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Casio's G-Shock watch plays nice with your iPhone
I haven't worn a watch in years (my always-on-me smartphone has a clock after all) but for those of you who still do, you may want to check out the Casio G-Shock GB6900. The US$180 smart watch features Bluetooth 4.0 and syncs with your iPhone 4S or iPhone 5. Besides looking cool and telling you the time, the G-Shock GB6900 pairs with your iPhone via the G-SHOCK+ app. The sync allows your watch to beep and/or vibrate when you get an incoming call, alerts you to when you have a new email message, syncs time between your phone and watch, and offers a Find My iPhone-type of feature that allows you to locate your iPhone via sending a command from your watch to your iPhone which then emits a tone alert so you can track it down. Given that Bluetooth requires devices to be in close proximity, all of the watch's features seem redundant since your iPhone must be nearby for it to work. Still, if you wear a watch and want to look more James Bond than normal, this could be the piece of tech for you.
Phocus phantastic for phun iPhone photography
Back in the dark ages of the iPhone 3GS, there was the OWLE bubo -- a machined aluminum case that provided more gripping surface for holding the phone as a camera, a tripod mount, a cold shoe for an LED light, and interchangeable lenses. When the iPhone 4 and 4S came out, the company didn't create a new bubo the company updated the device to hold the newer iPhones. They're back now as Phocus with a new, less expensive, and lighter product that works with the iPhone 4/4S. The Phocus comes in two varieties -- a kit with two lenses for US$99.95 or a three lens kit for $134.95. The two lens kit is actually made up of a wide angle lens with a removable macro lens, while the three lens kit adds a 2X portrait telephoto lens. A lens cap to protect the wide angle / macro is available for $8.95. If you like using filters (UV Haze, polarizing, or effect), both the wide angle lens and portrait telephoto lens take standard 49 mm filters. %Gallery-160288% You're not limited to these lenses, though. If you use either Canon or Nikon SLR lenses, you'll be happy to know that there's a lens adapter ($219.95) that will let you use your favorite big glass for shooting incredible photos. The biggest change in the Phocus comes in the material used to construct it. While the OWLE bubo was machined from a chunk of aluminum and had some heft, the new Phocus Accent is made of a composite material that is much lighter. And while the old unit had an odd shape that made it difficult to hold with one hand, the Phocus has a nice grip that sticks out on the front for easy one-handing. For connecting to a tripod, there are three separate screw mounts -- one directly under the center of gravity of the phone and Phocus, one under the hand grip, and another on top of the device. As with the original device, there's a cold shoe for attaching lights or microphones, and all of the iPhone 4/4S ports are easily accessible. The metal fittings on the Phocus are made out of brass and should stand up well to installing and removing lenses or tripods. As with any screw-mount equipment, I'd recommend a light hand on tightening the lenses to avoid stripping the threads. How does it work? The photos below show a plain iPhone photo (top) and a shot from the same distance with the wide angle lens (bottom): The next pair of photos demonstrates the use of the iPhone's built-in macro capability (top) and the Phocus macro lens (bottom): Conclusion Having used both the old OWLE bubo and the new Phocus, I am quite impressed with how the company was able to reinvent this useful photographic accessory. Especially with the macro lens, I found the photos I was taking with the 8-megapixel camera in the iPhone 4S to be spectacular when viewed at full size. While the Phocus and iPhone are not a substitute for a high-end professional DSLR, they rival or beat the quality and capability of many point and shoot cameras. Pros Well-constructed Lightweight, especially in comparison to the first-generation device Included lenses are perfect for adding wide-angle and closeup macro capabilities to the iPhone 4/4S Cons Cost of SLR lens adapter is prohibitively high May not work with next-generation iPhone Some barrel distortion of photos taken with the wide angle lens Who is it for? Those who want to use their iPhone 4 or 4S as their only digital camera
Diff Case is a fun, multi-function iPhone case
The Diff Case is a different case because, unlike others, it is a multitasker. It has a privacy cover and sun shade that, when closed, protects the iPhone's screen from scratches. When open, it serves to block the sun and the prying eyes of the person sitting next to you on the bus. The Diff Case is also a full-surround bumper that protects your phone from bumps, drops and the weather. It has a funny little hump on the bottom left that gives you something to grasp when you hold the phone. This ridge also houses a vertical and horizontal tripod mount which lets you use your phone to shoot photos and record videos like a pro. If that isn't enough, there's an opening for a carabiner and a key-ring accessory that screws into the tripod mount. If you're creative enough, you can probably find even more uses for the Diff Case. You can read about the Diff Case on the case maker's website. It's compatible with the iPhone 4 and 4S on AT&T, Verizon and Sprint. You can get the black version now for US$34.95 and other colors like white, hot pink and red will be available starting March 10. [Via NYT Gadgetwise]
Bed, Bath and Beyond selling off iCades for $49.99
Here's a weird deal that might work well if you poke around a bit: Bed, Bath and Beyond (which usually sells towels, sheets, and other household utilities) is apparently clearing out its inventory of iCade devices, per TouchArcade, which means that if you act fast and you're lucky, you might be able to pick one up from the retail store for $49.99. As of this writing, the arcade cabinet built for your iPad is available on BBB's website for the half-off price, and if you call around, you might find one at a store near you for just as cheap. These things usually sell on ThinkGeek for $100, so this is a pretty good deal if you can find it. As Mike's iMAME post noted last week, the cabinet works with MAME arcade emulators on jailbroken hardware and with quite a few App Store games. Good luck out there. My guess is that BBB bought a bunch of these for the holiday season to sell as gifts, but didn't see the kinds of sales they expected to (which makes sense -- your standard housewares shopper probably wouldn't be after an iCade in the first place, necessarily). But that's cool; those of us who still haven't jumped on an iCade might be able to find them for cheap. It's been on sale before, but not quite this low. If you do get to pick one up, be sure to let us know what you think of it -- we definitely liked ours.
