Posts tagged with "accessories"

Your Twitter Stream on Your Desk: The Trickle and Piolo Giveaway

Your iPhone provides ample opportunity for information feedback alongside your Mac, which is why the makers of Twitter app Trickle and the Piolo stand for your iPhone have joined forces to prop your Twitter stream underneath or next to your workhorse Macintosh. While Trickle streams Twitter at a readable pace in high-contrast glory, Piolo gives your iPhone the leverage it needs to reveal all sorts of juicy details without breaking your neck. Trickle gives you everything you need and nothing more, provided you want a miniature picture frame solely to display tweets from the smart, funny, and sometimes bullheaded people you find yourself enlightened by on Twitter. Piolo is a sturdy kickstand that can be easily carried with the iPhone 4 in a bag or purse, taking up zero room with its simple design and clever implementation. Together, you have yourself a the perfect combination of form and function: simplicity in Twitter at its finest, sans all the extra UI or lost desktop space. We’re going to give away ten (count ‘em) pairs of Trickle and Piolo to our readers, and all you have to do is follow the rules post break.

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iHub: A USB Hub with Apple Appeal

M.I.C. Gadget is now selling the second revision of their iHub; a small, 4-port USB hub with a bit of Apple branding on it. The iHub has a light-up Apple logo on top that’s reminscent of many Apple laptops. Version 2 of their iHub looks very nice and could almost pass for a legitimate Apple accessory, even the packaging looks familiar.

Video and another picture after the break. Read more


Teardown: What’s Inside Apple’s Big New iPad 2 Dock (+ iPad 1 Dock)

Teardown: What’s Inside Apple’s Big New iPad 2 Dock (+ iPad 1 Dock)

iPad 2 Dock Teardown via iLounge

iPad 2 Dock Teardown via iLounge

First, if you’ve ever wondered how Apple gets those docks to feel substantial, the answer’s not tiny sandbags. Each version of the Dock actually has a huge, heavy metal plate inside molded with a “Zinc-3” legend on its undercarriage.

That explains why the iPad 2 Dock is so heavy. iLounge also goes as far to show the comparisons between the first iPad dock with newer model. What’s interesting is that the dock appears as one solid piece from the outside, but is divided into an outer shell and a base on which the components sit. It’s an interesting design, and one that competitors probably wouldn’t mimic: they wouldn’t hide the fact that their docks are just cheap plastic or are built & glued in multiple pieces, whereas Apple goes out of their way to make their products presentable. Even in accessories, Apple does a substantial job paying attention to solid unibody designs. TUAW writes:

In terms of actual computer hardware, as you might guess, there’s not a lot – just a few chips for functionality like authentication and of course iPad synching. In fact, the iPad 2 dock, says iLounge, has more empty space than the first dock, even though the actual design is a little more compact than before.

Also of note: the weight shown in the pictures looks heavier than it feels. If I was to perceive how the iPad 2 Dock felt by looking at the picture above, I would think it’d be as heavy as the iPad 2 itself.

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Protect Your Display and Reduce Glare with the Moshi iVisorAG for iPad 2

Moshi iVisorAG for iPad 2

Moshi iVisorAG for iPad 2

Apple makes some pretty glossy displays, and sometimes we wish they’d tone it down a little so we can get some work done by our open windows or underneath fluorescent ceiling spotlights. Moshi has announced a double whammy of an iPad screen protector: the iVisorAG for the iPad 2. Available in black or white to match your bezel, the iVisorAG is laid on top of your current (cleaned) display, and is designed so that no bubbles are left behind. It’s removable, re-usable, and is made to fit perfectly to protect your iPad’s display while reducing glare thanks to the matte overlay. Responsive touch remains unhindered, and you’re still free to use your favorite stylus and brushes with the iPad 2 for art and design. This scratch and smudge resistant protector is available for $30.00 from Moshi’s storefront, and comes with a free microfiber cloth so you can wipe your iPad before application.

iTable: First in a Line of Apple-Themed Furniture

What’s rectangular in shape, black and aluminum, plays music, and has touch-sensitive controls? Meet the iTable, a coffee table that looks like a stack of iPhone 4s. The iTable is the idea of Kyle Buckner, an interior designer best know for car interiors that’s also working on a new line of unique furniture. The iTable is the first in a line of Apple-themed furniture for your living space.

Video and more pictures after the break. Read more


The iPad 2 Dock Review

The iPad 2 Dock is by far the accessory people ask about when getting a new iPad 2. Apple’s iPad Camera Connection Kit and their Digital AV Adapter are clear in purpose; both products add utility to the iPad when used with a camera or television. The iPad 2 dock, however, is a questionable purchase. What utility or benefit will it provide me, and should I pay a pricey $29.00 for a plastic stand that comes with no cable and only provides audio out? The portrait only dock is an additional expense many owners are unsure about, and today we’re taking a look at whether one of these guys can be of benefit to you now that customers are receiving the first batch of shipments in the United States.

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iCushion Stand for iPhone

Is there anything better than keeping an iPhone 4 with its flush, shiny glass back on the flat surface of a desk that also hosts a variety of other Apple products? For some, it’s keeping the iPhone into a desktop stand like the Xtand. Others prefer the simplicity of a standard Apple dock. Last, some people keep their iPhones protected with a bumper, which also ensures the device won’t slide and fall off a flat surface like your office’s desk or coffee table. For these people, and for all those who hate how cables inevitably create a giant tangled mess on your desk, the iCushion for iPhone could be a great alternative to the usual DIY stand or protective case: designed by Fadtronics, the iCushion is a seat for the iPhone that a) also keeps the cables in place neatly organized and b) has a suction cup to prevent the device from slipping away. Plus, it’s cute.

The iCushion stand is likely just a design experiment, and we’re not sure the thing will ever be available for purchase. But it should. Check out more photos here.


Saddleback Now Shipping Next Generation iPad 2 Case

Saddleback Leather Co. makes some of the finest leather products from the Southern United States, rugged enough to haul a day’s load across the Mississippi River twice over and chic enough to protect your MacBook from the hipster-mobs of San Francisco. If you don’t know what the hype is about, we’ve previously taken Saddleback’s Leather iPad Case from the great American educational institutions back to the backpack before leaving the spoils on MacStories for all to see. Built pigskin tough and bound with enough rawhide to turn your aluminum slate into a cowboy’s workstation, the successor to the iPad will need its own set of skin for all of you early adopters. Now shipping is the iPad 2 Leather Case, hand made from the same bull-tough materials and kevlar stitching that’s now tapered to the iPad’s every edge. Available in Carbon Black, Chestnut, Coffee Brown, and Tobacco Brown (pictured) to fit your rugged personality, Saddleback’s iPad 2 Case is available for $104.00 online.


Kickstarter Project - GoPano micro: A Panoramic Lens for iPhone

There are lots of Kickstarter projects aimed toward the iPad and iPhone but this is the first optics one I have seen. It’s called the GoPano micro; it’s a lense for the iPhone 4 that takes 360 degree panoramic videos. You attach the device to your iPhone and record from the free 360 video app.

The GoPano Micro will record everything all at one time. After recording, you can review the video and choose to view any perspective simply by swiping the screen, and view any angle at any point (pan and zooming too). With the app you can also upload your video on a web platform (not yet finished) and share your videos as well. You can also view other videos uploaded by anyone via the web too.

Video after the break. Read more