Sometimes you can find earth-shattering new technology on Kickstarter, gadgets so revolutionary, they change the way we think about tech. Other times, it's just a case a of a good, simple idea that fills a need. Definitely not a work of genius, the FlipGrip, a new multi-function iPhone carrying case falls into the latter category.

That's not to say that this iPhone accessory isn't a worthwhile Kickstarter project. Sure, there are already plenty of iPhone cases and skins out there. But the FlipGrip does have a simple yet practical twist that'll let you keep a handle on your phone – literally.

Its design centers around a unique, multi-function handle that acts as both a grip and multi-position stand. Why should you need a handle for your phone, you might ask? Well, you may have already found yourself in the same position that led the FlipGrip's creator to make the case in the first place:

"FlipGrip was born out of the necessity to get a better "GRIP" on my smartphone. One day while lying in bed reading the news, the idea hit me!"

And so the FlipGrip was created, a protective plastic iPhone carrying case with a handle that doubles as a stand but which can snap shut to rest flush with the case when it's not in use.

See what we mean about simple and practical ideas being worth their while? And though the current FlipGrip prototype is a model for iPhone 4/4S, models for other iOS devices, like iPhone 5 and iPad carrying cases, are on their way.

On top of that, FlipGrip says theu'll be applying the same concept to cases for "other popular devices from Samsung, Google, Amazon and Microsoft in early 2013."

Sure, the FlipGrip is hardly revolutionary in terms of iPhone accessories. But sometimes it's less important whether you're doing something someone else has done before, as long as you're doing it better.

In our mobile accessory of the week feature, we often review practical and handy accessories that simplify your daily life. But this week, we've left the grown-up world behind to focus instead on a fun new gadget that'll make you feel like a kid again, with a spotlight on Griffin's Moto TC Monster Truck.

It doesn't matter whether you're 5 or 55, this remote controlled truck is pretty hard to resist. And it'll probably be the coolest piece of tech to hit your life since the iPhone, iPad or iPod you use to control it. Just imagine ripping down the office hallway with this thing or tearing up the living room, and you'll get the picture.

Griffin's Moto TC Monster Truck for iPhone, iPad and iPod

Basically, this awesome little gadget works by using your iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch as a remote, via a free app that lets you "wreak havoc," from your touchscreen.

Definitely not the remote-controlled car of your childhood, the controls for this baby are pretty sweet: You can maneuver by touch, using a virtual steering wheel, or by motion, when you tilt your device to steer. Or, slide your fingers across your display to direct the truck.

You can even pre-program routes, like figure-eights and track loops or "record your own trail of destruction and relive the madness."

As for specs, this is one truck that's designed to go anywhere. It's got a high-clearance chassis with knobby tires and four-wheel independent suspension. And you don't have to worry about batteries, since it's powered by an internal rechargeable NiMH battery pack.

Sure, it may not be a total necessity for your responsible, adult life. But this awesome little truck is one of the most fun and coolest accessories for iPhone (or any other device for that matter) that you can find. As its maker Griffin aptly notes: "Anyone can fling birds at pigs. But do you have what it takes to tame the Moto TC Monster?"

Even when you know what you want, It's nice to have choices. And if you're among the growing number of people who feel Griffin's Survivor case is the obvious choice when it comes to protective carrying cases for iPad, it's good to know your accessory doesn't have to look like everyone else's.

This week's mobile accessory of the week, the Survivor Case for iPad 2, iPad 3 and iPad 4, is among the best, as one would expect from Griffin. Touted as a "military-duty" accessory, it's designed to help your iPad survive even the harshest conditions, from drops, shocks and vibrations to sand, dirt and rain.

Griffin Survivor Case for iPad 2/3/4 in Acid Green and Black

With a rigid internal frame that has survived test drops of 6 feet on concrete, and a shock absorbing silicone outer than can withstand vibrations of up to 2,000 MHz for hours on end, you know the Survivor iPad case can handle whatever your tablet is going to face in an an ordinary day.

