GeekSugar

Book iPhone Chargers

Kristy Korcz — Mon, 27 Jun 2011 06:37:32 PDT

A charming way to charge your iPhone or iPod: the Book iPhone Charging Dock ($45-$58). Etsy seller Inbook makes use out of old and otherwise tossed-aside tomes and turns them into something new, special, and totally usable. Coming with titles like Pride and Prejudice, Sense and Sensibility, and Homer's Odyssey (among others), you can bet this dock will look (and feel) right at home on your bookshelf or nightstand. See more models and designs in the gallery!

The Black Diamond Is More Than Just an iPhone Dock

Kristy Korcz — Thu, 28 Apr 2011 03:04:36 PDT

There are plenty of options when it comes to iPhone chargers, but two inventors from Taiwan are hoping that you'll invest in this multicolored one instead. Called the Black Diamond, this iPhone dock costs just $45 to buy, and doesn't just charge your phone. In conjunction with a special app, you can create a multicolored lighting effect that changes with music you play via iTunes, and the Black Diamond even comes with voice controls, alarm, sleep/wake controls, and can hook up to your desktop via USB so you can share the joy of color with your workmates. Check out more pics in the gallery - it's really pretty!

Bone iPhone Horn Stand Amplifies With No Wires

Kristen Hawley — Thu, 10 Feb 2011 05:00:56 PST

Taiwanese Apple accessory company Bone wowed us at last year's Macworld with favorites like iPod armbands and adorable USB drives. But their newest release is like nothing I've seen before. The iPhone Horn Stand is part stand, part sound amplifier - no cords required. The shape of the silicone stand naturally amplifies the speaker sound, creating volume that's louder than your phone itself but not loud enough to fill an entire room.

The stands, available in four colors for $25 each, can be purchased on Amazon. Click through the slideshow for a closer look.

Go Au Naturale With the Koostik iPhone Dock

Kristen Hawley — Sat, 04 Dec 2010 14:00:23 PST

Though plenty of pretty wooden gadget accessories exist, this item is my hands-down favorite of the holiday season. Behold, the gorgeous Koostik, a completely wooden iPhone dock that acoustically amplifies the volume of your music two to four times. While it's not meant as a replacement to electronic amplifiers and docks, the Koostik is perfect for your workspace, counter, or any other place you'd like to listen to music (or even take a call via speakerphone) a little louder than your phone permits.

The Koostik was crafted by a long-time woodworker, who still makes each Koostik by hand. It comes in six different wooden combinations: Cherry, Walnut, Maple/Cherry, Cherry/Walnut, Walnut/Cherry, and Maple/Walnut, and retails for $85-$90 depending on materials. It's made to work with all generations of the iPhone, but sadly wont' work with your iPod Touch.

Check out more photos of the Koostik after the break.

Gimme Power iPhone Charger: Awesome or Creepy?

GeekSugar — Sat, 04 Sep 2010 14:00:58 PDT

The Gimme Power iPhone Charger is designed by a renowned design studio and sold at Neiman Marcus, but to me, it looks kinda creepy. The hand-shaped charger plugs into your computer to charge your iPhone or iPod, and retails for $180.

Not everyone is as creeped out as I am, as the Gimme Power charger is currently on backorder. Am I missing something? To me, it looks like a mannequin hand, not high design (with an equally high brow price tag). What do you think?

iLuv's Latest Dock Is an Alarm Clock, Too

GeekSugar — Tue, 23 Mar 2010 07:30:31 PDT

Besides producing pretty protective cases for the new iPad, iLuv also makes great accessories for other Apple products. The latest iPhone/iPod Touch dock from iLuv is no exception, and serves as more than just a speaker. The iMM190 Stereo Speaker ($90) features a unique shape, allowing it to display your iPhone horizontally or vertically for optimum photo and video viewing.

In addition to enhancing video from your phone, it also doubles as an alarm clock. Download the free iLuv App Clock from the iTunes App Store; the straightforward app displays the time (either vertically or horizontally) and features changeable color themes. The time is displayed in a large, easy-to-read font, and also displays current weather conditions for your location at the top of the screen.

View 5 Photos ›

How-To: Make Your Own Cardboard iPhone Dock

GeekSugar — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 14:00:50 PST

I was a little irritated when Apple didn't include a dock for the iPhone 3G. That, the $30 price tag, and general laziness are the reasons I still haven't bought one. I've been able to improvise when I need one, but these DIY instructions on how to make your own cardboard iPhone dock have made my day.

Get your cardstock or thin cardboard, download the provided (free) PDF, and watch the video to make your own too. The other perk besides the whole free thing? The design possibilities are endless - I'm already perusing the pretty cardstock at Paper Source!

Source

Gear Review: Lark Silent Alarm Clock

Leta Shy — Sun, 13 May 2012 16:48:00 PDT

You can count me as one of the 30 percent of people who don't get enough sleep every night, so when Lark sent me its silent alarm clock ($100) to test a couple months ago, I was all about it. Since then, I've been using it pretty regularly, here's what I think of the alarm clock.

First, here's what it is: The Lark is part app (compatible with iPhone, iPod Touch, or iPad only at the moment, but an Android version seems imminent), part motion-sensing wristband that vibrates to wake you up and tracks your sleep quality throughout the night. It promises to both help you wake up more naturally and without disturbing your bedmate and change your personality from sleep-deprived night owl to well-rested morning lark. Included in the package is the Lark sensor, wristband, and charging dock where you plug your wristband into when you wake up - both to shut off the vibrating alarm and ensure that your wristband has enough juice to monitor your sleeping stats for the next night. The charging dock includes a USB port to connect your iPhone charger to it, so you don't have to use two sockets for each.

Who it's for: The Lark is useful if you have a partner and you both wake up at different times. Since it's a silent alarm clock, it rouses you with a series of vibrations through your wristband, so if your normal wake-up call is earlier than your bedmate's, your partner can snooze away without being disturbed. That may or may not be valuable enough for you to justify the $100 price tag, but it is an effective solution. Besides the alarm clock portion, the Lark app tracks several sleeping stats: how many hours you slept as well as how many times you woke up during the night and how long it took you to fall asleep (both based on your movements).

Keep reading for my thoughts on the Lark alarm clock.

Roxy's Latest Headphone Lineup Is Perfect For Summer Fun

Kristy Korcz — Mon, 06 Jun 2011 03:12:01 PDT

We're still waiting for Summer to arrive here in San Francisco, but Roxy's new lineup of portable speakers, iPhone docks, and headphones (which are made in partnership with JBL), have me itching for a beach vacation. Coming in cool black and white, the JBL On Stage Micro III iPod dock ($100) and the Roxy X JBL On Tour Micro speaker ($50) seen above, are perfect for poolside lounging since they're lightweight, compact, and battery-powered - you can practically take them anywhere! And those On-Ear Sunrise headphones ($100)? They're just begging for warm temps. Look out for the Roxy and JBL line of music accessories to hit on June 8, a mere few days away. Take a look at the entire collection in the slideshow.

iPhone Chargers That'll Look Great on Your Desk

Kristy Korcz — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 07:38:05 PST

Desk accessories can sometimes get in the way (I'm sure you don't need that collection of wacky USBs), but they're more than welcomed when they serve a purpose. Take, for example, these cool iPhone and iPad chargers. They keep your smartphone juiced and keep your cords under control.