Kickstarter

SolePower brings USB power to anyone that walks

Jim Gresham ∙ Updated January 26, 2016

Determined to provide renewable power for all USB powered devices, SolePower transfers walking energy to a wearable storage unit for on-demand charging. While away from AC outlets, charging becomes increasingly difficult, even when toting around large solar panels. Similarly, battery backup cases only provide a specific amount of renewed life for a smartphone. The team of young engineers with SolePower insists on carrying a charging station all the time, in a shoe!

Walking motion capacitors are not new to the gadget scene, but an interchangeable sole is the new attraction. Adding SolePower is simple, just pull out the existing shoe insert and replace with a new iPhone charging version. Once the conversion is complete, walk between 2.5 and 5 miles to fully charge an iPhone...

Logitech buys TidyTilt maker TT Design Labs

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated September 26, 2016

Accessory maker Logitech today announced that it is acquiring TT Design Labs, the accessory maker behind the TidyTilt Kickstarter project.

This iPhone smart cover incorporates magnetic earbud holder and kickstand and has raised north of $200,000 on Kickstarter.

The acquisition gives the two-person startup access to Logitech's "expert engineering, supply chain, distribution, and marketing minds." As part of the collaboration, the company has just started accepting pre-orders for the TidyTilt and JustMount, now marketed under the Logitech brand...

Make sure your iPhone keeps quiet with The Mutator

Cody Lee ∙ May 27, 2013

The behavior of the iPhone's Mute switch has long been a topic of debate. While switching it off will silence most of the handset's sounds, it won't keep alarms and other system functions quiet, which as you can imagine can make for some embarrassing moments.

And that's where the Mutator comes in. The tiny accessory fits in your iPhone's headphone jack, and promises to ease your mind when in meetings, movie theaters and other 'please silence your cell phone' situations by ensuring your handset won't make a sound...

EarSkinz for EarPods offer both comfort and style

Cody Lee ∙ May 24, 2013

Apple was really proud to unveil its new and improved earbuds, dubbed EarPods, last fall. The company says it spent more than three years designing the headset, and tested a total of 124 different prototypes on over six hundred people, to get the right fit.

But even with all of that research, it's inevitable that the EarPods are still not going to fit quite right for some people. And if you happen to be one of those people, you might want to check out these new EarSkinz covers, which promise to fix that for you...

Good deal: 25% off Smarter Stand for iPad

Cody Lee ∙ Updated January 26, 2016

Folks in search of a fun new iPad accessory, or an early Father's Day/graduation present, should check out this sweet little deal going on over Stack Social. The deal site has the Smarter Stand clips for iPad on sale right now for under $15.

As you may recall, we mentioned the Smarter Stand in passing last fall when the Kickstarter project went viral and exceeded its funding goal by nearly $150,000. Backers were enamored with the product, and now you can be too, at a nice discount...

The XiStera: a multifunctional accessory for your iPhone 5

Cody Lee ∙ May 14, 2013

Looking for an accessory that will help you get the most out of your iPhone? Then you might want to check out the XiStera, by the SwipeCase team. With 8 different functions, it's essentially the swiss army knife of iPhone accessories.

The XiStera may look like a little 2-3-inch piece of plastic, but it's not. Under that TPV santoprene mold is a stainless steel component that houses multiple useful functions including a headphone wrap, tripod mount, and more...

Meet JamStik, the tiny guitar that connects with your iPhone

Cody Lee ∙ Updated June 13, 2016

I've always thought it'd be cool to play the drums, or the guitar, so I'm always looking for easy ways to learn how to do so. But few products deliver on their claims that they make learning to play an instrument "easy."

The Zivix team is looking to change that though, with its new musical accessory: the JamStik. It's a tiny guitar with real strings and frets that can track your hand and finger movements for instant feedback and instruction...

MirrorCase shoots video while iPad rests laid flat

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated October 12, 2018

RHP Multimedia launched its MirrorCase for iPhone in May 2012. The iPhone 4/4S (a $49.95 value) and iPhone 5 case ($59.95 value) works with a free companion iOS app to let you take pictures and record video while continuing to use your device. It also doubles as an ergonomic shoulder rest for extended phone conversations. Today, the company on Kickstarter announced an iPad version of MirrorCase. What's in it for you? Read on...

Pre-orders for Nomad 3-inch USB-to-Lightning cable open, shipping in June

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated February 24, 2018

The three-inch Nomad Lightning cable made waves when it was announced back in November 2012. This handy little USB-to-Lighting accessory fits your key ring and comes to the rescue when you find yourself out and about with a dying iPhone and no charger in sight.

Originally a Kickstarter project, creators Kegan & Roberto developed the Nomad according to Apple's strict requirements in order to earn the sought-after Lightning accessory certification. The Nomad cable is available for pre-order now, priced at $24.99 a pop (no shipments expected until June)...

Snable helps you cut through the cable clutter at home, work and on the go [sponsored]

Sébastien Page ∙ Updated January 26, 2017

I try to live a cordless life as much as I can. I play music over AirPlay at home, and Bluetooh while in my car. I use AirPrint to print documents directly from the comfort of my couch. But there are still these several cords and cables I can't get rid of quite yet, such as my iPhone 5 charger, my wife's iPad 3 charger, my MacBook Air charger, etc. The result is much more clutter on my desk than I can really stand.

Snable is a new product looking to get funded on Kickstarter that's trying to solve this problem. As we were watching the promo video below with my wife today, we looked at each other and we thought the Snable would be perfect for some areas of our home where we get overwhelmed by cables. If you're anything like me, chances are you might feel the same.

Today, we sit down with Adewale from Unique Design Solutions (UDS) and talk about the company's new project. If their name sounds familiar, it's probably because you've heard about them on iDB when we covered some of their previous projects such as the Vavo and the Foco...

The iKit NuCharge: an iPhone 5 battery case with interchangeable covers

Cody Lee ∙ March 9, 2013

When it comes to battery cases for the iPhone 5, there's no shortage of options. Mophie itself offers a few choices—the Juice Pack Air and the Helium Juice Pack—and there are countless offerings from other third party manufacturers.

But that doesn't mean the space couldn't use another contender. And the folks of Shark Design think they have what it takes to be a big one with their iKit NuCharge. They say it's the "most advanced iPhone battery case ever made..."

Sabine wants to enhance your iPad speaker

Jim Gresham ∙ Updated January 26, 2016

We all cup our hands behind the iPad when trying to hear our favorite music or videos. I often found the speaker on iPad to be lacking and I even backed a project on Kickstarter last year trying to remedy this problem. Unlike the product I backed last year, the Sabine is anodized aluminum to match Apple's design aesthetic. Additionally, aluminum is a more reflective surface and amplifies sound at a much higher rate. Today, I take a look at 7decibels' Sabine final production prototype...