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iPad folio case roundup: Three great ways to protect your iPad
Some pundits were calling Macworld Expo 2011 the "iPad Case Expo" since there were so many vendors on hand with either "me-too" products or totally unique ideas. While I think that label is somewhat unfair, there were a lot of iPad cases on display at Macworld. A number of those designs showed up at my office during the show, so I decided to do a quick overview and comparison post of three of the best for TUAW readers. All three of these are what we refer to as folio cases in that they have a front and back cover, much like a book, and they generally provide a way to prop up the iPad in a number of positions. The latter trait of the iPad folio cases makes them the flexible yoga instructors of the iPad case world. Now, let's take a look at some of these cool cases.
iPad 2 cases surface, rekindle SD card slot fire and add a pinch of mystery with topside cutout
There's usually as much fun to be had before an Apple product launch as there is after, and this upcoming iPad 2 device is no exception. The latest scuttlebutt it has succumbed to comes courtesy of some cases that have cropped up in China -- AppleInsider and MIC Gadget have independently found iPad 2 shells that feature nearly identical cutouts -- with the resulting allegations pointing toward a rear-facing camera, an SD card slot, and perhaps even a Mini DisplayPort receptacle. Our own sources have confirmed the former two, but the latter, a miniaturized video output already featured in MacBooks, is a new development and less of a certainty. Then again, looking at the size of the hole leaves few alternative options (and a USB slot is extremely unlikely), so we're willing to believe that a Mini DisplayPort will be an inclusion Apple makes for the sake of offering choice -- even if it prefers you to send your video streams over an untethered AirPlay connection.
Case-Mate, Scosche announce Verizon iPhone cases will be available for debut
Would you buy a Verizon iPhone in February if not for the crippling fear of running it without a case? Apple moved the mute and volume buttons on the new iPhone just enough to render most existing cases useless, sending scratch-o-phobes into spasms of anxiety. Fear not, for Case-Mate and Scosche have you "covered." Each company has announced its intentions to have cases ready for the Verizon iPhone on launch day. Case-Mate will have a full line-up ready, and you can sign up to receive up-to-the-second, patience-be-damned notification of when they become available. Scosche will offer a black and white version of their kickBack series (shown above), which they promise to have ready "on or before" February 10. We suspect other manufacturers are developing their own solutions right now. One interesting question is what Apple will do to its own Bumper line. Surely it would be ridiculous to offer two lines, one for AT&T and one for Verizon. Perhaps the hole on the side will just be widened in order to accommodate either. We'll know soon enough.
Rocketfish iCapsule keyboard case looks ugly but exceedingly useful
So far, iPad keyboard cases seem to follow two schools of thought -- the folio and the mini-clamshell -- and while both have their merits, neither do the job quite as well as the set of chiclets on your standard netbook. Best Buy's in-house Rocketfish label has a different idea: forget about making it svelte, and just hand you a full-size Bluetooth laptop keyboard that holds your iPad as well. It's called the iCapsule, and as you can probably tell it can accommodate your slate in both portrait and landscape modes, and when you're done it folds up into a hardshell case with an integrated carrying handle. The unit takes two AA batteries -- rather than a rechargeable Li-ion cell -- and costs $100 to own, though it's presently both on sale for $80 and unfortunately out of stock. We'll let you know if we get the chance to try it for ourselves. Two more pics at our source link, if it has piqued your curiosity by now. [Thanks, Yeti]
The iChair combines a case with a stand for iPhone and iPad
One of my favorite things about shows like CES is hearing stories about products straight from the vendors themselves. Not everyone has a product as flashy as the Sphero or as attention-grabbing as the hot new tablet computers. Some of the vendors in the booths are just people trying to sell cases. That's the story with Vindi Sedey, who once sold real estate. He decided last year that since he was using his iPad to watch a lot of videos, he wanted a simple stand that could go landscape or portrait, anywhere. Most of us would shrug and buy the first one we saw online, but Sedey actually traveled to China, researched materials and designed a case for both the iPad and iPhone that he calls iChair. If there's one thing I learned at CES, it's that cases are largely a matter of taste. Almost all of them will protect your iDevice, so it's really a matter of which one you think looks and works best. But the iChair is a nice case. The back comes in two parts and is polycarbonate with a rubber coating, so it's nice and sturdy without being bulky. Each case comes with both a black top and a colored top (blue or white), with a screen protector, dust cloth and a squeegee board. The stand is pretty strong, too. The iPad version can rotate around in a few different positions and has an extra tab for typing, while the iPhone version just clicks out; both versions can stand up the device in either landscape or portrait. The iPad version is US$49, while the iPhone version is $34. Shipping is free until "We'll see," Sedey says. It was great to talk to him and his family (his wife and brother-in-law were manning the booth with another friend) in the midst of all the chaos on the CES floor.
