogie from Griffin Technology.  Billed as 50% stuffed animal, 50% speaker case, 100% fun, it’s a green asterisk-shaped plush toy with a slide-in iPhone/iPod touch case attached to the side.  Kids can listen via headphones or the built-in speaker powered by 2 AA batteries and its legs can be tucked to use it as a viewing stand.  It also has its own free app in the App Store that can be used to preview Sesame Street books and more.  $19.99.

Filed in categories: iPhone, iPad, iPod related, Kid Gadgets

Tagged: iPhone accessory, Toy

Woogie is fun, plush iPhone protection originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on September 17, 2010 at 3:00 am.

The Seat Buddy  lets you hang your iPhone or iPod touch on a car headrest or glove box door, a treadmill, or on the seatback tray in an airplane.  The case cushions your device and the silicone straps have hook-and-loop fasteners to suspend the iPhone for hands-free viewing.  You can buy them from the Seat Buddy website for $29.99 or from Brookstone for $20.00 each/$30.00 for two.  The Seat Buddy website says holders for the iPhone 4 and for the iPad are coming soon.

Filed in categories: iPhone, iPad, iPod related, News

Tagged: iPhone accessory

The Seat Buddy for iPhone or iPod touch originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on August 11, 2010 at 7:00 am.

One feature that has always been lacking in Apple’s iPhone and iPod family that many other MP3 player models have had is an FM receiver.  Though many may scoff and offer a flippant, “Who cares about radio?”, it’s a feature that was sorely missed when my wife switched from her Sandisk Sansa MP3 player to her 4th gen iPod nano and later her iPhone 3GS (shown in this review), who uses the FM to listed to TV audio broadcast at the gym.  I had begun to give up hope that I’d ever find a solution to this until I stumbled upon the iFM radio receiver from Griffin Technology.  Read on for more…

The Packaging

The packaging for this product is simple and straightforward.  I quite like the trapezoidal shape, with the inside tray that slides out from the outside sleeve, but only in one direction.   The windows in the back that allow you to view the actual product are a must.

box front - click to enlarge

box back - click to enlarge

inside box - click to enlarge

Inside the Box

The contents of the package, like the packaging itself, were quite simple, consisting of the following:

• iFM radio receiver
• griffintechnology.com decal
• instruction manual (which I promptly misplaced before I could snap a picture)

contents - click to enlarge

Features – Hardware

The iFM device itself is quite simple (seeing a theme here?).  It consist of a headphone jack module and an iPhone/iPod dock connector module, both connected by a 4-inch length of cable.  All in basic white color scheme with the Griffin logo.

headphone jack - click to enlarge

iPhone/iPod dock connector - click to enlarge

The iFM has the appearance of a natural extension of the stock iPhone earbuds:

iFM with iPhone earbuds connected - click to enlarge

iFM connected to iPhone 3GS - click to enlarge

And that’s it for the hardware.  No on/off switches, no buttons, just plug and go.  KISS.

Features – Software

The software in this case is an iFM Radio Controller app that is available as a free download from the iTunes App Store.  As with the packaging and the hardware, the operation of the Radio Controller app is straightforward.

Upon initial launch of the app, the user is first prompted to select the Radio Region.  At this stage, you can also select whether the app will “Stay Awake” when the iPhone goes into sleep mode:

Next, the user is prompted begin the process of setting his or her radio presets, which will become your “favorite” stations:

Next comes the process of actually finding your favorite stations, using either the virtual tuner wheel (on iPhone or iPod touch) or the Click Wheel (on iPod nano and regular iPod), or by hitting the ‘seek’ forward and backward buttons:

And finally, you have a personalized list of your own favorite ‘preset’ stations.  Just tap a station to access it:

One drawback with the iFM is that it cannot multitask.  I’m hoping that Griffin will update this app and give it iOS 4 compatibility like every other app dev on earth is currently doing.  One other thing to note is that you cannot use the iPhone’s headset earbuds/mic to answer a phone call with iFM running, which seems a bit crude:

In addition, the iFM radio controller is compatible with the Griffin iFM Radio Browser app, also a free download from the iTunes App Store.  This app is not a radio, but is more of a media browser, similar to Shazam or Soundhound, that gives you additional info on music and lets you buy it with a tap.

