There are some funky accessories out there for your phone, but this one has got to take the cake: A full-size bow. It's not for launching your device at a target, though — it's actually meant for exercise.
The BowBlade was designed by a Ron Green, a chiropractor. It's not a real bow,
It's not a real bow, in that its frame isn't held under tension by a bowstring. Instead, It's an "elongated octagon" made of tough plastic that provides resistance when you stretch or compress it in any direction.
Mount a motion-controlled game device or controller on the end, connect the "arrow" (a string connected to a touchscreen-activating lever), and you've got yourself a fairly unique gaming experience.
You can pull the bow taut to hit "fire" on the touchscreen, or yank on the string with your finger using a built-in ring. It's not quite the full-on bow-and-arrow feel, but it's certainly more active than if you were just sitting on the couch thumbing around the screen.
The BowBlade is compatible with Wiimotes, Playstation Move controllers, and any smartphone that uses the accelerometer to move your frame of view — but so far, no games are actually built or optimized for it, which means your experience may be a little rocky.
It should ship in April, but you can pre-order one now; It comes in a number of sizes and resistance levels, and starts at $185. There's more information, and a video (slightly hokey but illustrative), at BowBlade's website.
— via CNET
Devin Coldewey is a contributing writer for NBC News Digital. His personal website is coldewey.cc.