iNews Review

300K iPads Sold First Day, iPad USB Charging Issue, Talking iPod shuffle, iPad Teardown, and More

This Week's iPad, iPhone, iPod, and Apple TV News

Compiled by Charles Moore and edited by Dan Knight - 2010.04.09

So we can post our three news roundups (Mac News Review, The 'Book Review, and iNews Review) earlier, we first do a quick proofread and link check, leaving out images. We add images later when time permits. dk

Apple previewed iPhone OS 4 yesterday, and it addresses a multitude of complaints about the iPad. It also adds lots of new features showing that Apple is planning for the future, not just playing catch up to obvious shortcomings in iPhone OS 3.2. We'll have a lot more on the new OS next week, but some highlights:

  • Multitasking that conserves battery power, suspends apps for immediate reuse via fast app switching, and allows background tasks such as uploading photos and listening to Pandora.
  • Always on VoIP.
  • Location awareness and local notifications.
  • Support for Bluetooth keyboards.
  • Folders to organize your apps.

iPhone OS 4 will be a free upgrade for iPad owners in the fall. It will be available this summer for the iPhone and iPod touch (but possibly not for the original iPhone or iPod touch - time will tell). The iPhone 3G and second generation iPod touch will not support multitasking - but the iPhone 3GS and 3G iPod touch will.

Mac notebook and other portable computing is covered in The 'Book Review, and general Mac news is in Mac News Review.

All prices are in US dollars unless otherwise noted.

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Apple Sold Over 300,000 iPads First Day

Apple announced that it sold over 300,000 iPads in the US as of midnight Saturday, April 3. These sales included deliveries of pre-ordered iPads to customers, deliveries to channel partners and sales at Apple Retail Stores. Apple also announced that iPad users downloaded over one million apps from Apple's App Store and over 250,000 ebooks from its iBookstore during the first day.

"It feels great to have the iPad launched into the world -it's going to be a game changer," said Steve Jobs, Apple's CEO. "iPad users, on average, downloaded more than three apps and close to one book within hours of unpacking their new iPad."

iPad Sales to Hit 7 Million in 2010, 20 Million in 2012

DigiTimes' Joseph Tsai reports that according to a preliminary forecast from iSuppli, worldwide iPad sales are expected to amount to 7.1 million units in 2010, double to 14.4 million in 2011, and nearly triple to 20.1 million in 2012, with initial sales driven by early adopters and others attracted to the iPad's unique touch-screen-based user interface. In 2011 and 2012, iPad sales will be driven up by a range of factors, including a flood of new applications, improved functionality and declining prices, and moreover iSuppli regards its iPad sales forecast as conservative.

Link: iPad Sales to Hit 7 Million in 2010 and Triple by 2012, Says iSuppli (subscription required)

40% in UK 'Planning to Ditch Laptops' for a Tablet

Yahoo News UK reports that as Apple prepares for the UK iPad launch at the end of April, 40% of British consumers surveyed by price comparison site Kelkoo say they are ready to ditch their laptop for a tablet, and 18% said they were so desperate to get their hands on one they did not care how much they paid.

One the other hand, Kelkoo's research indicated that nearly one in four people (23%) weren't sure what the iPad actually is, 2% labelling it a mobile phone and 8% cent an iPod, while 13% conceded they didn't "have a clue".

Your editor finds these results more than a little perplexing, being among the evident minority that finds itself underwhelmed by the iPad concept, for so many reasons.

Link: 40% 'Planning to Ditch Laptops'

iPad Typing Test

How does the keyboard on Apple's iPad stack up against a MacBook Pro, Asus netbook and an iPhone? PC World's Harry McCracken says he decided to do a very unscientific test to see how quickly he could bang out text on the iPad, in both its landscape and portrait orientations, compared with a 15" MacBook Pro, an Asus EeePC 1000HE netbook (with a pretty good keyboard by netbook standards), and an iPhone 3GS

How'd the iPad stack up?

Link: iPad vs. Laptop vs. Netbook vs. iPhone: Typing Test

Hyundai Equus Now Comes with an iPad

TUAW's Dave Caolo reports that for a limited time, Hyundai is cashing in on the iPad frenzy by offering one to every customer who buys a 2011 Equus, and the bundled iPad will contain the car's user manual, which Hyundai Motor America CEO John Krafcik calls, "interactive."

Link: Hyundai Equus Now Comes with an iPad

iPad Heat Issues Similar to Old iPhone Temperature Problems

MacFixIt's Joe Aimonetti reports:

"One of the biggest concerns to come out of the early days of the iPad revolves around an apparent problem with rising temperatures when operating the touch-screen tablet in direct sunlight or other hot conditions."

Link: Deja vu: iPad Heat Issues Similar to iPhone Temperature Problems of Old

iPad Reviews Are Mixed

EE Times' Mark LaPedus reports:

"...there's iPad madness - and hype - in the market. According to market watcher iSuppli Corp., Apple could sell as many as 7.1 million iPads this year, though International Data Corp. estimated 2010 tablet sales at 6 million for the entire industry.

"I was looking online for reviews of the iPad. I found a plethora of reviews, which are all over the map and mixed. Here's a sampling from the Web...."

The article includes links to iPad reviews in the San Jose Mercury News, The Times of India, The Economist, The Seattle Times, Yahoo! Tech, World Correspondents, AnandTech, Tom's Guide, MobileTechReview.com, and AppleInsider. Here's another by PowerPage's Chris Barylick, and one from WinSuperSite.

Link: Reviews for iPad Are Mixed

Why I Won't Buy an iPad (and Think You Shouldn't, Either)

SF author Cory Doctorow writing for Boing Boing says:

"...I'm completely uninterested in buying an iPad . . . Relying on incumbents to produce your revolutions is not a good strategy. They're apt to take all the stuff that makes their products great and try to use technology to charge you extra for it, or prohibit it altogether.

"Then there's the device itself: clearly there's a lot of thoughtfulness and smarts that went into the design. But there's also a palpable contempt for the owner. I believe - really believe - in the stirring words of the Maker Manifesto: if you can't open it, you don't own it. Screws not glue. The original Apple ][+ came with schematics for the circuit boards, and birthed a generation of hardware and software hackers who upended the world for the better....

"But with the iPad, it seems like Apple's model customer is that same stupid stereotype of a technophobic, timid, scatterbrained mother . . . [and] that here, finally, is something that isn't too complicated for their poor old mothers....

"For a company whose CEO professes a hatred of DRM, Apple sure has made DRM its alpha and omega . . . I don't want my universe of apps constrained to the stuff that the Cupertino Politburo decides to allow for its platform....

"The reason people have stopped paying for a lot of "content" isn't just that they can get it for free . . . even a stellar iPad sales performance isn't going to do much to stanch the bleeding from traditional publishing. Wishful thinking and a nostalgia for the good old days of lockdown won't bring customers back through the door.

"The iPad you buy today will be e-waste in a year or two (less, if you decide not to pay to have the battery changed for you) . . . If you want to live in the creative universe where anyone with a cool idea can make it and give it to you to run on your hardware, the iPad isn't for you. If you want to live in the fair world where you get to keep (or give away) the stuff you buy, the iPad isn't for you."

Link: Why I Won't Buy an iPad (and Think You Shouldn't, Either)

Why the iPad Falls Short

Seeking Alpha's Jeff Jarvis says:

"...as my hangover settles in, I realize that there's something much more basic and profound that worries me about the Apple iPad - and not just the iPad but the architecture upon which it is built. I see danger in moving from the web to apps.

"The iPad is retrograde. It tries to turn us back into an audience again. That is why media companies and advertisers are embracing it so fervently, because they think it returns us all to their good old days when we just consumed, we didn't create, when they controlled our media experience and business models and we came to them.

"Cloud? I see no cloud, just Apple's blue skies. Why no USB? . . . The iPad is purposely handicapped, but it doesn't need to be. See the German WePad, which comes with USB port(s!), a camera, multitasking, and the more open Android operating system and marketplace."

Link: Why the iPad Falls Short

13 Glaring iPad Shortcomings

LiveScience's Ker Than and Robert Roy Britt say:

"The iPad shows great promise. It's thin and sleek and not like any other gadget out there. It was also more hyped than any new device in recent memory. But is it worth buying?

"Given the cost, and a slew of drawbacks, the answer boils down to how much you're willing to pay for a toy, the authors say. The iPad is heavy, slippery, the screen has too much glare, forget about reading in the sun, fingerprints are annoying, there's no multitasking, a limited browser (with no Flash support), the virtual keyboard stinks, no USB port, iPhone-only apps look horrible, the price is just too high, and it doesn't replace anything."

Here's the list:

  1. It's awkward.
  2. It's heavy.
  3. It's slippery.
  4. The screen has too much glare.
  5. Forget reading in the sun.
  6. Fingerprints are annoying.
  7. It does not multitask. (The free upgrade to iPhone OS 4 will take care of that. ed)
  8. The browser is limited - not only lacking Flash, but unable to work with Google Docs.
  9. The virtual keyboard stinks.
  10. There's no USB port.
  11. iPhone-only apps look horrible.
  12. The price is just too high.
  13. It doesn't replace anything.

Link: 13 Glaring iPad Shortcomings

Why You Don't Need an iPad

Forbes' Brian Caulfield says:

"...are you buying an iPad? If so, what will you use it for. If not, what's your excuse?

"Not that the iPad isn't a very big thing. Apple will sell at least 6 million this year, according to Morgan Stanley....

"And why not? Apple is delivering a sure thing, rather than the next big thing: immersion in a digital world its customers already understand. The sealed 1/2-inch thick gizmo is not something anyone will have to experiment with to make useful.

"Science fiction author Cory Doctorow doesn't like that. 'I believe - really believe - in the stirring words of the Maker Manifesto: if you can't open it, you don't own it,' Doctorow wrote in a blog post Friday urging readers not to buy one....

"Maybe it won't wipe out the pen and paper industry, but the iPad is not good news for laptops. 'The laptop is going to be the rotary phone of our generation,' says Shervin Pishevar, founder and executive chairman of game developer SGN."

