While not necessarily ideal for every situation (what if you wanted to play a motion controlled game while charging?) Bluelounge’s new MiniDock is a simple solution if you’ve ever had to (worriedly) leave your iPhone or iPod sitting on the floor while taking advantage of an available outlet.

It replaces the USB <-> dock connector cable with a miniature docking cradle that perches your iDevice right next to the outlet. Not only does it keep it off the ground where it can get stepped on, or off a desk where it could fall, but it also allows for hands-free usage in certain situations. Like say when used above a kitchen counter for listening to music, or watching recipe videos, while cooking. And it’s available in US, UK and EU versions, for just $19.95.

[ Bluelounge MiniDock ] VIA [ iLounge ]

Sharper Image you’ve done it again! Your random Mad Libs style approach to product design (An iPhone dock with a built-in _________) has led to this mashup of classic 1970′s-era lighting with modern gadgetry. Called the Black Light in Stereo this awkward 4-foot long dock has a set of stereo speakers located at each end, bridged by a long, thin black light in-between that can either be left on steady, set to pulse or even react to the music being played with a ‘Music Response’ mode. It’s of course compatible with iPods as well as the iPhone, and it’s just $149.99 for the opportunity to purposely expose yourself to increased levels of ultraviolet light while rocking out!

[ Black Light in Stereo iPhone Dock ] VIA [ 7Gadgets ]

I guess there’s nothing wrong with a little background music while cooking, and no one likes a unitasker in the kitchen, so Frieling, makers of some clever kitchen scales we’ve brought you before, have recently introduced the JOY to their lineup.

As kitchen scales go it’s pretty run of the mill with the ability to display weights in ounces or grams, but in terms of design it scores some high points. The weighing surface is made of stylish, see-through safety glass which exposes a fairly large speaker sitting underneath. I’m a little worried about food stuffs dripping down below though, or into the iPod/iPhone docking port, and it looks like it gobbles up quite a bit of counter space when not in use. But if your kitchen is the center of high-techery in your home, you can get one from Amazon for $99.99.

[ Frieling JOY Kitchen Scale ] VIA [ 7Gadgets ]

Sometimes a product becomes incredibly popular for a reason not originally intended by the manufacturer. It’s often referred to as its ‘killer app’ and for the latest generation iPod Nano the inclusion of a simple analog clock on the lock screen meant that it could double as a fairly capable, albeit chunky, watch. And so from the day it was announced the race was on for third-party accessory makers to come up with the perfect watch band solution.

While the HEX definitely wasn’t the first Nano watch band to hit market, I still think it’s one of the best options you can buy right now. And that’s talking from experience, having tried and tested countless other Nano watch band alternatives at CES this year. And trust me, there were plenty to be tested. So if you want to know why the HEX is worth your $29.95 (plus the cost of the iPod Nano 6G) check out my full review after the jump.

Now I understand that some people aren’t so keen on plastic-looking watches and prefer something a bit more sophisticated like stainless steel or leather, but I think the use of soft silicone suits the HEX very well. It still comes across as being pretty ‘hip’ and since it’s available in 9 different colors there should be a shade that suits everyone’s tastes.

The HEX band was also the first on the market to completely envelope the Nano 6G, and personally I think that technique works the best. The first watch bands that came out attached to the Nano via its clip, and honestly that technique never seemed that secure to me. But there is no chance the Nano is going to fall out of the HEX band while it’s being worn, no matter how physical you’re being. The use of soft silicone also makes it incredibly easy to insert and remove the Nano, and unfortunately I can’t say that about every watch band accessory I’ve tried.

In fact the only part of the HEX band that’s not made from soft silicone is the clasp on the strap. It’s made from sturdy plastic instead, understandably, but perfectly matches the color of the rest of the watch band. And while the Nano itself might not be water or weatherproof, the HEX band certainly is. If you happen to get it sweaty during a workout or a run, it’s as easy to clean as sticking it under a faucet, with the Nano removed of course.

There’s not much to see on the back of the HEX watch band, save for a hole behind the Nano that’s probably there to let air escape while you’re inserting it. But I do like the use of the repeating “HEX” pattern on the underside of the strap. Presumably if you wear it tight enough your wrists will be HEX branded as well.

While the Nano 6G isn’t completely protected and covered while it’s in the HEX watch band (you obviously need to be able to access the touch screen) the buttons and ports do remain covered giving it some level of protection against the elements. The lock and volume buttons obviously aren’t directly accessible while the Nano’s inside the band, but a set of ‘push-through’ silicone buttons still give you easy access to them.

And while the Nano 6G’s headphone port can’t remain covered all the time unless you never intend to use it as an MP3 player, the HEX band includes a built-in plug that keeps the port sealed up when you’re not listening to music. It’s easy to remove when needed though, and since it’s tethered to the HEX band there’s no chance it’s going to get lost.

So there you have it. For the purpose of this review I’m not going to comment on how well the iPod Nano 6G actually serves as a timepiece, because quite frankly, it’s not so great. But when compared to other MP3 capable ‘gray-market’ watches I’ve encountered over the years, it’s definitely a far better alternative. When it comes to style, the look and feel of the Nano in the HEX band probably isn’t going to appeal to everyone, but if functionality is a bigger concern for you, I really don’t think there’s a better solution than the HEX right now. And don’t forget that the company has recently announced a new version, the Sport Watch Band, which will also accomodate the Nike Plus dongle via the Nano’s dock connector.

