According to eBay the iPhone 4 was the most hopped gadget in 2010 generating over 1.6 million related sales. The iPad came in at number 5 on the list generating 600,000 related sales. eBay’s definition of a related sale is a selling item that contains the keyword (in this case either ‘iPad’ or ‘iPhone’) in its auction title. This could encompass anything from accessories to the actual device itself.

eBay’s top 10 most shopped items:

iPhone 4
Barbie
Military jackets
Hot Wheels
iPad
World Cup
The Beatles
Silly Bandz
Alice in Wonderland
New Orleans Saints
Marc Jacobs
LeBron James

I’m a car guy, and a big fan of all things made of aluminum. Someday, I’ll have the equipment at hand to fabricate my old aluminum products, but until then, I just have to admire those who can do it themselves. That’s why this case appeals to me. This is the Gasket, and it’s made by ID America.

So what makes this one exciting? Well it’s styled like the head gasket of a typical engine, with holes for the pistons and bolts as well. It’s also got a brushed aluminum look, and it comes in chrome, titanium, gold, and bronze. It’s also priced fairly well, at $29.99.

But even though it has all of the components of things that I enjoy, it’s not really my bag. I think it’s the asymmetry of the whole thing, like how the Apple symbol isn’t centered in the top hole and how one side of the case is different than the other. But those same holes make it stand out in a crowd, unlike every other case on the market. As usual with these types of things, it comes down to personal preference, and for me, I think I’d pass.

Sure, the white iPhone 4 is a bit of a sore subject on the Apple front. After all, it’s October now, and we still don’t have the pale version of everyone’s favorite mobile phone, but there are still a few options to make your black model look a bit lighter.

Like this iPhone 4 case by incase. It’s called the Snap Case, and it’s a pretty simple setup. It’s plastic, and it clips right over the backside of the iPhone 4 with no fancy sliding or clicking motions. As an added bonus, it also comes with a little stand that’s great for holding the iPhone still while watching a movie or whatever.

The only real downside here is the price, which is firm at $34.95. There are lots of other cases out there that do the job for cheaper, but incase’s quality is pretty legendary. Guess it’s up to you if you want to pay the Apple Tax on this one or not.

[Image via Unplggd]

I love my iPhone 4, but that doesn’t mean that I’m not cautious with it. I have my case, and I am concerned about what could potentially happen to the glass should something strike the phone the wrong way. But now it looks like there’s another option that isn’t too pricey, and gives your iPhone a stylish metal back.

It starts by purchasing this back plate for $12.99. Once you have that, you take out the two screws in the bottom of the iPhone by the speaker with a screwdriver, then slide the back cover up towards the top of the phone, and finish by pulling it off. Reverse the order with the new back and voila, you have a new metal back on your iPhone.

It’s not for everybody, and who knows if it causes any interference with your signal, but it sure does look cool. And for $12.99, it’s hard to beat.

So I’ve got this weird problem. I work with a group of guys who have a good chunk of disposable income, and one of them had an old TV laying around that they wanted to get rid of. It’s one of the first Sony plasma televisions to be released, and it’s mammoth – 50 inch screen with easily six feet of glass and speakers. And it’s heavy too, like easily over 100 pounds. It’s a flat screen alright, but by flat, you really have to think a bit liberally. Anyways, this thing comes with a separate tuner box that’s connected to the monitor with a pair of DVI cables, and that tuner doesn’t have any HDMI inputs. But, free TV so … at the bare minimum it’ll work in my garage or something.

Problem was, I had no idea what I was going to use for a signal. I wanted to test it, because who knows if this thing actually works, but there was no decent way to do it. So I decided to do some research and find a component cable option that would connect to my iPhone or iPad, then go from there.

Well it turns out there is an option, and now there’s one made by a company other than Apple. It’s called the Sneak Peek II, and it’s made by Scosche. It’s a 30-pin connector on one end, and a set of component cables on the other. As an extra bonus, there’s a USB cable plug so you can charge your i-device at the same time. Not too bad for $49. Now if only I could find a place for that TV.

