GADGETS can make your life easier, whether they’re keeping you in contact with others or counting steps from your wrist.
But they can be ever handier with the right accessories that help to keep them charged, keep them portable, and keep them looking good.
Here are five of the best accessories to keep your smart devices smarter than average.
Griffin WatchStand
Griffin / 3.5/5 / $US30 / griffintechnology.com
Apple smartwatches require power delivered nightly and this stand from Griffin makes the task easier. The inexpensive accessory is a 20cm tall pedestal with space for a Watch charging cable — one the user must provide. The cable can be threaded through the stand, leaving its magnetic connection exposed and letting users connect the smartwatch on top in landscape or portrait mode. A lip at the bottom of the dock leaves room to rest an iPhone. While its plastic finish does not match the quality of the Watch, it makes for a unique nightstand and a handy bedside addition.
Samsung Clear View Cover
Samsung / 4/5 / $49 / samsung.com/au/shop
This smartphone case is one of the smartest. Made by Samsung for the Galaxy S6 Edge phone, it hugs the phone’s four corners and lays a form-fitting, translucent plastic cover on top of the phone. This protects it from car keys, naturally, but thanks to embedded magnets it also lets the phone display the clock, alarms, call alerts, and notifications through its cover. Users can even accept or reject calls without exposing the phone’s screen. The slender and lightweight case is a bit of a fingerprint magnet, however, and the silver version offers such a mirrored finish it’s recommended for selfie obsessives.
Une Bobine
Fuse Chicken / 3.5/5 / $US35 / fusechicken.com
This unusual Apple iPhone dock is a simple idea well executed. The Une Bobine, funded by Kickstarter investments, is a flexible charging cable for an Apple iPhone with a USB connection on one end and a small plastic dock on the other. The dock features a plastic clip to accommodate any Lightning-compatible iPhone and slender cases. While a sticker warns users not to be “overly aggressive” or fold the cord, it can be looped, bent and curved to the perfect viewing angle, and will even double as a tripod. The Une Bobine cannot accommodate all cases, however, and there is no Android or iPad equivalent yet.
Imation Link Power Drive
Imation / 4/5 / $129.95-$189.95 / imation.com
It’s tricky to physically access the battery or memory of an Apple iPhone, but the Imation Link Power Drive tackles both issues. Despite its mere 110g weight, the Drive features a 3000mAh battery capable of completely charging the iPhone 6 Plus, as well as two built-in cables: one Lightning connection for a phone and one USB connection for a computer. Connect the device to an iPhone and, using a free app, you can move or copy up to 64GB of photos, videos or documents to it or a connected computer. It’s not designed to charge an iPad, however, and the top model is pricey.
Incipio Roosevelt Folio
Incipio / 3/5 / $69.95 / jbhifi.com.au
Microsoft’s newest tablet computer is more portable than ever, with a smaller screen and daintier weight. Incipio’s portfolio case is designed to protect it and a connected keyboard cover when on the move. The Type Cover locks into this case’s hinge, while the Surface 3 connects to it magnetically, as normal. Both are then sandwiched inside the faux leather, micro suede-lined case that is sealed with a magnetised latch. It also offers a loop for a pen. The case does add bulk to the portable pair, making them more than 2cm thick, however, and creates a heavier package.
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