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.
News, Reviews, & Opinion
Rumor Roundup
The Competition
Apps & Services
Accessories
iPod Deals
These price trackers are updated every month.
News, Reviews, & Opinion
Including Tablets, 2012 to Set New World Record in
PC Shipments with Apple in the Lead
PR: Canalys reports that global client PC shipments rose 12%
year on year in Q2 2012. Growth in pads (a.k.a. tablets) more than
compensated for disappointing sales of Ultrabooks, with the New iPad having the biggest single impact on
growth rates in the quarter, but Asus and Samsung made progress with
their Transformer and Galaxy Tab product lines as well. Total pad
shipments increased 75% to 24 million units, representing 22% of all
PCs.
"Reports that poor economic conditions and the wait for Windows 8
hurt the PC industry this quarter do not tell the whole story," says
Tom Evans, Canalys Research Analyst. The PC industry is performing well
and 2012 is shaping up to be a record year. Vendors with innovative
products will reap the rewards."
Apple retook the overall lead with an estimated 19% share of global
PC shipments, helped by strong iPad sales. "There is now a large base
of replacement buyers that simply must have the latest Apple product,
and the decision to continue shipping the iPad 2 at lower price points has opened up
new customers, for example in education," Evans added. "One drawback of
the standout Retina Display in the New iPad, however, is the increased
storage demanded by HD content. An upgrade, without a big price
increase, is a must for the next generation of product."
Samsung was the leading Android pad vendor in Q2, more than doubling
its Galaxy Tab shipments compared to a year ago. It remains Apple's
chief challenger in pads, but Asus made the biggest gains this quarter,
particularly in the US, following the launch of the TF300 at a sub-$400
price point, and is now the third largest pad vendor globally.
Canalys Research Analyst Pin Chen Tang says: "Joining forces with
Google to produce the sub-$200 Google Nexus 7 will further strengthen
the role of Asus in this market. Amazon must now launch a more powerful
replacement for the Kindle Fire and expand internationally, or see its
pad business fail. Canalys estimates that shipments of the Kindle Fire
were below 500,000 in Q2, down significantly compared to previous
quarters."
In contrast to pads, Windows PC shipments continued to disappoint.
Ultrabooks have not hit the price points that could excite large
numbers of buyers and the share of the overall market taken by Windows
fell to a new low of 73%. Intel's share also hit an all-time low,
falling below 70%. But against this dark background there were some
bright points. Lenovo continued to gain share, thanks to a strong home
market, a focus on emerging markets, and increased attention to the
consumer category overall. Acer improved too, compared to a terrible Q2
a year ago. While results in its former strongholds of Italy and Spain
remained poor, it made good progress in the more buoyant markets of
Russia, Germany, and the UK. Furthermore, improved brand awareness
through its Olympics sponsorship should translate into increased sales
in the second half of the year.
HP was the second largest PC vendor in Q2 with 12% share. The
sensible cost-saving decision to merge its PC and printing divisions
impacted its first half, but a Canalys survey of channel partners
revealed that a large majority think this will have a positive (or
neutral) effect on their future business. After spending time focusing
on internal issues, and with the new PPS organization largely in place,
a period of stability will enable HP to rebuild momentum.
Perhaps the biggest talking point of the quarter was Microsoft's
decision to launch its own pads - the Surface and Surface Pro. The
information available to date suggests the prices of both will be too
high to capture significant market share, and a direct sales approach
will prove inadequate. "We expect the Surface pads to have a similar
impact on the PC industry as the
Zune did in portable music players," commented Canalys Analyst Tim
Coulling. [A cruel, but possibly prescient assessment - Ed.]
Canalys has advised PC vendors (Microsoft's OEMs) to postpone
launches of Windows RT pads until Microsoft rethinks the high license
fee. Chris Jones, Canalys VP and Principal Analyst, notes that
"Microsoft has upset some partners by bringing its own hardware to
market. Marketing, distributing, and servicing such hardware profitably
is hard. Once the Surface makes a material dent in Microsoft's P&L,
it will need to repair relationships with PC vendors, who are already
preparing lists of demands."
The Windows 8 launch budget guarantees attention during Q4, but
users will only benefit fully from the new OS if they buy PCs with
touchscreens, which will significantly increase the purchase price.
