iPhone Accessories

G-Form, the company famous for its demonstration of protecting an iPad from a 100,000 foot fall from the stratosphere, now has its first protective cases for iPhone 4/4S. In typical G-Form fashion, the company released a video of its new iPhone case taking some extreme punishment, this time using a G-Form protected iPhone as a puck in a hockey rink!

The cases for iPhone 4 are designed and manufactured in the United States, and are protected by RPT material - a revolutionary composite, blending Poron XRD material with other proprietary G-Form materials and technology.

"Our energy absorbing technology doesn’t rely on thickness like typical foams or hard plastics, so we are able to design both athletic and electronic protective gear that offers unbelievable protection from impact, but without the bulk of any traditional technology," said Thom Cafaro VP Innovations. "The new G-Form iPhone 4 case is a perfect example of this, with its sleek design and unsurpassed impact protection."

Two designs will be available - the "X Protect" and "Extreme Grid" - and each design is offered in both black and yellow. The complete selections of styles and colors can be found at www.g-form.com for $39.95. The cases are available now for pre-order and deliver end of February 2012.

While we've seen car stereos designed to hold iPhones in the dash, they're usually limited to fit the current generation iPhone only. If you have an Android device or are waiting for the next generation iPhone, you are usually out of luck fitting your current smartphone into products like these. Until now. Introducing the DASH from Devium.

Unlike other smartphone compatible head units, which consist of one face plate and the body of the system, the DASH can be used with a variety of face plates that are hot swappable and can accommodate a variety of popular phones. The Dash is a Kickstarter project. Kickstarter is a company that raises project money from consumer investors, promotes that product invention and gauges market response prior to manufacturing of the actual market product. For Devium's Kickstarter project, they're only building an iPhone/iPod compatible version for now. So, if you invest in the DASH today and 1 year from now Apple releases a new iPhone, with an entirely new form factor, Devium will develop a face plate to accommodate the new shape and size.Read more

Nike has announced the Nike+ FuelBand. The bracelet is similar to others you may have seen before which includes the Jawbone UP. Nike has a slightly different approach with this device and uses a calorie counter on a display. The device connects via Bluetooth to an iPhone or can be synced by USB and can be monitored online so that you can set goals and track those goals.

The +FuelBand is much in the vain of the original Nike+ SportBand, except boasts a more attractive 20 LED dot-matrix display and can measure activity in a new unit the company calls NikeFuel. That latter bit is a normalized score that, unlike calories, awards equal points for the same activity regardless of physical makeup.

The system uses an interesting method of telling you how you are progressing through the day. If you are not moving enough then the band lets you know with a series of lights. If they burn green then all is well, likewise if they drop to red then you need to get more active. On the technical side, the band tracks activity by what it calls Oxygen Kinetics, which looks at a mixture of signals to give an accurate reading of activity.Read more

January 24, 2012 marked the 28th anniversary of the original Macintosh launch and on this important date in history, Zero1.tv announced that its new VooMote Zapper is now available at Apple.com and will be in Apple stores February 7, 2012.

The Voomote Zapper converts your iOS device into a smart universal remote that controls virtually all of your A/V gear. The lightweight dongle is the size of a paperclip, and is compatible with all mobile iOS 5 devices (iPhone/iPad/iPod).

Unlike base station solutions, VooMote Zapper provides "room to room" functionality that allows users to access entertainment whenever and wherever they want, with whichever iOS 5 devices they please.

What also sets the VooMote Zapper apart from the rest is its hassle-free set up and usage. It is extremely simple and intuitive. Once you connect your VooMote Zapper dongle, the free app automatically downloads, and prompts the set up. You immediately have full control over hundreds of thousands of electronic devices. This easy set up means no manuals or PCs are necessary. Users can also enjoy the freedom from having to connect to Bluetooth, the Internet, or buy batteries for their remote ever again. Read more

Still shopping for the music lover on your gift list? Just announced today is the Third Man 45 iPhone 4S Case from Griffin Technology. Quite possibly the most unique case we've ever laid eyes on, the Third Man 45 iPhone 4S Case incorporates a genuine 7-inch vinyl record, custom-cut into a protective iPhone case. How cool is that?!

Griffin and Third Man Records teamed up to develop this case for a few reasons – they both love music, both love vinyl records and they both reside in Nashville (also known as Music City, in case you didn't know), so why not?

