Accessories

Charge your iPhone 6 in style with Mophie’s Lightning Desktop Dock

Lory Gil ∙ Updated October 14, 2018

If I had to guess, I’d bet that a lot of iPhone users charge their device at night, next to their bed. Doing so serves two purposes. You can charge your iPhone through the night while you sleep, and you can use it as an alarm clock. When docked, it could also serve as a display for relaxation images and late night talk show viewing.

The Lightning Desktop Dock from Mophie is a stand that is compatible with the iPhone 5, 5s, 5c, and 6. Connect your device to the dock and it will charge all night while you watch movies in portrait mode until you fall asleep.

Frē series from LifeProof is a waterproof iPhone 6 case

Lory Gil ∙ Updated April 30, 2018

These days, when you hear the word “waterproof” in reference to a smartphone case, chances are it is actually more likely water-resistant, not waterproof. There is a very important distinction between the two. Water-resistant means it can get rained on, while waterproof means it meets the universal standard for still working after being submerged to a certain depth of water for a certain length of time.

LifeProof’s Frē series iPhone 6 case is as waterproof as a case can get and still provides access to the screen and all usable ports. Whether you are diving into the Caspian Sea, skiing down the Alps, or attending an outdoor wedding in November, this case has you covered.

JOTO is a solid tempered glass screen protector for iPhone 6

Lory Gil ∙ Updated April 30, 2018

Screen protection is a varied subject. Some iPhone owners will argue that the screen is tough enough to withstand all manner of abuse without leaving behind a scratch. Others believe that, not even a single fingerprint should ever touch the ion-strengthened touch screen.

JOTO is a screen protector made from tempered glass to satisfy those in the latter camp. If you are going to cover your screen with something, why not make it the strongest protector on the market.

Spigen’s Air Skin Soft is an ultrathin case for iPhone 6

Lory Gil ∙ March 20, 2015

Now that the iPhone screen size is so much larger, a thick case is out of the question for most people. Protecting your iPhone 6 while maintaining the slim feel is not that easy, considering even a quarter of an inch makes a huge difference.

Spigen’s Air Skin Soft Clear case is thin enough to cover your case with the thickness of a piece of cloth, so the added coat is practically unnoticeable.

The Elago Slimfit2 is an attractive minimalist case for iPhone 6

Lory Gil ∙ Updated April 30, 2018

It is slim. It is clean. It protects your iPhone without calling attention to it. It is Elago’s S6 Slimfit2, and minimalists will appreciate its subtleness and unassuming design.

If you prefer simplicity when protecting your gadgets, the S6 Slimfit2 has an ultra low profile made from flexible and durable polycarbonate available in 15 different colors. The soft texture case uses double-coating with an over paint and under paint to improve grip while keeping germs and bacteria from being able to stick to it.

Apple pulling Jawbone and Nike fitness devices from retail stores

Cody Lee ∙ Updated April 30, 2018

Apple is halting sales of competing fitness bands, as it prepares to launch the Apple Watch next month. As noted by Recode earlier today, several Apple stores have begun pulling Jawbone and Nike devices from their shelves, and a quick search of the US web store returns similar results.

The Cupertino firm made a similar move in the fall of last year, pulling FitBit products from its shelves. This may be a bit less significant, though, given Jawbone's smaller marketshare and Nike's decision to focus its efforts on fitness software rather than produce anymore FuelBand hardware.

‘Reserve Strap’ aims to extend the battery life of your Apple Watch

Cody Lee ∙ Updated April 30, 2018

One of the biggest public concerns regarding the Apple Watch seems to be its battery life. While other smartwatches, such as the Pebble, claim life of up to 10 days, the Cupertino wearable is said to last for less than 24 hours.

But John Arrow and ex-Nike staffer Lane Musgrave are looking to change that with the 'Reserve Strap.' It features embedded lithium polymer cells and an inductive charging cradle to keep your Apple Watch going strong.

