No doubt you’ve dropped your iPhone from a height that warrants a broken screen or cracked back.  But like many, you’ve gotten lucky despite being engrossed in a state of fear induced frenzy.  That’s why we recommend that all those with a penchant for buttery fingers invest in case that will extend the iPhone’s life, and yours, by more than a few inadvertent drops to the concrete.

G-Form, a company that’s products protect beyond any rational need (see the videos here and here), is back in the lime light with a new iPhone case that can shield Apple’s handset from even the hardest of slaps, literally.  What are we talking about?  Hit the above video to see, but to paraphrase, G-Form is so confident in their iPhone case that they launched Apple’s handset into a hockey net at 82mph off the back of a hockey stick.  If the company is to be believed, and we don’t see why not, the stick achieved over 30,000psi of force on the case, enough to shatter your face.  The result is a fully functional iPhone with a slight, snowy dusting.

Safe to assume that we’ve seen just about every type of iPhone case that has managed to escape the confines of a Chinese sweat shop.  That is until we received an email today pointing to a case called the WipeCoin.   Honestly, we didn’t know what to expect, but what we found was actually surprising, despite the fact that their pitch is slight flawed relative to their product offering.

The WipeCoin, as we mentioned is a case for the iPhone.  Simple enough.  It protects the edges and back of the iPhone.  But what makes it unique is the circular coin shaped protrusion at the lower left corner.  Drag your finger over it and you’ll unhinge a thumb sized plastic dot that sports a microfiber cloth adhered to its underbelly.  This allows you to easily, or painstakingly, clean your iPhone’s screen without dirtying your shirt.

Now, the reason that WipeCoin’s pitch is a bit flawed, is that they emphasize, at least in their chosen videos, that handsets tend to attract bacteria like a moth to a flame.  Unfortunately, this microfiber cloth, while it will clean the fingerprints and grease from your screen will do nothing to remove the dirt that adheres to your iPhone.  Furthermore, most of that dirt resides on the rear of the device, a place their microfiber cloth isn’t necessarily designed to reach.

Nonetheless, we tip our hats to WipeCoin for a unique product and hope to them all the success.  You can grab the WipeCoin case for $20 in black or white.

The iCade was a smash hit as soon as the vaporware piece of kit hit the webosphere.  Such a big hit in fact, that the product became reality thanks to Thinkgeek and ION Audio.  Well, as they say, all good things come in pairs.  The iCade Jr. is a miniaturized version of the original iCade, yet it’s specifically designed to fit your iPod Touch or iPhone.

Much like the iCade, your pocket sized iOS device connects to this gaming cabinet over Bluetooth, though for charging you can add Apple’s 30-pin cord thanks to a pass through slot.  Aside from the retro stylings of an arcade game past, the iCard Jr. boasts not just a joystick and four forward facing buttons, but four rear trigger buttons.  Without a hands on it’s a bit tough to say, but we’re gonna go ahead and assume that the trigger buttons are designed for games that don’t require a joystick since it would be difficult to reach for both.

ION Audio hasn’t said how much or when, but if we had to wager, it will be $50-75 and release sometime in March.

Well, would you look at that.  Just yesterday we were comparing the Xappr iPhone gun to that of Laser Tag.  And today, by chance nonetheless, Hasbro goes and announces a new Lazer Tag gun for 2012 complete with an iPhone/iPod Touch slot.

Unlike the Xappr, the Lazer Tag Blaster  can operate independently of the iPhone, though your experience will be significantly enhanced with one of Apple’s iOS devices mounted in the holder.  With the free Lazer Tag app downloaded you’ll be able to face off against both virtual enemies or up to 24 real human players.  The HUD as Hasbro calls it, will show you your upgrade options as you succeed in defeating your enemies from battle to battle, as well as the ability to view your remaining power (as in life), enemies in the area and ammo reserves.

The Lazer Tag iPhone guns are capable of firing a virtual shot up to 250 feet and run on 6 AA batteries.  One Blaster will cost you $39.99, while a set of two nets you a $10 discount making the final price $69.99.  They’ll go on sale August 1st.

Press release below

LAZER TAG 2012 PRODUCT DESCRIPTIONS

From the makers of the popular NERF blasters comes the revolutionary LAZER TAG system, combining the power, precision and excitement of live-action blaster battles with the high-action, strategic, augmented reality gameplay of traditional video games. To experience the LAZER TAG game, players download the free LAZER TAG app to their iPhone or iPod touch device, connect their device to their LAZER TAG blaster, and find themselves immersed in a world where video games and real life connect. Using either single or multi-player mode, players can engage in a LAZER TAG match featuring either real life worlds or virtual opponents. Each LAZER TAG blaster equipped with a device has a virtual firing range of over 250 feet and contains a ‘Heads Up Display’, or HUD, which allows players to keep track of their gear and remaining power, while also providing a view of the augmented reality targets and enemies in the area. A virtual leaderboard keeps track of each player’s profile and, with every successful mission, players will gain in-game access to upgradeable attacks, missions and gear. With LAZER TAG blasters, the stakes are high, the game is real. Don’t just play it, live it.

