This week’s roundup includes a number of new ways to ensure you’ve always got power available for your iPhone and iPad.
bKey ($25 MSRP) is a tiny emergency backup battery for your phone—“no bigger than a car key and designed to look like one.” It holds 350mAh in reserve, which should give you 45 minutes of talk time.
Covr Photo ($50 MSRP, available for the same price on Amazon) is an iPhone 6/6s case with a built-in sliding camera lens; hold the phone like you would a TV remote to take photos and video unobtrusively.
EnerPlex Kickr IV USB Solar Panel ($100 MSRP, available for $69.25 on Amazon) is pretty much exactly what it sounds like: A 6-watt foldable solar panel that lets you recharge your iPhone when you’re off the grid—attach it to a “backpack, a tent, or a mountain bike” and you’re ready to power up.
Gamevice ($100 MSRP, available for the same price on Amazon) attaches Bluetooth gaming controls to your iOS device, giving you a tactile feel for the games you play. Versions are available for the iPad Air, 9.7-inch iPad Pro, iPhone 6/6s, and iPad mini; a version for the 12.9-inch iPad Pro is coming soon.
Podo ($99 MSRP) is a “stickable” camera that eliminates the need for a selfie stick—just attach the camera to any flat surface, then pose away. It wirelessly connects to your iPhone via Bluetooth to take photos, videos, and timelapse images.
RabbitCharger has a retractable charging cable, along with swappable charging tips for Android and iOS devices. The result? A device that can charge multiple devices at once with minimal clutter. It’s still in the Kickstarter funding phase; a pledge of $29 can get you in line to claim a RabbitCharger when production begins.
Izon Stem ($64.59 on Amazon) is a live home security cam you can operate via an app on your iOS device; in addition to video surveillance, the device provides noise and motion alerts—letting you maintain situational awareness even if your concentration is on something else.
Shootout 14L ActionPack ($199.95 MSRP, available for $128.70 on Amazon) holds up to four GoPro action cameras, as well as a “ton” of mounts, batteries, housings, cables, and other accessories. Ready to make sweet videos of your adventure weekend? This’ll help you get there in one piece.
Author: Joel Mathis
Joel Mathis is a regular contributor to Macworld and TechHive. He lives in Philadelphia with his wife and young son.