You probably think you know your iPhone pretty darn well at this point, but we’re here to bring you two just a little bit closer. There are all kinds of tricky ways you can get more use out of your phone, and we’re betting you might not know them all. Take a look at the list below and let us know how many hacks you knew before reading it. And if you score a perfect 30 out of 30, then send this post to your parents because it’s likely they won’t ;)

From taking a screenshot to using your volume key as a shutter button, here are 30 clever iPhone hacks that you might not know about, but should! (PS: If you’re an Android user, we’re working on a list of clever hacks for you too, so stay tuned!)

1. Use Your Volume Key as a Shutter Button: Did you know that your volume keys on your phone also act as shutter buttons when you’re in camera mode? This is great for all those selfies you love to take ;)

2. Do Not Disturb: This lets you put your phone to sleep, except if you get a text or call from one of the people on your list of Favorites. You can also set a time range so that you don’t have to worry about forgetting to turn it back off. To customize Do Not Disturb, go to Settings and then Notifications.

3. Tweet or Facebook Post Directly from Your Camera Roll: Why open up a whole app when you just want to share a photo? Thanks to the latest version of iOS, it’s easy to tweet or post to Facebook right from your camera roll.

4. Turn an E-Book into an Audiobook: This is definitely on the extremely hacky end of the spectrum. Go to Settings on your phone, then choose Accessibility. Turn Speak Selection on. Then, open your book and select all the copy you want to hear. You’ll see a menu bar that has options like Copy and Highlight. Scroll to the right and you’ll see Speak. Amazing!

5. Make Your Phone a Hotspot: What is a hotspot? It’s wifi, powered by your phone! It costs around $10 a month to be able to do this, and lets you connect to the data network on your phone via Bluetooth. It’s great if you’re traveling and need to use your computer or iPad to look at or send something, especially when airport wifi fails. Warning: This uses up a TON of battery power, so be sure to charge it up.

6. Spotify Offline Listening: More of an app hack than an iPhone one, Spotify makes it easy for your online library to live offline. Just make sure you’ve got enough space to save all those playlists!

7. Drop a Pin to Share Your Location: You may have caught this one for the first time while watching Girls. Open up Google Maps, zoom in to your location and hold down to drop a pin. Then you can share that location via text or email!

8. Emoji Keyboard: At this point, emoji’s an oldie but a goodie. Sometimes words just can’t convey the same thing as a teeny tiny illustrated icon. Related: Popular Songs in Emoji Form.

9. Change Siri’s Accent and Gender: Wait, what?! It’s sort of a hack because technically you are changing Siri’s language. If you’re sick of the English-speaking Siri your phone came with, change her to a British dude by choosing English (United Kingdom) as your language.

10. Update Your Twitter Status via MMS: This one is good when you have limited connectivity but still want to share all of your thoughts and activities via Twitter. Head to the Twitter website, login, and then to Settings. Select mobile and you can connect your phone number to your Twitter account. Then all you have to do is text 404-04 to send words, images, and even videos to Twitter!

11. Google Now: Technically this is an app, but it’s one you need to download now. It syncs with your calendar and email and other Google Apps to serve up helpful information right when you need it – things like flight delays, the weather, driving directions, etc. You can also speak to it to look things up.

12. Touch the Top Bar to Scroll to the Top: If you’ve been scrolling through your camera roll for 10 minutes just to get to the top, we’ve got news for you. If you tap the top bar (where the time and battery life icons are), you will be automatically scrolled to the top of whatever you’re looking at. This also works for websites, apps, and pretty much anything that involves scrolling on your phone.

13. Create an “App” out of a Website: Think of it as “save to desktop” for your phone. When you’re on a website in Safari, press the icon that looks like a share (an arrow in a box) button and you can choose to save that website to your home screen.

14. Tap to Focus Camera: It’s not exactly a DSLR, but the iPhone camera is getting fancier by the day. In a recent update, you can now tap to focus if you want the camera to focus on a specific item.

15. Attaching Photos to Emails: Sure, you know how to send a photo directly from your camera roll, but what if you want to add a photo to an email you’ve already written? Or one that is in an existing thread? Turns out, if you hold your finger down while writing your email, a menu will pop up. Click on the arrow on the right, and you’ll have the option to insert a photo or video. Woot!

16. Custom Vibrate Alerts: Silent customization? Okay okay, vibrate mode has never been silent but this is still pretty cool. You can design your own vibrate pattern or choose from a bunch of options already on your phone.

17. Taking a Screenshot: This might be the hack we use most often – in fact, every single screenshot in this post was created using this hack. Simply hold your home button and your power button to take a screenshot of whatever is currently on your screen. Head to your camera roll to find it!

18. On-Screen Home Button: Is your button acting up? You can’t justify getting a new phone just because the button isn’t working, but you kind of need that button. Well, you can add one to your screen! Head to Settings and then Accessibility, and activate Assistive Touch. You can move the button to anywhere on your screen.

19. Private Browsing:If you are worried about Apple having all of your browsing information on file in some secret database, simply activate private browsing. To do this, go to Settings, then choose Safari, and turn Private Browsing on.

20. Save Pages for Offline Reading: If you know you’re going to be offline in the near future, go to all of your favorite blogs and save them for offline reading! In Safari, click the arrow button on the bottom of your screen and select “Add to Reading List.” The small book icon that appears on your browser is that very reading list!

21. Turn On Auto-Brightness: When it’s pitch black in your room at 6am when you wake up, you definitely don’t need the brightness on your phone turned up all the way. Turn on auto-brightness to save your eyes and save battery power all at the same time.

22. Double Tap Home Button for Music Controls When Locked: If you’re rocking out to Passion Pit and need to press the pause button real quick, simply double click your home button and your music controls will pop up.

23. Lock Screen Orientation: Sick of your screen auto-rotating every time you turn even just a little bit? Lock that vertical screen right up! Double click your home button and scroll to the left. The button that looks like a rotate icon is how you lock your screen orientation. (If you scroll to the right, you’ll see all the apps you are currently using.)

24. iMessage Overseas without Fees: The best thing about iMessage is not just the blue chat bubbles. You can actually send texts over Wifi, even if you’re overseas and in airplane mode. Simply turn on airplane mode and then connect to a wifi network. This will only work when sending texts to other iPhones.

25. Save Web Images to Your Camera Roll: How often have you done the same Google Image search of Elizabeth Taylor as Cleopatra to get that makeup just right? Stop that! You can save any image that you see on the web to your camera roll. Simply press the screen where the image is, and you should a menu that allows you to save it.

