By Gregg Ellman
McClatchy-Tribune
Trolling the aisles at the annual MacWorld/iWorld expo show recently I came across a lot of cool products, which I’ll have more in-depth reviews of later this year, but here are a few lines on some cool, new or different items that caught my attention.
A WHOLE NEW DESK
The Slate ($98) was my unofficial winner of coolest new product. They are lap-desks, 100 percent American made of polished bamboo, with the smooth feel of glass.
They weigh 3.4 ounces and have a rubber trackpad for a mouse. There also are slots to hold a smartphone in place along with holes built into the structure to let your computer breathe and stay cool.
They also showed off the SlatePro TechDesk ($498), which is built as a desk with the same craftsmanship. It has multiple display docks for your mobile devices and also features a filing rack, a pen dock and a recessed cup holder.
Details: www.iskelter.com
UBER PORTABLE TRIPOD
The Pocket Tripod is a product made by a group of people who set out to create something cool.
It’s the size of a credit card with the thickness of about two and made of ABS bendable plastic. You can fold it to create a hands-free dock for your device and when you’re done, just put the flattened card back in your wallet.
It works in both horizontal and portrait mode.
Details: $26.95, www.pocket-tripod.com
APP CONNECTS POSTS TO ALL SOCIAL MEDIA
Another company made a presentation for their new app Everypost. Within the app you can make a single social media post along with a photo and post it to most any social media simultaneously.
This includes Twitter, Facebook, Google Plus, mail, Dropbox and others.
Create and compose your content, use filters and even customize for each network.
Details: Free for iOS and Android; www.itunes.com and play.google.com
SILICONE PATCH ASSISTS TOUCH-SCREEN GAMERS
The Contact Patch is a little rubbery device to stick on the screen of most any touch-screen device. The idea is it’ll keep your eyes on the screen and your fingers exactly where they need to be — without having to look away while playing your favorite game.
The pads are made of silicone and have a thin, textured layer surrounded by a higher lip. They can be peeled off and reattached based on where needed and when needed — just clean them off with water and air dry before reattaching.
Each kit comes with 16 pieces in circles, triangles and squares for $25.
Details: www.contactpatch.biz
CHARGE APPLE, SAMSUNG PHONES WIRELESSLY
Kirk H & J’s new wireless charger, the Inpofi, is built to charge Apple and Samsung devices.
The company designed the charger to emit zero radiation. Using it is as simple as putting your smartphone down on your desk.
Details: $135.64 at Amazon for wireless charger, battery pack for iPhone 5/5s; www.kirkhj.com
THE MAGIC OF MAGNETS
Scosche’s Magic Mount system isn’t exactly “Einstein innovative” but it is one of the better offerings in the category of hands-free contraptions.
Three models are available; the surface and mobile are adhesive, while the window mount uses a suction cup. A thin plate attaches to the back of your phone for attaching to the magnetic mount.
Details: surface $14.99, mobile $19.99 and the window mount $24.99; www.scosche.com
MIKEY DIGITAL GOES LIGHTNING
Blue Microphones showed off the Mikey Digital Lightning, which is expected out in May. It features a Lightning connection for iOS devices and can flip and rotate for recording in any direction.
There are three gain settings for proper recording and will allow CD-quality audio recording for a wireless device to pair with video recording.
It connects directly to your iPhone or iPad and works with virtually any audio or video application.
Mikey Digital features two of Blue’s condenser mic capsules — the same capsules used in Blue’s award-winning Snowball and Yeti microphones.
Details: $99, www.bluemic.com
A FLASHLIGHT AND CHARGER IN ONE
PowerRocks showed off the pocket-sized and versatile Flash Magicstick, which features a 3,000mAh battery for charging wireless devices along with a flashlight.
It includes a single USB and a Micro USB port to charge multiple mobile devices, including smart phones, at the same time.
You’ll get more than 500 charges for the battery itself and the company was proud to point out that they have less than 1 percent defective and return rate.
Details: $49.99 available in many colors; www.powerocksusa.com
CHARGE YOUR PHONE — AND OPEN A BOTTLE
Kanex has a summer-ready device with the upcoming release of the Portable Charge and Sync Cable with Bottle Opener.
It will be available with iOS Lightning and microUSB connections on one end and the opener on the other.
Details: Expected price is $25 and should be out in July, www.kanexlive.com
