PureGear Kickstand Case and Holster
Price: $30
Ratings: 4/5
Web: www.pure-gear.com
PureGear
Kickstand Case and Holster
If you watch a lot of video or use FaceTime
often, this lightweight iPhone case/stand/holster combo could come in handy.
The rubberized case’s kickstand lets you prop up your iPhone in landscape or
portrait orientation for easy viewing. Or you can close the kickstand and slip
the case into a separate holster that clips on to a belt or bag. Removing the
phone from the case can take some prying, so the case is best for long-term
storage. But it feels protective despite being so light.
SuperTooth Crystal
Price: $70
Ratings: 3/5
Web: www.supertooth.net
SuperTooth
Crystal
For people who conduct a huge volume of
calls in their car, a Bluetooth speakerphone is the way to go. The well-priced
SuperTooth Crystal is one such model that you slide into a small metal clip you
keep attached to your sun visor. The dainty unit is easy to pop on and off. The
controls can be tough to use by feel alone, but they deliver solid feedback
when tapped. In my tests, voices sounded reasonably clear in the car, but
callers could tell I was on speakerphone. Still, the Crystal did a good job of
shoving car noise into the background. Regrettably, the company does not offer
a complementary smartphone app.
SwitchEasy CoverBuddy
Price: $20
Ratings:
4.5/5
Web: www.switcheasy.com
SwitchEasy
CoverBuddy
The CoverBuddy is a slim rubber hardshell
case that protects the back of your Smart Cover – clad iPad mini, in matching
colors. At a svelte 1.5mm thick, the cover snaps easily onto the back of the
iPad mini, and provides cutouts for the Lighting port, the rear camera, the
side switch, the top microphone and the headphone jack. The CoverBuddy uses
press-through button overlays that cover the volume and sleep/wake controls,
and both work quite well. The case also ships with plug covers for the
headphone jack and Lighting port. The CoverBuddy covers everything the Smart
Cover doesn’t, making it an excellent companion.
XtremeMac InCharge X5
Price: $150
Ratings:
3.5/5
Web: www.xtrememac.com
XtremeMac
InCharge X5
If your family owns multiple iOS devices,
you no doubt have myriad cables and chargers strewn about. The InCharge X5 dock
helps tame the clutter by letting you fast-charge up to five iPads, iPhones,
and iPods in any combination. The X5 features five 30-in dock-connector
cradles, and though Apple’s latest devices use the newer Lighting connector
instead, I bet most households and business still have enough of the older
devices to make the X5 appealing. And the X5 works with newer devices as long
as you use Apple’s adapters. I did, however, have a hard time properly seating
the second- and third-generation iPad and the iPod touch, as well as devices in
their cases.
