This week’s roundup brings more new accessories for the Apple Watch. Will it be as lucrative for tinkerers and developers as its iOS predecessors? We’re about to find out.
If you’re thinking about getting an Apple Watch, you’ve got to worry about breaking it. The $29 Bumper is (natch) a bumper to protect your precious new iOS device from scrapes, bumps, and bruises without sacrificing your access to or use of the screen. It’s an Indiegogo project, but seems well on its way toward raising the amount needed to go into production.
The $36 6-Port Family-Sized Desktop USB Charger is exactly what it sounds like—a charging station with enough ports to accommodate nearly every person (and every device) in your family. Or, at least, six of them. Which is six times better than a single-port charger, right?
The $30 Charge + Sync Dock is built for the iPhone 5 and newer, comes with a 4-foot hardwire to plug into your laptop or wall outlet, and has a sprightly aluminum finish to match your other Apple devices.
There’s some question whether the $169 BrydgeAir Keyboard is a match for the much-loved ClamCase keyboard that does so much to make your iPad look and perform like an actual laptop. The BrydgeAir comes with an aluminum body, dual speakers, and backlit keys. We gave it a positive review last month, and the positive chatter we’ve seen from other outlets since then suggests it might be one of the most favorably received iOS accessories of the year.
Its makers say the $70 Symphony “is an elegant addition to your desk or nightstand, and is sure to impress your friends. High-tech design means you can listen to your favorite music amplified while charging your iPhone at the same time.” It’s compatible with the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus.
The $30 WatchStand holds your Apple Watch at an “easily viewable” angle while it charges; the molded bases allows you to prop up and easily view your iPhone, as well.
The $35 MagicMOUNT XL mounts to vehicle dashboards or flat surfaces in the home; it’s then used to mount your full-sized iPad, placed at any angle or rotation for your most convenient viewing.
The $50 HiRise for Apple Watch “holds any Apple Watch at an elevated height and angle that lets you interact with your watch while it’s charging. It only takes a moment to insert (or remove) your Magnetic Charging Cable, and it can be used with any style Apple Watch band, including closed-loop metal bands.” It ships in May.
Author: Joel Mathis
Joel Mathis is a regular contributor to Macworld and TechHive. He lives in Philadelphia with his wife and young son.