With the holidays just looming around the corner, a lot of us are already looking for nice gifts to get for ourselves or for our loved ones. With technology playing a huge part in our lives these, tech products such as mobile phone and tablet accessories are an easy and convenient choice especially if you’re planning to do your shopping online.

For instance, American consumer electronics manufacturer Belkin has a wide selection of mobile device accessories that are offered on Lazada, making them readily accessible and easy to order in case you don’t have the time to go to malls to hunt for the products you want to purchase.

Here are our top picks from Belkin’s roster in Lazada, which we think you’ll really like as well:

5. Belkin Mixit 4 Feet 90 Degrees Lightning to USB cable

One of the most common complaints about Apple products is that their cables are not that built well. In fact, the cable has a rating of just 1.5 stars on the Apple store and there are a bunch of discussions regarding the product (mostly complaints) on the company’s website.

The usual issue with Apple’s own cable is that it can easily break near the connectors causing the wires to fray. The Belkin Mixit cable avoids this dilemma by using a 90-degree angle for the lightning connector, protecting the tip and lessening the stress on the cable.

The cable is also four times longer than the standard lightning to USB cable and yet it offers the same fast charging and data transfer rates as the one made by Apple and comes in 7 different colors. Belkin is also offering a 2-year limited warranty for this cable ensuring that you’ll be able to use it for a long time.

Price: Php 1,190 (Get it here)

4. Belkin Micro USB Cable with Lightning Connector adapter

Another nifty accessory you might want to consider is the Micro USB cable with lightning connector. The product extends the functionality of the Mixit cable but adds a micro USB cable adaptor so you can charge other devices.

The cable is perfect as a travel companion as it eliminates the need to bring multiple cables to charge different devices. The adapter is connected to the cable via a durable yet flexible rubber strip so you don’t have to worry of losing it when it’s not in use.

Just like the Mixit version, this cable is also 4ft long, comes in a slew of colors and if offered with 2 years limited warranty.

Price: Php 1,490 (Get it here)

3. Belkin Family RockStar 4-port USB Charger

Another handy accessory for people who own multiple devices is the Belkin Family RockStar 4-port USB charger. The device features four USB ports that delivers a total of 5.4 Amp of power allowing users to charge multiple devices at the same time.

The charger also comes with an intelligent smart chip that regulates the flow of electricity to each port depending on how many devices are being charged. The charger is also wall-mountable and sports a 10-foot cable for convenient placement.

Price: Php 3,290 (Get it here)

2. Belkin Stylus for Tablets

For those looking to do some productive work during the holidays or those who delve in the field of arts and design, a great gift idea would be this Belkin Stylus for tablets.

The stylus features a rubber tip that glides smoothly over any tablet screen allowing users to easily jot down notes or sketch illustrations. The stylus looks very much like a standard pen and even comes with a clip so you can attach it easily and securely to a folio.

Price: Php 325 (discounted by 50% - Get it here)

1. Belkin QODE Thin Type Keyboard case for iPad Air

If you’re looking to do more work on your iPad, the Belkin QODE Thin Type keyboard case for the iPad Air is the perfect product for you.

Despite its slim 4mm profile, the keyboard case’s aluminum construction gives a feeling of durability and strength to the user. The case features well-spaced TruType keys that are designed for accurate typing as well as tactile response thanks to the spring mechanism placed underneath each key.

The Thin Type cover uses Bluetooth technology to connect to the iPad and uses Smart Sensing technology that automatically turns the keyboard on or off when the tablet is placed on the slot. The keyboard also boasts function-specific keys that provides shortcuts for different functions.

Price: Php 4,990 (Get it here)

This holidays, give yourself or your loved ones, one of the most awesome gift they can get with these great finds from Belkin. You can get all these stuff by ordering online from Lazada. 

You can also create your own wish list on Lazada and ask your friends and family to give these items (or other products from Belkin) to you as a gift this Christmas.

We all know that the iPod and the iPhone are considered as two of the best media players in the market today. But if you’ve owned one, then you know that there is one feature from these two devices that’s missing to make it the best all-around audio companion for music lovers out there – and that’s an FM receiver. Apple and its community of app developers have tried to overcome this problem by developing applications that access online radio content, however, this option may not be a viable solution for some.

