The best iPhone and iPad accessories

This post was done in partnership with The Wirecutter, a buyer's guide to the best technology. Read the full article here. A huge ecosystem of accessories surrounds the iPad and iPhone, with options to handle pretty much any need. At The Wirecut...

Mophie Outride ruggedized action case for iPhone hands-on

Mophie Outride ruggedized action case for iPhone handson

Sure, you've been tempted to strap your iPhone to that ski helmet for a homemade action cam solution, but ultimately, you respect Apple's warranty, as limited as it may be. Mophie's new Outride ruggedized case equips your fragile smartphone with a ruggedized shell, protecting the device while also serving as a helmet / bicycle / flat-surface mount. The thick plastic case includes a raised lens module, and is available in both water-resistant and above ground flavors. That first version is still undergoing testing, according to Mophie reps, so we don't know just how far it can dunk with letting down its guard to condensation, but we do know that it will retail for $149. A land-only version will also be available for $129, and unlike the sealed model, your iPhone's display will still be exposed, giving you full access to the device. Both cases include a dedicated shutter release, which works in camera mode, letting you snap away under the sea. They also ship with a trio of mounts for your helmet, handle bars or a flat surface. Catch a closer look at Outride in the gallery below.

Filed under: , , ,

Mophie Outride ruggedized action case for iPhone hands-on originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 30 Aug 2012 14:03:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |   | Email this | Comments

Insert Coin: Stabil-i case reduces iPhone camera shake, fits in your pocket (video)

In Insert Coin, we look at an exciting new tech project that requires funding before it can hit production. If you'd like to pitch a project, please send us a tip with "Insert Coin" as the subject line.

Insert Coin: Stabil-i reduces iPhone camera shake, fits in your pocket

Ah, stability, a commodity valued by videographers who want to produce footage that won't make their viewers throw up. Reducing camera shake can be especially tricky when using a smartphone such as the iPhone, whose form factor and light weight make it easier to have the shakes while shooting. Currently, options for reducing camera vibration in iPhone videos include apps like the Dolly Cam and more hardware-oriented solutions such as the Steadicam Smoothee. Our latest Insert Coin candidate, the Stabil-i, happens to use the latter route, serving up a "video stabilization iPhone case" that's still reasonably affordable. According to its creators, the Stabil-i's design is based on concepts found in larger, more expensive camera stabilization systems used in the film industry -- minus 90 percent of the hardware and the expensive bearing system. The result, they say, is a device that does a good job in reducing camera shake while still being compact enough to fit in one's pockets.

Continue reading Insert Coin: Stabil-i case reduces iPhone camera shake, fits in your pocket (video)

Filed under: , ,

Insert Coin: Stabil-i case reduces iPhone camera shake, fits in your pocket (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 28 Jul 2012 17:57:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  sourceKickstarter  | Email this | Comments

IK Multimedia iRig MIX review: a mobile mixer built for iDevices

IK Multimedia iRig MIX review

Accessories, iOS has them. Not many devices can boast the same rich and dazzling array of add-ons that the iPhone or iPad enjoy -- from keyboards to docks, arcade cabinets to battery packs. Today's offering? A mobile mixer. The iRig MIX from IK Multimedia, to be precise. It's essentially a mini DJ tool, designed to work with such iGadgets, and brought to you by the same serial audio-accessorizers behind the iRig MIC Cast and AmpliTube. If you think you've seen this fella before, then you likely have, as this got its first glimpse of sunlight back at CES. Now it's here for real, auditioning for your affections as if it were on "American Idol."

While it's easy to dismiss some of the more ambitious accessories as as trying to push the limits of iPad / iPhone functionality to the extreme, it's also worth remembering that accessory X isn't always about replacing object Y. No one ever bought a USB webcam thinking it'd turn them into Spielberg, now did they? But, they might have gotten one thinking it would give their PC some skills it never had before. So it's with this short, preemptive missive in mind that we turn on the iRig MIX, plug in and rock out. Hopefully.

Continue reading IK Multimedia iRig MIX review: a mobile mixer built for iDevices

IK Multimedia iRig MIX review: a mobile mixer built for iDevices originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 25 Jun 2012 14:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |   | Email this | Comments

PoP Video peripheral turns iPod touches and iPhones into pico projectors for $99

PoP Video peripheral turns iPod touches and iPhones into pico projectors for $99

While it may not be the first time we've come across such a concept, this PoP Video add-on is certainly quite different than, say, WooWee's Cinemin Swivel -- and significantly cheaper, too. The PoP Video pairs up with iPod touches (3rd / 4th generation) and iPhones (4 / 4S) via Apple's proprietary 30-pin connector, essentially turning your device into an unorthodox pico projector. According to PoP's site, the 3.5 ounce peripheral's capable of 960 x 540 video output and can give you up to two hours of "playtime" on a single charge -- achieved by way of micro-USB. It all wouldn't be worth it without the free iOS app, though, which lets folks tinker with settings and do what it's intended to do: project videos, pics as well as browsing within Safari. The $99 PoP Video is up for pre-order now, and you can get a quick glimpse of the accessory in action just past the break.

Continue reading PoP Video peripheral turns iPod touches and iPhones into pico projectors for $99

PoP Video peripheral turns iPod touches and iPhones into pico projectors for $99 originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 03 May 2012 02:47:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink CNET  |  sourcePoP Video  | Email this | Comments