There’s something cool about recycling old gadgets. While I don’t think that you should go ahead and destroy perfectly working cameras, no matter when they were made, broken and discarded ones can be reused in this fashion.

Each of these docks is handmade and unique, which is even better. They are available from Laboratoria Altieri’s Etsy shop with prices starting around $69 (USD). There are currently only a couple of models available, but once they sell out there will be probably more listed.

[via Geek & Hype]

Designed by Mike Henry, the compact and minimal LIL KIKR also functions as stand and charging dock for your iPhone. It will blast music up to 10dB louder than the iPhone’s built-in speaker. There’s even a channel to amplify the sounds going into the microphone, so you can use it as a speakerphone or for Facetime calls. It’s made from machined anodized aluminum, along with a pair of rubber-covered stainless steel kickstands. For charging, there’s an integral slot which can hold on to the included 30-pin charging cable.

The LIL KICKR is designed to snugly fit the iPhone 4/4S, but another model, LIL KIKR+ will also be compatible with older iPhones and some iPods. You’ll need to pledge at least $50(USD) over on Kickstarter to get your own.

[via Ubergizmo]

Pad & Quill have launched a Kickstarter project to crowdfund this tiny book cover iPod nano 6G case. Its style will please you if you like Moleskine notebooks.

You’ll have to pledge $34(USD) to get your own Littlest Black Book over at Kickstarter. At the time of writing, they have amassed $828 out of their $4,500 goal, and there are 28 days left. Even if this thing started out as an April Fools prank, it seems that people are willing to spend their money on one, so there’s a good chance these will be produced.

[via Ubergizmo]

The Medisana TargetScale will determine weight, body mass index, body fat, water percentages, muscle and bone mass for up to four users. It comes with an active matrix screen, surrounded by glowing rings that light up like a disc from TRON. The rings are supposed to let you see how far or how close you are to your ideal weight. The scale comes equipped with Bluetooth technology so that it can pair up with the VitaDock app you can run on your iPhone.

You can find the Medisana TargetScale at Firebox for £129.99 (~$208 USD), and you can get the VitaDock app from iTunes for free.

[via Uncrate]

The USB Mini Cable Kit measures just about 5 inches-tall and takes up very little space in your bag. It covers all of the essentials, including a micro USB connector for smartphones and cameras, mini USB connector for cameras and other electronics, and an Apple Dock Connector for all of your iOS gear including iPhones, iPads and iPods. Each 4 inch-long cable has a standard USB connector on the other end.

The kit is available in the fluorescent colors shown here, or in grey, black and white. It sells from Incase for $24.95 (USD).

[via NOTCOT]

The prongs on the Plug are actually just parts of a plastic cap that conceals a male iOS dock connector. The wire or cable end on the other hand conceals a female mini-USB connector. It would’ve been better if it had a male USB connector instead so you can just plug it in a USB port without the need for a cable. The Plug only has an 800mAh battery inside so it won’t be able to fully charge an iPhone or iPod Touch. But it is quite small and can be attached to a key ring so you can always bring it with you.

You can pre-order the Plug external battery from Gessato for $28(USD). I wonder if there’s an actual power plug that has a female USB connector on the other end. Now that would be really useful.

[via Materialicious]

While you could just go wireless with an AirPlay-compatible dock, you can’t exactly charge up that way. The dockXtender is just a cable with a male 30-pin connector on one end and a female connector on the other end, but this simple tool will give you better access to your device, so you can keep multitasking, you impatient consumer you. The video below also shows other possible uses for the dockXtender:

The dockXtender comes in two variants. The $16(USD) basic cable is 19″ long and will pass audio, enable remote control and sync and charge iOS devices, while the premium cable comes in two sizes – 2′ for for $26 and 6′ for $31, although as of this writing it’s discounted to $27 – and will also let you play videos. Neither of the cables are compatible with Apple’s VGA and digital AV adapters though.

For now, they offer stands for iPad 2s, iPhones 3GS, 4 and 4S. The thinking behind these semi-durable stands is that you’ll eventually end up upgrading your smartphone, so why should your stand outlast your gadget? Often, stands aren’t compatible with the new versions of your favorite tech, so it makes sense to recycle them when necessary instead of adding more junk to our landfills.

