The Best Extended Battery Phone Cases For iPhone

The Best Extended Battery Phone Cases

 For iPhone 

  This great review is brought to you by Susie Ochs of Techhive.com and reviews three top selling battery cases for the iPhone.  Many of these cases are designed for other makes and models and offer the security you need to give your mobile devices an extended using experience.

  You know the feeling—that sinking feeling when you notice your phone is at 7 percent charged, and there’s just no way you’re going to make it to a power outlet for a while. You can turn the brightness down to barely visible, you can turn off Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, heck you can even put that sucker in airplane mode, but it’s not going to save you. You’re stuck choosing between using your phone now, or trying to save that 7 percent to play some music on your bus ride home…which isn’t for hours.

You’re screwed.

I’m an old fart who sits at the same desk all day, surrounded by free USB ports and power strips studded with AC adapters, and my car is one big charging station too. But college students spend long days wandering around sprawling campuses where they might not stay put in one spot for more than a couple hours at a time. If anyone needs a good battery case, it’s a student. And while it’s a drag to pay triple-digit prices for an iPhone accessory, I found three battery cases for iPhone 5 and 5s that go beyond just juicing up your phone.

Otterbox Resurgence, for the school of hard knocks

I’ve shattered three iPhones. My husband has broken zero—his iPhones stay pristine, actually, because he keeps them safely ensconsed in the nigh-indestructibleOtterbox Defender. And every time I break another phone, my friends ask me, “Don’t you use an Otterbox?” while my husband is smart enough to keep quiet.

PHOTO: MICHAEL HOMNICK

You have to pry the front piece off the flat back part to get your phone out, and it's not a fun thing to do. 

Be smart like him, not dumb like me. The Otterbox Resurgence isn’t cheap—it costs $100, but it beats paying to fix a shattered screen. Your screen stays uncovered, unlike the Defender, but the Resurgence curves around the front edge just enough to protect against most drops where the iPhone lands face-down—unless, say, your screen directly strikes the corner of a table on its journey to the ground. (Otterbox offers an “Alpha Glass” screen protector add-on for $30.)

Besides the Otterboxy protection, the Resurgence has two things going for it: a beefy 2000mAh battery, and some style. It comes in four colors—I like Teal Shimmer, and even the gray (sorry, Glacier) is nicer-looking compared to basic black. In our lab test, the battery was enough to bring a completely dead iPhone 5s back to 74 percent charged in 1 hour and 13 minutes. If you’re just topping off your iPhone, the Resurgence knows to stop charging when the phone hits 100 percent, which is very handy.

PHOTO: MICHAEL HOMNICK

The Resurgence in Glacier gray.

Its biggest drawback is that it’s really hard to take off. Every time I had to remove the case, I felt like I was going to break my phone in half. The Resurgence comprises two pieces that snap together, and having to pry the face piece off the sturdy battery that makes up the back is a nerve-wracking experience. (You can charge and sync your iPhone with the Resurgence case still on, but I need to access my phone’s Lightning port pretty frequently, to connect to my car stereo.) I also didn’t like the way the covered sleep and volume buttons felt, kind of mushy, without the satisfying metal clicks that you get from a naked iPhone.

Mophie Space Pack, like a backpack for your phone

Mophie’s Juice Pack line is pretty much the Kleenex of iPhone battery cases—you just say “Mophie” instead of “battery case” and everyone knows what you’re talking about. The special brilliance of the Space Pack is that it combines a Juice Pack with extra storage, like a built-in thumb drive. You’ll pay a premium, of course: the 16GB case is $150, 32GB is $180, and 64GB is $250. The 16GB version should be enough for most students, storage-wise, but doubling that for $30 isn’t a bad deal.

PHOTO: MICHAEL HOMNICK

The Space Pack's extra memory is a convenient way to keep your important files with you at all times. 

To add files to your Space Pack, you connect it to your computer with a micro-USB cable, and then just drag files onto it like you would a flash drive. There’s no restriction on file type, but each file has to be 4GB or smaller. Then on the phone, a companion app called Space lets you access those files, and it automatically sorts them into folders for you based on file type: Photos, Videos, Music, Documents, and Other Files. A built-in player lets you listen to music and watch videos right in the Space app. You can view documents like PDFs and Word files in the Space app too, or use the Open With command to send them to a different app for editing.

