In a world where we carry around smartphones and tablets as a matter of routine, it's true that an unfortunate outcome of that is that we seem to be constantly charging things. if we're not charging our smartphones, then we're charging that tablet that we've been playing that hot new game on. In our houses here at least, there's always something on-charge.
Apple's iPhone has made its way into all kinds of weird and wonderful places, as has its larger brother, the iPad. With accessories that help turn the iPhone and iPad into anything from a professional video tool to a high-grade medical devices, there's little that Apple's devices can't do.
For most Android owners, transferring data the old-fashioned way is fairly easy. The majority of devices are equipped with microSD card slots, and data can easily be moved to and from a smartphone or tablet. iPhone users don't have this luxury, but we have, in recent times, seen a marked increase in the number of removable storage peripherals available from third parties. Now Hyper - a revered maker of iAccessories - has come through with the iStick, a MFi (Made for iPhone) gadget that features in-built USB and Lightning connectors.
A home surveillance system used to be a high-cost commodity that was both difficult and expensive for your average individual to install. But nowadays, one can purchase a camera relatively cheaply, and the process of setting up is not particularly cumbersome either. Dropcam, a company that has been helping folks keep an eye on their houses with neat smartphone integration, mightn't necessarily be the first choice of somebody looking to protect themselves from intruders, but some newly-added hardware suggests that the Dropcam team is looking to move its product toward this particular niche.
Panoramic, 360-degree photo and video has become increasingly popular as both the hardware and software of our mobile devices has continued to evolve, and although it's still rather difficult to perfectly capture the moment from all angles, many of us continue to enjoy the process of creating these kinds of images and clips. Now, though, a new product by the name of the CENTR Panoramic Video Camera, developed by ex-iPhone engineers, has sought to take this segment of the point-and-shoot market to the next level, having just thrown up a Kickstarter campaign for the compact, feature-rich gadget that touts a high-quality 360-degree video experience.
iPhone cases come in all different shapes and sizes, and having been well and truly hypnotized by the mesmerizing Sand Art Case featured a short while ago, trust Logitech to come through with something a little more practical and functional. Although the company's reputation has been built predominantly in the accessories market, the Case+ range is rather different from anything that the iPhone is seen before, offering a versatile, modular solution that will cater to most of your needs.
There are so many different types of iPhone case out there that once you've come to a decision regarding what color and storage configuration of device you wish to purchase, only then does the dilemma truly begin. But while we've seen and reviewed a handful of mundane cases and shells here, the Lunecase, touted by its creators as the “the first intelligent iPhone cover,” is well and truly something to behold.
It's no secret that Apple is looking to greatly improve and revamp the in-store shopping experience for its customers, and iBeacon - Apple's proximity-based, Bluetooth LE-powered communication technology - is steadily becoming an integral part of this concerted push. As well as enhancing the engagement potential of the Apple Retail Store, iBeacon has a much broader scope, and a Japanese company by the name of Tzukuri has just announced a set of MFi spectacles that will embrace Apple's fledgling beacons system.
The iPhone may have been a major contributing factor in the fall from grace of standalone consoles like the Game Boy, but this isn't to say that we, as gaming fans, don't have something of a soft spot for the old handhelds. With the recent spate of emulators enabling jailbroken iOS device users to enjoy the ROMs of various antiquated devices, one individual has sought to make the experience even more realistic by creating the 'G-pad,' a nifty, silicone-comprised accessory that wraps around the iPhone, a offering physical, Game Boy-esque set of buttons, and is designed specifically for GBA4iOS.
As far as smartphone cases and covers are concerned, there's a style and finish to suit every requirement. If you're a bit of a fashionista, you can get yourself a hand-stitched leather sleeve, if you want something rough and ready, there's OtterBox, and if you're a bit of a geek and aren't afraid to show it, then the new dot view case for the HTC One M8 is delightfully geeky. If your forte is to take secret photos, however, then the new COVR Photo case for iPhone has your back, with a rather ingenious, albeit slightly stalker-ish contraption that allows you to take photos without anybody knowing what you're up to.
