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Motorola to release $20 Skip, an NFC accessory that unlocks Moto X with a tap
With the release of a flagship phone comes a barrage of accessories, and every once in a while, it's something new you're not quite sure you need. Take, for example, the Moto Skip -- an NFC-based tag designed to unlock the soon-to-be-available Moto X with one tap. Just pair it up via NFC once; after that, you won't ever need to input your passcode to access the phone's homepage again. We'll reserve our opinion on the Skip until we get a chance to take it for a spin, but we foresee it being useful if you're extremely busy -- or forgetful -- so long as it doesn't get stolen with a Moto X. The company's website listed Skip for $20 prior to publication, but it's been pulled down since without notice of when the clip will become available.
Zink's hAppy and hAppy+ smart app printers cater to gleeful labelers
It's been a hot minute since a new Zink printer made it through the wringer, but here we are staring at the latest duo. Designed to be coddled and cuddled by craft gurus and those who place an exceptionally high value on organization, the hAppy and hAppy+ smart app printers utilize the outfit's full-color, ink-free zRolls for printing. Each one is WiFi-enabled and engineered to travel well, with the $199 base model supporting print transfers from iPhone, iPad, iPod touch and Android devices. On the stock hAppy, you simply download a corresponding app, design what you need printed, and send it over the air. The $299 hAppy+, however, ships with Android in the device, allowing you to fiddle around with its touchscreen and create print designs without any other hardware involved. Of course, we're guessing that you'll be quite limited on what masterpieces you'll be able to muster on such a small canvas, but hey -- who are we to judge your creative prowess?
Official 2,550mAh Wii U GamePad battery announced in Japan, promises up to 8 hours of gameplay
Bummed out about the Wii U GamePad's middling battery life? Nintendo finally has an answer: install a bigger battery. Taking to Twitter these evening, Nintendo revealed has that a new larger capacity GamePad battery will be available in Japan soon, promising between 5-8 hours of battery life. The 2,550mAh battery will cost ¥3,000 yen (about $39) when it launches this July, and will need to be installed manually by the user. There's no word yet on international availability, but it's a welcome band-aid for problem that nagged early adopters. Hungry for all of the (machine translated) details? Check out the official announcement at the attached source link.
Razer's Atrox arcade stick still exists, pre-orders open May 21
Gaming hardware manufacturer Razer has wrapped up the beta testing phase for its long-in-development Razer Atrox Arcade Stick for the Xbox 360, and will begin accepting pre-orders next week. We had a look at a prototype version of Razer's controller at TGS way back in 2011, where the concept made a strong showing. Razer previously announced that it would be working closely with the fighting game community throughout the Atrox's development, and the finished product will ship with tournament-grade Sanwa buttons and multiple interchangeable ball-top and bat-top sticks. Razer has developed the Atrox with modding in mind; the hatch-like surface can be opened with a button press, allowing for easy maintenance and design customization. Once opened, the Atrox boasts a spacious interior with compartments for replacement parts, tools, and the fat wads of cash you'll pick up from underground Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3 money matches. Atrox pre-orders will open at Razer's website on May 21. The Atrox will retail for $200.
NewerTech crams an optical drive in the miniStack Max, combines SD reader and up to 4TB storage
It's no secret that Apple is trying to push the optical drive the way of the Dodo, but if you have a need for the legacy technology, then you might consider going all out with the miniStack Max from Newer Technology. Like other products in the miniStack lineup, it shares the same footprint as the Mac Mini, which makes for a perfect stackable solution. There are a number of options for configuring the miniStack Max, starting with the optical drive, which extend from a DVD writer, to a Blu-ray drive or even a Blu-ray burner. Likewise, the base configuration lacks storage, but can be configured with drives that range in size between 500GB and 4TB. Rounding out the miniStack Max, you'll find an SDXC reader, three USB 3.0 ports, one eSATA port, two FireWire 800 ports and a Kensington lock slot. The miniStack Max is available now for $249.99 with a DVD burner and 1TB storage, and ranges in price from $149.99 for a bare unit (sans optical drive and storage), to $569.00 for the model with a Blu-ray writer and 4TB storage. %Gallery-187869%
Photojojo's telephoto lens brings up to 12x of optical zoom to your iPad
After creating the Photorito lens wrap that makes your zoom like a burrito, Photojojo has pulled off another feat: making iPad photographers look even wackier than normal. But the company's iPad telephoto lens is pretty useful if you're willing to hold a slab to your face to grab images. It brings a useful 10x zoom to the iPad 3 and 4, and 12x to the iPad Mini, giving you un-pixelated closeups along with "slight vignetting, a lo-fi look and all around interest to your photos." You're not going to make your iPad any less conspicuous as a camera than it already is, so you can grab the wee lens for $25 at the source.
