Chapter 17

Ace Accessories

In This Chapter

• Grappling with keyboards
• Covering up with cases
• Linking with Bluetooth
• Hacking your way to even more options
• Livening up your iPhone with fun-filled accessories

Companies not named Apple have to love Apple. Companies like Kensington, Belkin, Case-Mate, OtterBox, Twelve South, and countless others. The chunk of market share owned by the iPhone range has enabled an entire industry of accessories to sprout up around it. Make no mistake—no iPhone owner will be hurting for options when it comes to peripherals, and in fact, you’ll probably have to put the credit card away long before you run out of items to buy. The iPhone is quite the extensible platform. With Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, you can connect a plethora of devices; everything from input products (mice and keyboards, namely) to guitar adapters are all discussed here. This chapter also brushes up on the best protective apparatuses. I discuss tools that are aimed at bolstering productivity, doodads that simply serve to make owners smile, and widgets that no self-proclaimed iPhone addict should travel without. It’s a wide, wild world out there in the land of Made-for-iPhone products. I spot the standouts for you in the pages to come.

Deciding on a Keyboard

The iPhone’s virtual keyboard is undoubtedly one of the best in the mobile realm. But sometimes, that’s just not enough. Certain keyboard commands and button combinations are nigh impossible to hit on a software keyboard, and for those actively seeking to use the iPhone as a productivity tool, having a physical keyboard around certainly makes things easier. iPhone-compatible keyboards come in all shapes and sizes, aimed at all sorts of different solutions.

Copy and pasting, for example, requires a number of long-presses and icon taps under normal circumstances. But with a keyboard around, it’s as easy as pressing Cmd+C to copy, and Cmd+V to paste. Keyboard shortcuts are a huge time saver, and those who invest the time to learn about them can enhance their efficiency greatly. For a wildly comprehensive list, bookmark this link: www.danrodney.com/mac.

Desktop Options

Using your iPhone in an office or another stationary setting? If so, it’s probably not a bad idea to invest in a solid, more full-featured keyboard. The iPhone will never truly be a replacement for a bona fide laptop, although it might work as a suitable substitute for more casual users. If you find yourself replying to e-mails or drafting basic documents more and more on your iPhone while at home, here are a few options that will positively improve your input efficiency.

Apple’s Wireless Keyboard ($69) is the home crowd favorite, and there’s a reason. Apple’s own Bluetooth-enabled keyboard is sturdy, rigid, compact, and spun to function beautifully with OS X and iOS. The keyboard commands that make sense in a Mac world are all here, so there’s no befuddling key remapping to worry over. Keyboard shortcuts that you’ve grown familiar with in OS X almost universally translate here, and it’s certainly one of the most roomy and most comfortable options out there. To boot, those with Mac machines can easily pair this up with a desktop or notebook using OS X 10.6.8 or higher. Of course, not all of the functions translate to the iPhone—there’s no Spaces or Expose function, for example—but at least Apple throws in a couple of AA batteries. Sweet, right?

It’s important to note that I expect a number of keyboard + dock combination units to crop up in the coming months to support the iPhone 5’s frame and new Lightning port. Keep a close eye on products from Kensington, Belkin, and Case-Mate; historically, those folks have made really solid iOS keyboard accessories.

The Unorthodox Alternatives

Tired of the traditional? Looking for a keyboard with a pinch of creativity? No sweat. From bendable options to those that fold in half, I outline a few of my favorites in the keyboard realm that generally don’t get the attention they deserve. (Wondering what a keyboard looks like rolled up? Have a look at Figure 17-1.)

Figure 17-1: Scosche freeKEY, all curled up and ready to roll.

• Acase Flexible Portable Wireless Bluetooth Keyboard ($30)—Be warned, this one’s tiny and cramped, but it’s also flexible. In other words, you can actually roll this keyboard up in the same way you roll a shirt for packing.
• Menotek Flexible Bluetooth Waterproof Mini Keyboard ($30)—I’ll see your flexible keyboard and raise you a waterproof flexible keyboard. It’s compact, it’s thin, and it bends. In fact, you can roll it up tight until you need it. But understand that the lack of rigidity means that the typing experience is far different, and in most ways, subpar compared to a proper keyboard.
• Scosche freeKEY Flexible, Water Resistant Keyboard ($60)—It’s twice as expensive as the others, but it’s a name I trust (see Figure 17-1). The quality of the materials is also higher, and while it’ll roll up tight, the keys themselves have an above-average amount of travel. It also supports a USB connection; useful for recharging its batteries while still using it on other USB-equipped products.
• Matias Bluetooth Folding Keyboard ($85)—The primary benefit of choosing this over one of the more compact keyboards is simple. Folded in half, this keyboard is hardly larger than some of the most diminutive Bluetooth iPhone keyboards, but unfurl it, and you’re presented with a full-size keyboard that’s ideal for long typing sessions.
• HiPPiH iEagle Foldable Wireless Keyboard ($100)—This one is an Apple Store exclusive, and while pricey, it provides a bundled carrying case as well as an iPod touch/iPhone stand.

iPhone Cases for Every Occasion

Protecting your phone is only half of the solution; wrapping it in something that represents you as a person is the other. The iPhone exudes style. If you’re going to cover any of it up in the effort of protection, you need a case that gives off its own aura of cool. I should also mention that most of these cases are available for the iPhone 4, 4S, and 5—just be careful to select the right one when you order!