MOPHIE

The beautiful, easy-to-use Space app lets you access the case's stored files. 

This is a great way for college students to keep a backup of important coursework, or just extra movies and music that wouldn’t normally fit on your phone. The drag-and-drop syncing is so convenient, and you don’t have to worry about crowding your phone’s built-in storage or relying on iCloud or Dropbox to access your files. A thumb drive is a cheaper way to port files around, but with this, you can actually read those files when you're away from your computer.

PHOTO: MICHAEL HOMNICK

The Space Pack is a two-piece slider case, so it's easy to remove, and the lights show how much charge is left. 

The Space Pack is easy to put on and take off too—the bottom part pops right off, exposing the Lightning port in case you need to plug something else in. The covered buttons are just as mushy as on the Otterbox, but the Space Pack is slightly slimmer. A switch on the back lets you control when the Space Pack recharges your phone, and four little LEDs make it easy to see how much charge you have left—info that’s also in the Space app.

In our tests, the 1700mAh Space Pack brought a dead iPhone 5s up to 70 percent in 1 hour, 18 minutes before croaking. The case itself recharged the fastest of the three reviewed here, going from dead to fully charged in 2 hours, 7 minutes, which is 30 minutes faster than the Resurgence.

Duracell PowerCase and PowerMat, your phone’s home base

I could probably misplace something in a phone booth. I lose stuff in my cubicle all the time, and it’s way smaller than a dorm room. So the thing I like most about using the PowerCase is having one spot to put it down every single time—the PowerMat wireless charging station. Another bonus is that the Lightning cable I used to charge my phone with is now just…an extra cable. You can never have enough extra Lightning cables.

PHOTO: MICHAEL HOMNICK

Look, Ma, no cables! OK, the one cable from the wall to the PowerMat. 

This particular PowerCase and PowerMat combo is $120 at the Apple Store, only a small premium over the Otterbox. The case is easy to put on and off, and I love the big cutouts at the bottom—depending on the size of your favorite headphones’ connector, you might not even need to use an extension cable, which you definitely do with the other two cases. Cutouts for the iPhone’s sleep, volume, and mute controls avoid the mushy-button problem of the other two cases, too. A button on the back of the PowerCase controls charging and lights up LEDs to show you how much is left.

The square PowerMat stays plugged in to the wall, and then you can just drop the PowerCase on top. The P on the back of the case lines up with a P on the mat, but it can go in any orientation. It’s easy to get right every time, because hidden magnets help snap it into place as soon as you get anywhere close. You can choose to stick the PowerMat onto something with two adhesive strips, which helps it not lift up when you pick up your phone (since they’re stuck together with those magnets, after all). But even if you don’t use the adhesive, it’s still possible to pluck the iPhone off the charging pad one-handed, after just a little practice.

PHOTO: MICHAEL HOMNICK

The PowerCase is so nice to use that you might not mind how long wireless charging can take. 

Using the PowerMat is convenient and charmingly futuristic—OK, OK, until you compare it with Android and Windows phones that have wireless charging built in. In our tests, the 2000mAh battery performed the best of these three, charging a dead iPhone 5s to 84 percent in 1 hour, 24 minutes. But using the PowerMat to fully charge the dead PowerCase also took four hours, compared to around two hours to charge the Space Pack (using a wall charger), and two and a half for the Otterbox. The PowerCase does have a micro-USB port under a little flap that you can use for wired charging and syncing away from the PowerMat.

Bottom line

These cases all performed well, so it comes down to choosing the feature to best suit your needs: If you just want a solid case with a battery and drop protection (not to mention a little color), the Otterbox is a good buy. I love how the well-made Space Pack fits the phone and carries tons of extra files. And the convenient PowerMat and the best battery performance are huge points for the PowerCase. Any of them has enough power to make sure your iPhone 5 or 5s can keep up with you.