Verizon iPhone has relocated buttons, might require new cases
The leaks suggested that the Verizon iPhone would have slightly relocated buttons, and it's true -- as you can see in the photo above, the newly revised CDMA antenna notch has pushed the volume and mute controls down a hair from GSM version. That means a lot of cases -- Apple's current bumpers included -- won't fit properly on the Verizon version, although many third-party cases feature an open slot for the buttons that might still work. Either way, we'd bet Apple and third-party manufacturers are scrambling to have compatible cases in stores before the February 10th launch date -- just make sure to check yours first if you're switching from AT&T.
BlackBerry Bridge for PlayBook tablet preview (video) (updated)
You've surely checked out our BlackBerry PlayBook preview by now, so you know that we're very impressed with the state of the tablet at this point in time. Still, we're somewhat dumbfounded by the lack of native messaging and calendar clients, and until now we've been in the dark on exactly how RIM planned to execute this. Enter BlackBerry Bridge -- the app suite that allows your Bluetooth-tethered BlackBerry device to manage your Messages, Calendar, and -- yes -- BBM. Head past the break for a video of these in action (sorry it's a little shaky and loud, we were on the floor), as well as a quick rundown of some of the basics -- and we've got a bonus gallery of some first-party PlayBook accessories thrown in for good measure. %Gallery-113486% %Gallery-113485%
Blingiest bling booths make your Apple gear gaudy to the max
The companies making these rhinestone or Swarovski-encrusted iPad and iPhone cases are numerous. But if you're in the mood to wrap your Apple gear in shiny, sharp little crystals or plastic "gems" then there is no shortage of gaudy garbage vendors at CES -- or on the internet. Here's a little gallery of just a couple of outfits we spotted while walking around. Am I crazy for thinking this stuff is suitable for Snooki and her fans only? I mean, one of the packages states "Bling My Thing." You have to be kidding. %Gallery-113387%
Alleged iPad 2 cases show up with some interesting cuts (video)
Looks like some Chinese manufacturers think they know what the next-generation iPad looks like -- we've seen numerous pictures today of supposed cases all with the same features: a headphone jack, a hole for a camera on the back, just one dock connector (not two), and a mysterious slit on the bottom. So, what could that be? An SD card slot seems unlikely since the cutout predominantly strips away the back of the case, not the bottom edge. Our source speculates it might be the antenna -- if all the manufacturers saw was the aluminum case design, the cutaway could've been made as a precaution, not knowing exactly what it's for. (Then again, the antenna for iPad 3G is found on the top of the device). We're thinking it might be for a revised speaker design -- the cutout is located just above and behind the location of the current iPad's speaker. Maybe we'll find out for ourselves by April, and maybe we won't -- consult your own crystal ball for that one. Some more case designs in a video after the break.
iPad deals: QVC offers iPad bundle at a nice price
Shopping channel QVC, of all places, has a pretty good iPad deal going on right now. It's offering up Apple's magical and revolutionary device (in a 16GB Wi-Fi version) along with a ton of accessories for US $749. In that price, you get the dock connector cable, a silicon sleeve and stand, a clear case to put it in, a headphone splitter cable, two different screen protectors, and another case/stand to use. If you were planning to buy an iPad and all of these accessories anyway, that's as good a deal as you'll find. No indication on how long the deal's going on, so you should probably get to buying if it's something you want to take advantage of. They don't specifically mention the quality of the cases and stands included, but the pictures make them look pretty sturdy. I'd say go for it, and enjoy your new iPad! Update: Folks in the comments are saying this deal is nothing special. Your mileage may vary -- if you don't need all the accessories and the cables, then feel free to buy the iPad at its normal price. Thanks to everyone who sent this in.
Angry Birds cases for Angry Birds addicts
You play it in line at the grocery store, and you play it when passing time at the laundromat, but now those Angry Birds have arrived in the form of a case for your iPhone 4 or iPod touch. Made by Gear4 and available now for US$24.99, the hard plastic cases are colorfully adorned with either Red Bird, Yellow Bird or the Pig King himself. Rovio's incredibly popular game entails slingshotting birds at green pigs who have stolen their eggs. It has seemingly taken on a life of its own with new versions being announced for Halloween, Christmas and now Seasons -- along with also unleashing some homemade Angry Birds costumes. One fan even decided to recreate the game using balls, clay, eggs, slingshots and cardboard boxes for her very own "live" version at home. Angry Birds is currently the game I play most on my iPhone, but I don't think I am at a level of addiction where I need a matching case. Are you there yet?