Canalys does not expect the launch of Windows 8 to arrest
Microsoft's market share decline until Q3 2013 at the earliest. Canalys
recommends that Microsoft helps its OEMs hit mainstream price points
for Windows 8 touchscreen products, for example by subsidizing
touch panel production costs by $50 to $100 per unit, to kick-start the
market. Intel pledged to invest $300m in Ultrabook ecosystem players,
but there is no indication, as yet, that Microsoft is prepared to make
a comparable commitment to the PC supply chain.
Note: Canalys defines a client PC as a computing device designed to
be operated by an individual and positioned to serve a broad range of
purposes, achieved by running third-party applications, some of which
can work independently of a network connection. When designed to be
portable, it must be able to function without mains power and have a
built-in display of at least 7" in diagonal.
The forthcoming Canalys Channels Forums in EMEA and APAC will be the
largest and most prestigious independent channel partner events ever
seen in both regions.
Link: 2012 Will Bring
New World Record in PC Shipments
Android Smartphone Share Drops to 56% in United
States
PR: According to the latest research published by Strategy
Analytics Wireless Smartphone Strategies (WSS) service, smartphone
shipments fell 5% annually to reach 24 million units in the United
States during the second quarter of 2012. The Android operating system
lost ground to Apple iOS as market share fell four points on an annual
basis to 56%.
Strategy Analytics notes that this was one of the slowest growth
rates ever experienced by the important US smartphone market. A
volatile economy, maturing penetration of smartphones among contract
mobile subscribers, and major operators tightening their upgrade
policies to enhance profits were among the main causes of the
slowdown.
| United States Smartphone Operating System Shipments
(Millions of Units) |
Q2 '11 |
Q2 '12 |
| Android |
15.3 |
13.4 |
| Apple iOS |
5.9 |
7.9 |
| BlackBerry OS |
2.7 |
1.6 |
| Others |
1.4 |
1.0 |
| Total |
25.2 |
23.8 |
|
| United States Smartphone Operating System Market
Share (% of Total) |
Q2 '11 |
Q2 '12 |
| Android |
60.6% |
56.3% |
| Apple iOS |
23.2% |
33.2% |
| BlackBerry OS |
10.5% |
6.5% |
| Others |
5.7% |
4.0% |
|
| Total Growth Year-over-Year % |
70.1% |
-5.4% |
Android remains the number one platform by volume in the United
States, but its market share is peaking as Apple iOS gains ground, the
report finds. Apple's US market share has risen by ten points from 23%
in Q2 2011 to 33% in Q2 2012, and with Apple rumoured to be launching a
new iPhone in the coming weeks, that event (if it takes place) is going
to heap even more pressure on Android in its home market the
researchers observe.
Meanwhile, BlackBerry's smartphone market share in the United States
has dropped from 11% to 7% over the past year, reaching its lowest
level in recent history. Consumers, businesses, and operators continue
to be frustrated by BlackBerry's limited touchscreen smartphone
portfolio and repeated delays to its new BB10 operating system.
Link: Android Smartphone
Market Share Declines to 56 Percent in United States in Q2 2012
Can Microsoft Be Right on Tablets - and Apple,
Amazon, and Google Wrong?
Tech Republic Editor Jason Hiner acknowledges that he doesn't really
like tablets, noting that he's used all three iPads, several Galaxy
Tabs, the Kindle Fire, the BlackBerry PlayBook, and the HP TouchPad,
and with all of them he runs into the same annoyances. "Every time I
use a tablet," says Hiner, "I end up trying to do something like
sharing a story to a social network or emailing a photo to someone, and
I get frustrated because it's just a lot more efficient to do it on my
laptop. Plus, on a laptop I can control the experience a lot better
. . . Microsoft thinks it's got the tablet solution for
people like me . . . building Windows 8 with a
full-screen reading and app experience like the iPad (and its
competitors) while also offering the ability to jump into a full
desktop experience to do the kinds of things that I was just talking
about."
However, he acknowledges that there are three big question marks
shadowing Microsoft's strategy:
- How many people want a no-compromise tablet?
- Is Windows 8 doing it right?
- Are Apple, Amazon, and Google wrong?