The 2012 LAZER TAG product line includes:

LAZER TAG 2 BLASTER Set
(HASBRO/Ages 8 years & up/Approx. Retail Price: $69.99/Available: August 1, 2012)
Get into the game with the ultimate LAZER TAG 2 BLASTER set, brought to you by the makers of the NERF brand. Set includes two LAZER TAG blasters. For enhanced augmented reality gameplay, simply download the free LAZER TAG app to an iPhone or iPod touch device and then connect the device to the blaster to activate the immersive gaming experience. When in multi-player mode, blasters are equipped with a virtual firing range of over 250 feet and an on-screen ‘Heads Up Display’ which, for the first time with LAZER TAG, allows players to see the lazer and keep track of their gear and remaining power. In the solo campaign, the blasters provide a view of the augmented reality targets and enemies in the area. Performing well in combat and mastering levels will increase players’ stats on a virtual leaderboard, as well as unlock upgrades for attacks, missions, gear and firepower. Game may be played in single-player mode, or in multi-player mode with up to 24 people. Players can also play LAZER TAG without a device using the blaster’s classic multi-player mode. Each blaster requires 6 AA batteries, not included. Available at most major toy retailers nationwide and on HasbroToyShop.com.

LAZER TAG Blaster
(HASBRO/Ages 8 years & up/Approx. Retail Price: $39.99/Available: August 1, 2012)
Live the mission and conquer opposing forces with the innovative LAZER TAG blaster, from the makers of NERF products. For solo campaigns, players begin the game by simply downloading the free LAZER TAG app to an iPhone or iPod touch device and then connecting the device to the blaster. Players are then immersed in a live-action virtual gaming experience like no other. The on-screen Heads Up Display reveals virtual foes and targets in single-player mode and real-life worlds in multi-player mode, all while keeping track of remaining power and hits. Playing the LAZER TAG game as a single player allows players to use skill and strategy to master levels of increased difficulty, earning points and rewards along the way. Multi-player mode pits players against enemies in an epic competition where ability, energy and instinct rule. LAZER TAG blasters boast a virtual firing range of over 250 feet! Game may be played in single-player mode, or in multi-player mode with up to 24 people. Players can also play LAZER TAG without a device using the blaster’s classic multi-player mode. Available in either white or yellow; each sold separately. Each blaster requires 6 AA batteries, not included. Available at most major toy retailers nationwide and on HasbroToyShop.com.

Boy how we did love us some Laser Tag.  We’re not talking about those stand alone Laser Tag geek centers.  Nope, we’re referring to the at home game that included a chest mounted sensor and black guns that looked like they were 20 years from the future.  The sensors allowed you to be shot up to 4 or 5 times and then you were “dead,” that is until the next battle ensued.  You could play the game any where at anytime, provided you had a direct line of site to your opponent and were willing to strip on the gear.  So how about getting back to your routes without all the plasticky parts?

The Xappr is a gun specifically designed to complement currently up to 10 iOS games on your iPhone.  It’s not clear how it works, but we’re assuming it links over either Bluetooth or the iPhone’s 30-pin port, allowing you to pull the trigger on the gun and pick off foes on your handset’s screen.  The company also plans to kick out a mini-Xappr, which we can only assume is a smaller, more portable version of its big brother. But wait, there is more!

And for those of you looking to get nostalgic, as in Laser Tag, MetalCompass, the maker of the Xappr, has plans to release the first real world multiplayer first person shooter for smartphones – ATK.  In other words, any where you go you’ll be able to play a game of would be Laser Tag with friends.  Just whip out the Xappr, mount your phone and you’ll be able to choose between three modes of plays (Death-match, Last Man Standing and Teams Mode) and a variety of weapons that include guns, rifles, grenade launchers and powerful pulse weapons.  We don’t know what ATK will look like, but clearly it will be a location based app that will allow you to virtually shoot your friends (or enemies) in the real world.

You can preorder the Xappr today for $30 plus $15 for S&H.

Saving energy never hurt anyone.  But let’s face it, you gotta recharge your gadgets at some point.  Unfortunately, most people leave their device’s plugged in longer than necessary and despite them reaching a full charge, they’ll continue to draw power, something known as vampire power.

In a perfect world we’d all have a sixth sense as to when their charge cycle is complete and simply unplug them.  The Dexim Visible Green Charger not only automatically shuts off power when the charge reaches 100%, but also visibly displays at what stage your device is at in the charge cycle.  At 1-65% the light, which mimics power flow by displaying a pulsating light through an illuminated cord, will flash at a fast rate of speed.  When it reaches 65-99% it will slow down and at 100% completely turn off.

It’s a brilliantly simple device.  And while it won’t save the Earth overnight, it will hopefully prevent one more carbon emission from entering our Earth’s atmosphere.  Dexim sells each on for $29.90 and includes a folding AC plug for added portability.

It shouldn’t come as a surprise that comparisons between the iPhone and Playstation Vita were abound, even though they are very different devices. The iPhone, obviously a phone, and the Vita, obviously not a phone, still carry a lot of the same characteristics. And for better or worse, even game consoles like the Nintendo 3DS, DS, and PSP have had a run for their maker’s money because of products like the iPhone.

Then again, considering how the two devices are so vastly different, this comparison won’t be a direct head-to-head. Instead, we’ll compare both based on equal ground, or as close as they get to it.

Display

From my testing of the Vita and the iPhone 4S, along with a number of other handhelds and smartphones, this is a tough call. The iPhone 4S has Apple’s retina display, a 326ppi 960×640 resolution screen that is extremely dense. It uses a high-quality 3.5″ TFT capacitive touchscreen that has, ever since the original iPhone, worked well in direct sunlight.