Conclusion

I like this accessory.  I’m not sure why Apple has chosen not to include an FM tuner in their products, and I’ve read a few articles online that the iPhone has the capability, although it is not enabled.  Not everyone may need or want FM radio capability with their iPhone or iPod, but for those that do, this is a simple, straightforward solution.  Easy to install, set up and use, and according to my wife (who is the main user of this device in our household), it doesn’t seem to drain the iPhone’s battery any faster than with normal operation.  The only downsides seems to be the lack of multitask (which should be correctable through a software update) and the situation with answering phone calls.

Filed in categories: iPhone, iPad, iPod related, Reviews

Tagged: FM digital radio, iPhone accessory, iPod accessory

Griffin iFM Radio Receiver for iPhone/iPod Review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on July 15, 2010 at 11:16 pm.

GEAR4, a UK-based iPhone/iPod audio brand, has announced its entrance into the U.S. market.  Its product range includes a wide variety of speaker dock systems, power and charging solutions, FM/connectivity and device cases.  GEAR4′s focus for its October U.S. launch is on its iPhone/iPod Touch speaker systems like the SoundOrb Aurora, as well it’s new app-enabled accessories like UnityRemote.  Prices will range from $49 to $349, offering innovative European design for customers in all market segments.  With its many market-proven products and emphasis on design GEAR4 gives us Yanks some new, tantalizing gadget and accessory choices.

Filed in categories: iPhone, iPad, iPod related, News

Tagged: iPhone accessory, iPod accessory

GEAR4 to bring its iPhone/iPod gear to US market originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on July 13, 2010 at 2:30 pm.

I’ve always been a proponent of protection for my personal gadgets.  Ever since walking out of the AT&T store with my iPhone 3GS in hand, I’ve had it encased in some sort of…well, case.  However, I’d been researching a few of the many “skin” protective type products on the market when I was given the opportunity to try out the iWrap for iPhone 3GS.  iWrap touts their product as “an ultra-durable scratch-proof film that covers your entire device and is virtually undetectable” and offers a lifetime warranty.  Let’s investigate the iWrap for iPhone 3GS.

Inside the Box

• Plastic bag containing iWrap front and back films and a backing board
• Squeegee (basically a blank credit card)
• Spray bottle with solution
• Instruction sheet

Installation

Truth be told, I’ve not had the best of luck with even simple screen protectors.  I’m a perfectionist about lining them up and about bubbles, lint or other imperfections getting stuck under them.  So I was quite skeptical of a full-wrap “skin” style protective product.  I checked out an installation video on the iWrap site, which I found to be only somewhat informative.  On YouTube I found a video that was a bit more informative, but I still wasn’t confident that the iWrap was going to work as advertised.  The only thing left was to dig in and try it.

I started with the screen film.  As with the installation of many of these types of products, you’re instructed to wash your hands first, then wet your fingers with the provided solution, both actions being done to prevent oils from interfering with the adhesion of the film to the device.  Next step was to peel the film from the backing and wet down adhesive side with the solution.  So far, easy enough.  I was a bit concerned about the solution seeming into my iPhone, but it didn’t appear to be a problem.  I did my best to line the film up, using first the home button cutout and then the edges.  I had to pull it back off once to reposition it, but it seemed to go on without much trouble.  However, there were air bubbles galore.  I followed the instructions and sprayed it down from the outside, then used the squeegee to work out the bubbles as best I could.  Even after about ten minutes of this, there were still a lot of bubbles.  It was about what I’d expected, but I was already disappointed.  I let it sit all night and when I checked it the next morning, I was quite pleasantly surprised to discover that virtually all of the larger bubbles had vanished.  I went about my day, using the squeegee to work on the bubbles periodically.  By that evening, the bubbles were almost completely gone.

Next, on to the back film.  Same drill here, but the difficulty level shot up quite a bit.  Lining up the back film was quite a bit more difficult, I think because of lack of features to use in locating.  I tried to use the camera bezel, but it didn’t seem to help much.    I got the main part placed , but then realized the sides and corners were in the wrong spot, and I had to peel it off, re-spray and re-place it.  Had to do this a few times, but finally got it where I thought that at least the main part was supposed to be.

The corners were another story.  I worked on those things for about half an hour and didn’t feel like I’d made much progress.  I decided to let it go until the next morning, like I’d done with the screen film.  Not quite the same result.  Lotta bubbles, and two of the corners still looked pretty rough, because they either had gaps or didn’t want to fully adhere.

