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Accessories

Pack a phone stand in your wallet with ClearShot

Just when you didn't think your purse or wallet had any more space for plastic, here's a concept that might convince you to make room. ClearShot is a card-size stand for your smartphone that seems perfect for snapshots, video, chatting, and time-lapse pics.

Designer Mike Carney, a Boeing engineer, calls it the world's most portable phone tripod, and has submitted a patent for the design. It's only 0.09 inch thick, about the size of three non-embossed credit cards.

With a pinch, it unfolds into a ready position and supports all iPhone models, as well as Windows and Android phones. It can also be used with the Samsung Galaxy S2, S3, and Note. … Read more

Apple to sell Micro-USB adapter for Lightning but only in Europe

Apple is offering European customers an adapter to let Micro-USB cables talk to the new Lighting interface, but those in the U.S are so far out of luck.

Available in Apple's online store in the U.K. and other European countries, the new Lightning to Micro-USB adapter will let people charge and sync their new iPhone 5, iPod Touch, or iPod Nano.

Unveiled at the iPhone 5 event yesterday, Apple's new Lightning dock connector is much smaller and narrower than the standard 30-pin connector. It can also be plugged in either orientation. And Apple claims it's … Read more

Bose updates Soundlink Bluetooth Mobile II with better sound, adds AirPlay speaker

On a busy day for Apple products, Bose decided to quietly announce the next generation of its portable wireless speakers, the SoundLink Bluetooth Mobile Speaker II, and the SoundLink Air system, its first-ever Apple Airplay-enabled product.

The original SoundLink Wireless Mobile came out last year and received an Editors' Choice Award from CNET. Bose says the new Mobile Speaker II, which looks virtually identical to the original model, sounds better. "Bose engineers integrated new neodymium transducers and an updated digital signal processing algorithm into the acoustics package," the press release said. "Combined with the company's patented … Read more

Apple iPhone 5 gives the world a new connector: Lightning

Usually, it's hard to get a new computer connector to catch on.

But Apple, which by selling more than 400 million iPhones has plenty of clout, isn't bound by the usual constraints. Thus, you can bet that the Lightning connector that debuts on the new iPhone 5 will be a success. … Read more

First iPhone 5 case arrives (hands-on)

If the iPhone case fits, acquit.

Last year, Hard Candy Cases released an iPhone 5 case before the iPhone 5 actually was announced and got a little mud on its face when it didn't fit the iPhone 4S. It wasn't even close. (Hard Candy chalks it up to faulty intelligence and perhaps even some diversionary tactics by Apple).

Well, after last year's small embarrassment, Hard Candy is at it again, announcing the ShockDrop case for iPhone 5. And I just got received the new Gumdrop Drop Tech Series iPhone 5 case ($44.95) in the mail about … Read more

Seidio rolls out iPhone 5 cases ahead of Apple event

The iPhone 5 still hasn't been officially announced, but CNET is already seeing some of the first new iPhone cases that will be hitting the market this month.

Seidio plans to announce its line of cases for the new iPhone later today, but I got an early peek at the design.

Tune in today starting at 9 a.m. PT for our Apple iPhone event live blog.

The company will be unveiling a $10 screen guard and three lines of cases for the phone, including two lines that come with an optional metal kickstand and retail from $29.95 … Read more

Sony X Headphones have Simon Cowell's backing

If you've watched any "American Idol" the last couple of years, you've probably noticed a heavy dose of record impresario Jimmy Iovine's Beats headphones on the show -- from the hat that he always wears to the omnipresence of the product itself. It's awful in many ways, but that's what corporate sponsorship is all about. And it seems to be working as plenty of teenagers keep asking their parents for overpriced $300 headphones for their birthdays.

Well, Simon Cowell and Sony want in on the celebrity headphone action and have released the $299 … Read more

Turn your iPhone into a butt-mounted bike light

"Oh my god, Becky, look at her butt. It is so bright!" That's because she has a Monocle bike safety light fashioned from her iPhone.

The Monocle from Studio KMD consists of two parts. It's a holder that slips onto your belt and an app that triggers a bright red flashing light. Hang it down over your rear and bike away with your iPhone flashing behind you.… Read more

CruxSkunk dresses your iPad up in MacBook clothes

CruxSkunk sounds like it would add a bad smell to your iPad, but what it really does is turn your tablet into a little laptop.

Sure, we've seen lots of add-on iPad keyboards, but the CruxSkunk from CruxCase goes all out with imitating Apple's MacBook aesthetic. If there were such a thing as a MacBook Mini, it would look like an iPad in a CruxSkunk.… Read more

Fund this: The Foundation Dock for iPhone

Your iPhone may be getting more and more wireless, what with iCloud and Wi-Fi syncing and all, but there are times when it's nice to have a dock.

Of course, most docks are little more than stands, offering few, if any, features beyond charging and syncing.

Enter the Foundation Dock, a Kickstarter project that's arguably the most versatile iPhone dock to date.… Read more