iPhone5mod Launches Ultrathin Keyboard and Game Controller for iPhone 5

Wednesday January 2, 2013 5:55 am PST by Eric Slivka

Over the past several months, we've been following the progress of iPhone5mod, one of several companies that have developed unauthorized versions of Apple's new Lightning connector, allowing them to launch a number of accessories, adapters, and cables for customers frustrated by the slow pace of development on official solutions.

iPhone5mod is now launching an interesting new product today in the form of an ultrathin keyboard/game controller for the iPhone 5. The $49.90 EX Hybrid Game Controller consists of a thin back cover for the iPhone that provides magnetic attachment for a pair of 2-mm thick aluminum plates: one offering a keyboard and a second containing gamepad controls. The plates also include integrated batteries for up to 40 hours of active use, with a separate charging station for the plates included in the package.

Top Rated Comments

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genovelle

Posted: 20 weeks ago

Cool! This is why the iPhone trumps Google phones. Having one form factor that won't get dumped every 6 months means that companies can create very special accessories and know they have time to market and recoup their investment. 3 years minimum 5, 5s, and then kept at least one year after the next generation is released at a lower price. The benefit for owners is not only do they get a new phone via next generation software updates which are rare on the Google side, they can use accessories like these to customize their hardware.

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I prefer the will.i.am one.

I thought that was a camera upgrade.

Rating: 7 Positives

Simplicated

Posted: 20 weeks ago

Attaches magnetically... I wonder what impact does it have on the magnetometer.

Rating: 4 Positives

flashflooder

Posted: 20 weeks ago

The extra battery life is more enticing than the keyboard/game controller.

it doesn't add battery life to your phone, they're talking about the battery life of the accessory itself.

Rating: 4 Positives

Digital Skunk

Posted: 19 weeks ago

Cool! This is why the iPhone trumps Google phones. Having one form factor that won't get dumped every 6 months....

Nice to see that some are still making things up, or are still choosing to remain uninformed/blinded.

Rating: 3 Positives

TMar

Posted: 19 weeks ago

Please keep your giant magnetic device away from my credit cards.

Thank you.

Modern credit cards can't be degaussed by even rare earth magnets...

Agreed.
Moreoever, in my view "Magnet = NOT OK!"

Why?

Rating: 3 Positives

Christoffee

Posted: 20 weeks ago

I prefer the will.i.am one.

Rating: 3 Positives

DOUGHNUT

Posted: 20 weeks ago

I don't know about this. You're holding onto your phone by a magnet. I'm sure it can easily come loose. I don't know know if I'd trust it

Rating: 2 Positives

SuperMatt

Posted: 20 weeks ago

This device is trying to do too much.

Rating: 2 Positives

ArtOfWarfare

Posted: 20 weeks ago

Well the part about Google just isn't true.

Actually, their software upgrades for their Nexus phones are usually better than an iOS updates because they don't drop features for the older model just to differentiate. They're certainly not any less frequent than iOS updates are either.

For example, not including Siri on the iPhone 4 when iOS came out with the update.

I agree on the hardware accessories part though.

Google's official data on Android version distribution:

http://developer.android.com/about/dashboards/index.html

Note that over 50% of devices are running Gingerbread, which was released in 2010.

Rating: 2 Positives

rmwebs

Posted: 19 weeks ago

Is macrumors getting kickbacks from these guys or something? Every time iPhone5mod posts an update, it appears on Macrumors. :rolleyes:

They arent even the only ones doing iPhone 5 products anymore. You can pick them up everywhere. I grabbed a lightning cable from Play.com for £2.99 - works fine and looks identical to the Apple one.

Rating: 2 Positives

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