1. BaseStation for iPhone4 We appreciate how this wooden stand even incorporates the phone’s charge/sync cable into its surprising design. Get it: Rakuten

2. Leather iPad Case Protect your iPad with a classic cover made in Wisconsin from hand-cut and hand-dyed vegetable-tanned leather. Get it: Jepsen Leather Goods

3. iWALK Rechargeable Mobile Battery Pack for Apple iPhone & iPod A personal favorite. Throw this rechargeable Lithium-ion battery in your bag and your iPhone and iPod will never loose their juice again. Get it: Amazon

4. Hacoa iPad Stand When you prefer your iPad stand a bit natural. Get it: mono-la.com

5. Magnus iPad 2 Stand This deceivingly simple piece uses a strong magnets and rubberized feet to hold your tablet steady. (It’s a bit like magic.) Get it: tenonedesign.com

6. Empty Memory USB Sticks According to designers Yoo-Kyung Shin and Hanhsi Chen,”Each design contains a physical emptiness in its sculptural form, giving the metaphor that you can fill the space with your own memory.” Get it: Logical Art

Photos: Linked to sources within the numbered text

iOS
Sleep Cycle For a non-traditional but highly effective wake up call, Sleep Cycle definitely has a lot going its way. The app monitors how you sleep by using the iDevices accelerometer to gauge how deep a sleep you’re in. The app then uses a light phase of your sleep cycle and gently wake you up all within a half hour time set for wakeup; instead of being jarred awake, you’re gently nudged into the day. Several tranquil chimes can be used to accompany the light, alongside the option to tap into your own music library. $1

Clock Pro The Swiss army knife of iOS apps offers a multitude of clock modes. Chess timer, stop watch, music alarms, nature times, sleep timer, egg timer, world clock, charming analog clock (which I got a kick out of), metronome, count down clock and a countdown clock for projects. The main difference that sets this app apart from most of the other alarm apps is that it doesn’t need to be open to work should you require that option. There are literally over a hundred alarm apps that all look the same and do less and require the app to be open and propped on your bedside. $1

Android
Gentle Alarm Gentle Alarm is Android’s soothing solution to the wake up call. To start, the interface is completely up to you with different font and color choices. Aside from the standard features such as using songs from the devices library and a large snooze button, Gentle Alarm has a pre-alarm feature, chiming half an hour before the desired wake up time. As implied by the name, the alarm is played lightly and can either wake you up or elevates from deep sleep to prepare for the inevitible alarm. Should a silent, personal alarm be required it has a vibration only option that also increases in cruelty to shake off the Sandmans work. $3

Alarm Clock Xtreme We know ourselves best but are we prepared to diminish the duration in between snooze buttons to force ourselves to get up? Alarm Clock Xtreme has a lot of customising options and one that has us especially intrigued is to set a maximum number of snoozes, decrease the duration between them and turning off the alarm by answering a math question. Additional features include increasing volume alarm, random song alarm and shake to snooze. $2

Windows Phone 7
Night Stand Clock They say that simple is best and if all that’s needed is a reliable bedside alarm that’s charming too look at then the search is over. From an option of 8 themes to choose from and a sleep timer set to your own music, Night Stand Clock is an invaluable partner at night and won’t steer you wrong. The interface is very nifty with a slide to brighten/dim the screen built right into the app. Should the need for an unscheduled walk in the night arise, it also has a flashlight feature that’s activated with a quick shake of the phone. Truthfully Night Stand Clock’s not fancy with over the top features like the others on this list however what is there is done with style, grace and is easily reachable with an incredibly intuitive user input system that’s natural with human movement. $1

SleepMaster To compare SleepMaster to Sleep Cycle would be fair since they both have the same idea of using the accelerometer to monitor sleep patterns. However I give the edge to SleepMaster in the looks department. The user interface is absolutely gorgeous and streamlined in a clean manner that draws you in. Sensitivity can be adjusted for those who barely move an inch overnight or are all over the place. Going over Sleep Cycle it features a sleep relax function that plays soothing music or an audiobook / music from the Zune library to help us get to the land of nod for those restless nights. $2

By Jason Rodway.

iOS App Discovery With hundreds of thousands of apps available through Apple’s App Store, finding the best measurement convertor can be a daunting task. AppShopper helps by not only providing recommendations, but also showing update history, reviews, and even price changes. AppShopper also has an iOS app along with RSS feeds so you never miss a chance to discover the next great app.

Android App DiscoveryBecause of the “open” nature of the Android platform, there are quite a few more resources that allow for more robust discovery on Android. AppAware is an application that allows users to find new apps by tracking installs, updates, and removals. AppAware goes a step further by adding location into the mix. This provides great exposure for local apps who thrive based on usage in a specific area rather than around the globe.

