Wired4iPhone » Accessories

Native Union’s Moshi Moshi 02 handset for iPad/iPhone

Mike — Mon, 05 Jul 2010 16:05:29 +0000

Native Union Moshi Moshi 02 handset

The iPad is a great device, but it is not very convenient for phone calls. Although it does not have cellphone capabilities it still supports Skype and other VOIP apps. Holding the iPad to your face is not a practicality. This it where the Native Union Moshi Moshi 02 handset comes to the fore.

The Moshi Moshi 02 is a traditional style telephone handset that connects to various devices providing a convenient way to chat using your iPad or iPhone. With an additional USB adapter the Moshi Moshi 02 can connect to your computer as well making it a versatile audio handset.

Created by the French designer David Turpin, the handset comes with a matching base making it look like a rather stylish house phone. That is until you pick it up and realise that there is just a single button. This allows you to answer and disconnect when connected to your iPad/iPhone.

The MM02 handset is available in either “luxurious black soft-touch or white high-gloss”. I am (obviously) reviewing the high gloss white one here.

Native Union Moshi Moshi 02 handset

The base is optional, in use you can either plug the handset through it or just use it as a place to park the handset. I find it is great for somewhere to dock the handset when I am at my desk, but is far too heavy and cumbersome to move around the house, let alone take it out on the road with me, but then it is not intended to be mobile. The base has two circular receptacles to hold the handset. These are inset into the base and have soft rubberised covers to dock and protect the handset from damage.

The handset has a coiled cable that terminates in a 3.5mm jack. This can be plugged directly into your iPad or iPhone, or using a number of adapters available (at extra cost) into a wide variety of mobile phones. The phone base has a pair of 3.5mm sockets, one for the handset and one for a male/male cable that connects to your device/computer. The base to device cable is just over 30″ long and is pure white. The coiled handset cable is slightly off-white.

Native Union Moshi Moshi 02 handset

If you want to use the Moshi Moshi with a computer then you will need to get the USB adapter. This is sold separately and is a zero configuration device that plugs directly into a free USB port. The adapter is about 2″ long by 3/4″ wide a little bit bigger than a memory-stick. Because of it’s width it makes it a little tight to use both of my USB ports on my MacBook Pro as they are sized for normal USB connectors, not the wider USB devices. The USB adapter simply provides an audio interface allowing you to select the handset as input/output for all audio, or just for specific applications.

Native Union Moshi Moshi 02 handset

In use the handset works very well both with the base and on it’s own. I have used is as a handset for my iPhone over the cellular network, and with my iPad using Skype over WiFi and 3G. The quality of the speaker microphone combination works very well, with conversations being as good as or better than other headset/handset solutions. The good thing about this device is that you have what feels like a conventional telephone. One thing I did find a little confusing at first was that the handset button will stop and start the iPod on my iPhone/iPad, as well as answer/disconnect a call.

Native Union Moshi Moshi 02 handset

Of course if you have an iPhone 4 and you suffer from the dreaded signal drops you can use the MM02, with your phone in the pocket meaning that you get full signal strength.

Although the iPad does have a microphone and speaker it is not very elegant, or private to try and use it for Skype or VOIP the handset is a much more practical approach.

Using it on the Apple MacBook Pro I often found that the USB adapter had grabbed the audio output, and I was left scratching my head trying to work out why iTunes wasnt playing properly… Once I got over that I had no problems assigning Skype to the handset and letting iTunes play over my speakers.

Priced at $59.99 or £45.00 with the USB adapter costing an extra $20 or £15 there are certainly cheaper options on the market, but if what you are after is a bit of style to add to your desk then this is for you… My only real criticism is that the coiled handset cable is just enough off-white to mar the overall effect of the handset and base, strangely if they had made it the same colour as the base to device cable it would be perfect.

Native Union Moshi Moshi 02 handset

From a more practical side of things would I want to carry this handset around with me when I am out and about? I think not! The idea of having the iPad is to cut down weight and clutter. I would be better off with a bluetooth handsfree kit, or even the iPhone headset with built in microphone. But this is not what the handset is about…

Check out Native Union’s US website or the UK site for more details including stockists.

Get a grip on your gaming with the Posimotion Helix

Mike — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 11:34:17 +0000

Posimotion Helix gaming grip

One of my concerns with the iPhone and games is that is is possible to get a little too enthusiastic and when things hot up the iPhone becomes a little slippery. Couples with that is the difficulty of making accurate and fast taps on the screen and you have a recipe for disaster: a dropped iPhone…

Posimotion have overcome these fears with the $19.99 Helix gaming grip. This is basically a steering wheel style of holder allowing you to keep a good hold on your device and improves the tactile input whilst playing games. The design of the Helix is such that the iPhone can be installed in both portrait or landscape modes.

If you dont own an iPhone but have an iPod Touch then the Helix is for you too. Posimotion provide an adapter that mates with the Helix to provide a cradle to securely hold your iPod Touch as well.

I was able to try out the Helix when I visited the Posimotion offices in Florida. I found it easy to use, but not being an avid gamer I handed it over to the experts to show me how effective it really is. We have one in for review at the moment so more details will follow soon.

In the mean time the Helix gaming grip will be available from Best Buy and online from the Posimotion store for $19.99 plus taxes and shipping.

Posimotion Helix with iPod adapter

Posimotion Helix in portrait mode

Posimotion Helix in landscape mode

When I met Posimotion there was a special offer being promoted with the Helix: A free copy of their latest game Twisted Abyss. When I visited them the game was not quite complete, but was shaping up very nicely. Twisted Abyss is a 3D submarine shoot-em-up with the combat vessels modelled on aquatic creatures taking on their unique attributes in the game.

