The BookBook iPhone case from Twelve South is all-leather and handmade, with a clever, whimsical design that kills two birds with one stone by combining a case for your iPhone 4 or 4S and a wallet in a single package that successfully mimics the look and feel of a vintage leather-bound book.

Guitar Hero and Rock Band may make it look like you can play the guitar, but they don’t teach the skills you need to really play. Rock Prodigy: Guitar for the iPhone, iPod touch and iPad gets you closer to the real thing, and thanks to his musical talent Bob LeVitus was able to put the app through its paces and let you know if it’s worth your time and money.

This isn’t going to be a very long review — iKlip, from IK Multimedia, is a “universal microphone stand adapter for iPads.” Yes, it’s a one-trick pony but it does its one trick quite nicely.

I recently wrote a Dr. Mac column for the Houston Chronicle that was about clever product designs. Among the products I singled out for cleverness beyond the call of duty were new iPhone and iPad cases from ZeroChroma. To quote myself, “I’ve tested hundreds of cases, folks, and I thought I’d seen it all until I came across these clever case/stand combos.”

Just what we needed—another reason not to get up off the couch. Logitech’s Touch Mouse turns your iPhone or iPod touch into a wireless mouse, perfect for those moments when you want to do something on your computer without actually touching it. Although the application and its accompanying computer server software is slightly more involved installation-wise, it’s worth it, especially for ending the hassle of getting up and down to manually change programming when watching video from your computer displayed on a television.

The L5 Remote from L5 Technology is the fourth in a series of universal remote control hardware/app combinations I’m reviewing. Like the first three I tested, it can control most of your electronic entertainment devices — televisions, AV receivers, cable boxes, and such — as long as they use an infrared remote control. Compatible with the iPhone, iPod touch, or iPad (all must run iOS 3.0 or higher), the L5 Remote wasn’t perfect but was the best remote I’ve tested to date and the only one I’ve used regularly after my testing was complete. 

If you like to watch video on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch, Air Video is a must-have app. For a mere three bucks you can have access to all of your videos that aren’t protected by DRM from anywhere with Internet access. It has quickly become one of my favorite and most-used apps and one I’d hate to be without.

The practice of looping by performing musicians has been around for quite awhile. (Check out Andrew Bird, for example.) But recent technology has made it considerably easier for non-professionals and Mancing Dolecules puts the power of looping right in the palm of your hand with its Everyday Looper iPhone app.

i-Got-Control IRB1 is the third in a series of universal remote control hardware/app combinations I’m reviewing. Like the first two I tested, it can control most of your electronic entertainment devices — televisions, AV receivers, cable boxes, and such — as long as they use an infrared remote control. Compatible with the iPhone, iPod touch, or iPad (all must run iOS 3.0 or higher), i-Got-Control IRB1 shows promise, but isn’t something I will continue to use in its current state.

New Potato Technologies’ FLPR (Fast Learning Programmable Remote) for the iPhone and iPod touch running OS 3.0 or higher is a hardware/app combination for controlling electronic devices via infrared remote. In a nutshell, it worked better for me than the Power A Universal Remote Case I reviewed recently (click here to read); but had a couple of annoying issues that make it difficult for me to recommend without reservations.

The POWER A Universal Remote Case for the iPhone 3G and 3GS is just what it sounds like — an iPhone case that incorporates a transmitter that turns your iPhone into a remote control for audio and video components. It requires the free POWER A Universal Remote app; the combination of hardware and software can control most infrared-capable devices such as televisions, DVD players, cable boxes, stereo systems, A/V receivers, and so on.

I was extremely interested in testing the NuVue Privacy Protector before my recent 10-day tour of user groups in the Mid-Atlantic region (Philadelphia PA, Princeton NJ, and Hershey PA). I’d be traveling by air, rail, and highway and I was looking forward to working on reviews and other “sensitive” writing assignments without exposing my writing to others seated nearby.

Wrapsol ultra is, at least according to its maker, “The world’s strongest, easiest and fastest-to-apply drop + scratch protection system for the Apple iPhone 3GS.” Put another way, it’s a transparent precision-cut film coating that protects your iPhone.  

NewerTech’s NuGuard Clear is a crystal clear hard shell snap-on half-case for the iPad. It covers the back and sides (not the screen), but if you’re looking for a minimally-intrusive way to protect the back and sides of your iPad, it does the trick quite nicely. 

I had high expectations for the iPad and I am not in the least bit disappointed. Before receiving the device I had speculated that it would replace the laptop for many users. I still think that’s true but now that I’ve spent some time with one I also believe many users will want an iPad in addition to a laptop.

If you are sick of the handful of overused, cartoonish ringtones included with your iPhone, iRingPro offers three unique collections of sophisticated, high-quality, and thoughtfully designed ringtones.

