If clothes make the man, do accessories make the mobile device?
That’s not an idle question, for a number of reasons. For one thing, the right accessories have the potential for vastly increasing the business utility of smartphones and tablets. Just as important, popular devices are vastly more likely to be supported by useful accessories than are more niche-oriented machines.
Ironically, by offering a limited selection of popular models, Apple’s iPhone and iPad have enticed accessory makers to create a vast variety of cases, styluses, keyboards, chargers, and other add-ons. Android may be outselling Apple overall, but there are so many different Android models, and they are changing so fast, that there’s no real incentive to created accessories for any but the top sellers. And even then, the selection is relatively dismal.
A huge advantage for iPhones and iPads? Only if the accessories actually add value to the device.
I wanted to find out if that was true, and accessory maker Kensington was willing to supply a selection of items for testing.
KeyFolio Bluetooth Keyboard and Case for iPad and iPad 2 ($99.99)
The KeyFolio offers a compelling study of Yin and Yang.
On the one hand, it does a pretty decent job of turning an iPad into an attractive, light-duty laptop. The clever design puts the Bluetooth keyboard at a good angle for typing, or lets you fold it out of the way when not needed. Unfortunately, the configurations are not particularly stable, which is an issue for a device often being used on uneven surfaces.
The rubberized keyboard itself is undersized and no match for Apple’s own Bluetooth keyboard, but it’s certainly more conducive to typing than the iPad’s on-screen soft keyboard – and the battery seems to last forever between charges.
The synthetic leather case material seems tough enough, if hardly elegant. Similarly, the original iPad works acceptably with the case, but the openings don’t line up precisely with the iPad’s controls. The slimmer iPad 2 is a better fit.
The real issue is whether you want to add a case to your iPad in the first place. Sure, it can let your tablet imitate a laptop, but it almost doubles the size and weight of the iPad, losing its sleek sex appeal in the process. If you really need a laptop, you might want to just buy one.
Virtuoso Stylus and Pen ($24.99)
This one is very simple, but I actually liked it a lot for doing precise work on any tablet. You don’t need it for surfing the Web or watching a video, but it’s great for drawing or other input-heavy applications. And unlike other styli I’ve tried, the fact that it’s also a pen makes it more likely to be at hand when you want it. And like any stylus, it will work with any tablet, not just iPads.
PowerLift Back-Up Battery and Dock ($39.99)
I wanted to like this one device more than I did. The idea of a portable battery boost was intriguing, and I thought the dock/stand would be useful for Facetime video chats. Alas, the unit’s indicator lights were hard to decipher, and I was never sure how much power was available (Kensington claims it adds up to 20 hours of music, 5 hours of video, 3.5 hours of talk, or 1.5 hours of FaceTime on an iPhone 4 – I never ran out in my tests). And since I was always forgetting to charge it (the USB connector stores away neatly, but is too short to sit flat connected any USB port I had without a USB extender), I seldom brought it along with me where it could do me any good.
PocketHub 3-Port USB and Sync ($39.99)
No, the PocketHub will NOT bring USB ports to your iPhone. (I know, I was hoping too, but you can’t really expect revolutionary functionality from a $40 accessory. ) Instead, it simply combines an iPhone charger with a 3-port USB hub. That could save you a USB port on your computer, or a bit of desk space, but that’s about it. Oh, and the separate cover it comes with is useless and easy to lose…
The devices tested here are but a small sampling of the hundreds of choices on the market, from speakers to docking stations and the like. If you just want to use a “naked” tablet, then that doesn’t matter to you. But if you’re willing to spend money to add value to your tablet, only the iPad will give you choices you might actually want.
