Accessories

Seagate’s Backup Plus line offers various storage options in small package

Jim Gresham ∙ Updated October 13, 2018

Seagate is the world's largest provider of external hard drives by volume. Personally, I have around five or more scattered around my home, office and desk--too many to attempt to round up for an accurate count. They make great LAN, portable, wireless, and desktop class storage. Of course Seagate makes internal drives as well, but my experience with them is less versed. As I have witnessed, assumedly along with others familiar with the product line, Seagate is now producing a more creative approach to an otherwise simple storage device.

External storage, as a whole, used to be a simple drag-and-drop venture. Arguably, it was a simpler time. I really appreciate the ability to just plug in a drive and drop stuff to it. However, with the advent of social media, home networking, and some creative thinking, external storage is now something much different. Considering the Seagate Backup Plus line of products, which I first discovered at CES 2014, social sharing and saving are now integrated with the drives...

Divoom Voombox-Travel is an ultra-portable Bluetooth speaker for the outdoorsman

Joe Rossignol ∙ June 20, 2014

When I went to the Consumer Electronics Show last year, I was surprised at just how many companies in the iLounge Pavilion were showcasing wireless Bluetooth speakers. I've always questioned the purpose of these speakers, since I have a surround sound setup in my office or simply consider my MacBook Pro speakers to be good enough when I'm out and about.

A recent outdoor event in which I only had my iPhone on me quickly changed my perspective. If you've ever tried listening to music through the iPhone speakers, you probably agree that the smartphone sounds pretty awful. Thankfully, I had packed an ultra-portable Bluetooth speaker in my backpack. It's called the Divoom Voombox-Travel, and I offer a full review ahead…

LaMetric is a real-time smart ticker that pairs with iPhone to display useful information

Joe Rossignol ∙ June 18, 2014

Smart Atoms has launched a Kickstarter campaign for an interesting new product called LaMetric, a real-time smart ticker that displays notifications and other metrics and even lets you respond to them. The customizable smart ticker is ideal for life at home and in the office, with multipurpose functionality and a sleek, modern design. Check it out…

Giveaway: Enter to win I-MEGO MAZE Studio Headphones

Joe Rossignol ∙ Updated June 22, 2014

iDownloadBlog is pleased to announce our latest giveaway of the I-MEGO MAZE Studio Headphones, valued at $139.99. The MAZE headphones launched just a few weeks ago, featuring a soft memory foam cushion, semi-transparent vinyl record-like deco plate, and an integrated metal slider. The pair have a patent pending design that aims to deliver enhanced acoustics. Read ahead for how to enter…

Gift ideas for Father’s Day

Joe Rossignol ∙ Updated May 17, 2018

Father's Day is in less than two weeks in many countries around the world. If your dad is anything like mine, he probably has a knack for everything related to cars and the latest tech gadgets. While we're not here to provide tips on how to stock your dad's garage with the latest car-related items, we did prepare this detailed roundup of Father's Day accessories. So if your old man has an iPhone, iPad or Mac, or simply likes tech, check out some great gift ideas ahead. All prices are listed in US dollars…

Philips demos Notification Center widget on iOS 8 for controlling Hue lights

Joe Rossignol ∙ Updated November 19, 2018

Just a few hours ago, Philips tweeted a concept image of a prototype Notification Center widget that could be used for controlling its Hue lineup of iOS connected bulbs and lights. As it stands, this functionality is provided through the Philips Hue app for iPhone, iPad and iPod touch. But this extension concept reveals that users could have more convenient access to an off button and different lighting settings without launching the app.

