The Consumer Electronics Show 2017 is wrapping up this Sunday, and while Android-based product announcements have been more prominent this year, Apple has also seen its fair share of great unveilings by partner developers.
Apple’s latest generation of MacBooks and iPhones sparked much controversy among consumers and industry experts upon launch, especially for their connectivity choices and underwhelming performance.
Where some saw an opportunity to complain, and even opt out of buying Apple products, many others saw a chance to capitalize on the tech giant’s close-end model and unexploited potential.
MacRumors was present at CES 2017 and compiled a list of the best Apple-related products showcased over the week. Here we go into a little more detail describing the hottest releases so far this year.
CMRA Camera Band for Apple Watch ($249 – Spring 2017)
CMRA arrived at CES with a much-awaited product for all Apple Watch users: A camera peripheral. It comes in the form of a sporty band compatible with the original Apple Watch, the Series 1, and the Series 2.
The CMRA Camera Band has an 8 MP rear camera and 2 MP selfie camera, with additional support for 1080p HD video. A LED light turns on when you use the camera, and the band is splash resistant.
This accessory comes with 8 GB of storage, and it connects with the Apple Watch via Bluetooth and Wi-Fi. CMRA includes an integrated charging dock for both the Watch and the band, and it will ship in Spring 2017 for $249.
Griffin BreakSafe Magnetic USB-C Power Cable for MacBook ($40 – Q2 2017)
@Griffin Unveils BreakSafe Magnetic USB Type-C Breakaway Power Cable for New #MacBook pic.twitter.com/2Zrr0qfESu
— iBuy. iSell. iSwap (@iTech911) January 4, 2016
CES 2017 also saw the debut of a legacy cable for the latest generation of MacBooks: Griffin’s BreakSafe Magnetic USB-C Power Cable. Apple’s new MacBooks do away with support for MagSafe connectivity on its power cables, instead opting for a USB-C solution.
This new cable by Griffin includes a magnetic adapter that plugs into the USB-C port on the laptop, making it backward compatible with old MacBook cables.
Griffin has the BreakSafe cable available for preorder on its website for $39.99, and it is already out of stock. It will start shipping in the second quarter of the year according to the company.
Henge Docks Docking Stations for MacBook Pro 2016 ($149/$499 – Spring 2017)
Henge Docks is a corporation that has built its entire business on providing the top peripherals solutions for Apple and Mac products. The latest versions of its Docking Stations support the new MacBook and MacBook Pro laptops.
The Vertical Docking Station is the most conservative option and its name says it all. It provides a vertical stand for the MacBook Pro with two USB-C ports for $149.
The Horizontal Docking Station, however, comes with two headphone jacks, an SD card slot, four USB 3.0 ports, two USB-C ports, an Ethernet port, two Mini Display jacks, and a power supply port.
For the MacBook Pro with Touch Bar, an additional HDMI port is included. All Horizontal Docking Stations support automated docking with the laptop with the touch of a button, and they have Kensington lock slots for additional safety.
These Horizontal Docking Stations start at $499 and go up to $529 for the 15-inch MacBook Pro model with Touch Bar.
Incipio OX Case with Headphone Jack for iPhone 7 ($59.99 – Q1 2017)
iPhone devices count with the backup of several case manufacturers dedicated to providing the best protection and design available in the market. Add connectivity to that and one of the companies to come up on top is Incipio.
Incipio debuted the OX Case at CES 2017 earlier in the week, and the primary feature is the comeback of the headphone jack. The case resurrects the 3.5-mm audio jack that Apple took away from the design of the latest iPhone 7 and 7 Plus.
Apart from that, the case comes with a Lightning port so you can charge and listen to music at the same time. The Incipio OX is shock-absorbent, and it comes in black, forest, and purple colors. It will be available in stores this quarter for $59.99.
Nanoleaf Aurora Smarter Kit, HomeKit-enabled ($199 – Available now)
The only product of this list to be readily available for purchase is the HomeKit-enabled Nanoleaf Aurora Smarter Kit. This set of Smart lights is compatible with the Home app, which means iOS devices can control its settings.
The Aurora Smarter Kit by Nanoleaf includes 9 RGBW Smart LED panels with their corresponding mounting accessories. It also features a power supply and controller unit, in case you don’t want to use your iPad or iPhone to configure it.
Nanoleaf’s Aurora Smarter Kit reacts to music and sound, and it retails for $199.99 on the company’s official site and Best Buy in the U.S. and Canada. Each additional three-panel expansion pack costs $59.99.
Sources: CMRA / Griffin / Henge Docks / Incipio / Nanoleaf
