Apple iPad Gear

Sena Folio for Apple iPad Review

My search for the perfect iPad case came to an abrupt halt last week when I realized that, more than with any other device i have used, the “right” case for the iPad is going to depend on how you use the device and what you are doing with it at that moment. For example, if I am watching a movie on the iPad I want a case with an integrated stand. If I am on the go with it I want a case with built in screen protection while if I am leaving it on the coffee table I…


Speck Fitted For iPad – iPad Case Review

One of the things I have come to understand and appreciate is that there is no “right” case for the iPad. There are a variety of cases available for it to be sure but none of them is “the right case”. Rather, with the iPad perhaps more than with any other device, the appropriate case depends upon how you’re using the device at a particular moment. Let me explain what I mean. If you are going to be using the device on the go and will be throwing it into a briefcase it makes sense to have a case that is…


MacCase Ready To Jump Into The iPad Accessory Market

MacCase makes some gorgeous bags and cases for carrying your MacBook or other Apple products. They offers a line of sleeves that start at $39.95 and a Premium leather line that includes the  Premium Leather Flight Jacket for all sizes of Apple Laptops with prices starting at $189.95. As you add the $20 backpack straps and a $30 shoulder pad the price increases to over $200. That’s a bit of an investment but then again, the case looks awesome and will likely outlive your next five notebooks. A while back the company recently began asking for input from potential customers…


Review: iLuv 9.7″ Neoprene Sleeve for iPad

Last week, I joined the ranks of new iPad owners.  Yes, I’m a little late to the game, but you do what you have to!  The device is all it is made out to be; it is a beautiful piece of gear.  The first thing that crossed my mind when I pulled it out of the box was how to protect this beauty.  I was not completely interested in a large case to carry the iPad by itself.  Since I have a gear backpack, I thought it would be best if I just had some sort of sleeve to hold…


Aligata iPad Cases- Nice Leather, No Logo

Last night I posted a piece entitled A Tale of Three iPad Cases. It addressed my great experience with Owl Studios and Sena Cases and my less than great interactions with a third company. This morning I received an email from Tom at Aligata iPad cases. Tom told me about his all leather cases that are made from “… genuine bovine leather, natural grain. Very classy and durable as hell.” They look good and are currently on sale for $59.90 at http://aligata.com/ Tom went on to explain his pre-order policy. Turns out he too charges in full for his cases…


A Tale of Three iPad Case Pre-Orders- The Good, The Good and the Ugly.

One of the interesting things that happens when you are an early adopter of some key new technology is that you not only get early looks at the device and some accessories, but you also get a chance to see how various businesses work with customers or… don’t, as the case may be. I recently had a chance to see how three different companies handled the pre-order process for their new iPad cases. Two impressed. One did not. Two I am eager to do business with. One I have no interest in dealing with ever again. Here is a look…


The Newer Technology NuGuard Leather Hard Shell for iPad Review

One of the first things I did after getting my iPad was purchase a screen protector, but it wasn’t long after that before I started thinking about whether I might need a case or not. On the one hand, a case would mean better corner and screen protection in the event of a fall; on the other hand, it would also mean extra weight and bulk added to my otherwise almost perfectly sized device. I liked the idea of a protective layer between the back of my iPad and any surface that I might lay it upon, which is why…


ZAGG InvisibleSHIELD for iPad Review

When getting a new device, I always like to protect it from scratches, both front and back.  Screens have become a lot more durable on high-priced devices, but even so, I get nervous.  Further, some of these devices have high-gloss screens that can be hard to read because they are highly reflective and show fingerprints and smudges easily. ZAGG has been in the business of protecting mobile devices for several years now and have released a new version of their well-known InvisibleSHIELD for the iPad.  The InvisibleSHIELD is available in two versions: front (screen) protection only and all-body protection.  ZAGG…


iSkin’s CERULEAN Line of Bluetooth Accessories Perfect For Use With Apple’s iPad

The iPad makes you want to use Bluetooth more than ever. The reason is simple. Like the iPhone and the iPod touch it is great for carrying a lot of music, podcasts or audiobooks on the go. Like the iPhone and the iPod touch its capacity is amazing. Unlike the iPhone and iPod touch, however, you can’t easily stick the device in a speaker dock or plug in headphones and put it in your pocket.  Because of its size Bluetooth MAKES SENSE with the iPad in ways it never did before. Imagine this. You walk into your office, tap the…


iPad Camera Connection Kit Review

Unlike many of Apple’s devices, the iPad has seen a host of accessories released along with it.  In the past Apple has relied mostly on its third party manufacturers to create cases and other peripherals for the iPhone, iPod etc.  For the iPad Apple is offering a case, a power adapter, a dock, a keyboard dock, a display adapter and the camera connection kit, the last which we’re going to look at today. Right about now you’re probably asking yourself, “what do I need the camera connection kit for?”  And I did the same thing as I stood in the…


Speck CandyShell for Apple iPad – Review

The good folks at Speck are rolling out a multitude of ways for you to protect your iPad in style. The latest Speck case I’ve had a chance to try out is the Speck CandyShell for iPad. The CandyShell retails for $49.95 and offers… “Hard Shell. Soft Center. Looks Sweet.” Let’s take a look… From Speck… Our award-winning CandyShell just got bigger! This iPad case has a thin, hard-shell coating with soft rubbery interior lining, bezel, & button covers. The flip-back panel for dockability is the sort of Spexy little detail that makes CandyShell the tastiest, most functional iPad case…