Hiner concludes that notwithstanding his personal preferences as a
power-user, most people don't need a tablet that can also act like a
workstation; they just want a tablet that can perform really well as a
tablet, and Microsoft is building the CAD workstation of tablets.
Link: On Tablets, Can
Microsoft Be Right and Apple, Amazon, and Google Wrong?
iPad vs.
iPad 2 vs. New iPad
Can't decide which iPad to buy? Apple Gazette has posted an
infographic design from Infographic Labs that compares the three iPad
versions, while also presenting several interesting statistics on the
king of tablets.
Link: iPad vs. iPad 2
vs. The New iPad
Why Rush Limbaugh Loves Apple Products
In a transcript from his radio program, conservative/libertarian
talk radio host and longtime Apple-user and fan answers this listener
query: "What made you fall in love with Apple products? . . .
Because everything I've seen, it's such a restrictive corporation. The
apps need to be approved. You can't even write an app without a Mac. I
can't stream an AVI to my Apple TV. It's just so restrictive. And as
the freedom-loving man that I know you are, why?"
Limbaugh responds: "This is actually a really, really good question.
And what he's talking about being 'restrictive,' is software developers
with the new operating system for computers, for the Macs, Mountain
Lion. You don't get your app in the App Store unless it's 'sandboxed,'
which means . . . 'Restrictive' is the word. The best way to
explain it is that it can't access the data in any other app and very
little of the operating system itself. Apple is doing this for security
reasons . . . They're not running the company for the geeks
and the nerds anymore. They're not running the company for the power
users and the power writers....
"The reason I like it is I learned on Mac . . . I had a
BlackBerry once, and I could not keep it in sync. There was an app to
keep it in sync with my Mac from my address book and phone numbers and
all that. It just didn't work. The primary reason I couldn't wait for
the iPad is so that I would have a remote device, a hand-held device
that had all the stuff on my computer on it that I needed and kept in
sync automatically. I think one of the greatest things around is iCloud
. . . the primary reason people buy iPhones is because of
trust in the Apple brand and design....
'It's just the stuff works.'
"Apple wouldn't let me in the door if I went out there. We tried for
years to get them as advertisers; they wouldn't talk to us
. . . Politically they have nothing in common with me, and
your question is very valid. 'Why in the world would you want to tout
people that have no desire to do anything with you?' It's just the
stuff works. I think it's state-of-the-art. I think it's the best out
there for what I need to do. Their stuff has facilitated my
productivity like nothing else has . . . If I weren't doing
what I'm doing, I'd try to figure out a way to get involved in this
stuff. I'd love to be an adviser and, tell them how they need to
innovate - for me. Selfishly. I understand a lot of people, 'Rush,
these people politically, they probably despise you.' . . .
For this, it doesn't matter, I set it aside. I just have found that
it's fun. I'm one of these people, I'm on the edge of my chair when we
get close to the release of a new product, a phone or an iPad. Apple
stuff is my Christmas morning. That's cool. I like being able to have
that feeling at age 62."
Link: Why Does a Lover
of Freedom Like Me Love a 'Restrictive' Company Like Apple?
Rumor Roundup
iPhone 5 and iPad mini Announcement Aniticipated
for September 12
iMore Editor-in-Chief Rene Ritchie is reporting this morning that
the site has been told by unnamed "sources who have proven accurate in
the past" that Apple is planning to announce the new iPhone, a new iPad
mini, and a new iPod nano at a special event on Wednesday, September
12, 2012, with consumer release of at least the iPhone to follow 9 days
later on Friday, September 21.
Link: Apple iPhone 5 and
iPad mini Event Planned for September 12, iPhone 5 Release Date for
September 21
The Competition
Microsoft's First Mistake: Leading with Consumer
Tablets
It Knowledge Exchange says that Microsoft is making a huge strategic
error and squandering a major potential advantage its new Surface
tablet PC will have over competitors, particularly the iPad, by
releasing the consumer version of the Surface 90 days ahead of the
enterprise one.
The blog observes that Microsoft's best bet for Surface success is
not a big holiday impact with consumers (noting that many others have
taken a stab at that consumer market and failed) and contends that it
should take a different tack and go after the enterprise market full
bore, and that if the Surface has any hope at all (prospects are
dubious), the enterprise is going to be Redmond's best bet because
there's at least a slight opening in that market.
