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Skullcandy unveils its first true wireless earbuds
Skullcandy is hopping aboard the bandwagon for all-wireless earbuds. It's releasing Push, a Bluetooth earbud set that aims to liberate you from cords without paying as much as you would for the usual alternatives. They offer six hours of listening by themselves, and another six through the included charging case. They should also stay reasonably secure in your ears thanks to their gels, and you can control basic functions (including invoking your preferred voice assistant) without reaching for your phone.
Motorola adds a Mophie battery and a car dock to its pile of Mods
Motorola's magnetic Mods are the reason to own a Moto Z, and the company just pulled back the curtain on two more of them. If the existing bolt-on batteries weren't big enough for you, a new 3,000mAh Mophie JuicePack (with a USB Type-C port for independent charging) is now available for $80. And since the holidays are nearly upon us -- meaning lots of roadtrips to see family -- Motorola also teamed up with Incipio on a $65 car dock that charges your Z and can be used to automatically launch apps like Android Auto. Keep your eyes peeled for that next week.
Accessory giant Incipio buys headphone maker Skullcandy
You probably don't see Incipio as more than the company who made your phone case or external battery pack. However, it's quietly becoming something of an accessory powerhouse: it owns brands like Braven and Incase. And now, it's getting even bigger. Incipio is paying $177 million to acquire Skullcandy, best known for its ostentatious (if not usually top-rated) headphones. The move not only gives it a dedicated headphone brand, but dips its toes into the waters of gaming gear thanks to Skullcandy's Astro Gaming badge.
The best iPhone and iPad accessories
This post was done in partnership with The Wirecutter, a buyer's guide to the best technology. Read the full article here. A huge ecosystem of accessories surrounds the iPad and iPhone, with options to handle pretty much any need. At The Wirecutter, we spend dozens of hours (at least) on each of our reviews to find the best gear for all parts of your life. Here are some of our favorites for your iOS devices. This guide may have been updated by The Wirecutter/The Sweethome. To see the current recommendations, please go here.
What you missed at Engadget Live Los Angeles
Last Friday, we took over Exchange LA in Downtown Los Angeles for the second Engadget Live event of the year and what a night it was. Our friend Mark Setrakian (who joined us at Engadget Expand last November) came correct with his Axis Robots, that while some find creepy, we find pretty damn exciting.
Engadget Live takes over the Exchange in Los Angeles this Friday!
We're gearing up to take over Exchange LA this Friday, August 21st at 7PM for our next Engadget Live event, where we'll bring together gadget lovers and awesome tech brands. Sound good? First, grab your free tickets and then read on to find out what you can expect at our free event in downtown Los Angeles!
Incipio's offGRID 4,000 mAh Capacity backup battery is a life-saving travel companion
In the last decade, cellphones and tablets have gone from important, but simple communication devices to replacing computers, cameras, radios and more. As this winter's unpredictable weather has shown us, we never know when the ability to charge our phones will be stolen cruelly by God or poor city planning. As part of being a prepared adult individual, it's important to consider having a backup charging option for your communication devices when the power goes out, and the Incipio offGRID 4,000 mAh backup battery is a great low-cost solution. Utilizing a 2.1 A output USB port for charging devices, the offGRID's powerful energy supply is robust enough to provide two and a half full charges to a completely dead iPhone 4s or 5c. To test this function, we fully charged the offGRID, and then tested how long it would take to bring a fully dead iPhone 4s battery back to life. We then repeated the test again with the iPhone 5c. In each case, the battery was able to fully charge the phones in a little more than two hours. We then drained the offGRID of power completely and let it sit for a week completely dead. Once the backup battery was recharged, and the charging experiment was run again. The offGRID ran perfectly with no issues, and still held the exact same amount of charge after a week of sitting dead. Obviously after a few months of usage, battery life will go down, but it's nice to know if you screw up and forget to fully charge it for a while, your battery is still going to provide a solid backup. The battery charges via an included micro-USB cable, which was a nice surprise to find inside the box. Since switching to iOS devices, I have fewer micro-USB cables around, and the one that comes with the offGRID is three feet long. Including a high-quality cable of a reasonable length is a big selling point for travelers who pick one up on the road and might have access to oddly located plugs. Best of all, the device is small enough to easily slide into a backpack pocket without taking up much-needed traveling space. The device can be charged while still charging your phone, allowing you to kill two birds with one highly charged electrical wire. If you have any issues, you can look forward to a one-year warranty from the manufacturer. The offGRID 4,000mAh is incredibly affordable, setting you back US$49.99. Given its year-long warranty, ability to keep you going an extra two to three charges when you're away from an outlet and light, easily transportable build, it comes highly recommended. Don't find yourself without power when you need it. If you end up off the grid, the offGRID is a great backup plan.
