Accessories on display at iWorld allowed users to extend the use of their Apple products. Consider the iPro Lens System (iprolens.com). Purpose built for the iPhone 4 and 4S, the iPro System features a rugged black iPhone case with a bayonet mount to allow iPro lenses to be quickly mounted and interchanged. The iPro case also facilitates tripod mounting of the handset. Two lenses had already been introduced in the system. The iPro Wide Angle lens increases the iPhone’s field-of-view by 35 percent and the Fisheye provides a 165 degree field of view for panorama shots. At iWorld, Schneider Optics demonstrated a new lens for the system. The 2X Tele lens narrows the iPhone’s field-of-view by half, bringing objects closer. Especially useful for headshots, the new lens reduces perspective distortion resulting in more pleasing portraits than those taken with the iPhone’s native lens. The existing iPro Lens set retails for $199 and includes everything except the 2X Tele lens, which becomes available in April for about $100.
Next, take a look at the FLEX Kit from UZBL. At first glance, FLEX appears to be a case for the iPAD 2 — but it’s so much more. With over 140,000 apps the iPad 2 has many uses. The FLEX Kit enables that functionality. The kit includes the FLEX frame that clips onto the iPad 2 and features strap loops and a center ring for snap-in and quick release removal of accessories. There’s also a Velcro handstrap for holding the iPad securely in just one hand, a shoulder strap to carry it and a snap-on rotating pivot with a 1/4” tripod thread that can be screwed onto any camera mount or accessory. The FLEX is compatible with a range of accessories and allows the iPad 2 user to stick, clamp, wrap, hang or prop the iPad 2 almost anyplace imaginable. A silicone skin adds the finishing touch and protects the iPad 2 if dropped. Check it out through www.kickstarter.com/projects/uzbl/flex-versatility-kit-for-ipad-2.
Moving from case to stylus, once again iWorld showed a company thinking beyond the ordinary. Nomad Brush demonstrated the Nomad Play, a paintbrush stylus scaled to children’s hands. Handcrafted from maple, the Nomad Play has a soft, rubber ferrule that won’t scratch the screen, and a contoured grip. It comes in four designs and colors and retails for $18 from nomadbrush.com. The company has also created free art apps that encourage children’s creativity. At iWorld, Nomad Brush had an emphasis on what its brush stylus could do with Apple products. In reality though, it works well with any capacitive touchscreen device.
Some accessories for Apple devices aim to transform them into other gadgets. That’s the goal with the Q device. Just add the $10 Q device and blinQ app to an iPhone, iPod touch or iPad and the Apple device becomes a universal remote control. Using blinQ, viewers can control their home entertainment devices, including TV, set-top box, DVD players and audio stereos. No need to look for different remote controls. blinQ encourages sharing as well, through features that enable comments about shows as well as sending invites to friends to join virtual viewing parties. Learn more about it at www.blinqtv.com/about.
There was one app at iWorld that deserves special attention amidst all this talk about accessories. A “Best of Show” winner, Global Delight’s iPhone video app, “Game your Video,” brings gaming controls to video editing. In the app’s editing process, add motion effects, audio effects, music and visual effects to make videos fun and engaging. The app can turn a spur of the moment video into something memorable. It costs $2 through the App Store.
