Snap! The Gizmon iCA makes your iPhone look like a vintage camera.

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Shawn Low/CNET Asia)

YOKOHAMA, Japan–We’ve previously reported on the Gizmon iCA, an iPhone case that makes your smartphone look like a vintage rangefinder. The company was at the CP+ Camera and Photo Imaging Show, and we learned it has plans to launch a whole system of special-effect lenses and accessories for its flagship case soon.

New filters and accessories are coming for the Gizmon iCA.

(Credit:
Shawn Low/CNET Asia)

In addition to the fisheye and macro lenses already available, future attachments will include tele, wide, tunnel effector, mirage, and circular polarizing special-effects filters. Sure, some of these effects could be easily reproduced using apps, but doing it the old-fashioned way and getting it right the first time without post-processing has a certain appeal. Other accessories include a car stand, mounted flash unit, mini tripod, remote shutter release, and silencer.

Admittedly, we’re fans of vintage film cameras and therefore found the iCA case to be pretty interesting during our brief hands-on with it. The prospect of “pimping” our smartphones is irresistible, especially with a range of optional attac… [Read more]

Miss your iMac? Dress your iPhone up as one.

(Credit:
Schreer Delights)

If you’re an Apple fan feeling nostalgic for the days of your old iMac or classic iPod , you might want to snatch up one of these retro cases for your iPhone .

(Credit:
Schreer Delights)

Schreer Delights offers a set of iPhones designed to look like old Apple products, including the iMac G3, Power Mac G4, and first-gen iPod . We particularly like the old-school Macintosh model, which includes such details as vent grooves and an SCSI port.

Compatible with the iPhone 4 and 4S, the cases give you access to the smartphone’s ports and camera. Schreer Delights says the graphics are printed deep into the case’s surface, so they won’t fade, peel, or chip.

That said, we suspect the folks in Cupertino may have something to say about the unauthorized use of their intellectual property, so if you fancy one of these cases, you might want to grab one soon. Each case costs $44.95.

(Via Core 77)

[Read more]

The home button on Apple ‘s iOS devices not only brings you to the home screen to see your apps, but is also used to bring up the multitasking menu and wake the device from sleep, which makes it one of the most frequently used buttons on the device.

Usually the button is quite responsive and will quit to the main menu after a short period of time, but at times when you press the button there can be a delay or it can even take a couple of tries before it responds.

If the home button on your iPhone , iPad, or iPod Touch is not working as it used to, there are a couple of things you can try to get it working again:

To calibrate the home button, open a built-in program (1), hold the power button (2) until the red slider appears, and then press the home button (3) until the slider disappears.

(Credit:
Screenshot by Topher Kessler)

Reboot the device
Generally people rarely fully reboot their iOS devices and instead set them in sleep or standby mode when not in use, which is convenient but might allow any problems that occur to not be properly cleared over time, resulting in odd slowdowns or other unwanted behavior.
Therefore, the first thing to try is to reboot the system by holding down the sleep/wake button on the side of the device until you see the red slide contro… [Read more]

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Apple )

The screen resolution shared by the first three iPhones and iPod Touches is expected to be phased out eventually, but in a new note to developers, the company appears to want to move that process along–at least on its digital storefront.

In an e-mail to developers today, republished by The Next Web, Apple notes that it now requires developers to include high-resolution screenshots of their applications when submitting them for approval, something that was previously optional:

When you create or update your apps in iTunes Connect, you must upload screenshots that are high-resolution. We require your screenshots as high-resolution images so that your app is optimized for the Retina display.

The requirements for high-resolution images are 960 x 640, 960 x 600, 640 x 960, or 640 x 920 pixels. Images must be at least 72 dpi, in the RGB color space, and the file must be .jpeg, .jpg, .tif, .tiff, or .png. You can update your screenshot files at any time in iTunes Connect.

While seemingly a minor detail, it’s of special note given that Apple continues to sell only one iPhone -sized device with the non-Retina (480 by 320 pixel) display: the iPhone 3GS. It’s expected that Apple will continue to sell that device up until it releases a new iPhone model, whi… [Read more]

The JVC N-BX3.

(Credit:
Akihabara News)

Like to recharge your iPhone overnight? Listen to tunes while getting dressed? Set the mood during a romantic evening? Are you, perhaps, a fan of monochromatic art-deco furniture?

Also, do you have more money than you know what to do with?

JVC has the product for you: the N-BX3 iPhone /iPod nightstand speaker. No, it’s not a speaker that sits on your nightstand; it is a nightstand, one with a pretty powerful audio pedigree.

The N-BX3 comes in black or white (to match your iDevice, natch) with a glass tabletop and front-facing iPhone /iPod dock. It also packs an FM tuner, a pair of 30-watt speakers, and SRS StudioSound HD for room-filling audio.

The price for this functional piece of furniture? About 40,000 yen, which works out to about $525 U.S. Given what you’d pay for a nice ordinary nightstand from a decent furniture store, I suppose that’s not entirely crazy.

On the other hand, the N-BX3 is definitely not to my taste. Words like “tacky” and “garish” spring to mind when I look at it. Of course, my bedroom decor is all wood; this would be a much better fit in a more modern-looking room.

