Mods

A smartphone mount for your car's windshield should have a good range of adjustability and sturdy construction, both attributes lacking in Seidio's Innotraveler mount. This suction cup relies on a complex set of hinges for positioning, and a sticky pad to hold the phone in place.

The Innotraveler's problems became apparent when I first stuck it to a windshield for road-testing. I had tried out its range of adjustment at my desk, and when I brought it out to a car, I noticed the nut holding the main hinge had fallen off, leaving just the screw securing … Read more

For the last week, my iPhone has been sporting a case designed to look like an engine's head gasket. The maker, Id America, calls it a V-8, but as I've only got one phone, it's a four-banger.

The Gasket V8 case, as Id America calls it, is a nice variation on the competition, usually plastic or rubber with decorations consisting of simple prints and decals. This one is made of metal stamped through with four cylinder holes and apertures for cooling, oil, and bolts.

For variation, it comes in silver, charcoal, red, yellow, or blue. You will … Read more

Standing out as the 800-pound gorilla among smartphone mounts for cars, the PanaVise 15504 PortaGrip feels like it's been spending evenings and weekends at the gym. The thick pieces of this mount look like they could support a whole car, let alone a smartphone. The screws and hinges move as if manufactured to military spec.

I had no fears that this mount would fall apart while cradling my precious smartphone.

This suction cup mount, designed to stick to a car's windshield while keeping a smartphone visible to the driver, has multiple pivot points on its arm and uses … Read more

Sometimes, "Star Wars" family stickers just aren't enough. You need to make a bigger statement. That's when you need to turn to "Star Wars" car-wraps and really get in-your-face with your fandom.

The partial wraps from FanWraps come in a multitude of different flavors. You can get a leaping, light saber-wielding Yoda, a stern-looking Darth Vader, a ready-for-action Boba Fett, a cuddly R2-D2, and a comic-book version of slave Princess Leia, among others.… Read more

Accessory Power's ReVive Series PowerUp 3P is a 12-volt car charger for your USB devices. These things are usually pretty simple affairs: power goes into one end, gets converted to a usable level, and comes out of the USB port at other end. The PowerUp 3P is no exception to this formula, but does feature a few clever design elements that make it worth a small spot in your car's center console.

At one end of the ReVive Series PowerUp 3P, you'll find a standard automotive 12-volt power plug that connects to your car's power point, … Read more

When you work at one of the world's most successful -- and occasionally silliest -- companies, it's hard to create wonderful April Fool's pranks.

After all, you're supposed to contribute your best ideas to the company, so that they might be selected as one of the 15 or so that are used to fool the world on April 1.

It's astonishing that any Googlies have time left over for personal japes. You know, like punking the boss, for example.

And yet, evidence has emerged that members of the Google(x) team -- which I believe … Read more

The HitCase for iPhone 4/4S boasts of being shockproof and waterproof, but it's not the kind of thing you want to use for your phone from day to day. That is, unless you are an Antarctic explorer.

The black plastic of the HitCase adds considerable bulk to an iPhone 4/4S and somewhat hampers usability. Its angular protuberances make it look lie something that should be hanging from Batman's utility belt.

Industrial metal studs stick out of the sides, letting you push the volume and power buttons.

The HitCase is designed to turn an iPhone into an … Read more

We've seen transforming robots before, and I'm not talking about anything related to Hasbro.

Researchers from MIT are among many engineers and tinkerers trying to design robots that perform different functions by changing their shape or appearance.

Japan-based Brave Robotics has designed a 1/12-scale RC car that can transform into a humanoid robot. It can shuffle around, grab footage with its Wi-Fi camera, and even fire little missiles from its arms. … Read more

With $16,000 in 1983, you could buy yourself a post-bankruptcy DeLorean and cruise around with Irene Cara on the radio. Today, you can blow the same sum on this chunky wristwatch manufactured from real DeLorean parts.

The automaker went under in 1982, but its DMC-12 sportscar was immortalized as the time machine in the "Back to the Future" films. Swiss watchmaker RJ-Romain Jerome recently announced its $15,900 DeLorean-DNA, which shares the look and some parts of its namesake.

"Entirely made of brushed stainless steel, this chronograph uses the same materials as the original bodywork of … Read more