Accessories

id America brings creativity and style to your iPhone skins

Jim Gresham ∙ Updated February 8, 2016

iPhone skins have been around, well, since the iPhone and iPod touch were released years ago. Most of the skins are simple, clear, non reflective strips of plastic or sometimes glass. However, none of them offer a particularly stylized design, until now. id America released the Cushi Plus at CES and I spent some time with one over the past week. It is a padded and highly designed iPhone back skin that is a perfect case substitute, with a few hitches...

Screenshots of Samsung’s iWatch competitor leaked

Cody Lee ∙ February 15, 2013

While there's been multiple Apple rumors bandied about over the past few weeks, by far, the one receiving the most attention is the iWatch. Three major news outlets have now reported of its existence and the word is, Apple's bringing it to market.

Well if that really is the case, then it might want to hurry, or risk getting beaten to the punch by its fiercest competitor. That's right, Samsung has a smartwatch of its own. And if the alleged screenshots above are the real deal, then it's not too far off...

Apple said to be moving forward with iWatch project

Cody Lee ∙ February 14, 2013

You can call it the 'iWatch.' You can call it a 'wearable computer.' Heck, you can even call it a 'bad idea.' But after a week of hearing reports from major news outlets that Apple is working on a wristwatch-like device, it looks like it's happening.

And that certainty becomes a little more solid this afternoon, as iMore's Rene Ritchie adds his weight to the rumor. Ritchie, who has proven to be very accurate with Apple intel, reports that Apple is indeed moving forward with the project...

Mophie offers insight on Apple’s strict Lightning accessory program

Cody Lee ∙ February 14, 2013

When Apple introduced the iPhone 5 last fall, it turned the iOS accessory market upside down. In addition to the new handset, the company unveiled its new Lightning dock connector—a 9 pin port that instantly made millions of add-ons obsolete.

But Apple didn't just change the connector, it also tightened up the requirements for its third-party MFi accessory program. And today, Mophie, who just announced the Helium battery case for the iPhone 5, offers some insight on the changes...

Apple launches shorter Lightning cable, rounder headphones

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 26, 2016

Just as Scosche launched its new wall and car Lightning chargers earlier this morning (in addition to the world's first official retractable Lightning-to-USB cable), Apple has made some tweaks to some of its own accessories.

Surprisingly enough, the new and shorter 0.5-meter Lightning to USB cable costs the same nineteen bucks as Apple's 1-meter Lightning to USB cable, making the purchase of the latter a no-brainer. The shorter Lightning cable arrives just as Apple last month unveiled the new $29 0.5-meter Thunderbolt cable. Also new: a tweaked In-Ear Headphones...

Zagg offers 50% off keyboard cases for iPad and iPad mini

Sébastien Page ∙ February 14, 2013

If you're in the market for a keyboard case for your iPad or iPad mini, then look no further. Zagg is currently offering 50% off all keyboard cases for the iPad and the iPad mini.

This special offer is only available while supplies last, so now is the time to make a decision...

Scosche Lightning chargers arrive

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated November 19, 2018

Announced back in November 2012, Scosche's chargers based on Apple's Lightning I/O are now available for sale at the company's web store. The California-based accessory maker now sells a range of Lightning chargers for use with your car and home sockets. Wall chargers are priced up to $34.99 and car chargers start at $24.99. In addition, Scosche also sells the $24.99 three-foot retractable Lightning-to-USB cable. More on this hear right after the break...

BookBook makes the iPad mini even more perfect for reading

Jim Gresham ∙ Updated April 11, 2018

As we covered previously, there are many versions of Twelve South's BookBook and the company is now equipped to deck out your new iPad mini with the new edition. Recently, Twelve South has been getting a lot of well-deserved media attention and the BookBook case for MacBooks helped put them on the map. If you are not yet familiar with the BookBook, allow me to introduce you to an Apple accessory classic...

Bloomberg: Apple has 100 product designers working on wristwatch-like device

Cody Lee ∙ Updated April 14, 2018

Over the weekend, we heard reports from two major news outlets—both The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal— that Apple is working on a smartwatch. It's said to feature a curved glass display and run a version of iOS.

Like clockwork, Bloomberg has chimed in with its own 'iWatch' report this afternoon. The site says that two sources inside the company have confirmed that Apple indeed has an enormous team working on a wristwatch-like device...

Apple makes more on iTunes and accessory sales than most companies do on phones

Cody Lee ∙ Updated January 31, 2016

Well known and respected Asymco analyst Horace Dediu is out with a new report this week entitled 'Counting stool legs.' The piece takes a look at Apple's newly-introduced revenue categories—mainly iTunes, which now includes sales from OS X, iWork, and Apple's other pro tools.

The big takeaway here is that, under this new structure, iTunes can no longer be considered a 'break even' business. Because, as Dediu points out, the combined sales from iTunes and accessories is now bigger in terms of revenues than any other phone vendor, except for Samsung...

Joy of Tech weighs in on iWatch rumors

Cody Lee ∙ Updated April 11, 2018

Talk of Apple working on a smartwatch has really heated up over the past week. Following a speculative piece from a former Apple engineer, both the NYT and the WSJ have reported that the company is indeed building such a product.

So what will this so-called iWatch do? Things like Siri, NFC and support for third-party apps have all been thrown about. But according to the folks over at Joy of Tech, the watch's built-in Dyson hand drier will be its killer feature...

Smarter Stand for iPhone keeps your device upright and earbuds tangle-free

Cody Lee ∙ February 12, 2013

What you see in the photo above is the new Smarter Stand for the iPhone and iPod touch. Created by Dotan Saguy, it's a dual-purpose accessory that acts as both a kickstand for your iOS device and a spool for your earbuds, so they don't get tangled.

It may not look like much, but don't underestimate Saguy's knack for turning simple ideas into hit products. He's already done it once with the Smarter Stand for iPad, raising over $150,000 via Kickstarter. And now he's looking to do it again...