Link: Why You Don't Need an iPad

Love Freedom? Avoid the iPad

Aaron Gell, President, mediaelites.com, writing in the Huffington Post, says:

"I will admit, the iPad might well turn out to be the greatest toy ever. But I hate it and all that it stands for, and I desperately hope it goes the way of the Newton. Why? Because it represents the final and most convincing piece of evidence yet of what I - a committed Mac fan who wouldn't buy a PC if it offered to rub my feet - have long feared . . . we're all about to be trapped in iTunes' walled Garden forever....

"For all the nightmare scenarios about Google, it's now become evident that cheerfully rebellious underdog Apple may actually be the Corporate Beast to fear. Clearly Steve Jobs is a world class control freak, which is fine if you work at Apple or hold stock in the company or don't like changing batteries....

"The iPad isn't hackable. It's not democratic. It's for dummies and cultural Pringles-eaters who just want to sit back and take in stuff, not for creators and innovators who want to change the world...."

Link: Love Freedom? Kill Your iPad

You Can Work on the iPad, but Why Would You?

VentureBeat's Anthony Ha says:

"One of the recurring themes in articles I've read and conversations I've had about the iPad is that Apple's new tablet is a device for consumption of media, not its creation. I don't think that's entirely fair, but I have to admit my early experiences support that idea....

"I would be interested in reading books on the iPad, because the experience, while imperfect, is in some ways better than a physical book. Writing, on the other hand, is slightly worse than a normal computer in almost every respect.

"So yes, I can work on the iPad, but I can't think of any situation where I'd want to. It would always be easier to whip out my laptop."

Link: Yes, You Can Work on the iPad - but Why Would You?

Internet Devices Like the iPad Are a Bad Idea

Tech Radar's Jeremy Laird says:

"Apple's iPad isn't magical, whatever Steve Jobs claims."

Not to put too fine a point on it, but Laird thinks MIDs (Mobile Internet Devices) are a bad idea and that the iPad is nothing more than a MID with an oversized screen that bloats the device's proportions unnecessarily, no support for Flash video, which he deems "utterly bonkers in a device Apple claims is better for web browsing than a laptop, and the total absence of expansion-friendly ports, sockets and card readers constituting a galling limitation that smacks of control freakery."

Link: Why Internet Devices Like the iPad Are a Bad Idea

New Media Expert to Run His Company on Nothing but the iPad for One Month

An insider's look at at real-world business applications of Apple's latest release can be found online paulsipad.com.

While many see the iPad as an expensive toy for people who buy anything from Steve Jobs, a new website features real world examples of business use of the iPad.

Paul Colligan, a leading expert in new media, revealed that the iPad might turn out to be the perfect business machine, and he is going to show the world how in less than 30 days. He says he is also going to have a ton of fun on the process.

Colligan purchased his iPad on the first day of release, April 3, and set it up live via video stream. He will run his business using only his iPad and cell phone until May 5. Included during the project timeframe is a trip to China, a number of live online events, and the launch of an iPad ebook with a soon to be announced celebrity author. Colligan will stream video, track his efforts, and share insights from his business at a website launched specifically for the project, Paul's iPad.

This is not a trick or a gimmick, says Colligan. Everything will be done from his iPad (and the cheapest one at that). Between the inexpensive office suite applications launched by Apple and the reality of most business being done online, Colligan expects little change in his daily workflow. If anything, he expects to get more work done without the overhead that most computers require. He says, "It will be fun, but I'm sure I have a few surprises coming my way."

Colligan is the author of The Business Podcasting Bible and a trusted authority on new media and Internet marketing. He has been has spoken in front of thousands at events such as Google Tech Talks, Macworld Expo, The European Business Podcasting Summit, and Microsoft Tech-Ed. He is also a host of the popular Internet Marketing This Week Podcast.

Link: Paul's iPad

iWork for iPad Messes with Mac iWork Files

PowerPage's Kenn Marks says:

"If you are planning on buying an iPad to be a portable editing device for your iWork content - think twice. The Apple Discussion boards are all aflutter with teachers and professors who hoped they could leave their laptops in the office and only take their new iPads to the lecture hall. This is not the case. Although Apple has branded the programs the same as the versions you can buy for your Mac, this is where the similarity ends. It's like using Google Translation to convert a foreign web site into your language of choice, but worse...."

Link: Opinion: iPad - iWork (NOT)

How to Return Your iPad

Fortune's Philip Elmer-DeWitt says that if you have purchased an iPad and are not feeling the magic, you can take it back if you move quickly - but it will cost you.

Elmer-DeWitt relates how Buzzmachine's Jeff Jarvis decided to return his iPad and summarizes Apple's refund policy, noting that you have 14 calendar days to return your iPad to the place you bought it. It must be in working order (DOA iPads will not be accepted), must not be engraved or otherwise personalized, and must be returned in its original box with all the accessories, manuals, documentation, and registration forms that came with it. In addition, you'll have to pay a 10% restocking fee.

Link: How to Return Your iPad

Charging the iPad: Hit or Miss

Consumer Reports says:

"If you're used to charging your phone, music player, or device in the USB port of your computer, take note. So far, we've been unable to charge our iPads in any USB port on a non-Apple Computer. Apple Tech Support has told us that the iPad is designed for the 10W AC adapter that comes with it, so if you want to use anything else, all bets are off."

Link: Charging the iPad: Hit or Miss

iPad Not Charging via USB for Some Users

Gizmodo reports:

"Various Twitter users, the team at Consumer Reports and our own Giz editors are reporting problems getting their new iPads to charge via USB. So far, it looks like it will only charge when plugged into a Mac . . . Consumer Reports found that PC USB ports, keyboards with USB ports and accessories such as USB hubs don't work...."

Editor's note: Apple explains (link below) that when the iPad is not in use, it will charge from a powered USB port as long as the host computer isn't shut down or asleep. When the iPad is in use, it will only charge from a high-power USB 2.0 port, a feature of most recent Macs. dk

Link: iPad Not Charging Via USB for Some Users
Link: iPad: Charging the Battery (Apple)

iPad Charging Explained

Macworld's Dan Frakes says:

"Anyone taking possession of a shiny new iPad this weekend may have noticed an odd message when connecting their gadget to some computers or USB chargers: the words Not charging in the iPad's menu bar. We experienced the same issue during our initial testing, leading us to wonder if there was something wrong with our test unit.

"As we reported on Friday, the issue is simply that the iPad has heftier charging requirements than iPods and iPhones, and some USB ports - especially those on older computers and most USB hubs - don't provide enough power to charge the iPad during use...."

Link: The iPad's Charging Challenge Explained

iPad: Don't Drop It, and Buy a Case

PC World's Tim Moynihan says:

"If you get an iPad, make sure to buy a protective case for it. Compared to the iPhone, Apple's latest tech toy is more prone to easy damage.

"In our iPad stress tests - a supersize version of the iPhone stress tests that we performed with Apple's smartphone - the tablet computer started showing damage after a few drops onto a carpeted floor . . . Water isn't very iPad-friendly, either...."

Editor's note: We have information about iPad cases in this iNews Review and in several recent ones. dk

Link: Apple iPad Stress Tests

iPad Keyboard Dock Reviewed

Macworld's Dan Miller says:

"Sure, the iPad has its own onscreen keyboard. But the awkward ergonomics - how do you hold the iPad at a good viewing angle and type at the same time? - don't recommend it for serious, long-term use. For that, you're going to need an external keyboard. Apple's own iPad Keyboard Dock would be a great choice."

Link: Apple iPad Keyboard Dock Review

Going Under the iPad's Hood with Settings

Macworld's Dan Moren says:

"Perhaps you're only interested in the fancy-shmancy apps on your iPad - you know, the ones that are just versions of Mac apps, like Mail and Safari. But if you want to know what the iPad is really capable of, you'll have to dig deep into its real workhorse app: Settings.

"Settings is where the nitty-gritty happens: where you can do things beyond even the capability of even the most powerful iPad app. I took a stroll through the app to find out what's new and different on the iPad."

Link: Going Under the iPad's Hood with Settings

How to Use an iPhone as a Wireless iPad Camera

Gizmodo says:

"The iPad doesn't have a built-in camera, but you can give it something better. By putting an app onto each an iPad and an iPhone, you can connect the two via Bluetooth and have a wireless camera for your iPad."

Link: How to Turn an iPhone Into a Wireless iPad Camera

How to Take Photos with Your iPad (Sort of)

Mashable.com says:

"Before the iPad even landed, pundits picked apart its palpable flaws, one of which is the device's lack of a built-in camera. If you own both an iPhone and an iPad however, you can jimmy rig the former into a wireless iPad camera for 99¢.

"All that you need to take photos on your iPad is two apps, CAMERA-A [iTunes link] for the iPad for 99¢ and CAMERA-B [iTunes link] for the iPhone 3GS (free)."

Link: How To: Take Photos with Your iPad (Sort of)

Understanding the iPad's Software

Gizmodo's Matt Buchanan says:

"There have been tablets before the iPad. They weren't as beautiful or well crafted, but that wasn't why we chose not to pick them up. It was the software."

A long, thorough and detailed analysis of the iPad's software.

Link: Understanding the iPad's Software

How to Share Files Between an iPad and a Computer

knowyourmobile.com's Mat Toor says:

"If you have an Apple iPad and iTunes 9.1 or later on your Mac then it's easy to copy files between your iPad and your computer . . . This guide shows you how you can use File Sharing to copy files from your iPad to your computer - and vice versa."

Link: How to Share Files Between an iPad and a Computer

97.5% Cannot Balance Driving and Cellphone

CTV.ca News Staff report:

"Driving properly while also having a coherent cellphone conversation is pretty much impossible for most people - except for certain rare people researchers dub 'supertaskers.'

"The problem is most people think they are those supertaskers. Odds are: they're not.

"New research finds that only 2.5 per cent of the population possesses these unique skills."

Link: Rare 'Supertaskers' Can Balance Driving and Cellphone

Apple Rolls Out Talking iPod shuffle

ibtimes.com reports:

"Apple introduced a smaller version of its popular iPod shuffle music player on Wednesday with a new feature that tells the user what song is playing.

"The new 4-gigabyte gadget costs $79, is half the size of the previous Shuffle, and carries up to 1,000 songs - twice as many as the last generation of the device."