Editor's note: I agree with that assessment. cm
Publisher's note: I have no interest in the consumer Surface, but if
the Surface Pro could work as a Hackintosh.... dk
Link: Microsoft's First
Mistake: Leading with Consumer Tablets
Nexus 7 'Just About as Good as an iPad' at Half the
Price
The Canadian Press reports that not only is Google's Nexus 7
affordable at Can$209 (US$199) for the 8 GB version, or Can$259
(US$250) for 16 GB of storage, it's also a worthy rival to Apple's
iPad, affirming that with the Asus-manufactured Nexus 7, Google has
accomplished what Canadian Research in Motion couldn't when it released
its PlayBook tablet back in Sept.
2010.
CP recalls that RIM's tablet was a buggy mess at launch, had few
apps to offer consumers, and was priced in line with the iPad. The
Nexus 7, on the other hand, is a formidable competitor to the latest
iPad - at about half the price. Screen size is a polarizing feature,
but some will find the smaller screen makes the Nexus 7 easier to
commute with on a daily basis, and CP suggests that even iPad users
will probably find it doesn't take long to get used to the smaller
screen.
Even without taking price into consideration, it's a solid gadget
that many will find is just about as good as an iPad.
Link: Review: Google's
Nexus 7 a Worthy iPad Rival at Half the Price
AnandTech: Google Nexus 7 'Damn Near Perfect'
AnandTech's Anand Lal Shimpi suggests that Google's Jelly Bean
(Android 4.1) operating system and the first Nexus tablet are the
company's last chance to deliver a knockout in the tablet space before
the onslaught of Windows 8 and Windows RT devices later this year.
Lal Shimpi is skeptical that $499+ Android tablets have a life after
Windows 8/RT hit at a rumored price of $499, and Ivy/Haswell-based
Windows 8 tablets to handle the higher price points.
Lal Shimpi believes there's a huge market for tablets as a primary
computing device, and that Windows RT/8 offers something unique and
compelling for that usage model.
However, the Nexus 7 is a device for users who need ultra
portability and tons of battery life for content consumption, and while
dockable Windows 8/RT tablets will attempt to replace your notebook,
the Nexus 7 is a more traditional content consumption-oriented tablet,
and the most solidly built Asus tablet he's ever used - "damn near
perfect," the whole thing feeling like a well made book because of the
soft touch plastic back.
He notes that for $199 Google will sell you an 8 GB version with a
$25 credit at the Google Play store, and while limited flash memory
capacity prevents the Nexus 7 from being home to more than a
single full-length movie or a couple of TV shows, Netflix works
beautifully on the device. He observes that the Nexus 7 in many
ways is very much like the 11" MacBook Air. A bit
impractical for many, but those who crave portability are drawn to
it.
Lal Shimpi rates the Nexus 7's display somewhere between good and
perfection, great for $199, with good black levels, and max brightness
is more than enough for indoor use, and great viewing angles, although
color accuracy is middle of the road. WiFi browsing saw the Nexus 7
deliver 9 hours of battery life on a single charge - roughly half an
hour less than the new iPad.
Lal Shimpi concludes that Nexus 7 isn't just a great Android tablet,
it's a great tablet.
Link: The Google Nexus 7
Review
5 Reasons Taylor Hatmaker Abandoned Her iPad for
Google's Nexus 7
ReadWriteWeb's Taylor Hatmaker explains forsaking Apple's upscale
iPad for Google's dirt-cheap tablet in five points:
- Fits Like A Glove - the back of the 7-inch device is a lightly
cushioned, dimpled rubber that recalls the supple leather of driving
gloves, according to Google lead designer Matias Duarte
- Android Customization
- The Price Feels Right - Nexus 7 buyers are getting their money's
worth - and then some.
- Widgets Are In Their Element
- Android's Evolution - Jelly Bean on the Nexus 7 is lightning fast
and as smooth as the Project Butter initiative would suggest.
She concludes, "Ultimately, tablets - much like any gadget - aren't
a one-size-fits-all affair. I use my Nexus 7 for email, Google
calendar, to do lists and casual web surfing, but the iPad's larger,
pixel-rich display (and well-stocked App Store) is more conducive to
gaming and the like. Still, the Nexus 7 is a well-rounded device - and
one with more than enough quad-core oomph to justify its modest
price."
