iPhone Accessories

When it comes to hardware attachments and accessories, many people assume that anything that works for an iPod will work on the iPhone. After all, the iPhone is just another iPod, right?

Not!

For example:

  • The iPhone's dimensions are different from the iPods that came before it, so regular iPod cases don't fit.

  • The iPhone's headphone jack is recessed, so regular headphone stereo miniplugs don't fully connect.

  • The iPhone is also a phone, with components inside that can cause static, buzz, and interference when used with external speakers (which have their own electronic innards).

  • The iPhone can play video like an iPod, but unlike an iPod, it doesn't have any kind of video output feature. So home-entertainment docks designed to connect the player with a television don't work.

To help shoppers get products that are compatible with the iPhone, Apple has its own "Works with iPhone" logo program. As the company puts it, products bearing the logo are "electronic accessories designed to connect specifically to iPhone and certified by the developer to meet Apple performance standards."

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Getting stuff with the "Works with iPhone" logo should save you the grief that comes with "Buying the Wrong Thing." And if you're looking for iPhone-friendly accessories, several companies already have plenty of products to sell you. Some good places to look include:

  • Apple's iPhone Accessories page. ...

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