Chrome Web App Discovery Playing off the fact that there really is an app for almost everything, the Google Chrome extension – aptly named There’s a web app for that – provides users with app suggestions based on their browsing history. No need to randomly guess if there is a an app that could replace your web browsing. Now just browse normally and this extension will search for you.

If none of these work for you, or if you are looking for a more curated way to discover apps, the be sure to check out Unplggd’s Weekly App Recommendations, where we cover everything from mobile, to desktop, to web apps.

By Jesse Leikin

It makes calls! Just kidding. Well, half kidding. The phone is probably the least-used app on our home screen. But there’s a whole other mess of cool productivity tricks that Apple’s developers have built into the iPhone. For a roundup of the more common keyboard shortcuts and scrolling tricks, like how to take a picture of the screen or drop a pin in maps, check out Apple’s iPhone Tips page.

But the tricks go ever deeper. Here are a few advanced user tips we’ve found around the web. Did you know your iPhone could…

Turn Itself Off with a Sleep Timer?
Click through the Clock App and into the Timer tab. Set the timer for how long you want your iPhone to stay awake, then select “Sleep iPod” under “When Timer Ends.” It’ll shut off any open music or video apps, including Pandora.

Make International Calls Easy?
Instead of dialing the country exit code before each international call (That’s “011″ for everyone in the U.S. and Canada), just dial “+.” It’ll automatically pop up when you hold down the zero (“0″) key. So to call England, you’d dial +44 before the local area code and phone number.

Become a Scientific Calculator?
While inside the Calculator App, tilt your iPhone to landscape mode. You’ll be presented with a functional scientific calculator, featuring buttons for squares and square roots; sin, cos and tan; and factorials.

Easily Zoom Out on Maps?
You know you can use one finger to double-tap and zoom in on a map in the Maps App. But if you need to zoom back out, you can do it easily by tapping the screen with two fingers at once. It’s way easier than the pinch zoom method if you’re holding the phone in one hand or reaching across the car dashboard.

Set Custom Volume Profiles?
If you’re sharing your iPhone with, say, a teenaged fan of loud music, you can set custom volume profiles by switching out headphones. The headphone jack on your iPhone registers each individual set of headphones you plug in. The volume you set for each set of headphones will stay consistent each time you plug them in.

By Taryn Fiol

B&W Zeppelin The Zeppelin is a speaker system with an iPod docking station that fills a room with deep, lifelike sound, and delivers musical detail that you won’t believe your iPod is capable of. We love the simple design and easy to use interface. 30-pin iPod connector, 3.5mm mini jack analogue/optical, digital USB 2.0 slave (for software upgrades) it also outputs S-video (via mini DIN).

We’re currently in the process of testing out their latest Apple Airplay-compatible, Zeppelin Air, an updated model which improves on the original in both features and sound. Review in detail coming soon.

Philips DS9000 Fidelio Primo Pumping out 100 watts of power through 12-millimeter-thick walls, this great speaker supply your music with rich detail. It utilizes premium audio technologies, like passive crossover design and “PureDigital” technology, to create awesome audio reproduction. We love the elegant, curved design and the use of real wood cabinet, ensuring that it looks as good as it sounds. Additional features can be unlocked using the complementary Fidelio app, which gives you access to custom alarms, equalizer settings, and even more.

GenevaSound Model L One look at GenevaSound’s designs and you’ll understand why its products are sold in leading design and fashion houses from Milan to Manhattan. From DWR to CB2… Now, listen to GenevaSound and you’ll know why its patented audio engineering is found in recording studios! The Switzerland-based GenevaSound specializes in “furniture music,” a fusion of home entertainment and home decor that makes a classic audio and visual statement. We really like their minimalist simplicity so much, that we used them as part of our inspiration process to create our wireless speakers.

Tangent Fjord by Jacob Jensen Design nerds will recognize Jacob Jensen’s name and likely be able to distinguish his signature style displayed here with the Tangent Fjord. The cube design operates as both a doc and surprisingly as a CD player (it’s been a long while since we bought one, but we still have a few laying around). There’s also an FM radio and apparently the whole unit can be wall mounted for an even less intrusive presence.

By Joel Pirela

Of course the catch with inductive charging, the same technology that charges your cordless toothbrush, is users are required to add a slide or snap-on receiver case for devices to work with these cordless charging solutions. This means bulkier form factors, though one could argue these double up as protective casing anyway and we like the idea of reducing the amount of times we need to plug-in over and over (thus our love for the Eye-Fi).