26. Turn Off Wifi and Bluetooth to Save Battery: Another way to save battery – your phone definitely doesn’t need to be searching for nearby Jamboxes or other Bluetooth devices throughout the day. This is a really good move if you’re traveling and know that you won’t be automatically connecting to known Wifi networks.

27. Create Custom Typing Shortcuts: Okay, this is the coolest thing we learned in our research of iPhone hacks. You can create typing shortcuts for things you type all the time. This is great for your email address, your home address, and things you say all the dang time.

28. Save Path Photos to Your Camera Roll: We had to include a little Easter egg from our friends over at Path. You can actually save (or repath) any of your friends’ photos to your camera roll! Click into a photo and press the photo and a menu will pop up letting you save it.

29. Double Tap the Home Key to Browse (and Close) Open Apps: If you don’t want to scroll through pages of apps, you can double click your home button to browse just the open ones.

30. Hold Down an App to Delete or Move It: This should be a pretty obvious one but if you don’t know about it, we want to make sure you do! If you hold down any app, your apps will start bouncing and will each have a tiny X in the upper left corner. The X lets you delete the app and the bouncing lets you move apps around on your phone.

What iPhone hacks do you use on a daily or weekly basis? Any that we’re missing? Tell us in the comments below!

All the power outages that have come as a result of Hurricane Sandy had us worried about folks on the east coast, and also got us to thinking. So many of us are almost completely reliant on our smartphones, tablets, and laptops for constant communication but almost none of us have a backup power plan.

For the next time your power source might be threatened, here are 15 chargers for keeping all those screens bright.

The first half of these gadgets require power to charge, making them good to have plugged in at all times so they are ready to go as backup power when the lights go out. For those that rely on solar power, simply keep them in a sunny part of your apartment so that they too are charged up and ready to go in case of a power outage. And one depends on your ability to crank… ;)

1. Mophie Charging Case ($57): The easiest way to keep your phone juiced up is to keep powering it up throughout the day. The Mophie case keeps your phone fully charged and can easily charge other phones of the same generation.

2. Keychain iPhone Charger ($35): This is one in the Brit & Co. Survival Kit, for sure. Next time your iPhone falls into the red, plug in this mini battery and you’ve got 30% more juice.

3. Juice Pack Powerstation ($130): If a keychain and case aren’t quite enough, go for Mophie’s Juice Pack Powerstation. This is portable power wherever you need it for anything that charges via USB. This is great for travel as it is both dust and water proof and looks just as extreme as your hiking, climbing and camping gear.

4. Everpurse ($129 and up): Still in the production phase, Everpurse is a purse that charges your phone! For more on Everpurse, check out our recent article.

5. Powerbag ($140 and up): That’s right. A backpack that carries power! The Powerbag charges just like any regular device and then is ready to power all your other devices throughout the day. It can accommodate up to four devices at once, and even includes a package of standard charging cables. Check your bag’s power level throughout the day, and rest assured that your batteries have a backup plan!

6. Backup Laptop Battery ($120): As far as backup laptop batteries go, a good one is definitely hard to find. This lightweight number is around the same dimensions as your laptop but thinner than a No. 2 Pencil (as described by Hammacher Schlemmer). It can power your laptop for up to 3 1/2 hours, and provides to supplemental devices via USB.

7. Hyperjuice ($300) For even more power, go for the HyperJuice. This powers a MacBook and 2 iPads (or any other USB devices) at the same time. Its got up to 18 hours of laptop power in one charge, and 50 hours for iPad. Amazing.

8. Eton Mobius iPhone Solar Case ($80): You may recall this little darling from our Solar Power Hour. If cords aren’t your style and you want to bulk up your iPhone with some solar energy, the Mobius is your jam. Now you can keep your iPhone powered up anywhere the sun shines.

9. Solar Joos ($149): This solar panel is all about devices. It charges phones, music payers, tablets, and has even been known to power a small fridge! It won’t work with your computer, but the rest of your tech is covered. It works in realistic light condition (aka a cloudy day won’t take your power away) and is waterproof.

10. Eton Red Cross Self-Powered Radio + Charger ($40): This little device packs a punch. It’s an AM/FM radio, flashlight, and charges any of your devices that connect through USB. If the sun isn’t out, “crank” it up!

11. ReVIVE Solar External Battery Pack ($28): You’re probably catching on to the fact that USB ports really make power possible! This is another one that connects via USB and is powered by the sun. 

12. Kudo Solar iPad Case ($180): Charge your iPad while you’re on it with this suntastic case. Protection and power? We’re in. 

13. Solar-Powered Kindle Case ($80): Or if you prefer the e-ink screen of the Kindle, go for this case and charger combo. It also includes an LED light for reading in the dark.

14. Sunny Is Power Solar Travel Charger ($26): A decidedly analog-looking piece, this whimsical USB ready charger by ModCloth asks “Watt would you do without tunes on your weekend-long trek?” We recommend storing it in the sunniest spot of your apartment, so its locked and loaded for your next getaway.

15. Voltaic 1015 Switch Solar Bags ($129-$189):  But how will you carry all these sun-powered accessories? Why, in a solar powered backpack, of course! The backpack comes with 11 standard adapters including a car charger socket and USB adaptor. The three solar panels are tough, lightweight, and waterproof, and generate up to 4 watts of power.

For more powerful tips (hehe), be sure to check out our post on Battery Life Savers for tips on how to get the most out of your smartphone battery.

What are your tricks for keeping devices powered? And for preparing for power outages? Share your insights and suggestions in the comments below.

Well, it looks like the iPhone really can do anything. We’ve been keeping our eyes on the latest trend of multifunctional smartphone cases like the ReadyCase, and recently came across one that made us do a double take. It’s called the Spraytect ($40) and it combines a protective cover for your phone with a small tube of mace to keep yourself protected when you’re on-the-go. That’s right – now it’s possible to pepper spray someone with your iPhone. You knew this would happen one day, didn’t you? (Okay fine, we didn’t either.) The case is currently available for the iPhone 4 and 4S, and it comes in four different colors: black, white, turquoise and pink. We love the story behind it:

After an exhaustive search for personal protection devices for his college bound daughter, Scott McPherson was disheartened. There were no easy-to-carry or socially acceptable options available in the marketplace. There were many pepper sprays and other various safety devices for her backpack, but none that were easily accessible. Then the dots were connected. Most co-eds don’t go anywhere without their smartphone so the optimal solution was to combine her phone and a safety device.

