Nearly every inch of the Moscone Center exhibit hall during Macworld shows support for Apple devices: how to prop up an iPad, clamp an iPhone or hang an iOS device around your neck, along with all manner of fits, finishes and folding folderols. There wasn’t time to put these fully through their paces but here are some of the most impressive add-ons I saw.
The most unusual accessory I tried was the Bowblade ($185 from April, available internationally through its website), which brings the bow and arrow gaming concept to life. The iPhone is clamped to the bridge of this full-sized bow and its touchscreen is tapped by a cable and trigger contraption that takes the place of the arrow. You can draw back the bow to shoot a virtual arrow at targets in more than 35 off-the-shelf iPhone games. It is a better upper-body workout than your average computer game.
Another unusual peripheral I liked was the Evoluent vertical mouse ($100, £66), which stands on its side so it can be grasped in a handshake fashion – a more natural position than turning your wrist to operate a mouse in the traditional way.