Notification Center widgets are a new feature in iOS 8 that Apple announced at its WWDC keynote earlier this week. Developers are able to build extensions that provide systemwide functionality through widgets in Today view, something that has been possible through jailbreaking for several years. In fact, there is already a jailbreak tweak called HueHueHue for controlling Philips Hue lights through Control Center. This prototype is a similar concept…

MBLOK is a wireless flash drive for iOS that fits in your pocket

Joe Rossignol ∙ May 20, 2014

May appears to be the month of Kickstarter campaigns featuring products that eliminate the need to use iTunes for transferring files between a Mac or PC and iPhone or iPad. Last week it was the iStick flash drive with a built-in Lightning connector, and this time around we're taking a look at the MBLOK wireless storage and flash drive by a team of students and entrepreneurs from Waterloo, Canada. Take a look…

OlloClip for iPad now available for pre-order

Joe Rossignol ∙ Updated January 27, 2016

Accessory maker OlloClip recently announced that it will be releasing a 4-in-1 lens for iPad, and has now opened up pre-orders for $69.99 in black or white. OlloClip for iPad, which debuted at CES earlier this year, is a clip-on camera lens accessory that expands your photo capturing abilities with fisheye, wide angle and two macro modes. The lens has a sleek design and is engineered to slide on and off your iPad in just seconds, providing a versatile solution for anyone that takes photos or videos with the tablet…

Logitech’s Case [+] review: the only case you might ever need

Lory Gil ∙ May 17, 2014

There are thousands of different types of iPhone cases on the market. You can spend less than $10 for a very simple back case, or hundreds of dollars on a luxury leather executive cover. There is a case out there for everyone.

Logitech has recently launched the Case [+], which may just be the right fit for every one. It is more than just a case. It is an all-in-one accessory kit for your iPhone 5 or 5s. The kit comes with a protective back cover, a car mount, a credit card holder, a backup battery, and a flap that doubles as a stand. The Case [+] kit comes with nearly everything you’ll ever need for your iPhone.

We have been putting the Case [+] through the paces to find out if it is all it is hyped up to be. Check out our hands on review of Case [+] below…

Twelve South introduces the HoverBar 3 for iPad

Cody Lee ∙ Updated April 17, 2018

Twelve South, a premium accessory maker of various Mac and iOS add-ons, announced a new product today. It's called the HoverBar 3, and it's the successor to the company's popular line of Apple tablet mounts.

The HB 3 looks similar to older models—it still features an iPad holder attached to a 20-inch flexible metal arm, and it still mounts to various surfaces via a 1-inch clamp—but it offers support for newer devices...

Quickdraw is a sturdy, magnetic Lightning cable alternative

Joe Rossignol ∙ Updated May 19, 2014

I recently went on a road trip to Montréal, only realizing upon arrival that I had forgotten my official Lightning cable back home. With my iPhone running out of battery and no Apple Store within a short distance, I reluctantly purchased a third-party knockoff cable from a local electronics shop. In hindsight, it was a terrible decision. The cable barely worked and my iPhone constantly prompted me with compatibility warnings. It was a waste of both $20 and my time.

For that reason, I am enthusiastic about a new Kickstarter campaign for an upcoming product called the Quickdraw Cable by Woodford Design. It is hard to get excited over a simple cable accessory, but the Quickdraw has several advantages over a traditional Lightning connector and most third-party knockoffs. For starters, the one-meter cable is crafted with anodized aluminum plugs that are high quality and sturdy. That includes both strong cable strain relief and a waterproof design…

Bluelounge Jimi solves an iMac USB problem you might have encountered

Jim Gresham ∙ Updated April 16, 2018

Loads of Apple accessories debuted at CES 2014, but one of my favorites was the Jimi by Bluelounge. Simply, "putting your iMac USB port within reach, Jimi is a j-shaped, USB port extension for your iMac to bring your USB port forward, allowing easy access." It is fairly straight forward and, after a pause, genius.

It is rare to so strategically pinpoint little nuances to everyday uses of Apple devices. Bluelounge specializes in these minute details, solving issues we gradually came to accept over time. I resorted to spinning my iMac around each time I wanted to access the USB ports. With an additional monitor on each side of my iMac, adding anything to the port required me to carefully pull my iMac forward and gently turn it to one side. Sometimes, I resorted to reach over the monitor, blindly cramming my cables into the aluminum back. My reckless behavior is no more, thanks to the Jimi...