EVO Shift 4G (aka HTC Knight / Speedy) shows up in accessory pics, exhibits dubious dress Sense
Can't have enough Androids in your life? Well, here's another one! Alternately known as the Knight or the Speedy, HTC's upcoming Android device has made a couple of premature photo appearances in an effort to help sell some cases for its future self. The guys at HTCPedia report they have all the cases in their imagery in stock and confidently identify the Speedy Knight as a 3.7-inch QWERTY slider, while the phone's UI and rear inscription leave no doubt about it running HTC's Sense skin for Android. The likeliest scenario for this phone's retail future is that it'll be dubbed the EVO Shift 4G and exploit Sprint's WiMAX airwaves, leaving the only unresolved issue as a one-word query: when?
Dutch designer creates wind-powered iFan case-charger for iPhone
Tired of having his iPhone run out of juice halfway through the day, Dutch designer Tjeerd Veenhoven has created the iFan charging case. While it's not quite as slick and integrated looking as a Mophie juice pack, the iFan does provide a renewable means of charging an iPhone and a bit of bumper-style protection at the same time. Veenhoven modified a computer's case fan to function as a generator and fashioned it into a wrap-around case with a dock connector. According to him, it takes about 6 hours to charge his iPhone via wind power, but he reckons that could be reduced by reworking the fan blades to make them more efficient. Currently, this appears to be just a one-off with no immediate production plans. The question is, would you be willing to hold your iPhone out the car window as you drive to charge it? [via Engadget]
Report: iPhone 4 "more prone to physical damage"
SquareTrade, a company that provides extended warranties for iPhones, is reporting that the iPhone 4 is "more prone to physical damage" than the iPhone 3GS, according to the warranty company's iPhone reliability report. In the report, SquareTrade compared over 20,000 iPhone 4 claims, from the first four months of its release, to the equivalent for the iPhone 3GS. They found that the overall reported accident rate for the iPhone 4 is 68% higher than the 3GS, and that iPhone 4 users reported 82% more damaged screens than the 3GS. The report goes on to say that "the aluminosilicate glass seems to crack at least as often as the old [3GS] glass, and there is now twice as much surface area to break," despite Apple claiming that the glass used in the iPhone 4 is 30 times harder than plastic, according to its website. However, SqaureTrade's report says that accident rates need to be taken into perspective, and that overall, the iPhone has a much lower non-accident malfunction rate than compared with most other consumer electronics. SquareTrade also notes that in its last smartphone reliability study, it found the iPhone to be "far more reliable" than Blackberry and Palm Treo phones, though, this was compiled in November 2008. Having just received my iPhone 4, I'm debating whether to get a case for it or not. I did purchase a highly rated case for my 3G, but it was more of a hassle than its worth, especially since I was particularly careful with the phone. I guess it boils down to how well you look after you gadgets. Nevertheless, accidents do happen. You can download a PDF of SquareTrade's report here. [via International Business Times]
Apple afraid of a shattering followup to its Antennagate woes?
Apple weathered that Antennagate storm surprisingly well, but now there's another potential cloudburst on the horizon, and it's been pre-named for your convenience: "Glassgate." Or maybe "Glass-That-Shatters-If-Scratched-By-A-Casegate." Ryan Block has just posted a story on gdgt citing sources "inside and outside Apple" claiming that Apple has discovered a different flaw -- or weakness, shall we say -- in its iPhone 4 design. The basic problem seems to be with non-bumper cases, specifically ones that slide on to the phone, and the danger of trapped particles scratching the back of the phone while taking the case on and off. Case-caused scratches are nothing new (though still annoying), but the big problem seems to be that these scratches can lead to cracking and even full-on shattering of the back panel. Apparently this lead to Apple severely limiting its reselling efforts of third party cases for a time (which you might have noticed), and while Apple currently has some third party cases online and in its stores, none of the hard cases are of the slide-on variety. Apple also purportedly has a new test program set up to understand this specific issue. Of course, plenty of questions are raised by all this: is this a widespread problem with folks that have managed to acquire a slide-on case? We haven't really heard of such a correlation so far. Do the snap-on folks, many of whom received their cases free of charge from Apple, have anything to worry about? And does Apple have any intention of warning its consumers about this potential danger? Apple didn't respond to Ryan's request for comment, and we doubt they'll respond to our own until they're good and ready to talk -- let's just hope there's not another faux hat-in-hand press conference in our future! %Poll-53936%
Apple Store restarts bumper case sales
Thanks to a couple of tips this morning, we note that iPhone 4 bumpers are once again available in the Apple Store online. The cases, which retail for US$29.99, were taken off the virtual shelves during the 'Antennagate' free case giveaway period, just expired. Interestingly, Apple's product images for the bumpers all include a product that isn't on sale yet -- the legendary, much-anticipated white iPhone 4. Thanks Mike and Marc
Moleskine launching iPhone and iPad cases: how would Hemingway play Angry Birds?