Perfect for those of us that walk alone in an urban environment or in the dark night, we agree that this 2-in-1 functionality makes sense for women who want a bit of extra security. The case itself is pretty simple: it’s thin with a small tube on the back that contains the pepper spray. The tube makes the case a little awkward-shaped, but it’s probably still small enough to fit in your favorite purse or clutch. To spray, just pull the tab, rotate and fire. It seems easy enough to do quickly if you’re attacked by surprise.

Our first thought, or should we say, fear, is that one might accidentally spray themselves with this case. However, Spraytect states that there are “multiple safety mechanisms to prevent accidental firing.” Let’s just make sure small children don’t get ahold of one of these.

While we’re not sure we’d use this as our everyday case, we do see the value of taking it along for a night out in an unfamiliar environment.

Would you add mace to your case? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below or find us over on Twitter.

You may remember that we’ve written about Belkin’s WeMo products before. Their home-automation products are right up our alley. Now Belkin is branching out into an arena that’s sure to make new parents happy: baby monitors that are connected to your smartphone. It’s like a nanny in your pocket!

While I’m not a mom yet, I know many women that are; and these women would all agree that for years, baby monitors have basically been glorified walkie-talkies. With significant static and an unsophisticated interface, they’re not exactly designed for the upcoming generation of tech-savvy parents. Belkin’s Wemo Baby, a smartphone-based monitor system, is a definite upgrade.

It works with your home’s existing WiFi system to connect with your smartphone or other internet-enabled device. The free app allows you to listen for noises like a regular baby monitor, but with much better sound quality and from whatever device you choose. If you upgrade to the Evoz system, you can get “cry alerts” via a phone call or text message as well as detailed information on your child’s sleeping patterns. My first thought: would this work for dogs, too!? I’d love to watch Pixel this closely while I’m at work.

The one drawback of this device is that it only captures audio, not video. I know many moms and dads that like to keep both an eye AND an ear on their offspring. For those parents, we suggest the Dropcam. It’s also internet-enabled and lets you watch live video from your phone or computer, wherever in the world you may be.

Would you use a digital baby monitor like this? What other products would you recommend for tech-savvy parents? Let us know in the comments below.

You know how the Boy Scout motto is “Always be prepared?” Well, there’s finally an iPhone case that will help you do exactly that. The ReadyCase basically turns your iPhone into a Swiss Army knife, without adding too much extra bulk.

The tools included in the case would totally come in handy around Brit HQ. It’s got a multi-tool which serves as a bottle opener, a flat head screwdriver, and a standard and serrated blade… perfect for crafting wherever you find yourself, and for opening a nice, cold beer anytime, anywhere.

There are even tools to help you take your phoneography skills to the next level: the case ships with three lenses and an integrated lens ring that makes switching them out incredibly easy.

And because ReadyCase hasn’t forgotten about the geek inside all of us, there’s a USB stick for storing your data that also serves as a kickstand for propping up your phone. We love 2-in-1 functionality! There’s also a headphone clip to keep you tangle-free on all your adventures.

Oh, and did I mention that it’s only 3 mm thick? You can stay sleek even while you impress everyone by being ready for just about everything.

Currently being funded through Indiegogo (a similar platform to Kickstarter), the 8GB case is being offered at $40 while the 16GB is going for $50. Oh, and they each come with bodies for the iPhone 4 and the iPhone 5, so you can be prepared no matter how you roll. Add this one to my Christmas wish list, please!

Would you use a multi-functional case like this? Talk to me in the comments below.

Phoneography is one of our favorite things. Experimenting with different ways to use our phones to take great photos is a never-ending process of finding cool apps (like Cinemagram) and gadgets (like these 5 awesome mobile tripods). But, unfortunately, our smartphone battery doesn’t exactly last forever and we can find ourselves running out of juice in the middle of an epic photo session. Luckily, the Bobine is here to the rescue: a tripod and charger in one!

The Bobine is basically the world’s coolest charging cord. It’s a two-foot long cable that holds it shape, allowing you to use it as a tripod shoot your next photo or video masterpiece. Because it’s so flexible, you can use it to support your camera in a variety of different positions and from virtually any angle.

And, because it charges your phone too, you can set up great timelapse photography or film long videos. It’s incredibly versatile as well as portable. Available for the iPhone up to version 4 and for Android phones, it’s the perfect companion to a phoneographer’s smartphone.

We’re loving the wide variety of applications for this little gadget. You can also use it to hold your phone while you’re watching a DIY how-to video, reading a recipe, or completing a workout.

Do you have a favorite phone tripod? How do you keep your smartphone charged while taking pictures and video? Talk to us in the comments below or over on Twitter.

While we can't live without the latest and greatest gadgets, apps, and hacks, we’ve gotta give props to our tech forefathers. We've shown you the totally incredible Nintendo Controller Table (that actually works when hooked up to your Nintendo!) and the gorgeous Mixtape Table, and today we're all about iPhone cases that look like retro tech.

1. Game Boy Case ($1-$3): You may recall us writing about this classic Game Boy case back in December. As luck would have it, these cases are now available in a whole rainbow of colors, all under $3, most under $2! Old school tech with old school prices? We'll take it. 

2. Retro Controller Case ($15): Looking to channel your inner Mario Kart champ? This case looks just like an old school Nintendo Controller. The buttons don’t do anything, but you’ll get major old school style points.

3. Cassette Case ($2): Bringing the art of the mixtape to coffee tables and iPhone cases? Yes please! Your phone is where your most prized playlists live these days anyway, why not give it an emo 80s outfit? And if you like to mix it up (har, har), go for the 3-pack of Red, Gray and Black for $6. 

4. Twin Reflex Camera Case ($17): Love the look of old school cameras but can’t live without your new tech? Get the best of both worlds with this slim hard plastic case with a gorgeous Twin Reflex camera image printed on the back. 

5. Retro Camera ($11): Another optical illusion case, this looks just like a classic point and shoot. We like the sleek simplicity of the case combined with the cozy nostalgic look of the camera.

6. Polaroid Camera Decal ($6): Not wild about the whole case thing? Go for a decal of a sweet looking white Polaroid camera instead!

7. Hard Shell Calculator Case ($11): Sentimental for your TI-85? Or perhaps your very first solar-powered basic calculator? If you’re like us, you likely use your phone for your calculator as well among a million other handy dandy mobile tools. Calculate like your inner nerd with this little number.

8. Colorful Silicone Calculators ($3): Or maybe you’re all about the digits but need more color. This silicone case comes in just about every color under the sun. We’re particularly loving the red and orange variety.

9. Early Cell Phone iPhone Case ($12): Yes we’ve written about this one before, but we can’t resist any reference to Saved by the Bell we can get. All you need is a bit of neon and this case to channel your inner Zack Morris. Oh, and it's also available in white if you're more into a Miami Vice aesthetic.

