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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.
ZAGG intros a pair of Bluetooth keyboard cases for the iPad, three pairs of gaming headphones
Sometimes at trade shows we see funky-looking Windows 8 devices, other times we see bags filled with a morphing rainbow colors and sometimes we see things whose importance falls somewhere in the middle. That's the situation ZAGG finds itself in this week, as it tries to win attention at IFA amid dozens of laptop / tablet hybrids and 84-inch TVs. The company is in Berlin as we type this, showing off the new ZAGGkeys Pro and Pro Plus, two Bluetooth keyboard cases for the iPad. Both have a magnetic closure, but the Pro version adds backlighting. Those will be available at the end of September for $99 and $129, respectively. Additionally, the company announced a trio of Caliber gaming headphones, including the Stealth, a pair optimized for mobile devices, and the Axiom, which works with Macs, PCs, the Xbox and PS3. Both have in-line controls. Rounding out the list, there's the Vanguard, which offers 7.1 channel audio. Look for these in October, for $60, $90 and $130, respectively. The PR's embedded after the break, though you won't find much more detail there, sadly.
IK Multimedia iRig MIX review: a mobile mixer built for iDevices
Accessories, iOS has them. Not many devices can boast the same rich and dazzling array of add-ons that the iPhone or iPad enjoy -- from keyboards to docks, arcade cabinets to battery packs. Today's offering? A mobile mixer. The iRig MIX from IK Multimedia, to be precise. It's essentially a mini DJ tool, designed to work with such iGadgets, and brought to you by the same serial audio-accessorizers behind the iRig MIC Cast and AmpliTube. If you think you've seen this fella before, then you likely have, as this got its first glimpse of sunlight back at CES. Now it's here for real, auditioning for your affections as if it were on "American Idol." While it's easy to dismiss some of the more ambitious accessories as as trying to push the limits of iPad / iPhone functionality to the extreme, it's also worth remembering that accessory X isn't always about replacing object Y. No one ever bought a USB webcam thinking it'd turn them into Spielberg, now did they? But, they might have gotten one thinking it would give their PC some skills it never had before. So it's with this short, preemptive missive in mind that we turn on the iRig MIX, plug in and rock out. Hopefully.%Gallery-158921%
Logitech unveils suction cup joystick for the iPad (video)
It is what it sounds like, kids. Logitech, clearly on a tablet accessories tear, just trotted out another toy for the iPad. This time, it's a suction cup joystick that sits on the screen, inviting people to gawk at you while you play Pac Man in Starbucks. As you can see in the photos, this isn't a ball-capped joystick so much as a laptop-style pointing stick masquerading as a retro controller. That nub has a flat, slick surface, and without much of an indentation or textured grip, it's easy for your finger to slip off. It'll go on sale next month for $19.99, an appropriate price for what will most likely be an impulse buy. For now, we've got video of it in action after the break. %Gallery-131563%
Pantone iPhone and iPad cases thumb their noses at Apple's grayscale aesthetic
Considering the affection the design community has for Apple products and the Pantone Matching System, combining these passions seems ripe for success. At least that's Case Scenario's theory with this new line of licensed cases: they're Pantone approved, so you know the hues and ridiculous code names are legit. In total, nine different versions are available for the iPhone and four for the iPad, providing plenty of style leeway should the colorware route be out of your budget. No word on pricing or availability just yet, so for now it looks like our Capsure color identifier will have to remain holstered until more details surface. %Gallery-109303%
Zaggmate iPad keyboard case joins the fray
Have an iPad but still feel the need to have a case and/or keyboard to go with it? While we have certainly seen similar iPad cases with keyboards and even some cases made out of wood, you may want to check out the newest addition to the "iPad case with keyboard" category from Zagg. While there are two different versions of this new Zaggmate case, one with a built-in QWERTY keyboard and one without, I imagine the one with the keyboard will be the bigger seller of the two, especially for those looking to make their iPad their travel computer. Made from anodized aluminum and packed with military grade high-density padding, the keyboard connects with your iPad via Bluetooth, enabling horizontal or vertical use. Priced at US$99.99 with the keyboard and $69.99 without, Zagg says the cases are "Coming Soon" but you can sign up to get an email notification when they are available for sale. Check out videos of both models below. [via Engadget]