Pros:
+ At $29.95 it’s not terribly expensive for one of the best iPod Nano 6G watch bands on the market.
+ Available in 9 colors to match your Nano or your style.
+ Use of soft silicone makes it incredibly easy to insert and remove your Nano and also serves to give it some level of protection against the elements.
+ Securely holds your Nano in place, there’s no chance it’s going to fall out even during extreme physical activities.
+ Headphone port remains protected when not in use thanks to a built-in plug.

Cons:
- Doesn’t completely protect the Nano, so you’ll want to avoid things like being out in the rain while wearing it.
- Some may not like the ‘plastic’ look of silicone.

Links:
HEX Original iPod Nano Watch Band – $29.95

If you have any questions about the HEX iPod Nano watch band you’d like answered, please feel free to leave them in the comments, and I’ll try to respond to them as best I can.

A lot of users see the iPad’s large touchscreen as a blank canvas waiting to be filled, but for painters, using a finger or even a traditional stylus just doesn’t provide the same experience as a brush on canvas. So after grappling with those inferior options available to him, architect/artist/inventor Don Lee was inspired to create the Nomad Brush.

Instead of regular bristles made from something like sable hair, the Nomad uses a blend of natural and conductive fibers, allowing it to be detected by the iPad’s capacitive touchscreen. So while technically any device with a capacitive touch screen will work with the brush, at the moment the iPad/iPhone/iPod Touch are probably your best bets given the large collection of painting and sketching apps available in the iTunes App Store.

At the moment the Nomad Brushes are all hand-made from the aforementioned natural and synthetic fibers with a carbon and walnut wood handle, and as a result will set you back $24 each. But they look like a piece of art in and of themselves, so as far as I’m concerned even at that price they’re a steal.

[ Nomad Brush ] VIA [ TUAW ]

So Apple’s stance on water damage vs. warranties has become a little grey as of late, but that doesn’t mean you should be any less cautious about getting your iPhone or iPod wet. It’s still a sensitive piece of electronics that just doesn’t play well with H20. And water’s not the only hazard. I don’t know how many times I’ve troubleshooted an iPhone with a malfunctioning headphone port that was resolved by just fishing out a piece of pocket lint trapped in there.

So while they’re maybe a bit excessive, these iCorkz look like a sure fire way to keep moisture and other crud out of your iDevice. Made from premium grade high-polymer silicone and organic polyurethane the iCorkz come in two versions for protecting the dock connector and headphone port, and are “precision uni-die molded for a perfect fit with no unsightly mold lines.” At $9.95 + $4 shipping they’re not exactly cheap, but if you’re really worried about those moisture sensors voiding your warranty, I guess you can look at it as a little extra bit of insurance.

[ iCorkz ] VIA [ Gadget Review ]

It seems like there’s a new watch band accessory for the 6th generation iPod Nano popping up every week, and for the most part they rarely bring anything new or interesting to the table. However the new Sport Watch Band from HEX is the first one to accomodate the dongle required for the Nike Plus in-shoe pedometer.

I mean it’s not exactly the most ground-breaking innovation, but since the 6th gen Nano has become so popular for workouts, particularly when paired with a watch band, it’s a small improvement that’s sure to make the Sport Watch Band very popular among fitness types. And it will be available in April, probably comparably priced to their existing $29.95 Nano watch bands.

[ PR - HEX Announces Sport Watch Band Compatible with NIKE Plus ]

I’m an advocate for carrying the iPhone and iPod naked, sans-a-case. So when it comes to backup batteries, which I feel is a must-have accessory, I opt for solutions that aren’t built into a sleeve or a case. Like Duracell’s instant charger I reviewed last year. The downside to those though? They end up hanging off your device like a pair of wet mittens tethered to your winter coat. But here’s a nice compromise.

The Octopus, which features a 1500 mAH lithium-ion polymer battery good for an extra 4 hours of talk time, 5 hours of video or 18 hours of audio on the iPhone/iPod Touch, temporarily connects to the dock connector when needed but secures itself to the actual device via a set of suction cups on the back. Hence the name, the Octopus. Its battery takes about 3 hours to charge over USB, and roughly the same time to recharge a dead iPhone, but the best feature is the extremely reasonable price tag of around just $30 from Chinavasion.

[ Octopus Back Battery ] VIA [ 7Gadgets ]

My hats off to Elecom who’ve found a way to create a wireless pair of headphones without the need for clunky batteries or Bluetooth hardware. Their Actrail (derived from ‘Trail Access’ so far as I can tell) headphones feature a handy mount for the latest generation iPod Shuffle. For whatever reason they’re only compatible with the latest generation shuffle, which is fine, but to be honest for ~$48 (¥4,000) I wouldn’t mind having a removable cord so I could use these with other devices as well.

[ Elecom Actrail (Trail Access) Headphones ] VIA [ Akihabara News ]

I’ll admit that I find myself gaming on my iPhone more and more these days, but they’re typically titles that take advantage of its gyro or touchscreen in an interesting way. So far I’ve yet to get into games that try and emulate the use of a traditional controller with on-screen directional pads or joysticks, because I find them difficult to play. But this unique accessory known as the Tactile+Plus could make gaming with on-screen controls a bit more doable.

It adheres to your iPhone or iPod Touch’s screen just like the plethora of screen protectors on the market do, making it easy to remove and/or reposition, but features little raised nubs allowing you to feel for where the on-screen buttons are located. The biggest problem with that kind of control scheme is when your fingers inevitably ‘wander’ off the buttons in the heat of combat or racing, but being able to physically find them without looking (like the nubs on your keyboard’s F & J keys) seems like an easy enough solution. From what I can tell, 2 sets of buttons which each include an 8-way and 4 individual buttons are ~$7.40 (¥600) so it’s a relatively cheap solution too.

[ Nosho-An - Tactile+Plus ] VIA [ Akihabara News ]