So I guess I’m a little bit late in the game here, but I find this concept interesting, so screw it. It’s called the Pogoplug, and it allows you to connect your USB drives to the internet. Just connect a USB drive to the Pogoplug, then connect the Pogoplug to your network either via an ethernet cable or by Wi-Fi. Just like that, your USB drive is available on the internet, just like that. They’re compatible with the iPad and iPhone too.

This solves a problem I’ve been having, in that I have a hard time accessing files I have at home when I’m on the road. Now I have no idea how fast this thing is, and I’ve never used one, but it seems kinda cool. Plus it’s cheap, at $99. If you want one, head over to Best Buy and pick one up.

Sure, it’s a major design flaw, but I’m a big fan of the stainless steel band around the perimeter of the iPhone 4. I’m also a fan of the glass front and back, but petrified that I’m going to break it from an errant drop somewhere along the way. One company is offering something which may help in drops, and also looks cool as a bonus.

It’s called Leaf, and it’s a stainless steel skin that adheres to the back of your iPhone 4 with a double-sided adhesive. It comes in four different patterns, each with its own look, and sells for $29.95.

I’m not really sure if it can offer decent protection, because the sides of the glass back are still exposed. I think it might help if the iPhone was dropped onto a stone or something similar that hit the middle of the skin, but otherwise, it’s mostly decoration. That said, it’s very pretty decoration, and it’s a cool way to set apart your iPhone from the rest.

As I’ve said before, sometimes the best ideas are the most simple ones. Take this one, for example. It’s called the Glif, and it’s one of the coolest things I’ve seen for the iPhone yet. But let’s have the PR talk for us.

The idea for the Glif was first formed when we realized the iPhone 4 is literally the best camera we’ve ever owned. With the addition of HD video recording and High Dynamic Range photography, it’s clear Apple is positioning the iPhone as a very high quality portable camera. But because of its small form factor (and Apple’s minimalist design approach) it will never contain a threaded nut for attaching a tripod – standard on almost all photo and video cameras. Solutions for mounting an iPhone to a tripod exist (DIY or otherwise) but they are typically bulky and cumbersome. Our goal was to create something small, simple, and elegant.

It was always our intention for the Glif to serve as a kickstand for the iPhone as well, but it took several design iterations before we got it just right. The beauty of the design we finally arrived at is that it allows the iPhone to be positioned at a variety of different angles and orientations.

They’re trying to fund the thing through Kickstarter, and so far that’s worked out very well. Out of the $10k they’re trying to raise for building the product, they’ve got over $50k pledged. Hopefully the time between development and retail product doesn’t take forever, because it’s fairly obvious that Apple will change their iPhone design for next year’s iPhone 5. Regardless, this is pretty cool stuff and I hope it happens. I know I’d buy one tomorrow, that’s for sure.

There are lots of little niche products out there for the iPhone and iPad, but this latest one seems to take the cake. It’s called the Seat Buddy, and apparently it’s been around for quite a bit. Here’s the word from the official PR:

Airplane

• Comfortable viewing just like a seatback screen
• Watch hands-free so you can enjoy your meal or take notes
• Phone stays put, even in turbulence

Car Headrest

• Passengers can comfortably watch movies, TV shows, even YouTube
• iPhone is quickly and easily inserted or removed

Although in theory that sounds really neat, here’s the thing: I don’t watch my iPhone from a 4-foot distance.

Maybe it’s just that I’m old, or maybe it’s because I need a new pair of glasses, but I don’t want to sit reclined in a chair and squint at a tiny screen. The iPhone is made for me to look at from short distances, not from laid back in a sofa with a remote control and a bag of chips.

Anyways, should you be someone who does want this type of device, it’s priced right in the Apple Accessories wheelhouse: $29.99, Go ahead and get one, and I’ll meet you at my optometrist a few years from now.

I find myself writing a lot about the Moleskine-inspired iPhone/iPad case, because it seems like everybody and their dog is making one. This is particularly useful with the iPad, because not only will it appear like the iPad is actually just an inexpensive notebook, but it also has a cool look. Just the other day someone commented on my Moleskine notebook, saying that it made me seem “professional.” Not sure how a notepad does that, but whatever.

