by Ethan on August 20th, 2010
Do you remember last year when Mobile Mechatronics released a physical keyboard that attached to the iPhone 3G and 3GS called the iTwinge? It turns out that it was a big enough hit for another company to put the click button feel to the iPhone 4.
A designer by the name of Altamash Jiwani has created a prototype that is a bit more complex than the previous accessories. The design resembles the Apple Bumper with the keyboard on rails that make the home button clearable with a slide. It would disable the functionality of the keyboard by way of its dock connect-ability. Not stopping there, the bottom would serve as a female dock port which would allow syncing without removing the keyboard. Read More
by Ethan on August 18th, 2010
Well this sucks. Yesterday iDB reported on comments from the Chicago Police about the usefulness of recovering data from seized iPhones. Now Gizmodo says that a product eerily called the iPhone Spy Stick can access deleted data from your iPhone via USB.
For those asking how on earth a USB device could plug itself into your device, the stick comes with the necessary adapter. Nice eh?
Directly from the Spy Stick’s website is the indicated abilities attached to the $199 priced accessory:
Features:
- Get access to deleted information
- Download text messages and view calls made
- Recover deleted contacts and calendar items
- View pictures and other multimedia
- Get access to map history to see locations searched on the iPhone’s map with exact GPS coordinates
- Get access to notes, voice memos, multimedia files, and dynamic text data
- Downloading data is as simple as attaching the iPhone and iPhone Data Recovery Stick to a computer and pressing start
- iPhone information is saved on any computer and can be moved to other drives as a regular file
- Looks like an ordinary USB flash drive
Popular Uses:
- Catch a cheating spouse
- Monitor your kids iPhone text messaging and Internet use
- Check on employees using company issues iPhones
- Restore deleted files
Before you freak out about your iPhone’s security, it is worth mentioning that the not-so-friendly USB stick is currently only usable on iPhone iOS 3.2.1 and earlier. I’d venture to say this mostly targets those still using the original iPhone and the iPhone 3G. However the October version is said be coming for iOS 4 devices.
Will this stop users from selling their old iPhone when it comes time to upgrade? Please tell us your thoughts in our totally secure comment section.
by Sebastien on August 16th, 2010
A couple weeks ago I received and email from Jeff at iPhonePatch.com, a website that sells little stickers to supposedly prevent iPhone 4 antenna issues. Jeff was very friendly and easy going so when he proposed to send me some patches to try out, I agreed. I received the patches last week and I’ve been trying them ever since and I’d like to tell you a bit more about my experience.
The patches come in 15 different designs to choose from. They’re tiny little vinyl patches that take a few seconds to put on. Personally, I put the skulls and recycle logo patches on my iPhone because I thought they were the one that fit me best. It looked a little funny to have these on my phone at first but I quickly got used to them.
I have terrible signal in my house and when I grab my iPhone, I usually get just one bar. After putting the patches on my i4 though, I was able to get 2 or 3 bars constantly when holding the phone. For the purpose of this review, I tried to replicate the antenna death grip and I wasn’t able to. The least I would have was 2 bars.
If like me you don’t like having a case on your iPhone, using these vinyl patches might be a good alternative to using a Bumper to increase signal strength.
Starting at $5.99 for a six pack of vinyl patches, I think they are a good deal. The only thing I have against the patches is the poor variety of designs. There is indeed not much to choose from but Jeff tells me he’s going to be adding more styles in the near future.
You can buy vinyl iPhone patch from iPhonePatch.com.
by Ethan on August 14th, 2010
I don’t like to make a habit out of promoting (or writing) about accessories I haven’t used, simply because you don’t usually know until you have it in hand. However the Just Mobile Xtand for the iPhone looks seriously legit. This aluminum holder takes your trusted device, and morphs it into a little looking iMac. Just another reason I might hold off on buying an iPad. Sorry Apple.
