The Sensu Brush will change your uncool stylus stereotypes

By Jim Gresham on Mar 28, 2013

When I think of a stylus, I immediately jump to this image in my head of a nerd wearing something like a Best Buy Geek Squad suit with thick glasses and black rims. On the weekend this person likes to configure Punnett squares with the probabilities of his offspring’s hair color instead of actually dating. Obviously he lists Binary as his second language on the resume.

Anyway, I’m here to break this stereotype. Not that I exude coolness or a hip, forward lifestyle, but I like to think I’m not a pocket protecting member of the nerd herd. Sensu is a cool stylus and after about 500 words, I think you will agree… Read More

 

Belkin launches new Ultimate Keyboard Case for iPad

By Cody Lee on Mar 27, 2013

Belkin today announced the online availability of its newest iPad accessory, the Ultimate Keyboard Case. Well, it’s available for pre-order today, and will start shipping to select retailers in May.

So what’s so special about the Ultimate Keyboard Case? With a keyboard that is just 6.4mm thin and weighing 17 oz, it’s now the slimmest and lightest keyboard folio of its kind on the market… Read More

 

Bluelounge releases Mika, one stand to rule them all

By Jim Gresham on Mar 26, 2013

It is almost redundant for me to begin another article expressing my love affair with quality iOS device stands, but, for the sake of tradition, allow my introduction sentence to lend credence to my lust. Bluelounge announced today, their newest product, the Mika, which is a simple stand for iPad, but strong enough to hold a full size MacBook. Thanks to a buddy at Bluelounge, I was able to get my hands on one for review prior to the announcement… Read More

 

Logitech unveils colorful new Keyboard Folios for iPad and iPad mini

By Christian Zibreg on Mar 26, 2013

Logitech today launched two new interesting accessories for your iPad: the Keyboard Folio and Keyboard Folio Mini. As the names suggest, the former is for your full-size 9.7-inch iPad and the latter is for its little brother, the 7.9-inch iPad mini. These act as both a protective cover which attaches to your device magnetically and a physical Bluetooth-enabled keyboard with custom iPad shortcuts. Additionally, a hands-free flip stand props up your device in two comfortable viewing angles… Read More

 

The Mist: a minimal and lightweight iPhone case for people who don’t like cases

By Sebastien Page on Mar 23, 2013

If you follow me on Twitter or listen to our podcast, you know I’m not a big fan of cases. There are two main reasons why I’d rather go for a naked iPhone. One, I consider myself a minimalist when it comes to design and aesthetics, and using a case goes against that. Two, and maybe the most important reason, is that I think the white iPhone 5 is such a beautiful device that it should be considered a criminal offense to slap a case around it.

This being said, I quickly changed my mind when I dropped my iPhone a few weeks ago as I was walking through the door. It appeared it had fallen face flat on the tiles. As I picked it up, I was preparing myself for the worst as I was pretty sure the screen was cracked. It was not. As a matter of fact, it just had what most people would consider a tiny dent right on the chamfer, but that was enough to make me reconsider my “no case” policy… Read More

 

Thuraya’s new sleeve transforms your iPhone into a satellite phone

By Christian Zibreg on Mar 20, 2013

The United Arab Emirates-headquartered Thuraya has been in the mobile satellite services business literally as long as I can recall seeing their ads on MTV as a teenager. Thuraya operates in 140+ countries across Europe, the Middle East, North, Central and East Africa, Asia and Australia, covering two-thirds of the globe. Last summer, the company also started providing roaming services in the United States through its partnership with T-Mobile USA.

Because Thuraya has been selling pricey satellite phones and access to its global communications network for ages, their very first iPhone accessory launch is totally unexpected, but welcomed. The aptly named SatSleeve enables global satellite coverage for your iPhone by tapping an accompanying app to talk to the sleeve and route your text messages and phone calls through Thuraya’s network of satellites. Wait, there’s more to this special case than meets the eye… Read More

 

ColcaSac promotes natural product materials and iPad minimalism

By Jim Gresham on Mar 20, 2013

The iPad mini is an elegant device with its chamfered edges and anodized coating. I really hate using cases that cover up the design, which brings me to sleeves. The best thing about a slipcase is the ability to enjoy the beauty and feel of the iPad mini without covering it up in a terrible, bulky case. The people at ColcaSac, whose iPhone case I previously covered, have developed a new line of cases for the iPad mini… Read More

 

Bloomberg: Samsung in race with Apple to get wristwatch to market

By Cody Lee on Mar 19, 2013

We’ve heard a lot of talk in recent months that Apple is working on a wristwatch-like device. And it could be ready to launch as soon as this year. We’ve also seen some alleged leaked screenshot images that suggest Samsung is working on a similar product.

