Part One: CES 2012 iPhone/iPad Announcement News Round-up
January 11, 2012 | Andy Boxall
While Apple themselves shun CES, many of the manufacturers who produce accessories for the iPhone and iPad use it as the platform to launch their latest products. With the event in full swing, here’s part one of our round-up of the top announcements to come from the show.
Known for their range of iPad and iPhone protective wraps, Wrapsol has introduced the Grip Pad, a super-grippy pad with dimensions to match the iPad, perfect for securing the tablet to any angled surface. It’s priced at $14.95, but has yet to appear on the company’s website.
Make your iPad comfortable on uneven surfaces, then protect it when you carry it around with the Beanpad Portfolio. The bean bag is attached to a leather case by velcro, so it can be moved around to get the best position, and the whole thing comes in several colors. It’s priced at $79.
The navigation company announced an upgrade to their iOS app at CES, which will add Twitter and Facebook integration, allowing friends to share their location using the app, or Facebook Places. No release time frame was given, except that it would be free to download sometime in Q1 2012.
Line 6 unveiled two new keyboards compatible with the iPhone and iPad during CES. The Mobile Keys 25 and Mobile Keys 49 will cost $149 and $199 respectively, and provide full-size keys for use with music recording apps including GarageBand. They plug directly into the device’s dock connector, and should go on sale soon.
Sonomax.
The headphone company has introduced the world’s first self-fit custom earphones, with the PCS-150 and PCS-250 Eers models. Both sets come with the SonoFit system to acheive that perfect fit, while the ‘buds themselves have in-line microphones. The PCS-250′s offer dual drivers as opposed to the PCS-150′s single driver design. No price has been announced, but don’t expect them to be cheap.
iWatchz.
One of the most popular 6th gen iPod Nano watch strap manufacturers, iWatchz has introduced two new collections at CES, Kube and Panama. The Kube is more funky, with the option of a translucent finish or a matte finish soft-touch rubber band, while the Panama is more classic, with a leather strap and aluminum clip. Both will be released in March.
