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iFlash adds a flash to your iPhone or iPod touch
Of course, it kind of takes away from the idea that a mobile phone should be sleek and easy to carry, but I'm guessing that is beside the point. The iFlash is a self-powered flash module that plugs directly into the docking port of your iPhone 3G/3GS or iPod touch and allows owners to take pictures in badly lit areas. It will also work with your iPhone 4 but there's not a lot of point in having two flashes, especially since the extra one hangs off your otherwise thin and lightweight iPhone. As an added bonus, the iFlash fits under most cases and can also be used as an LED flashlight. We have seen an add-on flash for the iPhone before but this integration looks a little nicer, even if still a bit bulky. Available now for US $29.95 (regularly $39.95) over at Gadgets and Gear, when not in use the "small and compact iFlash can be attached to the iPhone through a plastic 3.5mm jack and left dangling from the iPhone like a phone charm." I'm not sure a dangling charm is a big selling point, but to each their own. I would rather put that $30 or $40 towards a new iPhone that already comes with a flash -- and without a charm. If I wanted to carry an accessory for my iPhone I think I would prefer a new lens choice over a flash. But if you're stuck with an older phone and take a lot of pictures in dark places, there you go. Back in 2007, reader Joe let us know about a DIY hack he did using LEDs and a broken iPod car charger, creating what he called the iFlash. This solution might be pricier, but it's a little more tidy, and you won't have to break a car charger to make it!
DIY iFlash for the iPhone
Reader Joe, he of the Ringtonator program we've posted about before, has sent word of a crazy cool hack-- using LEDs and a broken iPod car charger, he's created what he has dubbed the iFlash-- an external flash device for the iPhone's camera.And it actually works really well. Apparently he used a tact switch, so there's no super coding necessary-- you just hit the button to turn the light on, and then take the picture. But he did hook it up so it's powered by the dock connection, which means all you have to do is keep it in your pocket until you need it, then plug it in and shoot away. Over on his forums, he's posted an entire how-to of the whole thing, from the dissection of the dock connector to the wiring of the LEDs. Pretty slick-- looks like maybe an afternoon's work, and it presents about as good a flash as the iPhone's camera is.Thanks, Joe!
ThermalTake's gawdy iFlash+ PC fan reviewed
So we recently threw together a little rig of our own, and though we made sure to toss in at least four fans for keeping everything nice and cool, we has no idea that for a lot more money we could get ones that pull double duty as obnoxious billboards for flashing the internal temperature. So would we have done things differently had we known about ThermalTake's iFlash+ 120mm model with built-in POV (persistence of vision) display? Of course not, don't be silly. But for those of you who take pride in shlocking up your case mods as much as possible, Dark Vision Hardware reports that the iFlash+ does indeed live up to the hype, basically giving you the performance of ThermalTake's TT-1225A coupled with a bright, readable, and mostly pointless bit of ambient information. Reviewer Thomas gives the lively air mover a nine out of ten rating, harshing on it only for its curious but rather minor omission of a Fahrenheit mode (i.e. all temps are shown in Celsius). Still, you're not spending triple the price of a regular fan because of your need for real-time, completely accurate data anyway, so it's probably best to say that this product will be most pleasing to anyone who would actually consider buying it. If that's you, make sure to check out the vid after the break...