Anyways, apparently the marketing department at Moleskine got the memo, because they’re now introducing Moleskine notebooks with iPad and iPhone cases built in. From the official site:

Moleskine introduces two new hybrid tools designed for making it easier the simultaneous use of paper, phone and internet utilities: a Smartphone Covercompatible with iPhone 3G and 3GS, and a Tablet Cover, iPad compatible. Both Covers are combined with blank notebook pages. They are conceived as analog-digital ultra-portable workstations for the contemporary nomads.

The features and style of both Covers are those of a classic Moleskine notebook: sleek rounded corners, strong elastic band, and the legendary smooth black cover. Inside, a lighter suede lining protects the electronic device against impact and scratches, alongside a Volant notebook with plain pages. The Smartphone Cover is mainly conceived to be used with Bluetooth, headphones or loud speaker. Smartphone and Tablet Covers add to the first piece in the Folio Digital collection, the e-ReaderCover for Kindle.

Looks to me like we’ve got a winner. If I were to pick one up for my iPad, I guarantee I’d use it more frequently. The iPhone model isn’t quite as tempting, because I worry how much it would bulk up the size. That said, if it’s got room for a pen, I might be sold.

I could’ve sworn I’ve written about these guys before, but after a quick search, I’m apparently wrong. With that being the case, let me tell you about these cool new … umm … cases.

They’re made by Grove, and these are made out of bamboo. For those that don’t know, bamboo is a super renewable resource that grows so fast you can almost watch it move. It’s becoming more popular in home remodeling because of its low price and cool looks, and now we see it in the iPhone.

But what makes these cases different are the etched backs. In this case, it’s the Tribal for the iPhone 4. It’s got an etched variation of a sugar skull on the backside that looks pretty wicked.

Now I’m not sure how these things are in person, but I can tell you that they’re expensive. This particular goodie runs for $89, and apparently there’s a 4-8 week turnaround time for non pre-orders. I’m not sure if the pre-orders are closed or what, but regardless, you’re not getting one tomorrow unless you know a guy who knows a guy.

That said, they’re a neat looking case. Definitely different enough to stand out from the herd yet also protective enough to do its job. If you want one, better sign up soon.

It should come as no surprise that I’m a big fan of comics. And as you probably also know, my wife is a big fan of Gelaskins. But maybe, with this latest introduction, I could be converted to the skin side. Maybe.

These are new Marvel iPhone, iPod, and iPad skins made by Gelaskins. They’re available for a wide range of different devices, and even include a wallpaper for the iOS 4 devices and the iPad. There’s not a lot to talk about with these skins, really. There’s a front piece on the iPhone 4 that matches the wallpaper, then a full skin on the back for everything. And they’re cheap, at just $14.95 for the iPhone model, and a bit more for the iPad version. Want one? Go get one, and just in case, order me one too. I just might change my mind.

A few days ago, I wrote a post about an aluminum case for the iPhone 4 made by KarasKustoms. I got an e-mail that night from one of their employees, and a few days later I was at the shop, checking it out first hand. Then they gave me a model for my own use free of charge, and I’ve been using it for a bit. Here’s the update.

The case itself has a ton more R&D into it than I ever would have imagined. First off, they come in various shades, and to get those colors they had the aluminum anodized. Although anodizing can be thick, it can also scratch if not taken care of carefully. That was my first concern, but it turns out, that was something they already thought of. The two halves of the case are held together with button screws, which also lift the frame off of the surface. This prevents scratching of the anodizing when you set it down.

But the thought behind the case is better than that. The iPhone isn’t held in place by the upper and lower halves clamping onto it as you might expect. Instead, the corner supports on the case are positioned such that the case almost floats between the four corners. This means that the aluminum isn’t going to scratch the phone, and doesn’t even touch it. There are also little indentations for buttons and access.

So how is it in use? Well it’s a bit weird to get used to at first, because there is a top and a bottom to the model, but no sides. You get used to this fairly quickly, but it is a small adaptation. It adds little thickness to the phone, but it does add width, more so than most cases.

Ultimately, it breaks down like this: it’s the first aluminum iPhone 4 case released on the market, and it’s one of the cheapest. If it were up to me, I’d buy one tomorrow.

One of the nice things about the iPad – and now the iPhone with iOS 4 – is the ability to use a Bluetooth keyboard. Fortunately enough, Apple has a handy-dandy one that isn’t too big, but it’s still large enough that it’s not always convenient to haul around with you wherever you go, particularly with the iPhone. Portable keyboards are nothing new, but Jorno is hoping that theirs is a bit better than others. Why?