Adonit Writer adds one more option to the iPad folio + keyboard barrage
We weren't too fond of the AIDACASE KeyCase Folio, but we should've known a flood of alternatives would be hitting the market shortly thereafter. Adonit dropped us a line to say that its rival is in the final stages of production and should be ready to order by Christmas, and while the final edition will add a lot of polish, there's a gallery of pre-pro shots just below for your perusal. The Writer iPad folio + keyboard combines a Bluetooth keyboard with a case, and the board itself slides on a magnet for maximum positioning awesomeness. There's also a quick iPad release, auto-keyboard sleep function and an exterior that'll look far sexier than what you're seeing here. Hit the source link to be alerted when it goes on sale, and as for pricing, expect to part ways with $120 or so. Or $420 when combined with a Colorware Grip for iPad. %Gallery-106021%
Mophie's Juice Pack Powerstation is smarter than you think
You're probably wondering why Mophie has apparently crafted a device that's not also a case. Believe it or not, you actually aren't living in a parallel universe, and this is -- in fact -- the outfit's first product made compatible with other USB devices. The Juice Pack Powerstation is most obviously targeting heavy iPad users, but the beastly battery pack is quite capable of rejuvenating your PND, PMP or smartphone provided you have the necessary cabling. Most interesting, however, is this unit's ability to automatically switch between desired mAh charges, including 500 mAh, 1A and 2.1A, while a standby toggle switch ensures no drainage when it's idle. There's also a USB pass-through so users can charge a device and the Powerstation simultaneously, and if you're interested, all 3600mAh can be yours starting today at $99.95.
Kensington's PowerBack kickstand case doubles as iPad battery pack
At this point, the only thing standing between you and one of many, many iPad cases is your indecision. In other words, it's not for lack of choices. But Kensington has managed to concoct something interesting here in the PowerBack, which is effectively a Juice Pack for your iPad. At first glance, it's simply a kickstand-infused case used to protect the back and sides of your dear tablet, but the integrated 4400mAh battery pack provides up to five extra hours of juice should you actually decide to prove Steve wrong and read for over ten hours. Surely it's worth the $129.99 just to say you told him so, right?
Sanho's 750GB HyperDrive photo backup HDD plays nice with your iPad
Here's a little nugget you may not have already been aware of -- Apple's iPad is only capable of registering USB hard drives (via the Camera Connection Kit, of course) that are 32GB or smaller, which may or may not bum a vast majority of you out. Thankfully, Sanho's latest and greatest HyperDrive was tailor made to circumvent that limitation, and it just so happens to be the company's most capacious. Checking in with 750GB of open space, this unit boasts a "patent pending ability to turn individual file folders into virtual 32GB drives on the fly that are readable by the iPad," and as you'd expect, there's also a CompactFlash and Secure Digital slot for offloading images directly from your camera's memory card (at up to 40MB/sec). There's even a 3.2-inch QVGA color display, support for JPEG and RAW files and the ability to act as a vanilla USB hard drive; it's available now for $599, though smaller versions are available for those with less pocket change. %Gallery-101580%
iPad Camera Connection Kit a commodity item, now fetches $100+ on eBay
Now that the USB-wielding cat's out of the bag, it's looking like supplies of the iPad Camera Connection Kit aren't keeping up with demand -- one Engadget reader tipped us off to the fact that the $30 attachments are worth up to $180 on eBay. A quick bit of sleuthing showed that Apple's actually still selling the things -- they're simply backordered, with a three to four week shipping delay -- but sure enough, niche e-tailers currently list the dongles for as much as $150, and eBay auctioneers are finding the kits sell for two to five times the original MSRP. If your external HDD experiments didn't work out the way you'd liked, at least you can be sure you'll get your money back. [Thanks, Paul P.]
