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Apart from the Apple fans who eagerly await the release of the latest gadget from the company, one more segment looks for the release. This segment is the accessory makers who invest a lot of money into making accessories for the iPhone. With the release of iPhone 5, the much-anticipated release of the season witnessed another rush to be the first to market the accessories  from these companies. Right from those who make iPhone cases and battery pack covers, to chargers and photo lenses for the iPhone, these accessory makers initiated the first wave of innovation. Some of these innovations are so technologically advanced that it makes one wonder whether the product is bigger or the accessory is bigger. We present a roundup of some of the most popular iPhone accessories.

Battery Cases

The simple things first. The makers of battery cases for the iPhone 5 include Lenmar, which has come out with a sleek battery case that fits the iPhone 5 smugly and at the same time charges it as well. Given the frustration over the lightning docket connector that Apple had to endure with its iPhone 5, the Lenmar battery case is indeed a welcome addition to the list of accessories. Priced at $70, this battery case doubles the chat, texting, and surf time of the new iPhone 5 and gives the users the ability to charge on the go, which is much sought after.

Photo Lenses

The Gizmon photo lenses are an iPhone user’s delight. They add power to the photo ranges and provide for more high-resolution pictures. Given that many iPhone users double up their Smartphones as cameras that they use professionally, this sleek pair of lenses is a user’s dream come true. Priced at $25, they are cheap considering the value addition that they bring to the iPhone 5. Indeed, the blurbs for the camera lenses call them as producing a dream like effect in the images captured by the new iPhone 5.

Pulse Monitors

Now, to more advanced stuff. As the Nike shoes with the ability to monitor pulse and heartbeat when running with the shoes on, the new pulse monitors that are being marketed for the iPhone 5 produce a similar effect. This is music to the ears of all those runners who have long wanted monitors for their jogging and walking while listening to their favorite music at the same time. Of course, the pulse monitors do not come cheap and they are priced at around $100 per piece, which can be said to be a bit on the higher side. However, for those who swear by these gadgets, the price should not be a dampener considering the utility of such accessories.

Now that we have made a roundup of the most popular accessories, it is time to look at whether these accessories do make a difference or are they just marketing ploys by the piggybacking companies. No doubt, a company like Apple would have lots of others who would want to ride its coattails. However, the consumers voting with their wallets for these accessories mean that they do indeed serve a valuable utilitarian purpose. Maybe it is time for Apple to get into the accessory business and earn a bit more on its gadgets. Alternatively, is it that having another company making the accessories makes good business sense all round. Whatever is the intent, the fact that there are companies other than Apple who are laughing all the way to the bank means that this concept is a winner.

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iPod Still Relevant

Apple is advertising that the 5^th Gen iPod Touch would be cheaper and simpler when compared to the earlier releases. This makes sense when one considers how previous releases of iPods were met with skepticism from a public that was weary of the frequent comparisons between the iPod’s and the iPhones on the commonality of features. The move to make the 5^th Gen iPod Touch simpler is indeed a smart one as it takes the sting away from carping about how it is better to buy an iPhone rather than an iPod.

For those of you wondering whether there are any iPod users left in a market where most device makers have incorporated these features into their Smartphones, you just need to consider the initial response to the Touch. It proves beyond doubt that the iPod is still relevant and counts as a gadget to be owned. For instance, many users found the device to be a handy one to take to work where they would not like their Smartphones to be used to listen to music and yet, have some way of playing music.

Smaller and Snazzier

A major improvement over the previous versions is that the 5^th Gen iPod Touch is smaller and snazzier and this bit has not gone unnoticed by the fan community. Coupled with it being simpler and cheaper (according to Apple! Not the users), the new Touch promises to enthrall fans the same way that the initial releases of the iPod were met with a wow factor. 

A Bit Pricey

The 5^th Gen iPod Touch is priced at $149, which is considered a tad more than what users expected. This is because of the fact that many users have come to expect some discount pricing with the iPod’s because of the redundancy aspect and the simpler design that the Touch has. Indeed, it can be said that many users were disappointed that Apple has not priced it below the psychological mark of $100 considering that the previous versions of the iPod are still as good as they get.

Resembles Lumia

Some users feel that the 5^th Gen iPod Touch resembles Nokia’s Lumia though this impression is not as widespread as one thinks it to be. With its multihued colors and jazzy settings, comparisons are inevitable and this has prompted some blog posts on how the 5^th Gen iPod Touch comes close to the Lumia range. However, the 5^th Gen iPod Touch is miles ahead of the Lumia as far as features and utilitarian attributes are concerned. ideally, this should mean that one pops into an Apple store rather than a Nokia store if one is looking for a music player that is not integrated into a Smartphone.

iPod 5^th Gen Any Day Over Samsung Players

Here is the best part. For those of you who have been following the Apple Samsung rivalry, the 5^th Gen iPod is any day better than the Samsung players are. While the battle is intense on the Smartphone front, Apple comes trumps by a clear margin in the music player segment. Moreover, despite the pricing that is considered steep by some users, the features of the 5^th Gen iPod described above make it much better than the nearest competition including Lumia, which it resembles to some extent. This should put paid to all the rumors over whether Apple was going to retire the iPod’s considering that the iPhone has most of the features that iPod’s have. With its legion of fans still clamoring for the iPod, Apple need not bother on this count.

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This is the very respectable World Street Journal , which comes in turn feed the rumor announcement long ago that the next iPhone will feature a larger screen than previous generations of the phone to Apple.

Lorraine Luk and Juro Osawa tell us in effect that the iPhone 5 should be equipped with a screen of at least 4 inches diagonal to note that this information fully coincides with the expected format to between 4.2 and 4.6 inches.

The production of these new screens intended to equip the iPhone 5 should, according to the WSJ , to begin later next month. Manufacturers LG , Sharp andJapan Display Inc.. have been selected by Apple as part of this production.

We note in passing that Reuters reports the same information except that the sources of the news agency evoke a screen that measures just 4 inches, not one more.

Of all the rumors that arise pending the release of the new iPhone , this one to my point of view was always the one that was most likely to confirm the short or medium term. Convinced at the time of its release as the successor to the iPhone 4 would be the first iPhone to abandon the format 3.5 inches which is a constant in the range since the launch of the first iPhone in 2007, I was more than surprised to learn that the iPhone 4S does not derogate from this rule eventually.

Since I am even more convinced that the iPhone 5 will actually be the model that will meet once and for all that expectation shared by many. With a standard of between 4.2 and 4.8 inches which has clearly established itself in almost all competitors to Apple , the Californian brand did indeed still have the choice …

To recall, the iPhone 5 should, according to sources, to be unveiled on June 11 during the opening keynote of the conference WWDC 2012 or later, on the occasion of the Annual Special Event in September. Unless that a surprise event is held at another time .

I take this opportunity to slip a concept of iPhone features a 4 inch screen (left image below), a concept created by Federico Ciccarese on behalf of our colleagues at MacRumors .