This Week In Accessories: Get Your Music And Weather Without Any Wires
by Brent Dirks
August 31, 2012
It’s Friday, so that means one thing – a review of some of the best accessories that hit the market this week. While everyone in the United States is enjoying the long holiday weekend that marks the traditional end of summer, here are some new companions to look at for your iOS devices.
Freedom Sprint
JayBird has introduced its new line of Freedom Sprint Bluetooth earbuds designed for sports activities. More than 40 percent smaller than the previous version, the earbuds have a battery life of 4.5 hours. Users can also take calls along with wirelessly streaming music. As a unique draw, JayBird is also offering a lifetime warranty against sweat. The Freedom Sprint earbuds are available for $129 directly from JayBird’s site.
Urban Weather Station
Netatmo’s new Urban Weather Station puts an iOS device spin on meteorology. The device is designed to monitor indoor and outdoor temperature, humidity, air pressure, CO2 levels, and more. The station transmits the information from both the included indoor and outdoor modules via Wi-Fi to the free Netatmo app. Probably the most interesting part of the Urban Weather Station is the CO2 monitoring. In an indoor environment, when carbon dioxide reaches an excessive level, the station informs a user via the app. On the outdoor side, the station can also detect air quality conditions, which is a big help to city dwellers with respiratory issues. Users also receive a lifetime online account where all station data and measurements is stored. The history can be accessed directly through the app as well. The weather station can be purchased directly from Netatmo for $179. The app is available for free to download in the App Store.
Universal USB Power Dock Pro Flex
If you’re like me, charging outlets are definitely at a premium in your vehicle. But Bracketron’s new Universal USB Power Dock Pro Flex looks to help with that problem. Along with being a flexible mount that holds your iPhone or iPod touch while charging, the dock also features a 12V USB port to charge another item. A PowerGrip arm securely holds the dock in a vehicle’s charging port, and the dock can be adjusted 360 degrees for optimal viewing. An LED power indicator shows when a device is plugged in and charging. The dock, which comes with a USB to micro-USB charging cable, is $36.95 and can be pre-ordered on Bracketron’s site.