Incipio's f80 Hi-Fi Stereo Earbuds keep you knee-deep in clear sound for a budget price
For most Apple users, the standard EarPods that come with your iPhone or iPod are a perfectly serviceable music/podcast delivery system. That is until they get misplaced, leaving you walking around on the streets actually interacting with society without the warm embrace of music around you. Eventually everyone needs to replace their earbuds. Should you just buy another pair of Apple EarPods or should you give the identically priced Incipio f80 stereo earbuds a spin? Specifications 8mm driver Comes with three sizes of earbuds to fit most standard-sized ears Inline microphone 100db/1mW sensitivity Design Highlights If you like matching your earbuds to your outfits, you're in luck with the Incipio f80 earbuds as they come in a wide range of colors. The buds' flat cord is ideal for a quick wrap around your device for storage in a pocket before jumping off the subway or walking into work. The three included sizes of earbuds ensure that even the most uniquely shaped ears will be able to enjoy the groove of their favorite tunes. My ears normally start to hurt a bit after using my Apple EarPods for more than 45 minutes. With the Incipio f80s, my ears spent a whole two-hour walk feeling perfectly comfy. Functionality Highlights The Incipio f80 brings a surprisingly deep range of sound with it for a pair of relatively budget-priced earbuds. Bass has a considerable amount of weight without ever overpowering the actual music, providing nuance to rock, jazz and hip-hop that outshines Apple's incredibly solid default EarPods. Even when really pushing the limits of your volume knob, there's never any distortion, just a clear, clean solid dose of sound. The included inline microphone works perfectly; it took my wife several minutes to notice I was talking to her hands-free. Even my beloved EarPods occasionally suffer from microphone distortion so Incipio's clarity was a happy surprise. When it comes to earbuds, the clarity of music is what comes first, but it's a nice little bonus to be able to make clear calls as well without having to pull something out of my ear and move my phone. The Bad There are really only two downsides to the Incipio f80, one based on construction and the other on personal preference. On the construction front, the back of the microphone dongle popped off while I was initially removing the earbuds from their packaging. I was able to easily snap it back into place with no notable loss in microphone quality, but it is something to consider. Over a few months of use, this important piece may come loose. Of course, if you treat your earbuds with just a little bit of love, this won't be a problem. The other issue is the lack of any sort of volume or navigation controls. Maybe I'm just spoiled from using my Apple EarPods, but it's nice to be able to adjust the volume of my music, hit pause or switch tracks just by pressing a button on the earbud cord. If the trade-off is the solid sound and comfortable wear of the Incipio earbuds, this is a modest inconvenience, but for some people it may be a deal-breaker. Conclusion Apple's EarPods will set you back US$29.99. Meanwhile, depending on the color, you can find the Incipio earbuds for between $27.99 (for white) and $34.00 (for red). How much the lack of on-cord controls bothers you is a personal choice you're going to have to make. But for budget-minded music enthusiasts looking for a solid pair of replacement earbuds, the Incipio f80 earbuds provide a wonderfully clear wall of sound without breaking your wallet. Audiophiles may be mad we're giving this set of buds such a high score, but for the cost, you're getting four-star sound.
iPhone case with Isis mobile payment support showing up in AT&T stores
If you've been waiting to make NFC payments with little more than your iPhone and an Isis account, we have news for you. A tipster sent us pictures of what looks to be retail packaging for the Incipio Cashwrap, along with supposed pricing information. The Cashwrap enables secure mobile payments via a micro-NFC chip and a mobile app and it'll be available from AT&T for $70 according to our reader, with variants for most of Apple's recent smartphones. What's more, this info aligns nicely with what 9to5Mac learned about the product at CES 2013. Our source says that the case is already in AT&T's inventory too, meaning technically you could buy one right now, but you probably shouldn't press your luck until there's an official announcement. Unlike Incipio's other iPhone protector, it looks like this one will see the light of day. We've reached out to AT&T, Incipio and Isis and will update this post if we hear back. [Thanks, Anonymous!]
