This week’s roundup of iOS accessories includes several ways to hold your iPhone and iPad in place, be it in the car, at home, or even on your wall. Plus, we’ve got a charger that even a Jedi would love.
The $50 Star Wars Darth Vader Lightsaber Portable Battery Charger is pretty much exacty what it sounds like: awesome. The lightsaber-shaped device includes a 2800 mAh battery to charge up your mobile devices, all while making a cool “zzzzzzhwingzzzzzzzzzzhwing” sound.
The ShopKeep POS is a tool designed to compete with Square in the ever-expanding sector of accessories that use iOS devices to process payments. Specifically, it lets you accept credit cards as payment for small jobs and small businesses. ShopKeep Mobile—which leta you process cards using the iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch—is currently in beta.
The $89 Gravitas dock has an all-metal construction, meaning that it may be small,but it won’t be moved too easily across your desk while it charges your iPhone or iPad. The device features a USB port for charging and syncing, as well as a stereo line out.
The Steelie line of iOS mounts ranges from the $35 Steelie HobKnob car mount (pictured) up to the $60 Steelie Pedestal, which is perfect for tabletop use. Each mount features aluminum construction and swiveling joints for maximum viewing flexibility and comfort.
The $40 iKlip 2 is an updated version of IK Multimedia’s many products that make the iPad and iPhone more useful for musicians. The iKlip 2 fastens iPads to microphone stands, letting you read music on the tablet’s screen, or plug in your instrument for use with apps like GarageBand. With version 2, the accessory has been updated for use with the iPad Air.
The $25 Kenu Airframe works either as an iPhone stand or a mount. Stick a credit card in the back and it can prop your phone on a tabletop for movie-watching or other hands-free use. On the road, the Airframe latches onto any vent in your vehicle to hold the phone steady while you use it for GPS navigation or media listening.
Remember Foosball? Heck, you might even remember Classic Match Foosball, which came out a few years ago to convert early iPads into digital foosball tables. The accessory has been updated for late-model, Lightning-equipped iPads and is available for $60.
The $20 NuMount is built for the iPhone 3, 3S, 4, and 4S—yes, really. The NuMount includes a flexible neck and a suction cup to mount your phone onto your table or windshield for easier viewing at your desk or on the road, respectively.
The $1,200 Podpad is like an origami accessory-slash-Murphy bed for your wall: It appears to be just a really big dock for your iPhone, but, as the company explains, “Open it to reveal a desk and laptop storage, space for mail and files, and a charging station for all your electronic gear.“ When you fold it back up, you have a nice objet d’art.
Author: Joel Mathis
Joel Mathis is a regular contributor to Macworld and TechHive. He lives in Philadelphia with his wife and young son.