Meanwhile, the Vita has a 220ppi 960×544 OLED display, which is significantly less dense while on a 5″ screen. On the one hand that means that colors will be more vibrant and saturated, with darker blacks, but the downside is that the display won’t be nearly as visible in bright conditions. Recent OLED displays I’ve tested, including the Samsung Galaxy S II and Epic 4G Touch, are visible in direct sunlight, but that’s thanks to Samsung’s double-pane SuperAMOLED+ system. Sony uses a different glass model for their OLED display.

The benefits of OLED are this: more vibrant colors (to the point of exageration), deeper blacks, and less power drain. TFT, however, is brighter, more accurate, and has been used for decades (and is thus a more refined technology). So what really makes the difference here is the size and density. The Vita is bigger at 5″, and for video and gaming the density won’t be as important as for reading text.

Winner: PS Vita, but it’s close. If the iPhone were larger, or perhaps if we compared a different phone like the HTC Rezound (which has a 720p TFT display), the results would be different.

Processor

At this point, it’s safe to call the iPhone’s A5 processor old. It’s been around since last April in the iPad 2, and the chip in the iPhone 4S is even underclocked to 800MHz. The Vita, according to some developers, has an average clock speed of 800MHz but can go up to 2GHz. However, at that high speed the power drain will be significant, so most games are expected to play between 800MHz-1GHz. Both are based on the ARM Cortex A9 design, but Sony’s chip also shares many similarities with the PS3′s Cell processor. It’s a quad-core chip (compared to the iPhone 4S’ dual-core), though as of now it’s unclear just how powerful the chip is. It will take developers some time to really stretch it out, as it did with the Cell CPU.

The only big difference here is that the next iPad, likely to release in the April/May time-frame, will have an updated processor, likely the A6. The next iPhone won’t have it until the holidays, but I expect it to have the same 1GHz frequency but be a quad-core chip. The Vita, on the other hand, won’t receive any major upgrades, but it will remain more powerful than the next gen iPhone and all other competing smartphones for at least two years. Still, that isn’t a long time. However, today, the Vita clearly has the more powerful processor.

Winner: PS Vita, thanks to a CPU with twice the cores and the potential to be 2.5x as fast as the current iPhone.

Storage

Storage is a big deal…but in this case, not to Sony. The PS Vita requires some sort of storage to play games and get apps, but doesn’t come with any whatsoever. Vita owners have to buy external storage, and specifically need Sony’s new Playstation Vita Card storage, not SD cards. The pricing isn’t bad: $20 for 4GB, $30 for 8GB, $60 for 16GB, and $100 for 32GB. I’ve asked Sony a few times concerning the speed of these Vita-specific flash cards, but haven’t received any response as of yet. SD cards are known to be unfortunately slow, so slow in fact that pro-grade camera manufacturers are dropping the format and creating their own for their cameras.

The iPhone 4S starts with 16GB and goes up to 64GB, with $100 between the three models. There’s no expandability with the iPhone, but at least it has internal memory to begin with. The Vita actually requires it and forces owners to put down at least an additional $20 just for 4GB. That means to match the iPhone 4S, in terms of storage today, you’d have to pay $310 for the Vita and a 16GB memory card. Then again, put down $350 and that amount of memory storage is the same as a 32GB iPhone 4S, which retails for $400 (plus 2-year service contract).

Winner: iPhone 4S, because it comes storage to begin with and doesn’t attempt to cheat buyers out of more money for required data storage. Until Sony gets back to me regarding their memory card speed, and unless it’s faster than typical (slow) SD cards, the iPhone is the winner, though at higher densities the Vita is a less expensive prospect.

Wireless Connectivity

The PS Vita comes in two models, Wi-Fi only and with 3G. The iPhone 4S meanwhile is a phone, though is also limited to 3G speeds. The kicker for the iPhone is that on AT&T, it has access to what AT&T loves to call 4G (though Apple refused to agree to such marketing for the device because it isn’t true 4G), though both Sprint and Verizon iPhone models are stuck on the slower 3G network. 4G allows for up to 28.8Mb/s data transfer rates, and in my experience is as fast as Sprint’s 4G network, offering roughly 8Mb/s down and 1Mb/s up.

That immediately dings the Vita, because it could, theoretically, have double the transfer speed. Worse yet for the console, contracts are only available in the US through AT&T. Without LTE online gaming is impossible, and with only 3G speeds apps and streaming videos will be slower than what nearly every smartphone released in the past six months. Including the iPhone 4S.

Winner: iPhone 4S, thanks to faster speeds and availability on more carriers.

Camera

The Vita has two VGA cameras (640×480), one on the front and one on the back. The iPhone 4S has an 8MP rear camera and a 1.3MP front camera. If that’s not enough, the iPhone 4S is today considered one of the best camera phones available.

If, for some reason you think I need to go on…the Vita has no flash, no hope for taking great pictures, and is only there so developers can potentially make use of it.

Winner: iPhone 4S, because it isn’t a tacked-on piece of junk.

Battery Life

Judging battery life between a gaming console and a phone may appear unfair, but in fact it’s the PS Vita that has the unfair advantage, especially if it’s the Wi-Fi only model. Not only does it sport a beefier 2210mAh battery, compared to the iPhone’s 1432mAh. The Vita’s 5″ display may be more power hungry, but OLED is less power intensive than LCD displays. And the iPhone is always connected because it’s a phone. Even then, Sony averages 3-5 hours of gameplay, 5 hours of video playback, and 9 hours of music playback. The iPhone 4S claims twice the video playback time, 4.5x the music playback time, and can browse the internet for 6 hours over 3G or 9 hours over Wi-Fi.

