Sure, plenty of us have bought a protective cover for our iPhones and iPod Touches. But the upcoming iPad needs protection as well.

While some companies have already announced their intention to make iPad screen protectors, Hip Handmaids have already come up with the perfect gift for future iPad owners, the iMaxi. Yep, just slide in your iPad carefully into the elegantly designed iMaxi. Yep, it is a perfect fit.

The iMaxi is available from etsy.com at $40 $30 each. Did we mention that it is available in white, white/red, or all-red interior options? Despite, iMaxi’s appearance, we are not sure how well it will protect your iPad from water damage.

What a great product to profit from the iPad parody!

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It is finally here.  Slingplayer Mobile on the iPhone has been updated to stream live or recorded TV via AT&T’s 3G connection.  That means you can start watching TV anywhere that has 3G or WiFi connection right on your iPhone, effectively turning your iPhone into a mobile TV device.

Slingplayer Mobile could be very useful for many people.  You won’t miss your favorite NBA basketball game if you are unable to get home to your favorite HDTV.  It is also a great way to spend that spare time at the airport.

With the imminent launch of the 3G enabled iPad, watching TV via 3G may get even better with the bigger screens.  And since most iPhone apps should work well with the iPad, watching live TV outside the home may become popular sooner than most people think.

Watching live TV on the iPhone not only requires the Slingplay Mobile app, but users must also purchase a Slingbox hardware.   Slingbox connects to your DVR, digital cable set-top box, or satellite receiver, and broadcasts these digital contents to your laptop, desktop, and of course, your iPhone.  Users can use the Slingbox as a universal hub to fully control your TV and DVR.  Better yet, Slingbox’s setup allows your iPhone to control your TV and DVR like a remote via the Slingplayer Mobile app.

Slingbox comes in two models.  Slingbox Solo and Slingbox Pro-HD. Both models allow users to watch and control live or recorded TV from any PC, Mac desktop, laptop computer, or compatible mobile phones  They both connect to any Standard Definintion (SD) or High Definition (HD) television device – cable/satellite set-top box, DVR, DVD player or Media Center.  Both models also stream Standard Definition.

However, only the Slingbox Pro-HD can stream in High Definition.  The Pro-HD has built-in analog & HD digital (Clear QAM) cable tuner and built-in analog & HD digital (ATSC) antenna tuner. Pro-HD model also connects and controls multiple audio / video sources instead of single source.

SlingPlayer Mobile’s new iPhone update is really revolutionary.  It brings the world closer to your living room.  Anywhere that you have an 3G, WiFi, or a landline connection, users can access the contents of from their existing cable network right to their favorite digital device.

SlingPlayer Mobile (iTunes Link) is currently $29.99 in the Apps Store.

Slingbox Solo (Amazon Link) is currently selling for $158 at Amazon.com.

Slingbox Pro-HD (Amazon Link) is currently selling for $264 At Amazon.com.

This is a Watching Live TV on iPhone article by The Apps Machine.

Months ago, while using an older MacBook I managed to spill a cup of tea on the right side of my computer´s keyboard. This unfortunately rendered my keyboard nearly useless. Well, perhaps not totally useless if you don´t need either the enter, return, right shift, or question mark keys. Most do.

While at the time, in order to finish the piece I was writing, I simply downloaded an on-screen keyboard called Mouse Strokes. But after a 10 day trial, it only ran for 30 minutes at a time. This was not working for me and I paid $2.99 for the Mobile Air Mouse application a program nearly identical to Logitech´s.

Identical in that both share a wifi connection in order to facilitate a connection between a laptop and the iPhone. Both require the downloading of software on both devices, and both work without a hiccup. Or rather they did, and only one was free.

I have yet to have a single problem with Logitech´s app, the same can not be said of the Mobile Air Mouse where I have had connectivity issues.

Many people will say, ” I don´t spill tea on my computer, so I don´t need this app. What´s the point?, etc.”