Link: Apple Rolls Out Talking iPod shuffle (cached)

iFixit Posts Newton MessagePad 2000 Teardown

PR: We had to resort to some subversive techniques involving a cop from Ottawa, a donkey, and three uncouth janitors to obtain this prerelease Apple Tablet (don't ask, because we won't tell). We felt we compromised our morals at first, but we quickly got over it and began tearing this sucker apart. Apple has completely changed directions since their original press announcement, but the new hardware we got is actually much improved in a number of ways.

Apple definitely snuck away some interesting tidbits inside - things they didn't want people to know prior to release. Initially we thought the battery was going to be difficult to take out, but boy were we wrong!

Replacing the battery: TX32VfwZHp3gifFR.jpg

Photo Courtesy iFixit

Taking off the rear case: EiYywRxBQkAcxxZw.jpg

Photo Courtesy iFixit

Teardown Highlights:

  • The tablet has a user-replaceable battery! You can use Apple's proprietary battery pack, or you can just buy four AA alkaline batteries if you're on the go.
  • Contrary to Apple's published specification, the tablet we got measures in at 1.1 x 4.7 x 8.3 inches, and weighs a svelte 1.4 lb. It's a bit smaller and lighter than Apple is advertising, but definitely thicker.
  • After much (careful) wiggling and prying, the rear case lifts right off the tablet. Apple has made a complete about-face, making their new tablet the most user-serviceable device they've released in over a decade.
  • This machine is much more expandable than anticipated. It has two Type II PC Card slots!
  • The single 8 Ohm, .3 W speaker provides only mono sound. You can't really expect stereo, especially with this kind of economy.
  • Major players on the board include big wins for Sharp, DEC, and Cirrus Logic:
    • Two Sharp 2 MB Flash ROM
    • DEC's 162 MHz StrongARM SA-110S 32 bit ARM Processor
    • Cirrus Logic CPU Subsystem, Analog, and PCMCIA controllers
    • Hitachi DRAM
    • Linear Technology's LTC1323 AppleTalk Transceiver
  • Each chip has 4 MB of mask ROM, for a grand total of 8 MB of mask ROM! Shocking!
  • The reverse of the mask ROM board looks to have space for four more chips. Looks like Apple's planning to roll out incremental upgrades yet again.
  • There is a spot on the front of the unit where a camera could be implemented perfectly. We wonder why it wasn't included, as well as what Apple has in store for next decade.

Final layout: Sh1SIC1FmYcJiXdI.jpg

More photos:

  • Lifting the logic board: http://s1.guide-images.ifixit.com/igi/FBeuFfKvcnmbCbR6.huge
  • Taking out the display: http://s1.guide-images.ifixit.com/igi/CTbrCTOKZ4JZh16D.huge

Feel free to ask me any Tablet-related questions!

Cheers,
Kyle Wiens
iFixit CEO

Link: Apple Tablet Teardown

iFixit iPad Teardown Analysis

PR: After flying to Richmond, Virginia and waiting in line all night to buy an iPad, we rushed our precious cargo to an impromptu studio. And took it apart. To our surprise, we found a number of differences between our unit and the FCC review unit that we examined yesterday.

The iPad's design is a melding of the iPhone's circuitry and the MacBook Pro Unibody's svelte machined aluminum casing

Our findings?

The iPad's battery has 5.5x the capacity of the battery in the iPhone! The iPad actually has two batteries wired in parallel, for a total of 24.8 Watt-hours.

On average, the iPad sips just 2.5 Watts. That's 1/5 the power of a compact fluorescent bulb!

The rear case is machined from a single billet of aluminum, increasing weight but greatly improving the rigidity of the device.

The empty void in the upper right corner is where the cellular communications board would go in the 3G iPad.

The A4 is a Package-on-Package (PoP), with at least three layers of circuitry layered on top of each other. A4 is packaged just like the iPhone processors, microprocessor in one package and two memory modules in the other package. They're all sandwiched together in a very nice and thin PoP.

The iPad RAM is inside the A4 processor package. Confirming this took quite a bit of sleuthing: we had to partner with Chipworks to X-ray the processor. The X-ray revealed two layers of RAM. In addition to the ARM processor, the A4 package contains two stacked Samsung dies.

We will be releasing a detailed analysis of the A4 in conjunction with Chipworks in a few days.

The rumored slot for a camera is actually taken up by the ambient light sensor.

The glass panel is quite thick: about 1.18 mm, compared to the iPhone's 1.02 mm thick glass. This is necessitated by the panel's large size.

The touch circuit design is more similar to the old 2G and early 3G iPhones than the current 3GS. Chipworks informed us that "there is so much room in the iPad that Apple didn't need to use small chips, just the right ones and cheap ones."

dDCyRZBNfZ1FxJbI.jpg

Layout photo (Image Courtesy iFixit)

y5HAM4cflO64B3QH.jpg

Two halves (Image Courtesy iFixit)

nGQrCBRFPdu2rgPw.jpg

Removing the supposedly non-removable battery (Image Courtesy iFixit)

Links to more photos:

  • Opening the iPad: http://s1.guide-images.ifixit.com/igi/cBXkNFQqEQqKhEoX.huge
  • Main board (with A4): http://s1.guide-images.ifixit.com/igi/6IEfaDSqIpiWPnLv.huge
  • Ambient light sensor instead of camera: http://s1.guide-images.ifixit.com/igi/WoJfDOpftUiAQm1i.huge

Cheers,
Kyle Wiens
iFixit CEO

Link: iPad Teardown Analysis

Normal Human Beingô Reviews the iPad

The Register's Rik Myslewski reports that the iPad has inspired yet another high-powered business type to make a mobile-device purchase . . . of a netbook.

Noting that punditry abounds on the InterWeb weighing in on the iPad's pros and cons (but mostly pros), Myslewski observes that The New York Times' David Pogue made the reasonable observation that while a tech type might see the iPad one way, a Normal Human Beingô (NHB) "might look past its lack of Flash support, lack of multitasking, lack of a removable battery, lack of a camera, lack of standard USB ports, lack of an SD card slot, and any other lack you might want to mention...."

However, after covering Apple products and various chippery for over 20 years, Myslewski says his NHB status is highly questionable . . . that his conclusions may be either chowderheaded or keen, but they're certainly not those of an NHB.

So he did what any red-blooded American male might do: asked his wife for help.

Myslewski's NHB wife's impressions of the iPad are fascinating, drawing the conclusion that Apple's tablet "is too heavy to use as an ebook reader, too clumsy to use for any length of time as a window on the Web, not useful for business purposes, and tough to get docs into and out of." However, testing the iPad convinced her that it would be nice to have a small, light portable - and she's now thinking of buying a netbook.

Link: 'Normal Human Being' Reviews the iPad

Apps & Services

WeatherBug Elite for iPad

PR: WeatherBug, a leading provider of consumer and professional weather services and operator of the largest weather observing network, announced its WeatherBug Elite App for iPad is now available on the App Store.

wbpad.jpg

"We are excited to bring detailed weather information to iPad users. Advancements in our display options, interactivity and location intelligence enable users to have immediate access to their preferred weather information with a simple tap on the beautiful iPad screen," said Chris Sloop, Chief Technology Officer for WeatherBug.

The WeatherBug Elite App was designed specifically for the iPad and provides a unique user experience with features that include the following:

  • At-A-Glance Information - the new widget panel design enables users to immediately access their preferred weather information and views
  • Location-Enabled Intelligence - the "Find Me" option automatically adjusts the location and default maps based on the user's current location for quick and seamless access to local conditions and alerts
  • Unlimited Locations - users can define as many locations as desired for unlimited weather information worldwide
  • Detailed Visualization - a large map area provides several contoured weather overlay options (including satellite, radar, humidity, pressure, wind speed, and forecast hi/low) to display current conditions and approaching systems
  • High Resolution Video - fully utilizes the iPad display for viewing daily WeatherBug National Outlook forecasts and news
  • Camera Images - provide current conditions views and time-lapse images from 15 locations within a 100 mile radius of the user's location

wbpad2.jpg

WeatherBug Elite is offered free for a limited time to early buyers of the iPad and is available through the App Store.

WeatherBug mobile apps access information from the WeatherBug Network, the largest proprietary network of professional weather stations in North America and includes information from over 45,000 locations worldwide. The weather information is monitored and distributed in real-time through the network and into the apps within seconds. The WeatherBug Elite App for iPad enables users to customize the weather intelligence captured through the network for their own display of local and global information.

WeatherBug precisely monitors, organizes and disseminates global weather information. As a trusted source for live, local dynamic data, WeatherBug empowers society with weather intelligence for making more informed decisions. Millions of consumers and professional organizations, including the National Weather Service, rely on WeatherBug to plan daily activities, safeguard lives and improve business operations.

Link: WeatherBug (download links for WeatherBug and WeatherBug Elite)

Amazon.com Announces Kindle App for iPad

PR: Amazon.com, Inc. has announced its Kindle App for iPad is now available in the App Store. The app lets users select from over 450,000 books from the Kindle Store on iPad and features Amazon Whispersync technology that saves and synchronizes customers' last page read, bookmarks, notes, and highlights across their Kindle, Kindle DX, iPhone, iPod touch, Mac, iPad, and more.

"Kindle for iPad is the perfect companion for the millions of customers who already own a Kindle or Kindle DX, and a way for customers around the world to download and enjoy books even if they don't yet have a Kindle."

"Kindle for iPad includes all the features customers love about Kindle for iPhone, including a massive selection of over 450,000 books, along with a beautiful new user interface tailored to the look and feel of iPad," said Jay Marine, director, Amazon Kindle. "Kindle for iPad is the perfect companion for the millions of customers who already own a Kindle or Kindle DX, and a way for customers around the world to download and enjoy books even if they don't yet have a Kindle."

With the Kindle App for iPad, readers can choose from over 450,000 books available in the Kindle Store, including new releases and New York Times Bestsellers, plus tens of thousands of the most popular classics for free including titles like "The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes," "Pride and Prejudice," and "Treasure Island." Bestsellers such as "Backlash" by Aaron Allston, "Big Girl" by Danielle Steel, "The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks" by Rebecca Skloot, and "The Lost Symbol" by Dan Brown, and hundreds of thousands of other popular books are $9.99 or less in the Kindle Store. The Kindle Store is the only place to find tens of thousands of books added to the Kindle Store by authors and publishers using Kindle's self-service platform. Customers can search for a specific book or browse by genre or author, and can take advantage of all the features that customers enjoy in the Kindle Store, including Amazon.com customer reviews, personalized recommendations and editorial reviews.