In addition, the bottom wrap-0ver edge (near the Home button) was sticking up a bit past the face, and my finger kept getting caught on it.  It bugged me, so I peeled it up, sprayed and re-positioned it.

Using the squeegee on it several times throughout the day forced most of the smaller bubbles out, but the larger ones remained.  Still, it looked quite good overall.

Usage

After several days, the screen film looked fantastic.  Not a bubble anywhere.  No loss of touchscreen sensitivity at all.  The surface is basically smooth, but with a very slight “orange peel” appearance, but nowhere near like an anti-glare screen protector.  It covered the entire screen and about 1 mm of the chrome bezel.  The cutouts for the speaker and home button were perfectly sized and placed.  So after about three days, I was very pleased with the results of the screen film.

Similar situation with the back film.  All of the bubbles under the back film had disappeared after working on them a bit each day for about a week.  And after putting it into and taking it out of my pocket, those corners that I couldn’t seem to get to stay down became pocket lint magnets at the exposed adhesive.  However, the corners are quite well covered, due largely to the precisely cut strips that roll over and conform to the rounded corners.

Both the screen and back film seem to mask fingerprints and smudges a bit more than a standard screen protector or the iPhone itself.  They just seem to be less noticeable and to wipe off more easily.  The film also provides a surface that only slightly “grippier” than the iPhone itself.  I also wondered if I could still use a case in addition to the iWrap, so I tried placing the iWrapped iPhone in both my Incase Slider and my Otterbox Defender, but it was a no-go for both.  I suspect that this is due to the back film, which does increase the overall dimensions of the iPhone slightly.

Removal

It took me a while to evaluate the removal of the films, mainly because I like the iWrap so much that I didn’t feel like taking it off!  However, I did remove the back film, for two reasons: because those corner edges that I couldn’t get to stick down are attracting more and more lint (and it was really bugging me) and also so that I could place the iPhone in a case (see above), since I have several cases I want to try out.  Removal of the back film was quite simple, and I would liken it to peeling off a static cling-type decal from a window.  It only left behind a very minimal mount of adhesive residue, which I was able to clean off with ease.  I did, however, leave the screen film on, because it seems to provide better scratch protection that any other screen protector I’ve used.

Conclusion

I was very skeptical of the iWrap at first.  Installation was relatively easy with the screen film, quite a bit more challenging with the back film (especially the corners).  However, after about three days I was very impressed with the appearance of the screen film, and it only took a few more days for the back film to reach a similar state.  The durability of the iWrap seems much greater than a standard screen protector.  IMO, appearance of the iPhone 3GS is an example of industrial design aesthetic in a a visually-appealing device, and it’s great to have a product that allows you to give your iPhone a layer of protection and still be able to show it off and keep its slim profile.  It obviously offers virtually no impact or drop protection which could be gained in varying degrees by using different case designs, but against scuffs, scratches and spills, it seems to perform quite well.  Overall, I was impressed with the iWrap for iPhone 3GS.

Filed in categories: iPhone, iPad, iPod related, Reviews

Tagged: iPhone accessory, Skin

iWrap for iPhone 3GS Review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on June 17, 2010 at 11:30 am.

So your iPod or iPhone’s got your personal music collection.  And it’s got streaming music through Pandora.  But what if you want good ol’, low-tech local FM radio on your iPhone or iPod?  Till now, there’s been no good solution, but Griffin‘s iFM may have solved that.  Plug iFM into your iPod and it wakes up the Apple radio control software already embedded in your iPod. You’ll see a new main menu choice: Radio.  Then plug your favorite headphones into iFM and you’re good to go.  For iPhone or iPod touch, plug in iFM, and use Griffin’s iFM Radio Controller app (free in the App Store) to control your FM radio.  iFM also works with Griffin iFM Radio Browser.  $39.99.

Filed in categories: iPhone, iPad, iPod related, News

Tagged: iPhone accessory, iPod accessory, Radio

Griffin iFM adds radio to your iPhone or iPod originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on April 26, 2010 at 8:53 am.