The point is, that older MacBook is now permanently attached to my TV and this app gives me a remote control and easy access from anywhere in the house. I use my TV to show video podcasts know because of this app. In the past I had watched on my phone so I didnt need to get up every 5 minutes, no longer.

For those who don´t have a computer with a remote, this app is a great addition when running PowerPoint or slideshows through a projector. A single touch brings the next slide.

Additional features include, but are not limited to:

Features
- Multi-touch trackpad with option for two or three buttons
- Two-finger scrolling
- Keyboard with modifier keys
- On-screen text display while typing
- Show or hide the keyboard at any time
- Trackpad and keyboard are available in landscape and portrait modes
This is an article by The Apps Machine.

When Apple introduced the iPad as their “magical and revolutionary” device on Wednesday, Steve Jobs quickly mentioned a few accessories to make the iPad a little more practical.  Keyboard, case and connection kits help make the iPad more accessible and useful for the “muggles” (non-magical) among us.  With not alot of time available he had to gloss over the details and most importantly, the prices.  There is also room for speculation about 3rd party accessories, considering the iPad comes with bluetooth which leaves the field wide open for speakers and such.  But this article will explore the Apple only offerings.

First up is the keyboard dock, seen above.  iLounge has said it is called the iPad Keyboard Dock and it costs $69.  It enables users who type a lot to dock their iPads in a reclined position, connect a wall adapter for charging (not included), and use a “real” keyboard.  This will be a welcome addition for people not keen on using the virtual keyboard, which, funnily enough, looks exactly like this keyboard, just on the display.  There may be some hoping for a landscape version of this dock so look for an after market version.  This dock also features an audio jack which lets you connect to a stereo or powered speakers.

Second is the iPad case which enhances the book look of the device and provides it protection in your briefcase. Opening up like a book,  the case can be folded backwards and props the iPad up on a slight angle, placing the virtual keyboard in a comfortable typing  and viewing position.  Priced at $39 I can see this being a very popular accessory even though initial reviews of the accessory found it to be too much PVC and not classy-looking enough for the iPad crowd.

Next up we have the connection kit to allow you to upload photos from an SD storage card to your iPad or to connect your camera directly to the iPad via a 30pin to USB connector.  This kit will retail for $29.  More than one USB ports would have been preferable, but when space is at a premium, you take what you can get!  Countless other uses will be made of these two little dongles by the after market crowd.

Last but not least we have a small version of the first accessory, a charging stand, but this one does not come with a keyboard.  This will be useful for propping your iPad up on your nightstand and using it as an alarm clock, or setting it in the kitchen as a calendar.  This stand will retail for $29.  It will stand the iPad up on its tall edge, providing an audio output and pass-through access to its Dock Connector port for synchronization and charging.

So that rounds up the main accessories that Apple is showing on it’s website for the iPad so far.  I am looking forward to the 3rd party accessories… here is a teaser photo:

This is a Griffin Silicon case, I personally am loving the purple!!

This is a cool accessories article by The App Machine.

This newest offering by Tiffen, a leader and respected manufacturer of camera accesories may have lost the plot on this one. While it does appear that this 20 oz. gadget can be broken down into two pieces I still don’t see its utility. The only time I would use my 3GS video camera is because it is in my pocket. The idea of assembling this, mounting my camera, and shooting is unsettling. Is the iPhone’s camera good enough to warrant this, I say most certainly not.

You can read the specs all day. Counterweights and table mounts and……steady blurry videos. Perhaps the 4th generation and beyond iPhones will improve video quality sufficiently to warrant this but I doubt it. No rumors or rumblings just yet on pricing or when we get to see the first tool using this “tool”.

Enjoy the Video.

This is an article by The Apps Machine.

iType, Ion's full QWERTY keyboard add-on for the iPhone.

Ion, a company primarily known for their USB audio devices including turntables and cassette players, plans to release this full sized QWERTY keyboard called iType in early May 2010.

