We have talked a couple times now about the GSLO Volt solar charger case for the iPhone that will be offered by GSLO in the US. The company has announced that it has received its first shipment of demo cases from the manufacturer for testing.

According to GSLO this is the last step before it can start marketing the cases and selling them in the US. GSLO is going to “thoroughly test” Volt units to ensure that the cases are manufactured well before selling them.

The Volt is a case with a battery packs that has a small solar panel on the back. The idea is that the solar panel will trickle charge the cases internal battery and help keep it charged up longer. The Volt is also the only battery pack I have heard of that will work with the iPhone 3GS and iPhone 4. You can reserve your own Volt case here.

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This concept from Econut takes the cake as being the most green gadget accessory.  The concept case is made from coconut fibers and allows you to slip your iPad in, prop it up and use the built in keyboard with the device.

After using the case, you can simply give the case back to nature as it seems to be biodegradable.  The design is stylish and clean and would make the Professor from Gilligan’s Island quite proud.

The video indicates the case will come in five stylish colors; white, yellow, green, red, and black.  So if the designers ever do get the case into production, expect plenty of Prius drivers to be carrying them around.

[Via Yanko Designs]

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I really like my iPad. I do worry that I will drop it and crush the screen sometime, but that worry isn’t strong enough for me to wear something like this new iPad holder called the Assero Defender. It looks like one of those baby carriers that some people carry infants around in.

This contraption is sort of like a backpack that you can wear on your chest. It has a flip down flap that the iPad is mounted on that you can unzip for access to your iPad while standing without having to hold the iPad.

The downside is that this is one of the geekiest (and not in a good way) things I have ever seen. It will also cost you $130 despite the fact that it makes you look like a real ass-ero.

Via CrunchGear

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The iPhone 4 will hit Verizon before you know it and there will be a bunch of new users out shopping for cases and accessories for the devices. Accessory makers are probably giddy with anticipation since many of the cases on the market for the AT&T iPhone won’t fit the Verizon offering.

If you want a Bluetooth headset and a case the cool MoGo Talk XD2 (PDF) from ID8 Mobile might be perfect for you. This is a case that offers protection for both of the iPhone 4 smartphones on the market and has a hump on its back that hides a Bluetooth headset. The headset folds flat to only 5mm thick when not in use and it charges while docked on the back of the case.

Looking at the side of the case, the volume buttons are covered by what appears to be silicone. I wonder how the case works with both smartphones. The universal cases I have seen have a large opening that will work for either device. The XD2 will land on February 3 and will cost $99.99.

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Apple stores have apparently begun receiving stocks of universal iPhone 4 bumpers, which will suit the controls on both the AT&T and Verizon versions of the smartphone. As we spotted back at the CDMA iPhone 4′s launch, the newer handset has the ringer switch slightly lower down the left-hand side; this tweaked official iPhone 4 case has a longer opening to suit both positions.

Video demo after the cut

The updated case was spotted by Engadget reader Alex, who promptly picked up the Bumper so as to compare it to the original design (as you can see in his video below). The change does mean that from now on official Bumpers should suit either iPhone 4 version, but if you’ve got a fitted case for your current model, don’t necessarily expect it to work on the Verizon handset arriving next month.

[via SlashPhone]

Some of the cases already on the market for the iPhone 4 on AT&T will fit the Verizon iPhone 4 and some will not. It depends on how the cases are designed around the buttons on the wide of the device. AG Findings has announced that it has new cases coming for the Verizon iPhone that will fit with no issues.

The company has designed its Vandelay case and the Beetle case line to fit the Verizon smartphone. The Vandelay cases are made in multiple colors and patterns for the user that is fashion conscious. The two-piece design of the case also means that the user can dock the iPhone without removing the case and get protection from drops and more. It comes with a holster and a kickstand for $34.99.

The Beetle cases are slim and very lightweight for ultimate comfort according to the maker. The Bettle cases will sell for $34.99 each. That is the same price that the cases sell for in AT&T stores for the iPhone 4 right now.

