Accessories

Lifeproof NÜÜD for iPad Air 2 is waterproof up to six feet deep for an hour

Lory Gil ∙ May 13, 2015

It is more likely that you will accidentally drop your iPhone into a body of water than your iPad, but it is not entirely impossible. If you are hanging out by the pool with your tablet and accidentally fling it into the water, you would be out of luck.

That is, unless it is protected by Lifeproof's NÜÜD case. This completely sealed off covering keeps out dust, snow, and even water at six-feet deep. Plus, thanks to the thin display covering, you can still use your iPad Air 2 as if it were uncovered.

Apple Watch cases: a look at the Spigen lineup

Sébastien Page ∙ Updated May 18, 2015

Using a case on iPhone or iPad is a no brainer for many people because they are devices that are subject to accidental damages, including slipping out of your hand and hitting the concrete floor, or getting scratched while in your pocket. If using a case on these devices makes lots of sense, there is, at first look, less incentive to use a case on Apple Watch.

But that's just at first look though, because after talking to a few of my friends that do have a more active lifestyle than I do, most seemed to agree that, should they own an Apple Watch, they would likely use a case on it to not only protect the device from the elements, but also to protect it from their own inflicted damages.

My friend Guy, for example, works with his hands and handles tools all day. Using an Apple Watch without a case is not even an option if he wants to keep it intact. So is the case for my friend Kelsey who works out a lot and is worried she might accidentally hit the watch and scratch it on one of the many workout equipments she uses. Whatever your use case might be, if you have a need for extra protection, you might want to take a look at this selection of Apple Watch cases by Spigen.

Fintie iPad Air 2 Case offers 360 degrees of versatility at a great price

Lory Gil ∙ May 12, 2015

One of my biggest gripes about folio cases for the iPad is the fact that most of the stand features, whether it is a fold-over cover or a kickstand, only provide the ability to display the tablet in landscape mode, which reduces your viewing options by 50 percent.

Fintie makes a rotating folio case for the iPad Air 2 that flips from portrait to landscape with a simple twist. No more standing your case upright like a book, hoping your iPad won't fall over.

Harmon Kardon SoundSticks: when modern industrial design meets beautiful sound

Lory Gil ∙ Updated June 21, 2018

Some speakers are great for on-the-go listening. Others are meant for rugged used in the outdoors. There are plenty of quality mobile Bluetooth speakers out there. But what about stationary speakers? Harman Kardon, one of the best-known quality sound system companies, offers the SoundSticks Wireless Bluetooth Speaker System so you can stream media from your iPhone in style.

NYNE Multimedia Aqua Bluetooth speaker is fully waterproof, and it floats

Lory Gil ∙ Updated April 18, 2018

As the weather gets warmer and summer looms around the corner, I find myself daydreaming about spending hours at the river, swimming in the cool pockets of still waters. Wouldn’t it be great to bring a speaker? But, I don’t want to ruin it by accidentally dropping it in the water.

NYNE Multimedia has solved that problem with a fully waterproof Bluetooth speaker called Aqua. Not only can you drop the external audio source right into a body of water, but it will also float, so you don’t have to worry about it sinking to the bottom of the pool.

The Cube is a pico projector that will play nice with your iPhone

Lory Gil ∙ Updated October 14, 2018

Sure, the iPhone 6 screen is larger than any previous iPhone model screen, and sure, you can mirror it on your television set for an even bigger viewing experience. But how would you like to watch movies on a 120-inch screen in your backyard?

With the RIF6 Cube you can project your iPhone 6 onto a wall, ceiling, or even a tent in high resolution. Since it is only a two-inch square and has a rechargeable battery, you can even take it with you camping.

Phiaton Chord MS 530 review

Jim Gresham ∙ Updated November 9, 2016

While wearing my Apple Watch on week one, I kept feeling like something was missing. After listening to this week's Let's Talk iOS, Jeff clued me in. I was missing the music capability. It is somewhat surprising that Apple precluded Apple Watch from playing music through the speaker. Most likely, it is a move to conserve battery power and prevent a poor listening experience on such a small speaker.

Enter a renewed need or desire to have a good set of Bluetooth headphones. Coincidentally, I was contacted by Phiaton to review their Chord MS 530 headphones and happily accepted. The M-series headphones are known for bold styling with a modern appeal and high build quality. Having previously reviewed the Bridge MS 500 wired headphones, I was happy to take a look at the more robust, wireless and noise canceling older brother.

Take your sound to the next level with Anker Classic Portable Bluetooth Speaker

Lory Gil ∙ May 2, 2015

There is no reason to even bring up the fact that the iPhone’s internal speaker system sucks, but I just did. So the best solution to a terrible sound is boosting it with something else.

The Anker A7908 Portable Bluetooth Speaker is a box speaker that fits in the palm of your hand, but packs a punch when it comes to increasing the volume of your iPhone 6. The nearly 20-hour battery life makes it possible for you to keep the party going, all night long.

Amazon’s Lightning cable gives you six feet of charging flexibility for cheap

Lory Gil ∙ May 1, 2015

Apple’s included Lightning cable just seems to fall short of useful. Maybe that is because it is too short. The charging cable that comes with your iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch is only about 3 feet long. If your wall plug is right next to your bed, then you will be OK, but otherwise, you need extra feet.

Amazon makes an MFi-certified Lightning cable that is six feet long, twice the length of Apple’s. So, if you need the extra length, or just want a second cable, Amazon has you covered.

Keep your iPhone charged while driving with AmazonBasic’s Lightning Car Charger

Lory Gil ∙ Updated October 14, 2018

You may have noticed how much juice it takes to run Google Maps or the Maps app on iOS. If you are driving for a long distance, you aren’t going to want to keep your Maps app open the entire time, unless you can charge while driving.

AmazonBasics has an MFi certified Lightning Car Charger allowing you to stay juiced up, even if you are on a long road trip with Spotify playing in the background the entire time.

Charge up to six devices at the same time with the Rapid Charge USB Wall Charger

Lory Gil ∙ April 29, 2015

It is highly likely that you have three, four, or even six rechargeable mobile devices in your home (possibly more). Whether you are using a smartphone, tablet, e-reader, wireless speaker, or some other device that uses a USB cable to recharge, there are probably a lot more gadgets lying around than you realize.

Choetech makes a six port Rapid Charge USB Wall Charger that, not only supports charging of six devices at the same time, but also provides fast charging with up to 10-amp output.

Caseology leather Bumper Frame Case looks classy while protecting your iPhone 6

Lory Gil ∙ April 27, 2015

The iPhone 6 looks good right out of the box. Some would even say that a case only hides its sleek design. However, cases serve to protect your device from unfortunate accidents. So why not protect it in style?

Caseology makes a Bumper Frame case that is covered in leather. Not only does it keep your iPhone 6 from unsightly scratches, but it also has a classy look to make fashion forward users happy.