• BookBook for iPhone ($60)—It’s simple, yet beautiful. It’s also a great way to conceal the fact that you’re walking around with an iPhone. Twelve South’s book-themed case tightly holds your iPhone, with the exterior appearing as a well-worn novel. It also folds back on itself to double as a kickstand.
• Pop! ID Case by Case-Mate ($40)—It’s not as classy as the BookBook, but it’s far thinner, and it still contains a slot for your most important credit cards and IDs.
• Kensington Gel Case ($20)—This one provides a decent amount of protection from scuffs, but it’s clear. And that means you can see the beauty of your phone’s backside at any time.
• OtterBox Defender ($50+)—If you couldn’t care less about keeping your iPhone sleek, this is the case to get. It’ll take a severe beating while keeping your precious phone safe, and you’ll be glad you chose function over form the first time it takes a major spill.
• ColcaSac ($15+)—Here’s an environmentally friendly option, and a beautiful one to boot. These are colorful, patterned, soft, and handmade in Salt Lake City, Utah. They don’t get much more unique than this, as you can see in Figure 17-2.

Figure 17-2: ColcaSac’s iPhone case is downright heartwarming.

Bluetooth Headsets and Headphones

Corded options get the job done, but there’s a very real market for wireless headsets and headphones. Yes, you’ll look pretty weird jawing away with a Bluetooth headset in your ear, but hey—you do what you have to.

Trouble is, there are literally hundreds of headset options—all sorts of shapes and sizes, and all sorts of confusion surrounding them. I recommend that you stop fretting and pick the Samsung Hc70i000 ($40) or the BlueAnt Q2 ($50). Both of these have exceptional audio quality; I suggest picking whichever design floats your boat and calling it a day.

From a listening standpoint, there’s AirPlay. But if you’re aiming for something a little more personal (yet equally wireless in nature), a set of Bluetooth headphones is your best bet. Jaybird’s JF3 Freedom Bluetooth stereo headset ($90) is a lovely option, with outstanding audio quality and a remarkably unobtrusive design. Veho’s Bluetooth cans ($110) offer a differently styled solution, and the fold-up design makes them perfect for travel.

Hacks and Workarounds

Although Bluetooth keyboards, headsets, and headphones work without any trickery, you’re probably wondering if the keyboard’s best mate—the mouse—has a place in iOS’ heart. Unfortunately, it doesn’t. Not according to Apple, anyway. iOS was designed to be controlled completely and entirely by touch, and in a touchable world, a mouse cursor just doesn’t have a home.

Just because Apple doesn’t support Bluetooth mouse input by default doesn’t mean that all hope is lost. If you’re willing to jailbreak your device, search for and install the BTstack Mouse app. Once installed, your iPhone should automatically recognize Apple’s Magic Mouse, Magic Trackpad, and pretty much any other Bluetooth mouse you have hanging around.

Next-Level Accessories

Enough with this whole “productivity” thing. At its core, the iPhone’s all about fun, and there are plenty of completely unbelievable, thoroughly amazing accessories to bring out the kid in any owner. If you can dream it up, it probably exists, and I’ve listed a number of my favorites here. It’s important to note that all of these work with the Dock Connector found on the iPhone 4 and 4S, and most companies will be updating their lines soon to offer Lightning versions for the iPhone 5.

• Sonoma GuitarJack ($149)—Plug it into your Dock Connector (hopefully a Lightning model will surface soon!), and you’ll get an audio interface that plays nice with a wide range of instruments, microphones, and other audio via 1/4-inch instrument and 1/8-inch stereo mic/line inputs. It’s hailed as the first device-powered iOS accessory that offers stereo recording, simultaneous voice and instrument recording, 60dB of continuous level control, configurable Pad, Lo-Z and Hi-Z modes, and increased drive for headphones.
• ThinkFlood RedEye mini ($49)—Plug this bantam dongle into your headphone jack, open the RedEye application (free), and you’re on your way to controlling every A/V component in your living room via infrared. The app is powerful enough to control your TV, A/V receiver, Blu-ray player, and nearly anything else that supports IR, and the app allows for full customization in order to establish macros and multicomponent commands.
• Seagate GoFlex Satellite ($170)—It’s a 500GB, USB-powered, battery-equipped hard drive, but the internal file system and built-in Wi-Fi module allows the unit to stream videos, music, and photos to your iPhone. . . sans cabling. It can stream for up to five hours before needing a recharge, and yes, it works perfectly fine as a traditional hard drive all the while.

Summary

You can outfit Apple’s iPhone line to the hilt. Although many accessory makers are still in the process of updating their products to work with the new form factor and new Lightning connector on the iPhone 5, you can safely assume that they’ll be rolling out updated gear post-haste.

I strongly recommend investing in a case and a screen protector. The display is the most expensive part on an iPhone to replace, and it’s also the easiest to mar. No, your iPhone won’t look as elegant with something wrapped around it, but it’s better to be proactive when it comes to protection. It’s really not a question of “if” you’ll drop your phone, but when.

The accessory market in general is booming, and whether it’s a music controller or a third-party remote attachment, you can find it for sale online.