Manifest Tech Blog

Dexim has an impressive collection of accessories for the iPhone, iPod, and iPad, especially with power chargers and adapters/cables (see earlier post).

But the Dexim Visible Green product line goes beyond usefulness and practicality to add some flair.

These literally animate the charging process as the cable glows to indicate the power flowing to your device -- fast during the initial charge, slower as your device reaches capacity, and then stopping at full charge so you know your device is ready for use. How cool is that?

The Visible Green action is available in Charge & Sync Cables for Apple or microSD (around $19), and bundled with Chargers (around $34 to $39).

So power up your devices with a little extra motion and flair.

See my Portable Accessories 2012 article for more on portable storage, audio, power, cases, imaging, and other accessories.

Find the Dexim Visible Green Charger on Amazon.com

You know those flexible turtle-shell-like pads that bikers and skateboarders wear to protect their knees and elbows from the ravages of extreme sports? So, if they are good enough to shield your skin and bones, wouldn't they be good for protecting your electric devices?

This is what the G-Form Extreme line of cases has done, extending from body guards to protective sleeves and portfolios for the iPhone and iPad.

The G-Form material is designed to stiffen on impact, and absorb over 90% of the energy when you (or your device) take a hit. Yet it's soft and flexible, so it can flex with your body or conform to your phone or tablet.

To prove the point, G-Form has a collection of ridiculous videos for you to enjoy, including an iPhone surviving a hockey slap-shot, and iPad surviving a hit from a bowling ball, and,if you want a more extreme test, an iPad surviving a 100,000 foot fall from a balloon at edge of the atmosphere.

For sporting, G-Form offers a collection of body pads starting at around $49 up to full shirts and shorts ranging to $99.

And for your electronic gear, there's the iPhone case for $39, and the Extreme back wrap Edge, zippered Sleeve, and folding Portfolio for tablets ranging from the Kindle starting at $34 to the iPad and other 10" tablets up to $89.

These should make you more comfortable when transporting your devices in less gentle conditions, although it's still not a good idea to go around deliberately dropping them.

See my Portable Accessories 2012 article for more on portable storage, audio, power, cases, imaging, and other accessories.

If you use your iPhone a lot, you want it to be easily accessible -- like parked in a front pocket instead of buried in your pants pocket or in a bag. But keeping your phone within easy reach also exposes it to the risk of damage from slipping out when you're not looking.

The iCat Lanyards for iPhone and iPod use a clever design that lets you hang your device securely around your neck or wrist or on your belt so it's close at hand.

The simple idea is to take advantage of the standard Apple connector. You already have experience with how some connectors hold very tight and need to be pressed to release, while others are very loose. The iCat products simply clamp extra tight within the metal edges of the connector on your phone or player, so your device can hang securely.

You can choose from a variety of iCat designs with detachable buckles and in a profusion of colors for around $24, including the Wrist It with adjustable slider, the Hang It with carabiner for belt loops, purses or backpacks, and the Neck It nylon rope lanyard.

And if you're still queasy about leaving your iPhone dangling, you can still use these as anchors to more safely secure your phone in a pocket or bag.

Find the iCat Lanyards on Amazon.com