The Gadling gift guide for the iPhone and iPad traveler

by Scott Carmichael on

Shopping for iPhone or iPad accessories is never easy – unlike any other device on the market, the assortment of extras for Apple devices is just insane. Whether you need an iPod toilet paper dispenser, or one of over 1000 different types of headphone, you’ll never run out of options.

So, we are here to help, and share some of the best products we’ve come across in 2010. There is something for everyone in this list. Got something better you use with your iPhone or iPad? Leave a comment, and share your favorite product with the world!

Soundmatters foxL speaker

Why? You’ll have a hard time finding anything that sounds this good without investing in a massive home theater system. This compact battery powered Bluetooth speaker is simply amazing.

Review: April 19, 2010

Product page: Soundmatters foxL

Price: $199

Jawbone Icon Earwear

Why? Top notch sound, noise cancellation, Bluetooth music and apps. Bluetooth headsets don’t get much better than this.

Product page: Aliph Jawbone

Price: $99

Product review

Mophie Juice Pack Reserve

Why? Power boosting battery pack small enough for on your key chain. Built in LED flashlight.

Product page: Mophie

Price: $39.95

Review: September 16, 2010

Creative Labs Bluetooth speaker

Why? Compact room filling Bluetooth audio. Can be powered off AC or batteries

Product page:Creative D100 Bluetooth speaker

Price: $79.99

Joby Gorillamobile for iPhone 4

Why? Multi-functional case lets you use it as camera tripod, movie mount and more.

Product page: Joby Gorillamobile for iPhone 4

Price: $39.95

XtremeMac 3-in-1 Microdock

Why? The smallest portable speaker and alarm clock you’ll find for your iPhone. Install the (free) XtremeMac Alarm Clock app and you can forever forget about lousy hotel alarm clocks.

Product page: XtremeMac 3-in-1 Microdock

Price: $59.99

Scosche motorMouth II

Why? The smallest Bluetooth hands-free system in the world. Stream Bluetooth stereo music and phone calls to your line-in equipped car radio.

Product page: Scosche motorMouth II

Price: $79.99

Scosche sneakPEEK II

Why? The Schosche sneakPEEK II is the only 2-in-1 iPhone/iPad video cable on the market. In a single cable, you get component and composite outputs.

Product page: Scosche sneakPEEK II

Price: $59.99

Otterbox Defender Series iPad case

Why? Because your iPad isn’t designed to battle the elements, Otterbox steps in to help. The Otterbox Defender series cases for the iPad protects it from all corners, plus its rear cover slides off to protect your screen.

Product page: Otterbox Defender Series

Price: $89.95

Gelaskins

Why? Gelaskins protect your device, and offer thousands of different designs. Their 3M adhesive material provides a barrier against scratches, while keeping your device looking cool.

Product page: Gelaskins

Price: from $14.95

V-Moda Vibrato Remote headphones

Why? Good looks and good price, without sacrificing sound quality.

Product page: V-Moda Vibrato remote

Price: $129.99

Urbanears headphones

Why? Instead of radical new designs, Urbanears sticks to great old school designs with superb audio quality.

Product page: Urbanears

Price: from $40

Case-Mate cases

Why? Because Case-Mate designs some of the best looking cases on the market. Plus, if you don’t like their designs, you can design and submit your own.

Product page: Case-Mate

Price: from $24.99

Bioserie cases

Why? It isn’t easy being green, but these cases sure can help. Instead of plastics, Bioserie cases are made of a plant based matter, and are fully bio-degradable.

Product page: Bioserie

Price: from $29.95

Kensington PowerBack iPad case

Why? Protection, power and sound from a single case. The PowerBack features a powerful built in battery pack, amplified speakers and a kickstand.

Product page: Kensington PowerBack

Price: $129.99

Dexim P-Flip

Why? Nightstand and movie stand plus a battery pack in a single product. Brilliant and compact.

Product page: Dexim P-Flip

Price: $69.90

iMainGo X

Why? Rechargeable sound for on the go. Access to the touch screen of your iPhone, even when it is inside the case. Speakers can be daisy-chained for massive volume.

Product review

Product page: Portable Sound Labs

Price: $69.95

Grace Eco Extreme

Why? Going to the pool or beach no longer means you need to leave your iPhone or iPod behind. Loud, clear music from a waterproof amplified case.

Product review

Product page: Grace Eco Extreme

Price: $49.95

Griffin PowerDuo Reserve

Why? Wall, car and battery power from a single product. Never find yourself with an empty battery again.

Product review

Product page: PowerDuo Reserve

Price: $59.99

Future Sonics Atrio Special Edition

Why? Better sound than you’ve ever heard from a pair of headphones. Pricey, but not insanely expensive given how great the sound.

Product review

Product page: Future Sonics

Price: $229

Griffin Travel Stand

Why? An all-in-one case that acts as a movie watching stand and a headphone case.