Blue Mikey Digital Microphone

Blue introduces Mikey Digital

 for Lightning-based iOS devices

 

Based on the popular 30-pin version, the Mikey includes line-in and USB pass through charging.

  The perfect tool for mobile recording, Mikey Digital is an ultra-compact stereo microphone that connects directly to iPhone or iPad to capture pristine audio for video, voice or music using your favorite audio or video application. Featuring two custom-tuned condenser capsules, check out how Mikey Digital captures everything from live music to mobile podcasts to video and more!

  A little less than two years after it introduced its first digital 30-pin attachable microphone for the iPhone and other iOS devices, Blue Microphones is finally bringing out a Lightning-based version that works natively with the iPhone 5 and later models such as the iPhone 5s and Retina iPad mini. The new Mikey Digital includes two condenser microphones -- identical to the ones used in its popular Yeti and Snowball microphones -- and thanks to its reversible Lightning connector is now able to pointed either forwards or backwards.

  From the initial release notes, the $100 Lightning Mikey Digital carries over all the same features that made the 30-pin unit a hit with podcasters, mobile news reporters, concert-goers, iPhone videographers and musicians. The device can handle sound up to 130dB, and can be set to automatically protect recordings from distortion (or gain can be set manually as desired). It can tilt up to 230 degrees, features a clipping indicator to help users set ideal levels manually, and features a rare eighth-inch stereo line-in input for external mic sources, instruments or mixing boards for DJs.

  The microphone itself contains a discrete mic preamp and CD-quality A/D converter, allowing users to record 44.1Khz/16-bit audio to the iOS device it is attached to. The previous 30-pin version worked with the iPhone 5 and later using Apple's own Lightning adapter, but having a native solution reduces bulk and increases portability. The unit weighs just three ounces, and measures 2.5 x 2.5 x 0.5 inches. It is recognized as the default mic input automatically for almost any recording application except the Phone app or FaceTime.

  Mikey Digital also features a USB pass through connection so that users can charge the device while still using it, useful for long recording sessions. The microphone is available from Amazon and Sweetwater Sound now, and will be coming to Future Shop and Best Buy in Canada, Maplins in the UK and other authorized Blue retailers in the near future.

Pop Video Turns iPhone into a Projector

Pop Video 

Turns iPhone into a Projector

  This very unique case design clips onto your iPhone and projects an extremely high resolution image.  I have seen many of these devices and the clarity usually remains a difficult task to adjust.

  Looking into the future, concept artists often equip their dream iPhones with built-in pico projectors. That feature probably isn't coming to an iPhone anytime soon, but Micron Technology's upcoming $99Pop Video pico projector accessory may be the next best thing.

  The key feature here is the 30-pin connector that allows you to dock your iPhone or iPod, forming one compact unit. While some of the larger pico projectors like the BenQ Joybee GP2 have an integrated dock, the Pop Video is designed to be much more portable, fitting into a pocket when not in use.

Brookstone's competing Pocket Projector for iPhone 4 costs $229 (click to enlarge).Brookstone

  Brookstone is offering up a similarly styled pico projector that's simply called the Pocket Projector for iPhone 4, but its native resolution is lower (640 x 360 pixels) than the Pop Video's (960 x 540 pixels) and the Brookstone accessory costs $229.

  I've listed the Pop Video's main specs below, but some specs are missing and questions remain. For instance, I didn't see a listing for brightness -- the Brookstone unit is a 15 lumens projector, which just isn't all that bright.

  I presume the Pop Video is somewhere in that range but no number is given (I'll add it to the post when I get it). The Micron projector also doesn't appear to have a built-in speaker like the Brookstone unit does but I haven't been able to verify that. I doubt Brookstone's integrated speaker is much better than the iPhone's internal speaker, but it's worth talking about sound with these tiny projectors because it's more important than you think. Putting up a big image on the wall with tiny sound just doesn't cut it.

