Posts tagged with "accessories"

Kickstarter: Hive - An iPhone Amplifier + Screen Magnifier

Mark this Kickstarter project as another original concept. The Hive, by Jake Waitzman of Screendoor Studio, requires no electronics or power, and amplifies the iPhone 4’s onboard speaker in both landscape and portrait orientation. It does this by channeling the sound into a concave chamber that projects upward and outward toward the listener’s ears (much like Griffin’s AirCurve). What makes it a lot different than the AirCurve and other docks is the fresnel lens. It stands parallel to the iPhone’s screen at a set distance of 4 inches, providing crystal clear 2X magnification.

Promo videos can be seen after the break. Read more

Here’s The Sequel to the Most Minimal iPad Stand

Back in August of last year, we showed you Michiel Cornelissen’s original iPad 1 stand. We called it the “most minimal iPad stand.” Not to outdo himself but he has redesigned the PadFoot for iPad 2. It’s now even lighter and smaller than its predecessor at only 10 grams, and has an increased viewing angle as well. All while being as stable and sturdy as ever.

The new PadFoot clips to the corner of your iPad and securely stands it upright in landscape and portrait modes. Just like other larger and heavier stands, it’s great for tv, movies, and slideshows. It works well for FaceTime calls too. Read more

Kickstarter Project: Smart Shell - iPad 2 Case That Works with Smart Covers

Alex Britton of SnapCases.com has an idea to keep the back of your iPad 2 scratch free while letting you use the Apple Smart Cover you have purchased - the Smart Shell.

Apple’s Smart Cover doubles as a screen protector and a stand; it even turns your device off or on when hiding or revealing the screen. The Smart Cover doesn’t offer complete protection to the back of the iPad 2, so it is still exposed to scratches and dents. The Smart Shell helps out where the Smart Cover doesn’t, it’s a 0.8 milimeter thin shell and prevents those ugly scratches and dents. Additionally, it comes in a clear color so you can still show off that beautiful Apple logo. The Smart Cover snaps right onto the back of the iPad leaving space to attach the Smart Cover.

Video after the break. Read more

iCade iPad Arcade Cabinet Now Available, But Backordered

What began as an April Fools’ joke based off the concept of enabling iPad users to turn their device into an old-style arcade cabinet – the iCade – eventually became a real product with Atari’s official backing and a slew of games built specifically for the cabinet’s Bluetooth-based controls. When the product was “unveiled”, many thought that, in spite of the actual quality of the joke, it would never see the light of day. However, as we saw in January, ThinkGeek announced that the iCade made it after the design and pre-production stage and was set to go on sale this Spring.

And indeed, the iCade became available at $100 earlier today, only to be backordered until May within a few hours of online sales. If you were looking to buy an iCade before Easter: I’m sorry, you’ll have to wait. But of course, there’s always the DIY way to come to the rescue. [ThinkGeek via Engadget]

Turn an Old iBook into an iPad Case

Many people with broken computers either throw them away, or send them to a recycling program. Why not keep your old iBook and use its shell to make a one-of-a-kind iPad case? Sounds difficult, right? Gary Katz, who created things such as the Personal Shoebox Apple Store and The Apple Museum - 30 Years in 2 Minutes, shows you how and it’s not that difficult. All you need is an old iBook, a Dremel tool and some free time.

Demo video after the break. Read more

Your Twitter Stream on Your Desk: The Trickle and Piolo Giveaway

Your iPhone provides ample opportunity for information feedback alongside your Mac, which is why the makers of Twitter app Trickle and the Piolo stand for your iPhone have joined forces to prop your Twitter stream underneath or next to your workhorse Macintosh. While Trickle streams Twitter at a readable pace in high-contrast glory, Piolo gives your iPhone the leverage it needs to reveal all sorts of juicy details without breaking your neck. Trickle gives you everything you need and nothing more, provided you want a miniature picture frame solely to display tweets from the smart, funny, and sometimes bullheaded people you find yourself enlightened by on Twitter. Piolo is a sturdy kickstand that can be easily carried with the iPhone 4 in a bag or purse, taking up zero room with its simple design and clever implementation. Together, you have yourself a the perfect combination of form and function: simplicity in Twitter at its finest, sans all the extra UI or lost desktop space. We’re going to give away ten (count ‘em) pairs of Trickle and Piolo to our readers, and all you have to do is follow the rules post break.

Read more

iHub: A USB Hub with Apple Appeal

M.I.C. Gadget is now selling the second revision of their iHub; a small, 4-port USB hub with a bit of Apple branding on it. The iHub has a light-up Apple logo on top that’s reminscent of many Apple laptops. Version 2 of their iHub looks very nice and could almost pass for a legitimate Apple accessory, even the packaging looks familiar.

Video and another picture after the break. Read more

Teardown: What’s Inside Apple’s Big New iPad 2 Dock (+ iPad 1 Dock)→

Teardown: What’s Inside Apple’s Big New iPad 2 Dock (+ iPad 1 Dock)

iPad 2 Dock Teardown via iLounge

iPad 2 Dock Teardown via iLounge

First, if you’ve ever wondered how Apple gets those docks to feel substantial, the answer’s not tiny sandbags. Each version of the Dock actually has a huge, heavy metal plate inside molded with a “Zinc-3” legend on its undercarriage.

That explains why the iPad 2 Dock is so heavy. iLounge also goes as far to show the comparisons between the first iPad dock with newer model. What’s interesting is that the dock appears as one solid piece from the outside, but is divided into an outer shell and a base on which the components sit. It’s an interesting design, and one that competitors probably wouldn’t mimic: they wouldn’t hide the fact that their docks are just cheap plastic or are built & glued in multiple pieces, whereas Apple goes out of their way to make their products presentable. Even in accessories, Apple does a substantial job paying attention to solid unibody designs. TUAW writes:

In terms of actual computer hardware, as you might guess, there’s not a lot – just a few chips for functionality like authentication and of course iPad synching. In fact, the iPad 2 dock, says iLounge, has more empty space than the first dock, even though the actual design is a little more compact than before.

Also of note: the weight shown in the pictures looks heavier than it feels. If I was to perceive how the iPad 2 Dock felt by looking at the picture above, I would think it’d be as heavy as the iPad 2 itself.

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