Many of us have spent probably way too much time picking out a protective case for our beloved iPhone.  Most require the case to be fully or partially removed in order for the device to drop conveniently into a charging dock.  Enter the dock-IN-case by made2dock.  USA-made, CNC machined from solid aluminum and hand assembled, it features a pocket that is custom-sized based on the case you select from the “Pocket Fit Chart,” which includes many popular iPhone cases.  The dock-IN-case also includes a permanently-mounted USB cable for charging or syncing.  A neoprene bottom prevents scratching your desktop, and two optional holes through the bottom allow sound to travel through.  Aluminum or black anodized.  Available in several styles including original, slant, and desk, with prices ranging from $29.99 to $59.99.

Filed in categories: iPhone, iPad, iPod related, News

Tagged: iPhone accessory, Spotlight Gadgets

Custom iPhone dock allows in-case charging originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on April 14, 2010 at 1:45 pm.

Dude -- remember that 11.50 I spotted you for lunch?

Sure, your iPhone can transform into a flute, locate your favorite Gadgeteer posts, and even file your taxes… But can it really accept payments via debit/credit card?  Thanks to the creative cats behind the concept of Square, mobile transactions are now a reality.  Square is exactly what the title implies, a small, square dongle that plugs directly into the audio jack of your mobile device.  The steps seem simple enough – register your account through the Square website, enter the amount for the transaction, swipe the debit/credit card through the square dongle, and confirm the transaction.  Users have the option of providing their signature (via finger on the touchscreen) and entering their email address, immediately sending them a receipt for the transaction.

Mobile transactions via Square extend beyond the realm of business and allow anyone to partake in their services.  Advertise debit/credit at your next garage sale, square up a bet with someone, and eliminate your friend’s excuse for not paying you back because they “don’t have cash on them.”  Is Square a game-changer?  Would you trust these transactions?

[Courtesy of Engadget]

*Pricing not yet available.

Filed in categories: iPhone, iPad, iPod related, News

Tagged: iPhone, iPhone accessory

Does Your Mobile Device Accept Credit/Debit? It Does Now. originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on February 19, 2010 at 8:30 am.

With the release of the iPad, Apple also announced a number of accessories, including one that would allow users to connect a SD card to the device.  This left a number of us scratching our heads, wondering why this accessory wasn’t already on the market, allowing us to do just that with an iPhone or iPod Touch.

Enter zoomIt, a new product from Zoom Media, who claim that their device will allow you to access video, music, and other files on SD media directly from your iPhone or iPod Touch.

Details on the site are scarce, but if this is something that appeals to you, head over to their site now… pre-orders will get a $10 discount off of the regular price of $60 per zoomIt, and the first 250 orders will also receive a free 4GB SD card.

Filed in categories: iPhone, iPad, iPod related

Tagged: iPhone accessory, SD media

Read SD Cards On Your iPhone With zoomIt originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on February 8, 2010 at 2:24 pm.

It’s been mentioned before on this website many times: one of the curses of technology is the problem of always having to carry it around in order to use it. In a rather unique take on the fanny/bum pack, UrbanTool has designed the icaseBelt. It’s a wide belt that contains an iPod controller, as well as pockets for your wallet, keys, and other items. I was challenged to put it to the test, and it was a challenge I was looking forward to. Here are the results.

The UrbanTool icaseBelt, locked and loaded.

First, I’m not a skinny, young, hip guy like the folks on the UrbanTool website. They may not think of me as being in their demographic, but if they cast that net in terms of gadget usage and needing the touted benefits of their product, they might think again. The icaseBelt is a wide, nylon and leather adjustable belt. The pockets and iPod controller area takes up about 24″. There is about 30″ of webbing attached to the end of this area, ending in a 2″ heavy plastic clip. You can wear it as a belt or a bandolier, and quickly switch between the two. The sliding adjustment ring holds the chosen length tightly, yet slides easily if turned against the pull of normal wear.

The icaseBelt with an iPhone being inserted into the iPod pocket. The controller is to the right. It is attached via a standard iPod cable connection.

Looking from the front, the left side (the wearer’s right side) has a controller for iPod with fast forward, play/pause, previous/review, and volume up/down buttons. These controls are connected to a standard iPod cable that is sewn into the pocket next to the controller. My iPhone 3G fit into the pocket easily without being attached to the controller connector. With that connector, it could be placed in the pocket, but it was a little more of a challenge. But it would fit, and the controller worked as expected. The problem came when I tried to attach earbuds to the iPhone. There is not enough room to place the controller and a standard earbud plug on the iPhone and insert it into the case. I even tried finessing it into the case and plugging in the cables afterward by working through the fabric, but the dimensions of the case are just too small. I really wanted this to work. There’s even a small zippered pocket on the back just behind the iPod pocket, perfectly sized for a set of earbuds.