Tonight, Bloomberg is out with a new report that adds significant weight to both rumors, claiming that not only are both companies preparing wearable devices that perform similar functions as smartphones, but they’re both racing to get them to market… Read More

 

Review: Logitech Ultrathin Keyboard Cover for iPad mini

By Jeff Benjamin on Mar 18, 2013

My goal was to type more efficiently on my iPad mini, without sacrificing the device’s portability. I also wanted a keyboard that would actually improve my typing ability, not hinder it. I found such a product with the Logitech Ultrathin Keyboard Cover for iPad mini.

I know — that’s a whole lot of name for such a diminutive product. Let’s just call it the Ultrathin mini hereafter, shall we? Good. Let’s talk about what makes this little device so special, and how it has significantly improved my iPad mini based workflow. Read More

 

Seagate dominates the mobile storage competition with 1TB Wireless Plus

By Jim Gresham on Mar 14, 2013

After meeting with Seagate at CES, I was excited to get my paws on their new Wireless Plus, which is big brother to the recently retired and previously reviewed GoFlex Satellite. We all need our digital content on the go and, often, our iOS devices do not have enough room. I know my 16GB are carefully utilized on both iPad mini and iPhone. Toting around a Wi-Fi enabled 1TB Seagate drive prevents the need for choosing which media to bring along. Just drag and drop your media file to the Wireless Plus and walk out the door… Read More

 

Breathometer iOS dongle reads how drunk you are

By Christian Zibreg on Mar 13, 2013

Breathometer, Inc. today launched “the world’s first smartphone breathalyzer,” an Indiegogo project. It’s tiny enought to fit into your pocket and connects to your iPhone or iPad running iOS 5 or above or Android 4.x device via the audio jack. Just blow into the dongle and it will take real-time alcohol readings so you could check out just how drunk (or sober) you are, handy for determining whether you should drive or not. It’s available for pre-order now and is scheduled to begin shipping in the summer of 2013… Read More

 

Twelve South launches sleek BookArc stand for iPad mini

By Christian Zibreg on Mar 12, 2013

Twelve South makes some of the finest and most beautifully designed accessories for Apple gear, such as its highly-regarded BookBook case series for the MacBook Air, iPad mini, iPhone 4/4S and iPhone 5, the premium, nearly invisible SurfacePad iPhone sleeve or the charming PlugBug charging kit.

Today, Twelve South announced an iPad mini variant of its iPad stand. The arc-shaped BookArc stand looks like a piece of sci-fi furniture and is designed (like its MacBook Air counterpart) to support your iPad in either portrait or landscape on a bunch of flat surfaces… Read More

 

The SurfacePad is perfect for iPhone nudists

By Jim Gresham on Mar 11, 2013

Some would call me an iPhone “nudist.” I prefer iPhone “purist,” but no one really cares. The point is, I prefer using my iPhone caseless. Sure, I get cases on a regular basis for prototype and review testing, but that does not mean I want to use one. Using an iPhone without a case prevents bulky third party hardware from ruining my purely Apple experience.

It appears Twelve South is after my heart and as they sent over a review unit of the SurfacePad. Recently releasing the SurfacePad, the company begs, “don’t call it a case.” Using SurfacePad for about a week, I have grown to enjoy its simplicity. Take a look inside to get the full details… Read More

 

Philips opens API for Hue lightbulbs to third party devs

By Cody Lee on Mar 11, 2013

Good news for current and potential owners of Philips’ app-controlled Hue lightbulbs. The company announced this weekend that there is now an official developer program for the popular LED light set.

