First Looks
Welcome to our new, continuously-updated First Looks - a collection of previews showing brand new iPod, iPhone and iPad accessories that we’re currently in the process of testing. Here’s what’s hot right now:
Spigen SGP Skin Guard for iPad mini
Available in several different colors, in either faux leather or polyurethane with a carbon fiber-style texture, Spigen SGP's Skin Guard for iPad mini ($20) is otherwise a pretty standard sticker. Instead of covering the entire back of the tablet, it's a rounded rectangle about 4.9" wide and 7.4" tall, with a single opening for the camera. In the package, you also get a cleaning cloth and a metallic Spigen sticker. The company says the protector can be installed while remaining compatible with many cases.
Company: IK Multimedia
Website: www.IKmultimedia.com
Model: iLine
Price: $60
Compatible: All iPads, iPhones + iPod touches
IK Multimedia iLine Mobile Music Cable Kit
Including a collection of six high-quality professional cables, iLine ($59) is designed to provide iPad, iPhone, and iPod touch users with all of the parts they'd need to connect to common audio accessories. Each cable includes a 3.5mm plug designed for iOS device input and output and specifically molded to fit through most cases. The package includes a 1/4" mono output adapter, 1/4" mono output splitter, 3.5mm extension, 3.5mm auxiliary cable, 3.5mm headphone/speaker splitter, and an RCA output adapter, along with cable fasteners and a carrying/storage case to keep them all in. Each cable is color-coded and features gold-plated connectors, copper conductors and high-density shielding with low-capacitance insulation.
Company: Incipio
Website: www.incipio.com
Model: Alcantara Folio
Price: $170
Compatible: iPad 2, iPad (3rd/4th-Gen)
Incipio Alcantara Folio for iPad 2, iPad (3rd/4th-Gen)
Incipio's new Alcantara Folio for iPad ($170) -- no, that price isn't a typo -- shares the same body as its earlier $40 case Lexington, and is a folio design with a hard plastic shell. The $130 difference? Instead of faux leather, it's covered in Alcantara, a "vegan suede material, with the appearance and touch of suede leather," used in luxury cars and Formula One racing. We're scratching our heads as to why anyone might prefer fake suede over fake leather given the price premium. Alcantara Folio will come with Incipio's standard Vanity Kit (not pictured).
Company: RadTech
Website: www.Radtech.us
Model: Portectorz
Price: $10
Compatible: iPad (4th-Gen), iPad mini, iPhone 5, iPod touch 5G
RadTech Portectorz for iPad (4th-Gen), iPad mini, iPhone 5 + iPod touch 5G
For those concerned with dust and other contaminants entering the ports of their iOS devices, Radtech is offering Portectorz ($10). Although there are different sets, this particular package includes separate rubber protectors for the headphone and Lightning ports, plus a dual protector that bridges both of the bottom iPhone 5 and iPod touch ports.
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- Can’t restore iPod touch without passcode
- Retaining older versions of Apps during an iOS Restore
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