My fingers are on the seams that define the size of the iPod pocket. There is no way to get an iPhone into this pocket with the controller and regular earbuds attached.

The next pocket over is meant for a wallet or datebook. I carry a Levenger card file that’s 6″ x 3.5″ and about .75″ thick, and it fit easily. In the far reaches of this pocket, there is a retractable keyring.

A small ring of keys attached to the retractable cord pull.

I’m not really sure how you’re supposed to get your keys past the wallet that takes up the rest of the pocket, but the mechanism is attached well, and retracts reliably. On the back side of this pocket is another zippered pocket, which could be used for hidden cash, a Metro card, or even a passport. It’s very flat, but has an opening almost 5″ long. It will hold a small stack of 3×5″ index cards, but you’ll have to put them in one side at a time.

The cable for the keyring holder extends about 25" or so. I don't know if you'd want to drive teathered to it, but it's easily long enough to open your door while attached.

The materials are of really good quality. The leather over the iPod controls is smooth, with the functions subtly hot-stamped onto a nylon patch below them. The pockets are made of a stretchy, jersey knit nylon that feels like silk, but easly stretches over whatever is being inserted, yet snaps back into place. The seams are all tight and heavily reinforced.  I don’t think anything on this belt pack would wear out or fray with normal use.

That being said, normal use is tough to do, since the placement of the pockets’ features are so irritating, as mentioned above. I wanted to test this with my iPhone, but can’t have music playing from my waist without earbuds – it’s not a good listening experience, and irritates those around you. And the keys aren’t accessable stuffed back on the other side of my card file.

So, for materials and workmanship, I give it five stars. For design and useability, however, I give it one star. Over all, that’s three stars, but if you’ve got an iPod Nano and a phone to put in the other pocket, it may work better for you.

Filed in categories: Gear, iPhone, iPad, iPod related, Reviews, Travel Gear

Tagged: Case, gear bag, iPhone accessory

UrbanTool icaseBelt Review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on February 5, 2010 at 11:04 am.

Love your iPhone but tired of having to strip it from its protective case to enjoy the convenience of a docking cradle?  Try the Innodock Jr. Desktop Cradle by Seidio.  It features a dock connector mounted on a compliant spring hinge.  This allows the iPhone to be placed in it vertically, then tilt backward slightly under its own weight–connector, iPhone, case and all–until it rests against the back of the cradle.  Compatible with “most” cases with an open connector bottom.  Case shown not included.  Also includes a USB cable for charge/sync connection.  $29.95.

Filed in categories: iPhone, iPad, iPod related, News

Tagged: iPhone accessory

Non-naked iPhone charging with Seidio Innodock Jr. originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on February 1, 2010 at 11:18 am.

If you like your gadget accessories to be unique, check out the handmade leather cases in the Moxie and Oliver Etsy store.  In addition to a variety of wallets, watch bands, bags, and other accessories, Moxie and Oliver offer an iPhone case decorated with a sugar skull.  They also have a leather Kindle DX case that’s different from any I’ve seen.  Instead of using corner straps to hold the Kindle, they sew a silicone sleeve into the leather case.  Prices vary, depending on the item and design.  The iPhone case shown is $65;  the Kindle DX case is $115.  (Some items, like the Kindle case, are made to order.)

Filed in categories: eBook Readers and Gear, iPhone, iPad, iPod related, News

Tagged: iPhone accessory, Kindle case, Leather cases

Handmade Leather Gadget Cases originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on January 29, 2010 at 8:32 am.

Wearable Inc. has put up a barebones website for their new AirStash device, which is billed as a “wireless media server” for mobile devices (the iPhone is mentioned specifically).  Not much information is given, other than the fact that the AirStash will be officially unveiled at CES 2010 — no price, no availability date, no specs.  It seems safe to presume that the device will use Bluetooth for communications with the iPhone, but it does raise questions around speed and security, not to mention questions of how data stored on an AirStash could be used by the iPhone, or how stability of apps using AirStash data might be affected if the AirStash is suddenly unavailable.