As for gaming? There aren’t specific numbers for the iPhone 4S yet, but I’ve been playing games like Grand Theft Auto III and the recent update to Rage HD, and it certainly lasts over five hours.

Winner: iPhone 4S, which has a smaller, less-dense battery but still creams the Vita.

Price

Normally, price would be easy to determine because every year a new iPhone released alongside a new iPod Touch. That didn’t happen with the iPhone 4S, meaning the current iPod Touch is the same as last year. It’s as powerful as the iPhone 4, so the iPhone 4S stands alone. Pricing for it is simple: $200 plus a two-year contract, with a $54.99 base price on AT&T. That comes out to roughly $1520 over two years, for the very minimum, and that’s assuming users have the older pricing scheme. Based on today’s minimum pricing, it would be $1640.

Meanwhile, the PS Vita will retail for $250, or $300 for the 3G model with a base $15/month, without a contract.  If there were an equally powerful iPod Touch, the story would be very different. The only alternative for the same power is the iPad 2, which at the base model retails for $500, double the price.

Winner: PS Vita, thanks mostly due to no new iPod Touch.

Gaming Capability

Gaming prowess is by far better on the PS Vita than the iPhone 4S, for three reasons. First, it has physical controls on top of the full touch controls found on the iPhone and any smartphone. That means not only do users get essentially a PS3 gamepad built into the Vita, the large 5″ display is a multi-touch touchscreen, and the back is a touch-sensitive panel to boot.

Second, as mentioned above, the processor is faster, more powerful, and has more cores. And third, the display is much larger (as mentioned above), providing a more inclusive gaming experience.

Winner: PS Vita, because it’s built to be a gaming machine.

Games

It’s a long-standing tradition that game consoles sell because of the number and quality of games released for it. The iPhone (and smartphones in general) have slowly changed that thanks to how easy it is to develop games and how so many people have smartphones.

When the PS Vita releases outside of Japan, it will have 12 launch titles. That number is expected to grow to 30 within the first few months after release. The iPhone, in the meantime, will accumulate at least another 1,000 games between the time you read this and the Vita’s actual release. The sad truth is most of those games will be 99 cents or free and not provide a “true” gaming experience.

However, the iPhone has a large number of excellent games available to it. They may be hard to find, but the fact is the Vita will be lucky to have the kind of game sales that iOS developers get.

For games, the dealbreaker for anyone, there are three important questions: will the quality of Vita games far surpass what we see in iPhone gaming today? Will there be a lot of PS Vita games, both full releases and mini games (ie board games, card games, minor apps that are fun for a few minutes at a time; not traditional console games)? And will the Vita see a lot of hacking, game emulation, and remote gameplay through the PS3? There’s no reason not to expect a higher quality of games coming to the Vita than the iPhone, though there are only 34 planned full-release games that we know of thus far. The Vita has already been hacked for remote play of PS3 games like Batman: Arkham City and Battlefield 3, meaning that the portable console can play full-fledged home console games via Wi-Fi streaming.

However, we already know that the iPhone can do the same thing through OnLive (though the service isn’t currently active on iOS; it is available on Android and waiting for Apple’s approval). Plus games on the iPhone can be played with an external controller, so long as the game supports it. Big-name titles like Infinity Blade 2 and Call of Duty: Black Ops Zombies are only found on iOS.

There’s no denying that the iPhone has more games, and because of the sheer number will likely always have more better games than the Vita. Furthermore, because of how many iPhones are out there (and all iOS devices), it will take a few years before some developers take the Vita seriously, if at all. It’s sad, but for now, true. So many of the current iOS games sell so well that they can keep lower prices. High-end games like Infinity Blade 2 go for under $10. There are so many deals from developers that many drop down to a buck. The state of gaming on iOS is, right now, way better than not only the Vita when it releases in February, but frankly better than any dedicated console period. It may even be better than the PC.

Winner: iPhone 4S, because the current gaming ecosystem on iOS far surpasses any other gaming machine, dedicated or not.

Overall Winner: iPhone 4S (by a hair)

It’s close. Very, very close. However, what the better gaming device really comes down to, as it always does, is the value and quality of the games that are available for said device. In this case, Sony is fighting an uphill battle with the PS Vita, at least for now. With the potential to make not just most, but all PS1 (and even potentially PS2) games available for the Vita through the company’s Playstation Certification program (or just making those games available period), that can change. That tide can change overnight.

However, as of now the Vita doesn’t have that capability. Everything else regarding the games available has been bettered by the iPhone, and without the push from PS1 and PS2 games, the Vita will likely never prove to be the better gaming device because of a lack of content. It’s a sad, but clear and apparent truth.

Even then, it’s very close. The PS Vita has better gaming controls and is a better designed device specifically for gaming, even if the display has a lower resolution and is less visible in bright conditions. 5″ vs 3.5″ for a gaming screen is no comparison. The Vita beats the hell out of the iPhone when it comes to control, not only because it matches the touchscreen and has physical buttons and analog sticks, but because it combines both for gameplay and has the rear touch panel to boot. It really is a mobile game developer’s dream.

The iPhone 4S takes the cake in too many categories though. It kills the Vita with a better camera, at around double the battery life (for gaming, and way more for almost everything else), and carriers available for 3G. We all know that the rise and fall of portable game consoles has depended on battery life, and just as with the PSP this is a weakness with the Vita. Only this time, it’s weak against not a Nintendo offering, but against a very capable cell phone.

