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Altec Lansing's Octiv Stage iPad speaker dock is delightfully understated
Better late than never, right? That's the mantra that Altec Lansing is following with the introduction of the Octiv Stage. It's certainly not the first iPad-specific sound system on the market, but it's definitely one of the least invasive. Color us crazy, but we're thinking this subtle guy could actually sneak away in a rear corner of your home without drawing unnecessary amounts of attention to it, and we get the feeling that's exactly what Altec's after. Designed to operate in both portrait and landscape modes (courtesy of a rotating connection arm), this here dock can also tilt back and forward to give you lots of viewing angles. It's out today for a somewhat understandable $149.95, and just in case your long lost cousin busts out a Zune, the 3.5mm auxiliary jack will ensure that no one's made to feel ashamed. No promises on that last one, though. %Gallery-107493%
Zaggmate iPad keyboard case saturates a market in record time
Alright, folks -- we get it. There's a market for iPad cases with accompanying keyboards. If none of the other options that have emerged over the past few months tickled your fancy, Zagg is introducing yet another to mull over. The Zaggmate actually does manage to differentiate itself fairly well from the competition, with two models being available: one with a keyboard and one without. This clip-on stand can elevate your iPad (positioned horizontally or vertically) for easier viewing, and the "with keyboard" model obviously throws out a full QWERTY set to make those Pages creations somewhat easier to bang out. Currently, Zagg's got this one listed as 'Coming Soon,' with the standard model carrying a $69.99 price tag and the keyboard edition demanding an extra $30. Peek 'em both in their YouTube debuts just after the break. Update: The Zaggmate was actually hanging around at the CES New York Press Preview last night -- we caught a couple of hands-on shots below, but as you'd expect it's a pretty cheap feeling, plastic keyboard / case. %Gallery-107122% [Thanks, Adrian]
Crux 360 case converts your iPad into a netbook for $149 (video)
Hello, trend. The Crux 360 is the third such device that we've seen in the past two months, and if we had to guess, we'd say it probably won't be the last. That said, it's easily the best looking of the bunch, and it's available to pre-order beginning today. For all intents and purposes, this case transforms your iPad into a netbook (at least, a netbook sans a bona fide operating system), but it's also capable of flipping back in order to become a kickstand. A Bluetooth keyboard is built right into the "lid," and if you're in need of little visual explanation, a video is waiting just after the break. $149 and she's yours... someday.
iKlip puts your iPad on a mic stand, Steven Tyler drapery sold separately
It's a microphone stand adapter for your iPad. It's made in Italy from darn-near-indestructible materials. It's $39.99 / €29.99, available to pre-order now, and will ship in December. And the white outlines in the gallery below demonstrate its uses far better than our mere words ever could. %Gallery-106756%
Adonit Writer adds one more option to the iPad folio + keyboard barrage
We weren't too fond of the AIDACASE KeyCase Folio, but we should've known a flood of alternatives would be hitting the market shortly thereafter. Adonit dropped us a line to say that its rival is in the final stages of production and should be ready to order by Christmas, and while the final edition will add a lot of polish, there's a gallery of pre-pro shots just below for your perusal. The Writer iPad folio + keyboard combines a Bluetooth keyboard with a case, and the board itself slides on a magnet for maximum positioning awesomeness. There's also a quick iPad release, auto-keyboard sleep function and an exterior that'll look far sexier than what you're seeing here. Hit the source link to be alerted when it goes on sale, and as for pricing, expect to part ways with $120 or so. Or $420 when combined with a Colorware Grip for iPad. %Gallery-106021%
KIRFy iPad adapter adds HDMI output, probably balks at DRM'd material
You know that iPad Dock Connector to VGA Adapter that you wasted money on? Yeah, turns out there's probably a superior alternative available in the wilds of China... well, aside from the fact that it probably lacks an internal authentication chip needed to play back most protected content. Noosy's iPad HDMI output adapter is fairly simple in design -- it plugs into the 30-pin Dock Connector that's on modern iPhone, iPad and iPod touch devices, and then allows 720p content to flow directly over HDMI. We're guessing there's just a VGA-to-HDMI converter wrapped inside a familiar package, but we definitely like where this is headed. There's nary a word on how much this will cost you (or what street corner you need to visit in order to find one), but here's hoping the engineers in Cupertino are paying attention to what consumers are really after. [Thanks, Thomas]