This means that we can expect to see more innovative third party applications for the Hue system like Ambify, an iOS app released last week that syncs Philips’ lightbulbs with the beat of your music… Read More

 

Legendary Atari 2600 gaming console finds new life as iPhone speaker dock

By Christian Zibreg on Mar 10, 2013

I’ve always been a huge fan of video games, ever since my earliest days, and the Atari 2600 was my first childhood gaming console (yup, I’m that old). After seeing the other day this 35 years old system finding a new life by becoming a retro-inspired iPhone speaker dock, it immediately brought back fond memories of gaming sessions shared with my friends after school.

A fan tore a broken Atari 2600 apart, making a few clever changes to turn it into an app-enhanced stereo speaker dock. The Atari dock will recharge an iPhone or iPod touch while allowing you to listen to your music or an FM radio. The mod also features six equalizer settings, comes with a remote control of its own and has a 3.5mm jack to connect other audio sources… Read More

 

Palm Top Theater gives your iPhone that 3D display you’ve always wanted (or not)

By Oliver Haslam on Mar 10, 2013

3D was certainly the buzzword of yesteryear, with Android phone makers scrambling to make their handsets take advantage of all manner of 3D technologies with the aim of standing out from the crowd. Apple didn’t make the jump to 3D with either the iPhone 4S or iPhone 5, but that doesn’t mean some people don’t still want it or indeed that it might happen in the future.

With SXSW going on in Austin, there are always some funky little gadgets on show, and the Palm Top Theater certainly falls into that category.

If you’ve ever wanted things to jump out of your iPhone’s screen, then you’ll want to read on… Read More

 

Snable helps you cut through the cable clutter at home, work and on the go [sponsored]

By Sebastien Page on Mar 9, 2013

I try to live a cordless life as much as I can. I play music over AirPlay at home, and Bluetooh while in my car. I use AirPrint to print documents directly from the comfort of my couch. But there are still these several cords and cables I can’t get rid of quite yet, such as my iPhone 5 charger, my wife’s iPad 3 charger, my MacBook Air charger, etc. The result is much more clutter on my desk than I can really stand.

Snable is a new product looking to get funded on Kickstarter that’s trying to solve this problem. As we were watching the promo video below with my wife today, we looked at each other and we thought the Snable would be perfect for some areas of our home where we get overwhelmed by cables. If you’re anything like me, chances are you might feel the same.

Today, we sit down with Adewale from Unique Design Solutions (UDS) and talk about the company’s new project. If their name sounds familiar, it’s probably because you’ve heard about them on iDB when we covered some of their previous projects such as the Vavo and the Foco… Read More

 

The iKit NuCharge: an iPhone 5 battery case with interchangeable covers

By Cody Lee on Mar 9, 2013

When it comes to battery cases for the iPhone 5, there’s no shortage of options. Mophie itself offers a few choices—the Juice Pack Air and the Helium Juice Pack—and there are countless offerings from other third party manufacturers.

But that doesn’t mean the space couldn’t use another contender. And the folks of Shark Design think they have what it takes to be a big one with their iKit NuCharge. They say it’s the “most advanced iPhone battery case ever made…” Read More

 

The Notier stylus utilizes the industry’s finest tip

By Jim Gresham on Mar 9, 2013

The stylus market is a crowded one. They come in all shapes, sizes, colors, and tips and are an integral part of personal computing history. Today, we take a look at Musemee‘s Notier stylus, which just received a product update. Boasting the “world’s finest tip design,” I was interested to give it a go.

As a disclaimer, I last used a stylus in 2004 on my Toshiba e-755 Pocket PC. Makes me sick thinking about it. Sure, I have dabbled here and there with a few styli when my friends have them around, but I have neither set off in quest for one, nor have I dreamed of wanting one. So, here I am reviewing the Notier with a fresh pair of preconceived notions and a nine year break from ever caring… Read More

 

New webstore offers all of your favorite Apple-related Kickstarter projects

By Cody Lee on Mar 8, 2013

Are you an iPhone or iPad user who’s always looking for cool new accessories? If so, you might be interested in knowing that there’s a new website out (well, it’s relaunching) that offers a range of Apple add-ons that aren’t typically sold in stores.

The site, called BiteMyApple, is billed as a one-stop accessory shop for the iPhone, iPad, iPod touch and Mac computers. And its entire inventory is filled with products that were once successful Kickstarter projects. More details after the fold… Read More

 
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