Apple iPad Dock Connector to VGA Adapter not accomplishing the simplest of tasks
Look, there's no arguing that Apple charges a boatload for its first-party adapters, and this isn't the first time that one of those overpriced dongles has caused an uproar (Mini DisplayPort to Dual-Link DVI Adapter, anyone?). But when the company trots out an iPad Dock Connector to VGA Adapter and promises to enable users to "see their videos and slideshows on the big screen," it should probably make a few clarifications. Instead, more than a handful of consumers are revolting over on Apple's own webstore, noting that any video laced in any type of DRM (iTunes flicks and Netflix streams included) won't output at all. Contrary to popular belief, this adapter doesn't actually mirror the iPad's display, which is fairly absurd in our eyes -- teachers are even stating that Apple's own Pages and Keynote apps won't output via the dongle, making this effectively worthless for blowing up presentations for all to see. We (sort of) get the DRM thing, but not including support in your own presentation app? Unacceptable. A tipster has noted that Apple informed him that "it's up to the app makers to enable the video out function," so we suppose all that's needed to solve a lot of controversy is for some switch to be flipped in some direction. Any other hang-ups with this thing that the world should know about? Drop 'em in comments below. [Thanks, Tony] Update: A few tipsters have noted that Keynote does in fact work here. Here's a growing list of what does and doesn't work with the adapter.
iPad Camera Kit ships with USB headset and keyboard support
Reports are coming in that the iPad Camera Connection Kit has finally shown up on a couple buyer doorsteps, and that the pair of white dongles may actually have been worth the wait. While one is a simple SD card adapter that adds one-touch image and video import (including RAW, complete with EXIF data) to the iPad, the second provides a USB port with some exciting new functionality. TUAW reports one reader could type on an iPad via USB keyboard, and those rumors about USB audio were true, too: TidBITS was actually able to make a Skype call after connecting a USB headset. Before you get too excited, however, please note that the USB and SD image transfers are one-way, and not all peripherals are supported -- for instance, TidBITS' iPad sneezed at an external hard drive. Also, according to the Apple Store, Camera Connection Kit shipments are still two to three weeks out, so don't be surprised if it still takes some time to get yours. For now you can make do with the video after the break.
iPad Camera Connection Kit finally surfaces for pre-order, still absurdly overpriced
If you'll recall, Apple had no qualms revealing the iPad Camera Connection Kit at its 'Latest Creation' event back in January, but the solution seemingly dropped from the face of the Earth shortly thereafter. Even as cases, keyboards and all sorts of other iPad accessories surfaced for pre-order, the camera kit remained nowhere to be found. Over the weekend, the $29 adapter bundle finally found a home at the outfit's website (with a "late April" ship date), offering users a pair of dongles to support USB and SD cards. Of course, one could easily argue that the iPad should have native support for both of these widely used formats without forcing users to lug around two extra peripherals, but if that were the case, this thing just wouldn't be an Apple, now would it? %Gallery-89227%
iPad Camera Connection Kit available for order, shipping in late April
Many people making pre-orders or reservations for iPads were concerned when the iPad Camera Connection Kit didn't show up on the Apple site as available for order. Never fear, for the the US$29 kit is now listed on Apple's website as shipping in late April. No explanation was given for the absence of the Camera Connection Kit in the original list of iPad accessories, although the company may have held back the SD and USB connectors that make up the kit for component quality testing. Among the other accessories for the iPad, the VGA Adapter and Standard Dock will be available on April 3rd and the iPad case is scheduled for mid-April. The Keyboard Dock is showing late April availability, while the iPad 10W USB Power Adapters won't make it to your home or office until sometime in May. [via MacRumors]
i-Got-Control IRB1 dongle gives your iPhone / iPod touch universal remote functionality
No need to spot clean your spectacles, and no need to brush the cobwebs out of your dome -- you really are seeing yet another IR dongle for Apple's dear iLineup. Hot on the heels of New Potato's FLPR, ThinkFlood's RedEye mini and Power A's solution comes this: an all-too-similar way to convert your iPod touch, iPhone or forthcoming iPad into a universal remote. Functionality wise, there's really nothing here that the other guys don't provide, though the beefed-up database of over 40,000 IR codes should make setting up your system a breeze. Users simply plug this into their dock connector, download the free application from the App Store and then dial up whatever components they have; once loaded, the IR beamer should do the rest, nixing the need to keep those 40 remotes around. It's expected to start shipping any day now for $69.95.
