Accessories

Satechi releases 7 port aluminum USB 3.0 hub that matches your Mac [giveaway]

Satechi just released a new USB 3.0 hub for the Mac enthusiasts. Long have we waited for a quality USB port extender that would match the design and look of the brushed aluminum. The new 7 port hub is smooth and compact, offering ample high speed connections for your various devices. As a powered unit, it offers up to 5Gbps over the 3.0 connection and comes in either black or white options...

The Scosche Railkase adds aluminum to the bumper case genre

Bumper style cases are typically made with a silicone or TPU material. These rigid, yet jelly like materials are suitable for minor bumps and bruises but may not be so helpful for the rugged user. The RAILkase p5 by Scosche is a new case that combines bumper functionality with the protective framing of aluminum, and it just brought home a CES 2013 Design and Engineering award.

It is difficult to find metal bumper cases simply because of the nature of the bumper. A bumper case runs the rim of an iPhone, only providing protection on the sides and corners of your device. Thanks to the creative team at Scosche, the RAILkase utilizes a hinge and locking system to provide a nonbendable bumper option…

Jawbone executive unveils new ‘August’ digital door lock

Well known designer and Chief Creative Officer of Jawbone, Yves Behar, gave the world a preview of his next big venture last night. It's called 'August,' and it's an iPhone-connected digital lock system that promises to change the way we open doors.

Now, Internet-enabled smart locks aren't anything new. But what the August brings to the table is a sleek design—which was fashioned by Behar (who designed the Jambox, Up)—and superior functionality. Think of it as the Nest for door locks...

Payleven teams up with Apple to sell its Chip & PIN card reader

Look out Square and Paypal, Payleven has inked a major deal with Apple to sell its mobile payment solution. The Rocket Internet-backed startup is now selling its Chip & PIN at a number of the company's retail and online stores.

Payleven says it has been talking to Apple about a global distribution deal for several months now, and the two sides only recently reached an agreement. Apparently the company is as protective of its retail stores as it is its App Store...

Make sure your iPhone keeps quiet with The Mutator

The behavior of the iPhone's Mute switch has long been a topic of debate. While switching it off will silence most of the handset's sounds, it won't keep alarms and other system functions quiet, which as you can imagine can make for some embarrassing moments.

And that's where the Mutator comes in. The tiny accessory fits in your iPhone's headphone jack, and promises to ease your mind when in meetings, movie theaters and other 'please silence your cell phone' situations by ensuring your handset won't make a sound...

Olloclip releases companion iPhone app for popular lens accessory

In the world of iPhone photography accessories, there's perhaps no better known name than Olloclip. The 3-in-1 clip-on lens started out as just a Kickstarter project, but it has since become a mainstay in Apple Stores and shutterbug bags alike.

Fans of the Olloclip will be happy to hear that the team released a new iPhone app this weekend, also named Olloclip, designed to work with the popular accessory. The app features a mesh editor, useful modes like Video and Macro, and more...

iPhone manufacturer Foxconn to build own iDevice accessories

Taiwan's Hon Hai Precision Industry Co. aka Foxconn, the world's top assembler of consumer electronics, is mulling making and selling its own branded accessories in a move to diversify beyond assembling Apple products.

Foxconn over the years has grown increasingly reliant on Apple contract and with increasing competition and Apple's slowing growth, the manufacturer is starting to feel the pain, too. The Apple biz comprises an estimated 50 percent of Foxconn's revenue, the Wall Street Journal reported Monday.

And earlier this month, The New York Times similarly reported that Foxconn is looking beyond the iPhone and anticipating to mass-manufacture a rumored standalone Apple television set...

ZAGG offers blow-out prices on all accessories today and tomorrow

Every year, ZAGG has a huge memorial day sale. This year's sale goes all day today and tomorrow and everything in the store is discounted. All keyboards are marked down by 20 percent. While everything else will be on sale for 50 percent off.

That includes all invisibleSHIELD screen protectors for the iPad, iPad mini, iPod touch, and iPhone. As well as protectors for a huge selection of Android and Windows 8 phones.

EarSkinz for EarPods offer both comfort and style

Apple was really proud to unveil its new and improved earbuds, dubbed EarPods, last fall. The company says it spent more than three years designing the headset, and tested a total of 124 different prototypes on over six hundred people, to get the right fit.

But even with all of that research, it's inevitable that the EarPods are still not going to fit quite right for some people. And if you happen to be one of those people, you might want to check out these new EarSkinz covers, which promise to fix that for you...

Good deal: 25% off Smarter Stand for iPad

Folks in search of a fun new iPad accessory, or an early Father's Day/graduation present, should check out this sweet little deal going on over Stack Social. The deal site has the Smarter Stand clips for iPad on sale right now for under $15.

As you may recall, we mentioned the Smarter Stand in passing last fall when the Kickstarter project went viral and exceeded its funding goal by nearly $150,000. Backers were enamored with the product, and now you can be too, at a nice discount...

Apple patents push-to-talk, double-sided touch panels

Among the more than two-dozen patents granted to Apple by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office earlier this week is one hinting the iPhone maker could finally enter the Push-to-Talk (PTT) arena and another one indicating the firm may breathe new life into its rumored plans for wearable devices.

The PTT patent likely is the result of a $4.5 million purchase by Apple and others of a portfolio of intellectual property sold by Nortel Networks in 2011. Meanwhile, the USPTO granted Apple a patent on flexible touch panels which could potentially be used for even smaller devices, such as the much-rumored iWatch...

New Trunk Lightning cable doubles as posable iPhone Stand

It's almost impossible to stand out in the crowded space of smartphone accessories these days. This year's CES alone saw nearly 1000 new mobile add-ons, from 590 different manufacturers. And that's just a single 4-day trade show.

But it's no surprise that the folks over at iLoveHandles have managed to do it with their new 'Trunk' Lightning cable. The understated accessory may look like just another Lightning to USB cable, but it actually doubles as an iPhone stand...