Review: RHA MA750i earphones

Oliver Haslam ∙ Updated March 19, 2019

Music can be a very personal choice, and the same goes for the hardware that we use to enjoy it.

Just take a look at the sheer number of options on the table when looking to buy a new set of earphones. Taking price out of the equation for now, it's clear that everyone has different tastes based on what they are looking for from earphones. Do they want the best sound quality that money can buy, or do they want something with a logo on the side that is going to make them look cool in front of their mates? What about design - do they want bright colors and patterns or do they want something understated?

Since choosing earphones isn't simply a case of picking the best sounding option at a price you can afford, just browsing the myriad of earphones on Amazon can be daunting to say the least, with many simply resorting to choosing something with a name they know or the best looking specifications. What they need is a good, solid recommendation.

So before we go any further, here it is. Buy the RHA MA750i.

iDB travels to CES 2015

Jim Gresham ∙ Updated April 30, 2018

The long and weary January expedition to International CES is now upon the consumer electronics industry. Each year, the entire industry descends upon Las Vegas, NV with more than 150,000 attendees. Noted as one of the largest trade shows in the world, CES is quite a spectacle. Everything from app powered toothbrush games to global players like Sony, Samsung, and LG will be in attendance.

Each year, we head out to the event in hopes of learning about new iOS devices and accessories. Through a week's worth of events, press conferences, and booth meetings, the upcoming landscape for Apple-related tech is revealed. From Sunday, January 4 through Friday, January 9, I will be trekking across Vegas' strip in search of the newest items, which will hopefully include Apple Watch accessories.

CES 2015 marks my third consecutive trip and having two previous shows under my belt, the planning strategy this year continues to evolve with my experience. Three trips hardly make one an expert, but no longer an amateur, my novice skills are at work in preparation for one of the most exciting weeks of the consumer electronic year. I will be flying out on Saturday, January 3, getting settled in, then surviving the next seven days.

iDB holiday gift guide: Lory’s picks

Lory Gil ∙ Updated October 14, 2018

It’s that time of year again for the writers at iDB to tell you all what to do with your money this holiday season. We all have different tastes, but we share a love of gadgets, especially Apple ones. This is the third year for our gift guide. Hopefully, we’ve given our readers some inspiration for the perfect gift for that special someone. Below is my list of great holiday gifts that I think fans of gadgets and gizmos will find worth checking out. My list is made up of gift ideas for fans of music, gaming, and mobile accessories in general.

Divoom Bluetooth speakers offer big sound in a small package

Jim Gresham ∙ Updated November 9, 2016

The market is crowded with Bluetooth speakers. Every time you turn around, there is someone selling another Bluetooth speaker. They are an excellent iOS device accessory and I recommend having at least one. Of course, they run the full range of prices and I have had my hands on cheap and expensive several hundred dollar models.

When choosing a speaker, it is important to decide what is most important to you. Do you need one small enough to throw in your bag or do you prefer a home theater style option that can shake the walls with crisp and booming sound? Divoom is on the lower end of the Bluetooth spectrum. Providing small packaged, portable Bluetooth speakers with a rugged edge is the niche market for the Texas based company, which sent them over for review.

The Kodiak Power Bank will keep your iPhone charged in the rain, snow, or sand

Jim Gresham ∙ December 16, 2014

Samsung called us iPhone users wall huggers in their recent commercial attacks. Sure, we charge fairly frequently, but iPhone owners just like using their device more and do it more frequently. Right? Sometimes that leads to a low battery. Even with an iPhone 6 Plus touting about 10 usage hours before depleting, I sometimes find myself in scenarios where additional charge is critical.

There are loads of battery backups on the market. Just walking into a 7-11 convenient store will reveal small stick sized charging devices for a few bucks. But, a backup is one of those you-get-what-you-pay-for experiences. Take a look inside for details on Outdoor Tech's Kodiak Power Bank.