Accessories

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

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

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.

Lunatik launches Kickstarter for rugged ‘Epik’ Apple Watch kit

Lunatik, the company who in many ways sparked the Apple-wearable frenzy with its TikTok watch kits for the iPod Nano, has launched a new Kickstarter. Returning to its roots, the team has developed a rugged case/strap kit for 42mm Apple Watch models.

Dubbed the 'Epik,' the kit features a case forged from aluminum alloy and premium performance materials. It fits around a strapless Apple Watch, and can be paired with either a silicon sport strap or a premium aluminum link bracelet with a butterfly clasp.

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

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.

ON Charge magnetic wireless charging solution for iPhone launches on Kickstarter

Don't you wish your iPhone had wireless charging like the Apple Watch does? I didn't think wireless charging would be a thing for me until my Apple Watch and its inductive charger landed on my desk. I now want this technology on my iPhone but until Apple delivers a wireless charging solution of its own, we'll have to make do with third-party accessories.

Today, I want to talk about the ON Charger battery and the ON Case for your iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus which recently launched on crowd-funding platform Kickstarter. Both the charging base and the case feature a cool magnet assisted design making them cross-compatible with multiple smartphone brands.

GMYLE Book Case for iPhone 6 Plus review: fake it ’til you make it

The original BookBook case for the iPhone 4 was a trendsetter and one of my favorite iPhone accessories ever. Unfortunately, the version for the iPhone 5 didn't hold up nearly as well for me, and started coming apart at the seams after just a few months. With the BookBook case for the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus, Twelve South appears to be back at their winning ways with some innovative new features.

Due to the company's success, it's not surprising that several copycat cases have surfaced online. One such case, the GMYLE Book Case, is a shameless copy of Twelve South's popular case line. In fact, it's so shameless that my curiosity got the best of me, and I had to order one.

Harmon Kardon SoundSticks: when modern industrial design meets beautiful sound

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

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.

Mophie introduces new waterproof battery case for iPhone 6

On Tuesday, California-based accessory maker Mophie announced its first ever waterproof battery cased called the "Juice Pack H2PROTM." The case is made for the iPhone 6, and features a durable design to protect against drops, dust, dirt and of course, water damage.

The battery pack included in the case is of the 2,750mAh lithium-ion variety, which will allow users to enjoy up to 14 hours of additional talk time, 10 hours of web browsing and 50 hours of music. Mophie says overall, the H2PROTM more than doubles iPhone battery life.

Apple launches ‘Made for Apple Watch’ program for third-party bands

Apple on Monday launched an official program for companies to develop third-party bands for the Apple Watch. As noted by 9to5Mac, a website just popped up on Apple's developer portal called 'Creating Bands for Apple Watch,' and it offers up details on a new 'Made for Apple Watch' program.

On the site, Apple explains that Watch bands are "easily changed with simple release buttons and lugs that secure the band to the Apple Watch case." A set of guidelines and a lug profile are provided for those that want to create custom bands, and Apple says official Watch lugs will be available soon.

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

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

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.