accessories

If the contents of our CNET in-boxes in the last week or so are any indication, iPad owners have no shortage of accessories to choose from when it comes to embellishing, encasing, and steadying their new devices.

Crave reader Amit Jain, however, wasn't spotting a stand that fit. Observing that most he's seen so far "are made of lightweight aluminum or plastic," he wanted a heavy, sturdy holder that could withstand the impact of multiple touches without getting wobbly when he used his new device as a touch computer.

So, as our crafty readers are wont to do, … Read more

The PlayStation 3 Slim is quickly helping Sony reassert itself in the video game industry. But it's a home console that's typically been tied to the living room television--until now.

Hori, a small hardware company in Japan, announced recently that it plans to release an HD monitor that comes with an attachment that encases the PS3 Slim and allow users to play console games on the display. According to the company, the LCD Monitor HD 3 [Google Translate Page] boasts 1366x768 resolution. It also has built-in speakers. The screen folds over the PS3's body to make it … Read more

Say what you will about the new iPad, but there's no denying it's a sleek and sexy device. Good looks aside, there is certainly some friction between the gaming community and Apple's new tablet.

Sure, the iPhone and iPod Touch have carved out a considerable niche in the casual gaming market, but, like we've said before, it's tough to consider the platform a legitimate gaming machine without buttons. The same can now be said about the iPad and its 10-inch screen.

We've had plenty of hands-on time with gaming on the iPhone, and though it's a relatively pleasurable experience with titles that just require tapping, the same cannot be said for games that were originally created for consoles with controllers. Sonic the Hedgehog is a perfect example of this shortcoming, as the game performed quite well with the major exception of having to use an onscreen virtual button configuration.

Of course the iPad will give developers more real estate to work with, but it's arguably even tougher to grasp the iPad like you would a normal handheld gaming device. The recent unveiling of a patent filing may give some more insight as to how Apple plans on addressing the awkwardness of touch-screen gaming. … Read more

The Kensington Amplified Car Cradle for iPhone isn't the first accessory that boasts to passively amplify audio output of Apple's iPhone, but it may be one of the first designed at in-car navigation use.

The device consists of a rather bulky cradle with a pair of spring-loaded metal arms that hold the iPhone in place over a set of hollow lower arms. The springy arms have enough flex in them to allow the phone to be inserted and removed with one hand and have enough give to accommodate protective skins, but not hard cases.

Its lower arms are … Read more

Like most people, I hate buying things that are boring necessities such as a replacement power supply for my laptop. Sure, my laptop would be an expensive paperweight without it, but it doesn't make me any happier to spend the money. The Targus Premium Laptop Charger, however, is a purchase worth making even if you don't need a replacement because it's more than just a one-product charger.

Though the headline is meant to be facetious, the Targus charger's usefulness does make it more interesting than your average power supply. For starters, it's designed for easy … Read more

Preorders of Apple's iPad seem to be going very well. The company updated its Web site on Saturday indicating that any new iPad orders will ship by April 12, as pointed out by AppleInsider and other blogs.

Apple is due to ship the iPad Wi-Fi model next Saturday--for those that have already placed their orders, the delivery date remains April 3. Preorder customers had a choice of in-store pickup or delivery, an option that also appears to have been removed from the Apple Store.

The iPad Wi-Fi + 3G is still scheduled to ship in late April, according to Apple'… Read more

I come from a PalmPilot background. In the old days, our devices didn't connect to our computers via a stray cable that's always getting in the way. Our devices didn't lay prostrate on our desks while charging or syncing. They sat upright, faced forward, and gave us something to look at. In other words, they docked.

You can dock an iPhone, but Apple charges a whopping $49 for the privilege. Thanks, but no thanks.

Instead, I'm going the generic route: Meritline has an iPhone desktop dock-charger for $3.99 shipped. That's right: shipped. From China. … Read more

LAS VEGAS--HTC, the company behind many of today's most popular smartphones, including the recently announced HTC Evo 4G for Sprint, launched its own online store on Tuesday to provide a one-stop-shop for all of its devices and accessories.

The www.shopamerica.htc.com lets customers search for smartphones by carrier, type of rate plan, and desired features, and the company will activate any handsets purchased for one of the four major U.S. carriers (AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon Wireless, and Sprint). In addition to handsets, the store will stock accessories, such as chargers, headsets, and cases.

HTC offers … Read more

Apple is instituting a ban on all protective screen film products from its online and retail stores starting in May, according to iLounge, which cites several companies familiar with the matter. If it happens, the move will take away some of Apple's most popular third-party products. But what for?

Apparently, the ban is going to cover both film-only products and cases that incorporate protective screens. It applies to products both decorative and protective across all Apple product lines. And while the company reportedly didn't give vendors an explicit reason for the move, some have speculated that it's … Read more