GoPro releases an iOS app enabling you to control what you’re capturing

GoPro, the cool camera you see people wearing on their head when they’re doing something outrageous like base jumping or whatever, has released a mobile application that will enable you to better control your camera without needing to take it off and make adjustments.

The GoPro App is available for iOS devices for free and as TUAW reports , it’ll allow you to link to a HD Hero2 camera through the WiFi BacPac and you can manage your camera’s settings from anywhere nearby. It doesn’t matter what you want to do, any modifications to the settings can easily be controlled through your phone or tablet.

What would be fascinating is if you could also preview what you’re recording right from the iOS device as well. That way you can properly adjust your angle to get a better recording. And having a hands-free approach can be especially important if you’re doing something really cool (or dangerous) and you can’t have 100% access to the camera.

The app isn’t just for your camera, but is also a mini-network that connects you with the GoPro Network. It gives you access to the company’s Photo and Video of the Day channels so that you can see what other “rad” stuff people are doing.

An Android version is coming soon.

Image credit: PHILIPPE HUGUEN/AFP/Getty Images

Carbon Audio Zooka: It’s the Bluetooth speaker that your iPad has been waiting for

While I’ve bemoaned at great length how tired I am of seeing yet another Bluetooth audio device, sometimes I’ll get ones across my desk that are simply too slick to ignore. The Carbon Audio Zooka, is exactly that. Originally coming to market as a Kickstarter project , the Zooka has since branched into outlets like The Apple Store , Nordstrom and soon Best Buy.

The reasoning behind the Zooka’s success is pretty simple — It looks great, it sounds good. It’s also priced right. At $99 it comes in a notable few bucks less that competitors from brands like Ozaki .

So let’s dive in, shall we? First thing’s first, let’s talk design.

The Zooka fits almost exactly edge to edge on the long side of your iPad. As such it makes a great way to hold the device. Though promo shots show people mounting it along the edge at the top, I find the Zooka to be a bit heavy to do this comfortably for any notable period of time.

There’s a detent in the front-facing side of the Zooka, allowing you to keep your camera or Home button usable. But the double-duty function is interesting. The Zooka also fits snugly along the top of your MacBook Air or Pro’s monitor and the detent leaves your camera clear there as well.

Along the outside of the device are typical buttons – Power, Volume Up, Volume Down and a dedicated button for pairing the device. There’s also a micro-USB charging slot, though it’s worth mentioning that my review unit did not include a cable. The “What’s in the Box” listing on Apple’s site shows that it should have, so we’ll chalk that one up to an oversight.

The speakers for the Zooka sit in the sides, with a resonating chamber between them. On one side of the Zooka you’ll also notice a metal pin. That will screw into a hole in the back of the device, allowing you to keep your iPad in a nice position for viewing.

The device housing is made from a high-density material with a nice, rubberized feeling. Not only does this make it easy to hang onto, but it also feels like it will protect your rather-expensive iPad from the occasional hard landing when you’re setting it down for a movie.

Now, a bit about audio quality. As I’ve noted time and time again, Bluetooth isn’t audiophile-friendly. Nothing over wireless is going to satisfy those of us with picky ears. But if you’re just looking for something that can fill a small room (such as the one in your hotel) with good quality sound, the Zooka won’t leave you disappointed.

Because of the small drivers in the device, true bass response is lacking. But that’s just a matter of physics  and there’s really not much of a way around the problem for portable sound bars. Mids and highs, however, are very clear. Movie vocals didn’t suffer from muddiness, and most music sounded very good. Acoustic guitar really shines, as do strings. Stereo separation was good, if not superb, but obviously better than the single-side speaker that’s native to the iPad itself.

I had no problems pairing the device with my iPad, my iPhone 4S or my MacBook Pro. Also, because the Zooka is physically more svelte than any other Bluetooth speaker “dock” I’ve tried in the past, I’m more apt to actually use it on a regular basis and you will be too. You could easily stuff this into a backpack or suitcase and never notice the weight or the space that it requires.

So is the Zooka the best portable Bluetooth speaker on the market? Nope. That honor still goes to the Jawbone Jambox . But with a price tag $50 lower than the Jambox, and a design that’s actually made to serve a purpose with your iPad, the Zooka is far and away my favorite Bluetooth speaker on the market today.

➤ Carbon Audio Zooka

The Best iPhone 5 Case (so far) is the Switcheasy Tone

This post originally appeared on The Wirecutter – A list of amazing gadgets.

Think an iPhone deserves to be carried “nude” and caseless? You will change your mind after your first few dings on the new handset, which has a much softer aluminum frame than the old stainless steel band on the iPhone 4s. After trying out most of the iPhone cases currently on the market, I’m using the Switcheasy Tones to protect my iPhone 5. It’s exceptionally durable and unobtrusive, and it’s a great value at $25.