The cardboard stands are available from Weltunit, but you’ll have to sign up for their newsletter in order to find out how to get one.

[via Bookofjoe via Likecool]

As you might have guessed, the blasters will need two things to work. Actually make that seven: six AA batteries and a free complementary app (shown below). According to Hasbro’s announcement, the Lazer Tag system will be able to detect shots fired from more than 700ft away. That range is reduced to 250ft in bright sunlight, although I’d say that’s still a generous distance to work with. The Lazer Tag system will also feature unlockable equipment and leaderboards.

The app will also have a single player mode where the user hunts and fires at virtual targets while still earning points and unlocking goodies, none of which will make up for how pathetic you’ll look when you’re playing the game on your own.

As I mentioned above, the Lazer Tag system will launch on August 1 and will be available for order from Hasbro’s online shop. The blasters will sell for $40 (USD) each, but you can also get a 2-pack for $70. Hopefully you won’t have to incur the costs of broken iPhones and friendships as well.

I have edited this post to reflect the correction and added information provided by Lazer Tag software engineer Brian “TagFerret” Farley. Brian works for Shoot the Moon, the company that holds the rights to the Lazer Tag brand name. He’s also the co-inventor of the popular Lazer Tag Ops line, so if you meet him in the battlefield I think it’s safe to say that you’re toast. Thanks Brian!

[via Engadget]

The Klipsch M40s are the first active noise-canceling headphones from the brand, designed to drown out distracting background sounds like jet engines and subway rattle. They feature dynamic dual 40mm woofers and 15mm tweeter drivers in order to provide solid sound. They are powered by a single AAA battery, and each is supposed to last for about 45 hours. One cool thing is that they don’t need batteries to provide sound. Some noise-canceling headphones, like the Dr. Dre Beats Studio, have no sound when the battery runs out. These continue running, and only the noise-canceling is deactivated.

The ear pads use a low repulsion foam (like in Tempur-Pedic pillows), making them good to keep on for long periods of time. One of the cables comes with a remote control and a built-in microphone. For those of you buying on specs, frequency response is rated from 20Hz to 20kHz, sensitivity is 97.5dB@1mW, at an impedance of 32Ω.

The new Klipsch M40 active noise-canceling headphones sell for $349.99(USD) at various online retailer and on the Klipsch website.

[via Fareastgizmos]

The cases from Schreer Delights certainly look authentic. They’ve got a couple of other models, including the G4 Graphite, and some non-Apple themed cases as well. The retro iMac iPhone case in Bondi Blue looks really good in my opinion. The graphics are printed deep in the plastic of the case, so even if the case is slightly damaged, the images won’t fade.

The cases are available for the iPhone 4 and 4S for $45(USD) each, but they might not be available for long, because Apple is sure to flex their legal muscles to protect their intellectual property rights. So if you want one, you’d better move quick.

[via core77]

The Porta Pro’s have an in-line three-button remote, microphone so that you can use your iPhone, iPod or iPod, and comfortable pads so that your ears aren’t crushed. They are collapsible and come with a carrying case for maximum portability. Specs include a generous frequency range of 15-25,000Hz, and a sensitivity of 101 dB SPL at 1mW.

They sell for $49.99(USD) over at Koss, which isn’t too bad for someone looking for distinctive headphones with retro appeal.

[via Uncrate]

The iBamboo was made by New York area Etsy contributor Anatoliy Omelchenko and I have to say that it does look good with an iPhone in place. It’s machined so that it can rest on a flat surface. You just insert your iPhone 4 or 4S on the top and press play. The natural resonance of bamboo will amplify your music – though I’m not sure how much. With openings on both ends of the dock, it’s supposed to produce a “stereo-like” effect, but don’t expect true stereo separation, since the iPhone only has a single speaker.

Each one is crafted from a single piece of bamboo, then finished with a black lacquer coating. Keep in mind that since iBamboo is crafted from a natural material, each dock will be slightly different. The iBamboo sells for $25(USD) on Etsy.

[via Make:]

The black light bar spans about 4 feet, so the device isn’t small. You have the option of having it output a soft glow (for mood lighting in your bedroom), a continuous strobe effect (for your dance party or to mess you up while you stare at it), or a an effect that flashes the light based on the BPM of the songs you listen too. I don’t know what a pulsating black light effect looks like, though.