• Dimensions: 4.4 inches x 1.8 inches x .6 inch (HWD)
• Weight: 3.5 ounces (97g)
• Input: 30-pin dock connector
• Video Output: qHD (960 x 540 pixel resolution)
• Battery: Built-in Lithium-ion rechargeable battery
• Playtime: Up to two hours with full battery charge
• Charging: Micro-USB charging (1.2 compliant)
• Charge time: About 4 hours
• iOS version: 5.0 and greater
• Compatible with iPhone 4/4S and gen-3 and 4 iPod Touch
• Price: $99 (available for preorder now)

 As for the light engine inside the Pop Video, Micron apparently uses something called FLCOS micro-display technology, which is cheaper to produce and allegedly more energy efficient. Chances are the Pop Video can project a passable image at fairly large sizes, but you'll need to project in a dark room for best results (as the manual states) and I don't expect to be wowed.

  All that said, this is definitely a big step in the right direction for the pico projector market -- both in terms of price point and form factor. The killer app for these types of projectors has always been tighter integration with the iPhone (and other smartphones eventually) that makes it much easier to project without attaching any kluge cables. To that end, the projector is designed to be used with a free app that allows you to tweak the projector settings and more importantly, projector more content directly from your iPhone, including Web pages, Facebook, and videos downloaded from iTunes or iTunes U that are not MPEG 3 protected. At least that's what the description for the app claims.

  When I get my hands on a unit I'll let you know just how good the image is. As I said, it's unclear when the Pop Video will ship, but hopefully it will be within the next few months, if not sooner.

This review is brought to you by CNET

iPhone Video Projector

iPhone Video Projector

  The iPhone is great for taking videos and watching them if you’re by yourself. But if you wanted to share your videos with a group of people, you either have to play the “pass the phone around game” or upload them to a computer (which is still less than ideal). Hammacher has a solution with The iPhone Video Projector, an LED illuminated projection system that projects videos on a wall or screen up to 18 feet away. The system can project an image up to 110″ diagonal, which is huge!

  But if you’re going to be sharing videos with a group of people you’re going to want bigger sound than what comes out of the iPhone’s tiny speaker. No worries because this projector system also has a pair of 3 watt drivers with an on-board dual 7 watt amplifier to give you crisp robust sound. The manual focus projector has a 30,000 hour lifespan on it’s 800 lumens LED bulb. Supports most iPhone and iPod touch models and includes a remote control. Buy it for $299 at Hammacher .

This review is brought to you by craziestgadgets.com

How the Iphone Wireless Charger (Powermat) Works

How the Iphone Wireless Charger

 (Powermat) Works

  This video demonstrates one of the coolest pieces of technology to hit the shelves in a while.  Although many companies have now duplicated this technology in any number of ways, Powermat was the originator in the US marketplace and has sold millions of devices.  This video dissects the incredible device and shows you just what makes this great piece of technology tick.

iPhone 6 includes Lightning Cable

iPhone 6 

includes Lightning Cable?

  Never one to disappoint, the folks at apple are always focused on simplicity matched with innovation and their new reversible lightning cable is nothing short of those standards.  No more fumbling in the dark only to end up breaking your USB connection or even worse, snapping the delicate USB guides on your computer or device.

  When the iPhone 6 arrives, likely in September at Apple’s upcoming special event, a lot of people will be looking for a larger screen as the core feature to get excited about. But one change that could actually have more of an impact in terms of daily use could be a new, rumored reversible USB-to-Lightning cable that has been leaked a couple of times this week.

iPhone 6 To Come With A 1810 mAh Lithium-ion Battery

iPhone 6 

To Come With

 A 1810 mAh Lithium-ion Battery

  As you can see, the pictures above do seem to be the real deal. Increased battery size on the iPhone 6 is natural as first of all the increased display size of the device will be more energy demanding. 

  Furthermore, given that the iPhone 6 is expected to feature several new features, a larger battery will help ensure that the phone’s power requirements are being met. These include an upgraded A8 SoC rumored to clock at 2 GHz, a first in Apple history.

  Other improvements on the iPhone 6 include an NFC chip on the device which will enable users to make transactions through their smartphone without the need of plastic cards or cash. Not to mention that the iPhone 6 is expected to come with iOS 8 which itself includes several unprecedented features. 

