Accessories

Samsung says its Gear S2 smartwatch will support iPhone later this year

Cody Lee ∙ Updated October 16, 2018

During its CES keynote on Tuesday, Samsung announced that iOS compatibility is coming soon to its Gear S2 smartwatch. On stage at the Las Vegas event, the company's VP Alanna Cotton said that the popular Tizen-powered accessory is getting iPhone support later this year.

Cotton didn't offer up specific dates or details, but expect S2 functionality to be far more limited on iOS than it is on Android. Apple does not give developers the kind of low-level access its own Watch enjoys—something that has long-hampered Pebble and Android Wear devices.

Apple allegedly plans to bundle iPhone 7 with wireless EarPods

Christian Zibreg ∙ January 5, 2016

Following a November 2015 claim by the Japanese blog Macotakara which asserted that Apple will ditch the standard 3.5mm headphone port on an 'iPhone 7' to focus exclusively on supporting Lightning-enabled headsets and wireless headphones, a new supply chain rumor published Tuesday by Chinese websites Anzhuo.cn and Feng claims that the Cupertino firm will actually bundle the next iPhone with a wireless version of its EarPods headphones to make up for the missing headphone jack.

Dual-layer ArmorBox by i-Blason protects your iPad Air 2 like a boss

Lory Gil ∙ Updated April 30, 2018

We've got another rugged case to tell you about as part of our accessory spotlight series, which is where we showcase a variety of accessories, from cases to speakers, which are top of their class. We select the products in this series to highlight based on a high consumer rating, although we may not have tested them ourselves.

You may know by now that I love camping. I also love bringing my gadgets with me when I spend time in the great outdoors. I know that goes against what most people consider "roughing it," but some of my favorite pastimes involve sitting around the campfire listening to podcasts, or watching a movie in my tent when the world outside is totally black.

If you like to bring your iPad Air 2 with you on camping trips, or maybe you are just prone to accidents and just want to protect your tablet with a rugged case, you should check out the ArmorBox by i-Blason.

Griffin introduces handy new Travel Power Bank for Apple Watch

Cody Lee ∙ January 4, 2016

Griffin on Monday added to the stack of CES product announcements by introducing the Travel Power Bank for Apple Watch. As you can see in the photo, the accessory is essentially a tiny battery pack with an inductive charging pad for Apple's wearable.

Griffin says that the built-in battery is of the 800 mAh variety, which is good enough to fully recharge the Apple Watch up to four times before needing more power for itself. That's not too shabby for a device that is so small it can be attached to a keychain.

Samsung’s latest external SSD comes with USB-C

Christian Zibreg ∙ January 4, 2016

If you're a proud owner of Apple's one-port MacBook, up until recently you could only connect a handful of USB-C accessories without using a USB-C-to-USB adapter. But if CES is an indication, 2016 is going to be the year of USB Type-C.

Earlier today, my colleague Jeff told you about several MacBook-friendly USB Type-C monitors and I wrote about Griffin’s USB-C power cable which brings MagSafe charging to the MacBook. Samsung, too, has jumped on the USB-C bandwagon with the Portable SSD T3, basically a next-generation, USB-C-enabled version of its external solid state drive series.

The switch to USB-C connection has made possible data transfer speeds of up to 450 megabytes per second, enough to handle 4K video editing. And with compatibility across multiple operating systems and devices, the T3 works not only with your MacBook but other USB-C-enabled notebooks and desktops.

This new portable charger wants you to believe it was designed by Apple

Christian Zibreg ∙ January 4, 2016

Picking a portable battery pack for your iPhone or other smartphone brand can be a daunting task. There are literally hundreds of such accessories in the marketplace that are vying for your attention, available in many shapes, sizes and price points.

The latest entrant to the mobile charging game is a Silicon Valley startup called 4Second Life, which at CES 2016 in Las Vegas showed off its portable charger, the Aluminum VI, which looks (or wants to look) like it was designed by Apple itself.

Brydge launches backlit keyboard cases for iPad Pro and iPad mini 4

Christian Zibreg ∙ January 4, 2016

Accessory vendor Brydge launched at CES 2016 in Las Vegas a pair of brand new clamshell backlit keyboard cases for Apple's super-sized iPad Pro and the fourth-generation iPad mini.

Both the aluminum-clad $189 BrydgePro for iPad Pro and the $99 BrydgeMini for iPad mini 4 have rechargeable three-month batteries, sport backlit keys akin to those on MacBooks, offer Bluetooth connectivity and have a multi-angle hinge mechanism for folding them into a clamshell-like appearance.

Griffin’s new USB-C power cable brings MagSafe charging to 12-inch MacBook

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated November 9, 2016

Apple's twelve-inch MacBook is one hell of a laptop in terms of portability, build quality and features, but some people are fretting over its limited expandability. With just one USB-C port, folks who wish to connect more than one accessory to the notebook must buy pricey USB-C adapters.

Sadly, the adoption of USB-C on the one-port MacBook has also meant nixing Apple's tremendously popular MagSafe adapter.

If you're concerned about sending your notebook flying by accidentally tripping over its USB-C charging cable, Griffin has a solution for you in the form of a newly announced charging cable that brings MagSafe-like technology to the new MacBook.

Multi-Angle DODOcase for iPad Air 2 is a folio with style

Lory Gil ∙ Updated November 5, 2017

Today's accessory spotlight series is on folio cases for the iPad Air 2. In this series, we provide information on a variety of different accessories for iPhone and iPad to help you pick the right item for your needs. We choose the products in this series because of their significant consumer rating, even though we may not have tested them ourselves.

Dodo makes high quality, executive style folio cases for all models of the iPad. Current US president, Barack Obama has been spotted with a DODOcase in the past. We want to tell you about the company's most popular model, the Multi-Angle DODOcase, which has a sleek, business-like look, but also has useful functionality.

The best wallet cases for iPhone 6s

Lory Gil ∙ December 29, 2015

By now, you've probably noticed that we've been publishing accessory spotlight posts to provide you with a variety of options for your personal tastes. We weed through the muck and filter the best accessories, based on their popularity and consumer ratings.

Today, we've got a roundup of top wallet cases that have been highly rated and hugely popular amongst iPhone 6s owners. If you don't see your favorite on the list, please share it with us in the comment section below.

House of Marley’s Chant Sport is a speaker that fits in your cup holder

Lory Gil ∙ December 29, 2015

Welcome to another edition of our accessory spotlight series. We want to present you with a well-rounded variety of accessories for your iPhone or iPad so you can find what is just right for you. Many of these products are not new, but are spotlighted here because of their high consumer ratings. Today's category is portable mini Bluetooth speakers.

This year, speaker maker House of Marley launched a new cylindrical speaker that packs a punch for its diminutive size and costs much less that others in its category. It is shaped like a soda can and blasts your tunes in multiple directions.

The best accessories for new iPhone and iPad owners

Lory Gil ∙ Updated May 9, 2018

Now that you have your brand new iPhone 6s or 6s Plus, or maybe iPad Air 2 or iPad Pro (or both, for that matter), you'll need some accessories to go with your new gadgets. Cases are a must have for protection, but there are lots of ways to compliment the look and productivity of your iOS device.

We've got a list of our 10 favorite accessories for the iPhone and iPad. But, keep in mind that everyone is different and what we think is perfect, might not fit your needs. If you have favorite accessories for the iPhone and iPad, please feel free to include them in the comments.