5 Weird and Wonderful iPhone 4 Accessories

I get to see a lot of iPhone 4 accessories in my job. Some are good, some are bad, some are just plain odd. This week I’ve had a few appear on my desk that I thought deserved a mention. Each one falls into one of the three categories I just mentioned, but I’ll let you decide which belongs in which category!

Thumbies iPhone Gaming Enhancement

For all the avid iPhone gamers out there, this might make your life a bit easier. These buttons fix to the screen of your iPhone or iPod touch using suction and provide you with physical buttons to press during your game. They’re semi customisable so you can find a configuration to match the game. You just might not be able to see enough of the screen to play the game very well.

PowerSlab Wireless Charge Pad – iPhone 4

Wireless charging has been ‘the next big thing’ for that long that I’m almost past caring about it now, but manufacturers keep coming up with innovative ways to charge phones without having to plug them into the wall. The latest effort from PowerSlab isn’t too bad. It does indeed charge your iPhone without needing to be plugged into the mains, but you do still need to place it on the charging matt, which does of course need to be plugged into the wall.

All this is only possible when you fit their case to your phone, which will add to the bulk and oddly doesn’t protect all of your phone. Just the bottom half.

iCapen Dock Cap and Stylus – iPhone And iPod

I’m really not a fan of using a stylus with the iPhone as I’ve always found my finger to be more than adequate, but I know there are a lot of you out there who just can’t handle making physical contact with the screen of your phone and need to use one. I’d give the designers 10/10 for imagination on this one as it’s actually quite a clever way to carry it around with you. Unless of course you actually use your iPhone charging port.

iPhone 4 Horn Desk Stand – Black

Hmm. Where to start. This is a desk stand and speaker for your iPhone 4. The idea is that the sound comes out of the speakers at the bottom of your iPhone and is then amplified by the horn. It works for Trumpets and I suppose it works for the iPhone too.

Aquacity Waterproof Case for iPhone 4

The biggest killer of mobile phones is water/liquid damage. Even the smallest splash can render your phone useless. The best way to protect against it is to keep your phone in a case or cover as this provides an extra barrier that the water has to penetrate.

For most people a simple case will do, but if you work outdoors or in a wet/damp environment or enjoy outdoor sports, you’ll need something a little more heavy duty – like the Aquacity Waterproof case. It’s been tested thoroughly and has achieved a rating of IP55 which means it’s protected against dust and strong jets of water. It doesn’t add too much in the way of extra bulk to your iPhone and still allows you to use the home button, touch screen and camera although the volume keys aren’t accessible.

You can find more info on IP Ratings on our guide to tough phones post.