Accessories

Twelve South launches sleek BookArc stand for iPad mini

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated March 19, 2019

Twelve South makes some of the finest and most beautifully designed accessories for Apple gear, such as its highly-regarded BookBook case series for the MacBook Air, iPad mini, iPhone 4/4S and iPhone 5, the premium, nearly invisible SurfacePad iPhone sleeve or the charming PlugBug charging kit.

Today, Twelve South announced an iPad mini variant of its iPad stand. The arc-shaped BookArc stand looks like a piece of sci-fi furniture and is designed (like its MacBook Air counterpart) to support your iPad in either portrait or landscape on a bunch of flat surfaces...

The SurfacePad is perfect for iPhone nudists

Jim Gresham ∙ March 11, 2013

Some would call me an iPhone "nudist." I prefer iPhone "purist," but no one really cares. The point is, I prefer using my iPhone caseless. Sure, I get cases on a regular basis for prototype and review testing, but that does not mean I want to use one. Using an iPhone without a case prevents bulky third party hardware from ruining my purely Apple experience.

It appears Twelve South is after my heart and as they sent over a review unit of the SurfacePad. Recently releasing the SurfacePad, the company begs, "don't call it a case." Using SurfacePad for about a week, I have grown to enjoy its simplicity. Take a look inside to get the full details...

Philips opens API for Hue lightbulbs to third party devs

Cody Lee ∙ March 11, 2013

Good news for current and potential owners of Philips' app-controlled Hue lightbulbs. The company announced this weekend that there is now an official developer program for the popular LED light set.

This means that we can expect to see more innovative third party applications for the Hue system like Ambify, an iOS app released last week that syncs Philips' lightbulbs with the beat of your music...

Legendary Atari 2600 gaming console finds new life as iPhone speaker dock

Christian Zibreg ∙ March 10, 2013

I've always been a huge fan of video games, ever since my earliest days, and the Atari 2600 was my first childhood gaming console (yup, I'm that old). After seeing the other day this 35 years old system finding a new life by becoming a retro-inspired iPhone speaker dock, it immediately brought back fond memories of gaming sessions shared with my friends after school.

A fan tore a broken Atari 2600 apart, making a few clever changes to turn it into an app-enhanced stereo speaker dock. The Atari dock will recharge an iPhone or iPod touch while allowing you to listen to your music or an FM radio. The mod also features six equalizer settings, comes with a remote control of its own and has a 3.5mm jack to connect other audio sources...

Palm Top Theater gives your iPhone that 3D display you’ve always wanted (or not)

Oliver Haslam ∙ March 10, 2013

3D was certainly the buzzword of yesteryear, with Android phone makers scrambling to make their handsets take advantage of all manner of 3D technologies with the aim of standing out from the crowd. Apple didn't make the jump to 3D with either the iPhone 4S or iPhone 5, but that doesn't mean some people don't still want it or indeed that it might happen in the future.

With SXSW going on in Austin, there are always some funky little gadgets on show, and the Palm Top Theater certainly falls into that category.

If you've ever wanted things to jump out of your iPhone's screen, then you'll want to read on...

Snable helps you cut through the cable clutter at home, work and on the go [sponsored]

Sébastien Page ∙ Updated January 26, 2017

I try to live a cordless life as much as I can. I play music over AirPlay at home, and Bluetooh while in my car. I use AirPrint to print documents directly from the comfort of my couch. But there are still these several cords and cables I can't get rid of quite yet, such as my iPhone 5 charger, my wife's iPad 3 charger, my MacBook Air charger, etc. The result is much more clutter on my desk than I can really stand.

Snable is a new product looking to get funded on Kickstarter that's trying to solve this problem. As we were watching the promo video below with my wife today, we looked at each other and we thought the Snable would be perfect for some areas of our home where we get overwhelmed by cables. If you're anything like me, chances are you might feel the same.

Today, we sit down with Adewale from Unique Design Solutions (UDS) and talk about the company's new project. If their name sounds familiar, it's probably because you've heard about them on iDB when we covered some of their previous projects such as the Vavo and the Foco...

The iKit NuCharge: an iPhone 5 battery case with interchangeable covers

Cody Lee ∙ March 9, 2013

When it comes to battery cases for the iPhone 5, there's no shortage of options. Mophie itself offers a few choices—the Juice Pack Air and the Helium Juice Pack—and there are countless offerings from other third party manufacturers.

But that doesn't mean the space couldn't use another contender. And the folks of Shark Design think they have what it takes to be a big one with their iKit NuCharge. They say it's the "most advanced iPhone battery case ever made..."

The Notier stylus utilizes the industry’s finest tip

Jim Gresham ∙ Updated October 27, 2016

The stylus market is a crowded one. They come in all shapes, sizes, colors, and tips and are an integral part of personal computing history. Today, we take a look at Musemee's Notier stylus, which just received a product update. Boasting the "world's finest tip design," I was interested to give it a go.

As a disclaimer, I last used a stylus in 2004 on my Toshiba e-755 Pocket PC. Makes me sick thinking about it. Sure, I have dabbled here and there with a few styli when my friends have them around, but I have neither set off in quest for one, nor have I dreamed of wanting one. So, here I am reviewing the Notier with a fresh pair of preconceived notions and a nine year break from ever caring...

New webstore offers all of your favorite Apple-related Kickstarter projects

Cody Lee ∙ March 8, 2013

Are you an iPhone or iPad user who's always looking for cool new accessories? If so, you might be interested in knowing that there's a new website out (well, it's relaunching) that offers a range of Apple add-ons that aren't typically sold in stores.

The site, called BiteMyApple, is billed as a one-stop accessory shop for the iPhone, iPad, iPod touch and Mac computers. And its entire inventory is filled with products that were once successful Kickstarter projects. More details after the fold...

Meet the GLAS.t Slim, a thinner and lighter glass screen protector for iPhone 5

Sébastien Page ∙ March 7, 2013

I have a hard time hiding my love for the GLAS.t family of screen protectors for one simple reason: I just think they're the best. A few months ago I reviewed the GLAS.t, which I believed was the best screen protector for iPhone 5, but things just got even better!

The fine folks over at SGP sent me their new GLAS.t Slim for iPhone 5 for review. I've been sporting it for a little over a week now and I'm here to give you a quick review of the product...

The VersaCover for iPad mini knows when to hold or fold

Jim Gresham ∙ March 7, 2013

Personally, I am not fond of folding, origami-sytle cases for iPad. Yet, there are a decent amount of them on the market. You know them. They have a folding back that props your iPad in any number of different angles to increase or decrease the viewing angle. Big deal. Up until now, I have never given an origami case a glance. In fact, sometimes I refuse to review them, but I had a hard time telling Moshi 'no' for their VersaCover. Finding myself happily surprised, look past the fold to see if these cases are the right fit for you...

Kordl promises to tangle proof your earbuds

Jim Gresham ∙ Updated January 26, 2016

You reach for your earbuds already knowing they are a tangled mess, but you don't know any different. Why are they always tangled? The guys behind Kordl are trying to start a tangle free revolution with their Christie Street project. Having met with some Christie Street reps at CES, they have been keeping me updated on their new projects and were nice enough to send over a working prototype of the new tangle preventing clip of plastic...