  These include an improved health kit app, upgrade of need-sensitive features and third-party keyboards as well. How all of these coupled with the increased battery size translate into the battery life of the iPhone 6 is one thing that we can not know before the device is actually launched. So stay tuned for September folks.

Crazy iPhone Cases

Crazy iPhone Cases

The iPhone is one of the most popular and beautiful handsets money can buy, and by some strange twist of fortune, it's also the one that attracts the most bonkers case ideas around. Watch this video, if you dare.

Apple Bans Use of Toxic Chemicals in iPhone

  Apple Bans Use of Toxic Chemicals

 in iPhone 

  Apple decided to order its suppliers to cease using benzene and n-hexane during the final assembly of iPhones, iPads, iPods, Mac computers and various accessories. Apple is also requiring its factories to test all substances to ensure that they don't contain benzene or n-hexane, even if the chemicals are not listed in the ingredients.
   
  Benzene is linked to leukemia if not handled properly and n-hexane has been linked to nerve damage. The substances are often found in the solvents used in cleaning machines and electronic components.
   
  Apple is still allowing the chemicals during early production phases of its products in production that primarily takes place at hundreds of other factories besides the ones responsible for the final assembly of the devices.  Apple is also lowering the maximum amount of benzene and n-hexane in materials used during those phases of production as well.

  A thorough four-month investigation at 22 factories found no evidence that benzene and n-hexane endangered the more than 500,000 people who work at the plants, according to Apple. No traces of the chemicals were detected at 18 of the factories and the amounts found at the other four factories fell within acceptable safety levels, the Cupertino, California, company said.

iPhone 6 Clone

  The iPhone 6 is a mysterious beast that many tech enthusiasts have gone to great lengths to try and acquire.  This lucky YouTuber was lucky enough to get his hands on one and is now reaping the benefits of tons of traffic for many enthusiasts like yourself who all want a taste of what the latest and greatest of Apple has to offer.  

Kobe Bryant's iWatch

Kobe Bryant's iWatch

  Steve Jobs liked to court celebrities, but he did it quietly. He might give Sean Lennon a Mac, Bob Dylan an iPod or Barack Obama an iPad, but you wouldn't hear about it from Apple.

  That may be about to change. According to Mark Gurman, a young reporter at 9to5Mac who has broken more stories about Apple’s “iWatch” than the rest of the pack combined, Apple is teaming up with a raft of sports celebrities to test — and perhaps market — what the Street and the tech press expect will be Apple’s next big thing.

  Gurman mentions in particular L.A. Lakers shooting guard Kobe Bryant, L.A. Kings right wing Dustin Brown and a player from the Boston Red Sox to be named later. Bryant was a key spokesperson for Nike, which is winding down its FuelBand business, and he was spotted last month on Apple’s Cupertino campus, where he reportedly met with Apple design chief Jony Ive.

  In a similar vein, Jimmy Iovine, the well-connected music producer who came to Apple, along with Dr. Dre, as part of the $3 billion acquisition of Beats Electronics, spoke at an industry conference in late May about having music stars “curate” playlists on a new Apple streaming music service. Iovine knows a lot about cashing in on celebrity, something he did regularly at Beats, using exclusive tracks from the likes of Robin Thicke, Britney Spears and Wil.i.am to promote his company’s brand.

Is Apple getting ready to play the celebrity game at a new un-Jobsian level?

  To be sure, Jobs was still in charge when Apple launched Ping, a short-lived music sharing service that courted celebrities and promoted their presence. But even a Lady Gaga playlist couldn't save Ping.

  This sounds like something different — a game played for higher stakes, on TV and on billboards. The kind of game Iovine played in the music business and Angela Ahrendts played at Burberry.

  Some will surely see it as an another sign that Apple has lost its way. Others will see it as evidence that Apple has matured and is ready to try things Steve Jobs never would.

  We’ll find out soon enough if they can do it with class.

Magazines for Apple Fans

Magazines for Apple Fans

  Apple’s new iPhone may be just around the corner, with a Sept. 9 debut believed to be coming. And even if we blame Apple, more than any other tech company, for the drop in magazine readership, the magazine-killer still supports three print products to give us the scoop on everything a Mac lover could want to know — and then some.