Link: 5 Reasons Why I
Ditched My iPad for a Google Nexus 7
Consumer Reports: Nexus 7 Challenges the iPad
Consumer Reports Donna L. Tapellini says that terrific smaller
tablets increasingly populate the mobile scene, and some are legitimate
challengers to the dominant Apple iPad, including Google's Nexus 7,
which CR observes is a very good tablet at a great price.
Ms. Tapellini acknowledges that with its bigger, excellent Retina
Display and a still-unmatched App Store, the iPad still has the edge
over the Nexus 7, but suggests that if you want a tablet in a smaller
package for a lot less money, the Nexus 7 is worth
considering.
Link: Google Nexus 7
Tablet Challenges the Apple iPad
Apps & Services
Maxthon Web Browser for iPad: Fast, Secure, and
Free
PR: Maxthon Web Browser for iPad is
claimed to be the world's fastest and smartest iPad web browser - fast,
secure, and free.
With more than 550 million downloads of its PC browser, and claiming
the highest user satisfaction ratings of its mobile browser, Maxthon
Web Browser for iPad is configured to transform the way you surf the
Web. Specifically designed for the iPad, Maxthon Web Browser for iPad
comes with the following features:
- Speed: Maxthon takes complete advantage of the latest iPad hardware
and make your web surfing fast
- Cloud syncing: With a Maxthon Passport account, you can access your
favorites in PCs and any devices that run Maxthon anywhere and
anytime.
- Super gesture: Maxthon brings gesture browsing to its iPad version;
now you can surf the web at your finger tips.
- Quick Access: Go to all your favorite websites in just one single
tap.
- Tab browsing - Powerful tab management that puts your mobile screen
to maximum use.
- Absolutely free and no advertisements
New in
Version 1.2
- Reader mode support
- HTTP authentication support
- Download Manager, support download resume feature
System Requirements
- Compatible with iPad
- Requires iOS 4.3 or later
Freeware
Link:
Maxthon Web Browser for iPad
Make Your Mark on Google with Handwrite Input for
Mobile and Tablet Search
A blog by Google Software Engineer Rui Ueyama, says:
"Unlike searching on a desktop or laptop computer, when you're
searching on a touchscreen mobile device its often inconvenient to
type. So we strive to give you a variety of ways to interact with
Google, be it by speaking your queries, getting results before you
finish typing, or searching by image. Now there's a new way for you to
interact with Google: Handwrite for web
search on mobile phones and tablets.
"Say you're standing on a busy street corner, in a bumpy taxi ride,
talking with a friend, or sitting on the couch with your tablet.
Handwrite enables you to search by just writing letters with your
finger most anywhere on your device's screen - there's no keyboard that
covers half of the screen and no need for hunt-and-peck typing.
Check it out in this video: http://bit.ly/Ma6kRY
"Handwrite is experimental, and works better in some browsers than
others - on Android devices, it works best in Chrome. For now,
Handwrite is enabled for iOS 5+ devices, Android 2.3+ phones, and
Android 4.0+ tablets in 27 languages."
Link: Make Your Mark on
Google With Handwrite Input for Mobile and Tablet Search
Accessories
Ceramic Glass miFrame Art Design Dock Stands by
for iPad
PR: Golfers and chefs the world-over now have an iPad dock
that expresses their passion for the game and the art with new
handcrafted ceramic glass miFrame designs by Striped Sail.
Striped Sail announces the launch of a ceramic glass line of its
designer iPad docking station, miFrame. The new line features glass
frames handmade by a popular Etsy artisan from Vancouver, WA. The
miFrame for iPad Cooking and Golf Edition styles debuting are perfect
for the golf enthusiast and the cooking lover.
"These glass
miFrames feature bright, fun colors that really accent a room and make
great gifts for the chef or golfer," says Justin Elkow, the miFrame
co-designer.
Golf Themed iPad Dock: $279
Fore! Yes, that's the most Golf Themed miFrames that can be
ordered. This original iPad charging station design will complement the
golf enthusiasts ninth hole rumpus room or office.
