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When the first watch bands started appearing for iPod nanos, I really thought the idea was ludicrous. After all, what kind of person would spend a minimum of US$129 on a touchscreen watch when they have a really good clock in their pocket — an iPhone — already? I felt that way until a friend of mine gave me a 6G iPod nano a few weeks ago and I coincidentally received a Hex Vision Classic Leather Watch Band (US$49.95) to review. Now I’m hooked on the idea of the 6G iPod nano as a watch, and this classy and inexpensive watch band has had a lot to do with my change of heart.

Design

There’s not much to say about watch bands. Basically, they’re what hold the mechanical or electrical gadgetry onto your wrist. In the case of the watch bands that have been designed for the sixth-generation iPod nano, they hold the nano into place either using the clip on the back of the device or through some other mechanical means.

Some of the designs I’ve seen so far have been bulky affairs that encase the entire nano. More often, the watch bands use a mechanism that is like that of the Vision Classic — a stainless steel (or other material) plate that the nano clips onto. I like this more open design, as the nano doesn’t need to be removed from the band for syncing or charging.

The Vision Classic is indeed a take on the classic leather watch band. The stainless steel clip makes it easy to add or remove the nano while being unobtrusive. The leather band is comfortable and topstitched for added flair, and comes in four different colors: black, white, British tan, and grey.

Functionality

The Vision Classic does what it’s designed to do: hold an iPod nano to your wrist while looking good. It feels great, it’s easy to get the nano in and out of the watch band, and — most importantly in my opinion — it’s inexpensive for a non-plastic nano band.

Yeah, you can get crappy-looking polycarbonate watch bands from a number of manufacturers (including Hex) for less money, but when it comes to nice looking bands that don’t cost an arm and a leg, the Vision Classic Leather Watch Band is a winner.

Be sure to check out the gallery of photos to see the Vision Classic and my mighty arm in action.

en One Design has brought a number of well-received accessories to the iOS world, including the recently announced Magnus iPad stand. Now the company has taken the wraps off of a new pressure sensitive stylus that it is publicly stating as “our first product for the iPad 3.”

Dubbed “Project Blue Tiger“, the stylus uses Bluetooth 4.0 to automatically link with an iPad or iPhone with no pairing required. The width of the line drawn by the stylus is controlled by pressure, and there’s a tiny multi-colored LED that displays the current color of “ink” being dispensed by the virtual pen.

Before you rush out and order one of the as-yet-unnamed styluses, please understand that Ten One Design hasn’t yet made the decision to produce the device. As Ten One states on their website, the product will ship after being approved by the FCC, and if there is enough developer support. The company has developed a free API to allow developers to integrate the stylus with their drawing or painting apps.

Full details of the stylus, including the name and price, should be available soon. Be sure to check out the demo video below.

[via MacStories]

Inventor Cliff Thier thinks the ipad is perfect except for one thing: Its touchscreen is not suitable for touch typing. That’s why he invented iKeyboard.

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I was excited to check out Third Rail Mobility’s new battery & case system for the iPhone 4, developed by a family of entrepreneurs who say they aren’t afraid to touch the ‘third rail’ of mobile consumer electronics in addressing poor battery life. The system, on sale today, pairs a slimline 1250 mAh battery with a light protective case. But this battery comes off, attaching firmly when you need it and staying out of the way in your bag or jacket when you don’t. I’ve been testing a prerelease unit for the past week, hoping to figure out if it truly is the best of both worlds.

Take an iChair, remove the case, add a suction cup and, voilà, the Oona smartphone stand. The Oona stand is a Kickstarter project, looking to raise US $10,000 to produce the first run of the neat, unobtrusive stands that look perfect for holding your iPhone steady on your desk or attaching it to your car windscreen.

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It would be a lot easier to tote around your iPad if it had a handle you could hold on to.  Not a problem thanks to ColorWare who has introduced The Grip for iPad.  The Grip is made from aircraft grade aluminum to create a case and handle to protect and hold your iPad with.  As the ColorWare brand name would suggest, it’s available in a bunch of different colors.
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Do you use your iPhone often for Facetime? Well, if you’re one of the select few who does so, then you might want to check out what the Satarii Star is capable of doing. This unique device will definitely need your iPhone to remain docked within, where it can swivel around to track your movement. To make things more flexible, it allows you to dock your iPhone in either portrait or landscape mode, literally allowing you to position it where you want it. As for the second part of this setup, it comprises of a small tracking device that allows you to clip onto the subject. The tracking device will communicate with the base within a 25 foot radius, where the base can rotate up to 180 degress, aiming at the tracker always. No idea on when it will be released commercially and for how much, since this is still part of an in-development project from a team of California-based designers.

Aspiring musicians with a gentle touch should check out this project from the Australian group behind the Wallee mount for the iPad. The designers are developing rubberized accessories, branded Pix & Stix, to be used with GarageBand on the iPad 2.The project includes a pair of drum sticks and a guitar pick that lets you use the iPad like a real instrument. Both the sticks and the guitar pick include electro-conductive rubber tips compatible with the iPad’s capacitive touchscreen display.

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Do you like Griffin’s CinemaSeat? Do you own one? Are there better alternatives? Sound off in the comments!

Digital media has become so important in our lives to the point that we feel virtually lost without it. From sending text messages to watching television, technology has become an important aspect of our modern lifestyle. When you’re driving in a car, it’s no different. More recent car technologies range from Bluetooth headsets to portable electronic chargers.

Griffin offers many different accessories of their own that can be used within the car, such as the CinemaSeat; a headrest video case for iPad. It’s a great accessory if you’re carpooling or going on a long road trip, and you’ll soon find out why. For those with the new iPad, don’t forget to check out the matching CinemaSeat for iPad 2.

Are you a frequent gamer with an iPad or iPad 2? If you are, you’ll find Ten One Design’s Fling joystick to be very handy. It’s an attachable, analog joystick that will provide you with a more tactile gaming experience than using your fingers.

I tried it out on my original iPad and it worked considerably well. It makes gaming a lot easier if you’re not particularly good at it like myself. It’s made of a transparent plastic with an anodized aluminum center and it doesn’t take up too much room on your screen. It’s really flexible, too. When you’re done gaming, you can remove it and store it in the included microfiber bag. The Fling is a pretty nifty accessory, and it won a Best of Show award at Macworld 2011 to boot. The only downside? For such a simple accessory, it’ll run you $19.95† plus an additional $4.99 for shipping to get your own