Hopefully we will have answers to some of these questions when the AirStash is unveiled at CES over the coming weekend.

Filed in categories: iPhone, iPad, iPod related, News

Tagged: iPhone accessory, Storage, Wireless

AirStash promises portable wireless storage originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on January 4, 2010 at 5:16 pm.

The iLuv iHD171 brings HD radio to the clock radio with iPod dock.  The  iLuv iHD171 works with the iPhone and iPods with the docking connector, and it has a 3.5 mm audio input for use with other sources.  In addition to allowing you to charge and play your iPod, this iLuv unit receives HD radio signals and displays the HD station, song title, artist, and other data.  It comes with a remote control and with antennas for clear reception of AM, FM, and HD stations.   You can also tag songs for later purchase in iTunes.  The iLuv has two alarms and allows you to wake to iPod, radio, or a buzzer.  It even will output video from video-capable iPods to your TV.  It’s $199.99 direct from iLuv.

Filed in categories: Audio, Video, TV Gear, iPhone, iPad, iPod related, News

Tagged: HD Radio, iPhone accessory, iPod accessory

iLuv iHD171 HD Clock Radio with iPod Dock originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on December 23, 2009 at 12:32 pm.

The Cinemin Swivel by WowWee is a small, multimedia projector.  It uses TI’s DLP technology to project a clear 60″ image from eight feet away, or it can fill the wall, floor-to-ceiling, in a typical room.  The Cinemin connects to a variety of “personal media players”, including the iPod, iPhone, Flip Video, PSP, digital cameras, portable DVD players, netbooks, and smartphones with video-out functionality using the included cables.  It can connect to some other devices, including the Zune, with special device-specific connectors.  The Cinemin Swivel has a hinge that swivels 90 degrees to adjust your angle of projection without requiring a tripod.  It has built-in speakers and a headphone jack.  The Cinemin has a rechargeable battery that lasts for 2 hours, and it comes with an A/C adapter.    WowWee is backordered until 2010 online, but they have a list of retailers that may still have the Cinemin in stock.  Amazon.com is offering the Cinemin (through a third-party) for $299.95.

Filed in categories: Audio, Video, TV Gear, iPhone, iPad, iPod related, News

Tagged: Audio/video gear, iPhone accessory

Cinemin Swivel Multi-Media Projector by WowWee originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on December 15, 2009 at 9:27 am.

Here’s a stand that can hold your iPhone, iPod Touch, Zune, Blackberry, and most mobile phones!  The M2 Stand from Elago Design holds your media player while you’re watching videos or just keeps your device from becoming lost in the clutter on your desk.  You don’t even have to remove the case to use the M2 Stand.  It’s made of solid aluminum, and it can hold your phone or mp3 device in the horizontal or vertical position.  Holes in the stand support keep your cables close at hand, so you can charge/sync your device while it is in the stand.  It’s available directly from Elago Design or from Amazon.com for $24.99.

Filed in categories: iPhone, iPad, iPod related, News

Tagged: iPhone accessory, Spotlight Gadgets, Stand

Elago M2 Stand from Elago Design originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on December 12, 2009 at 10:37 am.

If the other iPhone hands-free stands The Gadgeteer has featured are just not right for you, check out the Appstand.  It’s a matte black frame that holds any generation of iPhone so you can watch movies, surf, or use any application.  All iPhone controls and the touch screen are accessible, you can still make and receive calls  (using the speaker), and you can charge your iPhone while it is in the Appstand.  It can be used in portrait or landscape orientation, and it retails for $19.99 directly from Appstand.  Coming soon – a set of Appmats, colored inserts that allow you to add a colorful surround for the iPhone.  The Appstand doesn’t work for the Touch, but there is an Appstand in the works for the Touch.

Filed in categories: iPhone, iPad, iPod related, News

Tagged: iPhone accessory, Spotlight Gadgets

Appstand iPhone Hands-Free Stand originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on December 7, 2009 at 8:55 am.

If you don’t want to brave the crowds on Black Friday, you can shop from the comfort of your computer chair for gadget-related gifts.  Check out Levenger’s Pocquettes iPod/Earbud case for a beautiful leather case to store your iPod Touch, iPhone, or other similarly-sized device.  The bigger, suede-lined compartment will hold your electronic device, while the smaller one keeps your earbuds or cable handy.  They even include a leather “dog bone” to control your cords.  The Pocquette case is 4 3/4W x 5/8D x 3 3/8H inches, which Levenger says is even big enough to hold some smaller cameras.  It’s $38, and it comes in red or black pebbled, full-grain leather with nickel hardware.