Cooking Themed iPad Dock: $279
Sure to
spice up ones life in the kitchen using a favorite recipe app, this
iPad stand is decorated with peppers, garlic, grapes, and eggplant.
Featuring a completely original design and available while supplies
last.
Like every other miFrame Striped Sail has released, the new glass
line can charge iPad with its built-in dock connector in both portrait
and landscape orientations and it comes with an extended 5 USB cable so
miFrame can be positioned in just the right place and still reach an
outlet.
Very unique to Striped Sails miFrame iPad dock, the product serves
dual purposes. On the one hand it can hold an iPad upright while a user
checks mail and surfs the web. On the other its a functional 8-by-10
picture frame when iPad is out-and-about.
Striped Sail introduced the first iPad Picture Frame Docking Station
in 2010, when it announced the Enduring Silver anodized aluminum
miFrame for the the first generation iPad. The model's frame and base
featured a finish that matched the look and feel of the back of iPad.
Last summer, the company announced a new thinner and lighter design for
the iPad 2 and added the Distinguished Black color option.
This summer, Striped Sail has focused on giving iPad customers more
choices for framing their iPad while maintaining the miFrame's iconic
look. The company has already introduced a Rose Gold plated frame, made
from real Rose Gold and a hand-rubbed Antique Copper plated frame that
makes a great accent piece in a kitchen or library.
"miFrame gives one endless ways to get more use from their iPad when
they're in the middle of doing other things. One can be confident that
iPad is charged when it is needed most even when used all day at work
to keep tabs on a Twitter stream, email, golf tournament or ball game.
At home, dock iPad in miFrame and enter iPad's picture frame app to
immerse oneself in family memories while making dinner or playing with
the kids," remarks Elkow.
Each Glass Artist Collection design is totally unique. Made by hand
in small batches by a glass artisan, you can be sure your miFrame is
special. This design celebrates the game of golf. Make the best use of
your tablet's downtime. Keep iPad charged and ready for the next time
you and your iPad are on the go in this iPad stand that also doubles as
a real photo frame for a paper 8" x 10" photograph.
miFrame for iPad 2 or later consists of five pieces making setup a
snap:
- a removable glass designer frame
- a black base stand
- a black docking cradle with built-in "Made for iPad" dock &
attached 5 ft USB cable
- a clear 8 x 10 acrylic cover to protect the print photo
- a replaceable 8 x 10 stock photo with instructions in English &
French
miFrame functions similar to other iPad stands while tapping and
swiping and such. The iPad Home button and the Sleep button are always
accessible and repositioning the iPad in portrait or landscape is
easily accomplished by picking up the docking cradle and reorienting it
on the base.
The built-in dock connector makes this iPad stand an excellent
choice for movie watching and other activities that drain your battery
like displaying slideshows stored on iPad or in your iCloud Photo
Stream. The stand is especially well suited for apps that display the
time, the weather, or Twitter stream while iPad isn't your primary
focus.
Four rubber feet prevent slipping or damage to surfaces while the
stands deep wide base keeps the miFrame stable and prevents accidental
tipping. miFrame is both a beautiful and versatile addition to any
room.
Shown here in with a artisan glass Golf design frame and Black Base.
Also available in silver anodized aluminum finish.
Striped Sail designs and markets miFrames, fine 8x10 picture frames
with a hidden dock connector designed to dock and charge Apple's latest
iPad tablets. miFrames rotate for easy widescreen or upright portrait
use, feature a built-in 5 ft USB charging cable with almost twice the
reach of the standard cable, and can protect any 8x10 photograph from
scratches, dust, and UV rays while on display. Frames ship worldwide
and are available for the original iPad, iPad 2 and the New iPad in
many unique styles and finishes including anodized aluminum, antique
copper, rose gold and 24K gold starting at $139.
Link: miFrame iPad
Stand, Golf Design with Black Base
Link: miFrame iPad Stand, Kitchen Design
with Black Base
ZooGue Microfiber iPad Sleeve
PR: Protection is an important factor for many electronic
devices, so it is no surprise that people want to keep their iPads safe
from scratches, dust and debris. Although devices are often cleaned
using a microfiber material, ZooGue has taken it one step further
providing a complete iPad sleeve made of authentic microfiber. The all
new Microfiber iPad Sleeve is make from unbelievably soft material
encompassing the tablet and guarding it from potential harm.