10. Payphone Case ($17): More a decorative case than a retro tech illusion, this gorgeously printed hard shell case depicts a classic rotary payphone. 

11. Gizmon Black Camera ($55): Yes, $55 is a lot to drop for an iPhone case that pretends to be a camera but this is a high-quality gadget if we’ve ever seen one. It’s made up of 32 pieces of polycarbonate parts, it works with all sorts of fun lenses, a custom camera app, and comes with a tripod, pouch, and mock lens.

Bonus: Retro Mac (Not Available): We realize it's a little cruel to share these with you only to tell you they're not available but… we're doing it anyway. These cases capture classic Apple tech in the newest way possible. Keep your eyes on this site to see if these pop up again, though we doubt the folks at Apple condone this type of case behavior. 

What retro tech would you like to see in the form of an iPhone case? Got any favorites from the list above? Or any that we’re missing? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below or come find us on Twitter.

Obviously the perfect headphones are necessary for rocking out solo, but you can’t have a Call Me Maybe office dance party with just a pair of earbuds! We’re big fans of pumping up the jams here at Brit & Co. But we’re not big fans of sucking the power from our already strapped devices or constantly changing batteries on crazy complex speaker systems. 

So we searched for ways to rock out, powerlessly. When we found Amplifiear, the Kickstarter project that used low-tech sound amplification to boost our iPad volume, we were loving it. Our iPhones felt left out though, so we went on the hunt for the perfect way to improve their sound without taking away their precious battery life. These 6 “passive speakers” are great for jamming out, sans an external power source.

1. Eco-Amp ($8): Let’s start with the incredibly basic. This eco-friendly amp is made of recycled paper, shipped flat, and printed with soy-based inks so that your environmental impact is as low as possible. The amp can be assembled and then folded back up for easy transport, its big enough for a good jam sesh but small enough to be used virtually anywhere, and it comes with two so you can always have magnified music at your fingertips.

2. Horn Bike ($34): This next amplifier also packs a healthy environment punch. If you like to bike, for recreation or for your commute, this is the perfect way to add some music to that routine. Biking with headphones doesn’t work: You get all tangled up, and you often can’t hear traffic or blaring horns over your playlist. The Horn Bike solves those problems. The eco-friendly and recyclable silicone case is shock-proof, scratch-proof, and washable and attaches to virtually any bicycle handlebars. As always, it’s important to be aware of your surroundings while biking and we don’t recommend trying to toggle songs or change the volume while en route.

3. Phonofone III ($195): On the less portable side, we’ve got the Phonofone III. This is definitely one that makes a statement. The elegant analog design adds to your decor while adding to your music’s volume (they claim the device can reach up to 60 decibels). Sleek and sophisticated, this amp is almost a piece of art as well as an effective sound-booster.

4. AirCurve ($15): This little device serves as a nice dock for your phone. It lets you slide your power cord through to charge while listening, or remove it to take the speaker on the go. Pumping up the volume by about 10 decibels, this inexpensive stand is a clear winner. 

5. iBamboo (Temporarily Out of Stock): The simple, natural aesthetic of this speaker makes it an incredibly beautiful way to snag a nice, amplified sound. It embraces the inherent resonance of bamboo to turn this single material into an environmentally-friendly and efficiently produced way to improve the volume coming from your iPhone speakers.

6. Tembo Trunks ($40): These waterproof, shock-proof, and dust-proof speakers are collapsible and easy to take just about anywhere. The company says they offer up to 80 decibels of clear sound. They’re pretty perfect for the music lover on the go because they’re light, flexible, and stackable. They even claim to save battery life versus using your internal iPhone speaker.

Which amplifier is just right for your next impromptu dance party? Let us know in the comments below or come talk to us over on Twitter.

First of all, a play on the words calendar and Helvetica? Instant win with us here at Brit & Co.! Secondly, Calvetica takes all of your various calendars, throws them together in an incredibly easy to use and nice to look at interface, and allows you to add new events with just two quick taps.

If you're already attached to your iPhone's built-in calendar, fear not. Calvetica syncs flawlessly with your existing calendar, and happens to make it much, much better. The interface is uncluttered and minimalist, but also shows you everything you need to know. 

Like with any calendar, you can view a month at a glance or a day at a time, you can easily add repeating events, share events over email or MMS directly from the app, and can search for an event if you've forgotten when a specific dinner or birthday party is scheduled for.

Instead of creating a million alarms in your alarm clock app or built-in alarm, use Calvetica to create multiple alarms that repeat over time, if needed. 

You can create reminders just like a normal Google calendar, but then you can actually "snooze" the events as they come up. By snooze, we mean you can say "tell me again in 10 minutes" or however many minutes works for you. You can view all of the event details right in the app, and make edits as needed. 

Calvetica is $2.99 in the App Store, and it's a $2.99 well-spent if your iPhone is your connection to everything going on in your personal and professional life. It's certainly cheaper than a Moleskine or Filofax from the '90s. Besides, any product where a listed feature is "Helvetica" is pretty awesome in our book. 

Do you have a calendar app you love using? What do you think of Calvetica? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below or find us on Twitter. 

Happy Friday! It's almost the weekend but not quite, and we're guessing you hit the snooze button quite a few times this morning. The only problem with using your iPhone as an alarm, is you can't really hit snooze. You can tap it, you can press the button the side, but you can't slam your hand down in sleepy defiance as you used to snooze with your old school clock radio.

With Snooze, you can!  

With the clever punny tagline, "Keep the Dream Alive," Snooze is a playful and modern twist on the classic alarm clock. 

The premise is pretty simple. We want to snooze. We want the satisfaction of going back to sleep after our alarm goes up, but not for real. The design is as straightforward as the concept. A giant rubber snooze button that hooks up with the buttons on the side of your iPhone that you can easily press snooze without fumbling in the dark.

The app that goes with it lets you customize your alarm settings by day and lets you specify the amount of snooze time that works for you. It works seamlessly with any alarm clock app, and can even be used to silence incoming calls or text messages.

And, like many of our designy discoveries, Snooze is looking for its big break on Kickstarter! With just 13 days to go, Snooze has reached just over 50% of its goal. For the Early Bird Special of $40, get a Snooze and woven sync & charge cable. This one is limited so act quickly – you snooze, you lose! 

Snooze is made to fit with the iPhone 4 and 4s, and works best without a case or with a simple bumper. It comes in Aluminum or Maple, with a range of wood finish options. Choose between pillow white or shut-eye black for the rubber snooze bar. 