MacLife

  For publications that cater to Apple product devotees, MacLife is the most critical of the lot. Surprisingly, it’s got a slightly boring cover for the Mac audience of design gurus — the people who kept Apple alive before it wisely captured the teen market with iPods and iPhones. Perhaps that’s why we liked its column on iPhone addiction, another asking whether Apple Maps will ever get it together and news on wireless charging (Yes!).

Macworld

  Macworld has long been the go-to publication for Mac fanatics, but compared with MacLife, it’s gotten a little staid. Both say the same thing. The “news” on topics like the Samsung-Apple infringement suit is so old it shouldn’t be taking up space. We did like the spread on “eye-catching” iPad cases and some forward-thinking ideas such as Mac-iPhone phone integration. Apparently, this is coming in “Yosemite” — the next generation of operating systems, which reminds us that everything innovative in America comes from the West Coast. And there’s a subtle advertisement for Twitter, which appears to be the first thing MacWorld writers look at in the morning.

iPhone + iPad Life

  If those two magazines haven’t given you enough Mac news, there’s a special one just devoted to iPhones and iPads: iPhone + iPad Life. To prove that design and not reading is what it’s all about, there are even layouts on black paper with white ink. We’ve always loved that look — and it’s so expensive to print — but there’s simply too much of it, too close together, here. There’s a look at “Uber,” the app that provides an alternative to taxis and could be worth $10 billion. OK, it’s a tech version of hitchhiking, so we’re skeptical. Five pages of that are quickly followed by a two-page spread on Beats headphones, which all the Mac mags think is a mediocre, expensive product. So why did Apple buy it? “It wants to be cool,” says the magazine that is trying too hard for the same effect.

MaximumPC

  For contrast, there’s MaximumPC. If the covers for MacWorld and MacLife were a tad boring, at least they had a minimalist chic. This one is cluttered, as if to remind the reader that the PC is one of the hardest-to-use products on the planet. Proving the case to this Mac lover, one of its main features is on the mouse — you know, the thing PC users still are stuck with. Apparently, they have new life as gaming products. In fact, judging from the articles in this magazine, the PC is all about gaming. Isn’t there an app for that?

This Review brought to you by nypost.com

24kt Gold iPhone 6

  24kt Gold iPhone 6

  Just when you thought some things couldn't get any pricier or more bling, Brikk takes us to yet another level with their 24kt gold iPhone 6's arriving weeks after the phones launch.  Even though Apple CEO Tim Cook hasn't unveiled the new iPhone 6, accessory company Brikk is already taking pre-orders for its luxurious take on Apple's next big thing.

  Aptly named The Lux iPhone 6, Brikk's new collection includes 14 models that are extravagant versions of the upcoming phone, featuring a unique range of exquisite fabrications.

  The iPhone 6 will be disassembled by the Brikk team in a state-of-the-art laboratory located in Los Angeles before the "Lux" process begins, with buyers offered the option of coating the device in 24-carat yellow gold, 24-carat pink gold or pure platinum. The bling-obsessed can also add a carat of white diamonds to embellish the Apple logo on the phone back.

  Prices range from $4,495 for the plated models, to $8,395 for the plated diamond logo models. All models are packaged in a custom metal box with a user manual and all accessories standard to the device. Each Lux iPhone 6 by Brikk comes with a diamond-embedded certificate of authenticity and an exclusive one-year warranty.

  Brikk is taking pre-orders for the first batch of phones before the expected official launch of the iPhone 6 by the Apple Corporation in September. A $500 deposit is required for the pre-order program. The Lux phones are expected to ship out three to four weeks after the official release of the iPhone.

iWatch December launch?

Apple iWatch 

December Launch Date Rumors

  As Pocketnow continually unveils the underground information on technology, we hear rumors of a December release date of the fabled iWatch from Apple.  

  Watch today's Pocketnow Daily as we talk about HTC's new August event, and our predictions. Then we talk about Microsoft and its announcement of Windows Phone 8.1 Update 1. Sony follows as we get some leaked photos of the Xperia Z3 Compact, though we do have our doubts. Then Apple takes the stage with its iWatch as we go through some new details on the possible launch date for the wearable. We end today's show talking about Samsung's patent for a round smartwatch.