And design details, like an integrated screen protector, multi-position kickstand, and easy-to-open port sealer show just how much thought Griffin has put into this iPad case.

But what's extra nice is the fact that, unlike some other great iPad carrying cases, the Survivor doesn't just come in standard black or white. Instead, men and women alike will find tons of choice when it comes to color.

From a punky acid green and black combo, to a sweet and regal lavender and purple mix, to the very sporty black and royal blue model, this is one iPad Case with many different personalities.

Griffin Survivor Case for iPad 2/3/4 in Black and Royal Blue

It's one thing to find all the specs you need for the best possible iPad protection, and quite another to find all that along with great styling and design. But with their Survivor Case for iPad, Griffin's thought of it all. And that's what makes it our top pick for mobile accessory of the week.

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Just like most people, Smarterflo product designer Dotan Saguy loves the iPhone. But as any good mobile accessories designer should, he's always looking for ways to make life easier. Enter the Smarter Stand for iPhone. Simple and ingenious, this new iPhone accessory from Starterflo is one of best ideas we've seen lately, solving two of the little issues we've all had with the iPhone for some time.

In a video for Kickstarter, where Smarterflo is trying to raise $15,000 to get the Smarter Stand made, Saguy explains how he first thought up his new design:

"There's two things that have been bugging me for years about the iPhone. The first one is, to try to prop it up against something is nearly impossible. The second thing is, when I try to bring my earbuds out of my pocket, to try to tangle them out is just a nightmare."

But Saguy realized that using the iPhone's headphone plug could allow him to make an easily portable kickstand that didn't require a case for the device and didn't add any bulk. The result is a new, minialistic iPhone stand that plugs into the headphone jack while also allowing you to use your headphones and while keeping them tangle free.

To call the Smarter Stand a desktop stand is a little hyperbolic, since the accessory is so small you can slip it in your pocket and take it from place to place with you, another clever feature of this accessory. And, aside from acting as a spool for tangle-free earbuds, it works with or without a case and is compatible with both iPhone and iPod Touch.

This isn't the first stroke of genius to come out of Smarterflo. The company launched their Smarter Stand for iPad only this past June on Kickstarter, to amazing response and great success. And we at Pure Mobile have a feeling they're in for even greater things with their amazingly simple and exceedingly clever new iPhone accessory.

Related articles

• Smarterflo opens Smarter Stand for iPhone project on Kickstarter
• Smarter Stand For iPhone Works As Kickstand And Keeps Your Earbuds Untangled
• Says Hello To The Newest Kickstarter Project: The Smarter Stand For iPhone

Griffin just unveiled its latest accessories, like the PowerDock 5, at CES in Las Vegas

We're smack in the middle of the Consumer Electronics Show, which is a pretty big deal for us at Pure Mobile. That's because the annual CES event is basically the biggest event around for anyone interested in the newest and best in mobile technologies, like the latest in phones and accessories.

It's where most of the major names in mobile, like Samsung, Nokia and HTC choose to reveal new smartphones and other gadgets, and where it's we get the scoop on the best new accessories.

This year's CES is still going on in in Las Vegas, and already we've seen some cool stuff for from one of our favorite accessories makers, Griffin. The company's already well known for its iPhone, iPad and iPod accessories, like tough cases and the like. And CES 2013 has seen the launch of even more Apple accessories from the company.

Among Griffin's newest offerings is the PowerDock 5, a USB docking station for iPhone, iPad and iPod that works on what Engadget calls a "toast-rack" design and can charge multiple devices at once with a capacity of up to 5 iPads at once. Pretty cool for households with more than a couple of people, or for really geared up techies.