If you're looking for more inventive alarm clock docks, be sure to check out our recent roundup. What do you think of Snooze? Silly, or kind of genius? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below, or say hi on Twitter. And remember to keep the dream alive! ;)

Here's the deal. Stop motion and time-lapse movies are awesome. Whether they make you think of claymation classics from holidays past or super stylized music videos from today, the simple movement of objects on a screen will always feel a little bit magical.

But, not all of us have fancy cameras, tripods, backdrops, lighting, and 500 hours to spend on creating a stop motion or time-lapse of our own. Until now. Ok, no we haven't come up with some ingenious way to steal a bunch of cameras, tripods, backdrops, and lighting, and we aren't suggesting time travel. All this stop motion film will take is your phone, a $5 tripod, and an app.

Frameographer makes the process of creating a beautiful, seamless stop motion films ridiculously easy. Download the app ($2.99 in the app store) and get ready to channel your inner Wes Anderson.

Time-lapse and stop motion movies are both created by taking a sequence of still images and playing them back at whatever speed you like. The app allows you to capture and export in HD quality, add a soundtrack to your movie from your iPhone's music library, and you can use the front or back camera. 

We recommend grabbing an inexpensive phone tripod to make the process a wee bit easier. We grabbed this one for just $4 on Amazon. Then gather all of the objects you'll be using to create your masterpiece. We used two pieces of wood grain paper and 5 plastic dinosaurs. 

Set up your phone on the tripod, fire up Frameographer, and capture as many frames as you like! Make edits, add music, and simply export to your camera roll and you're good to go. 

See how easy it is to make dinosaurs dance on the ceiling!

Have you tried Frameographer or any other video apps on your iPhone? We'd love to check out your films! Leave us a link in the comments below, or send them our way on Twitter. We'll share the best of the best on our blog. 

At Brit & Co., we’re fans of innovations that improve your social networking experience. Who isn’t? Whether it’s an app that introduces you to new things in your area or one that lets you and your friends compete daily our social lives are pampered by technology. Naturally, we’re excited about one of the newest social networking apps that compiles your social history so you can better connect to the world around you. It’s called Rewind.Me and it does just what its name suggests! 

All the check-ins that you made over the past months or years are about to pay off in a big way! Rewind.Me works seamlessly with your Foursquare account to give you a useful digest of your social history. So whether you've forgotten the name of that restaurant where you and your honey had your first date or just can't remember that off-Broadway show you loved, Rewind.Me has you covered. You can browse your complete Foursquare history organized by date, location, or even category to help you get the most of your social experiences and build on your old ones. 

But this is supposed to be a social networking app. Although it sounds like you can get a lot from Rewind.Me going it alone, where's the network? Well, it's in the app. When you sign into Rewind.Me and load your Foursquare-using friends list, you will have the ability to gain from their social histories, too. You can use the app to keep up with what your friends are doing on a nightly basis so you can know where they've been by the time you meet up. Or, you can view your friends' complete histories to find other insights.  For example, if you wind up in a foreign city for a weekend and need a recommendation or two, check your friends' histories in that city and you'll see what they did, what they liked, and their favorites. Learn from your network's social history without having to call around and see who remembers their favorite restaurant in Hong Kong. Don't feel comfortable with everyone having access to your social history? You have complete control of who sees your check-ins with just a click.

And to make this awesome (free) app even more enticing, there is a visualization of your social activity. These charts and statistics make assessing your check-ins a cinch – and fun too! And since you can also view friends' statistics and visuals, you may find new common interests with old friends (or at least which of your friends goes to karaoke bars the most).

On the horizon for Rewind.Me is a more analytical way or looking at your social life: a score. Somehow this score will quantify you as a socialite and allow you to see how you stack up amongst friends and the whole world. But there's a catch. Rewind.Me needs 25,000 users before they will unveil the scoring feature. Will you help them reach their mark? Let us know what you think of this new and exciting social networking app on Twitter and Facebook.

It's true. We're Apple obsessed.

We've introduced you to a handbag designed specifically for your iPad, we've collected the best-looking purses that double as laptop bags, and we've shown you an iPhone case that doubles as a condom carrier. Now, we're here to show you a roundup of super convenient pocket-sized accessories that keep more than just your iPhone protected and organized. 

1. Poste Smartphone Wallet ($33): Honestly, we kind of want a version of this for our iPad and MacBook Air! The colors are bold and lovely, and it's dressy enough to work as a clutch at a cocktail party or wedding event. 

2. La Vorte Accordion iPhone Wallet ($99): WIth a little more capacity and flexibility, the La Vorte iPhone wallet is another fun option. Probably a little more dude-friendly, as its available in grey or black.

3. Kate Spade Wristlet ($70): Oh hey there Kate. Bright colors and rich hues? Yes please. Also available in black patent leather. Rawr. 

4. Soay Felt iPhone Case ($20): Part of Pack & Smooch's tactile Apple accessories collection, the Soay iPhone case is made of merino wool felt and has an extra pocket for cash and cards. 

5. The Hundreds Code Wallet ($55): A sportier looking option, this Code Wallet by The Hundreds and HEX features an embossed leather cover, an exterior cash (or Metro card) pocket, and three slots inside for your credit cards and ID. 

6. Aged Leather iPhone Pocket ($99): You don't have to wish iPhones were around in the 20s to get an antique-looking iPhone pocket. This genuine aged leather case is distressed by hand, making each pocket totally unique. 

7. Madison iPhone Wallet ($75): We're guessing the Madison wallet gets its name from a certain New York street. The sleek lines and undertone of New England prep are just the kind of thing you'd see on Madison Avenue. Each wallet is made-to-order using calf skin leather with yellow contrast stitching.

8. Underfuse (3-pack for $20): We highlighted this a few weeks ago, but here it is again. Underfuse is a super easy way to add pockets to your favorite (read: most used & most comfortable) pieces of workout gear. Also great for adding iPhone-friendly interior pockets to ski jackets, rain gear, and the ilke.

9. HEX Solo Wallet Case ($40): A simple case with a pocket. A great move if you carry a large messenger back, tote, or backpack and need an easy way to grab the stuff you need.

10. Michael Kors Wallet Clutch ($80): And finally, a bit of iStyle from Michael Kors. This glitzy darling can hold everything you need for a night out! 

How do you carry your iPhone in style? Know of any other ways to avoid carrying a giant purse? Other favorites of ours are the Wintercheck pocket scarf, the CLICK bag, and, of course, the Joey Bra. Let us know your thoughts in the comments below or say hi on Twitter – we love to hear from you.

