This week’s roundup of new iOS accessories includes a device for quickly charging up to eight iOS devices, plus cables, Bluetooth speakers, and more.
The $80 Skiva Octofire is billed as “the first ever USB charger that is equipped with 8 ports, to simultaneously charge eight devices at optimum speed.” It should be perfect for large households, or businesses with multiple mobile devices in need of charging.
The $349 Flir One, which we first covered this spring at Macworld/iWorld, is an infared camera-case that fits the iPhone 5 and 5s series. Even when there’s no light, the device lets you see thermal images — making you kind of like Predator, only probably less deadly. It can be used for security, home repairs, outdoor activities, and more.
The $149 EcoXgear Ecostone might be the roughest, toughest Bluetooth speaker out there. The company boasts that the speaker has passed top waterproofing standards and military-grade testing. It plays up to 12 hours on a single charge, has a built-in flashlight, and can be used — in conjunction with your iPhone — as a speakerphone.
This company has unveiled several “summer travel solutions,” including the $30 Lasso Cable, pictured, a 10-foot Lightning-to-USB charging and syncing cable; the $25 Nomad cable, a three-inch long charging and syncing cable that attaches to a key ring; and the $25 Cable Weight, a “minimal and stylish docking solution for Apple products.”
The $85 iOgrapher iPad Video Rig helps you shoot first-rate iPad video, either hand-held, by using the accessory’s grips, or by mounting your iPad to a tripod. If you’re willing to spend $320, Photojojo will throw in a wide-angle lens and a Rode microphone for superior sound quality.
The $80 Rhythm+ joins the crowd of fitness wearables, transmitting workout data (such as your heart rate) via Bluetooth to your iOS device. The accessory is sweatproof and waterproof, and it offers eight-hour battery life. It works with a number of popular fitness apps for iOS, letting you choose which program is right for you.
The $8 Micro USB Male to Lightning 8 Pin Male Cable has a Micro-USB attachment on one side and a Lightning connector on the other. Why? It allows you to transfer photos and video to and from Android and iOS devices. And if one device needs a recharge, it can siphon from the battery of its otherwise-incompatible neighbor.
The $70 Cycling Ride Pouch holds your iPhone 5s, as well as a spare tube, tools, an air cartridge, tire levers, and patches to repair your bicycle’s tires on the fly. The pouch “is sized to fit exactly into a cycling jersey pocket and to lie flat for ultimate comfort.”
Author: Joel Mathis
Joel Mathis is a regular contributor to Macworld and TechHive. He lives in Philadelphia with his wife and young son.