Why the iPhone 6 may not be released until October

Why the iPhone 6

 may not be released

 until October

Look anywhere on the internet and you will find endless articles associated with Apple’s 2014 iPhone 6.

But with its much anticipated release, the iPhone 6 may not be available by the rumoured September launch date after all.

Production challenges related to its sapphire glass display along with simple consumer anticipation to maximise sales are two reasons that the iPhone 6 may not be released until October.

Launch delays are complex and in some cases deliberate. Competitor device launch considerations and delivering on large-scale demand are success factors that cannot be overlooked by the manufacturer. Apple also wants to make sure the top mobile development companies have time to make really good apps to showcase the new iPhone.

iOS 8, sapphire glass and other hot news

Apple’s direct website reports their latest iOS 8 operating system is ‘coming this fall’. Since the iPhone 6 will utilize iOS 8 to bring users seamless picture and file management across devices along with improved photo app editing, it seems conveniently aligned with a later iPhone 6 release date.

Reported low-yields of product necessary to produce the highly anticipated sapphire glass feature is another reason to consider an October release date. In addition to iOS 8 and sapphire glass delays, various production issues like trying to work around battery size and touch sensor technology may also play a role.

Size matters

When contemplating competition, Apple is actually ingeniously focusing on their devices internally. Since a couple of different sizes will be available, they want to remain diligent about launching their 4.7 inch device, and then allowing the 5.5 inch model to hit the market down the line. Keeping products exciting and bringing new features to consumers is what Apple does incredibly well.

While size may be an initial difference in an alternative iPhone 6 model, this strategy can easily set the stage for additional device progression like a better camera or faster processor by the time it launches.

Demand

Apple has enjoyed iDomination with their followers in regard to their iDevices. Consumers loyal to Apple products enjoy an array of benefits like high-quality peripherals such as camera attachments and headphones, excellently balanced screen sizes, and attractive aesthetics combined with easy-to-use technology. It’s not surprising that consumers are chomping at the bit for a confirmed release date for iPhone 6.

With Apple as dedicated as they are to customer support, it also makes sense that they will only launch iPhone 6 when the company is fully ready to meet the needs of all consumer transactions and associated support needs. In addition to providing a consistent user experience, Apple devices are immensely compatible with each other and deliver all of the app function that most users need. With somewhere around $10 billion invested in their app market, Apple has done well to provide integrated hardware and software capabilities in their devices.

As Apple products evolve, it’s exciting to see the unique features that set their devices apart from the competition.Even when consumers have to wait for the iPhone 6 to launch as late as October, its faster processor, iOS 8 and new features will be well-worth the extension.

Further, a later launch date will allow iPhone 5, 5c and 5s users to enjoy their devices just a smidge longer.

Metro Blogs is a place for opinions. These opinions belong to the author and are not necessarily shared by Metro.

Typo 2 presents a new and useful iPhone accessory

Typo 2 Presents a New and Useful iPhone Accessory

  You might remember the Typo keyboard accessory for the iPhone which is presented in the video above. It is basically a keyboard attachment for the iPhone that allows iPhone users to type using physical keys instead of an onscreen keyboard. The first version of the Typo looked a lot like BlackBerry’s keyboard design.

  Of course, BlackBerry didn’t like that at all. They filed a lawsuit, which Typo countered by saying they did not steal the design. Anyway, that is the history and now the company has announced the successor to the Typo. Can you guess what it’s called? Wait for it… The Typo 2. I’m shocked by such an original name as well. And I’m sure everyone will be relieved to see that this device now looks nothing like a BlackBerry keyboard anymore. So they shouldn’t have any problems with BlackBerry over this one.

  The new design also adds several new features. There’s smart typing, a backlit keyboard, a lock key, and even a battery indicator to let users know when the keyboard is running out of power. The Typo 2 is available right now for pre-order and it is compatible with both the iPhone 5 and iPhone 5s. It will cost you $99 and it should start shipping in mid-September.