Accessories

OlloClip for iPad now available for pre-order

Joe Rossignol ∙ Updated January 27, 2016

Accessory maker OlloClip recently announced that it will be releasing a 4-in-1 lens for iPad, and has now opened up pre-orders for $69.99 in black or white. OlloClip for iPad, which debuted at CES earlier this year, is a clip-on camera lens accessory that expands your photo capturing abilities with fisheye, wide angle and two macro modes. The lens has a sleek design and is engineered to slide on and off your iPad in just seconds, providing a versatile solution for anyone that takes photos or videos with the tablet…

Twelve South introduces the HoverBar 3 for iPad

Cody Lee ∙ Updated April 17, 2018

Twelve South, a premium accessory maker of various Mac and iOS add-ons, announced a new product today. It's called the HoverBar 3, and it's the successor to the company's popular line of Apple tablet mounts.

The HB 3 looks similar to older models—it still features an iPad holder attached to a 20-inch flexible metal arm, and it still mounts to various surfaces via a 1-inch clamp—but it offers support for newer devices...

LG releasing Lifeband Touch Activity Tracker and Heart Rate Earphones this Sunday

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated May 9, 2017

This coming Sunday, May 18, LG will release a pair of new wearable products. Designed to work with iOS and Android, the Lifeband Touch Activity Tracker, as the name implies, is a wrist-worn fitness band which measures your physical activity performance - stuff like speed, steps taken, calories burned and covered.

And LG's new Heart Rate Earphones with built-in sensors will measure your heart rate as you listen to your music, make calls or just chill.

Used together, these two products promise to help you reach and maintain your fitness goals while fusing advanced activity tracking, biometric data, Bluetooth app connectivity with easy access to your music and iOS device and what not. Both accessories can be pre-ordered now through Best Buy prior to launch...

This ‘iStick’ USB flash drive has a built-in Lightning connector

Cody Lee ∙ May 13, 2014

Folks looking for a way to move media and other data between their iOS devices and computers locally may want to check out the iStick. The newly-announced device may look like an ordinary USB flash drive, but it features a built-in Lightning connector.

The creators of the iStick, Hyper, say it's the first of its kind, and the whole purpose behind it is to provide users with a way to quickly and safely move data between their computers, iPhones, iPads and iPod touches without the need for iTunes or the Internet...

Belkin’s new QODE Thin Type keyboard case for iPad Air now available

Cody Lee ∙ Updated April 17, 2018

Good news for iPad Air owners this afternoon. Belkin's QODE Thin Type keyboard, which was first announced last October, is now available for Apple's newest full-sized tablet. The QODE joins the Logitech Ultrathin and just a handful of others in the ultra-slim iPad keyboard space.

The Thin Type weighs in at just over 12 ounces, lighter than the iPad Air itself, and it's less than 4mm thick. It attaches to the tablet via secure-hold magnets, features Belkin’s exclusive TruType technology with well-spaced, responsive keys and lasts around 79 hours on a single charge...

Twelve South Compass 2 review: this ultra-portable stand takes your iPad places

Christian Zibreg ∙ May 5, 2014

In my final preparations for moving to the seacoast this coming weekend, it's dawned on me how my workflow will be a lot different, whether I like it or not.

For the next six months, I'll be living and working in a myriad of places, spending most of my blogging time at the picturesque beaches at the beautiful Mediterranean city of Rovinj, situated on the north Adriatic Sea in Croatia.

Thanks to its all-day battery, a 13-inch 2013 MacBook Air will be the cornerstone of my mobile office, with a little help from my 128GB iPad Air doubling as a cellular hotspot and a second screen device for social media interactions.

I'm also adamant to have a flexible iPad stand wherever I go, one that would prop up my device for easier reading and at the same time provide the flexibility of prolonged typing at slightly slanted angles.

Desktop iPad stands such as the recently reviewed Slope by Dekke are out of the question - they're bulky and too impractical for outdoor use. Luckily, there's no shortage of mobile stands that are a joy to carry around.

The second-generation Compass for iPad by premium accessory maker Twelve South is a dream come true for all you road warriors out there who strive as much for portable nirvana solutions as yours truly.