Currently inductive charging is a compromise between form versus function, alongside a battle of standards (you can’t use one brand of charging sleeve with another brand’s charging mat), so the applicable desirability is a personal choice. We’re just waiting for the day when Android devices, iPhones/iPads and even handheld gaming devices all offer inductive charging as a built-in feature…

Everyone knows Duracell when it comes to batteries, so no big surprise they’re on the forefront of inductive charging solutions. With their myGrid, you simply attach a Power Sleeve or Power Clip to each device and drop it onto myGrid to charge. You can charge up to 4 devices at once. Like your cordless electric toothbrush, the connections are safe to touch without worry of electrocution, and using the device helpssave energy, as it avoids over-charging thanks to an automatic auto-off once devices are fully charged.

The Powerplate induction charger might be worth considering for older iPhone and Blackberry Curve 8900 users, especially since they’re being heavily discounted. Arguably one of the nicer looking power supplying surfaces, the Powerplate is due for an update for newer models.

The Powermat 2x Wireless Charging Mat is a design-friendly wirelessly charging in multiple locations in the home and office, thanks to a streamlined footprint, making it a nightstand-friendly option for HTC, Apple, Blackberry, Motorola and even Nintendo DS users. We appreciate the unit notifies a charging connection has been made using a telltale sound; a second, similar sound is heard when the device is removed. Communication between the mat and the receiver (via RFID) allows the mat to deliver an exact amount of power for the proper length of time so that the transfer of power is safe and efficient and no energy is wasted. When a device reaches full charge, power is shut off to that device, which avoids overcharging of the device’s battery as well as saves energy.

With the Energizer Inductive Charger, there’s never been an easier way to stay charged and stay organized. And because it’s built with Qi, the new universal standard for inductive charging, the Energizer Inductive Charger will power any Qi-enabled device now and for many years to come. Simply place a Qi-enabled door or sleeve on your smartphone, set it down on the charger and you’re done. We love the simplicity of the whole process!

By Joel Pirela

Accessory manufacturer Case Scenario is offering 9 different colours for the iPhone 4 case, our favourites being those belonging in the gray to black range, while iPad owners have 4 options of blue, red, black and gray. No word on pricing yet, but considering other Pantone brand approved licensing, both accessories should come in at a reasonable price.

(For more cool Pantone stuff that could easily find it’s way under the Christmas tree check out the rest of Gregory’s post here).

By Gregory Han

The app uses your existing WiFi network to sync your iPhone, iPod, or iPad with your computer. U.K.-based developer Greg Hughes has even engineered a Windows version.

According to Rick Broida of Cnet, “In an e-mail I received from Hughes, he says he plans to submit Wi-Fi Sync at the end of this week. Chances are we’ll be waiting at least another week after that to find out if the application makes it through. If it does, it’ll cost you $4.99–a perfectly reasonable price for such a desirable capability, IMHO.” We fully agree, but we fear Broida may be right in predicting that the folks at Apple won’t approve this useful app. We’re keeping our fingers crossed.

By Sonia Zjawinski”

Deb McLean is an Australian stylist with a talent for making minimal look warm and inviting. She also takes really interesting moody iPhone photos. All the images in this post are shot on her phone and her blog has a section devoted to them.

Can you tell us a bit about your work? What does a ‘normal’ day involve for you? Well, actually, as a stylist a lot of my work happens outside the home. But I do have a large office and props room set up in my house. I style for both interiors and food accounts. They are quite different from one another so it’s a nice balance. I arrange all interior propping plus if needed I paint and set construct in the studio. I’m very hands on.  In a food shoot I am cooking and plating food stylishly of course, plus responsible for all the dinnerware props and surfaces etc.

How big is your work space? It is around 5 meters square [about 53 square feet]. I share it with my partner  Colin who is a graphic designer. We have a media room attached to our lovely white space with big white desks and lots of color-coded designer books. We love our music so when I do sit at my desk to blog [Deb’s blog is Busy Being Fabulous] it is a lovely relaxing space to be in. Each night I spend some hours compiling my next blog entry. I love it, especially when I get such great feed back. It puts a smile on my face!

Is there any form of technology that really inspires you? It has got to be my iPhone! I’m in love with what I can achieve and I am forever shooting fully styled  little still life stories for my blog. It’s where my creativity can let loose.

What desk accessory can’t you do without? My Mac computer and Bose speakers. Without them I would be lost.

Do you have any tips for organizing a home work space? Box it. Neat is the word of the day. A work space has to have order so it functions effectively. But, a work space should also feel like home. Books, magazines, fun collections of stuff that inspire you give it a lovely mood. It should have your personality. Clients love to see snippets of your personality in an office space. I love picture mood boards that you can alter depending on you design addictions.