You remember Bump, right? It was one of the first iPhone apps that allowed you to transfer information from one iPhone to another, simply by opening the app, holding your phone, and bumping fists. An instant win for bros and nerds alike, it also opened up a world of technology that skips the email or SMS step for transferring photos and contact info.

Well today Bump is bumping it up a notch. Now you can bump photos not only from phone to phone, but from phone to computer!

If you're like us, you've emailed yourself photos on a daily basis to share on various social networks and wish there was an easier way to transfer photos quickly and seamlessly. You can always plug in your iPhone and sync your entire library, but that can take forever and you're not always on your main computer.

Bump answers that problem creatively and playfully, by allowing you to bump with your computer too. Simple fire up the Bump app on your phone, go to the Bump website on your computer, choose the photo you want on your phone, and bump the spacebar on your computer to receive the photo. There's no software to install or registration required – just a bump!

This is a particular awesome update for folks who want to share photos on different computers, or if you're at a friend's place and they want a photo of yours right away. There's next to no lag time and you can even share via Facebook and Twitter directly from the Bump website. 

Of course, there are lots of ways to wirelessly transfer your photos these days, including today's latest photo app: Facebook Camera. Facebook Camera makes it easy to take and share photos from your entire library to Facebook, and allows you to view a photo-only feed from your Facebook friends. Here are some of our other favorite apps for syncing wirelessly and storing photos.

Google Plus: As long as you have the Google Plus app open, every photo you take is automatically transfered to your Google Plus account. If you don't want the automatic upload, the Google Plus Photos app lets you upload 100 photos at a time, in under a minute. 

Dropbox: With the Dropbox app, you can sync photos from a specific gallery or upload with one quick step. 

iCloud: With an iCloud subscription, all of the music, photos, and videos on your phone are wirelessly transferred to your account without the touch of a button. 

What do you think of the Bump update? Will you use it? Does it seem more useful than emailing yourself photos? Or is it more of an added bonus? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below or send us a note on Twitter. 

Editor's Note: We consciously resisted any reference to Snooki and/or the Bump-It in this bumptastic post. ;)

Two questions: What wakes you up in the morning? And what's the first thing you do? If you're like us at Brit & Co., your iPhone is your alarm clock and the first thing you do is scan your email, Path, Twitter, and Facebook to see what went on in the world while you were in sleep mode. So maybe it's time to ditch the random cord you have awkwardly taped to your nightstand and give your iPhone a bedside home that actually looks good.

At this point, there are hundreds of fun, fancy, and functional iPhone docks. Some charge. Some don't. Some give your iPhone a spot to stand on that kind of makes it look like a symphony conductor. And some magically manage to blend your beloved iPhone into a design aesthetic that suits your home, are a pleasure to wake up to, and make sure your iPhone is charged and ready to go as soon as you are.

1. Retro Docking Station ($50): First up, we have a classic retro clock shape that incorporates the iPod rather whimsically. It wake you up with your favorite tunes, and the built-in speakers provide rockin' tunes all morning long. And there's a snooze button!

2. Areaware Alarm Dock ($30): We love this one so much that we've already written about it. But, since it's an alarm clock that embraces analog design, here we are praising it again. This time, we're all about the black flip clock and it's sleek retro look. One important note about this dock is that you use your own charger to power it. You simply pull it through the back of the dock, and you're good to go. 

3. iLive Clock Radio ($50): Similar to the first dock but with a much more digital 80s-era look, the iLive charges your iPhone and connects to your phone's clock, so you never have you set your clock again. The free downloadable app includes new clock designs, FM radio, and more. 

4. The CDock ($70): Like the Areaware, this clock embraces the flip clock aesthetic. We love the wood grain! And love the idea of using this is as a super mini flat screen TV. ;) 

5. Day Maker iPhone Alarm Toaster ($125): And finally, an alarm clock that really pops! ;) The Day Maker is a double charging iPhone dock (perfect for all couples) that turns your iPhone into a piece of toast. No, it doesn't cook your iPhone but it does take the playfulness of a toaster pop and apply it to an iPhone doc. When it's time to wake up, your iPhone pops up and plays your favorite wake-up tunes. To snooze, simply push it back in the toaster and savor nine more minutes of slumber. If all goes well on Kickstarter, the Day Maker will ship in early 2013. 

What's the first thing you do when you wake up in the morning? Got a stylish alarm clock dock we might dig? Leave us a note in the comments below or find us on Twitter.

Face it. In today’s world, the sky’s the limit for novelty products, and often the output rides a fine line between creative and crass. None more so than the 'interesting’ iPhone cases that keep, er, popping up. Phoneballs, anyone? 

The latest hot (yes, hot) ticket is the Playa Case, a sleek iPhone protector that boasts a discrete storage compartment for condoms. Described as "super thin (we're talking about the case)," this is the ultimate iPhone accessory for bros, ballers, and playas alike. 

In the charming video below, check out how one dashing young Australian has found that this handy phone cover puts the fun in functional.

While the video is certainly cheeky (anyone else find the mailbox scene to be a wee bit suggestive?), the concept is both simple & effective. Why risk your phone – and your health – when a clever product can help save both? Double protection, indeed.

Brought to you by the same folks who served up the Opena (beer bottle opener) Case, the Playa Case is not yet available for sale. Click here to sign up to be notified as soon as the Playa is officially available.

What do you think of the Playa Case? Totally awesome or totally ridiculous? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below or find us on Twitter.

It's seems that the tech world is officially over limiting touch capability on our iPads and iPhones to just our fingers. While we appreciate and marvel at this technology, time spent on these devices has become increasingly creative and the search for the perfect stylus is just getting started. 

At Brit & Co., we're always scheming to figure out different ways to creatively use our various touchscreen products. Whether we're creating simple DIY touchscreen gloves that allow you to use your smartphone in the cold winter months, or hacking together a DIY stylus ideal for mastering the craft of DrawSomething, the hunt for the next best iThing is constantly on our minds.

That's why when we found out about the Nomad Brush we fell instantly in love. The idea of being able to create gestural strokes on an iPad, just as you would on a canvas, is something we've been dreaming about. 

Even if you don't consider yourself "artsy," the Nomad Brush seems like a great way to play and get in touch with more analog formats of communication… on your iPad. Seems like kind of an oxymoron, we know. 

Made from a blend of natural and synthetic fibers, the soft bristles on the Nomad are a breeze to use on the iPad's responsive screen. Use apps like Paper to choose the style of stroke you're looking for, and inform that stroke further by painting lightly to achieve feathery lines, or pressing hard to lay it on thick, just as you would with a real paintbrush. 

While we're swooning hard over the iPad brush ($39), Nomad also has a couple more petite brushes with your smartphone in mind.