Scosche Sneakpeek II adds component / composite video cables to your iPhone, iPod and iPad
For whatever reason, Apple hasn't made the process of getting video out of our iDevice a lesson in simplicity. We've already heard legions of iPad owners kvetching over the lackluster abilities of Cupertino's iPad Dock Connector to VGA Adapter, but Scosche is hoping to provide a pinch of relief with its latest accessory. The Sneakpeek II is described as a switchable video output solution for any iPad, iPhone and iPod that plays video, and the unquestionable best part is the plug-and-play nature. Simply plug one end into a 30-pin Dock Connector and the other end (composite and component cables are included) into a television, monitor or cyborg human with an LCD instead of a face; heck, there's even a microUSB cable to charge the device while it's pumping out the visuals. If this looks like just the solution to a problem that's been wrecking your social life, hit the source link to order yours for $59.99. %Gallery-104653%
Thinkflood survives recall, now shipping redesigned RedEye Mini
We're guessing the past few months haven't been the greatest at Thinkflood, who has been dealing with a nasty recall of RedEye Mini IR dongles. Based on information passed down from the company to us today, each one of the recalled units has been replaced, and now the redesigned / better-than-ever models are on sale for the same price as before. $49 nets you an IR adapter that plugs into your iDevice headphone jack, enabling your iPod touch, iPhone or iPad to control essentially any home entertainment component that understands Infrared. Crisis averted, as they say.
iLuv's iMM747 iPad speaker dock keeps it classy, classic
iLuv has a long history of cranking out too many iDevice speaker docks to count, so we can't say we're shocked to see 'em pushing out an option that's suitable for the iPad. It's tough to make one of these actually look respectable when it's hoisting a 9.7-inch tablet in place of a pocket-friendly PMP, but the iMM747 actually looks fairly decent. There's a triple driver speaker network, a radiator subwoofer, an auxiliary line input (3.5mm) and a 30-pin Dock Connector that'll also play nice with your iPhone and / or iPod. If you're in the market, it'll be splashing down in the next few days for $149.99.
Colorware ships its first original product: the $300 Grip for iPad (hands-on)
Colorware's been making the products you buy look better (or worse, if you'd like) for years on end, but up until now, it has never actually created a product from scratch. Enter the Grip for iPad, a simplistic new iPad holster that's less of a case and more of a handle. It's a metal frame that you bolt around the edges of your tablet, and as you can tell, it adds a major grabbing point to the side. But here's the rub: it's $300. Yeah, three Benjamins. We get that it's manufactured in Minnesota using that high-priced American labor, but seriously? The major problem is just how awkward that $300 price tag looks beside the $499 MSRP of the device it's supposed to hold; imagine buying a $13,000 set of tires for your $17,000 vehicle. It just doesn't sit well in the cranium. And then there's the problem of using it. %Gallery-104030% You see, as nice as it is to have a handle on your tablet at all times, it makes actually using the iPad in portrait mode practically impossible. You're constantly trying to figure out how to work around that bulge that's now there on the left side. Furthermore, it does essentially nothing for protection. The back is still wide open and susceptible to drops / scratches, and the front isn't recessed in the least. Adding insult to multiple injuries, there's not enough room to have a case wrapped around your iPad while it's inside of the Grip. Oh, and did we mention that the slightest bump against a rough surface will rip the paint right off of the device? We'd love to love the Grip -- it's mighty pretty and it's built like a tank -- but it simply makes no sense whatsoever at $300. Even at $100, you've got way better options when it comes to actually protecting your iPad. %Gallery-104033%
Mophie's Juice Pack Powerstation is smarter than you think
You're probably wondering why Mophie has apparently crafted a device that's not also a case. Believe it or not, you actually aren't living in a parallel universe, and this is -- in fact -- the outfit's first product made compatible with other USB devices. The Juice Pack Powerstation is most obviously targeting heavy iPad users, but the beastly battery pack is quite capable of rejuvenating your PND, PMP or smartphone provided you have the necessary cabling. Most interesting, however, is this unit's ability to automatically switch between desired mAh charges, including 500 mAh, 1A and 2.1A, while a standby toggle switch ensures no drainage when it's idle. There's also a USB pass-through so users can charge a device and the Powerstation simultaneously, and if you're interested, all 3600mAh can be yours starting today at $99.95.