Features of the Kindle App for iPad include:

  • Automatically Synchs with Kindle and Kindle Compatible Devices: Amazon's Whispersync technology automatically synchs customers' last page read, bookmarks, notes, and highlights across Kindle, Kindle DX, Kindle for iPhone, Kindle for Mac, Kindle for iPad, and more. Customers can read on their Kindle, read some on their iPad or Mac, and always pick up where they left off.
  • Beautiful User Interface: The Kindle App user interface is tailored to the large size, look, and feel of iPad. The new user interface with bold colors, animation, and seamless user experience make Kindle on iPad a unique reading experience.
  • Customizable Appearance: Customers can choose to dim iPad's screen within the app to make reading easier regardless of the ambient light or time of day. Readers can also choose from three different background colors and alter the font color and size to customize the reading experience and help ease the strain on their eyes.
  • Page Turn Animation: Kindle App for iPad offers an interactive experience with page turn animation designed to replicate the look of a page turning in a book. Customers who prefer a simpler, unadorned reading experience can choose the "Basic Reading Mode" option and turn off animation.

The Kindle App for iPad is available for free from the App Store.

Link: Kindle for iPad (download link)

The Bible Scholar App for iPhone and iPod touch

PR: The Bible Scholar has introduced The Bible Scholar App for iPhone and iPod touch, making it easier for all Christians with busy schedules to finally have access to a vast library of scholarly tools without going to a Bible College.

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This is arguably the most comprehensive Bible-related App on the iPhone Store. In addition to the Bible, it contains Bible dictionaries, commentaries, and 8 volumes of Church history. With over 14,000 pages, your grasp of the Scriptures will come alive

A deep knowledge of the Scriptures and an understanding of the history of the Christian Church are essential to the foundation of every Christian. For so long it has been a big challenge to gain access to a historical account of Christianity with ease without attending a Bible College. Hence, individuals on the go with busy schedules could not fully participate in this quest without radically changing their schedules. To gain this knowledge required attaining a massive library costing hundreds, even thousands of dollars.

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The Premier Bible Scholar App for iPhone

The Bible Scholar App for iPhone is the first and only app for the iPhone and iPod touch that successfully provides an in depth account of the Church's origin by shedding light on the age of the Apostles, Medieval Christianity, Christianity in the Middle Ages, and explores The German and Swiss reformations. Now any serious student of the Bible can access this information with a simple tap on his or her iPhone or iPod touch. Considering the wealth of information in this app, it is amazing to know that this app is available on the iTunes App Store for just $6.99.

Additionally, it has two Bible dictionaries, eight separate Bible commentaries, The Institutes of the Christian Religion by John Calvin, eight volumes of Church history, and much more. This app contains more than 14,000 pages of Bible study gems.

Users of this app can copy and paste the content into emails and transfer to a desktop or laptop and incorporate it into study notes, sermons, articles, research papers or just to share with a friend.

The Bible Scholar App Features and Content:

Features:

  1. Books: The app has more than 20 volumes of Bible dictionaries, Church history, and Bible commentaries.
  2. Bookmarks: This feature ensures that the user never loses his place.
  3. Notes: The user can make and save his notes for future reference.
  4. A multicolor table of content: This attractive table of content makes navigation easy with scroll functionality.
  5. Page elongation: A user can tap on a book from the table of contents, and select a desired chapter. Once within the book, he can tap on the sub-header within the book to elongate the screen.
  6. Font size: A user can adjust the font size by using the font adjuster or by simply pinching the screen.
  7. Copy and paste: The user can copy and paste into documents, emails, and research papers etc.

In this premier value rich Bible-based iPhone App, the developers have included more than 20 volumes (with more than 14,000 Pages) of wonderful Bible study tools that answer all the questions a person could have about the Holy Scriptures.

  • Easton's Bible Dictionary - This 803-page dictionary covers every Bible word from A to Z.
  • Matthew Henry's Bible Commentary - This commentary has more than 1,000 pages of in-depth commentary on the Holy Bible from Genesis to Revelation by a noted scholar.
  • Institutes of the Christian Religion, four volumes by John Calvin - This four volume in one classic by John Calvin covers the basic doctrines of Christianity and theology. It has more than nine hundred pages.
  • Nave's Topical Bible - This amazing topical Bible has verses arranged by topics. This 869-page manual is necessary for any serious Bible student or teacher.
  • People's New Testament Commentary - This commentary covers the entire New Testament. This famous 797-page work by B.W. Johnson is an outstanding companion to anyone who wants to know more about the Bible.
  • Smith's Bible Dictionary - William Smith's classic dictionary will help the reader to clarify the meaning of Biblical words and names. It has more than eight hundred pages.
  • The Treasury of David, six volumes by Charles Haddon Spurgeon - This six-volume collection of commentaries on the Psalms of David is the crown of Charles Spurgeon's work. It has 4,778 pages.

Introduction to the New Testament

Lewis Berkhof's famous introduction will help the student to understand the history, culture, and authorship of the New Testament books of the Bible. It has more than two hundred pages.

History of the Christian Church Volumes 1 to eight by Philip Schaff

  • Vol. 1: Apostolic Christianity A.D. 1-100, 596 pages
  • Vol. 2: Ante-Nicene Christianity A.D. 100-325, 623 pages
  • Vol. 3: Nicene & Post-Nicene Christianity A.D. 311-600, 654 pages
  • Vol. 4: Medieval Christianity A.D. 590-1073, 508 pages
  • Vol. 5: The Middle Ages A.D. 1049-1294, 491 pages
  • Vol. 6: The Middle Ages A.D. 1294-1517, 450 pages
  • Vol. 7: Modern Christianity: The German Reformation 447 pages
  • Vol. 8: Modern Christianity: The Swiss Reformation 550 pages

Updated King James Version of the Holy Bible. This contains more than 1800 pages.

How to use the App:

It would be beneficial at this point to look at how to use The Bible Scholar App. A good example to look at is Matthew Henry's Bible Commentary.

A person simply taps on Matthew Henry on the iPhone screen and it opens up to a list of all the books of the Bible from Genesis to Revelation.

If he taps on Genesis for instance, the book will load to Matthew Henry's commentary on the entire book of Genesis. He will get a verse-by-verse commentary by the author and get to know where the name Genesis originated. The same applies for every other book within this great book.

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Another great aspect of this app is that the fonts are so readable; the reader does not need reading glasses.

One feature that proves to be quite useful is the bookmark feature. A person can bookmark sections in the books he is reading, so he never loses his place. Therefore, if he is interrupted, he can come back and return to what he was reading.

One of the wonderful features that any student of the Bible would appreciate is the notes feature. Here one can write pages of notes and thoughts on what he is studying. The user can even title his notes for easy reference. The user could do this on the entire books within the app, including the Updated King James Bible. A person can read a passage of scripture, write study notes, and save them for future reference.

The app is easy to load. This is very exciting to know because one does not have to wait for a long time to gain access. He simply taps on The Bible Scholar's icon and is ready to begin enjoying the wealth of information within each page.

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This is arguably the most comprehensive Bible related app on the iTunes App Store. Every Christian or student of history will find this app to be worth the investment.

The Bible Scholar was designed to empower the believer to understand the Scriptures through innovative tools, Bible commentaries, Bible dictionaries, and Church history; thus providing a firm foundation that will stand the test of time.

Link: The Bible Scholar (download links for Bible Scholar Lite and Bible Scholar)

Get Dragon Dictation for iPad for Free

PR: MacSpeech has unveiled another Dragon Mobile App - Dragon Dictation for iPad.

With Dragon Dictation for iPad, you can now dictate text on your iPad just like you can with the successful Dragon Dictation for iPhone and iPod touch. But with this latest edition for iPad, users are able to speak, save and manage dictated text for multiple documents, emails, status updates, to-do lists - whatever you choose - with Dragon Dictation Notes. Dragon Dictation for iPad can also be used in landscape or portrait mode.

Make sure Dragon Dictation is one of the very first apps you download on your iPad, as it's free for a limited time on the Apple App Store.

Link: Dragon Dictation for iPad (download link)

iDisplay Turns iPad/iPhone into an Extra Mac Display

PR: Turn your iPad/iPhone into a convenient side monitor for your Mac desktop. iDisplay is a universal app specially optimized for iPad and iPhone Touch screens.

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Download iDisplay desktop 1.0.1 for Mac OS X and increase productivity by maximizing the viewable area on your main monitor. Ideal for multitasking users, iDisplay lets you free the main monitor for work-related applications by moving some apps to the external display, shown on your iPad or iPhone.

iDisplay can be used for instant messaging, Twitter, displaying weather and news gadgets or other tools.

iDisplay Desktop should be installed on your Mac computer to which you want to add an external display.

IMPORTANT: Before installing iDisplay, remove "Mirror Displays" mark from checkbox in System Preferences -> Displays -> Arrangement on your Mac.

Introduction price: $4.99

Link: iDisplay (download link)

ActivePrint: iPad Printing via Windows PC

PR: Back in late January, shortly after Apple announced their upcoming iPad, we also announced that ActivePrint would be bringing the ability to print to the iPad. Pocket Watch, LLC. announces that ActivePrint 7.3 is now finished and being reviewed by Apple for release on the App Store for the iPhone as well as the iPad! With ActivePrint you can print to any printer that your PC can print to over your WiFi network or over the Internet using your iPhone's or iPad's EDGE or 3G network.

With the release of the iPhone OS 3.2 and the iPad many new features have been made available to developers. Pocket Watch, LLC. has leveraged these features to give customers the ability to print from the iPad office documents such as word processor document (.doc and .docx), spreadsheets (.xls and .xlsx), presentations (.ppt and .pptx), and PDF files.

And you will still be able to easily print photos, contacts, plain text, and web pages to any printer that you can connect to a Windows PC! It doesn't matter what printer you have. Print while you're on the go with ActivePrint on your new Apple iPad!