That’s a good question. Well, it comes with a detachable stand that will hold your iPhone or iPod easily, and also folds up to a small enough size to pop into your pocket. The keyboard is slightly smaller than your standard jobber, but I don’t imagine that will be incredibly inconvenient. For me though, it looks a bit tall and I’m not quite sure what the throws of the keys are like. That’s important to me, so until it’s released out in the open, I’m going to reserve judgement.

However if you want all in on this one, go ahead and plunk down some cash. It’s $79.99 on preorder, and should ship in the next few months.

I’m a car guy, and as such, I’ve seen many different things getting machined over the years. I love watching a lathe or CNC machine doing its work, and I could just sit there for hours watching a cool part get whittled out of aluminum. It’s fascinating to me.

Which explains why I like this case from KarasKustoms. It’s made from a few pieces of polished or anodized aluminum, and clamps down the iPhone, protecting it from all sides. It also isn’t too expensive either, at just $39.

Another bonus: turns out I know someone who lives near their shop, so I might just get one myself and do a little hands-on testing. Nothing wrong with getting my hands on the goods and seeing what they look and feel like. Updates if it happens.

It seems like the iPhone 4 case frenzy is finally building to a boil, and now we’ve got one of the latest versions to hit the scene, the iFrogz LuxeOriginal case. Recently, the nice people at iFrogz sent over a complimentary model for us to review, so I spent a few days with it on my iPhone 4 to see how well it works.

Let’s talk about the case itself, which is the reason why it’s called Luxe to begin with. It’s got an almost velvety texture to it, which makes it very nice to hold in your hands. It’s weird how it feels almost fuzzy, yet it’s still plastic in design. Each case comes in two colors, with black being the base in all cases, and various colors – pictured above – for the rest. This is a two-piece case, which is nice because it allows you to take off the bottom to dock the phone. That’s the good part.

The bad part is also the bottom of the case. See, the problem with the incase Slider is that the bottom half has a tendency to slide off of the case accidentally if the phone is gripped wrong. IFrogz fixed this problem by adding a circular button in the middle that locks the case together. It also makes it very difficult to take apart when you want to. Besides that, the button feels weird in the hands, like it’s some kind of pimple on an otherwise great case.

Other than that, I think the case does pretty well. It’s fairly affordable – $29.99 – and it’s thick enough that it provides ample protection for the phone itself. I think that ultimately it comes down to a security issue for your iPhone. If you don’t often dock your phone, this case not only does a great job of keeping the iPhone safe, but also feels nice in the hands – minus the speed bump.

[Image via Engadget]

I really like the crew at Square. I’ve written about one of their founders in a magazine, and about them here multiple times. But it’s just not as out there as it could be yet, and I know I haven’t received my reader yet. And although excuses about manufacturing problems and underwriting issues are nice to hear, it’s still been five months since I first applied and nothing has shown up yet. And I know I’m not the only one in this situation.

Since Square brought it up, I’ve been wondering who else would come to market with the technology. Here’s one of them now. It’s the Intuit GoPayment for the iPhone, and it’s made by Intuit – makers of Quickbooks – and Mophie – makers of secondary iPhone batteries. So how’s it work?

Well, it’s pretty simple. There’s a magnetic reader on the bottom of the case, and you swipe a card in the reader and go through the transaction on the screen. It’s similar to Square in that respect. The rates start at 1.7% for a swiped card and $12.95 a month for the service. Is it worth it?

The point with Square was to make it easy for the masses to use credit cards. But until they follow through, if you want or need to accept credit cards and you have an iPhone, this is one of your better options.

When Apple put out the word that everyone was getting a free case, I was excited, then disappointed. I figured that of the manufacturers who were involved, I would have my pick of excellent cases with lots of color choices. Instead, we got a bunch of cases that do the deed, but there wasn’t much excitement with them.

Out of all of them, my favorite was the Speck Fitted pictured above. Why? Well, I prefer darker colored cases for the most part, and the pattern was different enough that I could give it a try. No worries. It came in the mail yesterday, so I figured I’d crack it open and see how I like it. The results?