But Griffin has as just as big of a reputation for audio, and they're living up to it this year with the launch of new audio accessories like an updated Lightning version of their iPad StudioConnect, as well as a new Mic Stand Mount "that works like a traditional microphone performance stand," says 9to5Mac, but for iPad. Oh yeah, and they've also introduced a new studio-quality XLR to 3.5mm recording mic for iPhone and iPad, but it won't be available til June

We always look forward to Friday. Undeniably the best day of the workweek, sometimes we wish it could last more than 24 hours. And this week at Pure Mobile, it's going to – sort of.

We're celebrating the Friday to top all Fridays, Black Friday that is, with a special 4-day Black Friday Sale that'll make you wish it came around more than once a year.

Starting this Friday, November 23, and running until Monday, November 26, Pure Mobile will be offering crazy discounts of up to 70% off on the latest and hottest mobile accessories.

From cases and covers for iPhone 5 to skins, cases, headsets and more for Android phones – like the Samsung Galaxy line – it's the perfect chance to save huge on the gadgets and accessories that top your holiday shopping list.

The sale covers Apple and Android products, as well as fun gadgets and practical accessories for BlackBerry phones, like keyboard protectors, styluses and pens. You'll also find incredible deals on best-selling and top-rated items from the world's leading accessories makers, like Griffin, Incipio, and OtterBox.

So make the most of your Black Friday and check out our collection of cases and skins, chargers and docks, speakers, headphones, car chargers and holders, BlueTooth kits, and more for up to 70% off on the best mobile accessories around.

Our first 'Thank Gadget It's Friday' feature, Dexim's remote controlled Monster Truck for Apple devices

We're making Fridays even more fun at the Pure Mobile blog, with a new weekly feature we're calling 'Thank Gadget It's Friday,' or TGIF for short.

What better way to wrap up the week than with our favorite gadgets? And in this feature, we'll be bringing you our top picks in mobile accessories, from the coolest smartphone cases to the best phone docks and speakers.

But we're kicking things off in style today, with an accessory that's a little out of the norm, and a whole lot of fun – Dexim's remote controlled AppSpeed Monster Truck.

Definitely a toy for grown ups, the Dexim RC Truck uses Apple devices, like iPhone, iPad and iPod in lieu of a traditional controller. All you need is the free app that's provided when you purchase the truck.

But that's not the only difference between this suped-up mobile accessory and a regular remote controlled car. Dexim's monster truck can be controlled by either traditional touch sensor or "gravity sensor," which lets you control the vehicle by tilting your device in different ways.

The truck also has multiplayer mode for racing with friends, and comes with three preset stations that let you "automatically ZigZag, Spin, or Dance your vehicle to     music."

As far as mobile accessories go, the Dexim RC Truck may not top the list of most needed, but it's certainly among the most exciting, and would certainly make a great gift for the techie in your life. Though we can think of more than a few people who'd simply want one for themselves.

Vroom vroom!

Seeing is not believing: beware this bogus iPhone 5 dock

At Pure Mobile, top-notch mobile accessories are kind of our thing.

So when we came across a story on Gizmodo about a bogus Chinese iPhone 5 dock that doesn't actually work, all we could think was "for shame."

"Don't buy an iPhone 5 dock," Gizmodo warned, "because it's a Chinese scam."

Their information comes from Double Helix Cables, where a friend actually had a hands-on experience with the fake accessory. Here's what they had to say:

"Opening up the box and out pops this stinker. I did a double take because it looked like a prank, prop, or placeholder of some sort. The lightning plug on the dock looks like a damn piece of cardboard, if you can even call it that. Because it's a cardboard-like chunk of circuit board that supposedly is going to fit into my iPhone 5."

The reviewer goes on to write about the the fact that dock's cutout "isn't remotely close to being iPhone 5 shaped," and then elaborates on the "home brewed lightning plug [...] which 100% doesn't fit."

A critic of the phoney dock took major issue with its "home brewed lightning plug"

This lovely critique then ends with the writer concluding that any "further effort to make this non functional dock [work] would probably damage my iPhone."

Granted, Apple doesn't actually make a dock accessory for the iPhone 5, yet. But that's no reason for third party manufacturers to start churning out ones that simply don't work.