A few very close points are pricing and storage. If there were a new iPod Touch released with the A5 processor, then pricing would be a clear win for the iOS device. But as it stands now, the iPhone 4S is the only one available (the iPad 2 would lose in pricing because of it’s high $500 price tag), and the two-year contract cost far outweighs the potential pricing of the Vita, even the 3G model for $30/m. And with storage, on the high-end the Vita could win (assuming users purchased the 64GB card and 3G model), but because Sony is releasing the Vita with no internal memory, the result is confused consumers who must spend more money to do the console’s basic functions…like saving games and using downloadable apps. Even then, the storage pricing is still more expensive than all iPhone 4S models (with a 2-year contract) except for the 64GB model, and, once again, only if you get the Wi-Fi Vita.

Based on our scoring method for comparisons, the Vita could have easily won if it shipped with internal memory. External memory is always slower than internal memory, but until I hear back from Sony regarding the speed of their memory cards, that’ll remain a mystery. If the Vita were available through other cell carriers, or if it at least had AT&T’s 4G (HSDPA/HSPA+ 28.8Mbps), it would score better.

What I don’t doubt is that over time these scores will change. The Vita will eventually ship in bundles that are more price friendly and with some storage options. The next-gen iPhone will also likely ship with a new iPod Touch. By this time next year there will also be a handful of Android competitors, and tablet gaming will finally come into it’s own. But when the Vita releases, it will face the fiercest competition Sony has ever faced in the mobile space, from a device that isn’t going away anytime soon. The only way I can see Sony staying ahead is by utilizing it’s enormous catalog of PS1 and PS2 games, and by making prices of those games competitive so everyday iPhone gamers will actually be coaxed into buying a dedicated mobile games console instead of just living the one-device life.

Update~ As TheVerge just wrote, minutes before this article was published, the PS Vita now has a second launch bundle that’s the 3G model with an 8GB memory card, one free PSN game, and a month of free 3G data. That bundle is available for pre-order now through Amazon. Does it change our score?

Because the score is so damn close – not only is it 4-5, but it’s a point of contention in nearly every category – and because this new bundle offers a reasonable amount of storage for the console, it may indeed turn the tide.

As mentioned above, games is the most important thing, which is why I’m going to say that, in this case, the new bundle won’t change the winner in this comparison. However, our scoring system for comparisons is pretty clear cut. So I’ll leave this decision up to you guys. What do you think? Does this new bundle put the PS Vita ahead of the iPhone 4S? Post your thoughts in the comments below and, if the majority of you think we should change the score, we will.

Car stereos specifically designed to hold the iPhone aren’t exactly a new piece of tech.  In fact, we’ve seen a few iteration over the years.  However, one major drawback to them has been that they’re designed to work with the iPhone and generally speaking the current generation iPhone only.   So what’s an Android user to do or anyone waiting for the next greatest device from Apple?  Say hello to the DASH from Devium.

Unlike other smartphone compatible head units, which consist of one faceplate and the body of the system, the DASH can be used with a variety of faceplates that are hot swappable and can accomodate a variety of popular phones.  However, for their Kickstarter project, and the sake of simplicity, they’re only building an iPhone/iPod compatible version, at least for now.  So, if you invest in the DASH today and 1 year from now Apple releases a new iPhone, with an entirely new form factor, Devium will develop a faceplate to accomodate the new shape and size.

Now, in terms of the Body, it will boast 50×4 watts of power and 2 preamps running at 2V for a front and rear subwoofer.  It measures  4-inches by 7-inches, which is apparently the standard double DIN size, allowing it to fit in a large number of vehicles.  A set of magnets will hold the iPhone in place and they’ve even allowed enough space for those of you that use a bumper case.    They say that none of this, not even the aluminum body will interfere with the GPS single, though it might be worth noting that the back of the faceplates will be made from plastic, which hopefully means they they’ll be on the cheaper side of things.  For inquiring minds that want to know, the 200 watt amp is built and made from Maxim, a company out of Sunnyvale, CA.

So how much do you need to spend to your get your own DASH?  $250.  They’re looking to raise $45,000 and they’ve got 57 days to go.  Something tells us they’ll accomplish this goal and much more.

iPhone 4 cases are a dime a dozen.  That said, we’ve seen other wood cases for Apple’s smartphone, but nothing even compares to Miniot’s iPhone 4/4s iWood 4 case.  Why?  The detailing is unparalleled, as it includes a set of wooden, yes wooden volume buttons, a refreshing cool camera port and a finish (available in a few different woods) that looks like it was crafted from a plastic mold – yup, it’s that tight.  But, and yes there is a but, it comes with a hefty price tag of $103.

According to Miniot’s website it will ship in 3 week’s times since each case appears to be made to order.

Few iPhone cases offer more than protection. If anything, they might prop your iPhone up such that you can watch it on a plane while placed on the fold out table.  But none offer more utility than the PopSockets iPhone case.

Now, we’re not totally wowed by the design, and in fact we sort of hoped that its maker, David Barnet, had incorporated suction cups into his Kickstarter project.  Nevertheless, it’s still a highly useful case that solves a many a problem.

First off, it can stand in landscape or portrait mode.  Thanks to the expanding sockets you can manipulate the angle at which they rest.  They can also double as a wrap for your headphone cord and from the looks of the video still maintain a slender enough form factor to slip into your pocket, that is provided your pants aren’t of the super tight cut.  But that’s not all they’re good for.

