iLounge

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:

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Company: Luxa2

Website: www.Luxa2.com

Model: BT-X3

Price: $100

Compatible: iPads, iPhone 3G/3GS/4/4S, iPod touch 2G/3G/4G

Luxa2 BT-X3 Bluetooth Headphones

Though we quickly reached the conclusion that Luxa2's just-debuted BT-X3 Bluetooth Headphones ($100) are an OEM design -- we saw cosmetically near-identical versions over at Supertooth's 2012 CES booth -- these small, on-ear wireless headphones may appeal to some users regardless of their origins. Made with a mix of black plastic and chrome accents, BT-X3 uses Bluetooth 2.1 technology for stereo wireless audio streaming and monaural wireless calling, packing in a charging cable to replenish its integrated battery, which is found inside the left ear cup. A microphone with volume, track, play/pause and call controls are all found in the right ear cup, while foam and faux leather are used for padding on the easily folded, expandable headset. Luxa2 packs in a faux leather drawstring bag to carry the headphones and the cable.

Company: MapiCases

Website: www.mapicases.com

Model: iPad/iPad 2 Cases, iPhone 4/4S Cases

Price: $45

Compatible: iPad/iPad 2, iPhone 4/4S

MapiCases Leather Cases for iPad/iPad 2 + iPhone 4/4S

MapiCases has released a variety of different cases for both generations of the iPad, as well as the iPhone 4/4S, all of which are made out of really nice leather. First up is Modra ($60), a playthrough iPhone case that also has the features of a wallet. A flap is attached to the underside, with three card holders on the side that faces the back of the case; an additional two holders are on the back of the case itself. The flap is held to the body with a snap, and there's an optional belt clip that can be installed. Next is Tion ($45), also for the iPhone 4/4S, and with a somewhat similar, but overall divergent setup. Rather than an extra panel, two cards fit into slots along the back of the case with a tab that snaps shut to hold them in place. As with Modra, there's no button or port protection. Finally, there's Sia ($160) for both iPad/iPad 2. Made of crocodile-texture leather, it's a simple sleeve with the added benefits of an extra pocket and retractable handles. All of the cases are available in a variety of colors.

Company: Incipio

Website: www.Myincipio.com

Model: OffGrid Pro

Price: $100

Compatible: iPhone 4/4S

Incipio OffGrid Pro for iPhone 4/4S

Unveiled at the 2012 CES to a receptive audience of battery-drained iPhone 4/4S users, Incipio's new OffGrid Pro ($100) isn't the first case we've seen with the ability to swap rechargeable cells, but it's definitely a very polished implementation -- worthy of our 2012 Best of Show Award. Based upon the original OffGrid design, OffGrid Pro amazingly packs an even more powerful 1700mAh battery inside, housed in a thin rectangular block that can easily be removed and swapped with an included 1700mAh spare. Unlike rivals, Incipio includes not only the case as a battery charger, but also a standalone battery charger that can refuel the second cell while the first is being used; the pieces are so compact that both batteries and the charger can fit inside the frame, a major space savings relative to typical iPhone batteries. OffGrid Pro is amazingly thin given its capacity, adding only a modest bump to the iPhone's flat back, while providing button coverage and all the openings you'd expect. Only the headphone port hole is a challenge: it's as small as Apple's latest plugs, and therefore incompatible with many headphone brands unless you use an adapter.

Company: Uniq Creation

Website: www.Uniqcreation.com

Model: iPad 2/iPhone 4-4S Cases

Price: $30+

Compatible: iPad 2, iPhone 4/4S

Uniq Creation Cases for iPad 2 + iPhone 4/4S

Every year's CES brings an onslaught of new and recently-released cases for Apple's devices, most of which blur into one another rather than standing out. One of the several case-only developers that caught our attention this year was Uniq Creation, which showed a series of iPad 2 and iPhone 4/4S cases ($30 and up) that included some unusually thoughtful touches, even when the basic concepts seemed familiar. Each of the company's cases is designed around a theme, such as the mustachioed or bow-tied Prim & Proper, a patent leather case family with the slogan "dress smart, and your mind follows suit" embossed inside, or Streak, a colorfully striped version embossed with another slogan: "there's a unique streak in everyone, and a Streak by Uniq for every gadget." While the case shapes are almost indistinguishable from others on the market, and not always ideal -- particularly the flip-style cases for the iPhone 4/4S -- we were impressed by Uniq's tasteful style and vision of creating unified product families bound together by cute ideas and sayings.