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Digital Treasures announces Props Repel waterproof iPad folio case
With more and more iPads being used by workers in a variety of outdoor locations, waterproof cases for the ubiquitous tablet are starting to appear. Digital Treasures today announced the Props Repel waterproof folio case for iPad 4/3/2 (US$49.95), which appears at first glance to be an inexpensive way to keep your expensive device from drowning in a downpour. The Props Repel is IPX8 certified to be submersible and completely waterproof to depths up to 33 feet, so if you decide that you want to use your iPad to take selfies while surfing, no problem. Want to shoot video while snorkeling in the Caribbean? Not a problem, as the triple zipper lock is going to keep your iPad high and dry. Back on shore, the Props Repel serves as a nice two-position stand so you can watch the video you just shot of fighting off a shark attack. The case is available for order today; we'll have a full review soon.
Props Power and Keyboard Case for iPad: review and giveaway
Remember my last keyboard case review where I told you it was going to be the last one for awhile? Well, that was before yet another manufacturer knocked on my virtual door and handed me a keyboard case. But this, my friends, is a keyboard case with a difference -- it also has a huge built-in battery pack that you can use to extend the working life of your iPad or charge your other hungry electronic devices. The name of this unit is the Props Power and Keyboard Case for iPad (US$109.95) from Digital Treasures, and I'll take you through a quick look at this case before giving it away. Design The first thing I noticed when I pulled the Props Power and Keyboard Case out of its box was how light it is. That's not expected, since this is not just a keyboard, but also has an 8000 mAh battery pack hidden inside. How heavy is it? 1.36 lbs (.62 kg). Compare that to the keyboard-only CruxSKUNK that weighed in at 1.73 lbs (.78 kg) or the ClamCase Pro at 1.56 lbs (.71 kg). That's a pleasant surprise. The Props case is similar to many of the keyboard folio cases we've reviewed, with a black bicast leather exterior with red stitching. A magnetic flap keeps the case closed for travel. The only external port is a micro-USB port for recharging. %Gallery-191246% Between the top of the keyboard and the back of the folding case are some buttons and lights. There's a button for turning on the external power if you wish to charge another device (including your iPad) -- that also serves to turn on LEDs that indicate the nearest amount of remaining capacity (25%, 50%, 75% or 100%) in the battery pack. There's also a switch for turning the keyboard on and off so it doesn't keep communicating with your iPad, and next to that a pushbutton for pairing the Props with your iPad. Two LEDs provide an indication of the pairing status and power to the keyboard. As you'd expect with a case that works with the last three generations of iPad, there's a back-facing hole in the case for the camera to peek through. There's a flap that protects the iPad screen from the keyboard when the case is closed up -- more about that in the next section. That flap also acts as a convenient wrist rest, which I think is the entire reason it was added to the Props case. Functionality Since it's quite a bit like a lot of the leather portfolios on the market, that means that the iPad is slipped into the Props from the side. It's very easy to insert and remove. The keyboard layout is pretty typical for an iPad keyboard case, with a top row of keys specific to iPad functions. One thing I thought was quite odd, though, was why Digital Treasures decided to include a Function key on the bottom row of keys, since all it does is activates Home, Page Down, Page Up, and End on the arrow pad. Those are functions that aren't widely used, especially when typing on an iPad. The keyboard has a good typing feel; most of the current crop of iPad keyboard cases are probably using a similar keyboard mechanism. Now, about the rest of the case design. As you're all well aware, most iPad cases take advantage of the magnetic auto-shutoff feature so that when the case is closed, the iPad shuts off. Open the case, the iPad turns on. That's the situation here -- but remember that wrist rest that also protects the iPad screen from the keyboard? Well, it also gets in the way of the magnetic shutoff feature. With the flap out of the way -- which isn't the way it's designed for carrying -- the magnetic shutoff works fine. WIth the flap in the recommended position, it doesn't work very well at all. The keyboard pairs easily with the iPad, although it still requires a 4-digit pairing code to be entered. I'm getting spoiled by the newer keyboards that pair without the need for a code. The iPad only works propped up in one position on the case, and there's no positive retention of the device. Other keyboard cases use either a magnet, a slot, or Velcro to hold the iPad steady -- there's no such mechanism here. Most of the time that's not an issue, but if you try using the Props Power and Keyboard Case in your lap -- say while sitting on the couch or on an airplane -- there's a good chance that even a slight movement will cause the iPad to flop over backwards and bang into your knees. It did that several times while I was writing this review. This could be rectified by putting two tiny strips of Velcro in appropriate locations on the case. As a battery pack, this case is excellent. As I mentioned earlier, it's actually lighter than other keyboard cases yet still contains an 8000 mAh battery. You can either use all of that power for 3,000 hours of uninterrupted typing (perfect during NaNoWriMo!) or to charge up other devices. Can that battery be used to top off your iPad? Certainly! There's a short micro-USB to USB connector that you plug into the case, and then you can use your favorite 30-pin Dock connector or Lightning connector cable to charge up the iPad, an iPhone or any other power-hungry device. The 4 blue LEDs give you an excellent indication of when you should stop charging all of those other devices to avoid running the battery pack out of juice. Conclusion The Props Power and Keyboard Case for iPad is a mixed bag. As a keyboard, it works fine on a desktop, but the iPad can flop over if you're using this in your lap. There's a nice wrist rest that's comfortable for typing, but it keeps the case from shutting off automatically. There's no positive mechanism for holding the iPad in place, so it can move around -- especially in a lap. But for all of the somewhat mediocre features of the case, there's one outstanding feature, and that's the 8000 mAh battery that seemingly adds no weight at all. Pros Internal 8000 mAh battery pack can be used to charge your iPad and other devices LEDs give you a positive indication of charge remaining Lightweight, even with the internal battery pack Keyboard has an excellent feel to it It's easy to put an iPad into the case or remove it Price is very reasonable for a combo battery pack / keyboard case Cons Magnetic shut-off feature is hampered by the wrist rest iPad isn't held securely into place, so it can flop over if the keyboard is used in a lap Controls for the keyboard (on/off, pairing) and power pack (on/off and level indicators) are hidden behind the iPad when in use, making them awkward to get to The addition of a Function key to the keyboard seems odd, considering it really performs no useful function Who is it for? Anyone who needs a keyboard case that they can use on a stable desktop surface and who wants the instant availability of up to 8000 mAh of battery capacity for charging devices Giveaway You've read the review; now it's time to give TUAW readers the chance to win a Props Power and Keyboard Case for iPad. Here are the rules for the giveaway: Open to legal US residents of the 50 United States, the District of Columbia and Canada (excluding Quebec) who are 18 and older. To enter, fill out the form below completely and click or tap the Submit button. The entry must be made before June 15, 2013 11:59PM Eastern Daylight Time. You may enter only once. One winner will be selected and will receive a Props Power and Keyboard Case for iPad valued at $109.95 Click Here for complete Official Rules. Loading...