NPR and WSJ building 'Flash-free' pages for iPad, Apple quietly delays select iPad accessories
For awhile, we couldn't decide what we were more angry at: the fact that select devices wouldn't support Flash, or that Flash was simply too demanding on select devices. We still can't say with any degree of certainty which side of the fence we're on, but there's no question that Apple's refusal to play nice with Adobe on the iPhone, iPod touch and forthcoming iPad limits the abilities of those devices significantly. Curiously enough, it seems that Apple's importance in the mobile (and media delivery) realm is coercing select portals to develop Flash-free websites for those who drop by on an iDevice. Both the National Public Radio and the Wall Street Journal are furiously working on iPad-friendly websites, which will be devoid of Flash for at least the first few pages down. What's interesting is that we get the impression that this will soon become the rule rather than the exception, and it could be exactly what's needed to launch HTML5 into stardom and put these Flash or no Flash debates behind us. In related news, we're also seeing that a couple of iPad accessories won't actually be ready to ship when the device itself cuts loose on April 3rd. Yesterday, the iPad Keyboard Dock was listed with a "May" ship date, though today it has moved up to a marginally more palatable "Late April." The iPad 10W USB Power Adapter also carries a "May" date, while the iPad Case is slated for "Mid April" and that elusive camera connection kit is still nowhere to be found. But hey, at least you'll get your (overpriced) iPad Dock Connector to VGA Adapter and iPad dock by the first weekend of next month, right?
Dead iPad battery? Never mind replacing it, Apple just sends another iPad for $99
Whoa, Nelly! Isn't this something? Apple has just posted details on its iPad battery replacement service, which is really not a battery replacement service at all. Check out the company's opening line: "If your iPad requires service due to the battery's diminished ability to hold an electrical charge, Apple will replace your iPad for a service fee." Now, let's compare that to the verbiage found in the iPhone's battery replacement program details: "If your iPhone requires service only because the battery's ability to hold an electrical charge has diminished, Apple will service your iPhone for a service fee." We can see the puzzled look on your face from here, and we're sharing in the same disbelief. Apple is actually saying that it won't bother cracking open your withered iPad, replacing the battery and sending it back your way; instead, you'll pay $105.95 (including shipping) for a completely different iPad, which certainly has its pros and cons. On one hand, you're getting a new (or potentially refurbished, actually) iPad in around "one week," but on the other, you'll be waving goodbye to every morsel of personal data on the device that you send in -- unless you backup beforehand, of course. Here's Apple's take on answering "will the data on my iPad be preserved?" "No. You will receive a replacement iPad that will not contain any of your personal data. Before you submit your iPad for service, it is important to sync your iPad with iTunes to back up your contacts, calendars, email account settings, bookmarks, apps, etc. Apple is not responsible for the loss of information when servicing your iPad." Lovely, don'tcha think? Head on past the break for the full text. [Thanks, David]
Apple's iPad keyboard dock, case and other accessories get the hands-on treatment
Apple didn't give us a great amount of time with its newly unveiled iPad today, and as you've likely seen, we spent the bulk of our allotment touching the unit itself. Lost in the proverbial shuffle were a number of the unit's launch accessories, including the admittedly intriguing keyboard dock ($69), case ($39), iPad Dock Connector to VGA adapter ($29) and camera connection kit ($29). Each of these doodads seem to look and feel exactly as you'd expect 'em to, though we're still baffled by Apple's decision to make you pay extra for access to the world's most widely accepted connector. We're also somewhat appalled (but not surprised) by the $39 price tag purportedly attached to the stripped-down case, and while the $69 MSRP on the keyboard dock is apt to cause some grumbling, at least there are a few iPad-specific keys on there to make it (marginally) worth your while. Dig in below for more on each. Read - iPad keyboard dock hands-on Read - iPad case hands-on Read - iPad Dock Connector to VGA adapter hands-on Read - iPad camera connection kit hands-on
Five iPad accessories to be available at launch
There will be five Apple-branded iPad accessories available at launch. We already mentioned a few of them earlier, but here is the complete rundown (with official product photos): iPad Keyboard Dock The Keyboard Dock is a dock for charging your iPad, integrated with a full-size keyboard. The dock has a rear 30-pin connector, which lets you connect to an electrical outlet using a USB Power Adapter, sync to your computer, and use accessories like the Camera Connection Kit. And an audio jack lets you connect to a stereo or powered speakers. The dock will sell for $69. iPad Case The iPad Case not only protects the iPad, it can be used in various positions. So it's easy to type, look at photos and slideshows, or watch movies. The Case comes with a picture frame stand, and will sell for $39.