The sockets can act as a shoulder stand, you know, for when you have the iPhone wedged between your ear and shoulder – no easy feat thanks to the iPhone’s svelte build.  Lastly, expand one socket and it can acts as a clip, allowing you to hang the iPhone from your pants, though this seems like a precarious way to store your iPhone since it doesn’t have any built-in tension.  And finally, when the sockets aren’t being used, you can simply pop them back inside the case and walla, you’ve got a standard iPhone case, that protects the iPhone from scratches and the occasional drop.

As mentioned the PopSockets iPhone Case is a Kickstarter project.  It’s already funded, but you can still get in on the action for just $25, which will get you your own case.

Sure, Hulu and Netflix will suffice for most when it comes to fulfilling their TV needs.  And while a terrestrial TV antenna is great for when you’re at home, you know for catching the game, it’s hardly a resolve for those of you that are on the road.  Enter Belkin’s Dyle TV dongle.

As you’ve probably sussed out it attaches to the iPad, iPhone or iPod Touch’s 30-pin plug (they might make a version for Android devices) and provides your iOS device with over the air terrestrial TV from a variety of content providers that includes Fox, ION TV,  Univision, Bahakel, Telemundo, NBC and more.

Belkin, who is the hardware manufacture, hasn’t said at what quality it will receive in, but since HDTV is the default these days, we don’t see why it wouldn’t be anything less, though the iPhone and iPad can’t display a true 1080p picture.

Belkin has partnered with Mobile Content Venture, who runs and operates Dyle TV.  They say when the product launches sometime this year, Dyle will cover 50% of the US population, which in other terms is more than 72 stations in 32 markets.

We saw the device at CES 2012, but unfortunately it wasn’t a working prototype.

As of today, I have some of the latest smartphones available. I have the iPhone 4S and Galaxy Nexus. Both are good phones with even better software. But have we reached the point where reporters no longer need to sit at a computer an type up their articles?

At this year’s CES, I tested just that, using both of these devices in all of their glory to cover the show as best I can, without reverting to my laptop. In fact, I even decided to forgo using a full DSLR to boot. The only hardware I have available are the phones and a single Bluetooth headset. No extra batteries or cases, no external keyboards, just the phones and an earpiece.

Do you think it’s possible? Keep an eye on this page because as the days go by I’ll update my findings to see if, in fact, all you need these days is a good smartphone.

Updated 1/13

Now that CES is over and I’m driving back home for the long haul, I have an answer: no, but maybe yes. I faltered within a few hours and reverted to my laptop, but not for the reason I expected. It’s not that I wasn’t capable of covering the show with just my iPhone or Galaxy Nexus. The sole reason I couldn’t possibly cover CES with a smartphone was because of the lack of a keyboard.

It may be obvious, but there’s a reason the keyboard has been around for several hundred years. It’s optimized for putting words down, be it on paper through a typewriter or on a computer. Steve Jobs famously said that it would take a generation to die out for touchscreen-only devices to completely take over, but I disagree. The speed of typing even for seasoned hands on a touchscreen just doesn’t match the speed anyone can get with a physical keyboard, and that’s for a few reasons. The most important one is the feedback we receive from the press of a button. After all, we are human, and require constant physical feedback for our senses to properly work. We don’t need the generation to die out to adjust to touchscreen typing, we need an evolutionary change.

The second problem I started to run into was the limited capabilities of smartphone cameras. For solid photography in relatively poor conditions, you can’t use a smartphone. The iPhone 4S, HTC Vivid, Samsung Epic 4G Touch, and Samsung Galaxy Nexus all have fairly decent cameras (with the Nexus having the worst of the bunch), but with the artificial lighting of the convention center and further low-light conditions within booths, taking decent shots is next to impossible. See my hands-on of the Razer Fiona, which I used my iPhone 4S to shoot instead of my far more powerful Nikon D7000.

Furthermore, for professional grade shots I believe there are two major components to consider nowadays: being able to set manual controls and post processing. None of the smartphones I tested had significant manual controls, if any, for exposure settings, light aperture, color quality, sharpness, etc. The Vivid does, but it would have taken far too long just to make those adjustments prior to the shot to be worthwhile. Even then the ISO would be too low to shoot properly in the darker conditions. As for editing, I think any professional should shoot in RAW for the best possible picture quality (and the simplest editing), and that simply isn’t available on smartphones, and likely won’t be for several years. Heck, it’s only available on the highest-end point and shoot cameras currently.

The final and perhaps most pertinent problem for most users is battery life. None of the phones I used individually would have the battery life to not only remain powered on, but to be constantly connected to the internet, accepting emails every few minutes from PR firms and marketers, all while typing away furiously. I regularly had to recharge my phones or switch between them when one died, and that was just walking about using the phones for calls and emails.

One additional problem I had was that I simply couldn’t type on the keyboard fast enough, with the clarity I needed, to take notes. I carried a pen and paper for notes on products, and with a pen it is easy to write in shorthand or full-form and do so quickly. On any of the smartphones I used the constant problem was that I couldn’t type fast enough without making too many mistakes (and autocorrect putting the wrong words in), nor could I express what I needed for myself for note taking. As someone who has done tremendous note-taking in school (on rare occasion) both by typing and writing, there is a very strong reason why writing notes is better: it’s less rigid. For simply writing, yes, using a laptop is better but if you need to draw a line from one point to another, or have a picture, or any of a million things that can simply be drawn out in a second instead of 5-10 minutes of software manipulation to achieve…paper wins every time.

