GeekSugar

So Sweet! Candies iPhone Cases at Opening Ceremony

Kelly Schwarze — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 14:12:07 PST

Purveyors of all things chic and of-the-moment, Opening Ceremony has released its latest Spring import, and we're already craving more! iPhone cases from Japanese company Candies are making their adorable US debut. Candies creates all their cases from 100 percent natural silicone, free of nasty chemicals - good for you and Mother Earth.

Check out the range of cases including wheeled skate decks, cuddly cartoons, and bright graphics in the gallery.

Relive Apple's Early Days With A Retro iPhone Case

Kelly Schwarze — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 03:15:09 PST

When we imagine old technology gadgets, it usually involves rooms full of bland, boxy computers with a fraction of the computing power of today's smartphones. When an Apple enthusiast looks back to the devices of yesterday, it's a trip down memory lane revisiting the industrial design that gave Apple its cult following. Those nostalgic creations are now available as cases for the iPhone 4 with Schreer Delights's line of retro Apple iPhone cases ($45).

The iPhone 4's hypermodern design is beautiful, but your phone is secretly coveting a vintage makeover, as seen in the gallery.

A Dash of Sparkle and Glitter at CES

Kelly Schwarze — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 19:23:58 PST

CES is a tech conference, not a disco, but we certainly saw enough shimmering gadget accessories to have us temporarily seeing double (and dancing). Gone is the customized crystal craze of years past, and in its place are mass-produced phone and tablet covers that are anything but subtle.

Want your iPhone to wear a sparkling smiley face and a 3D crystal bow? Boom, done. Along with a teddy bear on a field of crystals and an ombre sunset. Take a look at the products that twinkled in our eye and purchasing information in the gallery, because a phone's life is too short for a plain case.

Ludacris Shows His Soul at CES

Kelly Schwarze — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 08:01:22 PST

What's the Consumer Electronics Show without a sprinkle of celebrity-endorsed gadgets? This year, hip-hop mogul Ludacris was on hand to introduce the latest additions to his Soul by Ludacris headphone line.

In 2012, the new finishes are all about shine. The SL300 noise-canceling headphones come in chrome gold, and the SL150 hi-def headphones are chrome silver. The SL100 model now has a white finish with gold accents. Soul's line of earbuds, the SL49 and SL99, also has new color options including a green and black combo, red and black, pink and white, and platinum.

We spoke to the musician-restaurateur-actor-entrepreneur for more on his life in the tech industry:

Style meets Soul - Ludacris said his life is "all about setting trends and pop culture," which is infused into the design of the Soul product line. He draws inspiration from a little bit of everything including fashion and cars.

Listening must-haves - Though it's like naming a favorite child, Ludacris keeps a pair of the SL99 earbuds in his pocket for whenever, wherever, and the SL300 when traveling for the noise-canceling experience.

Apple fan - He names the iPhone 4S and iPad as the nonheadphone gadgets he can't live without.

Pricing and availability for the new Soul headphone and earbud designs hasn't been announced, but the current line on sale ranges from $70 to $300. Check out photos of the Soul line in the gallery.

Weekend DIY: Paper iPhone Stand

Kelly Schwarze — Sat, 10 Dec 2011 08:00:04 PST

Save the money in your gadget fund account (we all have one, right?) and make an iPhone or iPod dock/stand for as little as the cost of a sturdy piece of card stock paper.

This DIY from Dessine Moi Un Objet uses an X-Acto knife, ruler, thick card stock paper in the color of your choice, and Dessine's dock pattern template available on its website. With less than an hour of paper folding for a dock of your own, think of it as origami with a functional, tech twist.

iPad Gets an Old-School Makeover

Kelly Schwarze — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 11:31:09 PST

Geeks nostalgic for the all-in-one look of vintage Apple products can now add a dash of retro to their gadget with the iStation, a docking device reminiscent of an Apple I desktop. What set Apple apart in the early days of personal computers was the bundle design that integrated the keyboard, speakers, and monitor within one shell. Even those not wistful for technology designs of yore can appreciate the prospect of occasionally using an iPad more as a desktop.

Available in a faux wood-grain finish with a white keyboard or white glossy finish and white keyboard, the iStation is compatible with both the iPad and iPad 2, as well as iPhone 4 and iPhone 4S. Each unit comes with an iStation in your color of choice, Bluetooth wireless keyboard, USB charging cable for the keyboard, 3.5mm mini-stereo cable, built-in stereo speakers, and an AC power adapter; and for $86, it's a fairly affordable tech frill. Check out a

The Ultimate Statement Piece: Luxury Gadgets

Kelly Schwarze — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 06:30:08 PST

This holiday season we'd love to gift our loved ones with little pieces of luxury to make their lives better, jobs easier, or free time more relaxing, but where should you draw the line? We rarely leave home without a select few items, perhaps a meaningful piece of jewelry, a sturdy wallet, and a mobile device of some kind, so wouldn't it make sense to have one's taste for luxury goods be reflected in all these pieces?

Stuart Hughes, a luxury designer in the UK takes gadgets such as iPhones, iPads, and laptops and outfits them with a new exterior body made of 24k gold, platinum, diamonds, and other materials usually reserved for the jewelry store. Each piece is limited edition and weighs a bit more than the out-of-the-box device due to the swap in materials. The products start at about $30,000 and go well into the six figures for the more cost-heavy diamond-laden devices.

So tell us, are these precious gadgets as beautiful as jewels or an impractical indulgence?

So Sweet! 2-in-1 Gadget Cases From Tech Candy

Kelly Schwarze — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 13:39:12 PST

Looking for something extra sweet to fill a stocking this year? Pick up a Tech Candy iPhone or iPad case for the gadget addict that wants options with their gear. Each iPhone 4/4S case ($38) and iPad/iPad 2 case ($48) comes with two complementary colored, flexible silicone "wraps" along with a white hard-shell polycarbonate outer case that shows off the rainbow hue below. Change up the color combination based on mood, weather, or whim. If your recipient really wants a fashion-forward gadget they can take it one step further and match their device's screen wallpaper to the hard-shell case pattern.

Check out a selection of our favorite case sets in the gallery!

Be the Photo With Belkin's iPhone Camera Remote

Kelly Schwarze — Sat, 26 Nov 2011 12:45:06 PST

The months of November and December mean endless clicks of group photos, and since a survey of cameras on Flickr shows the iPhone 4S is the second most popular camera on the photo site, it's likely someone will be an iPhotographer at holiday events. Instead of drawing straws for who gets left out of each shot, hook up an iPhone to this Belkin LiveAction camera remote ($50) to include everyone in the photo fun.

Compatible with iPhone 4 and iPod touch cameras, the remote acts as a full mini camera kit since it also comes with a detachable camera stand and can even switch between photo and video functions. Use the Bluetooth-enabled remote to activate the shutter from up to 30 feet away from the device. The remote requires Belkin's own LiveAction app to operate with the camera, but it is available for free in the App Store.

For the Comic Book Lover: iPhone 4/4S Case

Kristy Korcz — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 03:16:22 PST

Etsy is teeming with awesome gift ideas, and one that would brighten the face of any comic book lover is this comic book iPhone 4/4S Case ($32). Made from hard cardboard and a vintage Italian Superman comic book, you can tote and protect your iPhone in geeky style. The whole case has been sprayed with a clear coating to keep it looking fresh, and there's an elastic strap to give you that moleskin-like feel. Who doesn't love that?

Get a closer look at the case in the slideshow.