Here are some of the features available in this new version of ActivePrint 7 for your iPhone, iPod touch, or iPad:

  • Print photos from your photo album or your device's camera
  • Print the contents of your device's clipboard, letting you easily print content from other apps!
  • Print contacts from the address book and web pages
  • Print plain text from a built in notepad screen
  • Support for multiple copies, portrait/landscape printing, different quality of printing, and color or black & white printing
  • Print via any Internet connect (WiFi or EDGE/3G network)
  • Support for practically any printer available in the market

Device Requirements:

  • iPad: iPhone OS 3.2
  • iPhone/iPod touch: iPhone OS 3.1

Other Requirements:

  • A printer connected to a Windows (XP/Vista/7) PC via USB/WiFi/Network

A free lite version of ActivePrint 7.3 will be available worldwide exclusively through the AppStore in the Productivity category. Unlock the full features through an InApp purchase for only $3.99.

Demo Video: http://dailyappshow.com/activeprint

Link: ActivePrint (download link)

PrintCentral: iPad Printing via Mac or Windows PC

PR: EuroSmartz, the Apple iPad & iPhone application development company, announced that its latest printing application, PrintCentral, is now available worldwide on the Apple iTunes Application Store. PrintCentral will enable customers to print email, attachments, web pages, photos, contacts and copied content from other apps. The app will also provide document transfer, storage, viewing and printing with support for Microsoft Office and the majority of other document & file formats.

EuroSmartz was the first company to bring the functionality of printing photos, contacts, email, documents and more to the iPhone when it released Print n Share in February 2009. Now with the release of PrintCentral, EuroSmartz has again proven it is the market leader in printing apps by creating an app specifically designed for iPad printing as well as providing the most complete printing solution for iPhone and iPod touch owners.

PrintCentral is a single app that will detect which device it is located on and will provide an innovative experience to cater for the printing needs of iPad, iPhone or iPod touch owners. PrintCentral will use the iPad screen space to full advantage with split screen previews and rotational layout support. This means that customers that have both an iPad and iPhone only need buy one single app to load onto both devices to enable printing within minutes. PrintCentral also has the key feature of being able to print ANY document type to ANY printer available on an Apple Mac or PC using WiFi or 3G.

Martin Schenkel, Product Development Director at EuroSmartz comments, "With our Print n Share application we introduced totally new functionality to the iPhone and iPod touch. The iPad brings with it new and unique functionality that opens a new, exciting market of ultra portable computing. This will highlight more than ever before the need for printing while on the move, PrintCentral brings this much needed functionality to the iPad in a simple to use and elegant way".

Supported Languages:

  • US English, Chinese, French, German, Italian, Japanese and Spanish

Device Requirements:

  • iPhone and iPod touch
  • Requires iPhone OS 3.0 or later
  • 17.6 MB

PrintCentral 1.01 is now available on the Apple iTunes Application Store worldwide for $9.99, GBP £5.99 or 7.99 Euro as well as many other local currencies.

  • Screenshot 1: http://mobile.eurosmartz.com/images/screen/PrintCentral_2.jpg
  • Screenshot 2: http://mobile.eurosmartz.com/images/screen/PrintCentral_3.jpg

Link: PrintCentral (download link)

BigOven.com Introduces 170,000+ Recipe and Grocery App for iPad

PR: BigOven.com, the social network that makes you a better cook, announces the immediate availability of BigOven 170,000+ Recipes and Grocery List for the Apple iPad!".

The BigOven community - over 800,000 cooks strong - is very excited about the iPad, said Steve Murch, CEO of BigOven.com. The iPad's size and portability make it ideal for kitchen use. Having the equivalent of hundreds of cookbooks worth of recipes and tips right on the kitchen counter is incredibly powerful.

Designed from the ground-up for the iPad, this new BigOven app lets you look up virtually any recipe by title, keyword, or ingredient. It easily builds a grocery list from one or more recipes. It helps you get unstuck for dinner with great ideas, and shows you photos and ratings from real cooks. Together with bigoven.com, you can post your own recipes and photos online, and then have them easily available in a convenient application on your kitchen countertop.

Using BigOven's API, the app synchronizes with your iPhone and other mobile devices. This lets you make changes on your iPad to your grocery list, then get immediate access to these changes when you re in the grocery store, automatically. For instance, one member of the household could edit a grocery list on bigoven.com from their work computer, and these changes would show up within seconds on the iPad.

The BigOven app also keeps a running cooking log for you of everything you've made, giving you an easy way to refresh your memory weeks or months later. Together with the iPad's geolocation services, the app can even show you what other cooks are making right near you!

You ll see beautiful recipe photos on tens of thousands of recipes, get ratings from tens of thousands of users around the world, and can easily add your own. A unique Leftovers feature lets you quickly enter up to three ingredients from your fridge or pantry to find out what you can make. The 1,000+ entry BigOven Food Glossary gives you tips and history on more than 1,000 ingredients and cooking terms.

Users can post recipes and photos for free at bigoven.com, and then access them easily on their iPad or iPhone. BigOven's wildly popular iPhone application has been downloaded more than 2.5 million times since its release in October 2008, making it one of the most popular cooking applications in the iTunes Store. BigOven.com serves millions of unique users each month and recently welcomed its 800,000th registered member, and each day, more than 1,000 people sign up to swap recipes, build grocery lists, and chat about cooking.

Making the app possible is the powerful BigOven API, the first REST-based API from a major cooking site, which is now in private beta for developers to create great new applications.

BigOven 170,000+ Recipes is available on the Apple iPad for $9.99, but is currently on a limited-time introductory sale for just $4.99. Simply visit the iTunes store and search for BigOven .

BigOven.com is free to join.

Link: BigOven (download link)

Serving Sizer Pro: Recipe Converter Cookbook Released for iPad

PR: Serving Sizer Pro - recipe cards for your iPad! Organize recipe cards, handwritten family recipes, and recipe clippings in one place. Change the serving size at any time and the whole recipe is converted instantly, something your ordinary cookbook can't do. Super fast entry - pick from 500+ ingredients, use custom sliders to pick fractional amounts and units. Easy-to-read full screen designed for cooking. Email converted recipes to your friends and family. Also convert recipes from metric to US.

The way we cook changes with the release of the highly portable and readable iPad - just display a recipe on your iPad and start cooking. But what's the best way to update that stuffed binder or recipe folder into an e-format? Cooks need a quick way to enter all those loose recipes. Serving Sizer Pro for iPad meets this need by offering quick and easy entry with at twist - convert recipes to how many guests are coming for dinner. Recipes are stored on the iPad to resize again later.

Creative Algorithms is pleased to announce the release of Serving Sizer Pro for iPad - Recipe Converter Cookbook, a recipe card app that easily scales recipes' ingredients proportionally, based on serving sizes, and saves them for future resizing. Convert a favorite clipped recipe that serves eight to one that serves a dinner party of five, and later for a group of 17 holiday guests. Upsize an old family recipe to cater for a large crowd.

Scale down a friend's six serving recipe to a romantic dinner for two. Translate a recipe from a European cookbook to US weights and measures - easily toggling between Metric and US units. Serving Sizer "is perfect for customizing recipes for families, large groups, or even small ones," writes TheiPhoneMom blog. "It gives you the ability to take a recipe and tweak it to fit your family's size . . . It's extremely easy to use . . . There'll be no more scribbling fractions in my cookbook."

How it works: Enter a recipe by picking ingredients from a list of 500+ preloaded ingredients or by adding your own. Pick amounts and units with beautifully designed custom sliders. Enter the recipe's original servings, the desired number of servings, and Serving Sizer Pro accurately converts each measurement, automatically optimizing to the minimum number of steps, such as one cup and one tablespoon, instead of 17 tablespoons. View the recipe index card full screen for cooking, or select a recipe by scrolling through the cards on a virtual kitchen table. It's just that simple.

Device Requirements:

  • Compatible with iPad
  • Requires iPhone OS 3.2 or later
  • 1.9 MB

Serving Sizer Pro for iPad 1.0 is available on the iTunes AppStore at a sale price of $2.99 in the Lifestyle category. Separate versions are also available for the iPhone and iPod touch.

  • Screenshot 1: http://creativealgorithms.com/iPad/editingredient2.png
  • Screenshot 2: http://creativealgorithms.com/iPad/landscape2.png

Link: Serving Sizer Pro (download link)

Bang & Olufsen Announces BeoLink App for iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad

PR: Bang & Olufsen, the Danish provider of high-end audio and video products, introduces the BeoLink application for iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad - new software that is offered for free in Apple's App Store. The application seamlessly expands and extends the experience delivered via Bang & Olufsen's Master Link Gateway by giving access to audio and video, as well as the home automation system, using either the iPhone, iPod touch, or iPad.

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When coming home, one can use the iPhone to switch on music and at the same time turn on the light in the house and unlock the front door. If outside in the backyard and the remote is not handy, the BeoLink application will still allow the homeowner to change the CD or turn up the volume on the television or audio system. When leaving for work, there is no need for one to worry about whether the music or television was turned off - a simple push of a button on the iPhone will make it all happen.

"We are very happy to extend control of home automation and home entertainment via this simple application," says Zean Nielsen, President of Bang & Olufsen America. "Giving customers greater freedom and convenience in their intelligent home fits hand-in-hand with Bang & Olufsen's ongoing philosophy that technology should be the servant of man, not the other way around."

The BeoLink application, which is designed by Ikatu, sends its commands via WiFi, and the interface is highly personalized and tailor-made to only show the scenes and commands which the customer requested when installing the Master Link Gateway.

It is a unique way to extend the benefits of the Master Link Gateway, with control from the minute one is within WiFi range. It offers control beyond the house limits, is conveniently always at hand when needed, and is a highly personal tool.

More and more people value an intelligent home, where simplicity and ease-of-operation are of prime importance. This entails an intuitive, yet all-encompassing control, and Bang & Olufsen is among the very first companies in the world to offer this in a mobile version.

Via Master Link Gateway, customers can control and operate all their home automation equipment, as well as their A/V equipment, from all over the house with the Beo5 remote control, and they can also choose to control their A/V system from their home automation panel if convenient. The Master Link Gateway even extends one touch control from inside the home to an array of systems outside, such as gates, garage doors, lights, alarms and more.