(Last Updated October 18th 2012: The Switcheasy Tones is out of stock at the moment. Among the dozens of cases I tested, I found the $5 Monoprice Sure Fit PC+TPU Case to so solid and well-designed that I’d recommend it as an alternative to the Tones. The Switcheasy is still a slightly better case, but the Monoprice , even if it weren’t less than a quarter the price of the Tones ($5), provides excellent protection in an unobtrusive, handsome design. See more details below. )

Unlike the iPhone 4/4S, the iPhone 5’s perimeter band — the outer edge that includes the sleep/wake button — is made of aluminum, which scratches more easily and warrants a protective layer.

After getting a launch-day iPhone, I tested cases now available from every major brand. As of now, I’ve looked at all available models from: Belkin, Incase, Otterbox, Speck, STM, and Incipio. Other brands including Ballistic, Case-Mate, Element Case, Grove Made, and Griffin won’t have samples ready until later, and I don’t expect any of these cases on the horizon to be better than our current pick, based on reviews of past models with the same design as the upcoming cases.

With this first batch, I conducted drop tests, judged everyday usability, and evaluated each model’s aesthetics. For the cases that are updates to previous generation models, I researched past reviews to spot design updates and improvements. I also spoke with other expert reviewers to see what they’re using.

I looked specifically at slim, everyday-use cases, as opposed models with protection from severe trauma, many of which sacrifice compactness and usability. In this everyday-use category, and this should apply to a majority of iPhone 5 owners, a case needs to stand up to general use and abuse, like waist-high drops onto concrete, or a bouncy ride in a packed messenger bag.

The case should cover enough area on the phone to make it withstand impact from different angles while being thin enough to never make basic operation difficult. This applies particularly use of the sleep/wake button, vibrate on/off switch, and the volume buttons. A good case must also allow access to all the plugs without obstruction. I don’t like using a screen protector because it often changes the iPhone screen’s responsiveness and a good case should come up above the glass to protect it if you lay it face-down. Almost every case we tested included one, if you insist on using it.

The Switcheasy Tones series nails all these requirements. It’s an update of the Eclipse .

Like the Eclipse, the Tone is made from hard polycarbonate, rubber, and the edges are reinforced with thermoplastic polyurethane, which, even after spill onto concrete, hides tears and scratches. The lip surrounding the front screen keeps the glass from potential scratches when laid flat face-down. Switcheasy sandblasts the exterior plastic, which makes the plastic smooth and pleasant to touch, but grippy enough to stay put in-hand. Unlike glossy cases, the surface won’t show fingerprints. The rubber portions are set at the top, bottom, and parts of the side. It’s sparse enough on the surface to keep the phone from getting stuck inside a pocket or bag.

Unlike the Eclipse, the Tone has a cover for the sleep/wake button on the top. Because the case fits the iPhone so well, the button cover preserves the tactile click that lets you know it’s been depressed fully. Same for on the sides, where the volume up and down buttons function the same way, something especially practical when using the volume up button as the camera shutter release. The vibrate on/off switch sits in a recess, but the case is slim enough that it’s easy to activate with a swipe from one finger. On the back, the opening for the lens, even on the white case, is lined in black to absorb glare.

The perforations on the bottom line up precisely with the phone’s speaker holes, which means very little interference from the case when using speakerphone. The Lightning connection slides easily into the bottom plug without catching on the case, and all but the most outdated and blunt headphone plugs will fit past the case into the headphone jack.

In the $25 package, Switcheasy includes a cornucopia of supplementary protection: a transparent front and back cover with a hard plastic squeegee for smoothing bubbles, a microfiber cloth, two protective plugs for the Lightning outlet, and two more plugs for the headphone jack. I got lots of use from the cloth, and, especially if you’re in dusty conditions, the plugs for the headphone jack and Lightning connection will keep gunk from sneaking inside the circuits, which an Apple Genius told me is a major cause of iPhone malfunctions.

Nick Guy , iLounge’s accessories editor and the authority on Apple cases, personally uses the Tone for his iPhone 5. The Eclipse on which the Tone is base earned the only straight A recommendation from iLounge (along with another Switcheasy model) for an iPhone 4/4S case. The iPhone 5 update is similarly impressive.

Right now, reviews of the Switcheasy Tones are scarce. Besides Nick Guy’s personal advocacy, Firstposom and 91mobileom both give a video review. Firstpost gives it a 4 out of 5 saying it’s a “good value for your money…but a bit of a bear to remove it, take your time.” Mike, the “Detroit Borg,” says “Overall, it’s a very simple, but well-designed and well-made case that checks all the right boxes for me.”

If I were searching hard to find a grievance, I’d say that the stiff back makes it slightly difficult to remove the phone, but no more so than most unibody cases. Oh, and the Lightning and headphone jack plugs are difficult to remove and easy to lose. But those are minor complaints of an overall stellar package.

Other cases now available do their job, too, but they have design features that keep them from matching the Switcheasy’s well-rounded execution.

Switcheasy also makes the Nude and Colors models for the iPhone 5. The Colors line is available in a spectrum, and the M&M-style home button cover is pleasant to depress. It’s more for show, as the floppy rubber has almost no structure, which means it doesn’t grip the phone snug around the edges.

