Made from stone-oiled leather that simply folds over into itself, the Apogee Handmade Folded iPhone Carry might be the classiest, simplest iPhone case we've seen in a while. There's no stitching, no velcro and no buttons — just leather. These things are handmade in Vancouver, British Columbia. They can be made to fit an iPhone 4S or 5, and are $45 a pop.
Remember the Tamagotchi craze of the 1990s? You know, those little virtual pets you carried around in your pocket? Ever imagine what it would be like for that cute little alien to grow up into a HAL 9000-esque robot that ordered you around while cracking jokes about you? That's basically how I would describe this hilariously awesome new to-do list app called…
If you've ever lost your keys or your iPhone, the hipKey is for you. Once you've paired it with your iDevice via Bluetooth, you open up the free companion app and set up a geofence range between 2-50 meters. If the two devices become separated by a distance outside that range, you'll be notified by a combination of vibration and a beeping…
The cleverly-named OCDock is an iPhone dock that is designed to reduce clutter and cables. It works by sitting against the foot of your Apple display or iMac, held with a piece of ultra-thin, re-usable tape. The dock's integrated Lightning cable is paper-thin, and runs underneath the foot of the display for a clean look. The dock is available in an anodized…
The JBL OnBeat Mico is one of the first small, portable sound systems to add support for Apple's new-fangled Lightning connector, found on all of the company's new devices including the iPhone 5, iPod touch and new iPads. In addition to Lightning, the dock comes with USB and audio connectors for just about any device. The dock can be powered by AAA…
I'm a leave-my-iPhone-naked kind of guy. I've owned an iPhone since day one, and have only broken one. That said, I do spend a lot of time on a construction site for my day job, and know that some days, my iPhone needs a little more protection than just my jeans pocket. Whether you pop your iPhone in and out of a…
The pi Mount for iPhone is a clever little bit of plastic that is designed to keep your iPhone or iPod off the counter or floor while charging. It clips on to the top of Apple's small USb wall charger, creating a shelf for your device to rest on, keeping it safe from spills and other accidents. The best part is that…
Otis James is an expert maker of hand-crafted ties and hats. Griffin Technology has teamed up with James to create some pretty awesome iPhone sleeves. Handmade in Nashville, TN from materials like wool, linen and silk, these sleeves come in plaid, with a pocket for headphones and a few cards. At $75, they're a little pricey, but man, they are handsome.
The Bikemate Slim Case 3 is a bike-mounted case that fits the iPhone 5, 4S and almost any other smartphone out there. Made from dual layered water proof film and a snug tight foamex bag, the case will keep your phone dust free during your ride, but still allow use of the touch-screen. While not waterproof, the case should keep your phone…
Here at the Tools and Toys World HQ, we're big fans of the Joby GorillaPod, the flexible tripod. When used with a Glif, it makes a heck of an iPhone tripod, but it could all be simpler. Enter the Bobine. It's a two-foot long USB cable that doubles as a stand. Bend it in shape, and it will retain it, making a…
Apple's new iPhone 5 was announced yesterday. It's thinner and lighter than the iPhone 4S, as well as faster (thanks to the A6 processor) and larger (thanks to the 4-inch Retina display). The iPhone 5 packs LTE capabilities in its thin frame. In the US, AT&T, Sprint and Verizon all will be supporting the faster network connections on the new device. Apple's…
So long as we're on the subject of nifty $0.99 camera apps, my current favorite is VSCO CAM from Visual Supply Co. Like most other photo-editing apps, VSCO CAM let's you snap a photo from within the app or import one from you camera roll. From there you can apply one of 10 different filters — 3 of which are black and…
The perfect accessory when you're using your iPhone to navigate a shady part of town. (Thanks, Chris.)
In my five years as an iPhone owner I have never once used a case (well, except for the Morphie Juice Pack Air) — I prefer my iPhone sans-case. But, many an iPhone owner prefer or need a case. And if you (or your friend) want something that is sleek, snug fitting, and minimal then I highly recommend the Barely There case…
The ōlloclip was all the rage amongst our group at Macworld. They had a booth on the Expo floor and were completely sold out before lunch on the third day. I picked one up and have really be loving it. The macro and wide angle lenses are just great and make a the already stellar camera in the iPhone 4S that much…
Matias, the folks who brought us their folding keyboard, comes the fast-switching USB-slash-Bluetooth-keyboard combo: The Matias Slim One Keyboard. It connects to your Mac or PC via USB while simultaneously connecting to your iPhone, iPad, or other device via bluetooth. With the flip of a switch you can instantly switch between the two. Ideal for replying to texts without having to pick…
My only camera is my iPhone 4S. Also, my only video camera is my iPhone 4S. After fabricating the world's worst camera mount to shoot a video I decided it was time to get a bit more official. I recently ordered this GorillaPod Hybrid tripod stand from Joby. I got the hybrid model because the head is ultra maneuverable an it has…
The olloclip is a 3-in-1 lens addition that snaps-on to the corner of your iPhone 4 or 4S. It has a fisheye lens, a macro lens, and a wide-angle lens to give some extra fun and functionality to your iPhone's already great camera. It started on Kickstarter and was more than 400% funded. The olloclip is easy to toss in your bag…
At most, I am a casual gamer. But every now and then an iOS game comes along that is just the right amount of fun. Mage Gauntlet happened to be one of those games. The graphics are a classic 16-bit, the gameplay is challenging and engaging, and the plot isn't all that bad either. And the game itself is only $2.99 in…
White and red and awesome all over, the PlugBug from Twelve South takes your standard MacBook power charger and adds on a 10W USB port for charging your iPad, iPhone, or iPod touch. Of course it works without the MacBook power brick as well. If you want just one single wall wart to charge your laptop and phone, and you want your…