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: USAePay

Website: www.Paysaber.com

Model: PaySaber Clip

Price: $80*

Compatible: iPod touch, iPhone, iPad

USAePay PaySaber Clip Point-of-Sale System

Shipped with a wall charger and USB cable, PaySaber Clip ($80) is USAePay's first portable point-of-sale system for all iOS users, bringing features from its prior iPhone- and iPod touch-compatible units to a design that works equally well with the iPad. Contrasting with the diminutive Square Reader and Intuit GoPayment systems, PaySaber Clip has a three-track bi-directional credit card reader and end-to-end data encryption system inside a much larger, clip-based housing. A USB port provides a pass-through route for an included USB cable and wall charger to refuel your iOS device during use. Several free applications are available to enable payment processing using the hardware, however, unlike Square's free hardware and wholly transaction-based percentage system, USAePay's pricing approach is different. You can pay $80 outright for the more premium card-swiping terminal, or get it for free with a 12-month commitment to recurring merchant fees of $10 or more, atop per-transaction costs of $0.20 per charge plus 0.69%-1.69% of the transaction amount.

Company: Imymee

Website: www.imymee.com

Model: Shockproof Case

Price: $28

Compatible: iPhone 4/4S

Imymee Shockproof Case for iPhone 4/4S

We haven't come across a case quite like Imymee's Shockproof Case for iPhone 4/4S ($28) before, but there are certainly aspects that are familiar. The bonelike shape reminds us of Griffin's FlexGrip Action, while the co-molded rubber and plastic construction is clearly inspired by Speck's CandyShell series and other similar cases. With full button coverage and thickly padded edges, we see this as a viable choice for drop-conscious Phone users. A piece of screen protector film is included with each case. That said, we're guessing that someone in Cupertino is going to take issue with the cut-out Apple logo at the bottom right corner of the case.

Company: Imymee

Website: www.imymee.com

Model: Crayon

Price: $15

Compatible: All iPads, iPhones, iPod touches

Imymee Crayon Touch Stylus Pen

Clearly inspired by Just Mobile's AluPen but different enough not to be a clone, Imymee's Crayon ($15) is a stubby, rubber-coated stylus with a soft capacitive tip and a headphone port plug on its ends. Available in five colors, Crayon has a hard core, Imymee branding on one edge, and a picture of an owl on its white or black top. At 3.75" long, this stylus is among the shortest we've seen, and very comparable to an atypically thick crayon. Each one is shipped in a clear plastic tube with a silver cap.

Company: Innova/Noreve

Website: www.Noreve.com

Model: Tradition B

Price: €90-€100/~$120-$133

Compatible: iPad 2/iPad (3rd-Gen)

Noreve Tradition B Leather Case for iPad 2/iPad (3rd-Gen)

We were less than thrilled with Noreve's Tradition B for iPad 2, so we weren't sure what to expect when the new model (€90-€100/~$120-$133) -- now compatible with the third-generation iPad -- showed up. It's no longer the same OEM-sourced folio design we've seen from other companies, but it doesn't appear to be totally unique either, and the quality has arguably taken a turn for the worse. Our review unit arrived with padded suede-like Sandy Vintage leather, which is pretty nice, but the tailoring and design of the rear shell is quite bad. It holds the iPad in place with curled-over edges that don't fit well on the curved aluminum device. The openings are surprisingly poorly cut and centered, with unsteady lines. Holes for the Dock Connector and microphone are much larger than usual due to the placement of the crease for converting the case into a stand, a process that actually makes the case's grip on the iPad even worse. Add to that the fact that the magnets in the cover don't work to automatically lock and unlock the new iPad, and we'll skip the full review on this one. Simply put, we'd just stay away from it. Noreve really needs to get its act together and start designing or sourcing cases worthy of the premium prices it's charging.