At a price expected to be just over $100, it is difficult to see its utility unless you are a frequent traveler or avid twitter user.

At first glance clearly this product will weigh considerably less than the average laptop. Additionally, as it not only plugs into a standard outlet, the keyboard also has its own battery supply.   When the keyboard attaches to the iPhone dock,  it will not drain the iPhone´s battery but, rather, charge it.

Certainly the iPhone is no replacement for a laptop but, I for one, look forward to this product.  As I am a frequent traveller to South America, there are places where I don´t want to be travelling with my laptop for security reasons.   Yet I have a need to be blogging and the touch screen keyboard simply wont work too well. This wil be a perfect and welcome addition to my gadget collection.

This is an article by The Apps Machine.

Introducing the Parrot AR Drone. A quadricopter that creates a wifi network to connect to the iPhone and iPod Touch. The accelerometers in these devices will allow a tilting of your iPod Touch or iPhone to control this absolutely off the hook remote controlled toy.

The Parrot AR with the use of two video cameras, one front mounted and the other attached to the underside..will provide not only a real-time video feed to your iPhone but land itself if your connection to the Drone is ever lost. Apparently, the Drone also offers an autopilot and smart flight mode that compensates for wind.

The Parrot AR Drone will also include enhanced reality video games utilizing the front mounted camera and the addition of overlaid 3D models with the potential for third party developed games.

While we have no idea the cost or when it will be available rumors suggest it will come in under $500 and be available by June 2010.

Additionally, the Drone includes two hulls for use both indoors and outdoors. For indoor flight a polypropylene shell can be attached for maximum rotor protection where outdoor flight will focus on maximum control.

I WANT THIS NOW. DESPITE NO MENTION OF THE WIFI NETWORKS RANGE, THIS PROMISES TO BE THE GADGET OF 2010.

Watch the YouTube video.

Follow the release on Twitter and Facebook.

This is an Best iPhone Accessory article by The Apps Machine

iPhone RC Quadricopter with Augmented Reality is Every Man’s Dream

L5

With CES 2010 currently in session we are about to witness an onslaught of gizmos and gadgets, some great and some not so great.  L5 Technology is hoping theirs will be one of the great ones.  Yesterday at CES they unveiled their offering to the techies, a way to transform your iPhone into a universal remote using an app in conjunction with a dongle-type adapter.

The people over at Gizmodo seem to like it and say “the idea couldn’t be simpler: You plug the L5 Remote adapter into your iPhone’s dock connector, it draws from the iPhone’s battery to blast infrared, and with the addition of bundled universal remote app, your iPhone can suddenly change the channel on pretty much any TV, cable/sat box or Front Row compatible device up to 30 feet away.”  Caveat being this is only a line of sight system of up to 30 feet, not throughout the house.

Whether consumers will want to keep track of a tiny adapter instead of a fairly large remote remains to be seen.  I have already lost a Nike+ dongle, and I am not sure I could be trusted to keep track of this one.  It would be perfect if you have an iPod touch(1st or 2nd generation) or an iPhone (it must be 3.0 however) you could dedicate to this service, rather than having to detach and re-attach the dongle as you come and go from your media room.  But then why not have a traditional remote?  hmmmm…  Some people have already indicated that there are other remote systems that may supersede this line of sight style remote with a wifi style.  RedEyeRemote is more expensive, at $188US but it seems to have more bang for your buck if you are looking for an iPhone remote option, and you won’t have to keep track of a dongle.  (But you will need to use a small docking station).

