Apple iPad Gear

Reviews January 28, 2013

Aranez Ascend Case for the iPad mini Review

We’ve reviewed a number of products from Aranez.com including some iPhone and iPad cases and, most recently, a case for the Samsung Galaxy S3. Many of the cases we have used from the company are crafted from kangaroo leather, which is soft, supple and both looks and feels great. This time out we are looking at the first iPad mini case from the company. A folio-style case, the Ascend is made from cow leather, but it is immediately recognizable as an Aranez product thanks to the clean lines, contrasting stitching and, of course, the Aranez name on the front cover’s…

Reviews January 26, 2013

Tom Bihn Brain Bag with Camera I-O and Accessories Review

If you are looking for a small, light backpack you can stop reading now. If, on the other hand, you are looking for a backpack that is large, flexible, comfortable to carry and tough enough to last and last keep reading. Tom Bihn’s Brain Bag is a pricey backpack that is large and flexible enough to serve as a weekender, as a camera backpack or as a laptop backpack. On second thought, the Tom Bihn backpack is large and flexible enough to serve all of those functions at the very same time. The company was kind enough to send over…

News & Features January 26, 2013

CTA Digital Pedestal Stand for iPad Keeps You Connected in the Bathroom

Admit it. Many of you have surreptitiously or otherwise carted your iPad into the bathroom because…well because you just love your iPad and are using it productively, right? Sure you do. The biggest problem in using the iPad in such situations is that human anatomy is at odds with multitasking when responding to the call of nature, and most people I know of only possess a maximum of two hands. What to do to solve the crisis? Why, never fear CTA Digital’s Pedestal Stand for iPad 2/3/4 with Roll Holder is here to solve this dilemma! Standing at about 32″…

Events, Reviews January 24, 2013

Just Mobile AluPen Pro Review

As much as I have tried to go paperless, it’s been impossible for me to totally quit writing down shopping lists or jotting quick notes to myself or others. Whether I like it or not, I think I will always need to have a pen handy. Add to that my occasional need for a capacitive stylus — one that will work on the iPad or iPhone’s screen — and you’ll understand why the AluPen Pro caught my eye when I was visiting the Just Mobile booth at CES. Sculpted from aluminum, the perfectly weighted AluPen Pro features a high-quality, retractable…

News & Features January 23, 2013

No More “Either Paper or Tablet” Decisions Thanks to the New Booqpad mini

Booq has just announced their new Booqpad mini, an iPad case that combines protection for the iPad mini with the tried and true efficiency of paper and pen. As booq explains, the Booqpad mini “allows you to conveniently keep your business cards, stylus, pen, cash and other important documents close to your iPad mini, as well as your important hand-written notes. Booqpad mini: • Easily stores pen, stylus, cash, business cards, paper notepad, and iPad mini, all in one elegant folio • Is designed symmetrically for left and right-handed users • Secures and protects iPad mini, providing in case access…

Events, Reviews January 23, 2013

Rokform RokShield v3 for iPhone 5 Review and CES Booth Gallery

When opting to put my iPhone in a case these days, I tend to go one of two directions. I either seek out a slim, minimalist case that will protect my iPhone from scratches while adding the least amount of weight and bulk, or I put the phone in a LifeProof case for maximum protection. The new Rokform Rokshield v3 for iPhone 5 that arrived the other day may change that. The Rokshield v3 isn’t exactly minimalist, but it also doesn’t offer the maximum protection found in a LifeProof. Instead it falls somewhere between the two extremes. Actually allow me to…

Events, Reviews January 22, 2013

Munitio SV Mobile Performance Earphones Review

If earphones don’t sound good, I’m not interested. If earphones sound good but aren’t comfortable, I’m not interested. And if earphones sound good and are comfortable but don’t offer any style, I’m not interested either. Yes, my time here at Gear Diary has turned me into a bit of an earphone and headphone snob. I want it all and, thanks to the exploding headphone market, I can have it. When Judie and I passed by the Munitio table during CES their current and upcoming earphone and headphone offerings caught our eye. The Munitio Nines look like 9mm shells. They really…