Filed in categories: Gear, iPhone, iPad, iPod related, News

Tagged: Cases and covers, iPhone accessory, Leather

Levenger’s Pocquettes Case for iPod/Earbuds originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on November 27, 2009 at 3:06 pm.

Vestalife recently revealed three new models of their line of insect-inspired iPod and iPhone-compatible speaker docks.  The Ladybug II ($100) is larger than the previous Ladybug model, and claims enhanced sound over its predecessor, while the Firefly (pictured) promises a wider soundstage and features a very appealing organic design for $130.  The top end is rounded out with the Mantis ($180), which is also the most powerful of the three, and includes a down-firing subwoofer.   All three are certified “Made for iPod” and “Works with iPhone”, run off of four AA batteries or an included AC adapter, and are available in soft-touch finishes in metallic red, metallic silver, or metallic black, each with black chrome accents.  I’m really digging the design on these things… if they sound as good as they look, they might make a great holiday gift for those hard-to-shop-for iPhone owners out there.

Filed in categories: Audio, Video, TV Gear, iPhone, iPad, iPod related

Tagged: Audio, iPhone accessory

Vestalife unveils three new iPod speaker docks originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on October 27, 2009 at 9:00 pm.

Anyone who has owned an iPhone for even a short period of time can tell you that its biggest flaw — or at least, the biggest flaw that isn’t directly related to the carrier — is its frustratingly insufficient battery life, especially compared to standard mobile phones.  The typical solution for most users is to either switch off services such as Wi-Fi, 3G or Bluetooth when they aren’t being used, or to simply charge the iPhone one or more times during the course of the day.  I rarely use my iPhone as an actual phone, and I still find myself running the battery down below 20% during an average day if I don’t take the time to recharge it at least once.  I’m not always in a position where I can sit around and wait for my iPhone to charge, however, and that’s precisely the problem that Griffin Technology‘s PowerDuo Reserve is intended to solve.

You may recall that Griffin had previously released a car charger and a home AC charger called the PowerJolt and PowerBlock, respectively.  Each of these chargers had a single standard USB port and included a USB to Apple dock connector cable allowing you to charge any of the iPod models, from the Shuffle to the iPod Touch.  Griffin has now replaced these with the PowerJolt Reserve and the PowerBlock Reserve, omitting the included USB to dock connector cable and replacing it with a rechargeable battery pack.

Battery pack docked in the PowerJolt Reserve

You can purchase the PowerJolt Reserve and the PowerBlock reserve separately, or you can purchase them together as the PowerDuo Reserve.  The major difference between buying the individual packages and buying the PowerDuo pack is that the latter includes only one battery pack to share between the two chargers.  If you anticipate needing to keep a charged battery pack in two different places, or you simply would prefer to have two battery packs charged and ready at any time, you may want to consider buying the separate packages.

The styling of the chargers has changed pretty significantly since the previous versions, both now employing a theme of shiny black plastic and rounded right-angles that is far more in line with the Apple aesthetic.  The PowerJolt Reserve features chrome trim around the area where the battery pack is docked, which not only makes it a better match for the decor of most modern automobile interiors, but it also serves to make the area more visible in a darkened vehicle.  It’s a minor feature, but it makes the device just that much easier to use, and serves as a further indicator of the kind of thought that went into the design of the product.

Speaking of both small details that I love and design cues wisely borrowed from Apple, all three pieces of this kit (PowerJolt, PowerBlock, and battery pack) have a small magnet built into the housing, making charging the battery pack as simple as putting it approximately in the right place on one of the chargers.  Get the pack within roughly half an inch of its home, and it jumps right into place, just like the MagSafe plugs on modern MacBooks.  The amount of magnetic pull is just right, too; removing the battery pack from the charger doesn’t threaten to dislodge the charger from the wall socket or your car’s accessory plug, but it holds it well enough that the pack will stay in place through all but the most violently bumpy driving.  Since the charging takes place via two metal contacts on either side of the battery pack dock connector, this also saves wear and tear on the dock connector itself, potentially extending the life of the entire system.