The Incipio Atlas ID is super protective, but it hates your thumb and it's not crazy about you, either
I should start out by saying that I've always really liked Incipio's iPhone cases. Of all the cases I've used since the iPhone 3G -- and there have been dozens -- Incipio's accessories are one of the few brands that have never fallen apart on me. Incipio also holds the honor of making the only case I've ever used for an entire iPhone generation (the Incipio NGP case for the iPhone 4). So, when I got the chance to take the Incipio Atlas ID, the bar was already set pretty high. Unfortunately, a variety of design choices have left me feeling just OK about the case, rather than impressed. Specifications Dimensions: 5.4" x 2.66" X .0.52" (137.16 x 67.56 x 15.75mm) Weight: 2.06 oz Case Material: Polycarbonate w/ rubber wrap-around Design The Atlas line are called "ultra-rugged" cases and are advertised as being waterproof, dustproof and shockproof. To its credit, the case is indeed all of these things, and after securing it to my iPhone 5s, it did give the phone a feeling of indestructibility. I wasn't too punishing on the case, and tested about a 4-foot fall onto a thin carpeted surface, which it took with zero issue. I also drenched the phone in the sink (this had me sweating a bit), but it survived just fine. From a protection standpoint, it's definitely tops. Functionality However, protection isn't everything when it comes to a smartphone, and the device still needs to be 100 percent usable for a case to really be worth it. The first thing that left me a bit miffed was the ultra-spotty Touch ID accuracy when the case was in place. There is a thin membrane that covers the Touch ID sensor to help the case keep its waterproof promise, but this greatly hampered its ability to read my fingerprint. Without the case, my 5s gets my print correct about 95 percent of the time. With the case in place, that dropped by at least half. It often took two or three readings to unlock my phone, which made quick access quite difficult. There's also a second problem with the Touch ID membrane: It blocks part of the screen. In the marketing materials, you can't see it (because it's been edited out, I guess?) but as you can see in the photo above, the black shroud around the screen has a bump by the home button that obscures a bit of the screen. This doesn't necessarily hamper your use of the phone, but it's surprisingly distracting when playing games on the device. My last issue is with the touchscreen protector itself: It's just not responsive enough to use on a daily basis. With the case in place, the touchscreen doesn't read all of your touch commands. In fact, I found it downright frustrating to browse the web with the case on because it negated my swiping and most of my taps. A hard, firm press is often needed to register the desired response. Bummer. Conclusion Incipio's ultra-protective new case is indeed a savior for your phone in harsh environments. If I was headed for a day on the beach or a hike in the snow, I'd use it without question, but once I was within the comfort of my living room, it would need to be immediately removed. If you're looking for a case to occasionally equip like a suit of armor when needed, the Atlas ID is a great pick, but it's nowhere near ideal for daily use. Rating: 2.5 stars out of a possible 4 stars Giveaway If you're planning a trip to Mordor, you might find the Atlas ID case quite useful, so follow the giveaway rules: Open to legal US residents of the 50 United States, the District of Columbia and Canada (excluding Quebec) who are 18 and older. To enter, fill out the form below completely and click or tap the Submit button. The entry must be made before January 16, 2014 11:59PM Eastern Standard Time. You may enter only once. One winner will be selected and will receive an Incipio Atlas ID case valued at US$89. Click Here for complete Official Rules. Loading...
IRL: Mint.com and Incipio's Feather case for the Retina MBP
Welcome to IRL, an ongoing feature where we talk about the gadgets, apps and toys we're using in real life and take a second look at products that already got the formal review treatment. It's about time you know what a Type-A person our managing editor Dana Wollman is (though a tendency to copy edit other people and benchmark laptops should have already been hints). In this edition, Dana makes a case for the personal finance app Mint.com, while Edgar (maybe a little Type-A himself) deals with a snap-on case for the sake of keeping his MacBook Pro scratch-free.