The 3 piece unit is said to be easily assembled and incredibly sturdy, and houses a rubber “hand” so to be speak, where the iPhone actually rests. Sick of looking up peoples nostrils on your FaceTime calls? No problem, this solution will fix that in no time. A must have ability is covered in allowing either portrait or landscape mode. Watching movies or reading iBooks on an iPhone just became ten times better.
All iPhone models seem to be supported, with a current 20% discount bringing the total to just $33. iPod Touch, iPad, and even MacBook look-a-likes are also available. So no more worries of holding your phone the wrong way. Just plop it into this beauty, and let the Xtand do the gripping for you. This just might be sitting on my desk I’m a short time. What do you guys think?
by Sebastien on August 5th, 2010
So we’ve all seen the diamond bezeled iPhones over the years, as well as gold plated. Usually they are thousands upon thousands of dollars and don’t even look that nice. If you’re more of an outdoors kind of geek, then look no further for the first wooden iPhone 4!
Case maker KARVT has come out with these surprisingly good looking skins, for the iPhone 4 and 3GS. Pre-orders for the lumber looking protectors start at $25 for your iPhone 4, and $14 for the 3GS. I can’t accurately inform you as to how well they work, but they don’t seem to be oak, so no throwing your devices to test them. As to whether or not the case helps or hurts your signal, you better just knock on wood!
by Sebastien on August 4th, 2010
We’re not Apple so we won’t be able to give free cases to every iPhone 4 owner out there, but the folks over at iVogue were kind enough to give us 10 cases to give away to our most loyal readers.
Here is what you have to do to enter the contest:
1. You must be in the US.
2. Look at the images after the jump and figure out what case you would like.
3. Go to our FaceBook page and under the entry titled “What Case Do You Want?“, tell us what model and color you would want to receive.
4. Optional: you get extra points for retweeting this article on Twitter.
I will randomly pick 10 winners before the end of the week and I will send them an email via FaceBook to ask for their mailing address.
For more information about iVogue, I suggest you check out their website as they have a great selection of inexpensive iPhone cases. Read More
by Sebastien on August 1st, 2010
Thirsty? There’s an app a coaster for that!
Because they’re made using the original high resolution artwork, these coasters come out looking great, crisp with a glossy finish. And to those of you wondering, no, they will not turn your coffee table into an iPad, but we sure hope they did.
These iPhone app coasters come in 3 sets of 6 icons. Each set is about $32. You can get them from here.
If you call yourself an iPhone lover then you owe it to yourself to get the geekiest of all iPhone accessories: the iPhone apps coasters. Read More
by Sebastien on July 29th, 2010
A couple of weeks ago Fusion of Ideas sent me 3 StealthArmor covers for iPhone 4 to review and after having used one of them on my phone for a while now, I think I can give you a honest review of the product.
What is it?
The StealthArmor is a cover for iPhone 4 (and other devices). Like the name suggests it’s just a cover, not a full case. It comes in 3 different series, including various finish styles such as carbon, matte, metal, wood, leather, etc…
Here is how Fusion of Ideas describes the StealthArmor: Read More
by Sebastien on July 28th, 2010
I just received my free iPhone Bumper in the mail today, courtesy of Steve Jobs and everybody at Apple.
First impressions? Meh. I don’t like cases and the Bumper is no exception. The iPhone 4 is such a beautiful device that it kills me to trap it in a case. I put it on, took it off and gave it to Tina so she can protect her very first iPhone. She’ll definitely need it more than I will.
If you haven’t yet, here is how to claim your free case from Apple, or simply browse our iPhone Accessories Store to choose from hundreds of different iPhone cases.
by Sebastien on July 28th, 2010
If iPlunge is not the coolest iPhone stand ever, it might just be the most original one. Gotta love the product description too:
No plumbing required! Use it at work, home, train, plane, it works anywhere! Wow, what a handy stand!
You can preorder your iPlunge from here for just about $6. Can’t go wrong with that…
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