The Nomad Mini ($20) really is just a mini version of the iPad brush, and is great even just for navigation. 

The Nomad Play ($18) is designed with kids in mind, and like all of the brushes, works on any touchscreen device. And you can rest assured that even when your child is painting his or her little heart out on your iPad, nothing will get scratched and nothing will get messy!

What do you think of this tech-meets-art innovation? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below or find us on Twitter.

Animated GIFs have been the bread and butter of internet humor for years. But, as we showed you earlier this week, movement in photography isn't just about adding sunglasses to a dog. 
Recently, photographers and artists have started taking this craft to the next level in the from of the cinemagraph. Fashion photographer Jamie Beck uses subtle movements to add a totally beautiful layer to what would otherwise be an ordinary (but gorgeous) online ad. 

And now, because app developers and modern day photographers are bosom buddies, you don't need high speed video cameras or crazy lenses to accomplish similar results. Thanks to Cinemagram, all you need is an iPhone! Your results won't be quite as crisp as Jamie's above, but they'll be playful, personal, and, of course, animated. :)

How it works: Once you fire up the (FREE!) Cinemagram app, you'll be prompted to take a hybrid of a photo and video. Really, it's a video that you will later turn into an animated photo. Once you've captured your image, use your finger to trace the area you'd like to keep in video form, and you're done!

Have fun with it. Take photos at a concert and illuminate the audience.

Capture the loveliness of running water.

Go Black Swan Style and get weird in the mirror. 

Cinemagram is definitely our new favorite camera app. We also really love the color pinwheel icon! Keep your eyes peeled for helpful cinemagrams showing up in upcoming tutorials. And be sure to follow us (hello@hellobrit.com). We'd love to see your Cinemagrams – we'll post the best ones we see on our blog!

Do you love your iPhone so much that sometimes you just want to eat it right up? No? Ok, but how sweet (get it?) would it be to have a carbon copy of your darling phone in chocolate form?

We happened to have a couple extra silicone iPhone cases around from our DIY iPhone case project and got to thinking, aside from protective casing and Real Housewives, what is silicone perfect for? Candy molds, of course!

Ingredients:
- black and white chocolate melts
- silicone iPhone case
- Airheads (variety pack)
- aluminum foil
- vegetable oil or Crisco

To prep your iPhone case, wash it thoroughly and create an aluminum foil shell around the outside. 

To melt our chocolate, we employed our trusty double boil method. Fill a medium size pot with a few inches of water. Place a smaller pot inside of it with about 2 teaspoons of vegetable oil. Melt the chocolate in the small pot. This ensures the chocolate doesn't burn or get too hot too quickly.

Now, pour your mold!

Then place in the fridge for at least an hour. 

Peel the silicone off gently and your new chocolate iPhone should pop right out.

Since you're using a mold that represents the back of your iPhone, you'll have to do a little trimming after you've popped it out. We cut off the camera hole and power button.

Now, time to make some apps! Airheads happen to double as the homemaking hacker's fondant, and the variety pack has a solid array of colors.

Use a knife or scissors to cut your Airheads into little apps. Play with details as time permits.

Since we can't live without our text messages, calendar, weather, Twitter, Facebook, phone, music, and Path, we made those ones! 

And there you are! 

We recommend tricking a friend by gifting them a Chocolate iPhone in an old iPhone box. ;)

Hello? 

Oh hi! 

We don't recommend storing these darlings in your pocket.

Time to charge up.

We are having too much fun with our Chocolate iPhones!

Now that's our kind of chocolate covered Apple! And yes, they taste totally delicious!

You really can have all the apps in the world in the palm of your hand. Har har. ;) 

We can't stress enough that this is one of the simplest and most fun culinary hacks we've ever created. If you give it a try, we'd love to see photos. Send a note to hello@hellobrit.com or share photos via Twitter or Facebook. 

While we love tricking out boring old iPhone cases with paper cut-outs, doilies, and wood, some custom cases really are worth the extra dollars. Case in point: Kees! First, we love that the name of the company is a silly play on the word case. Second, we love that they employ 3D printing technology!

Similar to sites like Nike ID and Shoes of Prey that let you customize each aspect of your dream shoes, Kees' online design builder lets you choose bumper style, two layers of illustration, color, and you can even add text to the side!

First, the bumper. Normally we like something minimal, but for this we wanted to be able to add text so we chose the Closed option.

Then, for our first layer, we chose Sparkly for obvious reasons.

Then, a lightning bolt!

As far as material goes, for white, black, gray, red, and navy blue, cases are $50 a pop. If you're like us and need your neon fix anywhere you can get it, pay an extra $62.50 for Penelope Pink or Bombastic Blue. 

And, of course, we couldn't resist adding Brit's Twitter handle to the side.

We'd love to see screen shots of your ideal Kees case. Share your pics with us on Twitter or Facebook and we'll share our favorites on our blog.

Our iPhones are almost as essential as breathing at this point. It's how you connect to everyone, everything, and everywhere you go. But, the cases for our darling iPhones kind of suck. The good ones are expensive and as soon as you think you've found the most unique iPhone outfit around, you step on the subway and see 10 other people with the same one.

So, with the help of a few simple craft items and a few super cheap plastic and silicone cases, we're here to show you 4 ways to protect your phone in style. Best of all, your case will be totally unique and easy to spruce up when you want to change your look.

Materials:
- mod podge
- Xacto knife 
- scissors
- all purpose adhesive  
- inexpensive iPhone case (soft silicone or hard plastic)

1. Glossy Paper Cut-Outs: Your options here are limited to any and every catalog, magazine, book, or calendar you can think of. We used a Free People catalog as our source and found two different patterns we like. 

For the first one, we decided to bring back our love of chevron. We used our phone to create the chevron pattern and cut it out of the catalog with an Xacto knife. Use all purpose glue to glue your shapes on. Last, a layer of mod podge to seal the deal. 

Or, simply trace your iPhone case on a colorful page and create a solid backing. Be sure to place your case on the magazine and use an Xacto knife to cut out the camera hole. Use a Q-Tip to clean out any excess mod podge from the camera hole. Then use the all purpose glue and a paint brush to get the picture on the case. Lastly, paint on a coat of mod podge and allow 24 hours to dry. 

2. Lace Doilies: You can either find a lace pattern you love, or create a custom lace print like we did by using a package of doilies.

Line up the doilies anyway you see fit and create a pattern that you like on the back of the case. Stick each piece one by one using the all purpose glue painted on with a paint brush. To seal your design, paint on a layer of mod podge with a sponge and allow 24 hours to dry. The best thing about this option is that even just a small piece of doily can create a unique, dramatic effect. 