Over the years we've reviewed dozens of iPhone and iPod cases and we've tried to focus on products that are unique, offer superior functionality, or both. Conversely, we usually avoid reviewing cases that have no distinguishing features. I'm happy to report that the Voi! Lorem™ iPhone case meets or exceeds our criteria -- it's unique, with unique functionality, and several other features that distinguish it from the rest of the pack.

The Tenqa SP-109 is a Stereo Bluetooth speaker that lets you listen to audio from any device equipped with stereo Bluetooth A2DP such as most Macs, iPhones, and other mobile smartphones. 

How can you not love an iPhone app that costs less than $2 but can save you a lot more than that every time you use it? That app is called RedLaser and it uses your iPhone camera to scan barcodes and get you prices for the item from Google Product Search and TheFind. 

I've been using the three variations of iSkin solo cases -- the solo, solo FX, and solo FX SE --exclusively for nearly two months and like them so much I don't want to even try other cases. That's got to tell you something.

The MobiValet is a simple device billed as, "the smart place to park your mobi." It's primarily for use in a car but there's no reason you couldn't affix one to a desk, table, chair, or almost anyplace you need to park your iPhone or other mobile device. 

Have you ever wished you could relive your high school years but make different choices and do different things? Well now you can with the new app from Electronic Arts, Surviving High School, a simulator/game that allows you to make the kinds of decisions you would make as a high schooler. Everyone knows how tough it can be to balance your social life, sports, and academics, and it is just as challenging in this game.

MovieWedge is one of the most ingenious gadgets I’ve ever seen and the most flexible stand I've ever seen for an iPhone. It looks like a tiny beanbag chair with a little lip across the lower front edge to secure your iPhone (or other device). It's so flexible, in fact, that it also works great with any iPod, PSP, Blackberry, or just about any other small handheld electronic device.

There used to be an old comic book advertisement that said, "They laughed when I sat down to play the piano." The new GrooveMaker  iPhone app brings that phrase into the 21st century… Its ad might say, "They laughed when I said I would DJ the whole party with just my iPhone." But it's true: With GrooveMaker, from IK Multimedia, anyone can be a mixmaster and it's a lot easier than you think.

The third generation iPod shuffle retains the diminutive size, distinctive shape, and is fabricated of anodized aluminum with a built-in clip just like its predecessor. The big change this year is the introduction of a less-expensive 2GB model that can hold up to 500 songs for $59. There's also a 4GB model that holds up to 1,000 songs for $79.

On the outside, all three versions of the new 3d generation iPod touch (8GB, 32GB, and 64GB) look the same as the previous generation. But the new 32 and 64GB models are up to 50% faster and include OpenGL ES 2.0 support for smoother gaming, Voice Control to navigate your music by voice command, and Apple Earphones with Remote and Mic. And the 8GB version, while lacking those new features, does sport the lowest price tag so far for an iPod touch at just $199. 

The new 5th generation iPod nano was introduced on 09-09-09; I got my hands on one the very next day and have been using and abusing it ever since. Let me just start this review by telling you that I think it's the best iPod nano Apple has ever made and arguably the best $149 (8GB) or $179 (16GB) media player on the planet today.

The WildCharger Bundle is a product unlike anything I'd ever seen. In a nutshell it offers wire-free charging for the iPhone and iPod touch.  

I found the idea of headphones that turn into speakers (or speakers that turn into headphones) intriguing. Unfortunately, in spite of a clever design, the sound quality in both modes -- headphones and speakers -- was mediocre at best. 

I began my iPhone 3GS review in the Houston Chronicle by saying, "I won’t keep you in suspense... it’s easily the best iPhone yet." The only thing I'd add is that after almost three weeks of using the iPhone 3GS daily is that I like it even better now than when I wrote those words.

Unless you've been under a rock you've surely heard about the beta release of the new and improved Safari 4 unleashed by Apple earlier today. I've been playing with it ever since, so let me share some of my initial thoughts and observations.

Well I woke up this morning and I couldn't get the song "Bargain" from the Who's Next album out of my head. So I fired up iTunes only to discover that while I had several complete albums by The Who and a few songs from other albums (including Who's Next) in my library, I did not have the complete Who's Next album.  That wasn't acceptable so I clicked a few times and found that the iTunes Store offered an expanded and remastered version of Who's Next for $11.99.

Let me begin with this: I think the iPhone is the coolest and most useful piece of tech gear I've used in this decade. Nothing has stirred my geeky juices the way the iPhone has since... well, since my first Mac in 1985. And much as I love them, I've seen (and fixed) more than my share of iPhone issues over the past year. But until last Saturday I hadn't lost my temper or my faith even once.

Bob "Dr. Mac" LeVitus has TMO's Feature Review for Office 2008, a review written after spending months with the software in order to write Microsoft Office 2008 for Mac For Dummies. That means he's got the lowdown for you!