Twisted Abyss free with Posimotion Helix

We will have more about Twisted Abyss very soon…

The Posimotion Helix gaming grip Press Release follows:

PosiMotion is pleased to announce that the Helix, a gaming accessory for the iPhone and iPod touch, is now available in Best Buy stores. It can be found in the Best Buy Mobile section, as well as bestbuy.com ($19.99USD).

Helix has a grip-enhancing soft touch that vastly improves gaming performance. Both extremely light and portable, Helix offers a sleek aesthetic and ergonomic design for enhanced playing comfort and control.

Features include:
• Compatible with iPhone 3G, 3GS and iPod touch 2G, 3G
• Devices fit securely in portrait and landscape orientation
• Comfortably wide handles for accurate steering control
• Sturdy, durable construction
• Simple wire management
• Ideal for racing, first person shooters, action RPG’s, flight simulators, side-scrollers… virtually any game.

Check out the new Helix video at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sew-IivonhQ

For more info about Helix, visit http://www.posimotion.com/helix

Posimotion Helix gaming grip.

Ten One Design Tango case for iPhones

Mike — Tue, 18 May 2010 15:01:46 +0000

Ten One Design Tango case for iPhone

OK so what yet another iPhone case? Well yes, but this one is slightly different from the crowd. The new Ten One Design Tango cases are made of genuine leather (as are lots of others) but the thing that makes it stand out from the rest is the addition of a Pogo Stylus.

For those of you used to PDAs a stylus is a prerequisite to used the device. This is not so with the iPhone. The iPhone uses a capacitive screen which is not pressure sensitive so a normal stylus does not work. The Pogo Stylus is a plastic stick with what looks like a lump of foam on the end. This simulates the moistness and conductivity of a finger, actually allowing more accurate positioning than a somewhat larger finger.

The case including the stylus is available for $39.95 from www.tenonedesign.com. The full press release follows:

New Tango genuine leather case dances its way into iPhone protection market; now available at TenOneDesign.com

Montclair, NJ (May 17, 2010) – Ten One Design, the ground-breaking creators of the Pogo Stylus, the first capacitive touch-screen stylus for the iPhone, iPod touch and iPad, now offers a stylish, complete protective solution for the iPhone 3GS – and the world’s first case specifically made for the Pogo Stylus.

The new Tango case, which comes pre-bundled with the Pogo Stylus, features a durable genuine full-grain black leather exterior that flips open to reveal the ultra-soft micro-suede interior, available in two vivid colors: Aqua or Lime. The outer stitching and embroidered Ten One Design logo, also in Aqua or Lime, mimic the inner lining to pull the whole design together.

The design is as functional as it is fashionable. To keep the iPhone and the company’s signature Pogo Stylus safe, secure and accessible, the Tango offers a built-in glossy clip to hold everything in place. Plus, the integrated magnetic clip keeps the front flap closed and secure for full iPhone protection.

The case was designed with a circular cut-out to accommodate picture/video capture and avoid lens obstruction. It even offers convenient dual storage pockets for credit cards, cash, driver’s license and other slim items.

The included Pogo Stylus, a $15 value alone, offers users a quick, easy and accurate way to navigate, type and sketch on their capacitive touch screens. The Tango Case, bundled with the Pogo Stylus, is available at www.TenOneDesign.com for just $39.95.

Exspect Triple USB Travel Charger reviewed

Mike — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 15:42:03 +0000

Exspect triple USB travel charger

The Exspect Triple USB Travel Charger is the answer to a lot of techno geeks prayers. Quite simply it does what it says on the box. It is a compact charger providing 3 USB ports having interchangeable plugs to cater for just about anywhere in the world.

The Exspect Triple USB Travel Charger is available for £20 from Amazon.co.uk and other gadget retailers.

So what did I think of it? Continue reading to find out:

My review sample turned up days before I had a trip to the USA with a detour to Berlin via Gatwick on my way home. My intention was to travel as light as possible with hand luggage only for the Gatwick to Berlin section of the trip. I would be taking my T-Mobile Android phone, my iPod Touch and my iPhone along with my netbook and huge Sony HDV-V1 camera. In the USA I also had my TomTom 720 which made for a range of devices that I needed to charge. As I was travelling to 3 different countries I also needed to take 3 different power plugs with me, though I cheated and used the US one in Gatwick whilst waiting for my flight…

Exspect triple USB travel charger

As you can see from the pictures the charger has 4 interchangeable plugs allowing Australia, Europe, UK, and USA stye plugs. It can cope with a voltage range of 100-240V at 50 or 60Hz as you would expect from a travel charger. Changing the plugs is simply a matter of pressing in the latching mechanism and pulling one plug off and then clicking the new one on. The construction is very sturdy and gives you the feeling of a quality product.

Exspect triple USB travel charger

If through some misfortune you should manage to misplace one of your plugs then don’t worry as the connector in the charger is a standard figure of eight style socket and will (has) accepted a normal power cable. This makes the charger very versatile and also quite idiot proof…

In action the charger has managed to power all the devices that I have connected to it. In particular it charges both my iPhone 3GS and my wife’s iPhone 3G at the same time as my Android G2, TomTom GPS, Garmin Edge or Garmin Oregon. Though only 3 a a time…

Exspect triple USB travel charger

There is not much else to say about this. It works well and is ideal for use when travelling (or at home) when you need a number of USB charge ports in a small light device. At £20.00 it is a little expensive, but worth every penny to keep clutter down while on the move. The Exspect Triple USB Travel Charger is available from Amazon.co.uk and other gadget retailers.