But if you’re confident you can keep track of a dongle then perhaps this is the universal remote for you!   The L5 system will be available in February and will retail for $49.95US, which is relatively inexpensive and is sure to attract the gizmo and gadget crowd.  Stay tuned for the reviews…

This is a cool iPhone accessories article by The Apps Machine

thesharperimage

Myriad gadgets and gizmos are being unveiled at CES in Las Vegas this week and along comes a couple of cool, yet simplistic iPhone/iPod docks and apps that transform your iPhone into a glorified clock with speakers! Reactions tend to be “ha ha look at that, it’s a clock…..but it is a really cool looking clock…with speakers….actually I think I need one of those!” After all, mobile phones are kicking the stuffing out of the wrist watch market, why not clocks too?

The Sharper Image’s elegant offering above features an old school look with backlit roman numerals for a clock around a circle with the dock in the middle. The iPhone becomes the hands when docked and the device sells for $60US. It comes complete with free downloadable applications and plays surround sound music as well. It should be available from their website soon.

iLuv

But what if you prefer more new style clocks? Then there is this personalizable style dock/speaker system called the App Station from iLuv.com. It works in conjunction with a free iLuv app available on the App store once the dock is actually available. When you dock the iPhone or iPod touch into the App Station it turns into an alarm clock complete with weather forecast and temperature. It also has speakers. The alarm clock display can be customized to suit your style preference, it can be shifted horizontal or vertical and you can watch movies on the iPhone and hear the audio over the speaker dock. The device is set to be available in February for $129.99.

This is a cool iPhone app article by The Apps Machine

The btstack project has done it again.  First they paired an Apple wireless keyboard with a jailbroken iPhone 3Gs here allowing you to input text to all manner of programs on your phone.   Now they have paired a new Apple magic mouse and a virtual keyboard with the jailbroken iPhone.  According to their website “the aim of this project is to support devices for which the OS either does not provide a Bluetooth Stack or the available stack is severely limited (e.g., on the iPhone).” 

This is an article by The Apps Machine.

A new app is on the horizon promising you better sleep and easier waking.  Wakemate is set to launch at the end of January and many people are plunking down their $50 and pre-ordering, hoping this will be the solution to their sleep problems.  According to Wakemate , “after multiple nights’ data have been collected, we can identify trends in your sleeping patterns and give personalized instruction on how to improve your sleep. Based on your body’s natural sleeping patterns we can tell you when and how long to sleep to get the most efficient and restful sleep possible”.  Wow that sounds wonderful, but will it work?

This app is unusual in that it runs using a separate device, a wrist cuff, to detect information about your sleeping patterns.  The WakeMate is a  smart alarm clock that will analyze your sleep to find the optimal time for you to wake up, so you will feel refreshed and energized every time you wake.  TechCrunch got the lowdown from the developers on how it works:

“The WakeMate wristband collects data throughout the night and stores it on internal Flash storage. When it’s time to wake you up WakeMate doesn’t necessarily sound an alarm at exactly the time you set. Instead, it monitors your sleep patterns for the 20 minute window prior to that and sounds your alarm when you’re in the lightest sleep mode, which can help eliminate that groggy feeling you sometimes wake up with. The alarm doesn’t come from the wristband though – instead, the wristband uses Bluetooth to trigger your cell phone’s alarm. It then transmits your sleep data to your phone, which in turn uses its cellular data connection to upload it to the WakeMate servers. You can then browse through your sleep history from the WakeMate website.”

Definitely sounds promising.  However the whole concept is based on actigraphy, which is the measurement of the motions you make while you sleep, to determine your sleep stages.  Actigraphy has long been used in the study of sleep patterns but there is some conjecture about it’s overall effectiveness.

For $50 this is an app that better deliver!  Before you try this you should definitely check out SleepCycle, a much cheaper and already available app which is getting good reviews from customers for helping you get a better sleep!

Is Rockband or other music apps to difficult for you?  Why don’t you make a robot like the one Joe Bowers made?

Joe has a light sensor reading the falling notes.  Then, specially made fake fingers from the robot taps the iPhone screen at the right time to score in the Rockband game.  The result is marvelous. Joe’s even included a complete guide plus source code for those of you that would like a Rockband playing robot for yourself.

