Accessories

CTIA 2009 phones: Where are they now?

As we approach another CTIA, it's time to travel back a year ago to the wireless extravaganza that was CTIA 2009. Back then, we named two phones, one accessory, and one software title as the top products from that show. Now that they've had several months to face consumers, we're comparing our initial impressions with our final assessments.

Of the 12 products we're revisiting (four "Best of show" picks, plus a few notable extras that made their debuts), we've had the chance to review all but one. That's a pretty good record … Read more

Novothink's iPhone Solar Surge charging case finally shipping

Back in November of last year we wrote about an upcoming Apple-certified iPhone and iPod Touch solar charger from a company called Novothink. Well, four months later, the Solar Surge charging case, which Novothink is marketing toward "outdoor enthusiasts," is now available for purchase.

As anybody who's tried to charge an electronic device using a solar charger knows, it doesn't juice up the device nearly as quickly as your typical power adapter would and the Surge is no exception. The charging case can provide up to 30 minutes of talk time on a 3G network or … Read more

TomTom and Magellan iPhone car kits go head to head

The TomTom Car Kit and the Magellan Premium Car Kit are two devices that fill the same very small niche. As we've seen in our reviews, these iPhone accessories solve the problem of where to place your iPhone while driving and navigating. Not content to merely hold your iDevice is place, these kits also feature integrated GPS receivers that enhance the accuracy of the iPhone's positioning, loud Bluetooth speakerphones that are compliant with handsfree laws, and 12-volt chargers that ensure that your iPhone is juiced and ready to go once you get where you're going.

Both units … Read more

The refrigerator: There's an App Magnet for that

A refrigerator is not a refrigerator without magnets. And a self-respecting iPhone/iPod Touch owner is not a self-respecting iPhone/iPod Touch owner without a set of Jailbreak Toys App Magnets.

I mean, how awesome are these things! They come in sets of 18 (one for each stock iPhone app, presumably) and sell for the reasonable-to-my-cheapskate-senses price of $12.99.

Shipping will run you another $5 or so, though if you order three sets you can get free shipping by applying coupon code 3forFREE at checkout. My advice: Grab a set for yourself, and stash the other two away for … Read more

Klipsch Image X10i: Ideal earphones for the iPod Classic

For people who are really serious about audio quality--generally referred to as audiophiles--the majority of ultraportable headphones on the market just aren't going to cut it. It's this fact that gives companies like Klipsch a very compelling reason to make something like the Image X10i. This sleek, in-ear headset will set you back $350, but for that pretty penny, you'll get exceptional sound quality and plenty of compelling extras. However, potential buyers should know right off the bat that this type of investment is only truly justifiable if you listen to mainly lossless or very high-quality audio … Read more

Are smartphone protective cases must-haves?

Last week, I was having a laugh at Geekonomics blogger Nicholas Khoo's iPhone accessories. On the phone's display was a mirror finish screen overlay, and protecting the chassis was a bulky rubbery case with a reflective back. We joked about how he could use it as a mirror signal on a deserted island to attract passing ships and how its bulk would allow it to be used as a defensive weapon. A day later, I was presented with the above specimen, a dropped iPhone with a cracked screen--yes, it was carried around without any protection. I can just … Read more

Charge two iPhones at a time with Revivelite II

If you are looking for a iPhone charger that's compact and portable to carry on the go, Scosche, an accessory maker for mobile devices, might have just what you want.

The company launched Thursday the Revivelite II, a portable iPhone Charger that incorporates a night-light, which could come in handy for those who don't want to sleep in complete darkness.

About the size of a wall plug, the new charger features an iPhone docking station and a USB port, meaning it can charge two devices at a time. The second device can be another iPhone, an iPod, or … Read more

Etsy find: iPhone stands made of forks and spoons

Cute. Clever. Whimsical. No, no, I'm not talking about me, but how sweet of you to think that! I'm referring to ForkedUpArt's iPhone stands made of forks and spoons. I think the photos speak for themselves; these things are just adorable.

(Um, did I just use "sweet" and "adorable" in the same paragraph? I meant to say "killer" and "bitchin'." There, manhood restored.)

As you can see, there are two versions, the aptly named Fork Head and Spoon Head. Both use a combination of forks and spoons, and both … Read more

Top 25 tough iPhone cases

Note: If you own an iPhone 4 or 4S for, please go to Top 20 tough cases for iPhone 4 and 4S. This article features iPhone 3GS cases.

How you choose to protect--or not protect--your iPhone is a matter of personal choice. Sure, plenty of people like to leave their iPhone naked, reasoning that any protective cover diminishes its sleekness. But the majority of iPhone owners realize it's probably a good idea to give your precious device some degree of armor, particularly if you don't like the idea of seeing your iPhone's lovely finish dinged and scratched … Read more

New iPhone app brings solace to the weird-eared

Anyone who has spoken to me for five minutes would probably tell you I'm quite normal. What they don't know is that I harbor a deep, dark secret, a strange deformity that sets me apart from the average person. OK, OK...it's not a secret at all, and I'd hardly call them deformed, but my ears are really ridiculously small. I've literally had people who've never read CNET point out how tiny they are. This is fine by me--I embrace my differences. And now a company called Yurbuds is embracing them, too.

Yurbuds is … Read more