The way we saw it, it was Moleskine vs. the inevitable march of 1s and 0s that would eventually consume us all. No longer (actually, Moleskine already sells a Kindle cover, but we're temporarily ignoring that for argument's sake). Moleskine just announced a Digital Covers line of hybrid notebooks that include a pad of regular, "legendary" notebook paper alongside a cozy spot for your i-device of choice. Will this combination (some might say compromise) make you smarter, your prose more concise, your beard more intellectual? Of course it will. But at what cost? Sure, literature survived the decline of penmanship with the emergence of Mark Twain and his typewriter, and Douglas Adams championed the Macintosh to no end, but now that Moleskine has gone and sullied its own reputation we're finally ready to just go ahead and say it: the novel is dead.
Engadget's back to school guide: Laptop bags
Welcome to Engadget's Back to School guide! We know that this time of year can be pretty annoying and stressful for everyone, so we're here to help out with the heartbreaking process of gadget buying for the school-aged crowd. Today, we have laptop bags in our sights -- and you can head to the Back to School hub to see the rest of the product guides as they're added throughout the month. By now you should have had enough time to decide what on our laptop buying guide takes your fancy, but, as Apple will tell you, the protective case is sometimes as important as the precious hardware itself. You'll notice that this year we have a good number of bags that include padded camera sections as well -- to the point of perhaps being described as camera bags with laptop compartments -- but we feel that's justified by the massive proliferation of DSLRs into the mainstream market. Entry-level interchangeable lens shooters have grown cheap enough even for non-photography students to consider owning one, but we can think of no good reason why they should require a separate bag of their own. So, on with the recommendations.
Moleskine case hides your iPhone, prison-style
I really do love the look of moleskine books. When you've got a well-worn leather moleskine book, bursting with notes and bookmarks, you sort of feel like you're holding onto the long lost notes of Dr. Henry Jones Sr. on the whereabouts of the Holy Grail. No? Just me? If you're completely nuts about all things moleskine, there's a new iPhone case that should be right up your alley. As seen pictured, the case looks like a hollowed-out moleskine book that fits your iPhone, complete with traditional elastic band. In essence, the iPhone replaces what would be oh-so-passe paper. Finally, a classy way to hide your cell in your cell during prison guard shakedowns. [via The Daily What]
TUAW Review: ColcaSac sleeve for iPad
I've never understood people who keep their iPads bound up in cases. I get that they want to protect their iPads, but I never understood why they choose cases which just add to the bulk of the beautifully thin device. I've always been a sleeve guy myself -- something to keep the iPad scratch-free while transporting, yet which easily allows you to slide it out and hold it in your hands the way Jobs intended. That being said, I've searched for months for a good iPad sleeve. Most of the sleeves out there are very sterile and bland in appearance. Their designs are fit for mass production, but not much else. My search for the perfect iPad sleeve ended when I discovered the ColcaSac iPad sleeve. ColcaSac is a small company in Salt Lake City, Utah that makes five different iPad sleeves, plus numerous iPhone and MacBook sleeves. Their designs are simple, yet different. The ColcaSac I have is the Hanakapiai model. It's got a soft cotton interior that gives the iPad's screen a nice wipe every time it's taken out of the sleeve, helping wipe away fingerprint smears. The outside of the sleeve is made of a beautiful basketweave hemp canvas that gives it a slightly rugged look. But one of the things I like most about the ColcaSac is the sleeve's outside pocket (which so many sleeves lack), perfect for carrying a USB cable and charger. And best of all, the iPad fits snugly into the sleeve. I've tried many iPad sleeves, and most of them don't hold the iPad tight. With the ColcaSac sleeve I can open the sleeve (it uses a Velcro fold to close), hold it upside down, and have the iPad slide out slowly. Considering the design and quality materials they use, the $35 price tag for the ColcaSac is a steal. It's also a beautiful choice for iPad owners who want something aesthetically different than the usual offerings of iPad sleeves found on Amazon or in Apple Stores. If you're looking for a great sleeve, I highly recommend this one. Broke? Can't afford one? Not to worry! The guys at ColcaSac have been good enough to provide a sleeve for one of our lucky TUAW readers. Check back in the next few days for the giveaway post!