Props Power Case for iPad and iPad mini: Review and giveaway
One of the big questions I always hear from newbies to the iOS world is "Why are there battery pack cases for the iPhone but not for the iPad?". That's a really good question, and one that I couldn't honestly answer. Now Digital Treasures has done the inevitable and created the Props Power Case for iPad mini ($79.95) as well as two larger versions for your full-sized iPad ($89.95 for 8000 mAh battery, $119.95 for 12000 mAh battery). In this review, I'll take a look at the Props Power Case for iPad mini to give you an idea of the usefulness of these juiced-up cases. Design The Props Power Cases use the tried-and-true folio case design with a prop (hence the name) for watching videos hands-free in an upright landscape orientation. The material covering the outside is a black leatherette with red stitching that looks pretty good, and there's a magnetic strap to hold the case cover closed. The inside of the case a stippled rubber-like material that makes propping the iPad at a number of angles a snap. The iPad is held into place by flexible plastic corner pieces. On the iPad mini cases there are four of these pieces, while the full-sized iPad case includes a fifth piece on the right side of the iPad to help hold it into place. As you'd expect, all of the cases include a hole for the rear-looking camera. The big difference with the Props Power Cases is the thickness of the cover. That's because it holds a flat battery pack. On the bottom of the battery pack you'll find an input port (used to charge up the battery from any standard USB power source), four status LEDs indicating the level of charge, an on button to test the battery level and start charging your iPad, and a micro-USB power output port. %Gallery-185672% With the battery pack, the case weighs a bit more than your standard lightweight iPad mini case. The Props Power Case for iPad mini weighed in at 0.945 lb, more than doubling the weight of the standard mini (0.68 lb). A USB to input port cable is included for charging, and there's a micro-USB to female USB adapter cable that can be used with your usual iOS device charging cable to plug it into the battery. Note that you can use the Props Power Case to not only charge up your iPad or iPad mini, but just about any other electronic device. Functionality When plugged into a USB power adapter (in my case, I attached it to a powered USB 3.0 hub), the blue power level LEDs light up to indicate that charging is occurring. As the battery charges, each of those lights will blink in sequence until the pack is fully charged, at which time all four blue LEDs remain steady. I found that getting the iPad mini into and out of the plastic corner pieces was quite easy. Each of the pieces has a slight "lip" on it that holds the iPad securely in place. Remember the magnetic strap I described above that holds the case closed? It also sticks to the back of the case when you are using it as a stand, perfect for keeping it from flopping over onto the screen while you're watching a movie. As with most folio-type iPad cases, the Props Power Case includes magnets in the cover to turn the iPad on when you open the cover and off when you close the cover. I found that whether or not this worked was highly dependent on making sure that the cover was aligned properly on the right side when closed, and that it often didn't line up the way it should. That's not too much of an issue for me, as I enabled the lock sound so I could hear when the screen was being turned off. The battery pack in the iPad mini has a capacity of 4400 mAh according to iFixit.com, which means that the pack should be able to provide about 1.8 charges to a mini. That's different from what the back of the Props Power Case box says; it notes that it will provide "up to a 100% power boost for your iPad mini." I'm not sure exactly which number is correct, but it should be reassuring that you can at least bring an "empty" iPad mini up to a full charge. The Props Power Case specifications are a bit shaky on the expected lifetime of the battery pack as well. For the iPad mini, the user guide listed the battery as being able to handle 300 - 500 charge / discharge cycles. Conclusion The Props Power Cases for iPad and iPad mini look like they're fairly solid and well constructed battery folio cases that can add anywhere from 50 to 130 percent more power to your device depending on the model. While they're not the most stunning cases I've ever seen, if you need on-the-go power and protection for your iPad, the Props Power Cases are definitely worth looking at. Pros Good capacity, providing anywhere from 50 to 130 percent more power to your iPad depending on the model Well-constructed, with very good protection from drops and falls all around the iPad Status LEDs are very useful in determining charge and discharge levels Cons Not sure why Digital Treasures picked white cables for a black case Cover magnets may not necessarily turn off your iPad when the cover is closed due to issues with getting it properly aligned Who is it for? The hard core iPad user who needs additional power for his or her device Giveaway Have an iPad mini? Here's your opportunity to win a Props Power Case for iPad mini from TUAW and Digital Treasures. Loading...
