IvySkin have released their new SmartCase for the iPhone featuring a battery as part of the packaging for the iPhone and makes the claim to offer double the amount of battery life that the regular battery currently offers.

For anyone who has been out on a long night or that has used their iPhone a bit more than expected during the day, this is something that will surely create interest. Running the different applications, browsing the web and answering a lot of emails takes its toll on the battery life and it is not hard to be down to nothing at 6pm. Having a battery in the case that offers extended life is almost too good to be true.

Of course, this convenience does not come without a hefty price tag. The combination case battery will be no cheaper than buying a backup battery and a skin for your iPhone. The price for the IvySkin SmartCase is $79.99. That is about 40% of what the phone costs in most markets and may be a bit much for some people.

For more details visit the product page.

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A member of MacRumors forum has reported buying and unboxing the TomTom GPS Car Kit for the iPhone, and MacRumors was nice enough to post about the experience. The kit has been delayed a few weeks, but is now being shipped to stores apparently.

More about the insert details here:
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Also found within the car kit packaging was a paper insert describing a forthcoming free TomTom iPhone application that will allow users to administer some of the technical functions of the car kit without the need for the TomTom navigation iPhone application, which is sold separately. It is possible that this free application will enable the use of third-party GPS applications with the kit, allowing them to take advantage of the kit’s built-in GPS receiver and other features.
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This isn’t a shock, given we reported on this particular issue a few weeks ago.

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The TomTom Car Kit for the iPhone 3GS isn’t going to be fully baked until October according to the company brass, but all of a sudden it was posted yesteday to a few European Apple online store sites, and then it was suddenly gone, with little explanation. Nothing like a little iPhone app controversy to get your day going.

And that isn’t the more crazy part of the story. Look at the listing here closely: the posting, which indicates the kit is priced at £99.95 ($164.10 USD) in the UK and 99.95 Euro ($147.90 USD) in the European regions that use the Euro, seems to give the idea that the TomTom for iPhone app is included in the price. Not so, says TomTom.

The listing was yanked literally an hour later, with TomTom issuing a statement that the kit isn’t ready, and that the app will NOT be included in the kit; they will be two separate products. So whoever posted that is probably in a bunch of trouble with the GPS company, needless to say.

1. TomTom iPhone kit listed for £99.00 for pre-order
2. TomTom iphone app appears in New Zealand App Store; global release almost here
3. TomTom iPhone kit being sold in stores – unboxing details

The life of an iPhone is hard and we know it. After spending the day searching for 3G and running apps, the iHammock takes the edge off. This dock is actually a decent idea. Too bad it’s just a rendering of a proposed product.

Most love to take naps in hammocks, but that’s not why we think the iHammock is cool. The designer didn’t like the loud sound his iPhone made when vibrating on his desk so he thought to put it on something soft and elevated, like a hammock.

Its cocktail like-umbrella isn’t just to protect iPhone sunburn, it would work as a solar battery charger. That would jack the price up on this baby if it ever comes to market, but we’d be willing to pay for our phone to get a little R&R.

This item is being shopped around to various companies, and we’ll let you know if it gets picked up. Hey, they’ve actually published less useful items in the past, so we’re rooting for it to make good to the market.

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Some call this Case-Mate iPhone 3G/3GS case “high stakes iPhoning”, and they might be right. This is saying to potential muggers, “I’m going all in. If you want it all, just take my phone.”

There’s no denying the convenience of putting all your stuff into one device when you want to travel light. Potential ID-flinging when you take the phone out of your pocket aside, it’s definitely an interesting idea, and a physical interpretation of the “smart phone” that keeps all your payment and identification information on it.

It is only $30, and it does protect your phone with a protective film, which makes it at least as good as regular cases. So if you’re the kind of person who has a money clip instead of a wallet, pry off $30 and send it to Case-Mate.

Some however, might see this case as making it too easy for the wrong element to get ahold of everything you own in one easy to grab package.

More details can be found here: http://www.case-mate.com/iPhone-3G-Cases/Case-Mate-iPhone-3G–3GS-ID-Credit-Card-Cases.asp

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2. Case-mate bundle saves on leather iPhone case/holster
3. Case-Mate 45035 Signature Napa Leather Flip Case for iPhone(tm)

Times are getting harder, even for iPhone owners… This case was developed to provide basic protection for your iPhone without leaving you broke.

