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Accessories

New iPhone plug? There's an adapter for that, says report

If Apple does, in fact, have a new plug in the bottom of its next iPhone, car kits, and other third-party accessories won't be left in the dust thanks to an adapter, according to a new report.

Citing the same sources that gave it the hint about a smaller, pill-shaped adapter earlier this year, iMore says Apple will have an adapter ready to go with the launch its next iPhone that lets the new plug work with the existing 30-pin accessories.

As iMore points out, Apple offered a similar adapter with the introduction of its newer MagSafe power technology … Read more

650,000-volt iPhone case is a real stunner

Seth Froom was the victim of a violent robbery last summer. His response was to create the Yellow Jacket, an iPhone case crossed with a Taser. The project is currently up on Ingiegogo for fundraising.

As far as stun guns go, the Yellow Jacket makes sense in that you are likely to have it with you at all times, in a convenient place where you can reach it when you need it.

However, you might be nervous about having 650,000 volts of electricity surging around your phone. Froom says that tests of the prototype have shown that calls stay connected during discharge. … Read more

Judge your iPad by its literary masterpiece book cover

I know e-books are convenient, but I just can't tear myself away from running my fingers down the spines of real books and listening for that crinkling sound of a fresh hardcover bending open. I like the way they look. I like the way they feel.

My iPad may finally get that same sort of love if Out of Print's new Kickstarter project meets its goal. Backers will have their choice of 10 different classic literature book covers to adorn their Kindle Fire or iPad 2 or 3.… Read more

Turn iPhone into wide-angle action sports camera

There's a more secure way to capture your skateboarding and mountain biking exploits than by duct taping your iPhone to the top of your helmet.

Optrix, a company that once ran over one of its own cases with a very large Dodge truck, has now taken on the task of protecting your iPhone during extreme sports activities.… Read more

ChargeCard: USB cable for iPhone that fits in your wallet

Kickstarter, the crowd-funding portal, has a lot of interesting "projects" that are seeking backing, but it isn't always easy to tell how unique or exceptional they truly are.

Take the just-launched ChargeCard. It's a USB-charging cable for iOS devices that's in the shape of a business card. The ChargeCard looks cool but I seem to remember seeing other devices kind of like it. So I dashed off an e-mail to Noah Dentzel, one of the two guys behind the project (Adam Miller is the other), asking him how it was different -- or better -- than I product I'd found on eBay . The product I'd dug up had a built-in rechargeable battery while the ChargeCard was just a cable. … Read more

Binder-clip case adds a mini-clipboard to your iPhone

iPhone cases come in all shapes and sizes. Well, OK, the shape and size tend to be pretty uniform, but there's certainly no end to the variety and versatility of iPhone cases.

Like the one that adds a tripod mount. And the one that adds a fold-out keyboard. And don't forget the licensed "Star Wars" iPhone cases and custom photo iPhone cases.

Now, for those people who feel the pen is mightier than the thumb, there's the binder-clip iPhone case. Designed for the iPhone 4 and 4S, it adds a mini-clipboard to your device -- ideal for those times when you want to jot a few notes, old-school.… Read more

Apple patent filing hints at next-gen Bumper features

On first read, the patent application (uncovered by AppleInsider) seems to underwhelm. Apple describes a form-fitted case that would contain an opening that aligns with the microphone on the device (in this case, an iPhone).

The opening would contain a thin mesh, foam, or featherlike screen that would reduce the amount of wind noise that makes its way to the device's microphone.

Apple leaves the door open for many variations of its case, stating that it could be made from rubber, silicon, polycarbonate, acrylic, or plastic.

The mesh windscreen would be embedded into the case and extend across the … Read more

Wilson's 4G V for better Verizon LTE

Wilson Electronics announced today that its Sleek 4G V signal booster is now on sale for $129.

Announced earlier this year at CES, the Sleek 4G V is the first cell phone signal booster from the company to support Verizon's LTE network in the 700 MHz band. And when you're not on 4G, it's compatible with all GSM and CDMA networks (so, Verizon and its carrier rivals) at the 2G and 3G levels.

Like the earlier Sleek Booster, the Sleek 4G V comes with a cradle for holding your phone, a power cable for the cigarette lighter … Read more

iSkin ships new Aura and Vibes cases for Samsung Galaxy S3

The Samsung Galaxy S3 accessories keep rolling out, and iSkin's getting in on the GS3 action with its Aura and Vibes lines of cases.

For its Vibes line ($29.99), which comes in multiple colors, iSkin touts its Microban antimicrobial protection, which "helps prevent the growth of bacteria that can cause stains and odors." I'm not sure I've ever had a smartphone case with a B.O. problem, but hey, it makes for good marketing.

While I haven't tried out the Vibes on the S3, I did check out the Aura ($39.99), which … Read more