Despite Apple’s best efforts, details of the iPad 2 continue to trickle out; yesterday it was talk of an ARM Cortex A9 dual-core processor, a “super high resolution” display and dual-mode GSM/CDMA support, while today it’s a batch of supposed iPad 2 cases. The handiwork of TopAppo, the silicone case shows the by-now familiar squared-off back plate believed to distinguish the second-gen iPad, along with cut-outs for a larger speaker.

Now, it’s unclear where the company has got the details for the case from – this could all be speculative, it could be based on leaked information or rumor, or it might be relying on more official measurements – so as with all these leaks we’re grabbing a fistful of salt. Still, it’s not the first case to look like this, and as we’ve seen with previous accessories for Apple devices the Shenzhen industry do seem to have an uncanny knack for narrowing in on the official design.

According to TopAppo, manufacturing of the iPad 2 case is ready to begin now, while iPhone 5 accessory manufacture is also expected to start imminently. Apple is tipped to announce the iPad 2 later this quarter, while the fifth-generation iPhone isn’t expected until midway through the year.

Despite Apple’s best efforts, details of the iPad 2 continue to trickle out; yesterday it was talk of an ARM Cortex A9 dual-core processor, a “super high resolution” display and dual-mode GSM/CDMA support, while today it’s a batch of supposed iPad 2 cases. The handiwork of TopAppo, the silicone case shows the by-now familiar squared-off back plate believed to distinguish the second-gen iPad, along with cut-outs for a larger speaker.

Now, it’s unclear where the company has got the details for the case from – this could all be speculative, it could be based on leaked information or rumor, or it might be relying on more official measurements – so as with all these leaks we’re grabbing a fistful of salt. Still, it’s not the first case to look like this, and as we’ve seen with previous accessories for Apple devices the Shenzhen industry do seem to have an uncanny knack for narrowing in on the official design.

According to TopAppo, manufacturing of the iPad 2 case is ready to begin now, while iPhone 5 accessory manufacture is also expected to start imminently. Apple is tipped to announce the iPad 2 later this quarter, while the fifth-generation iPhone isn’t expected until midway through the year.

Much of this stuff was shown off publicly for the first time at CES last week, but we thought it might be interesting to get everything that wireless charging company Powermat has planned for 2011 into one convenient place — and that’s exactly what this here slide deck has done for us. The first products in the pipeline for this year include a charging case for the Nokia N8, targeted for early Q2, along with a two-device portable charging mat that includes a built-in battery (7,800mAh!) that promises up to four full smartphone charges while staying completely off the grid; look for those to run $40 and $130, respectively. Later in the quarter, you’ll get a white two-unit mat (all of Powermat’s gear is black right now, so it’s a nice change of pace), several colored iPhone 4 cases, a BlackBerry Torch case, and an $80 so-called Power! Case for the iPhone 4 that integrates an external 1,800mAh battery for extra juice on the go.

Moving on to the third quarter of the year, you’ll see a dual-power one-device mat that can be powered either from the wall or a USB port for $40, a car mount that inductively charges your Powermat-enabled device, and an iPod touch case. Finally, the 1X Rechargeable Mat comes late in Q3, packing some undetermined (or at least unlisted) amount of juice into a mat that looks roughly similar to the existing one-device mat that’s already on the market; like Powermat’s other battery-powered mats, this one lets you juice devices when you’re not near an outlet, and it’ll be available for $70. Hit up the gallery for the full deck!

Powermat’s 2011 product roadmap: colorful iPhone cases, extended batteries, and more originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 13 Jan 2011 21:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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GSLO has been buying up the rights to sell some interesting gear in the US. This is the company that is bringing the Peel 520 to the states among other things. GSLO has announced that it has landed the North American distribution rights to the Volt Solar Charger for the iPhone.

GSLO is getting the exclusive rights to the solar charger for all of North America. The Volt is made by a company called XSE. The Volt Solar Charger is an external battery pack that fits onto the iPhone and extends the battery life by using a solar charger on the outside of the case to trickle charge the battery.

The battery inside can also be charged by using a USB cable for longer runtime with the solar panel helping to keep the battery topped off. GSLO is mum on when the Volt will come to the US and how much the device will cost.