First, I wasn’t sure how exactly to get my iPhone in the thing. As it turns out, the case is actually split into two pieces, with a top and bottom section that lock together. Taking them apart without an iPhone in it was easy, and then all I had to do was snap the two pieces together to lock my iPhone in place.

The fit is pretty tight, and it feels good to hold in your hands. The cloth backing not only gives you a texture to hold onto, but also looks like it can take some abuse. The cutouts for the buttons are ample, and even have a notch for the noise cancellation sensor by the headphone jack. When it’s clipped together, it’s a little difficult to tell whether or not it’s two separate pieces, because they fit so tightly that it looks great. Of course, that’s also part of the problem.

Although it has ample room for the 30-pin connector and headphone jack, it’s ridiculously difficult to get apart. After twisting and fighting with the thing for 5 minutes, I was honestly concerned that I was going to break my iPhone before the case separated. This means that if you like to dock your iPhone, you’re going to be going through a ton of frustration and hassle every time you want to take off the case.

What makes this more frustrating is that Speck is billing this as an easily interchangeable case.

It feels really good, this case does. And it looks good, too. Sleek, stylish, a hint of sophistication and smarts; this hard-shell case with matte soft-touch coating becomes even more impressive if you match the fabric-backed panel to your outfit, scarf, or tie.

How am I going to match it to anything if I can’t get it off?

If you’re the type of person who likes their iPhone cases to stay put and you don’t often take the phone out of the case, then this should work for you just fine. It looks good, and it can take some abuse. But if you dock it, or like to change cases every now and then, this isn’t the option for you.

What has two thumbs and likes docks? This guy. And more importantly, lots of other people, too. That’s why companies like XtremeMac keep putting out cool new ways to charge our devices, and make it neat and tidy at the same time.

In this case, we have the new InCharge Duo for iPad. This is a dual dock that holds an iPad, plus either an iPod Touch, iPhone 3G or 3GS in its front slot. This charges the two components, making it perfect for your desk. This can also solve a few problems for people with limited real estate on their desktop as well. No more reason to have to docks floating around the table when you could just have one.

It’s not particularly cheap at $59.99, but then again, a pair of Apple docks will run you around the same price, but take up twice the space. How important is your nice and orderly desk to you?

My wife and I are huge fans of Star Wars. Anytime the movies are replayed on Spike, we all tune in and lose a few hours in the force. I personally don’t hate the first three (I-III) as much as most people, even though they are difficult to follow at times, so I’ll watch them all. One of my favorite characters is the fun little droid, R2-D2.

Lucasfilm has plenty of Star Wars accessories available, and now they’re taking pre-orders on a new iPhone 3G and 3GS case, with the R2-D2 pattern on the back. This is most likely because of the Verizon Droid 2 with R2D2 badging, coming out later this year. Regardless of the motivation, I think this one is going to sell like hotcakes.

Of course, it looks like it has a few flaws. I’m not a huge fan of the front of the case, as it looks a bit odd and disjointed. The back is what it is – R2-D2. Hopefully they will iron out a few of the kinks before this thing gets produced. Until then, I guess we’ll just have to wait and find out on our own.

The iPhone 4 is a pretty luxurious item, with its glass front and back, plus the fancy stainless steel bezel. The first time I held it, I knew I was holding something pretty special. But like many things, you can always do it up even fancier. You don’t have to go overboard, but you can do a few subtle things to bring it up a touch. Take this leather-esque skin add on, appropriately named the SGP Skin Guard Leather Brown Set Package. This kit is a skin that appears like leather, and also includes a clear front glass protector. All this for the whopping price of $17.99. Seriously.

But if the leather isn’t for you, they have tons of other options as well. I’m not going to list all of them, but here are a few: different color leathers, carbon fiber, wood, and more. They’re all pretty competitvely priced, as well. I haven’t seen one of these in person yet, but for the price, it’s a pretty good deal even if it doesn’t last very long. If you get one, let us know how they fit and look. Maybe I’ll get one myself one of these days.

The great thing about the iPad is its ability to go anywhere an put it anyplace, giving you a clear view of the movie or text that you want to check out. Problem is, there are occasions when it’s easier for you to watch the iPad propped up at an angle, with your hands free to eat a meal or write on a pad of paper. That’s where MoviePeg comes in.

