More iPhone, iPod Accessories Introduced

BY LISA JOHNSTON -- TWICE, 10/22/2007

New York — In addition to new cases for iPhones and the iPod family (see p. 72 and 73), companies continued to roll out other accessories, including chargers and FM transmitters.

CTA Digital sought to bring iPods and water a little closer together with the introduction of its shower/beach splash-proof speaker case. Although it cannot be submerged, the Shower Media Player enables users to put their iPod in a locking, watertight compartment. It comes with a rope to hang from a shower head, detachable stand, auxiliary cable with audio jack and an AM/FM radio.

It has a $29.99 suggested retail.

Two five-in-one travel kits for iPhones and iPod Nanos are also new from CTA Digital. The kits are billed by the company as ideal travel companions; each kit contains a silicone skin case, carrying bag, protective film, car charger and cleaning cloth. The kits will retail for a suggested $19.99 and are scheduled to ship in time for the holiday season.

Also scheduled to ship in time for the holiday season is a “Christmas Gift Box” from the company. The box will include a folding, portable, universal speaker system for the iPod; a universal USB-to-AC charger; two of the company's colored Jelly Bean ear buds (red and blue); one sock case; and one polishing cloth. Packaged in a retail gift box, the collection will have a $24.99 suggested retail.

CTA Digital also recently introduced its video eyewear that can be used with iPods and other media players. With the eyewear, video footage is projected on a 50-inch virtual screen at a 2-meter distance and 320 by 240 resolution.

Included is a USB cable to sync with a computer and a variety of A/V cables for other video game consoles, DVD players and TV. A line controller is plugged into the left side of the frame, which houses a 1000mAh lithium-ion battery that lasts up to eight hours. Also included is a set of ear buds that are plugged into the frame. It is currently available at a $249 suggested retail.

iLuv debuted the i707 FM transmitter featuring an integrated car adapter for an iPod. Available frequencies range between 88.1MHz to 107.9MHz, and two of them can be programmed into the transmitter's memory. It features a white back-lighted LCD display.

The i707 is offered in black and white for a $79.99 suggested retail. It is currently available.

The company also introduced the i1155, a tablet-style portable DVD player that can be used with the Video iPod, third-generation Nano and iPod Classic. It features an 8.4-inch widescreen TFT LCD and composite and S-Video outputs; the iPod is docked in the front of the player.

A remote control is included, along with an AC adapter, car adapter, A/V cable, carrying pouch and dock adapter. It has a $299 suggested retail and is currently available.

iSkin announced that its Cerulean X1 earphones now include an iPhone-compatible earphone adapter.

The Cerulean X1 in-ear style earphones are engineered for “deep, rich, studio-like sound usually only found in high-end, more expensive earphones,” said iSkin. When used with the iPhone, voice calls can be better heard through the earpieces. Also, the earphones feature silicone comfort buds that reportedly reduce ambient noise.

The iPhone-compatible Cerulean earphones are currently available for suggested $99. The iSkin earphone adapter is also offered separately online for users who wish to add iPhone compatibility to their existing Cerulean X1 or similar earphones; the adapter alone retails for $12.99.

Lenmar Enterprises' pocket-sized, cordless PowerPort (PPU2100) is designed to recharge the iPhone in approximately two hours. As an external battery, it can double iPhone usage time between charges, for up to 16 hours of talktime or 12 hours of Internet use, according to the company.

The PowerPort can also power or charge any cellphone, PDA, media player or game device using a USB connection. It includes a 3-foot charging cable with adapters for the iPhone, iPod, PSP, BlackBerry and Motorola Razr/Krzr.

It comes in white or rubberized black finish with $49.95 suggested retail.

Myvu recently introduced the Myvu Universal edition of its video eyewear, expanding its line of Myvu personal media viewers to support mobile phones and portable DVD players, as well as such media players as Archos, Zen and Microsoft's Zune. The Myvu Universal supports any fifth-generation video Apple iPod; the company said it will expand support to include the iPod Touch, Nano and Classic later this fall.

It has a $199 suggested retail and includes a pendant for power and picture control, noise-cancelling ear buds, connectivity kit and a battery life of up to four hours.

The IPCHRG 12-volt car charger from Scosche Industries is designed for use with iPods using a 30-pin dock connector. The charger comes with a long and durable coil cord and LED power indicator. Its suggested retail is $24.99, and it's currently available.

Finally, the In Charge FM transmitter and car charger from XtremeMac is designed to work with the iPhone and all iPod models. It provides “superior” FM transmission, according to the company, and can reportedly charge twice as fast as a computer. The In Charge features play/pause/next-track buttons, an LED display and two users presets. It is compatible with standard vehicle power and accessory outlets, and offers stereo and mono mode.

It is scheduled to be available in early November with a $69.95 suggested retail.