I am always interested to learn about interesting hardware accessories for the iPhone and iPad, and a lot of companies announce those products this week in connection with the large Consumer Electronics Show (CES) that starts today in Las Vegas. Here are some of the products announcements that I have seen so far and which seem interesting:
CarTrip
Griffin announced a device called CarTrip that allows your iPhone to interface with your car's engine. Any car built after 1996 has an on-board computer that can be accessed to obtain diagnostic and performance information. The CarTrip plugs in to your car's OBD-II port to record and analyze data from your car's computer.
On your iPhone you run a free app called CleanDrive that analyzes data such as fuel consumption, acceleration, top speed and engine diagnostics. Griffin says that "in addition, CleanDrive will display and reset the diagnostic codes sent by your car's on-board computer, so you can know what the 'Check Engine' light is really saying." The device is coming soon and will cost $89.99.
Crayola iMarker
Griffin also teamed up with Crayola to develop an iPad stylus for kids that works with an app called Crayola ColorStuideio HD. Griffin describes the product as follows:
Together with iMarker, the ColorStudio HD App allows young artists to color and interact with special “live” animated coloring book pages that move and react as they color, combining custom-produced pictures, animations, music, sound effects, and high quality special effects. For example, in one setting fish swim, doors open to reveal surprises, and mermaids serenade the young artist. The iMarker digital stylus brings the app to life. Like a marker, crayon, pen, and paintbrush in one, iMarker creates favorite Crayola colors within the ColorStudio HD App. iMarker safely interacts with iPad's Multi-Touch display, allowing the ColorStudio HD app to differentiate between the child’s input (fingers, swipes, etc.) and the iMarker automatically. This allows intuitive, creative play that brings the accuracy and ease of a stylus but, for the first time, allows the user to both manipulate the creative space and color, without having to toggle the app between modes.
Blood pressure monitors
Michael Rose of TUAW reports that two companies announced iPhone-connected blood pressure monitors. iHealth introduced its BP3 blood pressure monitoring system which will cost $99.95. It can check, track, chart and share your blood pressure.
Another company called Withings introduced a similar product called the Withings monitor that will sell for $130.
Fling game controller
Ten One Design introduced a product called Fling that attaches to your iPad screen with suction cups and gives you a tactile game controller for games that use a virtual joystick. It comes in a 2-pack (so it even works in games that have a joystick on both sides of the screen) and will cost $38.
Direct mode on the Eye-Fi
The Eye-Fi is not a new product, but a new feature was announced for the iPhone. The Eye-Fi is an SD card that includes Wi-Fi so that you can take a picture with your digital camera and then automatically have the picture uploaded to a computer and/or sharing site — as long as you are in a Wi-Fi zone. The new announcement is that with the upcoming Direct Mode feature, the Eye-Fi can send pictures directly to your iPhone, and you can then use the 3G on your iPhone to send the picture along. This sounds like a neat feature. There have been many times in the past when I have taken a nice picture with my digital camera (I use a Nikon SLR) and I wanted to immediately send it to someone but I didn't have a way to connect the SD card in my camera with my iPhone. Direct Mode will work with all of the X2 Eye-Fi cards including the standard $50 Connect X2 (4 GB), the $70 Geo X2 (which adds geotagging), the $100 Explore X2 (which has twice as much memory, 8GB, and handles video) and the $150 Pro X2 (which adds Class 6 read/write speeds).
And more...?
CES is just starting, so we may see even more interesting accessory announcements this week. Plus Macworld Expo is at the end of the month, so expect to see more announcements then.
