Volume Number: 24
Issue Number: 12
Column Tag: Kool Tools

Kool Tools: Some Great iPhone 3G Accessories

Must-haves for the iPhone 3G

By Neil Ticktin and Dennis Sellers

Here at MacTech, we get asked all the time "which xyz do you use?" For the iPhone 3G there are a huge number of choices for cases, covers, batteries and more. We've tried several different ones on our own phones, and there are tons more to look at, but here's some great products that we've used in real life scenarios and found them to be top notch.

Kensington (http://us.kensington.com/html/16239.html) has released a line of battery packs and chargers for the iPhones and iPods. The line includes the Kensington Battery Pack and Charger for iPhone and iPod provides rechargeable power to extend talk time up to six hours, as well as provide 100 hours of music and 21 hours of video play. It has a suggested retail price of US $69.99. In real life use, we found this to be particularly useful when you are nowhere near power.

Richard Solo has released the Backup Battery for the iPhone and iPod (http://richardsolo.com/index.asp?Page-Action=VIEWPROD&ProdID=264). It's a US$49 backup battery using Apple's proprietary connector. Just snap it on and it begins to charge instantly. It is certified both "Works with iPhone" and "Made for iPod", and for both the 2G and the 3G iPhone. It also works with all models of iPods except the shuffle. This is an incredibly portable, easy to use battery, and a must for anyone that is worried about running out of battery in a typical day.

Power Support has introduced the US$34.95 Air Jacket for the iPhone 3G (http://www.powersupportusa.com/prod-ucts/iphone3G_airjack.php). It sports a hard backing that fits snugly to the back of the phone. The Air Jacket is only 1mm thick and is designed to protect the iPhone 3G from scratches, dust, and impact. Amazingly, it adds no bulk or weight to the device. The Air Jacket comes with anti- glare and crystal films for protecting the iPhone screen. Their crystal film is the clearest of any film we've seen so far. And the entire case passes the blue jeans test. In other words, you can pull the phone out without turning your pocket inside out.

ZAGG (http://www.ZAGG.com) has released a version of the invisibleSHIELD for the iPhone 3G. The US$24.95 invisibleSHIELD is made from a patented adhesive film and is designed to protect high-performance electronic devices. The material used to create the invisibleSHIELD was originally utilized by the U.S. military to protect helicopter blades from wind, sand and the wear and tear of high-speed travel. The stuff is amazingly durable, and adds no weight to phone. It's a bit of a challenge to apply, but it's doable. It's backed by a lifetime guarantee.

Speck has unveiled the newest addition to their line of cases designed for the iPhone 3G: the PixelSkin (http://www.speckproducts.com-/content/pixelskin). It's a lightweight, rubberized case with a textured matte finish designed to provide a grip around the communications device. PixelSkin's lightweight, form-fit design with slightly thicker corners helps protect your iPhone from bumps and scrapes, while the textured tile pattern provides a no-slip grip. The case offers access to all ports, controls and sensors, while the front raised ridge detail recesses the iPhone screen to protect it while faced down. The US$24.95 PixelSkin is available in six different single-pack colors (with more, reportedly, to come): Licorice Black, Marshmallow White, Huckleberry Purple, Sherbet Pink, Corncob Yellow and Spearmint Green. This type of case is a must have if you are in a rougher environment, and you can even put it over some of the thin cases (including both of the above).

There are a number of products out there on the market, and more that we'll cover in the future, but these are some of our favorites to date.