People who may be addicted to buying new phone cases and apps for their iPhone, Android or other mobile tool should know that their efforts and purchases aren't all for naught, as there are 500,000 jobs from the "app economy" in the United States, according to a study by TechnNet and Dr. Michael Mandel of South Mountain Economics.

"America's app economy – which had zero jobs just five years ago before the iPhone was introduced – demonstrates that we can quickly create economic value and jobs through cutting-edge innovation," said Rey Ramsey, president and CEO of TechNet.  "Today, the app economy is creating jobs in every part of America, employing hundreds of thousands of U.S. workers today and even more in the years to come."

The cities with the biggest percentage of app economy jobs include the New Jersey and New York area, the San Francisco/Oakland Bay Area and the Seattle/Tacoma area.

The Tennessean said it may not seem like a big amount of jobs, but many new businesses are being formed by making things such as iPhone 4S cases, LG Viper cases and more. The story from this news source talks to Tennessee resident Jeff Lee – an app developer who is making SevenLunches for restaurants to list their specials for customers – who is one of the people coming up in this economy and doing well in a smaller city.

While iPhone covers and other accessories can be a great way to protect the phone, one new accessory, scheduled to ship by the end of March, can account for those times when a picture or video of an entire group of people is needed. The Swivl robotic smartphone holder by Satarii Inc. swivels and tilts to help keep everyone in the picture, according to the Boston Globe.

"Swivl is a battery-powered, remote-controlled robot that works with a variety of camera-equipped smartphones, including Android phones and small hand-held video cameras like Cisco’s Flip," according to Hiawatha Bray in the news source. "The robot comes with a small remote control unit that constantly transmits its location to the Swivl device. As the person holding the remote moves, the Swivl keeps the camera aimed at him."

There is also a microphone built into the remote for better audio quality on videos. While the review in the news source said it is still too expensive for those who may only use it a couple times, with a price of nearly $90. Bray said it could be a great tool for frequent camera users.

Charlie White wrote on Mashable in January that the movements of the device – when examined at the International Consumer Electronics Show – were quite smooth. He said the accessory has a great knack to help keep people in the picture.

There are some fairly strange iPhone cases and accessories out there, but nothing is quite as strange looking and unique as the Noiseless USB Karaoke Mic for iPhone, iPad and iPod Nano. The device features a plunger-like microphone that covers the mouth and allows people to sing without bothering the outside world.

"This beautiful work of art fits snugly around your mouth and keeps most your voice from escaping," Mariella Moon writes on Tecca. "Think of the possibilities. You can now sing 'Bohemian Rhapsody' without anyone's eardrums bursting. Plus, you'll be the talk of the town, for sure."

GottaBeMobile said the device, which is primarily released in Japan, is used to sing karaoke games and get higher scores. Users will also be able to play these games quietly late at night without bothering their upstairs neighbors and causing a ruckus.

People interested in unique things that could end up being iPad 3 accessories should look into this microphone. While it may be one of the goofiest looking accessories, the reveiws seem to say it services its purpose well.

Mountain biking, running and more can be great activities for action photos, but it's a pretty tough task to cart an iPhone around in hand and take great action shots. The new Mivue-X photography mount allows people to capture pictures and videos from the wearer's point of view while keeping the phone secure in iPhone cases.

The case has a mount that can be strapped to the user's chest. There is also a high-impact case designed to help protect the phone while it is in motion.

"If you're a sports fanatic and have always wanted a way to capture your sporting activities as you see them, the Miveu-X accessory could be your best bet," CNET said. "This ruggedized accessory allows one to capture videos of your adventures from your point-of-view using an iPhone 4/4S at a fraction of the price of dedicated sports-oriented video cameras."

The case is currently on Kickstarter where the creators have set a target goal of $15,000. So far, the product has nearly $10,000 collected, which means it could soon be more widely available to replace other iPhone 4S cases out there.

IPhone covers typically protect a phone, but they may have been stepped up to a new level by design consultancy company Snow Lizard. The company has a new Aqua Tek S case made exclusively for iPhone 4 and 4S and the product is solar powered to boost battery power and helps provide "ruggedness" for those who go outdoors.

"Though this case will add a substantial bit of bulk to the thin, sleek and lovely iPhone, users will find it worth the extras," according to GreenPacks.org. "This case will come in signal orange, black night and urban camo, and will collect sunlight through its back panel to power the iPhone inside."

The touch screen, volume, speakers and more are still available for access with the rest of the phone fully encased for protection. The phone can be dropped down a hill and still survive and go under 20 feet of water without being damaged.

Snow Lizard's Aqua Tek S is made of polycarbonate with rubber grips to help keep it secure. The accessory is currently on Kickstarter trying to raise money for a more widespread release.

After creating many iPhone 4 cases and other Apple accessories, iLuv Creative Technology said it will now start shipping accessories for the Amazon Kindle Fire tablet and the Kindle Touch E-Reader.

"iLuv is now offering the most comprehensive line of accessories for Amazon mobile device products," commented Brian Yang, vice president of sales and marketing at iLuv. "With Kindle Fire having been among the most popular holiday gifts of the past year, we at iLuv recognized the need to quickly deliver a complete line of stylish, high-quality accessories for these devices. We continue our commitment to be a market-leading mobile accessories provider by delivering high-quality, innovative and stylish products to Kindle consumers."

New accessories will include the Blazin Porfolio Stand, the Rock on Premium Earphones and USB charger kits. The company said films and cases range from $15 to $45 and other solutions go up to about $30, so they can be an inexpensive option for any tablet or phone owner.

The company said the Kindle fire was one of the best-selling gifts of 2011, so now seems like an appropriate time for more Kindle Fire accessories to be released.

While phone cases are great accessories for any phone, what happens if the case and all other accessories strapped onto your mobile device get lost? The Zomm Wireless Leash Plus' new accessory has the answer, as it will let people find their lost iPhones.

The device is a small Bluetooth piece of technology that will warn people when they are about to leave their phone behind and helps find the phone, keys and and anything else the accessory is strapped to.

"After pairing was complete, I left my iPhone on my desk and went for a walk," Steven Sande said in TUAW's review of the device. "Once I was about 30 feet away from the iPhone, the Leash started vibrating and flashing its LEDs. After a short while, it began beeping, and a few seconds later the volume of the beep cranked up. Let's face it — the Leash is definitely going to get your attention. It works the other way around, too. If you have your iPhone with you and leave your keys somewhere, the Leash will start beeping."

The Leash costs about $90. Sande's review said this is a unique accessory for the forgetful people out there who may not want to lose their iPhone and have to pay the money to get a new one.