iPhone Accessories

Reports from third-party vendors indicate that Apple intends to remove all screen protection products from the Apple store starting in May. Any screen product sold alone or with a case will effectively be banned for any product including iPhones, iPods, iPads and Mac notebooks.

The change in inventory involves any and all screen film products including those marketed for protection or simply decorative use, and could affect the Apple online store as well as retail outlets. Speculation is rampant as to the cause of the change in policy.

Apple CEO Steve Jobs may have mocked the use of a stylus at the iPad keynote, however there are several stylus products on the market that are compatible with the iPhone and iPod Touch. One product specifically developed for the iPhone is Ten One Design's Pogo Sketch aluminum stylus.

Now you can turn your iPhone into a customizable universal remote control without using a dock or attaching a dongle. POWER A has developed a slide-on iPhone case that conceals infrared hardware in a sleek package.

After putting the case on your iPhone the bottom end becomes the top of your remote control. Just run the free application called POWER A Universal Remote and control all of your devices.

Ever wish you could access some files from your iPhone on-the-go without syncing to a computer? Maybe your 4GB iPhone needs some more space? ZoomMediaPlus starts shipping their SD card reading iPhone accessory in April.

The adapter plugs directly into the bottom of the iPhone and accepts an SD or SDHC card. The files can be accessed from the iPhone using this Apple-approved device. The free zoomIt app makes it possible to access, rename and delete files.

That's right, just plug the infrared accessory into the USB port on the bottom of your iPhone and you have a fully customizable remote control. Two companies have introduced competing products at CES 2010.

Both devices will come with a free companion app for download in the AppStore. The infrared adaptors are expected to hit stores within the first quarter of 2010 and will cost less than Wi-Fi based remote control solutions.

Magellan has jumped into the iPhone game with their own car dock and GPS turn-by-turn navigation software. Instead of attaching to the windshield like the TomTom car kit, Magellan's device mounts to the dashboard.

Magellan's RoadMate iPhone app is available on the App Store now for $79.99 (a $20 discount over the normal retail price). TomTom sells its navigation software for $99.99.

The day has finally come for fans of the TomTom iPhone car accessory. The device, which acts as a dock for your iPhone can be ordered through the Apple Store. Unfortunately the product will not ship for another 2-3 weeks.

For a price of $119.95 and free shipping, the TomTom car kit will provide an external speaker for turn-by-turn GPS navigation. It plugs into the car with a cigarette lighter adaptor to provide power to the iPhone.

Question: When is an iPhone like a BlackBerry? Answer: NEVER. Sliding a physical keyboard out of your pocket and onto the iPhone to type won't cut it if you actually need real keys. Switch to Verizon and get the RIM phone already.

Regardless, you should run out and buy this product for $29.99 when it ships on November 19th. It's going to be a collector's item in the museum of "Can you believe someone actually thought this was a good enough idea to put into production?"

The name of the product is appropriate. Joby's latest Gorillamobile flexible tripod is designed to bend around anything, making your iPhone into a hands-free device instantly. With 24 individual 360 degree leg joints, flexible could be an understatement.

The legs can be straightened to form a normal miniature tripod. What the leg joints make possible are a wide range of positions that are capable of attaching your iPhone to a bike handlebar or a signpost. Just wrap the legs around it and Gorillamobile will hold in place with rubber pads.

How about making iPhone calls on your own personal cell tower? AT&T has test launched its femtocell solution for individual users, dubbed the MicroCell. This device is compatible with the iPhone 3G and 3GS.

MicroCell data speeds will be slower than the 7.2 Mbps the iPhone 3GS is capable of delivering, however they will achieve 3.2 Mbps, matching standard 3G speeds. The device allows users to make calls and send text messages using a 5,000 square foot local 3G network.