Clear-Coat Protects Your Gadgets

Larry swears by Clear-Coat, one of the up and coming scratch protectors for a wide range of devices. As I wrote yesterday, he didn’t even open his iPad 3G on Friday but instead opted to immediately take it to the Clear-Coat cart near him. That way he was guaranteed that his device would be protected from the first minute of its use. Larry had sent me Clear-Coats to try for both my iPhone 3GS and my iPad. I installed them myself and found the process to be easy enough. I am happy to say that, thanks to Clear-Coat, I am…


GelaSkins for iPad – Review

The iPad needs protection. It is big. It is beautiful. And it will get knocked around and scratched up if you aren’t careful. So yes, the iPad needs protection. Larry has this down to a science. When his iPad 3G came on Friday he didn’t open it. Instead he hopped in the car and drove to the mall near him to have a Clear Coat put on the device. Half an hour later his iPad was wrapped in a clear protective layer that ensures his device will be unmarred for months to come. The WiFi version of the iPad that…


WirelessGround iPad Silicone Skin Review

So you just dropped a couple of hundred dollars on your new iPad right?  While there aren’t a ton of case options for your new device yet (many are starting to pop up, but the iPad is still new after all) those that are available are expensive.  You still need protection for your iPad though right? Still with me?  If you’re down to your last $20 because your iPad tapped you out what you need is an affordable case that protects your iPad from bumps and dings, keeps the overall form factor of the iPad unchanged and one that looks…


Happy Owl Studio iPad Cases are Now Available for Order

It’s not every day that someone successfully reinvents the wheel, but when it happens it can be a sight to behold … and that is essentially what Happy Owl Studios has attempted to do when it comes to iPad cases. Rather than coming out with a simple sleeve or even a back-covering shell, Happy Owl has created three fully protective cases which not only look fabulous, two of them are also folios. Let’s take a look … I’ll cover the most simple case first — the $49.99 Wallet Lite. This book cover style is available in the very businesslike black…


WirelessGround Touch Screen Stylus Review: Reduces iPad Fingerprints

Fingerprints.  It’s perhaps my biggest pet peeve about the iPad’s glorious screen.  It’s one gigantic fingerprint magnet.  Unless you plan on joining the Men In Black (they remove your fingerprints) it’s something you just have to deal with.  Unless of course you find some other way to use your iPad without touching the screen with your finger. Enter the WirelessGround Touch Screen Stylus Pen.  The stylus, which is available in Black, Purple, Blue or Pink, features a soft tip which gives your more precise control when tapping on your screen and allows you to do so with using your finger….


Waterfield Muzetto Portable – Review (Conclusion- Perfect For Carrying An iPad)

One of the things that is perhaps most fun about reviewing technology and being an iPhone user is the opportunity to compare and test various iPhone cases. Fortunately there are plenty of nice ones out there from which to choose, and boy have we had a chance to look at many. One of the more striking things about the iPad, now that I have been using it for three weeks, is that while Larry and I will often talk about the latest iPhone case one or the other of us have tried, when it comes to the iPad we have…


Gear Chat #8- The “No iPad Edition”

In Gear Chat #8 Larry and Dan do their best NOT to talk about the  iPad. In fact they make a bet and place a dollar amount on each slip. How do they do? Listen and find out. So what DO they talk about if they are going to stop obsessing about the iPad for a bit? Why the iPhone of course.  iPhone OS 4.0, rumors about new hardware, some recommended apps and more get covered in this week’s podcast.


Newer Technology Releases iFolio for iPad

This one practically comes from my backyard.  Well, McHenry County isn’t exactly in Chicago’s backyard, but Woodstock is a neat town and it’s cool that someone in the greater Chicago region is directly involved in making iPad accessories. Newer Technology, from Woodstock, Illinois, has just released the iFolio case for the iPad.  Available in black or red Brazilian leather and featuring a zippered enclosure, the iFolio can be carried by either the attached leather handle or a removable leather shoulder strap. Inside the iFolio, the left side of the case includes pockets for documents, passports, and business cards.  The right side includes four…


Waterfield Ultimate SleeveCase for iPad and iPad Suede Jacket – Reviews

Back in February we shared news that Waterfield was rolling out a number of different ways to protect your newest Apple device thanks to their Ultimate SleeveCase and Suede Jacket for Apple iPad. Well both are shipping and we’ve had a chance to check them out. Are they a good way to protect your iPad in a rough and tumble world? Read on and find out… First up is the iPad Ultimate SleeveCase. According to Waterfield… Ultimate iPad Sleeve Protection. Safeguard your iPad with a properly fitted SleeveCase. Cushioned with high-grade neoprene and wrapped in a nearly indestructible ballistic nylon…


Vaja’s iPad Cases are Exactly as Expected: Gorgeous and Pricey

ivolution Stripes starting at $ 220 No listing of available iPad cases could ever be complete without showing those offered from the premiere Argentinean leather company, Vaja. Not only have they released four new iPad cases, there is even a leather bag for those of you who aren’t yet sure how to carry the iPad in style. As expected, you’ll pay a premium for all that Vaja goodness, but we’ve grown to expect that and accept it as part of the price for carrying the best, right? ivolution Crystal 2 starting at $ 350 ivolution GT starting at $ 190…