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With Master Link Gateway, Bang & Olufsen uses its extensive experience within system control to bridge the gap between entertainment and environment in the home, thus ensuring that Beo5 is the only remote control needed on the coffee table. With the addition of the BeoLink application, the experience is taken a step further to now offer control that transcends the borders of the house.

Extending the remote

In addition to the extra convenience and a sensation of "magical" control of the entire house, the BeoLink application offers customers a Bang & Olufsen touch and feel to the smart phone user interface. It enables control even before entering the home, after leaving the home, or simply whenever one's mobile phone is in hand. Simple, personal and convenient, the BeoLink App is a great solution for those who use the mobile phone extensively and prefer collecting all applications on it.

Together with Master Link Gateway, the BeoLink application is the perfect choice for anyone who wishes to take the intelligent home to a new level, with unprecedented freedom in control and ease of use.

To see for yourself, get the BeoLink app for your iPhone or iPod touch. You can install the app for free to check its look and feel and get an idea of the simplicity and ergonomics of a Bang & Olufsen home integration system. If you already have a BeoLink setup, and are ready for even more freedom of control, just contact your Bang & Olufsen retailer.

Note: BeoLink for iPhone requires Master Link Gateway.

Link: BeoLink (download link)

FileMaker Announces Bento for iPad

PR: FileMaker, Inc. has announced the immediate availability of its Bento for iPad on the App Store. The app is based on Bento for iPhone with enhancements to make the most of the big, beautiful iPad screen. The new app enables users to manage contacts, track projects, plan events and more, and can be used by itself or synchronized with Bento 3 for Mac.

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"Bento has been one of the leading productivity apps for the Mac and iPhone for some time and we're very excited to now bring a great version to iPad at an incredible price," said Ryan Rosenberg, FileMaker vice president of marketing and services.

The new Bento for iPad provides gesture support navigation on iPad and takes full advantage of the innovative device's big screen. The app works in both portrait and landscape views, automatically switching between views as the user rotates the iPad. Users can simply touch the screen to edit information in choice, date and rating fields and checkboxes. A new quick tap lets users watch videos, view photos and send e-mails. Customers can even browse web links in Bento without leaving the app.

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The app features cool new notebook, clipboard, and glass themes that you can apply to any Bento library to make your database look as great as it works. It also includes 25 predesigned customizable templates ranging from event planning, time billing, recipes, classes, dieting and more - all designed to make organizing iPad content and activities easy.

All templates are fully modifiable, and users can create their own libraries to suit any type of task. To make it easy to bring together all your information, the new Bento for iPad supports 15 field types including text, numbers, choice, checkbox, media, time, date, durations, currency, rating, address, phone number, email, URL and IM Account Bento for iPad is priced at just $4.99. Available (in English only) from the U.S. Apple App Store, Bento for iPad will be available in other countries when iPad is available there.

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Link: Bento for iPad (download link)

iPad Data Collection App Makes the iPad a Serious Business Tool

PR: Zerion Software, developer of the exZact data collection platform, released a brand new port of their business grade, off-line data collection software for the Apple iPad, just two days prior to the much-anticipated launch of the new device. Available in the App Store, this offering called exZact Pro is squarely aimed at making the iPad a legitimate business tool for the mobile workforce.

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Existing clients can immediately use their forms on the iPad. All forms, logic and features that work on the iPhone and iPod touch including offline capability will work seamlessly with the iPad version. With the addition of exZact Pro, clients can have a mobile fleet using the iPhone, iPod touch or iPad for data collection and work order management.

"With exZact Pro, clients can create a detailed inspections on the iPad, leveraging its ease of data entry, then forward the record to an inspector in the field running exZact on an iPhone to complete the record." says Chris Reichart, Partner, Zerion Software, Inc.

Not satisfied with a simple resizing of the existing application, Zerion chose to make good use of the new hardware and features available for the iPad. From the traditional portrait view, to the new side-by-side landscape view offering split screen navigation and full size document views allowing enhanced map and video viewing, to the new popup widgets for element controls and menus, the exZact Pro enhanced user experience is now better than ever.

Anchored by a solid backend that supports form creation and assignment, user and account management, data viewing and data sharing, exZact Pro for iPad is truly a complete solution. Whether your needs are casual surveys, massive data collection or solutions that require workflow like asset, task or work order management, the exZact mobile platform has you covered.

"The larger form factor, screen-size, and navigational options will be a major benefit to some of our current clients, and the level of interest and excitement we are seeing when we demo our solution on the iPad to prospective clients is truly amazing. Buckle-up, it's time to ride." Sze Wong, President, Zerion Software, Inc.

Launched less than a year ago, the exZact mobile platform is already gaining momentum in many different industries. Deployed in more than 10 countries, the exZact platform is used by Fortune 500 and small businesses in many vertical markets including Utilities, Telecommunications, Facility Management and Entertainment. The exZact platform is especially well received within the academic research community, with Universities from around the globe using the platform for research studies to conduct surveys, complete daily diaries, and collect feedback.

"The iPhone gave us a push in the otherwise traditional field of data collection and work order management market. We think the iPad is going to take this market to the next level in terms of features, functions, and widespread adoption. The question will no longer be whether a business should pursue a mobile option, but how soon they can get their business onto one to keep pace with the rest of the marketplace. With the great form factor of the iPad, combined with the flexibility of the exZact platform, our clients in all industries including construction, engineering, education, medical, and market research, will see measurable benefits, and achieve greater job performance," said Sze Wong, President of Zerion Software.

"Our slogan for 2010 is 'Beyond Forms', meaning we will extend the platform to include other mobile work force functions such as work order management and task management. With the addition of the iPad, our platform will be more valuable to our clients."

Link: exZact Data Collection (download link)

Pianist Pro: A Professional Piano for the iPad

PR: MooCowMusic announces the release of their new application Pianist Pro for iPad. Building on their highly successful iPhone application Pianist, this new iPad-only app offers advanced music composition functionality aimed both at the casual user and the music professional.

Pianist Pro includes the full 88 keys of a professionally sampled piano with configurable soft and sustain pedals for additional emphasis during a performance. Up to 10 keys can be pressed at once, and react to the touch just like a real piano. Alternative instruments are available within the app including organs, synths, and guitars - all of which can be recorded and overdubbed to provide what MooCowMusic are calling a 'Musical Scratchpad' in addition to a live performance tool.

A built-in arpeggiator allows the user to create perfectly timed runs of notes just by holding down a few keys. As well as the standard arpeggiator modes (Up, Down, Up/Down, Random) Pianist Pro includes a new mode called 'Pattern Arp', allowing the user to define patterns of notes that turn a simple held chord into a complex musical phrase. Pianist Pro makes it easy to play shuffle-beat blues piano, complete with walking bassline and overlayed jazz chords and runs - all by simply holding down one single chord. Changing the chord changes the melody but maintains the tight rhythm provided by the arpeggiator.

Another new addition to Pianist Pro is the 'Scale Piano'. This allows the user to select a musical scale from a large choice of presets (from standard scales such as Major and Natural Minor, to more specialised scales such as Pentatonic Blues, Persian Gypsy or Chinese), or define their own from scratch. Notes and runs on that scale can then be played back in any key, simply by running a finger up and down a virtual touchpad. The Scale Piano can be used as a solo instrument, as an experimental tool for musicians working on a new piece of music, or as a teaching aid for musical composition.

Pianist Pro also includes a host of features to add an extra dimension to a performance. A built-in drum machine offers an elegantly simple interface for adding rhythm, with a choice of drum kits to suit all musical styles, and even a shuffle control to add a touch of swing. A configurable delay effect brings energy to even the simplest synth bassline, and can be used to add interest and complexity to piano and guitar riffs. Finally a pitch bend/modulation wheel and swell pedal can be enabled which not only change the sound of the instrument and can be recorded live into a track, but also respond to the touch visually in a perfect emulation of physical controls.

Pianist Pro is available now from the iTunes App Store, priced at $9.99.

  • Screenshot 1: http://moocowmusic.com/PianistPro/Press/PP-Screenshot1.png
  • Screenshot 2: http://moocowmusic.com/PianistPro/Press/PP-Screenshot2.png
  • Screenshot 3: http://moocowmusic.com/PianistPro/Press/PP-Screenshot3.png
  • Screenshot 4: http://moocowmusic.com/PianistPro/Press/PP-Screenshot4.png

Link: Pianist Pro (download link)

Learn to Speak with a British Accent

PR: Learning to speak with a British accent has never been easier. Students can now download this new App for their iPhone and start improving their accent on the go with these simple lessons.

Alison Pitman Voiceover Services has teamed up with US software developers Zepho Inc. to bring to market the first British Accent training app available to download on the iPhone. The new app can currently be downloaded from the iTunes app store for $4.99/£2.99.

The training material covers the different sounds of the consonants and vowels found in the Received Pronunciation British accent. The course has been designed for people looking to develop a British accent either for work or pleasure purposes. Whether they work in an environment that requires a clear easily understood accent or perhaps their latest role in an amateur dramatics society requires a British accent - than this new App could be for them!

Frustrated learners of the British accent and those who would like to speak with a clear RP voice can find help with this new iPhone app 15 different Vowel Sounds and 16 different Consonant Sounds are covered during the presentation. By learning how to pronounce each of these individual sounds correctly this will be able to improve their spoken English immediately. Further lessons are being added to the course to include more vocabulary practice for learners.

Alison Pitman is a UK based professional voice-over artist who provides voice-over recordings for clients worldwide. From her home studio in Bristol, she not only records voice-overs for TV and Radio but she also provides professional audio recordings for large and small businesses throughout the world." Most people just think voice-over artists record radio commercials or narration's for TV documentaries, but more of my work comes from helping the everyday companies with the audio needs. Whether it's recording their voicemail messages, or providing a narration for their Sales PowerPoint presentation, more businesses are looking for a professional sound to match their professional business image." Says Alison. "More and more companies are looking to outsource their training and e-learning materials, and voice-overs are an important component to a successful presentation. Many companies choose my voice because of its native RP British accent,which I hope is a perfect choice for a clear, easily understandable voice-over!"

