accessories

Some say they do their best thinking in the bathroom, so it's no surprise so many of you text, tweet, and talk while on the throne. But here's the stinker: research shows that 16 percent of cell phones have fecal matter on them. Eww.

Even so, sanitizing our germ-riddled smartphones probably isn't something we do regularly (in fact, this writer has never done it), unless you're germaphobe. But what if were as easy as charging your phone?

Enter the PhoneSoap. Created by four germaphobic entrepreneurs, it's essentially an enclosed box that blasts your phone with harmless UV-C rays. UV-C light is able to kill 99.9 percent of bacteria and viruses by penetrating cell walls and disrupting their DNA. The light is switched on for three to five minutes at a time, and there's no heat generated, according to the PhoneSoap's makers. … Read more

One of the things I love best about my iPhone is that it single-handedly replaces a bevy of other devices. Alarm clock? Gone. Digital camera and camcorder? Gone. Reward cards? Gone.

Now I can add one more item to the list: wallet.

The Poddities Money Clip for iPhone 4/4S adds a metal clip to the back of your handset, allowing you to keep cash, credit cards, and the like close at hand. It also gives you the option of hanging your phone from your belt or the top of pants pocket.

There are, of course, iPhone cases that have slots for credit cards and whatnot, but most of them add bulk ranging from a little to a lot. The Poddities is about the slimmest solution out there. It can hold up to three cards, according to the manufacturer.… Read more

Spring has sprung and that means summer is right around the corner. If you still haven't worked off those extra winter pounds, it's high time to start before swimsuit and tank top weather cruelly arrives. Luckily, there are new mobile accessories that harness wireless technology, competitive behavior, social media, and other online tools to help couch potatoes catch the exercise bug.… Read more

When you think of iPhone docks, the first thing that comes to mind is usually something that resembles Apple's simple iPhone 4 dock. Hacoa's inspired design, however, takes a different approach by carving out a space for the smartphone and its USB cable out of a solid block of wood.

Hacoa's BaseStation for iPhone 4 comes in two flavors: Maple or walnut. While it's not hand-crafted--machines are used to carve out the grooves--polishing is done manually. With the right clock app, this could be the prettiest bedside accessory to have. That is, if you think it's worth the $49.90 you'll have to fork out for ownership.

(Source: Crave Asia via Alexcious) … Read more

Ukuleles aren't instruments that are very expensive, or hard to come by, unlike pianos or synthesizers. However, that hasn't stopped app company Amidio from coming up with a creative way of assembling a digital version of the ukulele with an iPad, iPhone, and a case that holds the two devices.

Called the Futulele--we think its short for futuristic ukulele--this musical instrument uses the iPad for strumming while the iPhone serves as the fret board. … Read more

AT&T announced today that it soon will offer an exclusive Monster Beats by Dr. Dre Beatbox to its customers.

The $399 device, which will arrive in the carrier's stores and online on March 11, is a wireless audio system with a built-in dock connector for smartphones. Featuring a pair of easy-carry handles, the speaker system comes with a remote control and Bluetooth connectivity and gets its power from six D-cell batteries. So in other words, AT&T has essentially become a retail partner for a rebranded Beatbox Portable.

As part of today's announcement, AT&… Read more

BodyGuardz has been around for a while, providing customers with an extra layer of protection for their device. In the past, the installation methods were cumbersome, if not impossible. The new application gel used when applying a BodyGuardz protective film makes installation a breeze.

Watch the video above as I apply the protective skin to my iPhone 4S. The entire process took less than 10 minutes, including talking throughout the entire process. In each kit you get two sets of skins, should you need to reapply a skin down the road. You will also get skins for the side of … Read more

It's starting to look like NFC tags are going to be all the rage soon.

Between Sony and rumors of Apple working with MasterCard, NFC is going to go mainstream. So why wait? If you already have an NFC-capable device, you can start using NFC around your home or office, and have fun with it while you're at it.

To program an NFC tag, you will need an Android device with NFC capabilities. You will also need some NFC tags, which appear to be nothing more than a sticker on the outside, as well as an app that … Read more

Carry a bag with you everywhere you go just to carry every device and required charger? Find yourself traveling and constantly looking for an outlet to charge your phone or tablet? You may want to consider a Powerbag.

Powerbag is just what the name says: a bag that provides power to charge all of your gadgets while you're on the go. Whether a backpack or messenger bag, the bags have a battery built-in along with charging cables that allow you to charge your devices on the go, with no need for an outlet. There is even an extra USB … Read more