3. Etched Wood: Wooden cases on anything and everything has taken over, even at your wedding! You can get the look by using wood paper and a wood burning pen. 

First plug in the wood pen because it takes a few minutes to heat up. Use your iPhone to trace the outline onto the wooden paper and cut it out. Use the all purpose glue to attach to your case. In our case, we had adhesive wooden paper so we simply had to peel off the backing and stick on! Now you are ready to burn in whatever personalized logo you please. You will need to cut out the camera hole for this case as well and can do so by using the wood burning pen and just pressing it through the wood.  

4. Plastic Pendant: This one is hands down the most simple makeover in the bunch. Use a plastic pendant or large plastic button, glue onto your case, and voila!

We recommend the hard cases for a better final product, but it's fun to experiment with the silicone cases as well! 

If you try this at home, we'd love to see photos. Send pics our way on Twitter and we'll share the best ones on our blog. 

In today’s digital world, everyone is a photographer. Whether you snap pics from your smart phone or your fancy DSLR, we live in a world that is just one click away from being captured for a lifetime. We love stores like Adorama, Photojojo, and ThinkGeek for finding all sorts of odds and ends perfect for shutterbugs from amateur to pro. That’s why we’ve rounded up all of the must have accessories for today’s modern photographer. Say cheese! ;)

1. Photography Patch ($1): For your inner boy or girl scout, wear your love of photography right on your sleeve, bag, or scarf.

2. Wire Line Photo Display ($8): A simple and easy way to display your most recent fave photos. Clip them up, rotate them out, and strut your best work! Or rig a quick DIY version using clothespins and string, darkroom style.

3. 28 Camera Drawings ($60 unframed, $185 framed): We love this playful illustration of 28 super colorful vintage cameras.

4. USB Film Roll ($20): Miss the days of film canisters sitting in a drawer waiting to be developed? Store your fave photos on this fun USB film roll, or buy a whole bunch and use them as backup drives  with a different roll for each event you shoot.

5. Fujifilm Instax Mini ($84): Want your photos now?! Pick up this mini retro camera to shoot and share photos in a snap! Plus, it includes a mounted mirror so you can still take all those fun self portraits.

6. The Polaroid PoGo Instant Printer ($210): Print your photos on the go with this printer and be one step ahead of the game!

7. The Camera Strap Tee ($20): What’s the best way to show your camera love? On your t-shirt, duh. Better make it awesome and retro while you’re at it.

8. Lenses for iPhone ($49): Hate it when you can’t get the whole scene in your iPhone? Or when you can’t get close enough?! Use these different lenses to accessorize your iPhone and help you snap that winning photo.

9. Modern Camera Purse ($87): The hideous black camera bag is out and this new colorful purse is in! It protects your DSLR and lenses and still gives you room for those everyday items you need to carry around. Carry your camera in style, ladies!

10. Photo Props Kit ($15): Feeling silly? Pull out this photo props kit and take some hilarious pics. Don’t forget to share them with us here at Brit HQ!

11. Tiltpod Camera Stabilizer ($15): Still have a great digital camera that you can’t give up? We totally get it. It’s easy and it’s comfortable. Do yourself a favor and get this mini tripod to make those hard to snap photos even easier. http://www.thinkgeek.com/gadgets/eb40/

12. Multi-Lens Action Sampler ($35): Sometimes one photo just isn’t enough. This photobooth style 35 mm film camera is great for a day at the beach, at an amusement park, or simply a day of exploring a new city.

13. Camera Lens Coffee Mug ($17): Nothing starts a day of shooting better than a large cup of coffee. so it only makes sense that you drink it out of a cup that’s made to look like a classic Canon lens. And no, we do not recommend DIYing this unless your old lens is truly unfixable.

14. The iPhone Lens and Tripod ($34): Wanna kick up your iPhone photo skillz to the next level? First use our tutorial on how to create your own camera phone filters, then add in the lens and tripod, and you’re good to go! Click.

15. The Lego Camera ($45): “Buildable, but not breakable” as ThinkGeek says. Build up your camera and build up your confidence as a photographer. Great for kids!

16. Photo-opoly ($30): Put all your friends to shame with your photo knowledge when you beat them in Photo-opoly. Also, collect $200 when you pass go.

17. Camera Pillow ($42): Taking such hip and creative photos is hard work. Rest your head on this fun camera pillow when you need a quick nap!

18. Vintage Camera iPad Sleeve ($46): Protect your iPad in this lovely gray case featuring a white vintage camera print. You’ll be too cool for photo school.

19. “I Shoot People” Bracelet ($39): Say it like you mean it and show the world with this awesome (and scary?) bracelet. Bonus, it’s also great for custom white balance.

20. Fashionista Camera Strap ($20): Say goodbye to that boring black camera strap and hello to this classy and colorful addition to your camera wardrobe. You’re in style, so why should your camera drag you down?

How do you show your love of all things photography-related? We’d love to check out your favorite shutterbug tools and wearables. Tweet at us!

Sada Lewis is a professional photographer and DIY expert. Check out more of her projects on her personal blog, Casa de Lewis and her photography website, Sada Lewis Photography.

What better way to celebrate Leap Day than with a brand spankin' new iPhone app called Leap? We know we know, another app? But this one is super social, motivating, and lets you challenge (read: one-up) your friends to doing anything from getting the most phone numbers on a Friday night to working out every day for a month.

Leap is the first mobile app designed specifically for group challenges. Users download the free app on iTunes or via SMS, create challenges with friends and start competing by snapping photos and earning points.Think how many times you've snapped a pic of a cocktail, texted it to your bestie, and then she sends you a pic back? And then you send another. And another. Well its time to get your game on. Not only do you win glory, but you can help motivate your friends and yourself to do ridiculous, inspiring, and totally silly things. 

More examples? Ok! Say you happen to be someone who's got a knack for spotting rainbows. Challenge a fellow color-lover to spot 10 rainbows in a day, capture them with your iPhone, and whoever reaches 10 first wins. Maybe you're a microbrew lover and your best friends from college, who live in Chicago, New York, Philly and San Antonio, also love a good craft beer. Challenge them to try 5 different craft beers in a night, take photos of each beer label and see who gets there first. We love the idea of using challenges as a way to keep up with friends near and far.

Our favorite Leap-suggested challenges include Inbox Zero (we need to do this!), Hipster Hunt (if you live in SF or NY you're disqualified for it being way too easy) and Work It Out (get those New Year's gym resolutions in check).

What will you challenge your friends to do? Let us know in the comments below or find us on Twitter. We'd love to see what you come up with!