Circle Pad Pro accessory will ruin your Nintendo 3DS XL's silhouette for $20
Is it worth adding a lop-sided $20 piece of plastic to your already-substantial 3DS XL in order to gain a second analog thumb stick? It's a good question and finally one worth asking now that Nintendo has announced that the currently Japan-only Circle Pad Pro for the XL will start shipping in the States tomorrow. When we went hands-on last year, we found that it added predictable amounts of girth and also blocked the cartridge port, but compensated by making the handheld more comfortable to use, not least by adding larger shoulder buttons as well as the thumb stick. It's also worth pointing out that the smaller 3DS version of the accessory enabled better controls for left-handed players in Kid Icarus, so there could be some subtler benefits too. We've embedded our hands-on video after the break, so you just need to hold a $20 bill up against your screen and decide which looks better.
Google bestows the Nexus 10 with covers, available now for $29.99
Sure, you may own the highest res Android tablet on the block, but is your Nexus 10 really all that special when it's as naked as everyone else's? Problem, meet solution: the Nexus 10 cover from Google. The $29.99 add-on hit the Play Store this fine day, which stands as the first official accessory for the larger of Google's two tablets. The matte finish cover is available in dark grey and scarlet, which clips onto the slate without adding much bulk. As another nice touch, you can also wake and sleep the Nexus 10 simply by opening and closing its cover, which seems quite smart, if you ask us. Naturally, the Gorilla Glass 2 display of the Nexus 10 is plenty beefy already, but if you want that added layer of protection, you'll now find it for purchase in Google Play.
Flickr Find: iPad on a G4 iMac base
Remember the G4 iMac, lovingly called the iLamp because of its unique design that resembled Luxor Jr. of Pixar fame? Spotted on Flickr is this clever iPad stand that uses the base of the G4 as its centerpiece. It was created a few years ago by Flickr member Jamie37211, who documented the process of creating it in a 16-picture photo set. It's a great piece; I wonder if he still uses it?
Linkase looks to improve iPhone wifi reception
You can relive the days of cell phone antennas thanks to this iPhone case from Absolute Technology. The Linkcase for the iPhone 5 has an electromagnetic waveguide (EMW) antenna that'll improve WiFi performance in your phone. The EMW element responsible for improving WiFi reception is embedded into the back of the case, and you can slide it up when you need a boost in your wireless signal. Linkase claims it can deliver a 50 percent improvement in reception by moving the antenna up and out of the way of your hands. The case is landing in the hands of reviewers, but it is not yet available for sale. It'll retail for US$49.95 and will be available in Coal Black, Ash Gray, Frost White, Chili Red and Antarctic Blue.
MMT offers a mobile monitor for your Mac or iPad
This is the first Macworld for MMT, Mobile Monitor Technologies, and the company is offering a slightly different twist on portable USB monitors. Each is wrapped in brushed aluminum, and each has a nice build quality with what appears to be an outstanding screen. But there's a model with a numeric keypad installed (handy for your laptop), and a model which allows you to show your iPad's screen (for presentations). The Monitor2Go model for iPad is somewhat like a clamshell case, but as you can see from the picture below, it's not really designed as a case. Instead, you have a monitor which you can flip up and swivel 180 degrees around, allowing you to show someone sitting across from your what's on your iPad. There are also USB and HDMI connections, which are handy. The 1,366 x 768 resolution Monitor2Go sells for US$299, while the 1,600 x 900 version sells for $329. Both screens are 15.6 inches diagonally, and both support the iPad 2 and iPad 3 with built-in slots for both. The Field Monitor Pro is the Mac version (seen below), with a numeric keypad built into the aluminum chassis. It's DisplayLink-certified, and according to MMT you can daisy chain up to six of these things off a single USB! The Field Monitor Pro also includes USB and HDMI, and features a resolution of 1,366x768 on a 15.6-inch screen. It retails for $289. We hope to have a hands-on with one or both of these in the future.