Kensington's PowerBack kickstand case doubles as iPad battery pack
At this point, the only thing standing between you and one of many, many iPad cases is your indecision. In other words, it's not for lack of choices. But Kensington has managed to concoct something interesting here in the PowerBack, which is effectively a Juice Pack for your iPad. At first glance, it's simply a kickstand-infused case used to protect the back and sides of your dear tablet, but the integrated 4400mAh battery pack provides up to five extra hours of juice should you actually decide to prove Steve wrong and read for over ten hours. Surely it's worth the $129.99 just to say you told him so, right?
Sanho's 750GB HyperDrive photo backup HDD plays nice with your iPad
Here's a little nugget you may not have already been aware of -- Apple's iPad is only capable of registering USB hard drives (via the Camera Connection Kit, of course) that are 32GB or smaller, which may or may not bum a vast majority of you out. Thankfully, Sanho's latest and greatest HyperDrive was tailor made to circumvent that limitation, and it just so happens to be the company's most capacious. Checking in with 750GB of open space, this unit boasts a "patent pending ability to turn individual file folders into virtual 32GB drives on the fly that are readable by the iPad," and as you'd expect, there's also a CompactFlash and Secure Digital slot for offloading images directly from your camera's memory card (at up to 40MB/sec). There's even a 3.2-inch QVGA color display, support for JPEG and RAW files and the ability to act as a vanilla USB hard drive; it's available now for $599, though smaller versions are available for those with less pocket change. %Gallery-101580%
RedEye Mini dongle now on sale for $49, looking good in early review
You've heard about it for months, and now the universal remote that looks nothing like a universal remote is finally on sale in 52 nations. Thinkflood's RedEye Mini -- which simply plugs into the headphone jack of your iPad, iPhone or iPod touch -- can now be procured for $49, and when used with the gratis app in the App Store, can control anything in your home entertainment setup that accepts IR commands. ZDNet was fortunate enough to get a little hands-on time with the device, and their early impressions are quite positive. In fact, they recommend skipping the Harmony hoopla and heading right for this if you're already an iDevice owner (who doesn't use an imposing case or Bumper), and at a buck under a Grant, we certainly aren't in a position to argue. %Gallery-97818%
IR-beaming RedEye mini iPad / iPhone remote dongle gets real, its own video demo
Oh, sure -- ThinkFlood promised us back in early March that a RedEye mini would be landing this summer, but at the time, all we had were a few luscious renders. Today, the company has finally revealed the first actual shots of the forthcoming device, along with a video showing it in action. While diminutive, it's certainly not as compact and discrete as IR-enabled cases, but if you've already committed to an iPod touch / iPhone / iPad case (or just prefer rocking your device sans clothing), this here dongle is likely the next best thing. In case you're wondering, this little guy will transform your iDevice into a universal remote, enabling it to talk to any home entertainment component that listens to IR (read: that's just about all of 'em). We're still stuck waiting a few more months for this $49 product to hit shelves, but for now, feel free to hop past the break and peek a brief demonstration.
iPad Camera Connection Kit a commodity item, now fetches $100+ on eBay
Now that the USB-wielding cat's out of the bag, it's looking like supplies of the iPad Camera Connection Kit aren't keeping up with demand -- one Engadget reader tipped us off to the fact that the $30 attachments are worth up to $180 on eBay. A quick bit of sleuthing showed that Apple's actually still selling the things -- they're simply backordered, with a three to four week shipping delay -- but sure enough, niche e-tailers currently list the dongles for as much as $150, and eBay auctioneers are finding the kits sell for two to five times the original MSRP. If your external HDD experiments didn't work out the way you'd liked, at least you can be sure you'll get your money back. [Thanks, Paul P.]
