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It's been over two months since Apple (Nasdaq: AAPL) released the iPhone 3G, and most iPhone accessory manufacturers have had time to create the first round of iPhone 3G-compatible accessories.
The term "coolest" is totally subjective, of course, and in the iPhone world it's even more so -- one person's cool new iPhone 3G case is another's dorkiest design mistake ever conceived in the history of cases.
"Interesting" and "compelling" are usually more accurate, so here's a roundup of some of the iPhone 3G accessories that are worth taking a closer look at. Of course, some of these accessories are undeniably cool.
Cases and Screen Protectors
When it comes to cases, there are two basic camps -- soft and hard. Soft cases are usually made from rubbery silicone-type materials that evolved to catch less lint and offer a variety of textures.
The Marware Sport Grip for iPhone 3G combines a particularly snug iPhone 3G fit that covers the bottom front button portion of the iPhone 3G as well as the top portion near the ear piece. It has a large cutout for the screen and other ports, and it provides a nice balance of thickness for overall protection. Some soft cases seem too thin to offer much protection, while others, like the Speck ToughSkin for iPhone 3G, are thick and rugged. The ToughSkin rubberized case sports a design pattern more likely to be seen on off-road tires than on a phone.
There are dozens, maybe hundreds, of silicone-based iPhone 3G cases available now in a dizzying array of colors, designs and textures -- and it's hard to go wrong with most of them. The Contour Fusion for iPhone 3G, however, treads the ground between hard and soft by offering a case that's a combination of hard polycarbonate and soft silicone. The subtle design cutouts between the hard and the soft on the back of the iPhone make for something undeniably cool. The SwitchEasy CapsuleRebel, however, is another similar hybrid case that may be even cooler than the Fusion.
Hard cases have often had a hard time with bulkiness, but they do offer some of the most serious protection available. Many previous iPhone hard cases have been a pain to dock because they required the removal of the phone from the entire case. New designs like the Griffin Technology Elan Form for iPhone 3G, however, offer a removable bottom for easy docking. And the looks seem to be improving as well -- the Reflect, also from Griffin Technology, pairs a matte black rubberized back with a chrome-like reflective front.
Aside from the cases, perhaps the most important protective element goes directly on the screen. Screen protectors come from a range of manufacturers and are basically strong, thin sheets of plastic that stick to the glass screen but don't interfere with the touch screen itself. Some have adhesive and are difficult to install, leaving the users with bubbles, some of which manage to work themselves out after days of regular iPhone usage. Others, like the Power Support Crystal Film Set for iPhone, utilize static cling to remain in place -- and are much easier to install than those that use adhesives. Plus, it comes in an anti-glare version that provides a slightly matte look and feel to the iPhone screen and makes it easier to see in sunlight. It very slightly dims the vibrancy of the graphics on the iPhone, but it's hardly noticeable, and it's often worth the improvement in bright light use. Oh, one more thing: The anti-glare also hides fingerprints, so no unsightly smudges with this accessory.
There's also a new kind of case worth consideration that's made out of a scratch-proof, military-grade film. It's the kind of stuff that shields helicopter blades from sand and debris. Zagg's invisibleSHIELD for the iPhone is worth a look, as is the Case-Mate Clear Armor Protective Film for iPhone 3G. For those who like a naked iPhone but still yearn for solid protection, these are wicked cool.
Of course, in an entirely different direction, the Miniot iWood collection provides cases made out of gorgeous hardwoods. But are they cool? They probably are to someone out there, possibly those guys who have wood paneling on the dashes of their luxury cars.
Headsets and Ear Pieces
There are lots of compatible wireless headsets, of course, but this is an iPhone, not an iPod, and talking is king. When it comes to the Bluetooth headsets for wireless calling, it's hard to beat Aliph's New Jawbone. It comes with the undeniably cool NoiseAssassin technology, which was originally perfected with DARPA for battlefield applications and cuts out ambient background noise so your friends can hear what you're saying. Don't like the looks of the New Jawbone? The BlueAnt Wireless Z9i Bluetooth Headset has snagged some good reviews, and the easy and consistent integration of Apple's own iPhone Bluetooth Headset is also hard to beat. Oh, and the Plantronics Discovery 925 Bluetooth Headset is one of the best looking headsets around, and it's getting decent reviews, too.
The Etymotic Research hf2 high-fidelity, hands-free earphones take another route -- high-quality sound and a wired headset, coupled with in-ear noise-isolating plugs. It's been getting great reviews for the combination of audio quality.
Power Supplies
For getting the battery juiced up, the Apple Universal Dock is a handy place to start because it not only charges the iPhone 3G, but also offers connectivity to audio and Macs. It's no longer as elegant as the iPhone, but hey, it works. Both Griffin and Kensington offer a mind-blowing number of car chargers and accessories, all of which are pretty darn solid. You can go light with the Griffin PowerJolt Car Charger for iPhone or iPod, which is just a car charger cord. Or you can get all tricked out with Kensington's LiquidAUX for iPhone and iPod, which comes with direct line-in auxiliary port connection for the car stereo and a 2.4 GHz remote control. For automobile power options, it's tough to go wrong with either Griffin or Kensington selection of products. 'Nuf said there.
Moving on, there's the portable battery charger market. The Kensington Mini Battery Pack and Charger adds a nice, pint-sized blast of electricity by plugging directly into the bottom of the iPhone 3G -- but it's more for supplemental charges rather a full-on recharge. Still, it's light, handy, and easy enough to talk on with it connected. The APC Mobile Power Pack offers a lot more charging -- it can easily recharge an empty iPhone -- but it's a bit bulkier and requires a USB connection cable to power the iPhone. On the flip side, it can also charge most any other mobile device that can be charged via USB -- definitely a cool point that extends its use.
One of the hottest battery packs for the original iPhone is still not yet available for the iPhone 3G -- the Mophie Juice Pack. It's got some cool green accent color that matches the green inside the graphical battery on the iPhone's screen, and it slides onto to the back and bottom of the iPhone to act like a case, too. It was originally on tap for September delivery, but now it won't be available until Oct. 15.
Speakers and Audio
The biggest problem with the iPhone and external speakers is the static they tend to pick up from the mobile phone chipsets whenever the phone communicates over the cellular network. Users can get around this by putting their iPhones into airplane mode, but what a pain in the butt! Some new speaker systems that are shielded from this interferrence are hitting the market, however, and worth a closer look. The Altec Lansing T612 Digital Speaker System for iPhone is a case in point. It's got a built-in dock for the iPhone, and it's got an elegant design that will complement the handset. Plus, there's a wireless remote, separate bass and treble controls, and it's wall mountable! What's not to like?
There are a couple of solid shielded clock radios on the market for those who are into them -- the Sony (NYSE: SNE) Speaker Dock/Clock Radio for iPod Music Player and the iHome iP99 Dual Alarm Clock Radio for iPhone + iPod -- but they should only be used out of sight, in the bedroom.
One More Thing
While there are hundreds -- heading into thousands -- of iPhone 3G accessories, there's one more that doesn't fit into nice and neat categories: the Apple Composite AV Cable.
It lets you connect iPhone and iPods to TV sets to watch videos or slideshows on a bigger screen -- Apple iTunes movie rentals, too.
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