CES 2013: iMusic BodyRhythm wants to pummel your shoulders via touch input
There's always a few wacky things here at CES, and at Pepcom's annual CES sideshow I stumbled upon the iMusic BodyRhythm. It looks a bit like a life jacket, but can be controlled by your iOS device via a special app. What does it do? It "massages" your shoulders via a series of tiny taps. Frankly, it wasn't the most relaxing massage I've had, as it felt more like Smurf paratroopers landing on my shoulders at strategic points, and then jumping around with clogs on. Still, the high-end leather and novelty of the product will mean the company intends to sell more to high-end customers in Asia than your average Apple Store customer in the Mall of America. The app had some pre-programmed massage sequences, but also added "games" like a drum tapping game and the ability to shake the device and get poked somewhat randomly. These were neat, but not what I'd call a comfortable massage. And the kicker to all this: This is a Kickstarter project with under US$1,000 pledged so far. It's a little hard to tell from the project page, but it looks like you can pre-order the vaporous product for the low price of $149. It's odd to see someone spending the money to attend both Pepcom and CES whilst also pitching a Kickstarter project. I would have thought that money could have been put toward making a shipping product, but welcome to the new age of wacky iOS accessories fueled by fever dreams of Kickstarter funding. Here's their pitch video:
US retailer pegs Nexus 7 dock release for January 10th, we remain wary
ASUS' official dock for the Nexus 7 has been an elusive beast, to put it mildly: Americans, at least, have had to sit tight for half a year if they weren't content with third-party hardware. We just might be reaching the end of that road, if B&H is right. The retailer is listing the audio-capable cradle as arriving January 10th for $40. The accessory could be tantalizingly close as a result, although we'll believe it when we're charging our tablets -- we've seen as many retailers take stabs in the dark on release dates as those that use real information, so we may still be left waiting in a week's time.
And the award for 'Most Impractical iPhone Case' goes to...
iPhone cases need to do one thing and one thing only: Protect your extremely expensive handset from harm. If the case happens to look cool or offer some additional functionality, that's really just a bonus. Now, if the case is also a full-sized replica of a lobster, well... we're not quite sure if that's a positive or a negative, to be perfectly honest. The "Lobster Mobile Telephone Case" is a one-off design by Elliot Gorham. Gorham runs Noddy Boffin, a furniture design and concept shop in Victoria, Australia. The case itself is massive, goofy, impractical and almost entirely useless. But according to its description on Gorham's website, that's the point. "Unlike the typical phone case, it doesn't offer functionality of protection and style," the blurb reads. "Its features include; camera incapability, ergonomically awkward, too big for your pocket or handbag and most importantly, its ability to cause its users embarrassment." Unfortunately -- or fortunately, depending on your outlook -- the ridiculous case isn't actually for sale, and Gorham doesn't appear to have any plans to actually manufacture it on a large scale. That's probably just as well, since we'd almost certainly pester our own Steve Sande for an in-depth review, which could lead to one or more of us being strangled. [Via: CNN]
Apple offers free Lightning to Micro USB adapter in China
M.I.C. Gadget reports that iPhone 5 buyers in China will get a little something extra with each new smartphone: A Lightning to Micro USB adapter. The adapter allows users to utilize their existing micro-USB cords to both charge and sync the new iPhone, and helps cut down on the added expense of picking up Lightning cables from Apple or third-party accessory makers. The adapter is the same one the company introduced in Europe to comply with EU's standardized charging requirements. iPhone 5 customers in the U.S. can also pick up the accessory in Apple's online store for $19. We'd of course love to see the adapter be made a worldwide freebie, but chances of that are rather slim.