A unique iPad stand for around the house and travel
I've been pretty frustrated with the iPad stands I've seen. The Apple Smart Cover is clever but leaves the back of the iPad unprotected. Some of the cases that double as stands tend to be a bit tippy, and if you try to type or actively use the screen, they just fall over. I like lots of options for the angle of the screen depending on where I am, but many of the cases don't give you all that many choices. Enter the Prop 'n Go from Padded Spaces in Seattle. It's a thickly padded case with 14 different screen angles. It's available in Microsuede or what's called Air Mesh. The case is designed to provide excellent airflow, and no matter how you push on the case, it's simply not going to slide around or collapse. The model I tested, the US$49.95 standard setup, contains a pocket you can slip your iPad into or use to store accessories. The accessory pocket is cleverly designed so your power cords, headphones and so on don't come in contact with your iPad. An upgraded case called the All-in-One ($59.95) includes a strap that turns the case into a backpack. A lite version of Prop 'n Go eliminates the internal storage and drops the cost to $39.95. The cases work with either model of the iPad and would store an e-reader, like a Kindle, if you don't use an iPad. I reviewed the original iPad stand from Padded Spaces (called the Prop it Up) last year. I liked it a lot, but I thought it was too big. The current model is much smaller in width and designed to fit the iPad dimensions. I think this newer model is a decided improvement over an already good product. %Gallery-125028%
Rumor: Bumpers coming back to Apple Stores
Did you miss out on Apple's free case program for your iPhone 4? If so, you're out of luck. If you have reception issues with your iPhone 4, you can return it as usual, but at this point, Apple believes that everyone should know about the Antennagate issue, so there are no more free cases. This also means that bumpers are back on sale. While you could easily get a free one, they disappeared from Apple Store shelves, but as of today, bumpers are reportedly available again. Unfortunately, they're still not for sale online, but presumably that will be fixed soon. Word has it that they're heading back to the US$29 price point, too. If you're buying an iPhone today or in the future, what are your plans for a case?
Nyko charge base for PlayStation Move available for pre-order
Yes, it looks like the PlayStation Move accessories are starting to trickle in. While we're still lusting after the shooting attachment, we do realize the need for more modest hardware such as that supplied by Nyko. The Charge Station is a pretty straightforward affair: it features four ports for powering up as many Motion Controllers and / or Navigation Controllers, and can be pre-ordered from Amazon for $20. On a related note, we can't wait to see what CTA comes up with for its Move accessories. We hope there are some Sony-compatible wings in our future!
ColorWare outs custom colors for the Apple iPhone 3GS
If you're anything at all like us, you were just a tad disappointed by the color "options" of Apple's newest foray into the world of mobile phones, the iPhone 3GS. After all, who wants to be limited to just black and white these days? Not us, that's for sure -- and ColorWare's just announced a fix for all that. Pricing for these customs jobs runs $150 for the back of the handset, $20 a piece for the bezel frame and button, and $15 the SIM holder. They'll also do up your earbuds for an additional $15. A small price to pay for beauty, no? Another shot of a different color combo after the break.[Via SlashGear]
Dice speakers sure to be a fashion gamble
Buffalo's just unleashed some portable little iPod speakers that you might want to try to get your hands on. With an output of one hot watt, the Dice speaker series is sure to turn your morning commute into a tiny, slightly louder micro-party in an instant -- or, at the very least, it'll cool up your look a few notches. They'd make a perfect gift for the gambling addict in your life, too, but sadly, they're going to be a Japan-only release when they come out sometime next month for ¥ 2,814 (about $33). Check out another shot after the break.
Mili Phonesuit Power Pack for iPhone adds some style, weight to your device
Sure, iPhone chargers are a dime a dozen, and most of them are a snore-fest, we know. Mili's just-rolled-out Phonesuit Power Pack is eye-catching enough to bring to your attention though. The spiffy looking charger is packing an 1,800 mAh battery which supposedly gives up to 350 hours of standby time, 6 hours of talk / browsing (3G), 12 hours of EDGE use. The only mildly interesting feature of the device is the mini USB port which allows you to charge a device other than your iPhone. This baby comes in 8 designs, and it's going to run you about $80 if you want to nab one. [Via Engadget Spanish]
The future of Microsoft accessories [Update 1]
FiringSquad has an interesting report from a Microsoft GameFest panel on controllers and accessories for the Xbox 360. Chief among the revelations at the panel is the development of a USB adapter that will let gamers use their Xbox 360 wireless controllers on a PC. Price and release details weren't discussed, but FiringSquad speculates that a fall release is likely.[Update 1: Apparently the wireless receiver is old news, as Microsoft announced the peripheral at E3. My bad.]Microsoft hardware chief Rob Walker also mentioned that they had been testing prototypes of a motion-sensitive controller for the Xbox 360, but said that testers complained about fatigue after extended play. Despite this, Walker said they still haven't totally written off the idea of a motion-sensing controller for the Xbox 360 in the future.Check out the full article for more tantalizing hints at potential Xbox 360 accessories, including a larger hard drive and a controller with a QWERTY keyboard.