After spending nearly a month with the Compass 2, I'm happy to report that it's one of the best portable tablets stands around. It's so compact it fits in your pocket (or a purse/handbag) and versatile enough to support slanted typing or prop up the device...

Apogee MiC review: the mic for people serious about audio on the go

Jeff Benjamin ∙ Updated April 17, 2018

Have you ever tried to record audio from your MacBook on your iPhone or iPad's built-in microphone? The result is audio that's serviceable—you can hear it—but the sound is pitiful. Built-in microphones on pretty much every hardware device, whether it be computers, tablets, or even cameras, are sorely lacking from a sound quality perspective. With a minimal investment, you can significantly upgrade the quality of your sound with a decent external microphone.

There are some awesome external microphones for a variety of applications out there, but if you're primarily concerned with recording on your Mac or iOS device while on the go, there is one mic that should be squarely at the top of your consideration list.

The Apogee MiC is an extremely minuscule external microphone that can make your recordings sound great while traveling. Have a look at our Apogee MiC review and video walkthrough + sound test.

Logitech announces new, slimmer version of its Ultrathin iPad keyboard case

Cody Lee ∙ Updated April 16, 2018

In response to the recent release of Office for iPad, Logitech yesterday announced a new version of its wildly popular Ultrathin iPad keyboard case. The new version improves on the design of its predecessor, with a thinner, lighter and more flexible design.

If you haven't seen an Ultrathin before, it's a Bluetooth keyboard for your iPad that doubles as a protective cover. It's designed from aluminum to match the rear casing of Apple’s tablet, and the keyboard offers comfortable key spacing and iOS shortcuts...

G-PAD silicone sleeve throws your iPhone back to Game Boy days

Jake Smith ∙ Updated April 16, 2018

A new IndieGoGo campaign created by Aws Jan wants to throw you back to the 1990s by turning your iPhone into a Game Boy using a silicone rubber game pad sleeve.

The G-PAD sleeve is intended for the GBA4iOS emulator that has been making its rounds in high schools across the world, as teenagers and young adults want to relive their childhoods by playing Game Boy games. What's more convenient than playing from their iPhone?

Twelve South unveils Rutledge BookBook case that gives your MacBook unique look

Christian Zibreg ∙ March 13, 2014

It's all too easy to get lost in a dizzying array of accessories for Apple devices, especially with too many companies rehashing same old ideas and doing the exact same thing. That's why my initial experience with Twelve South instantly made me a believer.

They've been crafting gorgeous, functional accessories exclusively for Apple products since 2009, prompting big media like Forbes to suggest that Apple should just buy them outright.

And not because of the profits, but due to Twelve South's thoughtful design which is often reminiscent of the utmost care that can be observed in every aspect of Apple's industrial design.

On Thursday, the Charleston, South Carolina firm launched the Rutledge BookBook, a new edition of its popular BookBook case for MacBooks, hand-distressed to give each one a slightly different appearance, so no two look exactly alike...

This ‘TechDesk’ features built-in docks for your iPhone and iPad

Cody Lee ∙ March 10, 2014

Folks in the market for a new desk may want to check out this new bamboo-topped TechDesk. It looks a bit odd at first, but the holes, cup holders and other cutouts were designed to keep you, your laptop and all of your iOS devices organized and accessible.

The holes you see in the middle of the desk are actually air vents for keeping your MacBook (or other notebook) running cool. There's also a built-in mouse pad, slots for your coffee cup and magazines, and then multiple docks for your iPhones and iPads...

Twelve South launches BookBook case for iPad Air

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated June 16, 2016

After months of waiting, premium accessory maker Twelve South has finally introduced its BookBook vintage case series for the iPad Air. Like the BookBook for the iPhone 5/5s, BookBook for the iPad mini [review] and full-size iPad, BookBook for the MacBook Air and other BookBook cases, the iPad Air edition is hand-distressed using high-quality leather to give each one a slightly different appearance.

It's also a nice theft-deterrent thanks to its dusty tome appearance hiding your iPad Air completely from prying eyes while keeping it protected from elements, dust, nicks and scratches. And like other BookBook cases, it allows you to prop up your device at a 30-degree angle for prolonged text entry and showing off your media. ..