Hasta La Ideas

Trtl Bot’s new cases bring flexible storage and handy stands to the iPhone 4

With every new iPhone comes a flood of new accessories designed to unleash the mobile device’s full potential. The new iPhone 4 cases from Trtl Bot stand out among the crowd for their forward-thinking ability to expand the phone’s functionality without adding superfluous plastic or obtrusive packaging. The two iPhone 4 models are the new Trtl Stand 4 and the Minimalist 4, a continuation of their previous line for the 3G/S. Both cases fit the phone snugly, keeping the sleekness of the phone’s design more or less intact.

The Trtl Stand 4 performs exactly how it sounds, letting you prop your iPhone up in three different ways. The different modes (Portrait, Landscape and Tripod) let you use your iPhone hands-free whether you are using Facetime, watching a movie or want to snap a steady photo.

The super slim Minimalist 4 is designed for those who hate having a bulky back pocket or carry a small bag. The hard plastic case provides not only sufficient protection from falls, but the slit on the back provides enough space to stick in an I.D., credit card and metro card.

Made stateside from recycled bottles, both eco-friendly cases sell online from Trtl Bot for $35.

A multifunctional and protective system for iPads

Brenthaven is already an industry leader in highly-functional ways to tote your tech, and the recent introduction of their 5-in-1 iPad Case promises total safety for your pad plus, four other functionalities designed to improve user experience.

Once assembled, the case provides two-sided protection using hardshell materials that feel pretty sturdy. Pop the iPad out of the enclosure and it fits nicely into a slot on the back, standing at attention in “viewing stand” mode. When you’re ready to type, fasten the built-in strap to the indented loops on the back of the iPad portion and flip it all over to enter “typing stand” mode.

The set also comes with a long strap that can hang around a car headrest (or anywhere) for viewing on the go.The most convenient feature, the “EZ-GRIP,” utilizes the elastic strap on the rear of the case as an extra-secure way to hold the iPad while reading or browsing. Using “EZ-GRIP” definitely offers a firmer, comfortable way to hold the slippery little tablet.

Made from recycled materials and with a few updated features from the original version, the 5-in-1 system is well on its way to offering a well rounded, super-functional iPad case solution.

Though it’s currently out of stock, it typically sells for $60 from Brenthaven.

Stay warm and keep in touch with smartphone-friendly gloves that aren’t just for nerds

Just in time for the arrival of frosty winter temperatures, Freehands debuts their new and updated gloves for Fall/Winter 2010.

As with all gloves in the line—the brainchild of our own
founder Josh Rubin and his father, glove manufacturer Stanley
Rubin—Freehands’ latest in digit-warming fashion continues to feature
a flap on the thumb and forefinger of the gloves that allows wearers
to type on their iPhones or hand-held electronic device, but with
updated twists on their now widely knocked-off design. Choices for ladies have expanded
considerably, including snazzy, striped wool knits in an array of
colors. The limited edition cashmere gloves, first introduced last
year now
feature magnets to hold folded-back finger flaps in place, and the
length of the microfur gloves has been extended, ensuring toasty warm
forearms, too. And the snug-fitting liners with conductive finger tips are now available in both a 2 finger phone version and a 5 finger iPad version.

To ensure that no hand warmth will be sacrificed by texting, or
vice-versa this year, check out the full line at freehands.com.

The streamlined beauty of Jawbone’s palm-sized wireless speaker

Whether at business meetings or just for showing off to friends, it’s rare to see the kind of excitement generated as when we recently demoed Aliph’s new Jawbone Jambox, a portable Bluetooth speaker and speakerphone. Designed by Yves Béhar’s Fuseproject design studio, the diminutive device achieves grown-up style, successfully translating the brand’s sleek premium headsets into a larger model that feels as high quality as easily as it fits in with Scandinavian Modern furniture. Though uniquely different from the company’s other two products, it definitely has Jawbone’s DNA.

Drawing on expertise gleaned over years of making tiny sound components for their earpieces, Behar describes designing the mini-boombox as similarly “packing a lot of technology, and amazing sound, in the smallest package”—a process that still involved “fighting for millimeters.” The upshot of their efforts is a mobile speaker that packs a surprisingly powerful sound. The Jambox can pump out respectable bass as well as high notes (from 60 Hz – 20 kHz) with little distortion.

For any kind of conference-room presentation, it makes a great companion for the iPad. And because it’s a duplex speakerphone (allowing sound to go in both directions) it works well for conference calls on mobile phones too. During our week-long testing, the little guy has proven really versatile and held up well.

Not only does the grill’s wrap-around design distinguish it from other products, but by being a single piece of metal, cuts down on vibrations. The patterns in its perforated surface, one for each of the four colors it comes in “are inspired by soundproofing textures” and “provide structural integrity by bending and distorting the metal sheet,” Behar said when we asked him about the design recently.

Another innovation of the Jambox is the introduction of MyTALK, which allows people to customize language and personalization settings, update the device’s firmware and even set up a speed dial number for the device’s talk button.

Launching today for $199 in red, black, white and grey, it comes with a charger, cables, and a case. Very soon you’ll be able to get a fifth color as we’ve joined forces with Jawbone to offer a limited-edition version of the Jambox in “Cool Hunting Green,” which will be available exclusively through us. More details on that next week!

A snowboarding band of friends introduce a new headphones line

Hanging with the Frends crew means lots and lots of laughs, as I recently learned over dinner. The “Frends” are actually seven guys who regularly win professional (if not Olympic) snowboarding medals and since banding together in 2006 have become their own sort of self-entertaining traveling circus. Despite their penchant for making videos of each other pulling silly stunts or simply having a good time, they certainly know how to reign it in and focus on something they are passionate about—whether that’s on the mountain or designing their new collection of headphones.

The latest addition to their eponymous fashion and accessories label, Frends co-founder Keir Dillon tells us headphones are the perfect fit for their crew because “There is nothing better than linking turns to your favorite music.”

The collection includes four colorful styles—Classic (inspired by an old Marshall amp), Alli, Coupe and Clip—all affordable and meticulously designed to the Frends’ expectations, which is the earnest concern of making sure it’s done right. Dillon explains, “We wanted to find that balance of enough pop to express yourself, but also not so much that you look like a cartoon character walking down the street.” With fabric cords, enticing unisex colorways, iPhone and Blackberry compatible mics and custom tips for the ear buds, the headphones are the perfect blend of youthful zest with considered design.

Initially trying each style, we’ve been road-testing the Coupe ear buds daily, listening to a variety of music genres through a variety of platforms. From computer to mp3 player, the earphones hold up, delivering an intense supply of dynamic sound for a relatively low price point (Coupes are $30). Creating a quality product at a price people can actually afford was a principal concern for Frends, who understand no one likes to settle and “strive to deliver all of our products with the features you want.”

A “platform for ideas to grow from,” Frends plan to keep on delivering “innovative products that push what people expect out of their electronics” while allowing the consumer decide the future. Dillon explains, “If there is a demand for a certain product we will do our best to fulfill that demand.”

Frends headphones come packaged in corrugated cardboard and biodegradable
plastic and currently sell online from Zumiez and select Burton stores with prices spanning $30-60.