Gekko Stand Looks To Be The Only Stand You’ll Ever Need

Kickstarter continues to be a breeding ground for great and innovative products for your favorite gadgets and Gekko Stand hopes to be the next. As a designer, Dwight Houser became sick of the stands and mounts available on the market due to their “one-trick pony” like functionality. Enter the Gekko Stand, a multi-function stand+mount that works with just about any device, anywhere. It uses a NanoSuction pad that allows it to stick to any flat surface and won't leave any sticky residue behind when finished. Use it as a mount for your smartphone while driving or turn it into a stand for your tablet when stationary. The adjustable arm is made up of several ball and socket joints that can be put together or taken apart to adapt to your specific situation. It's like an adult lego accessory for your gadgets. For non-flat surfaces, a clamp can be used and with an entry price of $30, this product is too good to pass up. Gekko Stand is less than $1000 from reaching its project goal on Kickstarter and will be funded on March 15th. 

Elevate Your iMac Or Thunderbolt Display With The Apogee Monitor Stand

Companies like Twelve South have built their entire business on accessories for Apple products. Powerslide Labs looks to do the same with their first product, The Apogee Monitor Stand. Built entirely out of aluminum, it has the look and finish of a something Apple would build themselves. It is designed to elevate your iMac or Monitor to allow for an ergonomic viewing angle. On the bottom of each of the legs are “grippy feet” to allow the stand to stay in place and keep from scratching your table. It comes with a built in cable management system to keep your desk looking clean and neat. Optionally, you can also order one with 3 built in USB 3.0 ports that is located on one of the front legs. The Apogee Monitor Stand is currently raising funds on Kickstarter and you can pledge $69 to get yours when it becomes available.

Apple Store App Now Lets You Purchase Accessories Yourself, In-Store Pickups

It took Apple a while to implement these what seem like no-brainer features for customers to check themselves out while purchasing accessories at Apple retail stores and paying via their iTunes account without having to wait for an employee to ring you up on an accessory on a busy day. Which just so happens to be almost every single business day. Apple has issued an update that enables you to use the Apple Store app with your iPhone 4 or iPhone 4S to make in-store purchases by scanning the barcode on the packaging without even having to interact with employees called EasyPay.

For larger purchases like Macs, iPods, iPads and iPhones you'll still need assistance of an employee. But if you don't feel like waiting, you can now purchase those devices beforehand and within an hour, pick up your purchase at your local Apple store without having to wait. That is until everyone else finds out about this. So have fun and shop responsibly! 

Motorola Announces MotoACTV, Touchscreen Fitness Music Player

Motorola has announced of a new square shaped music player with fitness tracking performance functionalities. Looks and sounds familiar? Looks like Motorola wants to bank in on Apple's success with its iPod Nano. Hey, we're not judging here. The more choices out there the better! Motorola's new MotoACTV is first and foremost a fitness-focused device before it's a music player with things like heart monitoring through the optional $179 Motorola SF700 wireless sport headphones and $99 Motorola SF500 wired sport headphones that have built-in heart rate monitors with real-time audible readouts of your heart rate allowing you to track your performance, all without using a chest strap.

With the MotoACTV you can keep track of your ongoing fitness performance stats, including pace, distance, calories burned, and map tracking your outdoor performance with a map detailing the route covered using the built-in GPS. Automatic wireless syncing of all of your workout data is then pushed to your online account. 

The MotoACTV isn't just an iPad Nano clone despite the similarities. It's much richer in features. You'll find a 1.6" multi-touch touchscreen display with Gorilla Glass that's sweat-proof, rain-resistant and scratch-resistant that auto-adjusts for indoor or outdoor lighting. The MotoACTV supports both Bluetooth 4.0 and ANT+ wireless connectivity for existing and future sensors and accessories, FM radio, option to sync with the latest Android-powered smartphone to receive and control incoming calls and texts on your touchscreen and a rechargeable battery that will last you up to 5 hours for outdoor workouts due to GPS performance tracking, 10 hours indoors, and nearly two weeks on standby.

You'll be available to pre-order the Motorola MotoACTV starting today in 8GB and 16GB models for $249 and $299, respectively. Additional accessories like the wristband aren't going to be included. Expect to get your hands on it on November 6. 

ModulR Announces Sleeker Modular iPad 2 Case

ModulR has announced a new version of their very interesting and functional modular hardshell case for the iPad 2 which will be available early this summer. I loved the first generation ModulR case for the first gen iPad, although it did need some tweaking and hopefully the iPad 2 version will be outstanding. The new ModulR case for the iPad 2 looks much sleeker and is fully compatible with the Smart Cover. Last year the ModulR case debuted its case with a front hard screen cover protector, this time the new iPad 2 ModulR case will include an adjustable Hand Strap for a better grip of your slender iPad 2.

The ModulR hardshell case for the iPad 2 will be compatible with various ModulR accessories such as the $29.99 iPad 2 Cover Stand - ModulR's take on Apple's Smart Cover, Shoulder Strap Pro, Car Headrest Strap, Slim Wall Mount, Fridge Mount - All priced at $19.99, respectively. The ModulR iPad 2 Case + Hand Strap will be available in white, black and clear $$39.99.

Official Apple iPad 2 Accessories

Besides the new iPad 2, Apple released a few new accessories for the iPad 2. The three most notable accessories include the Smart Covers which double as a stand, a new iPad 2 Dock made specifically for the iPad 2 and a new Digital AV Adapter with a full HDMI output that supports full 1080p HD playback. Although the new Digital AV Adapter came out for the iPad 2, it will also be compatible with the current iPhone 4, iPod Touch 4G and iPad. The iPad 2 will be the only one capable of outputting full 1080p while the rest will have to put with just 720p playback. In addition to HDMI out, you will also be able to charge your iPad, iPhone 4 and iPod Touch 4G using the Digital AV Adapter while outputting content. 

You will have to wait until March 11 to get your hands on these new iPad 2 accessories though. The Smart Covers run for $39-69, the iPad 2 Dock $29 and the Digital AV Adapter will set you back $39 not including an HDMI cable. Now it's your turn 3rd parties!