Product review

Product page: Griffin Travel Stand

Price: $14.99

New Mophie Juice Pack Plus doubles your iPhone 4 battery life

by Scott Carmichael on

Mophie has long been the leader in iPhone battery power cases – and with their new Juice Pack Plus, they will probably keep that position for some time.

The new Juice Pack Plus provides 2000mAh of extra battery capacity, more than doubling the battery life of your phone. Best of all, it does this in a case that does not make the phone all that much thicker.

Charging and syncing is taken care of with a MicroUSB port, and the phones speakers are “enhanced” through a virtual speaker box.

The case is available right now in black, with the three colors you see above arriving “soon”. The Juice Pack Plus is available directly from Mophie, and retails for $99.95.

Gogo Inflight Internet coming to 223 Delta Airlines regional jets

by Scott Carmichael on

Good news for regulars on Delta Airlines regional jet flights – as the first airline in the nation, Delta has committed to bringing Gogo Inflight Wi-Fi to 223 of its Delta Connection regional jets.

This is in additon to the expedited rollout of Internet access to its entire mainline domestic fleet. When completed at the end of 2011, Delta will offer Gogo Inflight Internet on 772 planes, or 80% of its fleet.

Delta Connection flights operate on routes like New York LaGuardia and Boston, Chicago and Washington D.C.

Recent enhancements to Delta Connection planes include the addition of first class cabins and upgraded meal services. For more on Gogo Inflight Internet, head on over to the Gogo Inflight Blog.

[Photo credit: Flickr/hyku]

Camera case review: The Candy Wrap by Acme Made

by Scott Carmichael on

Camera bags and cases are probably one of the least exciting bunch of gadgets on the market – so when I come across something that can be considered an exception to boredom, you can rest assured that I’ll be taking it for a spin.

The Candy Wrap by Acme Made is such a case. This camera pouch is as elegant as it is simple. The case wraps around your camera, protecting its lens and screen, and attaches to the tripod screw found on the bottom of most cameras. End result – a case that is always attached to your camera, which ensures you won’t lose either of them.

The tripod rail in the bottom of the case has a small screw, and slides from left to right – this allows it to be screwed to a variety of cameras, no matter where the tripod port is.

Once attached, you simply wrap the cover around your camera and keep it shut using its large velcro pad. There really isn’t any more to it – nice, simple and clean. I tested the case on a variety of cameras – and while it may be best suited to a really compact point and shoot, It felt just as at home on a larger camera like the Nikon S8100.

The case is available in “wet black” and “wet white”, and retails for $16.99.

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Review: Wilson Electronics MobilePro cellphone signal booster

by Scott Carmichael on

Earlier this year, we reviewed the Wilson Electronics Sleek portable signal booster – in this review, we’ll look at its “big brother” – the MobilePro signal booster.

Signal boosters are what you use when you find yourself stuck somewhere with little to no cellular signal. Even though mobile operators claim to cover 98% of all Americans, it is that 2% of the nation that suffers from pretty nasty holes in the coverage.

The MobilePro booster is not like those cheap stickers you used to attach to the back of your phone – this is an actual signal boosting device that picks up your signal, and retransmits it at a higher power, using an external antenna.

When I reviewed the Sleek, I was able to make calls in a notorious blind spot, so the technology used by Wilson most certainly works. The MobilePro is based on the same principle, but it is a more flexible solution. The heart of the system is its tranceiver/amplifier unit. This box is powered off a miniUSB plug, and the box includes an AC and car charger.

To use the MobilePro, you attach the included antenna, plug in the power, and watch the bars increase on your phone. To get an even better signal, you can expand the kit with a larger desktop antenna, which will pick up the signal from your phone from within several feet.

The distance between the amplifier unit and the antenna must be at least 20 feet for the system to work.

So – does the MobilePro work? You bet – I took the setup out in my car to my usual signal deadzone (which by the way, still has not been covered by my operators, so thanks for that) and checked my signal before and after plugging the MobilePro in.

Without the MobilePro, I was stuck on just one bar, with no data. A call to voicemail failed to complete. After plugging the Mobile Pro in, I went up to full bars. I made a few test calls, and did a mobile data speed test. All of these were perfect – something I’d never be able to do without the booster.

The Wilson Electronics MobilePro retails for $269.95 – which is a lot to ask for a decent signal. Thankfully, Wilson Electronics dealers have it for substantially less – you’ll find it at Amazon.com for $184.99 and at Best Buy for $199.99.

If you regularly travel, being able to pick up a signal, call home and get some work done is quite important, which makes the price easy to justify. The kit includes a carrying case, and the entire setup weighs under nine ounces. The included antenna is magnetic, so you can use the MobilePro on a road trip, in a hotel room or even on a cruise ship to pick up a signal from the shore.

To order your own MobilePro, or to learn more about the accessories and features, head on over to Wilson Electronics.