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.

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.