What does it mean? It means that for smartphones to really take the place of other devices like cameras, laptops, and even the pen, there needs to be a significant jump in the performance of the miniature cameras built into them, some way for typing to be made easier (possibly through voice dictation, though as I discussed with colleagues at the show, that may require a generation to die out before it can be accomplished…why do you think Star Trek characters all needed to be trained theater actors? They knew how to speak well). Battery life may not need the improvements anymore, as we’ve already seen with the Motorola Droid Razr Maxx. However, the combination of these things just makes it highly improbable.

There is one thing I can, and will, do next time, and that is bring a keyboard, and potentially lighting equipment. With a physical keyboard it would be far easier to get articles written and published, and applications like Pages or WordPress make it very easy to add pictures and video. The bigger problem on that front is having a solid data connection (something that can’t be controlled by phones as of yet). But I’ll have to save that for next time.

There are scores of iPhone case. There are plastic ones, rubber ones, metal ones, carbon ones – and the list goes on and on and on. However, few of them do more than protect the iPhone 4 or iPhone 4s’ fragile glass body from drops, scratches and the drunken folly. And while that’s more than adequate for most of Apple’s devoted customers, it just doesn’t get our engine revving.

Enter the Trexta Rotating Folio for the iPhone 4. Much like Hex’s version, this one includes a set of slots for credit cards and a protective leather finish that wraps the iPhone while it’s held in place by a plastic mount. But instead of 3 slots, the Trexta Rotating Folio only supports two cards, though you can easily stack two cards in one slot if need be. And unlike HEX’s version, this case’s plastic mount can rotate 90 degrees and be propped into a stand using the tab, which doubles to keep the case securely closed. This conveniently allows you to lay your phone down on a table and view it a comfortable 45 degree angle. Great for an airplane tray table or perhaps just viewing a quick YouTube video with a group of friends.

All the ports on the Trexta Rotating Folio case remain unhindered, opened or closed. And just like Hex’s version, the case suffers a bit from a bulky look when closed due to credit cards inserted into the slots. Of course this can be elevated by using the wallet sans cards, but this defeats the purpose of the case, unless of course you’re just seeking a wallet like look for your iPhone.

When I tested out Hex’s version, I discovered that after semi heavy use the fold, or hinge of the case was warped and stained, creating a some what unsightly finish. However, the Trexta Rotating Folio doesn’t seem to suffer from this shortcoming, though to Hex’s credit I did test a lighter colored leather, which by its very nature shows more wear and discoloration. In fact, over use it doesn’t seem to wear that much at all, maintaining that fresh new wallet look, which for some is an added benefit, while for those that seek that more rustic worn look may want to, well, look else where.

In terms of every day use the Trexta Rotating Folio is very practical, provided you don’t need more than a few cards with you at any given time. I can generally get by with one credit card and an ID, at least when I’m going out with friends for dinner and a few drink. But for those of you that need to carry an insurance ID card, debit card, credit card and ID, you’ll be a bit hard pressed to make this work for your needs. Furthermore, there is no official slot for cash, though you can just as easily wedge money between the iPhone and the case’s cover, though you’ll have to be anything but a germafobe to be comfortable with this notion, along with the possibility of losing your cash when openint your wallet.

Bottom line: The Folio case is most certainly the gentlemen’s iPhone case, it just might come up short in the storage department, making it a part time player.

Editor’s Rating:

3 out of 5 stars

Good

Pros:

• Includes a rotating case and built-in stand
• Leather doesn’t wear easily

Cons:

• Leather may never get that “worn” look
• Only stores two cards

12►

Even though our gadgets are fully charged, they’ll often continue to draw power.  This is not only a tax on your power bill, but isn’t environmentally friendly.  The resolve?  Score yourself a power strip that eliminates this shortcoming.   However, a power strip is hardly practical if you’re on the road and only have some much storage space in your pullman suitcase.

Enter Bracketron’s Mushroom GreenZero and Stone GreenZero wall chargers.  They’re pocket sized devices built to charge your portable device.  Both models feature a USB port and will automatically shutdown once your smartphone or tablet is fully charged.  The Mushroom model features a mushroom inspired cap that when pressed by your hand or foot, initiates charging.  The Stone is the smaller of the two and includes a small power button – it’s designed for those who are traveling, but either model should suffice.

Bracketron will sell a few different versions of both models with variable pricing depending on what cord is needed for your device.  The price will range from  $24.95 to $34.95 – the top price reflects a version that includes an iPhone cable.

Terrestrial TV is a far cry from cable, but in a pinch it can serve a purpose.  At the very least you can catch some news, albeit mostly crap, along with a few home renovation shows.  And assuming you’re into that finite amount of content, you soon will be able to enjoy it right on your Android or iOS device using a very portable dongle from a company called FilmOn.

FilmOn came to fame in September 2010 when they placed not just TV shows, but TV channels, such as CBS, NBC and others online, as in streaming.  For a time there users could access the channels for free, but eventually the company started to roll out a subscription plan and added a variety of channels to their line up, including porn and movies.  Needless to say, FilmOn eventually found themselves in court for a variety of copyright reasons and caught in a legal battle that continues to this day.  But that hasn’t stopped them.

While it’s not really a workaround, FilmOn has announced plans for a dongle that plugs into your iOS or Android device that will allow you to receive and record terrestrial TV.  It’s called FilmOn Air.  And while there is nothing illegal about this particular setup, or at least grounds for a lawsuit, come February you’ll be able to buy the dongle along witha 1-year subscription to their streaming service for $149.95.  Alternatively, you can drop just $95.95 and you’ll score the dongle and presumably a free app.

The dongle’s battery life will last for up to 5-hours and can pass through power to your device for recharging.  From the above pic, it seems to support both USB connectivity as well as Apple’s 30-pin port, leading some to believe that one dongle will serve both types of devices.