In fact, forget… [Read more]

See where the iPhone is placed? This is an excellent example of using the rule of thirds. It also happens to be a gorgeous photo, courtesy of Christopher Wesser.

(Credit:
Christopher Wesser, Sandbox Studio Photography)

I hate to admit it, but my iPhone is always the first thing I reach for when I spot a photo-worthy scene.

Sure, I own a digital camera, but my iPhone is always with me, packs an excellent camera, plus I have the option to edit and share photos instantly. That (combined with the fact that my Canon G12 usually weighs down my purse) is good enough reason to use my iPhone as my primary shutter.

If you’re like me, or want to start exploring iPhotography, these four hidden tricks will help you take your iPhone camera skills to the next level.

Hidden iPhone photography tricks

1. Snap photo with your headphones.
iOS 5 introduced the convenience of snapping a photo using the volume up button. With this feature, you can also plug in a pair of iPhone headphones (or any headphones with volume control) and use your headphones as remote shutter release.

This allows for steady photos, more flexibility, and the option to mount your iPhone on a tripod and use the headphones to activate the shutter.

2. Tap and hold to lock exposure and focus.
If you tap a subject … [Read more]

(Credit:
Rich Neeley Designs)

As more and more people turn to e-books and tablets for their reading needs, there are stacks of books gathering dust on shelves or even worse, being tossed into the trash. (For shame!) Thankfully, one Californian couple is out to rescue these neglected and unappreciated treasures.

Richard and Brenna Neeley from Cerritos, Calif., take old and vintage books, as well as some new, and convert them into charging docks for iOS devices. Each dock is handmade to order and features a power cord (wall adapter is not included) threaded through the book, with a slot on the front cover to dock your iPhone or iPod .

The Book Charging docks are available through the couples’ Etsy store, with prices ranging from $45 to $55. There is also an iPad dock for $72 and a iPhone /iPad combo model for $85.

I still love paper books, and I would rather see old ones being donated to libraries or schools. Still, I can’t deny that the docks are quite beautiful.

Brenna Neeley, who majored in comparative literature, notes on their Etsy profile, “Our goal is to bring more books into your life, even if it’s just so that you see it daily and are reminded of how wonderful a book can be. Maybe you’ll be inspired to read that book yo… [Read more]

The Geneva XS is very good-sounding portable Bluetooth speaker with a rechargeable battery and built-in FM radio. It folds up into its case.

(Credit:
Sarah Tew/CNET)

Led by products like the Jawbone Jambox and Bose SoundLink Wireless Mobile Speaker, compact Bluetooth speakers are hot little items these days, and Geneva Lab has placed itself in the middle of the fray with its Sound System Model XS, which retails for $250 and comes in black, red, or white.

In case you’ve never heard of Geneva Lab, as its name implies, it’s based in Switzerland, and has been making high-end iPod and iPhone audio systems since 2006. Most of its speakers–such as the Model L we reviewed back in 2007–are actually quite beefy, so it surprised me to see the company go extra-small with an XS model. However, I’m glad it did because, despite the somewhat inflated price tag, it’s a very solid product.

Read the full review of the Model XS here.

(Credit:
Screenshot by Lance Whitney/CNET)

Those of you disheartened because your older iPhone or iPod Touch won’t support iOS 5 have an “unofficial” alternative.

Available for free, a piece of software dubbed Whited00r can install a custom edition of iOS 5.1 on the iPhone 2G and 3G as well as the iPod Touch 1G and 2G. The software works by tapping into the Restore feature directly through iTunes. And it automatically includes the latest release of Cydia to jailbreak your device. So unlike other hacks, Whited00r isn’t too difficult to set up.

Most of the key features that iOS 5 users know and love are available through the latest version of Whited00r, including folders, multitasking, reminders, Newsstand, and even iCloud. There is one limitation. You can’t access the app for Apple ‘s App Store to directly download content, though Whited00r does offer an “alternative AppStore” with iOS 3 compatible apps.

To grab the program, first choose your device from the site’s download page and then click on the appropriate link for the 5.1 version.

After throwing an ad page and a Captcha at you, Whited00r displays a link where you download the software as a ZIP file. Unzipping it reveals a text file and the actual program in th… [Read more]

The Kungl iPhone Tripod Mount sells for $20 and pulls double duty as a pocket-friendly bumper case.

(Credit:
Kungl)

Want to mount your iPhone on a tripod? There are lots of third-party accessories that can help, but few are as practical or affordable as the Kungl iPhone Tripod Mount.

Lest you think it sounds crazy to connect a smartphone to a tripod, consider this: the iPhone 4 sports a 5-megapixel camera and can capture 720p video, while the 4S raises the bar to 8 megapixels and 1080p–and even brings image stabilization to the table.

The latter might seem to obviate the need for a tripod, but if you want the sharpest photos and smoothest video, nothing beats one.

The Kungl is only a few millimeters wider (on one side) than a standard plastic bumper case.

(Credit:
Kungl)

The Kungl is essentially a hard-plastic bumper case with a 1/4-inch tripod mount embedded in the right edge. That edge is perhaps 10 millimeters wider than the rest of the bumper, so slight a difference that you scarcely notice it.

Indeed, the Kungl is the only tripod-mount solution I’ve seen yet that can double as a full-time iPhone case. (Contrast that with … [Read more]