Many would be more than happy to produce a suitable iPhone 5 dock that actually functions, especially if they don't have to compete with Apple itself. There are plenty of fun third party iPhone 5 gadgets out there that not only work, but work really well.

And, in our opinion, there's no excuse for this kind of blatant BS when so many companies have been able to turn a dollar making affordable and functional iPhone accessories that consumers actually want.

The terms "Scratchgate" and "Scuffgate" have surfaced as early adopters of the iPhone 5 complain of unsightly marks on the aluminum back

Okay, so it's not exactly a national scandal on the scale of Watergate, but there's a kerfuffle all across the web over the reputed inadequacy of the new iPhone 5's aluminum back.

The fact that the aluminum is prone to scratching has users and tech sites shouting Scratchgate and Scuffgate, and even led to cries of "oh, the humanity!" Proud new owners of the iPhone 5 have already been complaining of unsightly scratches and scuffs on the black-coated aluminum of their new prized possession.

And, as 9to5 Mac reported, one such user actually garnered a response from Apple's Senior VP of Marketing, Phil Schiller, who told him: “Any aluminum product may scratch or chip with use, exposing its natural silver color. That is normal.”

Fair enough. The aluminum backing of the iPhone 5 may be prone to wear, but it is actually less fragile than the glass backing of the iPhone 4 and iPhone 4S. And even in a Gizmodo video where one user is determined to “scratch the hell” out of the new device within store, the iPhone 5 holds up pretty well, though it's never rubbed against sharp metal objects like keys or rings.

Still, all of this brings us to an important, if awkward, discussion:

It's fun to have the latest smartphone. You love Apple ever so much, and you and your new iPhone are planning to make a life together – at least until the next model comes out, that is.

But the fact is, just because you trust your smartphone, there's no reason not to use protection. It's for your iPhone's good as much as your own. So glove the love.

Yes, we're talking about cases and covers. In the case of the iPhone 4 and 4S, a rugged case is best (we've all seen those tragic shots of shattered glass.) But for the iPhone 5, a simple skin just to protect the black finish may be enough to do the trick.

The result of unprotected smartphone love: the cracked glass panel of an iPhone 4

Meanwhile, the moral of this story extends beyond Apple's products, to any smartphone you want to keep in good shape. To paraphrase Beyoncé, if you liked it then you should have put a skin on it.

LifeProof's new Nüüd iPad case promises "barely there" waterproof protection

Humankind's fascination with gadgets can only be rivalled by our longstanding fascination with water.

So, even though we quake with fear at the thought of submerging our iPads, iPhones and other devices, it shouldn't really surprise us that, when people go swimming or surfing, they want to take their tablet or smartphone along.

We've already seen something of the waterproofing trend from LifeProof – the San Diego-based company boasts what's been called the slimmest waterproof case for iPhone 4 and iPhone 4S.

LifeProof already claims the slimmest waterproof case for iPhone 4 and iphone 4S

But now, the New York Times' Gadgetwise blog is reporting on the company's latest in elemental shielding for Apple devices.

This time, LifeProof has taken its efforts to tablets, with the waterproof Nüüd iPad case. The product gets its name from the fact that there's actually no screen covering – your iPad's naked glass screen is already waterproof, and adding an extra film on top only reduces clarity.

Instead, the Nüüd case seals around the glass and provides a waterproof backing for the rest of the iPad. There's also access at the bottom for charging and syncing, so you don't have to constantly take the case off and put it back on again.

As Gadgetwise points out, you still may not want to do any serious snorkeling with your iPad, since it wasn't really designed for that. But the new iPad case is great for poolside, a day at the beach, or any other routine encounter with water.

You may swear to have never texted on the toilet, but show me the techie who says they've never brought their phone or tablet into the bathroom, and I'll show you a liar. In any case, waterproofing just makes solid sense.

Any survival expert will tell you that where there's life, there's water. But as we at Pure Mobile know, where there's life, there's also tech.