The Apple Core

Jason D. O'Grady & David Morgenstern

Summer iPhone accessories: speakers, case and tide app

By | June 27, 2010, 9:00pm PDT

Summary: If you take your iPhone to the beach or boating this summer, here are three fun accessories that will keep you entertained and your device dry.

Pelican has long been known for its airtight and waterproof cases which are used globally by professionals that need to keep their gear safe and dry. The Pelican i1015 case ($35) brings that level of protection to your iPhone, iPod touch and several other smartphones. The i1015 case provides a watertight seal which protects your device from water and sand. The case has a pass through port for the headphone jack and space for storing cables. It’s the perfect iPhone case for the boat and the beach.

The iHome iHM77 speakers ($38) are my new favorite portable speakers for the iPhone when size and weight is important. I replaced a much bulkier boombox style iPod speaker system which these tiny speakers because they’re easy to toss into my beach bag and produce surprisingly big sound for compacts. The iHM77s collapse down, accordion-style, when not in use and the bottoms attach to each other via a magnet. They’re rechargeable via the included USB cable and the mini eighth-inch plug will connect to almost any device. You’ll get lots of bang for your buck with these tasty little treats.

If you’re a waterbug AyeTides ($10) is a must-have app in your iOS arsenal. It displays tides and currents for over 10,000 locations and is perfect if you boat on a tidal river, surf or fish. Choose a location alphabetically, geographically or near your location, then save it for easy access. Holding the iPhone in portrait mode displays the information in a summary table and rotating it to landscape shows a convenient chart (pictured). The best part is that AyeTides works offline and doesn’t require an Internet connection. If you regularly find yourself checking tide tables, this is the app for you. It will keep you from running aground during low tide and tell you when your secret wakeboarding spot has enough water.

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Topics

Jason O'Grady is a journalist and author specializing in mobile technology. He has published six books on Apple and mobile gadgets and his PowerPage blog has been publishing for over 15 years.

Disclosure

Jason D. O'Grady

Jason D. O'Grady is the creator and editor of O'Grady's PowerPage, which has been publishing mobile technology news since 1995. He maintains an advertising relationship with the following legacy advertisers on the PowerPage:

  • Amazon Associates
  • Google Adsense
  • Tekserve
  • Advertising on the PowerPage is brokered by a third-party agency (BackBeat Media) and he recuses himself from these negotiations.

Biography

Jason D. O'Grady

Jason D. O'Grady developed an affinity for Apple computers after using the original Lisa, and this affinity turned into a bona-fide obsession when he got the original 128 KB Macintosh in 1984.

He started writing one of the first Web sites about Apple (O'Grady's PowerPage) in 1995 and is considered to be one of the fathers of blogging. He has been a frequent speaker at the Macworld Expo conference and a member of the conference faculty. He also co-founded the first dedicated PowerBook User Group (PPUG) in the United States.

After winning a major legal battle with Apple in 2006, he set the precedent that independent journalists are entitled to the same protections under the First Amendment as members of the mainstream media.

O'Grady is the author of The Nexus One Pocket Guide, The Droid Pocket Guide, The Google Phone Pocket Guide, and The Garmin nuvi Pocket Guide (Peachpit Press), the author of Corporations That Changed the World: Apple Inc. (Greenwood Press), and a contributor to The Mac Bible (Peachpit Press). In addition, he has contributed to numerous Mac publications over the years, including MacWEEK, Macworld, and MacPower (Japan).

When he's not writing about Apple for ZDNet at The Apple Core, he enjoys spending time with his family in New Jersey.

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