Checkout the must see video below to see the robot in action!

For those of you with poor wireless signals, AT&T has a solution for you.  You can buy a $150 3G MicroCell that connects to your existing broadband internet connection to boost  your wireless signals and 3G data speed.  It is like paying for your own decent silverware in a restaurant when the restaurant only offers you flimsy and unusable plastic forks.

AT&T has recently launched their 3G MicroCell in the Charlotte market.  We can assume that more markets will be getting their own 3GMicroCell adapters soon.  The device will allow you to make wireless calls via the internet.  Thus when you are within the range of 3GMicroCell, you will “magically” get full bars on your phone.  However you will still be using your wireless minutes unless you pay another $20 per month to gain access to unlimited minutes while using the adapter. Existing AT&T landline and broadband users may get a discount for this service.

3G data speed should also be faster.  Though, with Wi-Fi already available through your broadband service, it is unclear why iPhone users would not just use Wi-Fi connection instead.

Using a device to artificially boost wireless signals may be desirable for some iPhone users.  However, AT&T’s 3GMicroCell uses your own broadband connection.  Is there any reason why users cannot just use voice-over-ip apps to make wireless calls?  This whole idea of a signal booster that depends on your own internet connection just seem to be another money making scheme for big companies.  AT&T should really be giving them away to folks who have poor wireless receptions to improve their customer satisfaction.  They could probably have even given the device to every iPhone customers to help alleviate the heavy data burden on their own strained wireless network.

Via The Apps Machine under AT&T Signal Booster

Almost everyone who got an iPhone loves it.  But if you ask them what’s wrong with the iPhone, most iPhone users would answer “AT&T.”  AT&T’s issues with dropped calls, network coverage, lack of MMS, and other arbitrary policies and limitations make iPhone users mad.  That is why many would welcome the prediction made by a Piper Jeffray senior research analyst, Gene Munster, that Apple should offer iPhones on more U.S. carriers by the summer of next year. 

Gene Munster said that multi-carrier model in France let to a dramatic increase in market share.  iPhones achieved 40 percent market share of smart phones in France after implementation of multi-carrier model.  That is a huge gain compared with 15% market share during their exclusive agreement with French wireless carrier Orange.  Like France, the iPhone’s total market share in the U.S. for smart phones remains near the teens.  But analysts expect that number to explode if another carrier such as Verizon Wireless offers the iPhone.  Apple would also make a lot more money despite a lower profit margin for each device due to non-exclusivity. 

One issue preventing iPhones to jump ship may be wireless technology, Verizon’s EVDO network is expected to gradually phase out.  Even though Verizon is rumored to roll out its new 4G network by early 2010, it may not be ready to take on legends of iPhone users.  AT&T, on the other hand, continues to expand network capabilities for the current iPhones.  Thus, from a technology point of view, Apple is likely to stick with AT&T.

That’s not to say a Verizon iPhone won’t appear next year.  If Apple believes another carrier can increase iPhone’s U.S. market share dramatically, it can make iPhones with CDMA capabilities.  After all, isn’t Apple going to make CDMA iPhones for the Chinese market after its announcement to partner with the CDMA-only wireless carrier, China Unicom? 

Perhaps the wireless world will be a better place if your iPhone isn’t tied up with one carrier.  If iPhone users don’t like the current wireless carrier because of a lack of MMS, then just switch to another carrier that offers it.  This would make wireless services competitive.  We will no longer have to tolerate incompetent carriers that are slow to satisfy their customers’ wireless needs.  And hopefully, the competition will heat up by next summer, just in time for all those iPhone 3G buyers to upgrade their iPhones to a new model.    

France and iPhones don’t seem to mix well together. A second iPhone exploded in France according to AFP news report.  Yassine Bouhadi, a 26-year-old supermarket security was typing a text message on Monday afternoon when the screen exploded. Yassine claimed that glasses from the exploding iPhone injured his eyes. He plans to see a doctor and file charges against those responsible.