"We believe that the success of this App will be down to three things: Simplicity, Usefulness and Value" said Bala Paranj from Zepho Inc. "You can repeat the lessons as many times as you like by using the controls for the playback. You can pause and practice your accent at any time and the audio meter shows you the intonation so that you can pronounce it properly."

Students who have spent time and money learning to read and write English and are still having difficulty perfecting a Received Pronunciation accent, can turn to this new mobile App to help. Now its never been easier to develop a British accent on the go. For those whose job involves communicating in the English language will find their confidence boosted as they learn to speak in a clear, understandable accent. Business colleagues, customers and clients will appreciate this new clear speaking voice. Students will feel more confident communicating with clients over the phone and face to face. Confident speakers inspire trust with their customers, winning more business and impressing colleagues and managers. For a small investment of £2.99, this App could really reap rewards for anyone's career and job prospects.

Device Requirements:

  • Compatible with iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad
  • Requires iPhone OS 3.1.2 or later
  • 512 MB

Link: British Accent (download link)

WritePad for iPad

PR: PhatWare Corporation announces the immediate availability of WritePad for iPad, the advanced handwriting recognition software now optimized for iPad. WritePad for iPad is one of the first applications to be available in the iPad App Store from day one.

WritePad lets users take notes in their own handwriting with an iPad stylus pen or a finger. The state-of-the-art handwriting recognition software will adapt and learn while it is being used, improving the recognition quality overtime. WritePad supports simple gestures to select text, cut, copy, paste, and insert special characters.

"For many years our handwriting recognition software was available on numerous mobile devices including iPhone and others, but only now we have found the perfect hardware match - Apple iPad." - said Stanislav Miasnikov, president of PhatWare Corp. - "Today am pleased to announce WritePad for iPad - the world's most advanced handwriting recognition software designed for iPad."

WritePad has a spell checker with it's own custom dictionary, a context analyzer which allows users to dial phone numbers or open URLs embedded in the text, auto-corrector which automatically fixes common spelling and recognition errors, and a Shorthand feature that lets users perform editing commands, insert current date, time and any repetitive text by writing a short name and drawing a circle around it.

WritePad also allows users to exchange documents over WiFi between two or more iPad or iPhone devices and to download files onto the desktop computer using the Internet browser. Interface to the Bing Translator, lets users translate WritePad documents to 13 supported languages.

Device Requirements:

  • Compatible with iPad
  • Requires iPhone OS 3.2 or later
  • 1.9 MB

WritePad for iPad v3.2 is only $9.99 (or equivalent amount in other currencies) and available worldwide exclusively through the App Store in the Productivity category.

Link: WritePad (download link)

Accessories

Griffin A-Frame Tabletop Stand for iPad Is Simple, Beautiful, Rock-solid

More than a place for your iPad to call home, Griffin's A-Frame for iPad is a simple, beautiful tool that helps you get the most use out of your iPad wherever you use it.

aframe2.jpg

The heavy aluminum stand swings open to hold your iPad upright, in either portrait or landscape view . . . perfect for watching video, or viewing pictures. Or close the legs and lay the stand down to hold your iPad at the perfect angle to use it for desk- or tabletop surfing, reading or gaming. Soft silicone cradles your iPad and accommodates the iPad's dock/sync cable. Designed to accommodate Griffin's flexible and hard-shell cases and many others.

aframe.jpg

Features

  • Simple, beautiful table and desktop stand for your iPad
    • Holds iPad upright in landscape and portrait views or at a lower, wrist-friendly angle for surfing, reading and more.
    • Stable aluminum a-frame design

aframe3.jpg

  • Non-slip rubber cradle accommodates Griffin's flexible and hard-shell cases and many others
  • Allows easy access to iPad's dock connector for charging and synching

aframebare.jpg

$49.99

Link: Griffin A-Frame

Macally ViewStand Aluminum iPad Viewing Stand

PR: Ergonomically designed to improve typing and viewing comfort

  • Offers various viewing orientation and angles
  • Sleek design to match your iPad
  • Supports vertical and horizontal viewing
  • Durable Aluminum Body With Scratch Prove Thermo
  • Polyurethane Coating

viewstand.jpg

Features:

  • Ergonomically designed to improve typing and viewing comfort
  • Offers various viewing orientation and angles
  • Sleek design to match your iPad
  • Supports vertical and horizontal viewing
  • Durable Aluminum Body With Scratch Prove Thermo
  • Polyurethane Coating

viewstamd2.jpg

Coming Soon

MSRP: $59

Link: Macally ViewStand
Purchase Link: Available for $49.99 from J&R

Protection

Perfect iPad Protection from Proporta

PR: The Apple iPad is a beautiful thing, but if you're going to get the most out of it on the move, you need to make sure you-re doing everything you can to keep it that way. Fortunately, Proporta has it all covered, with a range of specially designed cases just waiting to keep your iPad safe - and just as importantly, looking fantastic. All on hand as soon as the iPad itself hits the streets.

mizu.jpg

The Mizu Shell (Apple iPad) is made from a mixture of crystal and silicone, fits like a glove, and provides the flexibility of a soft case with the toughness and strength of a hard case. - $37.95

Link: Mizu Shell

alulea.jpg

The Aluminium Lined Leather Pouch (Apple iPad) features Proporta's trademark Screen Saver System, with a sheet of lightweight, aircraft grade aluminium built in to protect against crushing and impact damage, and offers truly unbeatable protection from even the nastiest of surprises. - $52.95

Link: Aluminium Lined Leather Pouch

Maya2.jpg

The Maya II Pouch (Apple iPad) is a beautifully handcrafted pouch with a super soft, scratch free lining, and is available in a range of funky colour options. - $29.95

Link: Maya II Pouch

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There's a whole range of other custom made options to check out - the Tilt Stand (Apple iPad) that folds out into a portable stand. - $51.95

Link: Tilt Stand

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The luxurious Leather Case - $47.95

Link: Leather Case

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The Leather Style Case - $37.95

Link: Leather Style Case

prohardshell.jpg

The Profile Hard Shell (Apple iPad) that is made from a thin, yet durable polycarbonate and wrapped in a stylishly designed leather coating. - $33.95

Link: Profile Hard Shell

And last but not least, there's Proporta's superb Advanced Screen Protector (Apple iPad). These are made from ultra high clarity plastic, offer superb protection, are easy to clean, and even come with a handy application kit. And let's face it, taking care of your screen is pretty important when it comes to the iPad.

So if you want to look after your iPad, you really don't need to look any further. Proporta has more choice than you could possibly need, and as well as keeping everything safe and sound, all these cases will make sure you're as stylish as can be into the bargain. Why not have a browse?

P.S. You won't believe your ears - have a listen to the Twisted System - Portable Speakers from Proporta. Perfect for the beach, camping or any outdoor activity that would benefit from a little livening up.

zCover Shipping Dock-in-Case Silicone Bumper for iPad

PR: zCover announces it's shipping its gloveOne silicone protection case for the new Apple iPad. zCover AP1A series gloveOne case features its functional, stylish design and introduce the patent filed Dock-in-CaseT smart design to Apple iPad users. It allows the iPad to be docked into Apple original iPad Dock while it's still in zCover case.

Zcover0.jpg

zCover gloveOne iPad case is formfitting, contour design with advanced ergonomic engineering concept. Side finger grips are comfortable to use. Space between finger grips and stylish back open formed a unique Airflow Cooling System, cools iPad around clock.

Besides full access to all control functions, ambient light sensor, and die-cut open for speakers, microphone, and headphone jack, zCover functional case has an integrated flip cover protecting Apple Dock Connecter Port.

zCover gloveOne cases are tested compliant with FDA RoHS, and proven to reduce bacteria on shared handhelds used by health care staff in hospitals and clinics. Recent studies have shown that a high percentage of handhelds used by health care workers in hospitals are contaminated by a number of dangerous bacteria and pathogens. zCover silicone cases can be hand washable or disinfected by using germicidal wipes.

This most ruggedized protective bumper case only increased the thickness of iPad less than 2 mm. Pairs with this silicone case, zCover is going to start shipping a hard protective shell next week.

Zcover1.jpg

This AP1AH gloveOne iPad Dock-in-Case silicone bumper case retails for $39.99. All zCover products and packaging are made with recyclable materials to save our earth. Additional accessories and combinations are available online.

Link: gloveOne AP1AH

ColcaSac iPad Sleeves

PR: Why should you buy a ColcaSac for your iPad? Good question. These sleeves will perfectly fit your iPad - meaning there is no slack. It fits like a glove.

colasac.jpg

ColcaSac sleeves are hand made in Salt Lake City, UT, and made from tough materials that are easy on the environment. A ColcaSac will comfortably protect you iPad from scratches, dents and bumps.

colasacburlap.jpg

Models offered:

  • The Original
  • Red Delicious
  • Passion Vine
  • Black ColcaSac

colasacred.jpg

Price: $34.95

Link: ColcaSac iPad Sleeves

New Security Case for iPad

PR: The first locking case designed to prevent others from using your new iPad. The elegant black leather design compliments your latest Apple Gadget.

The new Security Case for the iPad is the first formfitting case that lets you lock your iPad to prevent access by coworkers, friends or classmates.

largecase.jpeg

This sleek and stylish black leather case improves the look and performance of your new iPad. The three digit combination lock ensures that you are the only one using this new Apple gadget.

largeopen.jpeg

With dozens of cases and sleeves already in the marketplace this is the only one that comes with a lock. Designed to provide access to the iPad ports, you can even charge your iPad with the case locked.

largeclosed.jpeg

Keep your iPad safe by ensuring you're the only one with access.

