We took a hands on look at the ZaggMate at CES this year.  Check out the video below to see how the device works.

Sure, most iPhone cases protect your phone, but can they help to get you drunk as well?  That’s where HeadCase’s bottle opening iPhone cases come into play.  A bottle opener is conveniently integrated into the back of the case, allowing you to pop open a beer while checking your email.  The case also has an opener for cans, as well.

For $25, the HeadCase bottle opener will pay for itself once you find yourself with a beer, and without a bottle opener.

You’ve probably seen thousands of electrocardiograms, aka ECGs, on medical TV shows.  These devices sit next to a patient’s bed, and display a heartbeat as a line that’s usually accompanied by a regular interval of beeps.

But ECGs don’t need to be so large and immobile, according to Dr. David Albert.  The good doctor has developed an iPhone case that doubles as an ECG – just hold the back of the case up to your heart and your heart beat can be seen on the iPhone’s screen.

The case, currently dubbed the iPhone ECG, is still in development and has not yet been cleared for sale as a medical device in the USA.  But judging from the video below, it definitely look like this device will be valuable for patents that need a portable device to measure their heart rate.

Video looks great on your iPad and iPhone, but displaying that video on an external display can be a pain.  That’s why we’re so excited about MiLi’s HD dock for the iPhone and iPad.  This compact dock features a micro USB charging port and, more importantly, an HDMI out connection that will allow users to output 1080i video from their i-device on an HDMI-enabled display.  The HDMI out can also be used to connect your i-device to an audio system.

The MiFI HD will cost $100, and will be on display this week at CES.

Source:  Engadget

Yep, Bioserie’s motto, “Made of Plants” kind of explains it all.  The Hong Kong-based company offers iPhone, iPod and iPad cases that are made of bioplastics, i.e. crushed plant corpses.  There’s a lot of science behind bioplastics, but the short story is that unlike most plastics, which are made from oil, bioplastics are made from renewable sources such as plant starches or microorganisms.

So what does that mean for users of Bioserie’s cases?  At the very least, it means you can protect your iGear without guilt.  Better yet, you can tell all your friends with regular plastic cases that they are destroying the environment with their fossil fuel-based cases.  Burn.

BioSerie’s iPhone 4 cases cost $35.  The company’s iPad cases have not yet been priced, but are expected to launch in 2011.

Manufacturer: Perfected Case Chemistry (Seido)

Model: Platinum (SNC10SL)

Device: Samsung Nexus S

Type: Hard Plastic

Website: www.bestbuy.com

Price: $30

Weight: 18g

Pros: Good fit and grip

Cons: Flimsy bezel

Rating:

Best Buy launched the Nexus S in the United States, and at launch the company offered two cases for the Nexus S under its Perfected Case Chemistry brand. Like other Perfected Case Chemistry Cases, these cases are manufactured actually manufactured by Seidio. In this review, we take a look at the company’s Platinum case for the Nexus S, which can be found by the model number SNC10SL.

Appearance:

The Platinum case is a basic hard plastic case for the Nexus S. The case’s exterior has a matte finish that sparkles when it’s in the light and feels soft and spongy to the touch.

At 18 grams, the Platinum case doesn’t add much bulk to the Nexus S. The case only adds a couple millimeters of thickness to the device as well.

We only saw purple versions of the case available at launch, but other colors should be available from Best Buy soon.

Durability:

The hard plastic back of the Platinum cases is made out of a single, solid piece of plastic that doesn’t have any isolated plastic parts that can break or snap off. The case’s front bezel, however, is a much thinner piece of plastic that feels quite flimsy, especially when removing the case from the phone. We worry that this piece will bend, or break over time if it is removed from the phone without care.

Usability:

The Platinum case snaps satisfyingly around the Nexus S, and we didn’t feel any space between the phone and the case. We did see a few spots where the case’s back and front bezel didn’t fit together perfectly, but the case still seemed to fit securely around the phone. We didn’t have any problems removing the case from the phone, and the case also has a coin slot that makes removal easy with a twist of the wrist.

The soft spongy texture of the Platinum case provides a good grip. This was particularly nice with the slick Nexus S. The case also has a sizeable ledge around the Nexus S’ screen that makes the device easy to hold with one hand.

The case provides good access to all ports and buttons on the Nexus S. The case doesn’t provide much room around the Nexus S’ camera and flash, but we didn’t have any problems taking flash pictures with the case installed.

Protection:

Like other hard plastic cases, the Platinum case provides good protection from scratches and scrapes, but doesn’t provide much cushioning from falls. The case also has a ledge around the Nexus S’ camera and screen, which protects these parts when the phone is placed on a flat surface.

Overall:

Given that there are only two cases currently available for the Nexus S, users do not have many options. Still, the Platinum case performs well in most respects – it fits the device well, is comfortable to hold, and provides basic protection from everyday bumps and bruises. We were a bit worried about the case’s thin bezel, but we do think the case will hold up if it is carefully removed from the Nexus S.

At $30, the case isn’t cheap, but it is certainly within the standard price range of cases from Best Buy. Overall, we give the Platinum case for the Nexus S four stars.

Look, it’s hard to deny that Apple is a great company, but charging $20 for a standard 30 pin cable is…well…absolutely ludicrous.  That’s just one of the reasons why Aigo’s aiPower i616 case is so appealing.  The case, which hides a rechargeable lithium-polymer battery, features an integrated mini USB cable that slides back into the case when not in use.  That means you’ll never be without a charging cable for your iPhone 4.

The aiPower i616 adds 7 hours of talk time, 10 hours of Internet/Video and 300 hours of standby time to the iPhone 4.  The case has a battery power indicator on its bottom, as well as a charging switch to turn charging on and off.

You can pick up an aiPower i616 here for $80.

Sure, your iPad and iPhone can tell you the current temperature outside, but what if you want to know the current temperature inside a piece of meat?  That’s where iDevice’s iGrill wireless thermometer and app comes into play.

The iGrill system consists of a wireless temperature probe that can track temperatures up to 400 degrees F.  The probe can be used by itself, and features a touch interface and support for up to two probes.

But the real fun comes when you pair the Bluetooth-enabled wireless probe with your iPhone or iPad and download the iGrill app.  Once paired, you can view the current temperature of your meat from the iGrill app, up to 200 feet away.  The app offers all sorts of handy features, like a timer, a list of recipes, and food temperature safety recommendations.

The iGrill system costs $100 (the app is available for free) and will start shipping on December 20th.  You can order one directly from iDevices, here.

Griffin doesn’t have any problems with tracing.  The company’s innovative LightBoard case combines an app, case and paper to turn the iPad into what is essentially a $500 coloring book.

Here’s how it works.  After installing the polycarbonate LightBoard case, you launch the LightBoard Trace app, which displays traceable pictures on the iPad’s screen.  Then, just attach a piece of paper to the LightBoard case’s frame, give your kid a pen, and you’re all set.

The app has over 40 trace and color activities that should keep your kid busy for hours.  Better yet, the LightBoard case will keep your refrigerator free of those awful free-form pictures that your kid brings home from school, which all look like a big plate of spaghetti.

You can pick up a LightBoard case here for $40, directly form Griffin.