ZooGue's new Microfiber iPad Sleeve is a very
lightweight fabric that strongly resembles a suede appearance. This
handmade sleeve was made to accommodate the Smart Cover, Smart Back or
the entire Smart Case, all while providing additional protection to the
delicate touch screen. The tablet easily slips into the cozy sleeve
allowing for quick transport of the delicate device.
The sleek design includes an interior pocket that gives access to
store cables or additional accessories. ZooGue's choice of microfiber
material has a very plush feel with an extremely durable exterior that
is machine-washable. Providing multiple color options, the Microfiber
iPad Sleeve is available in 9 colors. With the dimensions measuring
just 10-3/4" x 8" x 3/8", the sleeve can easily fit into a briefcase,
backpack, or purse.
Owner, Tim Angel says: "Our Microfiber case provides the best of all
worlds. It's soft, thin, and gives great padded protection for your
iPad." He's so confident with ZooGue's product line; he offers a 30 day
risk-free trial guaranteeing 100% satisfaction or a full refund. The
new Microfiber iPad Sleeve is competitively priced at $39.99 and can be
purchased at ZooGue online.
Link: Microfiber iPad
Sleeve
iPad-Friendly USB Splitter/Hub
PR: If you have just
one USB charger or a USB socket for charging but you've got two
iDevices to charge, then what you can do?
Here's a simple solution for you.
This connector has 2 USB sockets, one is for all devices - friendly
to iPad/iPhone/iPod, another one is friendly to iPhone/iPod. You can
plug this splitter to any standard USB socket to get all your iDevices
charged.
This USB splitter comes in
two colors: White and Black.
One simple solution for charging your iPad, iPhone, or iPod
simultaneously when additional charger is not available.
This case is suitable for:
- iPad, all models
- Mobile phones
- Digital cameras
- MP3 players
- GPS (e.g., TomTom)
- iPhone, all models
- iPod classic
- iPod touch, all models
- iPod 3G and newer
- iPod shuffle 2G
- iPod nano 2G and newer
$6.99
Link: iPad
Charging-Friendly USB Splitter/Hub
IPEVO's Typi Folio Keyboard Case and Stand for
iPad 2 and 3 Now Available in 5 Color Combinations
PR:
Previously available in only two colors, IPEVO's Typi Folio Case has
added three new shades to its lineup. The three-in-one case, stand, and
keyboard accessory for Apple's new iPad 3 and the iPad 2 is now
available in Black, Tan, Red, Light Gray and Black Denim. Typi is
designed and manufactured by IPEVO, and available exclusively through
IPEVO's Online Store at a price of $79.
Typi features three-in-one versatility and is constructed with
handcrafted leather and felt. The folio case protects either iPad 3 or
iPad 2 from everyday wear and tear as well as dings and scratches.
Typi is secured
with a Velcro tab and can be installed in a few seconds. Cutouts ensure
that all ports and controls are accessible while iPad is installed in
Typi. This includes the charging port, rear and front camera lenses,
volume control, Sleep/Wake button, and speakers.
The leather strap that secures the folio can be repositioned for a
built-in stand with a viewing angle that is ideal for a wide variety of
applications. Also included with Typi is a full QWERTY wireless
keyboard that attaches to the interior of the case with magnets. The
keyboard communicates with the iPad via Bluetooth and it can be
configured in a couple of steps. Typi may be used like a laptop with
the keyboard kept within the case; alternately, the keyboard can be
removed for remote operation.
The QWERTY
keyboard contains a row of custom hotkeys for iPad-specific functions.
These include several playback functions (Play/Pause, Rewind, and
Fast-Forward), Mute, Volume Up, Volume Down, Home, and Gallery which
initiates the photo slideshow mode.
"Typi has everything you'd expect from a rugged luxury folio case
and more," says Royce Hong, CEO and head of IPEVO design. "Not only is
there a built-in stand which is easy to use, but there's a full QWERTY
keyboard which offers a faster and better alternative to iPad's
touchscreen keyboard. Add custom hotkeys to the mix, and there are many
reasons why Typi increases productivity. Our no-nonsense color
selection reflects Typi's business-friendly functionality and high-end
professional look."