The concept is pretty basic: It’s a pair of foam cutouts, shaped like the letter C, that fit snugly around the sides of your iPad. Then just line them up on the sides at whatever angle you want to view the iPad. It’s simple, really, and it gets the job done. It’s also not expensive, at just $19.99 for the iPad version, and $9.99 for the iPhone.

So is it worth it? Well, I used to take my iPhone everywhere when I went to lunch, and I always found myself holding the phone in one hand while holding a sandwich in the other. Something like this is compact enough to put in your pocket, but strong enough to hold it up. Frankly, I think it’s a great idea. And for the price, there’s not much to complain about.

It’s a pair of foam

[via Daring Fireball]

A while back, I wrote about the Verizon Mi-Fi. I’m a big fan of the concept, because it brings the reliability of Verizon’s network to my iPad, iPhone and MacBook. It’s also really expensive: $60/month. So let’s say that hypothetically, you want the portability of a Mi-Fi, but only want to give a 4G signal to your iPod Touch, iPad or iPhone? Well, this might be the product for you.

It’s called the iSpot, and it’s designed to provide a Wi-Fi signal just for your i-device. Really? Sure. Read the faq:

What devices can I connect with my iSpot?
It’s easy to use the iPad^TM, iPod Touch®, and iPhone® with iSpot. Right now, you’re probably saying “I want it.”

What if I want to connect my laptop?

iSpot was built and optimized by CLEAR for Apple mobile devices (although Apple isn’t likely to tell you that) . If you want to experience the same kind of tummy-twisting speed on your laptops, cameras or other smartphones, there are some sweet Spot products that will make you very happy.

Alright, so it’s a bit limited, but that’s OK. What’s it cost per month? Just $25 gets you up to 6.0 Mbps down and 1.0 Mbps up. That’s not too bad if that’s what you’re looking for, but before you run off and start placing your order, check the available coverage first. It’s not available for me in Phoenix, and it’s not available in many places across the country. But if you do have coverage, and this is what you’re looking for, give it a shot.

It should come as no surprise to our regular readers that I’m a big fan of incase products, specifically the incase slider. I first bought one of the cases a few years ago, and the day I bought my 3GS, I picked up a matching case for it as well. The matte finish appeals to me more than the glossy tone of the iPhone itself, and it also wears well. Although I didn’t dock my 3GS very often, it was nice to know that when I did, I just had to remove the bottom of the case instead of the whole thing. Now, the popular case – as well as it’s cousin, the Snap – is available for the iPhone 4.

As you can see from the pics above, these cases come in a few colors. Thing is, they’re not all available today. Here’s the breakdown:

The Slider Case is available now for $34.95 in Black. The Metallic cases in Dark Mauve, Gunmetal and Raspberry will be available in the weeks following, with Dark Mauve shipping the week of 8/16, and Gunmetal and Raspberry shipping the week of 8/23. Additionally, the Slider Case in White will ship the week of 8/23.

The Snap Case is $34.95. Clear will ship starting the week of 8/9, Black Frost will ship starting the week of 8/16.

So there you have it. New cases from incase for your iPhone 4. I’ll be ordering my black one shortly.

The free application is truly…wait for it…wait for it…genius (sorry it had to be done)!

The incredibly adept, detail oriented and ridiculously easy to use device turns any iPhone into a picture-taking scanner on the go. The basic functions of the “Genius Scan” App could not be more intuitive, and users have the ability to use an existing photo or take a new one and crop the legible surface to form a PDF.

The “Genius Scan” App automatically picks up the words on any surface, be it a whiteboard in one’s summer class or the overdone presentation at the office. The scanner then automatically corrects the perspective, offers an adjustable crop of the image and post processing where the scan can be made black and white or recolored.

Simplicity is the streamlined theme of the purely ingenious “Genius Scan” App. Everything attempts to automatically give the user the best possible way to view and send scans of words. Email images as JPG’s or make documents to wield PDF’s at will.

Taking notes may be a thing of the past when any student can sit back and scan each and every minute thing that a professor shows to a restless class. Relax and copy from library books instantly and use the beautiful images right from the “Genius Scan” application!

IMPULSIVE Review Grade: A+