One of the iPhone's best new "3.0" features will be its ability to work with new hardware accessories. So here's a bunch we'd love to have.
During Apple's (AAPL) Worldwide Developers Conference keynote last week, GPS maker TomTom showed off a new app that brings turn-by-turn GPS directions to the iPhone -- and a new hardware car kit that includes a GPS extender, battery charger, and speakerphone.
That could be a hit. But it's just the tip of the iceberg! There's plenty of neat iPhone and iPod touch accessories that companies could make, ranging from the practical -- like SD card readers for photographers -- to the playful, such as... a meat thermometer!
With the iPhone 3.0 software rolling out on Wednesday, we've come up with 10 accessories to inspire gadget makers -- some of which we'd actually pay money for, and some of which we'd like to see for the sake of amusement.
iPhone Accessories: Keyboard
The iPhone's virtual, on-screen keyboard is fine for typing in
Web addresses or short messages. But some people still want a
physical keyboard. And, admittedly, it'd be nice for writing
long emails or blog posts. So maybe someone could make a
snap-on keyboard for the iPhone. (Perhaps a nice side business
for BlackBerry maker Research In Motion.)iPhone Accessories: SD Card Reader
Apple is improving the iPhone's camera for the new
3G S model. But it's still nowhere as good as a nice digital camera.
We'd buy a lightweight SD card reader that could pull images
from our camera's memory card into the iPhone, where we could
back up important pictures, upload them to
Flickr or Facebook, or email them.iPhone Accessories: TV Tuner
This is actually more realistic than it sounds.
Qualcomm's MediaFlo division is working on
add-ons for smartphones like the iPhone that
will connect to its live FLO TV service.iPhone Accessories: Game Controller
iPhone developers have made some awesome games that use
the phone's motion sensor and multi-touch screen as controls.
But some games are still best played with a thumb
pad and a few buttons. Perhaps someone will create
an iPhone game pad and a controller platform
that it will either use exclusively or
license to game makers.iPhone Accessories: Zink Printer
Just because the iPhone is constantly connected to
the Internet, doesn't mean it can't also print stuff.
Zink's ("zero ink") partners make lightweight
printers that work wirelessly with other smartphones.
Perhaps the iPhone is on their radar.iPhone Accessories: Verizon Card
Verizon iPhone in 2010
This one is not going to happen, but anyone
who's ever been frustrated with AT&T's 3G
service on the iPhone -- or a lack of wi-fi
hotspots for an iPod touch -- might want one
of these. The good news: You can already
sort of accomplish the same thing, via the
"MiFi" device that Verizon and Sprint Nextel
sell, which lets you connect up to five
gadgets via wi-fi to a 3G signal.iPhone Accessories: Breathalyzer
Perfect for college campuses, office parties,
futuristic police forces, etc. Integrates
with Facebook Connect for real-time
embarrassing wall posts. Update: A reader
points us to this iPod breathalyzer
add-on, now $40 off for Father's Day.iPhone Accessories: Meat Thermometer
What a better way to follow on-screen
recipe instructions than a cooking app
that tells you when the chicken is done?iPhone Accessories: Tire Gauge
Besides being cool, this might
have some practical purposes: Keep a
long-term diary of your tire pressure,
alert other nearby drivers of road hazards,
message AAA directly with your GPS coordinates.iPhone Accessories: Electric Shaver
Here we might argue for some sort of
high-tech 3D facial analysis software, or a
social best-shave game. But this could also
work for ultra-light packers. With an iPhone
and a Braun shaver add-on, you might be able
to go on a business trip with no other electronics,
if you really wanted to.