Typi Folio Case & Wireless Keyboard for the New iPad and iPad 2
is available in Black, Tan, Red, Light Gray, and Black Denim.
Link: IPEVO Online
Store
IPEVO 20% Off Promotion Covers Côte &
Ciel and Select IPEVO Products
PR: From now to August 12, technology company IPEVO is
offering an instant 20% discount off of all its Côte & Ciel
brand merchandise, as well as popular IPEVO brand products such as
Perch and Typi. Participating products include all of the Côte
& Ciel brand products available in the IPEVO Store as well as
select IPEVO accessories for iDevices like Apple's new iPad 3 and the
iPad 2. Customers can simply add participating products to their
shopping cart via the IPEVO Online Store.
Paris-based Côte
& Ciel offers high-end products which "promote creative
functionality and empower individuality in lifestyle travel goods."
Côte & Ciel products for the 20% Off promotion include the
Stand Bag for iPad, the Pillow Stand for iPad, the Laptop Traveler Bag
for 15" MacBook Pro, the Laptop Carrier Bag for both 13" and 15"
MacBook Pro, the Kit Bag (which is designed to carry smartphones and
other small items), and the Tablet Kit Bag for iPad. These selections
come in a variety of colors.
Also included in the 20% Off promotion are some of IPEVO's signature
iDevice accessories. These include KA-01 Origami Folio with Fold-Out
Stand, the PV-01 360 Rotating Folio Case, and Typi Folio Case &
Wireless Keyboard. These products are designed for iPad 3 and iPad 2.
Additional qualifying items include the Perch Stand for all generations
of iPad (available in Desktop, Sofa, and Podium sizes), the PadPillow
Pillow Stand for all generations of iPad as well as eBook readers like
the Kindle and Nook, and Chopstakes Pair of Multitouch Styli.
The following items are included in this 20% off promotion
offer:
- All Côte & Ciel brand products
- Typi Folio Case & Wireless Keyboard
- Perch Stand for iPad (all sizes)
- KA-01 Origami Folio with Fold-Out Stand
- PV-01 360 Rotating Folio Case
- PadPillow Pillow Stand
- Chopstakes Pair of Multitouch Styli
- iPad Security Case with Lock and Stand
- Grip Case for iPad 2
The 20% Off promotion ends Sunday, August 12, 23:59 PST.
Customers can simply add participating products to their shopping
cart via the IPEVO Online Store. Upon checkout, the 20% discount for
each item is immediately applied. There is no limit to the amount of
products in a single order which may qualify for 20% off. No coupon
code is required.
Link: 20% Off Promotion
3-in-1 Smart Stylus for iPad/iPhone, Galaxy Tabs,
Other Tablets
PR: This
stainless steel stylus has 3 functions: Laser Pointer, Stylus,
Ballpoint Pen.
The ballpoint pen is compliant with German standard of D1 type ink
refill.
Features:
- 3-in-1, a ballpen, a laser pointer and a stylus for iDevices /
Tablets
- No more finger prints on your Screen
- More Accurate
- Portable
What USB Fever recommends:
- It is best for situations where you wear gloves such as in the
winter or other circumstances where a touch with your fingertip is not
very convenient.
- Our view of point remains that our fingers are still the most
sensitive and best "tool" for controlling your iPod/iPhone/iPad.
- Playing games
This accessory is
compatible with:
- iPad, all models
- Samsung P1010 Galaxy Tab WiFi
- Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1
- Samsung Galaxy Tab 8.9
- Samsung P7100 Galaxy Tab 10.1v
- Samsung Galaxy Tab T-Mobile
- Samsung P1000 Galaxy Tab
- Samsung Galaxy Tab CDMA
- Samsung Galaxy Tab 4G LTE
- Motorola Xoom MZ601, MX604, and MZ600
- LG Optimus 3D P920
- HP Touch Pad
- BlackBerry PlayBook
- Eee Pad Slider
- Eee Pad Transformer
- Kindle, all models
- Nook, all models
- Optimus Pad/G-Slate
- PlayBook, Slate 500, Tablet P, Tablet S
$17.99
Link: 3-in-1 Smart
Stylus