HyperMac external battery packs refreshed with iPad charging support
We're pretty big fans of the HyperMac external batteries here at Engadget, as they've saved us on numerous occasions from becoming mindlessly bored on coast-to-coast flights by keeping our laptops humming for a few more hours. Unfortunately, the integrated USB port -- while handy -- isn't up for handling Apple's new iPad, which requires a 10 watt USB adapter to even charge. We tested our lab iPad on our existing 222Wh HyperMac, and sure enough, the screen you're peering at above is what we saw (read: "Not Charging") -- though it does seem to power the device as to not drain what's left of the battery while connected. In order to remedy said quandary, the folks at Sanho have announced a new line of HyperMac batteries that support iPad charging, but unfortunately for you existing users, every available upgrade path involves shelling out more cash for a new pack. The revamped devices will be available in four different capacities: 60Wh ($169), 100Wh ($269), 150Wh ($369) and 222Wh ($469), able to extend the iPad 25Wh rated internal battery by 2 to 9 times, giving a total run-time of between 34 to 99 hours. Sanho claims these will be rechargeable up to 1,000 times and will include a one-year warranty, so if you're interested, you can place your pre-order now and await a shipment notification in around a fortnight.
AmpliTube iRig brings axe slingers closer to their iPhone, creative side (video)
Oh sure, we've seen something similar from PRS, but the reviews on the Guitarbud were -- how do you say? -- less than stellar. For those looking high and low for a decent alternative, IK Multimedia has outed the equally seductive AmpliTube iRig, a software / hardware tandem that enables axe slingers to jack their guitar or bass into an iPhone, iPad or iPod touch and tweak their sound with a variety of amps and effects (up to 10 stomps, 5 amps, 5 cabinets and 2 microphones). The dongle also has a headphone jack for keeping your wailing to yourself (read: it's mom and neighbor approved), and if you're sporting a jailbroken device, you could also record your newest masterpiece while this hums along in the background. It's a beautiful thought, no? It's up for pre-order right now at $39.99, and you can peek a video of the solution in action just after the break.
iPad Camera Kit ships with USB headset and keyboard support
Reports are coming in that the iPad Camera Connection Kit has finally shown up on a couple buyer doorsteps, and that the pair of white dongles may actually have been worth the wait. While one is a simple SD card adapter that adds one-touch image and video import (including RAW, complete with EXIF data) to the iPad, the second provides a USB port with some exciting new functionality. TUAW reports one reader could type on an iPad via USB keyboard, and those rumors about USB audio were true, too: TidBITS was actually able to make a Skype call after connecting a USB headset. Before you get too excited, however, please note that the USB and SD image transfers are one-way, and not all peripherals are supported -- for instance, TidBITS' iPad sneezed at an external hard drive. Also, according to the Apple Store, Camera Connection Kit shipments are still two to three weeks out, so don't be surprised if it still takes some time to get yours. For now you can make do with the video after the break.
Scosche intros Revive II charger with iPad-optimized USB power port
Still weeping over the fact that your iPad won't charge on that 2002 Latitude your company refuses to replace? Take heart, young buck. Scosche understands your frustrations, and it's out to make coping somewhat easier with the Revive II dual-USB chargers. With one for the car and one for the home, you'll most likely never, ever be in a location where your iPad can't be juiced. In case you haven't guessed, one of the USB ports on each charger is of the high-power variety, while the other will happily charge your iPhone, iPod or nearly any other USB-infused gadget that's smaller than a 9.7-inch tablet PC. Both of 'em are up for pre-order now through the company's website, though the $24.99 (car) and $29.99 (home) price tags do feel a touch steep.
