Cell phone accessories blog

An iPhone sleeve that looks like bacon.

(Credit: Antje)

Do you like bacon? Do you like your iPhone? Would you want to dress your iPhone in bacon? Well now you can...sort of.

A German accessory company called Antje has created this delicious-looking iPhone sleeve out of a decidedly nonmeaty felt (Or at least it looks like felt from the pictures). It's only around 25 euros (or $31), so you can go and show off your bacon and iPhone love to the world. But make sure you don't accidentally stick your iPhone in the frying pan, OK?

(Via Engadget Mobile)

The $19.99 Pogo has an ultralight aluminum body with an anodized finish and laser graphics.

(Credit: Ten One Design)

Most people use their fingers to operate their iPhones and iPod Touches because Steve Jobs made sure the touch-screens of those devices were finger-friendly. But that hasn't stopped Ten One Design from making a special stylus, the Pogo ($19.99), for those of you who just don't think your fingers cut it when it comes to operating your iPhone or iPod Touch.

Ten One Design's marketing materials sum up the new stylus this way:

The sleek design of the Pogo Stylus features an ultralight aluminum body with an anodized finish and laser graphics. The soft tip glides easily over the surface of the display, making it fun and easy to sketch, draw characters, or just slide to unlock. Sized for accuracy, it does away with the awkward typos and misfires common to fingertip-only use.

Eliminating fingers has the added benefit of keeping the screen free of smudges and grease. Designed to firmly hug the contours of the iPhone 3G, the Pogo Stylus travel clip will keep your stylus close at hand. A second clip is included for the original iPhone and iPod touch.

What do you guys think? Are you not satisfied with your fingers when using your iPhone or Touch? Would this help with banging out e-mails faster with the virtual keyboard?

I personally would probably lose the thing within a month--even with that clip-on holder, which impinges on the sleek design of both products. But that's just me.

Add udon to your cell phone.

(Credit: Strapya-world.com)

A trip over to the Japanese Web site Strapya-world.com is always entertaining. The sheer variety of cell phone dangles is mind-blowing with everything from tiny vacuum cleaners called Henry to the expected Hello Kitty characters. The food section is particularly interesting with dangles representing just above every aspect of eating including breakfast, dessert, and drinks. Best of all, the site includes both international and Japanese food. In the latter category, we told you already about the sushi dangles, but today I found miniature bowls of udon. Maybe like udon itself they can be a great way to pass a cold, rainy day. The udon dangle is $4.15.

A great way to store your USB drives.

(Credit: Strapya-world.com)

While the oddest dangle on Strapya remains the "unko" dangle, my new favorite is the little Shinkansen (bullet trains). Not that I'd buy a cell phone dangle, but I think they're cute just the same. I'm also a fan if the Lego-like USB drive.

Inside the AT&T Experience store. Click on the photo for a full slide show.

(Credit: Kent German)

Going to a cell phone store can be like going to the DMV. Typically you have to wait a long time to be helped, and there's seldom a place to sit while you kill time. The lack of chairs in carrier stores has always baffled me, but then a sales rep at the AT&T in Pasadena, Calif., told my mom that they removed the chairs because some klutz fell off one of them and sued. Who says baseball is the American pastime?

But seriously, buying a cell phone can be a trying experience, particularly if you're not a cell phone geek. While many store representatives mean well, I've found that getting basic information often comes with a sales pitch for services you don't need. That's a disservice to customers who just want to grab their new phone and go.

The AT&T Surface.

(Credit: Kent German/CNET Networks)

But I have to give credit to AT&T, as the carrier is making a push to redefine the cell phone shopping experience. The carrier recently opened five AT&T Experience stores across the country. Two are in New York City, one is San Antonio, one is in Atlanta, and one is in San Bruno, Calif., which is just outside San Francisco. The Experience stores are meant to be a destination of sorts. AT&T said it plans to open more in major markets.

I recently visited the San Bruno store to experience (sorry) what the new AT&T stores has to offer. While my expectations were low, I came away quite satisfied (check out the slide show for a full gallery of photos). Not only is the store bright, clean, and spacious, but also it's very welcoming to harried shoppers. The staff was polite, the displays are plentiful and shiny (including a dedicated iPhone section) and there's a comfortable lounge where you can view AT&T programming. But the best thing about the store is the new AT&T Surface displays. They really do make shopping fun again.

The surface provides a variety of useful information.

(Credit: Kent German/CNET Networks)

Developed by Microsoft, the AT&T surface is an interactive display that resembles one of those old tabletop videos games. Using the surface you can access a variety of information to help you make your purchasing decision. You can research available service plans, scan coverage maps, and check out a selection of phones. The coverage maps are especially cool; you can start with nationwide maps before zooming into your region or neighborhood. In a city like San Francisco, where geography plays such a big role in cell phone reception, it was helpful to see how coverage changed block by block. If you're looking for 3G service, you can research that coverage as well.

