accessories

I haven't even decided if I'm getting an iPad 2, but at least I can say I've seen a case for one.

Targus' 360-degree Rotating Stand, which arrived at my desk early this morning, boasts "iPad second-generation" support right on the box. The rear plastic cradle has appropriate cut-outs for the larger speaker, as well as the rear camera lens.

And, no, it's not backward-compatible: I tried popping my more portly first-gen iPad into the housing, and it fit about as well as my high school jeans. The curved edges look more like the … Read more

We're used to seeing smartphone accessories geared toward certain platforms, so it's nice to come across something like The Zhip (pronounced "zip"), which can be used with a variety of smartphones, as well as the iPod Touch.… Read more

Sometimes it feels like we've seen every iPad case in the universe--and then, there comes a weird new design that takes iPad culture to an even deeper level. Enter the Joby Gorillamobile Ori and Yogi cases, both of which transform--in different ways--into some positions that even made us blush.

We first got wind of these around CES, but we've finally gotten both into our office to check out in more detail. Both feature the same base iPad case--a rubber-reinforced plastic shell that snugly encases itself around the iPad, and offers some modicum of shock absorption (as we discovered … Read more

Sure, you could use Apple's gesture-friendly Magic Trackpad and the wireless keyboard separately, but why do that when Twelve South has a device that allows you to connect them together Voltron-style? It's called the MagicWand and it acts as a bridging contrivance between the two wireless input devices. It's not electrical; it's just a mini-mount that allows you to use the keyboard and trackpad together without needing a tabletop, such as while you're in bed or on a therapist's couch.

Or, as the makers point out, it's great for controlling a Mac-based home … Read more

Fore those who have adopted their iPhones as their primary snapshot cameras have realized that the digital zoom gets them only so close and kind of tanks photo quality in the process. What you really need is a telephoto lens, and that's where this kit comes in, from photography tips-and-tricks site Photojojo.

This $35 telephoto lens is not unlike other attachable lenses for smartphones. But, while those are magnetic and work on any mobile device, this one requires putting on an included case, so it's only for iPhone 3/3GS and 4 models. With the case on, you … Read more

Hmmm. Earlier today, both Zeiss and Schneider announced plans to manufacture lenses for the Olympus/Panasonic-brainchild Micro Four Thirds (MFT) mount for ILC (interchangeable lens) cameras. Hours later, a note from Sony has popped up in my inbox stating that it will open its competing E-mount specification up--free of a license fee--to all lens and adapter makers, starting in April.

When you think about it, Sony really didn't have much of a choice. Whatever inroads MFT has made in the market is partly attributable to the availability of lenses and adapters for legacy lenses. But it's also worth … Read more

Nyko has had a strong showing at CES over the past few years by introducing innovative third-party accessories for game consoles. Last year the company beat Nintendo to the punch by releasing the Wand+, the first Wii controller to feature MotionPlus built in.

We've gotten a look at the 2011 lineup, and this year Nyko has shifted its focus to target support for PlayStation Move. While we've already seen the two- and four-port Charge Stations for Move, also available in March will be a rifle-shaped Move accessory that should make first-person-shooter games a lot more realistic. Also coming … Read more

LAS VEGAS--Earlier today we heard about Fling, Ten One Design's latest attempt at giving the iPad a legitimate input device for gaming. Its tiny suction cups stick on to the surface of the iPad, giving you the closest thing to an actual button we've seen yet on an iPad.

A few hours later we're hearing about a much more traditional take on the situation, ThinkGeek's JoyStick-IT. The Joystick-IT accessory appears to work the same way as Fling, allowing users to center an actual chrome joystick wherever they see fit.

These two items are the first of … Read more

LAS VEGAS--Ever been in a situation in which your iPhone crashes (or mysteriously loses all of its information after a firmware update), and you resort to a backup within iTunes to get your data back just to realize that no recent backup had been successfully made? Well, I know a few who have suffered through this painful experience. It's obviously a little too late for them, but for the rest of you, there's now a way to avoid that.

Iomega today joins the long list of vendors that make accessories for the iPhone by announcing the Iomega SuperHero … Read more