accessory

Look over here! The Look Lock lets you mount your smartphone to your dSLR's hotshoe to be used as an external display. Made from aluminum, the rig consists of an articulating arm that allows you to move and rotate your handset (measuring up to 3 inches wide) at any angle.

We can think of some uses for the Look Lock, such as using it as a budget "teleprompter" for video productions, or playing a funny animated clip to get laughs when photographing kids. Another idea would be to record a candid movie with a smartphone while shooting … Read more

Tired of your iPhone case? Now you can play dress-up with tiny underwear from Japan that turns your home button into something altogether different.

Smart Pants from game giant Bandai slip over the lower part of your iPhone in a weird but very Japanese bit of anthropomorphization.

The word "pants" (or "pantsu") is often used to denote underwear in Japan, and these mini undies come in eight varieties for both men and women.

The selection runs from bland briefs and boxer shorts to strawberry-patterned panties and racy leopard-print "t-back" thongs. … Read more

I'm no stranger to losing things. From leaving my bag on a park bench, to sifting through all my coats in the closet just to find the one pocket I last left my keys in, it's common for things to go by the wayside.

To help with this, Kensington's Proximo Proximity Monitoring System provides a way to keep track of valuables via Bluetooth. With its key fob or tag attached to your items, you can monitor and locate your belongings via an iPhone app. Likewise, you can use its key fob to make your handset sound off … Read more

The most popular reason nonprofessionals buy dSLRs or other types of interchangeable-lens cameras is because they want better photos or faster performance than a point-and-shoot can deliver; the power of manual controls and interchangeable lenses seem to be a secondary concern. Nevertheless, I'm still routinely surprised when someone hands me his dSLR and it's set to auto and equipped with a standard kit lens.

The best (and cheapest) way to advance your photography is to switch out of auto; here's a map for venturing into that new territory. But the next best -- and not-so-cheap -- way … Read more

iPads don't come with their own protection. In fact, these sleek metal and glass beauties ship naked. That just won't do: you need a case. But when it comes to the iPad Mini, I quickly discovered, what makes a good case or bag is a very different proposition than for the larger iPad.

To help you pick out something good, here's what I've observed so far over the last couple of months of hard-core iPad Mini use. Let's take a look, shall we?… Read more

If you're stumped about what to get the iPhone lovers on your holiday gift giving list this year, I have a few suggestions for you.

In this edition of Ask Maggie, I offer one reader several suggestions for buying accessories as gifts for his wife who has an iPhone 5. I also offer my thoughts on why U.S. wireless operators aren't likely to sell some of the interesting new feature-phones developed by Nokia for the developing markets.

Dear Maggie, I just purchased a new iPhone 5 for my wife who seems quite … Read more

Various accessories that include Apple's new Lightning connector are gradually trickling out onto the market, and JBL is the first to announce Lightning-equipped speaker docks.

The smaller $99 battery-powered model, the JBL OnBeat Micro, which gets about 5 hours of power from four AAA batteries, retails for $99 while the $199 JBL OnBeat Venue LT offers wireless Bluetooth connectivity and its dock can also accommodate the iPad Mini and the fourth-generation iPad with Retina Display. Unfortunately, of course, the docks aren't compatible with older iPhones unless you use an optional adapter. … Read more

The launch of Windows 8 also brings an opportunity for PC makers to release third-party peripherals that complement the push for touch sensitivity. If you're planning to purchase tablet, laptop, desktop, or some combination of the three, these accessories let you get hands-on with your new computer, because let's face it -- a touch-based device is only as good as the accessories available for it.

Many of the devices in this list already have reviews, but we'll continue to add products as they emerge. Head here for a comprehensive list of every major computer launching with Windows 8 or RT.… Read more

Shutterbugs who've used lens hoods -- an invaluable accessory for reducing stray light to improve image contrast -- know how frustrating it is to try to cap one's lens with the hood in the way. To prevent photographers from misplacing their lens caps or damaging their lenses, Taiwanese accessory makers have created a nifty accessory that combines both accessories into one.

The Hoocap features a simple design. It's a hood with two retractable doors; when not in use, the doors flip down to form a shield.

Judging by pictures of this contraption, it does seem to add … Read more