Stands du jour: TwoHands & MonkeyDo iPad stands impress
When it comes to iPad stands, there are more options out there in the market than you can shake a stick at. If you're just looking for utility, you needn't look farther than a used roll of duct tape. Ugly but it works. Today's market is about combining utility with beautiful design and I found a couple of items from Staples that are sure to please. Of the two, the felix MonkeyDo is by far the cuter. Available from Staples for US$19.99 ($14.99 sale price until December 15), this is a stand that will fit the quirkiest aesthetics. Made of strong plastic, the stand fits classic iPads in landscape and portrait positions. (I tested with the iPad 1 and 2. I was unable to test with a mini.) As adorable as the MonkeyDo is, you can't really see the cute monkey after inserting the iPad. Only its little toes and fingers show in practical use. So a lot of the kawaii goes away when the unit is used as designed. In terms of fit, the portrait position worked a lot better than landscape for repeated removal and insertion. You really need to make your monkey streeeeeeeeetch to get the landscape iPad in place. In both orientations, the presentation was secure and the fingers did not interfere with the screen. I found the MonkeyDo to be a cute, solid product; one I have no qualms recommending. I liked the MonkeyDo; I adored the Felix TwoHands. Retailing at $29.99 at Staples (and on sale for $14.99 until December 15), this stand works like a dream. Based on a springed hinge, you open the stand with a simple squeeze. It adapts to nearly every tablet you throw at it (I tested with iPads, Kindles and an iPhone), and it's so easy to use. Its two arms have the same kind of cute hand detail used for the MonkeyDo, but with much sturdier plastic. They grasp a tablet at any height you choose, so you can set angles from super-shallow to completely upright. When not in use, the stand snaps shut, with a minimal profile that you can store away in your desk or even a super-generous pencil cup. After a few days of use by myself and my family, I picked up the phone, confirmed that I could buy at my local Denver store at the online price and ran out and bought a few to keep. Highly recommended.
Nexus 7 dock hits Japanese ASUS shop with December launch window, ¥3,580 sticker price
Sick of propping your Nexus 7 up with books, backpacks and terrifying spider-stands? ASUS has something for you -- an official charging cradle. This wedge shaped slab dock was leaked in an accessory presentation back in July, flaunting a Micro USB connector and 3.5mm audio jack -- now it's back, flaunting a ¥3,580 ($42) sticker price on the Japanese ASUS shop. There's no word yet on international availability or official US prices, but the product page pegs the cradle for an early December ship date.
Will.i.am launches pricey i.am+ camera add-ons for iPhone, we go hands on (video)
So, we learned two things today. Firstly, Will.i.am is able to attract quite a media scrum, and secondly, national press photographers have sharp elbows. Nevertheless, we braved the London debut of the Black Eyed Peas star's i.am+ iPhone accessories and fortunately came away with more than just Elephunk-sized bruises. We got some brief playtime with the gadgets, plus an interview with the CEO of Will.i.am's tech venture -- none other than Chandra Rathakrishnan of Fusion Garage fame (or notoriety). If you're wondering if we asked him why anyone would spend upwards of £199 ($315) on a wide-angle lens attachment when a really decent alternative can be had for a fraction of that cost, then hopefully the video and early impressions after the break will satisfy your curiosity.
Lumawake iPhone dock studies sleep cycles, simulates a sunrise
When it comes to iPhone docks, you'd think we'd have seen it all by now, but a new crowd-funded project called Lumawake is doing its best to dismiss that notion. More than just a slick-looking charging accessory, Lumawake's designers claim that it can study your sleep cycle, which you can then browse via a companion app. The dock performs this trick using an infrared motion sensor located on the front of the device. It keeps a constant eye on your movement and attempts to determine when you're at the peak of your lightest phase of sleep. Then, the dock's built-in LEDs produce a simulated sunrise, gradually growing in brightness until you've woken up. If its attempts at slowly coaxing you up fail, which the designers claim is a rare occurrence, the alarm backup will ensure you're not late to start your day. The Lumawake project is currently seeking funding, and you can reserve your unit for $149. The crowd-funding campaign still has 28 days to go, and it's already generated over $23,000 of its $150,000 goal. If the project is successfully funded, the docks will begin shipping early next year. [Via: The Next Web]
Belkin bulks up iPad mini with $80 Portable Keyboard Case
If you decided to go small by getting an iPad mini but find yourself needing to do some serious work (like blogging, for instance), Belkin may have just the accessory: the Portable Keyboard Case. The removable chiclet-style keyboard marries up wirelessly with the 7.7-inch tab via Bluetooth and has "well spaced keys for its size," including custom iPad shortcuts, according to the peripheral maker. The battery lasts a whopping 155 hours between charges, and when the Starbucks staff finally kick you out, you can fold all your kit up into the built-in folio, complete with a camera-lens cutout. If that sounds like your cup of chai latté tea, hit the PR after the break.
