Accessories

I saw the iBallz folks at MacWorld last year, when, true to their name, they were displaying their products guerilla-marketing style... No booth, but showing their products to anyone who would give them a chance. What a difference a year makes, as they had a serious booth at CES and will also be there, officially, at MacWorld.

For all you Mac users out there: Do you have a disorganized desktop? The Aluminum eXpress Keyboard Platform from BulletTrain (available this March) is a clever solution that positions the trackpad below the keyboard, and adds a palm rest.

The Aluminum eXpress Keyboard Platform is similar to an oversized MacBook, but you get a generously sized trackpad and everything is arranged in a comfortable, elegant manner.

I have had my eye on one of thos cool GoPro waterproof cameras that you mount to your helmet.  But at $300 plus various accessories, it was hard to justify.  So while wandering around CES, as soon as I saw the Optrix, I knew I had a solution.  As John Willenborg, the inventor of the Optrix HD points out, you already have a great 1080p videocamera, so why buy a GoPro when you can make a rugged case for the iPhone 4 or iPod touch.

It seems as if CES is almost 50% iPhone cases so it must be very challenging to stand out! Rokform has found a way with their Rokbed, a rugged case that has several notable features.

First, there is a lanyard option so you can easily keep your phone on your wrist.

CES had tons of cases for your iPhone but if you truly want a unique look for your phone, you have to make your own case, by yourself. That's where iaPeel comes in.

Using their design software, for Mac or PC, and your inkjet printer, you print a custom graphic on blank, printable vinyl skins, which are themselves made in the USA.

3feet is a rugged, collapsible stand that comes in so many colors that even Apple would say 'boy, that's a lot of colors!'

I wrote about 3feet after their debut at last year's CES and this year, they have added more colors including purple, pink and gold, and the ability to emboss a custom logo or message, making for a great corporate gift.

As a happy customer of the Henge Dock, a vertical docking station for MacBooks, I have written about them in the past.

The Henge Dock is a port replicator that mounts your MacBook vertically and routes your cables conveniently so you can lift your MacBook and reinsert it with ease and not have to deal with all of the plugs. But when I upgraded from my old MacBook Pro to a speed new MacBook Air, they didn't have a solution for me... until now.

It takes a lot for a case maker to stand out at CES or BestBuy for that matter. But XAWireless has managed to do so with a line of inspirational gear. Their eco-friendly natural cases are made of bamboo with words of wisdom engraved in the wood.