The battery pack itself is about an inch and a half tall (including the dock connector), and just under two inches wide, so it’s easily pocketable, roughly two-thirds the size of a Zippo lighter.  The front of the pack is finished in soft-touch plastic, so it doesn’t easily scuff, is basically immune to fingerprints, and is easy to grip when plugging it into or removing it from an iPod/iPhone or one of the chargers.  A single slightly-recessed button allows you to check the battery level via a set of five green indicator lights.  It’s worth noting that this button doesn’t do anything if the pack isn’t plugged in; if you press the button while it’s disconnected, nothing happens.  The first time I pressed the button and got no response from the battery level lights, I presumed that the battery pack was dead, and only discovered otherwise when I plugged it in again to charge.  I suppose this is to prevent accidental button presses from running the battery down, but it would certainly be nice to be able to check the battery level without plugging it in to anything.  The charging process seems to take a couple of hours, and the battery level lights are illuminated throughout the process to reflect the extent to which the battery has been charged.  The base of the dock connector on the battery pack sticks out just a couple of millimeters from the body of the battery pack, no doubt to allow it to be used with all but the thickest of protective sleeves or cases.  I keep my iPhone in one of Griffin Technology’s Clarifi cases, and the case and the battery pack don’t even make contact when the pack is plugged into my iPhone.

Battery pack charging the iPhone 3G

Of course, the most important question here is, “how much power can I get out of the battery pack?”  To test this , I charged the battery pack fully and ran my iPhone down until it would no longer power on.  I plugged in the battery pack until it had exhausted its power supply, and took note of both the charging time and the iPhone battery life reported by one of the many battery life apps in the App Store.  In my tests, I found that the pack would charge the iPhone for 35-40 minutes before it was completely drained, and this was generally sufficient to bring the iPhone battery to just over half capacity.  I did also note that the first few lights on the battery pack went out pretty quickly, and the last light seemed to last considerably longer, so the lights may not be a completely accurate measure of the amount of power remaining in the battery pack.

So is there anything that could be improved about the PowerDuo Reserve?  Sure.  The iPhone isn’t exactly pocketable while the battery pack is plugged into it.  While you probably could physically cram the whole thing into your pocket, I would be worried about snapping the battery pack connector off inside the iPhone.  Second, the dock connector on the battery pack is completely exposed while it’s not plugged into something.  This hasn’t proven to be a problem in day-to-day use for me, but if a lifetime of gadget ownership has taught me anything, it’s that any nook or cranny, if not properly protected, will eventually become stuffed with pocket lint.  Some kind of protective cap for the battery pack would have been nice.  The size of the battery pack might also prove to be problematic for owners of certain devices.  The pack is wide enough that it will block the headphone jack of both the iPod Nano and the iPod Touch, making either of those devices of limited usefulness while they charge.  Finally, the omission of the USB to dock connector cable is a bit frustrating.  While it’s true that most iPhone or iPod owners who have bought a charging accessory in the past probably have at least one extra cable lying around, cables are cheap, and I can’t imagine that including one would have significantly increased the price of the package. If I had lost my Apple charger and cable and bought the PowerJolt, PowerBlock, or PowerDuo Reserve to replace it, it would be pretty frustrating to get home and discover that I also needed to buy a separate cable.

Overall, Griffin Technology has put together a pretty solid set of hardware with the PowerDuo Reserve.  While there are certainly other portable battery packs that provide considerably more power, no other battery pack is as easy to charge as this one.  No cables to plug in, no lining up connectors, just drop it in to charge and pull it out when you need it.  Furthermore, most other battery packs require their own dedicated charger, while the PowerDuo Reserve system serves as both a battery charger and iPhone/iPod charger combined.  The PowerBlock Reserve has replaced my original Apple charger as my default charger both at home and for travel.  If your regular iPhone use is such that you could probably survive a full day if the iPhone battery had just 50% more capacity, and if you need that extra power to be portable and rechargeable just about anywhere you are, the PowerDuo Reserve is probably just what you’re looking for.  If you need far more power than the standard iPhone battery provides, though, you might want to consider one of the more capacious offerings out there.

Filed in categories: Car Gear, iPhone, iPad, iPod related, Travel Gear

Tagged: Battery, Charger, iPhone accessory, iPod accessory

Griffin Technology PowerDuo Reserve Review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on September 12, 2009 at 1:12 pm.