At this point we thought we’d had seen just about every iPhone wallet the world has to offer.  Needless to say, our penchant for style and utliitliy still hasn’t been fully satisfied when it comes to this type of case.  That is until now.  Say hello to the Madison iPhone 4/4s Wallet from Landmarks and Lions.

While we can’t say it’s the most practical of iPhone cases, given that it can hold up to two cards, includes a “slip pocket” (we assume this is for cash), holds any iPhone to date and looks beautifully crafted, we really don’t care how we have to access our smartphone.  Pile on top the fact that is it hand crafted in the good old USA and we really don’t know what else you’d when it comes to holding Apple’s most popular device along with other essentials.

For the sake of your pocket, you should know it measures 3.5″H x 5″L/ 9cm H x 12.7cm “L and is available in red, blue or green accents with your choice of brown or black leather.

The iPhone’s memory, while suitable for storing music, movies, pictures and variety of other things, is anything but useful when it comes to quickly and easily transferring data from one computer to another.  A shame, because back in the day, when the iPod first emerged, you could partition a section of the player’s hard drive, allowing you to store data of any type that could be transferred to a computer once it was plugged into a computer’s Firewire port.  But alas, that feature, along with Firewire is long gone.  But at least there is now a happy medium: the USB Case from Ego.

This case, like any other iPhone 4/s case, protects the back and edges from damage.  On the back, though, is a slot for a custom USB flash drive that can range in capacity from 2GB to 32GB.  The cases themselves come in a variety of colors as do the USB sticks.  You can opt to mix and match the colors or simply have one unifying color.  And it’s worth noting, the ports, at least the camera port, has been left unfettered.

Unfortunately, they haven’t solidified pricing or a launch date, but we’d expect them to launch sometime in Q1 of 2012.

iPhone accessories are great and all, unless of course you’ve got an Android or Blackberry.  You know what we’re talking about.  You hit our pages daily (wishful thinking), discover a great new case or lens for your smartphone, and then quickly that elatement turns into a sour taste in your mouth when you discover it is iPhone only.  Case in point you ask?  The olloclip.  It’s a 3-in-1 lens that provides iPhone 4 or 4s owners with a macro, wide angle and fish eye lens.

And that my friends is what makes the Macro Cell Lens Band so damn ingenious.  Embedded into the rubber band – the same thing you use to fire at your friends in middle school during lectures, or wrapped around one and other to make a giant bouncy ball – is a macro lens that in theory should work with any smartphone on the market – not just the iPhone.

And since it’s a rubber band, you can store it around your wrist, make it pull double duty as a theft deterrent wrapped around your wallet, or just leave it adhered to your phone.  Furthermore, the Macro Cell Lens Band is lightweight and really adds no bulks to your handset, unlike the olloclip and other lenses we’ve seen for the iPhone.

Photojojo has it for $15.

iPhone docks are virtually all the same.  Or at least one would assume so at first glance.  Delve a little deeper and you’ll soon find that most if not all are cheap, made of plastic and do more damage than good.  To make matters worse, in most cases you’ll need to tug and pull with two hands to free the iPhone from the dock.  No bueno.

Fortunately, there is a resolve: the Elevation Dock.  It’s ballsy, but the maker states that it is “the best dock for the iPhone.”  And based on what we’ve read we have no reason not to believe him (Casey Hopkins).  The dock is made from precision machined solid aluminum and comes in a variety of finishes.  But that’s hardly the savior of this device.  This dock incorporates a special low-friction connection, that when combined with the hefty all aluminum base – they didn’t skimp and add sand for weight or use injection molded plastic - can be removed with just one hand; other docks stay attached to the base of the iPhone and cause wear and tare on the handset’s 30-pin dock connector.  While we don’t know what case is too big for the Elevation Dock, apparently it will work with most, though we wouldn’t expect those water proof ones to slip into place.  Not enough for you?

For those of you with a penchant for opulence, Hopkins has a premium offering, called the Elevation Dock+.  It incorporates the same design and finish, but adds a line output and and a USB wall power adaptor.  The line output is not only convenient since you can leave a pair of speakers plugged in full time, but it also bypasses the iPhone’s preamp, which should result in better sound quality, provided the speaker’s version is superior.  The Dock+ has an exclusive color; Matte Black.

Want in?  You can grab one for $59, though you’ll hardly be the first.  This immaculately crafted iPhone dock has received over $250,000 in funding, which puts its $180,00 above the intended goal.  And it turns out that this is the fastest funded Kickstarter project to date.

By now you probably have a whole host of cables sitting in a junk drawer some where in your home.  You can thank Sony, Apple, Samsung and many other electronic brands for this.  In the last few years there has been a push to unify the charging cables that often are included with portable gadgets.  The industry standard was supposed to be mini-USB, but if you’ve bought a camera or a battery pack for your smartphone then you know that is the furthest thing from the truth.  And then there is Apple, which continues to use their own proprietary port, largely in the name of profits.  So at the end of the day we’re left searching for the right cable amongst a see of cords to charge our devices.

Enter Innergie’s Magic Cable Trio.  It doesn’t just boast 3 adapters for the aformentioned ports, but a unique and ingenious design that allows you to quickly, and easily attach which ever plug you need.  And best of all you’ll never have to search for the adapter since they’re always attached thanks to a hinged design that rotates (or flips) the plugs you don’t need out of the way allowing you access to the ones you do.

It’s a no brainer for $19.99.