Archive for the ‘iPad’ Category

Looking for a truly one-of-a-kind case for your iPhone or iPad?  Take a look at Zazzle’s new case customization service.  Developed through a partnership with Speck, Zazzle’s new service allows users to print their own designs on Speck’s popular line of Speck Fitted cases for the iPhone and iPad.

Zazzle provides users with an easy-to-use web-based design tool that allows users to upload a design, image or photo.  Each case is produced and shipped within 24 hours, and your case is delivered within a matter of days.  Zazzle offers a 100% satisfaction guarantee as well, so you don’t have to worry about getting stuck with an awful looking case, even if you did design it yourself.

Zazzle’s custom cases are available for the iPhone 3G, 3G S and 4, as well as the iPad.  Pricing for custom iPhone cases starts at $40, while pricing for custom iPad cases starts at $50.  You can check out the service here to try out your own case designs.

Want truly rugged protection for your iPad?  Trident’s Kraken case for the iPad protects the device with layers of polycarbonate and silicone, not to mention large bumpers that protect the sides and corners of the iPad.  The Kraken also has covers for all of the iPad ports to prevent dust and debris from collecting inside the device.  Additionally, the case includes an anti-scratch, anti-glare, and anti-moisture PET screen protector that will help to keep your iPad’s screen free of scratches and finger prints.

The Kraken case is available now directly from Trident for a reasonable $40.

Tired of typical silicone and plastic iPad cases?  Take a look at Vers Audio’s elegant Shellcase.

Each Shellcase is handmade from Cherry, Walnut or Bamboo materials, giving you a unique and natural-looking case to protect and display your iPad.  The case features an integrated steel stand for propping up your iPad in horizontal, vertical or typing configurations.  And don’t worry about the wooden case scratching your precious iPad – the case has a soft lining to prevent scratches.

You can pick up a Shellcase from Vers here for $80.

Those looking to pamper their iPad should surf on over to Burberry’s UK site.  The company recently hopped on the iPad bandwagon with the London Leather iPad Cover, a $440 case that’s made of 100% calf leather.  The case works as either a case or a stand, and provides inner pockets to hold documents.  And of course, the case feature’s Burberry’s logo and is made in Italy.

Feel like giving your iPad an identity crisis?  Crux Case’s Cruz360 case features an innovative swivel design and Bluetooth keyboard that allows the iPad to function as either a clamshell netbook or a tablet. 

In netbook mode, the case provides users with a spacious Bluetooth keyboard for easy text input, above left.  But, when the case’s iPad holder is flipped around and closed, the device reverts back to a tablet form factor, above right.

The case also has a “movie mode,” below left, where the screen sits beneath the case and the iPad is propped up at an ideal angle for viewing video.  Finally, when not in use the case shuts to protect the iPad’s screen and the keyboard, below right.

This is a great idea, especially for users that frequently use their iPads to input text, but also want to preserve the device’s tablet form factor.  At $150, the case doesn’t come cheap, but that coin may be worth it considering it enables your iPad to play the role of a tablet, netbook and video player.

Pick one up directly from Crux here.

Most iPad sleeves are pretty boring – just slide in your iPad and that’s it.  But Incase is taking a new spin on sleeves, and to do so they’re leveraging the ancient Japanese art of paper folding called origami.

From the outside, Incase’s Origami Sleeve looks like a typical padded sleeve.  But once the iPad is removed, the Origami Sleeve folds into a triangular stand for the iPad.  It’s simple, yet ingenious – the sides of the case prop up the iPad while a cleverly hidden base holds the iPad level.

The Origami Sleeve is also attractively priced at $35.  You can order one directly from Incase here in either pink or black.

It can be tough to find just the right viewing angle for the iPad – often a degree or two of tilt in the wrong direction will result in picture-ruining glare.  Belkin appears to have a solution for this problem with their Grip 360° + Stand case for the iPad.  The case features a hand strap that swivels 360 degrees for easy hand held viewing, above left.  Or, if you want to sit back and watch a movie on your iPad you can detach the hand strap and replace it with a stand that provides a flexible range of viewing angles, above right.

Belkin officially unveiled the Grip 360° + Stand today, and we’ll get in a review unit as soon as possible.  The case costs $70, and will be available at Target, Amazon.com and Best Buy.

Temple Bags’ Leather iPad Case is historic…literally.  The case is made from actual materials from World War II that have been cleaned and repurposed.  The result is an elegant, durable iPad case that is one of a kind.

The Leather iPad Case has a shoulder strap for portability.  The case also works as a horizontal or vertical stand.  The case hides an internal pocket for your valuables, as well.

At $189, the Leather iPad Case isn’t cheap.  But for that price, you get a solid case for your iPad as well as a genuine piece of US History.  You can pick up a Leather iPad Case directly from Temple Bags, here.

The iPad’s battery life is already pretty great, but Japanese accessory-maker SolidMicro thinks it can do better.  The company’s PadPower case hides a rechargeable 6000 mAh battery for the iPad, which SolidMicro claims will increase your iPad’s battery life by 2.4x.  That means you can use your iPad for a full day straight before you need to recharge.  The PadPower’s battery charges via microUSB port, although unfortunately it does not appear that the PadPower allows you to charge and sync the iPad at the same time.

The PadPower measures 261mm x 196mm x 24.5mm, so it does add about 10mm of thickness to the back of the iPad and 20mm to the top of the device.  Still, that added heft may be well worth it if you plan to use your iPad for a full day without recharging.

You can purchase the PadPower here for 12,800 yen, which converts to about $160.  The device is expected to be released in November.

Photo from PC Mag

SMK Electronics has an interesting take on the iPad dock.  The company’s PadDock 10 dock holds the iPad at eye level, supporting the device with a silver stand that reminds us of the Apple iMac’s sleek all-in-one design.  The dock has an integrated speaker that can be rotated above or below the iPad, and a dock connector that works for both charging and syncing.

At $99, the PadDock 10 isn’t cheap.  But it does provide users with an easy way to use and display the iPad around the home – the dock seems perfect for the kitchen, for example.  The PadDock 10 is expected to be release in November.

Source:  PC Mag