France’s consumer protection agency, known as the DGCCRF, is currently looking into this situation.  DGCCRF is also investigating the first iPhone explosion case in France earlier in August when a French teenager was injured in the eyes from an exploding iPhone.  An iPod Touch explosion in the UK was also reported earlier this month. 

Apple has assured the European Union that the exploding glass screens are “isolated incidents.”  But French consumer rights group, UFC-Que Choisir, has its doubts.  They want Apple to communicate more about possible iPhone defects and issue guidelines to prevent the iPhone from causing bodily injuries. 

There are many reports of iPhone and iPod explosions recently.  Some attributes this problem to overheated lithium ion batteries.  Hopefully outcome from these reports will allow Apple to make safer products without impeding technological advancements of the iPhone.

We have all experienced those times when we accidentally covered the iPhone speaker with our fingers while playing games or using apps.  That feeling of Ouch! is quite annoying, especially in the middle of a game.  But it looks like the folks at Ten1 has found a fix for this annoying behavior.  They made a special plastic clip named SoundClip [Amazon Link]that clips onto your iPhone’s sync port.  Clipping it on will allow SoundClip to cup the iPhone speaker.

Ten1 promised that the SoundClip will not only prevent against accidental audio loss from your fingers, but also amplify sound.  They claimed the volume will be increased by 10dB between 6kH and 20kHz.  The amplification in sound is accomplished by reflecting sound waves back to the user.  For convenience, SoundClip can also be clipped to the USB sync cable when the sync port on the iPhone is in use.

Even though SoundClip promised sound amplification, in reality many people do not notice an improvement in sound amplification.  So don’t expect too much volume enhancements from this simple device.  However everyone did solved their naughty finger problem.  No longer do users need to worry if their fingers will accidentally cover the speaker when using the iPhone.

Priced at $8 dollars, the SoundClip may seem reasonable to some (and too expense for others) for the ability to protect the iPhone Speaker from accidental covering.  But if you need an accessory to truly amplify sound well, you may need to look at other accessories such as the Griffin 9696 AirCurve Acoustic Amplifier [Amazon link].  It is up to you to determine if preventing temporary sound loss from your naughty fingers is worth the $8 price.

Japan can now watch live TV on their iPhone. 1-Seg WiFi tuner released by Softbank pulls in TV signal, then transmits signal to the iPhone via Wi-Fi. Thus being around a Wi-Fi network is a must when using this accessory. Although the tuner doubles as a battery charger, it appears the device battery drainer. DVICE reports that they were only able to get 1 hour of viewing time with the Tuner-iPhone combination. Perhaps a patch may fix this in the future?

Despite these inconveniences, the Wi-Fi tuner displays crystal clear picture and sound to the iPhone. That is doing better than a lot of other TV phones in Japan which displays crappy pictures. The software setup is also a breeze. So if you live in Japan and needs TV on your iPhone, shell out 9,850 yen ($108 USD) and enjoy your portable live TV.

Via DVICE

Tired of the same polystyrene, aluminum, or monster battery-packed iPhone cases? Here is a leather case released by Solar Arcadia that promises to keep your iPhone charging as long as there is sunlight.

The case recharges using sunlight beamed to solar panels attached to lithium ion battery pack. The battery packed leather case can then be connected to the iPhone’s external connection port for recharging. Thus it is possible to just charge the case itself without the iPhone.

Although environmental friendly, it seems difficult to recharge if you put your iPhone in your pocket or purse all the time. There is no sunlight beaming into them. I guess you can take the case out, and recharge that way. But then again, your iPhone will be caseless, leaving open the possibility of key scratches or even a crushed glass touch pad. You can fix that if you have another case. But it is still a hassle.

If you are an avid iPhone case collector, I strongly recommend getting this because it is so cool. However, if you just need an iPhone case that doubles as a battery pack, look at your other options.

Via TuAW