This Week In Accessories: A Unique iPhone 5 Battery Case And More

May 24, 2013

Welcome back to This Week in Accessories. Here in the United States, we’ll be celebrating the unofficial start of summer with the Memorial Day holiday on Monday. And if you’re hitting the road or hosting a barbecue, we’ve got four new iOS device accessories to help you keep charged and playing on.

Freedom 2000 from MyCharge

While Lightning-enabled battery cases for the iPhone 5 have begun to hit the market, the Freedom 2000 from MyCharge provides a unique solution. Instead of covering the entire bottom part of the handset, the case uses a tethered Lightning cable that can be plugged in when you need extra power. When it isn’t needed, the tip tucks away into the case. Even though the case weighs less than 0.4 ounces, MyCharge says the 2,000 mAH battery can completely charge a dead iPhone. The power button on the back of the case also tells the user how much power is left in the extra battery. The case charges with an included micro-USB cable. Available in either silver or black, the Freedom 2000 retails for $79.99 and can be purchased on BestBuy.com now.

Minx Air 100 and 200 from Cambridge Audio

High-end speaker manufacturer Cambridge Audio has just introduced a pair of AirPlay-compatible speakers – the Minx Air 100 and 200. Both speakers can also connect to any Bluetooth-enabled device. Using the free Minx Air app, available to download in the App Store now, users can find their favorite Internet radio station and then assign it to one of five preset buttons on either unit for quick access. The 100 is 14-inches wide and packs 100W of power. Measuring in at 18-inches wide, the 200 is highlighted by a 200W set of digital amplifiers plus a built-in active subwoofer. Both the Minx 100 and 200 are available directly from Cambridge Audio and retail for $449 and $599, respectively.

UE BOOM from Ultimate Ears

Touted as a social music player, the UE BOOM offers 360-degree sound and an impressive battery that provides up to 15 hours of playback on a single charge. Wrapped in a special acoustic skin that is both water and stain resistant, music lovers can use the free UE BOOM app to wirelessly connect two units to play in either stereo-to-stereo or traditional left/right stereo mode. Available in six colors - red, black, white, blue, pink and moss green – the UE Boom can be purchased on the Ultimate Ears site and other retailers for $199.99.

smartSTRIKE from Scosche

Featuring a 2-in-1 connector design, the smartSTRIKE from Scosche can charge and sync both a Lightning and micro-USB device with just one cable. A slim barrel design should also work with most cases, even backup battery packs. The smartSTRIKE retails for $24.99 and can be purchased directly from Scosche. Featuring a retractable cable, the smartSTRIKE PRO costs $5 more.