Roundup of announced iPad mini accessories (updated)
Along with today's debut of the iPad mini came a tidal wave of accessory announcements for the littlest iPad. Here's a roundup of several of those new products. Update - 10/24/12 10 AM ET: Added Dicota Protective Covers at the bottom of this post X-Doria X-Doria actually pinged us before the announcement with enticing photos of a new series of cases for the iPad mini. The cases (from left to right below) include the bright and stylish SmartStyle (US$39.99), the SmartCase-like SmartJacket ($34.99), the Dash Folio ($39.99), the puffy and versatile SleeveStand ($29.99), another bright and stylish SmartStyle, and Engage back shell ($19.99). Otterbox You may be more likely to take your iPad mini out for a bike ride or on a hiking trip than your full-grown iPad, so Otterbox has announced that the Defender Series case will be available for the diminutive iPad for $69.95. They're taking pre-orders now, and you can get the case in Black, Crevasse (gray), or Blush (magenta). ZAGG invisibleShield Hey, these guys don't have to do much more than detailed measurements of a device to create the "invisibleShield" for a product, so this was a no-brainer that ZAGG would have one announced almost immediately. The full body (front and back coverage), original military-grade protection protector for the iPad mini goes for $34.99, while the Hi-Definition version is $39.99. They're back-ordered until the week of November 6-14, so order now. Incipio Incipio has come out with four new cases for the iPad mini. The mini NGP ($34.99) is an impact-resistant semi-rigid case that comes in pink, black or white, while the mini LGND ($34.99) is a premium hard-shell folio that folds into a stand. There's also the $39.99 mini Lexington, a hard shell folio case with a "vegan leather" exterior and a micro-suede interior. Finally, the mini Feather ($34.99) is a ultra-thin snap-on case in orange, red, pink, black, light blue, purple or gray. Check out the video below for details. That's about it for today's announcements. Many of the other manufacturers are probably queueing up their PR announcements for the next few days, so be sure to check back often for news of more iPad mini accessories. Dicota European manufacturer Dicota has announced the Flexi Back Cover and Hard Back Cover (see below) for iPad mini. No prices have been announced; visit the Dicota Web site for pricing by country when it becomes available.
Sony helps you 'personalize' your Xperia further, announces case maker partnerships
Despite there being so many smartphones nowadays, finding cases for certain handsets can be tricky -- unless you're toting the likes of an iPhone or the latest Android flagship device, that is. Keeping that in mind, Sony has good news for Xperia owners, as it's officially announced a partnership program to bring more case options for its phones to market. According to Sony, 10 companies are currently onboard, including the likes of Case-Mate and Incipio, and some will be announcing what'll be on offer before the month's out. There's no word regarding designs or prices just yet, but here's hoping that Case-Mate brings its cuddly Creature cases into the fray -- especially the Waddler.
Review and giveaway: Incipio Lexington and Slim Kickstand cases for the new iPad
Another pair of nice looking and affordable cases for the new iPad arrived at the TUAW Labs a few days ago, the Lexington (US$39.99) and Slim Kickstand ($39.99) from accessory manufacturer Incipio. Both offer full protection for your third-generation iPad and have a micro-suede lining to keep the iPad's aluminum body from scratches, but that's where the similarity ends. Let's take a look at the Lexington and Slim Kickstand, and then you'll have a chance to win these great new items from Incipio. Lexington The Lexington case is probably the more flexible case of the two, with the ability to stand up in landscape mode for viewing or prop up on a desk for typing. The Lexington comes in black and gray exteriors that use a "vegan leather" strap to keep the case closed during transport. What I like the most about both of these Incipio cases is that they're very slim. Too many of the cases that I see are almost an inch thick by the time you take the front and back padding into account. Not so with the Lexington, which is only .56" thick and weighs just 8.3 ounces. %Gallery-152145% Installing the case is a snap -- literally. My new iPad snapped right into the back and was held securely. I was a bit confused by the packaging of the Lexington, which showed that it had a "magnetic front cover." It doesn't, so if you're used to your iPad turning off automatically when you close the Smart Cover, you'll have to revert to the time-honored method of just hitting the sleep/wake switch to turn it off. While the plain black or gray may be rather unexciting, the cases are very professional-looking. As my wife said when I showed her the Lexington, "I want something with a little more color to it!" The Lexington is very well made, reasonably-priced, and offers a lot of protection for both the new iPad and the iPad 2. Let's take a look at its other sibling, the Slim Kickstand. Slim Kickstand