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: id America

Website: id-case.com

Model: Gasket, Skyline

Price: $25-$30

Compatible: iPhone 4

id America Gasket + Skyline Cases for iPhone 4

We're typically appreciative when companies make bold design choices, but id America's Gasket ($30) and Skyline ($25) cases are on the fine edge of taking the idea a bit too far. The Gasket is a brushed aluminum case with foam lining, a design that will most likely be radio-neutral with iPhone 4's widely-publicized antenna problem while leaving a substantial portion of the phone's rear glass surface exposed; front and rear film is included to help make up for the lack of protection. The Skyline is a rubber play-through case with a not-so-subtle skyline graphic pressed out of the back; again, front and rear film covers are included to make up for the substantial openings there. Skyline actually includes front edge protection, while Gasket is just a rear shell, and a largely cosmetic one at that.

Company: XtremeMac

Website: www.xtrememac.com

Model: Luna SST

Price: $130

Compatible: iPhones, Dock Connecting iPods

XtremeMac Luna SST

XtremeMac's original Luna was one of the very best alarm clocks ever designed for the iPod, but a corporate shakeup at the company effectively scuttled its official Luna sequel, and a smaller, portable follow-up called Luna Voyager was nice enough but not particularly powerful or innovative. Now XtremeMac is back with Luna SST ($130), which borrows an idea that iHome tried a few years ago with certain of its early iPod alarm clocks: a detachable speaker. Luna SST is shipped by default with a tiny telephone cord connecting the base dock, clock, and speaker to a satellite speaker unit, but you can flip the system over, connect a longer cable -- not the most efficient design -- and detach the speaker to place it someplace else for a wider stereo image or sound on the other side of a bed. The dual-alarm system doesn't include its own backup batteries, so you'll need to pop them into the compartment on the bottom, but it does have a bright red clock face, an FM radio, and simple controls. A remote and international wall blades are included; the system arrived covered in stickers to protect its ultra-glossy surfaces, oddly with a prototype reference on the bottom. We'll have to wait and see whether it makes it into orbit.

Company: Blue Microphones

Website: www.Bluemic.com

Model: Mikey (2010)

Price: $80

Compatible: iPod 5G, classic, nano 2G/3G/4G/5G, touch 1G/2G/3G

Blue Microphones Mikey for iPod

At this point -- nearly a year after it was first shown, and delayed from its originally projected release date -- we'll admit to being really confused over Blue Microphones' new Mikey for iPod ($80), the sequel to a high-quality but expensive recording device for earlier iPod models. The pitch with the same-priced 2009 version was that iPod nano and classic users who were really interested in high-quality stereo recording using an external mic could add Mikey on and get it, and this version has been retooled with sleeker curves, iPod touch app support, and apparently tweaked stereo audio performance with a similar capsule microphone array. There's also a pass-through USB port on the side, as well as a stereo input port on the bottom, and a soft carrying case in the package. What's odd here is that Mikey doesn't work with the current version of the iPod touch, which puts up an error message upon initial connection, and doesn't promise compatibility with any iPhone or the current iPod nano, either. As much as we appreciate what Blue's been trying to do with these Mikey designs, this one again feels like it's expensive and behind the curve in compatibility; if you have an older iPod touch, though, a free Blue FiRe recording app is available for recording.

Company: Gecko Gear

Website: http://www.geckogear.com/

Model: Edge, Profile, Vision for iPhone 4, Vision for iPod touch 4G

Price: $20-$30

Compatible: iPhone 4, iPod touch 4G

Gecko Gear Gecko Edge + Gecko Profile for iPhone 4, Gecko Vision for iPhone 4 + iPod touch

Sitting squarely in the "me too" category are Gecko Gear's new Gecko Edge ($20), Gecko Profile ($30), and Gecko Vision ($30) cases for the iPhone 4. The Gecko Edge is a two-piece, snap-together Bumper clone that includes a screen protector -- stiffer than Apple's design and not friendly to oversized headphones. Gecko Profile is a straightforward snap-on one-piece shell, not distinctive in any way, though packed with a screen protector as well. Last in the lineup is Gecko Vision, a Bumper-like case with a clear plastic back panel that bears more than a passing resemblance to the Griffin Reveal; this model is also available for the fourth-generation iPod touch, with a more impressively curvy, unified rubber and plastic design.