Events, Reviews January 21, 2013

MiPow Power Cube 8000M Backup Battery Review

In today’s world of power-sucking mobile devices carrying a backup battery is a must. A reliable, quality battery that will safely charge your devices is important. In fact, that’s the most important feature in a backup battery. But as the MiPow SP8000 proves, having a good quality battery doesn’t mean you need to compromise on style. The battery looks good, offers amazing capacity, has convenient features and has internal circuitry to protect the devices connected to it. It is currently Judie’s and my backup battery of choice. Let’s take a look. There are three styles of the SP8000 currently available. One…

Reviews January 20, 2013

Plantronics Blackwire C720 Headset Review

I’m always impressed by Plantronics headphone offerings. Time and again they are able to combine excellent functionality with comfort; they even mix in a bit of style in the process. The Plantronics Voyager Legend is an amazing headset, and you can read our review here. We have a review of the UC (Unified Communications) version coming soon. Plantronics doesn’t just do Bluetooth headsets of course. They have a long history of offering wired headsets for use with phone systems and computers. Their new Blackwire C720 headset falls into that category but takes things to an entirely new level by combining…

Crowdfunding January 20, 2013

TabMount Tripod Adapter Will Take Your Tablet to New Heights

Project Title: tabMount – Tripod Adapter for iPad, iPad mini, & All Tablets Status: Active Closing Date for Funding: January 27, 2013 URL of the Project: http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/ndrasheta/tabmount-tripod-adapter-for-ipad-ipad-mini-and-all From the Creatives: “Imagine being able to mount your iPad, iPad mini, or whatever tablet you are currently using to a standard tripod. That’s exactly what you’ll be able to do with the tabMount.” Why I Backed It: I backed this project because I have used and/or reviewed every other product this company has offered and I have been consistently impressed. I reviewed the iStabilizer Dolly. (Read the review.) I bought my father-in-law the iStabilizer Glass…

Gear Bits January 19, 2013

Let MobileFun.co.uk Be Your One-Stop Mobile Accessory Stop

If you are looking for mobile accessories you have a host of options from which to choose. There are brick and mortar stores like Best Buy and there are online retailers like Amazon. One online retailer you might not think of first is MobileFun.co.uk. They recently reached out to us and challenged us to make a list of a few accessories we might need and then go shopping to see if their site offered the listed items. That’s exactly what we did and, as luck would have it, we found a plethora offerings in each and every category. I decided…

Reviews January 18, 2013

ZooGue New iPad Leather Case Genius Pro Review

Since I have moved to using an iPad 3 for my full-time mobile computing option, I’ve discovered how important my case choice is. The iPad literally goes everywhere with me, including my deer blind. It is important to not only protect the tablet, but for it to also be functional in many situations. My iPad is used on a work desk, in my lap, lying in bed, in the car, on the deck, and while I’m hunting. The situations where I use my iPad are literally endless. All of this means my case must work in each environment without having…

Events, News & Features January 17, 2013

Targus iNotebook Shines at CES 2013

While at CES, we spent some time visiting with Targus. Among the new items they were showing off was the $179.99 iNotebook, which “seamlessly transmits your handwritten notes to your iPad using the included sensor and pen.” If it sounds too good to be true, then you might want to check out this quick demo of Judie writing on paper and seeing the text rendered on the iPad in real-time. The iNotebook wirelessly transfers handwritten notes and sketches to an iPad using Bluetooth technology. It requires no special paper and is compatible with standard A5 and 8” x 5” notepads. That…

Events, News & Features January 17, 2013

Gumdrop Put Their iPad Where Their Toughness Claims Were at CES!

Gumdrop is part of the growing set of case makers targeting people looking for a tough but attractive way to protect their iOS devices. Sure, their cases are attractive, come in multiple colors and styles, and cover all sorts of devices from iPhones to tablets. But what really makes Gumdrop stand out is their willingness to demo how tough their cases are with a solid softball-style underhand, as they did for me at CES: If you’re a butter-fingers (or regret that smartphones aren’t tough enough to handle a dramatic toss across a room), be sure to check out Gumdrop Cases!