I don’t know much about the quality of the stereo speakers, which for me is the most important when buying something like this, but the funky lighting does make me curious. If you want to check it out, the Pulsing Light Bar dock is available from Sharper Image for $149.99(USD).

[via Ubergizmo]

This is basically a solution if you have speakers that aren’t AirPlay-compatible, which is probably most of us. Instead of replacing them, you can just get the Griffin Twenty and plug in your AirPort Express base station. Then you’ll just have to wire in your speakers and you can stream songs from your iOS device wirelessly to your speakers. I have to say it’s a pretty cool idea.

As its name hints, the Twenty outputs 20 watts-per-channel, and it connects to the Airport Express via its digital output, ensuring the most pristine audio. Griffin hasn’t yet announced a price or a release date, but I’m guessing it’s going to be sold soon. You’ll also need to add your own spare AirPort Express base station to make it work.

The Samsung Audio Dock’s hybrid amp system combines digital amplification with vacuum tubes. The 2.1-channel speaker comes with a built-in subwoofer and produces 100 watts of sound. It has USB and analog audio inputs, support for AllShare, AirPlay and Bluetooth wireless audio streaming, and the dock is capable of accepting either iOS or Samsung Galaxy devices.

The DA-E750 is the flagship model, but there’s a 40-Watt DA-E670 model as well, which skips the fancy vacuum tube setup, and looks nearly as good. Pricing and a release date has yet to be announced.

The built-in battery, which must be pretty big, can power the Backyard Blaster for up to 12 hours of use. The whole speaker is supposed to be somewhat rugged, which is good since it will get kicked around a bit at parties. It was made for iPhones and iPods, but other players, including the iPad, will need to use the auxiliary audio input. The blaster even has an integrated microphone from impromptu karaoke sessions.

The Backyard Blaster is being launched at this week’s CES show, and we should know more about a price and release date then.

[via Ubergizmo]

Gavio is a Singapore-based company and their Pill dock reminds me of the capsules in The Matrix, though I wouldn’t want to try and swallow one of these. It measures 5.78″ wide by 1.89″ in diameter, and appears to have a speaker at each end of the pill, as well as track and volume controls which are accessed located on a ring towards each end. The product page doesn’t mention any detailed specs, but they’ll probably update them soon.

The Pill dock will be available for pre-order soon. There’s no mention of price or availability, but my guess is that this little speaker dock won’t break the back. It looks like an easy and fun way to share your tunes if you use an iPod nano.

[via Ubergizmo]

Designed by Dean Ekkaia and Sean Solberg, the Audman is aiming to be the world’s smallest speaker dock and it will even charge your gadget on the go. The case has dual speakers, two headphone jacks for sharing, and large analog buttons to control your music playback. It even comes with a mixtape app that makes it look like you’re playing cassettes while listening to tunes.  With the lid closed, you can listen to music, and iPhone users can receive calls and make them using Voice Control dialing. However texting and using apps will be problematic, as the case completes hides away the screen of your phone unless you pop the lid open. When opened up, it still holds your iPhone securely and it even works as a small kickstand for viewing video.

The Audman is up for pre-order over at Kickstarter, and you need to pledge at least $125(USD) for the full Audman model. For $35 to $65, the Audman LT model is also an option if you like the retro looks but don’t need the speakers or charging capabilities. They’ve got 14 days left to attain their $42,000 goal and they’re at $7,000, so if you want one, you’ll want to get over there and make a pledge.

[via Ubergizmo]

But when it comes to actually choosing a stand for your iPad, well, let’s just say things get a whole lot harder. Because of the popularity of the iPad (and iPhone and iPod), there are literally thousands upon thousands of stands available out there in the market. Some are quirky, some are serious, some are all about functionality, while others are novel and clever in design. One that belongs to the last category is the Shadow Stand.

Designed by Nendo for Japan’s Elecom, the Shadow Stand has a slot to hold your device in place and is supported on the other end by a “shadow.” It’s not a real shadow, obviously, unless you think your device is actually a single flower in a vase in disguise.

It’s creative and quirky enough to warrant a second glance or maybe even more. No word yet as far as price or production details go, but I’d definitely want to have one of these when they do eventually get made and released.

[via designboom]