This is clearly not a great looking case but it has the merit to be very original, and that’s what I like about it.

“Tough times call for tough cases and that’s where the recession case comes in! The recession case lets you keep cash in your pocket without sacrificing on unique design for your beloved iPhone! But just in case one isn’t enough we have the BAILOUT BUNDLE – 10 cases for $7.99!”

We never thought we’d see the day, but its here. This is 100% recycled cardboard, and as sturdy as cardboard can be, and they’re available individually for 99 Cents each here: http://www.case-mate.com/iPhone-3G-Cases/Case-Mate-iPhone-3G–3GS-recession-case.asp

Feel free to leave a comment if you buy one, or not if you want to hide your identity.

1. New iPhone case adds convenience…for everyone
2. Case-mate bundle saves on leather iPhone case/holster
3. Case-Mate 45035 Signature Napa Leather Flip Case for iPhone(tm)

Navigon was one of the first turn-by-turn navigation apps available for the iPhone earlier this summer. TomTom, a major competitor in the navigation space, announced its own app and companion car kit at WWDC in early June, though the app only recently made its debut in the App Store in mid-August, and it was just revealed that the Car Kit will not be available until October.

Navigon’s statement referencing an upcoming car kit was made on August 18, and no further information about it has been provided via Facebook nor in any recent press releases from the company.

The statement was made on Facebook and has been referenced by several blogs already, and has been flying around since. No confirmation has been made by the company about its existence, but it seems Tom Tom will have some competition very soon.

We’ll keep an eye on the rumor as it develops (or not).

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TomTom has postponed the release of its iPhone hardware accessory kit until October, due to unspecified reasons.

TomTom spokesman Kevin Carter confirmed that the company’s iPhone hardware kit will not be available for its previously announced summer release deadline, though no specific reason was given. The accessory is a cradle that will interface with the iPhone and provide enhanced GPS capabilities.

“I can confirm that we have decided to take some extra weeks in order to deliver the highest quality on this innovative product,” Carter said. “So, the car kit will become available for purchase this October on www.tomtom.com.”

Additionally, the official FAQ section on TomTom’s iPhone page has been updated to reflect the new release date. While the hardware is not necessary to use the software that is currently available in the iPhone App Store, it will amplify the GPS signal for the iPhone 3G and iPhone 3GS. In addition, the original iPhone and the iPod touch, both of which do not have a GPS receiver, will be able to use the hardware kit.

The TomTom kit will act as a basic suction cup mount for the dashboard or windshield, and will also support hand-sfree calling and music through the stereo system, as well as charge capabilities through the vehicle’s 12-volt port.

1. TomTom iPhone kit listed for £99.00 for pre-order
2. TomTom app/device does the posting shuffle
3. TomTom released in US App Store this morning and selling for $99

It isn’t the only solar charging case on the market, but Novothink’s Solar Surge is the first to receive an official thumbs up from Apple, and thus noteworthy indeed.

The case features an integrated solar panel that should yield 30 minutes of talk time on a 3G network or 60 minutes on EDGE after 2 hours of sun exposure. Plus, the battery is a rechargeable 1500 mAh 3.7 V lithium-ion that offers 120% capacity of the iPhone 3G. The Solar Surge for the 2G iPod Touch will be available later this month for $70, while the iPhone 3G/3GS version will come in sometime in the 4Q of 2009 for the same price.

If you are into this sort of thing, the Solar Surge is probably the most compact and practical solar iPhone charger on the market—and the price point seems to be in line with many standard charging cases, making it an even better deal, and fits in with any “green” consumers ideals quite well too.

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UK-based Tech 21 have devised a real-life, mailable, flubber-esque gel that becomes rigid on impact. This substance dubbed “d30″ is used to safeguard an iPhone or iPod Touch from owners with buttery fingers, which is probably 50% of the users out there in this case.

According to the product page, d30 cases can offer up to “150% more protection than other cases.” Of course, that protection doesn’t extend to the screen, which is probably your number one concern overall, not the case.

Still, we like futuristic stuff and protection equally, so no complaints here. No pricing details available as of yet on their site here: http://www.tech21.uk.com/innov-d3o.html

It will be available in the UK via various cell phone company channels at retails soon (and probably on other coasts assuming it does well).

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