For starters, these apps need an active internet connection to work. And let’s face it, people don’t always have an unlimited data plan to be always connected to the internet and worse, getting the best signal to establish a stable connection is really hard to come by especially in less urbanized areas. Fortunately, third party accessories such as Griffin’s iFM have made it possible for iOS device users to get FM radio to their gadgets with the use of a simple add-on. But is it worth it? Here’s a quick rundown of what it has to offer.

The Box. The iFM comes in a very small and simple trapezoidal box.  There is a paper sleeve on top of the actual box of the device. The front portion of the sleeve features the image of the iFM unit connected to a headset and to an iphone 3GS. The back portion has small cut-outs that show parts of the iFM as well as some instructions written in different languages.

Once you remove the sleeve, you will see an orange box where with a plastic window so that the unit is clearly seen even if the box is still not open. Once you open the box, you will be greeted by the iFM unit itself, a Griffin logo sticker and of course a set of manuals and paper works.

The Hardware. The Griffin iFM is a very discreet piece of an accessory. There are no buttons, LCD screens, switches or knobs on the device as all controls are done using the iphone’s or ipod’s touch based UI. The only thing that can be seen on the FM receiver is the company’s logo and a few standard electrical markings and certifications.

There is a socket for your standard 3.5mm headphones and of course the other end of the device is the 32-pin connector that plugs in to your idevice.

The Software. Seeing that the iFM doesn’t have any physical controls to change radio stations or to perform other related functions, it is mandatory that users download and install an application from the Apple App store which is meant to be used solely with the iFM.

The good thing about it is that’s its free for download on the Apple App store. The bad thing is that the iFM needs the application to be installed for the device to work. Otherwise, the app will not work and will display an error message saying that you need to connect the FM receiver so that you can activate the FM radio.

Once you have successfully connected the FM receiver and opened the app, it will ask you to select a region among US, Europe or Japan. Once you have successfully selected your area, you will be directed to the main interface of the app.

Setup Menu

The app’s main features 3 sections. The top section shows the current station that’s playing on your device, the mid-section displays is where you will find the company’s branding and the app logo which doubles as a shortcut to the radio tuning knob. The lower portion will show you a scrollable list of your favorite radio stations. And just below that is where the volume control is located and the small settings icon is found.

Favorites List

Usage and Function. Griffin’s iFM is relatively easy to use. An iphone beginner will be able to master the controls in less than 10 minutes even without reading the online documentation provided in the app store or the reading the instruction manual that came with the device.

After connecting the unit to your idevice and opening the app, users just need to touch the iFM icon and start turning the knob to select the radio station that they want. Favorites are added by first tuning in to the station and then tapping the Favorite button to add the station to your favorites. There will be a blue circle to indicate that the user has successfully added an entry to the popular list.

Tuning Wheel

Frequency tuning can also be done via the two buttons at the upper right and left side of the tuning knob. Once the user has completely added all the stations that he wants to his favorite list, tapping the “Done” button on the lower right portion of the tuning knob will redirect him to the main UI where the lower section of the screen will show the scrollable list of favorite stations.

The settings button on the lower right hand of the main UI will provide a list of extra options users can customize, such as enabling the app to run in the background or changing previous settings such as the region.

Final Words. The FM radio receiver from Griffin is indeed one of the best solutions for iPhone and iPod users to get FM radio on their devices. However, it’s far from being perfect. After a few weeks of using the device I noticed that the 32-pin connector can sometimes loosen and therefore disable the app accidentally, which poses a difficult situation for users who put their phones or iPods in their pocket.

I also noticed that the app exhibits different behaviors when used on different iOS versions. For example, I noticed that the app won’t work in the background on OS versions earlier than iOS 5.  Lastly, when compared to devices with native FM receivers, I noticed that the iFM catches radio signals weaker than other devices with built in FM radio.

To sum it all up, if you’re really not so desperate on getting FM radio to your iPhone or your iPod, then the Griffin iFM radio receiver may not be that good for you. The iFM is also not pocket friendly since its connections to your idevice is not that secure and it’s kind of weird and bulky looking accessory. However, if you don’t have another device with a built in FM receiver and your iPhone or iPod is the only device that you use to listen to music, then the iFM will be perfect for you. You just have to search thoroughly for this device because Griffin products retailers are pretty rare in the Philippines. 

Some Photos are coutesy of the Apple App Store

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