Accessories

Twelve South unveils second-generation Compass stand for iPad

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated May 5, 2014

Third-party accessory maker Twelve South today announced a second-generation iPad stand, the Compass 2. The original Compass was released back in 2010 following the first iPad launch. It was available from the Apple Store and classed as one of the first accessories that put Twelve South on the map.

The Compass 2 is lighter and more stylish than its predecessor while building on the features that made the original such a compelling stand.

Like a host of similar accessories, the multi-use Compass 2 raises your device off the surface or affixes it in the low-angle typing mode. This is handy in a number of situations, ranging from enjoying your media to conducting FaceTime calls or simply giving your device a nice, elegant home on your work desk.

It works with any iPad Air, iPad mini or iPad and is available in black, red and silver for $39.99...

Moga knocks 20% off price of ‘Ace Power’ iOS 7 controller

Cody Lee ∙ Updated January 26, 2016

MOGA has dropped the price of its 'Ace Power' iOS 7 gaming controller by 20%, bringing it down to $80 from $100. The move follows similar price drops by both Logitech and Strata on their respective MFi controllers, signaling a trend in the space.

The Ace Power was the first of the iPhone-compatible game controllers to hit the market when it launched in November, and it features a d-pad, dual analog sticks, 4 action buttons/triggers, and a built-in 1800 mAh battery for recharging your device...

Sega adds MFi controller support to Sonic titles

Cody Lee ∙ Updated January 24, 2016

It got off to a rocky start, but things are looking up for Apple's MFi controller platform. We're starting to see more (and cheaper) controller options become available for iOS devices, and developers are adding MFi support to their games daily.

Case in point, Sega just updated 2 of its most popular Sonic iOS titles with MFi controller support. Now in addition to Sonic the Hedgehog 2, both the original Sonic the Hedgehog and Sonic CD are compatible with the new breed of gamepads...

Exhaustive list details Apple’s recent hires for rumored iWatch project

Cody Lee ∙ Updated April 16, 2018

Last night we passed along a report from The Wall Street Journal, which featured an interview with Apple CEO Tim Cook talking about the company's past, and its future. And one of the things he harped on was that it has some big things in the pipeline.

A quick look at the rumor mill tells you what some of those things could be: a bigger iPhone, a new Apple TV product, etc. But perhaps the most anticipated unreleased Apple product is the health-sensing, fitness tracking smartwatch known as the iWatch.

We've seen a lot of evidence that Apple is working on a new wearable device, but none of it is more telling than its recent string of medical and fitness expert hires. And 9to5Mac has put together an exhaustive list, detailing what each brings to the table...

Incipio’s Cashwrap NFC iPhone case now available to Verizon customers

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 25, 2018

Case maker Incipio two weeks ago announced its new iPhone case, the Cashwrap. It brings mobile wallet functionality to the iPhone 4/4s/5/5s by incorporating NFC technology. The case is compatible with the carrier-backed Isis Mobile Wallet app which makes it possible to pay with your device at participating retailers, mass transit systems and more, using an Iris account.

AT&T initially rolled out the Cashwrap to its own retail stores and yesterday the accessory became available to order in Verizon stores nationwide and from the Big Red carrier’s online store...

Apple reduces cost and minimum purchase volumes for MFi licenses

Christian Zibreg ∙ February 7, 2014

One of the prime reasons why Apple-sanctioned Lightning accessories, cables and adapters have been so pricey are high costs and allegedly exorbitant fees attached to the company's 'Made for iPhone/iPad/iPod' (MFi) program. Established in 2005, the MFi initiative requires third-parties to use Apple-approved authentication chips and certified cables and adhere to Apple's rigorous testing.

All of the products that pass testing bear an Apple-approved 'Made for iPod/iPhone/iPad' label. By lowering the program fees, Apple has enabled vendors to produce cheaper Lightning cables, adapters and other accessories for the iPhone and iPad...

Good deal: 75% off this pocket-sized USB battery pack

Cody Lee ∙ January 29, 2014

One of the most popular tech gifts and/or stock stuffers, this past holiday season was the portable USB charger. I know I included one in my Holiday gift guide, simply because they're small enough to take with you when you're on the go and very convenient.

But for those of you who didn't score a new portable USB charger this Christmas, you may be interested to know that Stack Social is running a deal on the Keychain Power Bank. For a limited time, you can grab the 2600mAh battery pack for less than $15...

Automatic’s software update just turned your car into an iBeacon

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 26, 2016

Automatic's app-enabled smart driving assistant is genius. The $99.95 accessory connects to the mobile app to not only give you driving feedback and crash alerts, but also help diagnose check engine codes and lots more - because "small changes in your driving behavior can lead to huge savings over time".

And with the latest software update, every Automatic on the road has just became an iBeacon.

iBeacon, as you know, is Apple’s Bluetooth 4.0-based micro-positioning wireless standard. The new software opens the door to some pretty exciting possibilities, stuff like auto-payments for parking or gas fill-ups, for example...

iPad photography is now officially a thing…

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 28, 2019

You're already familiar with iPhone photography, aren't you? And I take it those among you who attend trade shows have by now caught wind of the rise of iPad photography, no? As if using an iPad to snap photos in public wasn't embarrassing enough, Sony has now produced a dedicated camera attachment aimed at tablet owners which allows its portable QX-10 or QX-100 lens to be snapped on.

The SPA-TA1 attachment is designed for tablets between 85mm and 190mm in width so it'll work with your iPad Air (169.5mm) just fine. Available in various sizes from April 4 in Japan and coming elsewhere soon after, it's bound to give iPad photography a whole new meaning, for better or worse...

Moshi launches flip cover iPhone case with embedded sensors

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated October 12, 2018

Accessory maker Moshi on Tuesday announced a new flip cover case for the iPhone 5s and iPhone 5c. The TouchSense, as the name implies, allows you to answer incoming phone calls and silence alarms without having to open the cover.

This nice feat has been accomplished by putting Moshi's proprietary touch-sensitive SensArray plates on the front cover, right where iOS 7's slide-to-unlock (or answer) thingie appears.

And what happens should Apple change the Lock screen UI in the future? I guess Moshi's engineers haven't bothered themselves with such mundane concerns...

Hotel chain testing iPhones as room keys in pilot program

Cody Lee ∙ Updated March 19, 2018

When a hotel clerk first hands you your room key card, one of the first things they usually say is "don't put it in the same pocket as your phone." They say this can cause your key card's magnetic strip to malfunction, although some people question the logic behind it.

But this may not be an issue much longer. Starwood Hotels & Resorts has begun a new pilot program in two of its major hotel locations in Manhattan and Silicon Valley that does away with key cards altogether by allowing guests to enter their rooms using smartphones...

Logitech’s PowerShell MFi controller drops to $70 until February 1

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated October 12, 2018

Realizing rival accessory maker Stratus has shaved $20 off its 'Made for iPhone' (MFi) wireless iOS 7 controller dubbed SteelSeries, Logitech has decided to play along and bring its overpriced PowerShell down to $70. The Logitech accessory now undercuts Stratus by a cool $10 as the PowerShell is now $30 cheaper versus its original price of $99.

It's a limited time offer so hurry up because the sale ends February 1, 2014 (they should have made it permanent). So is this controller now a good value? Read on...