  • Formfitting black leather case
  • Three digit steel combination lock
  • Prevents unauthorized use by coworkers, friends or classmates
  • Designed to provides access to ports
  • Can charge iPad with case locked
  • Stylish design compliments iPad
  • Secures and protects from scratches and mishandling

The Security Case retails for $44.95

Link: Security Case for iPad

Tom Bihn Introduces iPad Travel Bag

PR: Tom Bihn, a designer, manufacturer, and retailer of laptop and travel bags has introduced the Co-Pilot personal carryon travel bag - sized specifically for travel essentials, including your iPad. The Co-Pilot is a small, carryon sized travel bag sized to fit the essentials - the items that you want close at hand and easily accessible during your flight.

copilot.jpg

The iPad will fit in its Apple case or in its Apple case within the Tom Bihn Cache for iPad sleeve inside of the main compartment of the Co-Pilot. The Co-Pilot is designed to be used on its own or as a compliment to the Tom Bihn Aeronaut, Tri-Star, or Western Flyer carryon travel bags.

copilot3.jpg

Features of the Co-Pilot include:

  • Made of 1050d US ballistic nylon/Japanese Dyneema/nylon rip-stop fabric
  • YKK splash-proof zippers
  • Ultrasuede-lined iPhone pocket
  • Includes a comfortable Standard Shoulder Strap
  • Made in the Tom Bihn Factory in Seattle, Washington
  • Water bottle pocket
  • Multiple pen/organizational pockets

copiot4.jpg

The Co-Pilot is featured in a new video highlighting the production process at the Tom Bihn Factory in Seattle, Washington. (Links to video below, including a high-resolution version sized for viewing on the iPad.)

The Co-Pilot is $110. Available for preorder exclusively through their website; ships worldwide by mid-June. In addition to the Co-Pilot, Tom Bihn bags for the iPad include the Ristretto for iPad - a vertical messenger bag with a built-in padded compartment for the iPad - and the Cache for iPad, a soft, protective sleeve designed to protect the iPad against scrapes and scratches.

copilot5.jpg

  • Video of Tom Bihn Seattle Factory (iPad version): http://www.youtube.com/tombihn#p/u/0/GviERUQP4zc
  • Video of Tom Bihn Seattle Factory (all devices): http://www.youtube.com/tombihn#p/u/1/3i4D-fX1i6k
  • Image of the Co-Pilot: http://www.tombihn.com/copilot1.jpg
  • Image of the Co-Pilot with the iPad: http://www.tombihn.com/copilot18.jpg

Link: Tom Bihn Co-Pilot

Hard Candy Cases Premium Protective iPad Sleeves

PR: As Apple accessory companies scramble to finish their iPad gear, Hard Candy Cases is shipping the first line of deliciously styled protective sleeves, with four additional models scheduled to ship in the next several weeks. New video at http://tinyurl.com/HCCBubbleShell details the production process of the first Bubble Sleeves to ship in large quantity in advance of the official iPad product launch.

iPadCovers.jpeg

It was quite a challenge to start a new case line only a few days before Chinese New Year, but our factories stepped up and devoted hundreds of skilled craftsmen to beat the tight deadlines. It was a real thrill to see them accomplish this first hand.

With over 20,000 Bubble Sleeves currently in the U.S., and additional designs arriving soon, Hard Candy Cases is poised to meet the demand of consumers who want to protect their new purchase on day one of iPad ownership. Through the direction of CEO Tim Hickman, the Apple accessories veteran who started Speck Products, Hard Candy Cases manufacturing company in China dedicated two straight weeks and over 600 skilled workers during Chinese New Year in order to meet the iPad launch date.

Consumers often see the buzz and hype surrounding the first to market accessories, and Hard Candy Cases wanted to record and share the experience to show how these quality cases were made so quickly. From the bubble sleeve mold to zipper detail, the video describes the process of piecing together thousands of Bubble Sleeves at the China manufacturing plant under extremely strict timelines.

iPad_Bubble_Sleeve.jpeg

"We wanted to create a case that had more style and protection than the typical neoprene sleeve. We took it a step further by custom molding rubber feet inside the case that add 2-3x the drop protection, and which allowed us to start manufacturing the casing earlier. To make it all happen, we are blessed to work with one of the best factories in China," said Tim Hickman, CEO of Hard Candy Cases. "It was quite a challenge to start a new case line only a few days before Chinese New Year, but our factories stepped up and devoted hundreds of skilled craftsmen to beat the tight deadlines. It was a real thrill to see them accomplish this first hand."

Superbly crafted with detailed stitching and zipper, the EVA molded, rigid Bubble Sleeve features shock absorbing fitted rubber bumpers to keep the iPad securely in place. A soft, padded interior lining protects the Multi-Touch display from harsh environments. The Bubble Sleeve is available in Green, Pink and Black and retails for $49.95.

Founded in 2009, Danville, CA-based Hard Candy Cases is a startup from computer accessory veteran Tim Hickman, former GM of Speck Products. The company merges fashion and function to distinguish and protect mobile computers from the wear and tear of daily use.

Link: Hard Candy iPad Cases

NewerTech Accessory Line for the iPad

PR: "These four new accessories are uniquely designed and made with the highest quality materials to provide protection for and functional use improvements of an iPad," said Grant Dahlke, Brand Manager, NewerTech. "They fully exemplify our time honored slogan Newer makes it better than new."

Newer Technology, Inc. has announced its new NewerTech Accessory Line for iPad consisting of four case and screen accessories that add protective style and functionality to the new Apple iPad being introduced this Saturday, April 3.

The NewerTech Accessory Line for iPad features four products:

  • NewerTech NuVue Screen Protector keeps the iPad screen clear, sharp, and scratch-free. $9.99
  • NewerTech NuGuard Soft Silicone Protective Case available in six colors to preserve and protect the iPad. $17.99
  • NewerTech NuGuard Hard Shell Polycarbonate Case available in clear to highlight the iPad's design or in bycast black leather for a stylish touch. $24.99
  • NewerTech NuVue Screen Protector & Privacy Screen keeps the iPad screen clear, sharp, and scratch-free while preventing others from viewing screen . $39.99

All of the announced NewerTech Accessories for iPad are available for pre-ordering from Other World Computing. All pre-orders and regular orders of the NewerTech Accessories for iPad will begin shipping April 9.

Protects Screen & Privacy

NewerTech NuVue products keep the iPad's screen as clear, sharp, and scratch-free as brand new without sacrificing performance. The custom fit, smudge and glare resistant screen protectors offer superior touch sensitivity and precision over other air bubble plagued films. The NewerTech NuVue Privacy Protector adds additional protection in the form of personal data security by presenting a dark, blank screen to prying eyes in open, high traffic settings.

Cushion & Preserve

The NewerTech NuGuard premium silicone case is the perfect protect and preserve accessory to keep the iPad working and looking like new. Its 100% premium soft silicone cushions and protects against scratches, bumps, and dust while providing open access to all ports and controls. This flexible, nonstick, and lightweight case is easy to change as the mood fits into one of six available colors.

Maximum Durability & Style

For rugged use environments, the NewerTech NuGuard hard shell case is precision molded and simply snaps on to stylishly protect the iPad while providing unobstructed access to the screen, ports, and controls. The transparent polycarbonate shell model shows off the natural beauty and style of the iPad while guarding against impacts, scratches, dirt, and oils. For a more stylish look and tactile surface, the bycast black leather backed NuGuard adds a touch of elegance to the iPad use and design.

Link: Accessories for Apple iPad

DODOcase for iPad: Protect Your Gear From Extinction

PR: DODOcase announces its limited first edition iPad case. This handcrafted Moleskine- style cover for iPad gives a classic bibliophile look and provides protection. Hand built and designed in San Francisco, CA the DODOcase takes the best of the traditional hardcover book/journal and brings it to an iPad case. Lightweight, strong, eco-friendly and a stunningly beautiful wood, bamboo is an ideal material for holding and protecting mobile devices.

dodocase.jpg

Hand built and designed in San Francisco, CA the DODOcase takes the best of the traditional hardcover book/journal and brings it to an iPad case. With inspiration from the Moleskine writing journals we all know and love.

The DODOcase's protective cover is constructed using traditional book binding techniques making the DODOcase a perfect balance of tradition, technology, and protection. The iPad is held firmly in place by a beautifully carved bamboo piece with foam inserts for added protection. Lightweight, strong, eco-friendly and a stunningly beautiful wood, bamboo is an ideal material for holding and protecting mobile devices.

The DODOcase design enables easy access to your iPad on the go with a fold around cover and a simple lift out for when you want to take the iPad from its case.

Founder and Chief Executive DODO Patrick Buckley said, "We think that iPad owners will love the look and feel of a journal/hardcover book case for their iPad. The craftsmanship we put into each of our cases really shines through."

You've waited months to get your new iPad, now make sure you protect it. The DODOcase is a wonderful balance of tradition, technology, and sustainability. Cover up your iPad while making a statement with the DODOcase's fine craftsmanship and style.

Orders are being accepted now at DODOcase online. Due to high demand cases will ship in 3-5 weeks. Price: $49.95 for a limited time there is a 20% discounted price of $39.95 when using the discount code "iPadLaunch". DODOcase: Protects from Extinction.

dodocase.jpg

Link: DODOcase

Marware Eco-Flip for iPad Shipping

PR: Marware Inc., designer and manufacturer of innovative products for the Apple market announces the Eco-Flip for iPad is now shipping. The Eco-Flip is a stylish eco-leather flip case for iPad that delivers 3 solutions in 1. A unique and innovative hand strap design allows you to fold back the cover and securely grip the device during usage - a feature not offered in many other cases or covers.

EcoVueopeb.jpg

The Eco-Flip folds open at the top, and the lid can be used as a stand. The elastic strap keeps the case closed while the fold over tab inside helps keep the iPad from slipping out. A foldaway display stand is ideal for lower-angled typing or viewing, and rounds out a broad array of features provided in a single case solution. The Eco-Flip also comes with Marware's Lifetime Warranty.

EcoVue.jpg

Features:

  • 3-in-1 Case Solution: Flip style leather case, two stand options and vertical hand strap
  • Eco-leather flip case design made from RoHS compliant leather (Restriction of Hazardous Substances)
  • Hand strap allows secure grip
  • Flip top lid allows the iPad to stand while in use
  • Low-angle tabletop stand folds away when not in use
  • Elastic closure strap and fold-over tab keep iPad secure
  • Includes: Leather case

EcoVue1.jpg

The Eco-Flip is available in black eco-leather and, for a limited time, is on sale for $44.99. For more information, please visit Marware online. Marware is a leading provider of software and eco-concious accessory solutions for Apple iPhones, iPads, iPods, and Notebooks.

Link: Eco-Flip for iPad

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