This week’s roundup of iOS accessories includes stuff that will help you make movies, charge your device, listen to music, and more.
Advanced MP3 Players: The Gobandit Live video camera might not seem like an iOS accessory, except for one thing: The camera connects to your iPhone or iPad, letting you shoot 1080p video and stream it directly to your iOS device. It comes with a lens that captures a 170-degree field of view; it’s built for those adventurous souls who like to film themselves doing extreme sports. The device is sold in the UK, where the list price is £349.
Aleratec: This company has introduced the $20 Charge-Glo Sync Cable, which features an indicator showing when your iOS device is fully charged.
BioLogic: Sometimes there are accessories, and then there are accessories to accessories. The new Joule 3 Dynamo Hub is in the latter category. It fits on your bicycle wheel and acts as a mini-generator, using your thighs to generate electricity as you zip through traffic or power your way up a steep hill. And that electricity, in turn, can be used to power up your iPhone through BioLogic’s $100 ReeCharge iPhone case. BioLogic’s website contains no pricing information for the Joule 3.
Blue Microphones: The $100 Mikey Digital stereo microphone plugs directly into your iPhone or iPad, and makers say it works with any video or audio application to produce high-quality recordings of voices and musical instruments; the mic comes with a guitar adapter for plugging in your guitar or bass. The Mikey Digital features some of the same technology featured in the company’s famous Yeti microphones, and it lets you choose between automatic or manual control of the audio input.
Bracketron: We’ve covered the iRoom iDock before, but Bracketron has come up with a new spin on the iDock: Custom design. The company says the $1,088 motorized wall mount will soon be available with patterns that liven up the room or match your wallpaper—designs include floral scenes and American flags. The personalized designs, however, will add another $50 to the cost of your iDock. Bracketron expects to unveil the new designs this week.
IK Multimedia: The $100 iRig Keys is a 37-key MIDI keyboard that plugs into the 30-pin dock-connector port of your iPhone or iPad, letting you create music on the go. Users get a free download of the Sample Tank application that lets you recreate the sounds of hundreds of instruments. The keyboard itself includes a volume knob, modulation and pitch bend wheels, and a set button to store four different custom instrument setups.
LaunchPort: The $149 AP.3 Sleeve is a wall-mounted charger for the iPad 2 and new iPad. The device comes in black or white; while mounted on the wall it can rotate 360 degrees, letting users view their tablet in either landscape or portrait orientation. The iPad charges in roughly four hours while docked. The AP.3 sleeve ships at the end of September.
Magnetyze: The $70 Magnetyze system is an iPhone charger that comes in three parts: A lightweight protective case, a desk stand for displaying your phone, and a magnetic charging cable that powers up your phone. Put them all together, drop the phone onto the stand, and you can recharge your battery while working at your desk during office hours. The system ships later this month.
Moku Woodware: The $38 Desktop Chair is a simple stand for your iPad that’s made of elegantly curved basswood. It can also be used as a stand for your MacBook Air or MacBook Pro—a place to set the device when using it as a desktop machine plugged into an external display and mouse/trackpad. With an iPad, though, you can display the tablet in either portrait or landscape orientation; the stand comes with a cushion pad upon which to rest your Apple device, as well as anti-slip footpads.
Onkyo: The $249 RBX-500 iLunar is an iPhone recharging dock and a six-channel stereo system that plays music wirelessly via Bluetooth. (The device also includes dock cradle, as well as a USB port for charging additional devices, including tablets.) Onkyo claims its system creates “3D audio” to give the listener the feel of being onstage or in the studio with musicians; the iLunar also comes with a remote control. The device will go on sale in the fourth quarter of 2012.
XtremeMac: This accessory maker has several new products out. The $249 Soma Frame Speaker is a 2.1-channel stereo speaker system that wraps around your iPad, boosting audio as you listen to tunes or watch movies. The $250 Tango Air Speaker is an AirPlay-enabled speaker system that plays audio wirelessly from your iOS device or Mac. And the $130 Tango TT is a charging dock for all iOS devices that includes four multi-directional speakers for big sound.
Yamaha: This venerable audio company has introduced its new Pro series of headphones. The $200 Pro 300 is an on-ear model; the $300 Pro 400 and $400 Pro 500 are both over-ear designs. Each model comes with an inline remote/microphone module for controlling music and making telephone calls when used with an iPhone or iPad. Each model can fold for compact transportation, and each comes with its own carrying case.
iPhone 4S family
iPad (third generation) family