Events January 16, 2013

Beyzacases and Aston Martin CES Booth Tour

It all started when Ali Yildirim’s daughter, Beyza, wanted a case for her mobile device. She couldn’t find one that she liked, so her father decided to make her one. Today, Beyzacases is a world class leather accessory maker; their products are available in European Apple retail and online stores, and they are an official licensed partner with Aston Martin. Dan and I had a meeting with Ali Yildirim, Beyzacases founder and CEO, while we were at CES. The moment we walked into Beyzacases’ booth and saw all of the new colors and styles, we were simply blown away. After talking to Ali…

Events, News & Features January 14, 2013

Cygnett Cases Shows off Their Booth at CES 2013

We love Cygnett Cases at Gear Diary. They offer a tremendous number of unique styles in a variety of price ranges, and it’s always a treat to see their newest designs. While at CES 2013, we were lucky enough to swing by their booth and get a tour of the highlights on deck for 2013! Some of the graffiti-inspired cases were especially cool looking. I like a case with a pop of color, and having that sort of unusual artwork really makes the cases stand out! You can browse all of Cygnett’s various offerings on their website. Let us know…

Events January 13, 2013

Gear Diary’s First Ever CES Top Picks!

You may have noticed over the years that, unlike many other sites, we don’t give stars or other quantitative scores to the items we review. The reason for this is quite simple: while there may be quantitative aspects to a device review — an example being a laptop that claims to get ten hours of battery life and only gets two hours in real world use deserves a low rating — there is also a highly subjective aspect to any and all electronics. Case in point, I’m not an overly enthusiastic fan of Android. I have had the chance to review…

Events January 13, 2013

Luvvitt Booth Tour at CES 2013

You may not know the name Luvvitt, but you should. They make affordable, attractive iPhone, iPad, and Samsung cases, plus they’ve branched out into Bluetooth keyboards for the iPad and iPad Mini. I’ve used their Dolce back cover for my iPad 3, and even though I have tested other cases I always come back to the Luvvitt for its simplicity, durability, and style. So when I was walking the floor at CES and saw their booth, I had to stop by and learn more about them — and I am thrilled I did! Their cases are stylish and affordable, and…

Events January 12, 2013

A Conversation with Lifeproof Cases at CES

If you read the site you’ll know that I am a huge fan of Lifeproof’s cases. I liked the one for my iPhone 4S but the thinner, more refined iPhone 5 case takes things to an entirely new level. Combine that with the amazing experience of using an iPod touch as an underwater video camera thanks to Lifeproof and there should be no doubt that this is one case line worth checking out. That’s why our last few minutes on the floor at CES 2013 were spent speaking to Jonathan Wagner, Lifeproof’s Communications Director. It seems that most every case…

Events, News & Features January 10, 2013

Griffin’s Crayola Light Marker, Impresses at CES 2013

Take one iPad with front-facing camera, one specialty stylus designed to look like a Crayola crayon, and one kid. Mix them together with some special tech sauce and what do you get? The Crayola Light Marker from Griffin. Here’s a video look at the new offering from Griffin. The Crayola Light Marker from Griffin features: Digital marker and free downloadable app for iPad Light Marker uses invisible light to play games and create on your iPad screen without touching it Fun in the dark with free downloadable Light Marker App – 6 activities and and hours of fun. Light Marker…

Events January 9, 2013

Rap Pacs Bring Lightweight Protection From The Elements

Company: Rap Pacs Products on Display: Rap Pacs makes cases for the iPad, Kindle, NOOK and other 7in tablets, and various smartphones. Their cases are recycled yoga material with marine-grade plastic pouches to hold devices and provide some protection from the elements. What Caught Our Eye: The iPad and tablet cases were especially interesting, as they offer some protection from sand, water, and other potential dangers without being bulky or requiring the device to be sealed tighter than the Pentagon. While these are not intended to be ultra rugged, they did demo that you could drop an iPad and feel…

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