To create the Griffin and Third Man Records Case for iPhone 4S, the team incorporated a genuine 7" vinyl record, pressed by United Record Pressing in Nashville, Tennessee, then die-cut to form the protective back of the case. A molded frame snaps around the iPhone, holding the record insert in place and protecting the controls, edges, and screen, with cutouts for volume, headphone, hold switch and dock connector.Read more

AVS Gear's ZIPPY BT-500 Bluetooth Wireless Keyboard is now better than ever thanks to a new media feature to control the iPad (both I and II), iPod Touch, and the iPhone 4S. But not just limited to Apple products, the keyboard supports most smartphones, PDAs and tablet PCs that are equipped with Bluetooth technology.

This compact wireless keyboard has a transmission range up to 33 feet and can be connected to six different Bluetooth devices simultaneously. Its fast switch technology allows you to switch between all six devices in a matter of seconds, and Media Function keys let you adjust the volume, scroll through sound tracks, launch the Web browser and more.

The ZIPPY BT-500 features ultra-flat scissor structure keys and is ultra-thin, making it a perfect companion when you're on the go. It is available now at Amazon.com, Newegg.com, and Eforcity.com with an MSRP of $49.99. The ZIPPY BT-500 comes with a three-year Limited Replacement Manufacture Warranty through AVS GEAR. Read more

There's a new accessory available for the iPhone 4 and 4S that projects videos from your phone - including Netflix and YouTube content - onto any surface at a size of up to 50 inches, thanks to Texas Intsrument's DLP Pico projector technology.

The new Pocket Projector for iPhone 4 is an accessory case that features a bright 15-lumen LED projector lamp, 640x360 native display resolution and Focus adjustment. An integrated 0.5W speaker is also included to deliver audio, and its built-in 2100mAh battery charges via USB connection.

"The partnership between Brookstone and Texas Instruments resulted in a remarkable accessory case that turns one's iPhone 4 and 4S player into a mobile home-theater unit," said Ron Boire, President and CEO of Brookstone. "Brookstone's mission is to find smarter, better ways for people to do the things they love, and the Pocket Projector for iPhone 4 embodies that spirit by marrying great technology with entertainment," added Boire.Read more

JBL's Quick, Easy Fix to Car Audio

Pump up the volume in any car stereo system with JBL's MS-2, a groundbreaking car audio accessory that automatically optimizes your car stereo to improve listening experience. The JBL MS-2 uses digital signal processing to create clearer, more powerful sound from existing speakers in any car, making it the perfect iPod, iPhone or Android smartphone accessory for music fans.

Small enough to fit in a shirt pocket and simple enough for even a novice to set up in seconds, the MS-2 will transform the listening experience in all your vehicles and even at home (with a third-party power supply).

If your music is important enough to carry with you everywhere, you should carry the JBL MS-2 pocket digital processor. The MS-2 optimizes system performance for the acoustic characteristics of your speakers, electronics and vehicle interior, and DSP time correction to ensure that all the sounds reach your ears simultaneously, creating a coherent, richly detailed soundscape.Read more

Bose has just introduced their next-generation on-ear headphones, the OE2 and Oe2i (for iPhone), available now in black or white.

The OE2i has a microphone for cell phone calls, along with an Apple-product friendly inline remote that's compatible with more recent iPhone, iPod, iPad, MacBook, and MacBook Pro models. Some of the features even work with Android, but volume control is often an issue with headphones that are designed specifically for iDevices.

The inline remote for both models looks identical to each other, and both headphones offer improved audio performance over the previous OE model that hit the market in 2008. The OE2 and OE2i are also lighter and slightly smaller than their predecessor.

"With redesigned and newly tuned earcup ports, audio reproduction is more balanced and natural," the company says. "There is no manufactured 'boost' across the frequency range; low notes are full and rich, and mid-high frequencies are smooth and clear."Read more

BlueAnt's recently introduced the Embrace headphones, a departure from its Bluetooth wireless roots with a wired stereo headset. The stylish over-ear headphones include an integrated mic and controls for iOS devices that allow you to make hands-free calls and play, pause, and track-forward audio selections. Although their $200 retail price tag sways toward the higher end of the consumer market, these over-ear headphones showcase robust, well-defined sound and padded comfort. These are one of the best new gadgets BlueAnt has brought to market in a little while.

These are BlueAnt's first non-Bluetooth headphones, using a standard 1/8" connector, and designed with a focus on sound quality and comfort. They also come with two cables, one regular cable and another with an iPod/iPhone/iPad controller & microphone.

Star Rating:
Cost: $199.99
Where to Buy: Amazon

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