The Slim Kickstand, oddly enough, is thicker than the Lexington and slightly heavier -- .64" and 8.8 ounces. Once again, the packaging confused me -- it says that there are three viewing modes, but the actual case only has two slots into which the iPad and cover can be locked for upright viewing. Rather than using the leather strap to hold the cover closed during movement, the Slim Kickstand uses the tried-and-true elastic band. As with the Lexington case, the new iPad clicked into the well-made bottom casing and was held securely. %Gallery-152146% You can get the Slim Kickstand case in any color, as long as it's black. This is also a very professional-looking case, but some choices would be nice. Conclusion and Giveaway While the Incipio Lexington and Slim Kickstand iPad cases aren't the most exciting cases I've seen, they offer a perfect fit for the iPad 2 and new iPad. Both cases would be welcome in an executive suite, and both have a finish that is almost perfect. Some cases I review have looked disturbingly tossed-together, while the Incipio products appear to be manufactured to much higher standards. The best thing about both cases? The price. Considering that many other iPad cases of similar style start at $59.99, it's amazing that Incipio can produce such a high quality product for just $39.99. And now is your chance to win one of these cases from Incipio and TUAW. Just fill out the contest entry form completely and tap or click that Submit button, and you'll be entered into the giveaway. One person will win the Lexington, the other the Slim Kickstand, and both will also get a Plex Clear iPad screen protector ($19.99) with a microfiber cleaning cloth for complete protection. Finally, we're also giving away a personalized Inscribe Pro Stylus and Pen ($19.99). Here are the rules: Open to legal US residents of the 50 United States, the District of Columbia and Canada (excluding Quebec) who are 18 and older. To enter, fill out the form below completely and click or tap the Submit button. You must enter before April 5, 2012 11:59PM Eastern Daylight Time. You may enter only once. Three winners will be selected. One will receive a Lexington case and Plex Clear iPad screen protector (value US$59.98), one will receive a Slim Kickstand case and Plex Clear iPad screen protector (Value US$59.98), and one will receive a personalized Inscribe Pro Stylus and Pen ($19.99). Click Here for complete Official Rules. Loading...
Incipio shows off licensed, interchangeable, and battery charger cases at CES
Incipio had a nice booth on the show floor at CES this year, and kindly showed TUAW some of its new offerings in the world of iPhone cases and spare batteries. The latest and greatest news from Incipio is licensed cases -- the company has secured licenses to print cases with art from Magic: The Gathering, Hasbro, Alpine Stars, and gaming accessory company Gunnar, so we got to see those cases displayed at the show. Incipio told us that while licensed cases don't normally sell quite as well as plain cases (we heard last year that black is always the best-selling color for iPhone and iPad cases), licenses can often bring in interest to the company, from consumer buyers to retailers and other companies. Some of the licensed cases from Incipio Elsewhere in the booth, Incipio was also showing off its popular NGP case, which consists of two different pieces: a hardshell back that fits directly on the iPhone, and then a silicone case that snaps onto that one. Customers have really been drawn to the case, Incipio told us, because it's pretty easy to remove and change up. That's a trend they've noticed recently: That more and more customers are looking for iPhone cases that can come off easily, either because they want to try on multiple different cases for their iPhone, or just to allow the iPhone to connect to or sit in a dock. Incipio was also displaying the Off Grid Pro, which is a battery pack that follows up on its Off Grid series. The Off Grid Pro kicks up the juice to 1700 mAh, and it features a very slim set of batteries that can be replaced inside the iPhone case itself. I thought it was surprisingly thin, so users looking for a extra battery boost that doesn't take up a lot of room might be interested in checking it out. The Off Grid Pro will be out at the end of February for $89.99. Finally, Incipio showed us a prototype case it was working on that had both rigid and flexible parts. The rigid parts looked like an "X" and reached out to the corners of the iPhone, while the sides were flexible and allows for protection without making the iPhone much larger. That case was still in the making, a designer for the company told us, so it may never actually see store shelves in its current form. But Incipio and all of the other various case companies on the floor at CES are innovating as best they can, trying to both come up with new options and respond to consumer taste as quickly as possible. A case prototype Incipio's cases definitely stood out from the flood of similar accessories at the show this year. And just like last year, it was interesting to hear what kinds of trends and patterns are showing up in the world of iPhone and iPad add-ons.