Just below the surface are a few AT&T phones on display. Each handset has a sensor sticker on its back for interacting with the surface. When you place a phone on the surface, it recognizes the handset and offers you a variety of options. You can see the features, the specifications, the applicable plans, and the available colors. The surface also lets you compare two handsets by showing their feature lists side by side. At present, only eights models can interact with the surface. While that selection includes AT&T's most popular models, such as the RIM BlackBerry Curve and the Samsung SGH-A737, according to AT&T, it will add more models soon.

AT&T's phone selection.

(Credit: Kent German/CNET Networks)

The surface is entirely touch sensitive so its quite easy to use. What's more, it even has some elements of the iPhone. By pinching your fingers together you can zoom in on the coverage maps while the opposite motion will zoom you out. Also, you can move multiple windows around the screen by dragging them.

What makes the AT&T surface so cool is that you can get en enormous amount of information on your own. Everything is right there in front of you in an unedited, unabridged format free of any sales pitches. But even better, the surfaces have an exceedingly easy-to-use design and interface. As a result, you can arm yourself with everything you need to know before you to talk to a sales representative. I can imagine everyone one from cell phone old-timers to cell phone newbies having a pleasant shopping experience. The San Bruno store has six surfaces in the store, so if you live nearby and you're AT&T customer, be sure to check it out.

A cow for your candy bar phone

(Credit: Funfriends.com)

Now, here is an unnecessary, landfill-filling product. Perhaps you're a person who thinks a standard cell phone case is just too dull. Or perhaps you're a pink-loving person who collects Precious Moments memorabilia and squeals with delight every time you see a picture of a baby or a cutesy animal. If either of these descriptions apply, then a company called Fun Friends has something just for you.

Here boy!

(Credit: FunFriends.com)

Now you can protect your cell phone and give it some "attitude" (as the company says) with a animal cell phone cover. Available for candy bar and flip handsets, these plush covers will secure your phone from scratches and nicks while turning the stomach of everyone around you. Sure, you may look ridiculous while using one, but they're just sooo sweet! Each "fun friend" is $9.99; you can choose from 66 flip phone covers and 24 candy bar phone covers. If you do buy one our only advice would be to ditch that cell phone dangle. It's important to remember that you can have too many accessories.

Sushi anyone?

(Credit: Strapya-world.com)

Sushi lovers with a flair for accessorizing their cell phones now can combine their passions into one unique product. Strapya-world, the Japanese Web site that brought us cell phone dangles shaped like golden poop and drunken Japanese salarymen (though not at the same time), has managed to wow us again with dangles shaped like miniature sushi. Available in five varieties, including salmon roe, tuna, and shrimp, the sushi dangles are without a doubt unique, and pretty realistic to boot. Just try not to douse them in wasabi or soy sauce. They're just 420 yen each, or about $3.73

Mathmos lava lamp cell phone charm

(Credit: Technabob via Gizmodo)

I am not one for cell phone charms, but I also realize it's a way to personalize your handset and make a statement about yourself--whether you're a straight-up baller, fashionista, or boozer. However, a U.K. company called Mathmos has come up with a way for a cell phone dangle to be, err, somewhat cute and useful. The charm--available in lava lamp (blue or red) or light bulb (blue or white) models--detects the radio frequency emissions that come from your phone when you receive a call and will alert you to the incoming call by lighting up. Gimmicky? Sure. But it could also be quite handy. The charms cost about $12 each (minus international shipping costs), and here's an interesting tidbit for you: Mathmos was the original creator of the lava lamp.

Party hearty

(Credit: rakuten.co.jp)

Last week we discovered a Japanese cell phone dangle that resembled a golden turd. Today, thanks to Gizmodo, we found something even better. This drunken salaryman dangle comes in a few delicious versions. Our favorite has to be the one with the man bowing to the "porcelain god." But other options, such as the guy passed out with his bottle or the dude dancing with his shirt off, aren't bad either. And for more aggressive after-work party types, there's a rather stern fellow who looks like he's got a shiner on his head. The Web site is only in Japanese so we're not able to tell you much more about these curious items, although the price for one dangle appears to be 400 yen, or about $3.30.

Gross, or just creative accessorizing?

(Credit: Strapya-world.com)

Leave it to the Japanese to make the world's most bizarre cell phone dangle. On Strapya-world.com, a Japanese Web site bursting at the seams with ridiculous cell phone accessories, the number three best-selling cell phone dangle at the moment resembles a tiny, golden version of something found you'd find in your toilet (yes, you heard me correctly). Please use the above link carefully as it contains some language that wouldn't go over well with your kindergarten teacher.

Though the Web site proudly proclaims that "unko" (as the Japanese call it) also means "a lucky kid," I can't help but think the whole thing is terribly wrong. But I guess I'm that one that's wrong as apparently over two million of the little things have been sold (cue Beavis and Butt-Head snicker). The unko is available in a variety of colors, some of which have little happy faces. Prices range from just $1.98 to up to $18 for a dangle that comes with a red cushion and a fortune (again, you heard me correctly). And don't fret, shutterbugs and gamers, as the unko also works with cameras and Nintendo Wii remotes.