The Nude is more minimalist than the Tone or Colors, and covers only the sides and the back, with a removable plug for the bottom openings. The recessed lip means that if the phone falls face-down, or you set it down on a table, the glass is suseptible to scratches.

Speck’s CandyShell line was an iPhone 4 standout for being protective and good looking, if you didn’t mind lurid tones. The iPhone 5 versions are solid, but design details keep them from being our top pick. The Flip model’s opening allowing for docking is rendered mostly irrelevant because of the tiny Lightning connection, and the fact that there’s no dock yet available.

The Grip model is a solid bet, but unless you’re really afraid to drop the phone, the rubber ribs on the back make it hard to remove from a pocket.

The FabShell works, too, especially if you want to have a case with some flair, but its thick rim and small sleep/wake button add bulk.

STM, makers of one of my favorite iPad cases , has the Opera and Harbor models, with the Arvo kickstand model coming in late October. The Opera feels similar to Speck’s PixelSkin casing — textured TPU that absorbs shock like rubber, but won’t stick to every surface. Unfortunately, the top and bottom rims aren’t quite snug against the phone, which causes the corners bend back. The recess for the sleep/wake button also makes it more difficult to depress than if it had covers for the switch.

The Harbor has a flip-down bottom that lets you slide the phone into the top section of the casing, then close it shut. The design lets the phone sit more securely in the casing than with the Opera, and the outer lining feels reminiscent of the iPhone’s smooth contours. The raised outer lip, like on the Opera, means you can set it face-down without it touching the table. But, also like the Opera, the Harbor also hides all the buttons in recesses, making them slightly difficult to depress.

Belkin’s ViewCase is a good value at $20, and I like how the clear back leaves the iPhone’s polished hindquarters in full view. But that same film shows fingerprints clearly and gets scratched by dirt. If you were a fan of Apple’s iPhone 4 Bumper , this model is similar.

Incipio has five different iPhone 5 cases, and among them, I found the Feather to be the pick of the litter. It’s minimalist and snaps on like the Switcheasy Nude, but the lip around the screen reaches up slightly, so you can set it face-down. The faux brushed-metal rear looks like the iPhone’s actual handsome back, but the side’s “Plextonium” material feels like it’d shatter if dropped on a hard surface.

Otterbox makes an everyday-use case called the Commuter , a smaller alternative to the unweildy Defender . The Commuter holds the phone in a soft rubber holster, which slides into a hard plastic casing. The bottom section’s protectors for Lightning and the headphone jack keep out dirt and dust, and the case feels like it’d survive a one-story drop. For constant use, however, the high lip around the front makes it hard to reach over to the screen with your thumb, and the sleep/wake trigger requires some muscle to depress. If you are getting into gnarly situations and can’t hold out for the new Lifeproof case, the Defender will keep your phone safe at the cost of a less responsive screen and a chunky, protruding exterior.

Incase, a regular on Apple Store shelves, makes the most basic cases of the bunch, and also the least-durable. Their Slider model is exactly what it sounds like. Pull off the bottom, slide in the phone, and slide the bottom back on. The only good thing is the easy installation. Besides that, the recesses for the buttons make them difficult to press, and the plastic feels so flimsy that it makes the phone itself feel cheap and brittle. When I pushed down the sleep/wake button, the phone always slid down and pushed the case ends apart. The Snap case doesn’t have that same problem, but it’s made of the same cheap-feeling plastic.

In the end, the Switcheasy Tones is the case I find to have the fewest flaws.

➤ Switcheasy Tones – $25 from Amazon – Out of stock

A Cheaper Alternative: Monoprice’s $5 case functions like a model that’s five times as expensive. The two-part construction has a TPU bumper that slides into a polycarbonate plastic shell. It covers all the corners, and the lip comes above the face of the iPhone so it can lay face-down. The volume and sleep/wake buttons, while not as precise as those on the Switcheasy, function without issue. On the underside, the section covering the speaker holes is pore-less, instead re-directing the sound forward through slits. There’s no noticeable difference in quality, but the structure gives extra protection along a section prone to impact.

The only issue is the headphone jack, which, because of the extra length on the bottom, is recessed more than other cases. My InCase Sonics fit and made full contact with the jack, but an old pair of Etymotics , barely made enough contact to get sound, and not enough contact to make the volume controls functional. Besides that minor issue, the Monoprice Sure Fit PC+TPU case is what I’d buy since the Tones is not available at the moment. After testing, I put my iPhone 5 back into the Switcheasy, but with those not available now, the Monoprice is a worthy substitute.

What to Look Forward to: We’ll be testing and researching cases from Ballistic, Case-Mate, Element Case, Grove and Griffin as soon as they’re available. Even if the new models improved drastically on their precessors, you’ll be more than safe investing in the Switcheasy Tones case, which is what I’ll be using for the foreseeable future.

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