iPad 2 Smart Cover-compatible cases: our roundup (Updated)
Apple's Smart Cover is a great, versatile screen cover for your iPad 2. It allows you to stand your tablet up, prop it up for typing in landscape and more; it even turns the iPad off automatically when you close it. But it leaves the back of the iPad 2 exposed, and as beautiful as it is, that metal can get all scratched up pretty quickly without some protection. So, here's a roundup of all Smart Cover-compatible back cases we could find.
Incipio shows off Game Boy-themed iPhone case and no, you can't have it
Do you want this Game Boy-themed iPhone 4 case? Well, how does it feel to want? Not all that hot from where we're sitting, that's for damn sure. Spotted at Incipio's CES booth, the company put the case together to demo the company's production capabilities. Sadly, for us, the thing won't be coming to market at any time in the near future (unless someone in Shenzhen decides to take on the cause, that is). We must say, this is a big improvement over the company's iPod nano watch bands -- and an immense improvement over the guy who shoved an HTC Aria inside his old Game Boy (throwing in a fake iPhone 4 for good measure). Get another look after the break.
Incipio Linq keeps the iPod nano watch craze going with $25 'carrying solution'
Did you find the iLoveHandles iPod nano wrist strap a little bit too restrained? Never fear, Incipio has served up this new Linq case, which swells up the 6th-gen nano with an ostentatiously rugged shell, a velcro strap, and a couple of daring new color options. Whether you're a fan of baby pink or macho blue, there will be a Linq... just for you. Damn, you can build a whole advertising campaign around that. Anyhow, this new take on the iWatch concept will be available early next month for $25 with additional straps setting you back another $10. Or you can just buy a real watch -- the choice, as always, is yours.
Apple spawns new accessory line: nano watch straps
The success of the iPods, iPhone and iPad have been a boon for Apple and accessory makers. Shortly after each product's introduction, a small but highly competitive cottage industry of cases, sleeves, stands and so on emerges. Now, the new iPod nano's unique design has many manufacturers thinking the same thing: wristwatch. The nano is small, light, square-ish and features a touch screen. When popped into a strap accessory like the Linq by Incipio, it looks good! The Linq will be available in five colors when released (grey, black, pink, blue and white), though a release date and pricing information are unavailable as of this writing. It looks nice and the iPod seems well-protected, but I wouldn't want a wire going from my wrist to my ears all day. But that's just me. [Via Oh!Gizmo]
Review: Incipio Lloyd iPod nano microphone
Have you ever forgotten something, or said "I wish I had recorded that?" If you have an iPod nano and the Lloyd microphone, you will be able to instantly record anything. A while back we mentioned that the Incipio Lloyd microphone had begun shipping. Well, I was able to snag one for review purposes and I'm going to tell you about this very cool accessory for the iPod nano. The DesignLloyd was specifically designed for the iPod nano 4th generation, and you can tell that by just looking at it. The microphone attaches to the bottom of the device, and plugs into the audio line-out / microphone line-in port on the bottom. It is nearly the same width/thickness of the iPod nano, and fits well in that regard. I like the fact that the microphone does not add any heft to the device at all. It does, however, add some height. So understand that if you plan on leaving the microphone connected that some cases might not fit it. FeaturesLloyd features a microphone in the center, and an audio line-out port on the left side. The audio out port allows you to leave the microphone connected, while still having the ability to play your tunes. The microphone does cover up the 30-pin Dock connector, so you will need to unplug/reposition the Lloyd while syncing/charging. ThoughtsI really like this microphone. The sound quality is great, it's easy to carry around, and it doesn't hinder me from using my iPod nano as an iPod. I especially found it to be useful when recording lecture audio, but it could be used virtually anywhere you need to quickly capture audio. My only gripe is that it disables the play/pause/skip button on the iPhone headset while it is attached to the line-out port on the Lloyd microphone. I'm hoping this can be improved in a future version of the product. At $17.99US, this microphone is an excellent accessory for your iPod nano. The device is available directly from Incipio and is available in either black or white. %Gallery-40521%