I love my job. For the past month I've had the pleasure of using a MacBook Air along with a US$99 MacBook Air USB SuperDrive (more on that shortly) and a $29 USB Ethernet adapter. For starters, I used to hate it when technology writers called an electronic device "sexy." But I don't know any other way to describe MacBook Air. It is sexy: Sleek, smooth, curvy, and impossibly thin.

I've never missed a Macworld Expo in the US. At least I'd never missed one until now. But it's true -- for the first time since Macworld Expo was invented, I'm not in San Francisco for it. But while I'm not there this week, I've found plenty of ways to make me feel like I am. So for those unable to attend Macworld, here are my tips for attending without traveling to San Francisco and without spending a dime.

It's been roughly 72 hours since Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard was released. Many (if not most) users are reporting no problems installing or using Leopard. Unfortunately, a significant number of others are having problems, many of which are severe. If you haven't installed Leopard yet, or if you have installed Leopard and are experiencing "issues," I encourage you to read this column from start to finish and visit all of the page links it includes.

This column is my opinion of my new Elgato EyeTV 250 plus, an analog/digital TV receiver and video converter that lets me watch, record, and convert TV shows among various file formats on my Mac. The Elgato EyeTV 250 plus does all that and more quite elegantly and has made watching television a more viable and pleasant experience for me.

I love my job. Apple held a media event on August 7 to introduce the new aluminum iMac, iLife '08, iWork '08, and the new and improved .Mac. The following week a rather large box containing a new 20-inch iMac, iLife and iWork '08, a Panasonic HDC-SD1PP High Definition Video Camera (with onboard 5.1 surround sound recording, no less), and an SDHC memory card reader, landed on my doorstep. How could any Mac fan not love that?

I admit to being somewhat of a clean freak, so products like the iSkin ProTouch keyboard protector naturally appeal to me. Fabricated from a flexible soft silicone and precision molded to fit over each key without affecting your typing, it protects your keyboard from crud both wet and dry. More specifically (according to its Web page), it will protect against food, dust, hair, dandruff, sweat, ketchup (and similar liquids), sand, spills, finger oils and dirt, key wear, and more.

Jawbone is a high-tech Bluetooth headset designed to be used with mobile phones like iPhone. What makes Jawbone so high-tech? According to the manufacturer it's the only "adaptive" headset on the market today. It uses military-grade audio technology that adjusts and optimizes incoming and outgoing sound quality based upon the current audio situation.

One of my favorite parts of doing my annual "State of the Macintosh" address is the part where I demonstrate my favorite free and inexpensive Mac programs. And I'll tell you about two of my favorites in just a moment, but first I'd like to once again put in a good word for Mac user groups and why you should consider join one...

H2O Audio Waterproof Headphones are just what their name implies--submersible waterproof headphones. The package says they're recommended for surfing, swimming, kayaking, wakeboarding, snowboarding, and kitesurfing. And that they're waterproof in water up to 10 feet deep.

I think Mac HelpMate is one of the greatest Mac maintenance, diagnostic, and troubleshooting tools ever invented, and you can't beat the price -- it's free. But wait...there's more...

It's been a while since I offered a genuine rant in this space, but I couldn't resist sharing this incredible tale of what is perhaps the most inept promotion -- a free offer from H&R Block to Mac users -- I've ever seen in my life (and I've seen a lot).

Music, movie, and multimedia fans and pros flock to Austin, Texas each March to learn and share knowledge at the South By Southwest Festival and Conference. The last session I attended on your behalf, gentle reader, was a panel discussion entitled, " Come Together: Mobile Phones and Portable Music Players Converge." I thought, with the imminent release of the Apple iPhone there might be some interesting insights offered in this session.

Music, movie, and multipedia fans and pros flock to the South By Southwest Festival and Conference every year to learn and share. One music session, "Crash Course: Recording," caught my attention - especially since I fancy myself as a capable home audio producer.

March means different things to different people. To college basketball fans, it means the madness of the NCAA college basketball tournaments. To fans of Shakespeare, it means the ides are here. But to fans of movies, music, or multimedia, March can only mean one thing - it's time for the South By Southwest (SXSW to those in the know) Music, Film, and Multimedia Festivals and Conferences in beautiful Austin, TX.

As you may know, I am allowed to play guitar with the Macworld All-Star Band once each year. We celebrated our 10th gig together at Cirque du Mac, and I'd like to share is how I used my MacBook Pro running IK Multimedia's fabulous AmpliTube 2 GarageBand plug-in in lieu of an on-stage amplifier and outboard effects.

I'm a sucker for an interesting hardware design. Unfortunately, there aren't that many Mac products that exhibit interesting or unique designs. That said, I've been collecting pictures of hardware products with interesting design characteristics ever since Macworld in January, so here are some of my faves: