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Apple invents the leather laptop sleeve
Apple's made iPhone cases and Apple's made accessories to keep iPads cosy, but until today Apple's never made a laptop sleeve. Apple stores IRL and online have ranged third-party products, but when the floodgates to iPhone X pre-orders opened this morning, the new "Leather Sleeve for 12-inch MacBook" also quietly appeared on the company's site. Available in classic "Saddle Brown" or edgy "Midnight Blue," it features an etched Apple logo so everyone knows, yes, that is a MacBook you're carrying under your arm. It's a bit on the pricey side at $149/£149 and it doesn't give your laptop any additional, desperately needed ports. But hey, it's the best MacBook sleeve Apple's ever made.
bHaptics' TactSuit is VR haptic feedback done right
Every now and then, we come across a new attempt to bring haptic feedback to VR, but we've yet to see one that's fully convincing; those that are still around tend to be both pricey and far from ready for the market. Well, this is apparently no longer the case thanks to bHaptics. At HTC Vive X demo day in Shanghai, I got some hands-on time with this Korean startup's TactSuit, a wireless kit consisting of a haptic mask (which is a rarity), two haptic sleeves and a haptic vest. The fascinating part here is that it comes with a total of 87 feedback points, which is a lot more generous than what the other suits offer. It'll also cost less than its direct competitor, Nullspace VR's $549 Hardlight suit which only has 16 feedback points.
Smart sleeve helps pro baseball players avoid injury
While the average Joe might use a wearable to see how many calories he burned on the way to Starbucks, such devices can be infinitely more useful for pro athletes. The Motus Sleeve (shown below) can even help Major League Baseball (MLB) players, especially pitchers, to perform better and avoid injuries or possible career-ending Tommy John's surgery. It has a removable 3D sensor sensor with six accelerometers and gyros that's placed in a pouch on the player's elbow. The Sleeve then collects data like arm speed, pitch counts, elbow torque and other pertinent data for hurlers, and swing data for batters.
And the award for cheapest MacBook sleeve goes to...
I'm utterly ashamed that I didn't think of this myself. What an amazing way to recycle a pair of old trousers. Bonus points for solid sewing skills and making it look professional! [Photo credit: John]
This Germanmade sleeve is the best MacBook Pro case you can buy
I just got a new 15-inch MacBook Pro with Retina display, and it's the best Apple product I've ever bought. It's also the most expensive. Being so thin and having such a beautiful hi-res display, it feels more vulnerable than my older MacBook Pro. That's why I take my sleeve and cases very seriously from a design and build perspective. Thankfully, I stumbled upon a German company called Germanmade. I can confidently say its MacBook Pro with Retina display sleeve is the best MacBook sleeve on the market. Design The Germanmade MacBook Pro 15'' Retina sleeve is made from an "exclusive" leather the company sources. The interior lining of the case is made from a natural, anthracite-colored felt and the entire sleeve is stitched with contrast stitching. The sleeve comes in four colors: night (black), magma (red), earth (dark brown) and vintage (light brown). I chose the night color because I like my sleeves dark, so any dirt or stains don't show up. The interior felt lining is only available in black. Build While design is probably the most important thing many of us care about when choosing a sleeve, when you have a US$3,000 laptop, the build of the case becomes just as -- if not more -- important. Sliding my MacBook Pro into the sleeve requires just the right amount of effort. It doesn't just fall in like some other sleeves I've tried. You need to apply pressure to get it in all the way. This means the interior dimensions of the sleeve are fitted just right, and the MacBook fits snugly inside. The leather is of a high-quality range that, once you have your MacBook in this sleeve, makes it feel like it's protected by an impenetrable skin. I feel totally comfortable with my MacBook Pro protected in nothing but this sleeve when I throw it into my backpack with other books, my e-reader and the odd grocery item. But the thing I really love about this sleeve is the wide flap that Velcros around the middle part of the sleeve's opening. This gives you an extra bit of added security. This is probably not needed, since the sleeve fits so well, but it adds great peace of mind and also looks cool. Cost The Germanmade MacBook Pro 15'' Retina sleeve is €89.95 (about $121.00) plus shipping. Yes, it's pricey for a sleeve, but you are paying for the excellent materials, build and design. Whether it's for your MacBook Pro or a loved one's, this sleeve makes the perfect gift this holiday season.
Joli Originals iPad Air sleeve is all style
I've been a fan of Joli Originals products for a few years now, and its latest round of sleeves and cases for Apple gadgets doesn't disappoint. Particularly, if you're looking for a thin and light sleeve to house your thin, light iPad Air, consider the Smooth iPad sleeve from Joli. Design The Smooth iPad sleeve is so named because it's made from smooth leather (as opposed to the textured leather Joli also offers). I like the smooth leather better because it feels thinner and more in tune with the design aesthetics of the iPad Air. The leather is premium Italian, full-grain waxed leather and available in brown or gray. The sleeve is lined with a Dutch wool felt that is 100 percent wool. If you buy the gray sleeve (as I did), then your only choice of felt color is red. However, if you opt for the brown sleeve, you can choose from aqua, pink or brown felt. For my tastes, I went with the gray and red sleeve because I thought that looked best. Build The thing I love about Joli sleeves is the craftsmanship. So much love and care goes into each and every handmade sleeve, including the packaging. Sleeves are delivered wrapped in tissue paper with a hand-drawn sketch on them. All Joli Originals sleeves are handmade in the company's studio in Amsterdam. The leather used in the sleeve is top-notch and, most importantly, the folks at Joli Originals got the dimensions of the sleeve's interiors just right. You'll need to apply just a little bit of pressure to get your iPad into the sleeve, which ensures a snug fit so you know it won't fall out if you pick it up from the wrong end. I opted for the Joli sleeve that covers the iPad Air only, but they make sleeves that fit the iPad Air with Smart Covers attached. Cost At €69.00 (about US$93.00) the Smooth iPad sleeve isn't the cheapest, but it's one of the best. It's a high-quality sleeve made with love and care. It's also my top recommendation for iPad sleeves this holiday season.
Some Lunatik has made a Flak Jacket for your iPad mini
Whether you have one of the original iPad minis or you're planning on getting the new Retina display model when it arrives later this month, you're going to want some protection for it. Lunatik has a really basic -- but very protective -- sleeve for your iPad mini called the Flak Jacket (US$49.95) that you'll want to take a look at. The Flak Jacket is made of microfiber to cradle your iPad mini softly, but has a tough exterior with a 3D grid-like surface in one of three colors -- black, mint (kind of a teal) or pink -- that provides a good grip for carrying. When you slip your mini into the Flak Jacket (with or without Apple's Smart Cover), you can be sure that it's not going to slide back out thanks to a magnetic closure at the top. The protection isn't going to weigh you down, either. The Flak Jacket weighs in at just three ounces on my postal scale. I'd love to see Lunatik make a Flak Jacket for the iPad Air, as it would be the perfect minimalist sleeve to accompany Apple's newest tablet. Conclusion Want relatively inexpensive, but tough protection for your iPad mini? This is it. With the Flak Jacket covering your iPad mini and a Smart Cover, you're carrying an incredibly thin package. Pros Tough exterior keeps the protected iPad from sliding from your hand or from slanted surfaces Magnetic closure keeps your device inside Microfiber interior cradles your iPad mini in softness Works with an Apple Smart Cover in place Cons A little on the pricey side at $50 Who is it for? Anyone who wants to keep an iPad mini protected without the weight and thickness of some of the cases that are available. Giveaway C'mon, I know some of you are probably waiting for a new Retina display iPad mini. Keep it protected from day one with a nice mint Lunatik Flak Jacket that we're giving away. 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 November 10, 2013 11:59PM Eastern Standard Time. You may enter only once. One winner will be selected and will receive a Lunatik Flak Jacket for iPad mini valued at $49.95 Click Here for complete Official Rules. Loading...
Griffin brings Papernomad's durable eco-friendly sleeves to North America
As TUAW's official case-tester-in-chief, I've seen cases and sleeves for iPhones, iPads and Macs made out of just about every material under the sun. There are those beautiful wood and leather cases, and some crafted from aluminum and other materials, but the vast majority are made of some sort of plastic. That has often made me wonder where all that plastic ends up after a few years when Apple users move on to newer devices. Now Griffin Technology is making waves by bringing Papernomad's paper composite eco-friendly sleeves to North America for the first time. What makes these sleeves so different? The outer shell is made of a water and tear resistant paper composite that looks somewhat like those brown paper bags you used to get at the grocery store before you started using those reusable bags. The inside lining is a wool felt that keeps your favorite Apple product free from scratches and static. Between those two is a batting material that pads your device from bumps. Holding the device in place is a hemp twill pull-tab with a magnetic closure. So, thinking of paper getting wet probably makes you think of soggy paper that's ripping apart and dumping your groceries onto the ground -- not exactly what you'd want for an all-purpose device sleeve, right? The patented paper composite material is water resistant. Papernomad warns you not to put your sleeve into a washing machine, as you'll end up with a pile of compostable goo. However, a little rain or beer spilled on the outside is just going to give your sleeve a bit of character. Speaking of character, Papernomad sleeves have one more defining characteristic. Like just about any other paper, you can write or paint on them with a variety of media, meaning that you can create a totally unique sleeve. I have some plans for the review item I received; it's getting a marker-drawn TUAW logo, a David Lanham sticker or two, and anything else I decide to customize it with. Griffin's the distributor for the Papernomad products in North America; our European readers need to visit Papernomad.com to buy their sleeves. There are three Papernomad sleeves you can buy; Pars for iPhone 4/4s and iPhone 5 (US$39.99), Zattere for iPad ($49.99), and Tamakwa for 13" MacBook Air ($59.99). While they're not yet listed on the Griffin Technology website, there are also sleeves for iPad mini, 11" MacBook Air, and 13" and 15" MacBook Pro that should be available soon. I've got to admit that I was smitten by the simplicity and feel of the iPad mini Zattere and can see how Papernomad's sleeves could become a favorite. The best thing is, once I've moved on to a future Apple device with a different form factor, I know that this case is going to just biodegrade over time and not end up lasting for a thousand years in a landfill.
Chef Sleeve Dishwasher Safe iPad Stand a welcome addition to the kitchen
Long-time TUAW readers may remember that spring day a few years ago when I cracked open an egg on my iPad. I wasn't worried -- the iPad was protected by a Chef Sleeve, an ultra-thin splash- and grease-proof reusable bag that keeps cooking goo from sullying your favorite kitchen device. The company was at Macworld/iWorld 2013 with a couple of new products, but the one that caught my eye was their Dishwasher Safe iPad Stand (US$34.99). Like the original Chef Sleeve, which basically took some specially designed Ziploc-type plastic bags and did some clever packaging, the iPad stand is pretty generic. Any kid in wood shop could cut out a piece of wood, sand it nicely and route some slots into it. But if you don't have a kid in wood shop and just want something that is going to hold your iPad in one place while you cook, look no further. %Gallery-178371% The best feature of the Dishwasher Safe iPad Stand is the first two words of the name -- dishwasher safe. If this gets a little grease or sauce splashed on it, you just toss it into the dishwasher with the rest of the dirty goods and it comes out nicely sanitized. The product even has an NSF (National Sanitary Foundation) approval stamp; probably the first iPad accessory I've reviewed that has that distinction. The stand has two slots with two very different viewing angles, and is designed to be used with iPad generations 2 through 4 and the mini. There are nonskid feet on the bottom to keep things from moving as you tap through recipes on the iPad, and the weight (a little over a half pound) is helpful for keeping things stable. Chef Sleeve partnered with kitchen utensil design firm Epicurean on the design of the iPad Stand, and it shows in the professional construction. Those with an eye out for green products will love the stand as well, since it's made from Forest Stewardship Council-certified wood fibers that are compressed with a food-safe resin. Sure, it doesn't do much than to just hold your iPad while you're cooking, but I think the Chef Sleeve Dishwasher Safe iPad Stand is going to end up in a surprisingly large number of kitchens worldwide. If you have a Target store nearby, you can pick one up along with a box of Chef Sleeves today. While you're at it, also take a look at their Cutting Board with iPad Stand ($69.99).
FreedomPop jumping from WiMAX to LTE by year's end, iPhone sleeves intact
Followers of FreedomPop's saga have seen the fledgling data-only provider make a few audacious claims: providing free bandwidth, for one, and basing its 4G device lineup as much on iPhone sleeve cases as on traditional access points. Add another one to the list -- the MVNO is planning to switch from Clearwire's WiMAX network to Sprint's LTE before 2012 is over. While FreedomPop is still planning to go forward with WiMAX for the initial deployment, it's now looking to use tri-mode EV-DO, LTE and WiMAX modems and phone cases just months later. We'll see if that leads to existing iPhone 4 and 4S owners getting an LTE fix without having to spring for a new phone; marketing VP Tony Miller wouldn't tell GigaOM more. Either way, it's a mixed blessing for data addicts that might find themselves crashing that much faster through the 500MB regular cap on free data.
Fu-design Super Robot MacBook Air Sleeve: Review and giveaway
Last November I had the pleasure of reviewing an iPad case featuring a whimsical design created by Taiwanese-born graphic artist Keng-Fu Chu, AKA "Fu". Now Fu has teamed up again with Echo Creative to bring Super Robot to the front of a cool envelope-like MacBook Air sleeve. The Super Robot MacBook Air Sleeve (US$53.99 for 11" or 13" sizes) is a lightweight polyurethane sleeve that looks a lot like an interoffice envelope, but with a colorful rendition of one of Fu's latest creations -- Super Robot -- zooming high above the Earth. Even the packaging is fun; see the gallery below for details. %Gallery-156918% The sleeve features a soft leather lining and a combination closure that includes a pair of strong magnets and an elastic band that imitates the look of those button-and-string closures you used to see on reusable envelopes. There's also a soft "luggage tag" that attaches to the buttons and can be used to clean smudges off of your MacBook Air screen. There's just enough padding to keep your MacBook Air protected, but not so much as to make this sleeve fat and unwieldy. If you're like me and throw your MBA into a backpack full of other tech gear, you'll appreciate the way that the Super Robot Sleeve protects your laptop from scratches and bumps without taking up much more room than the naked laptop. The Robot 99 iPad cases are sold out and appear to now be a collector's item, so if you want one of these MacBook Air sleeves you'd better act quickly. Alternatively, you can enter our giveaway of an 11" MacBook Air Sleeve from Fu-design today! 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 7, 2012 11:59PM Eastern Standard Time. You may enter only once. One winner will be selected and will receive a Fu-design Super Robot 11" MacBook Air Sleeve valued at US$53.99) Click Here for complete Official Rules. Loading...
Opening the Book(Book) on Twelve South: between the covers of a Mac-exclusive accessory maker
The year is 2009. In history books, it'll widely be recognized as the year that most of America -- heck, the world -- would prefer to forget. Job after job was lost, bank after bank fell, and humanity as we knew it plunged into "the worst recession since the Great Depression." It's also the year that Palm attempted a comeback with webOS, and as it turns out, the year that yet another accessory company was born. While such an occurrence may be forgettable on a macro scale, economic researchers and lovers of technology alike have reason to take notice -- and, indeed, ask questions. So, that's exactly what I did. Beyond growing a technology startup in a me-too field during the worst economy that I've personally been a part of, it's also not often that I find compelling consumer electronics companies far outside of New York City and San Francisco. Twelve South just so happens to be located in a nondescript nook in Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina -- just a beautiful trip over the Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge from historic Charleston. Three years after its founding, the company now fittingly counts a dozen employees on its roster, and despite entering a market flooded with iAccessory after iAccessory, it has somehow managed to grab its own slice of an increasingly large niche. As with all good success stories, this particular outfit has plenty of twists, turns and run-ins with Lady Luck to tell about; for those interested in seeing how the "stay small" mantra is keeping Twelve South firmly focused on the future ahead, take a peek beyond the break.
FreedomPop iPhone case to offer free 4G connectivity
Earlier this year, FreedomPop said it was working on an iPhone case with an integrated cellular radio that would provide users with free mobile broadband access on Clearwire's 4G WiMAX network. Now, the company is taking pre-orders for this 4G WiMAX sleeve. Each sleeve will cost US$99 and will include 500 MB of free mobile data. This is a drop from the planned 1 GB of data FreedomPop hoped to offer. You can bump up that data by participating in a social service that'll earn you an unspecified amount of data for connecting with your friends. Customers can also transfer unused data to other customers who need the extra capacity. (Note that the company's pre-order page still says "up to 1 GB of free data.") You can read more about the FreedomPop case on the company's website and watch a promotional video about the sleeve in the YouTube video below.
FreedomPop Sleeve wants to spread 'free' WiMAX love in the form of a $99 iPhone case
Life, Liberty and the pursuit of free WiMAX? According to FreedomPop, yeah, that seems to be the deal. The outfit, started by one of Skype's co-founders, is peddling $99 WiMAX-equipped iPhone cases that share up to 500MB of free data per month via an embedded WiFi module. The case also extends battery life by six hours and enables FaceTime everywhere you go. FreedomPop Sleeve rumors have been circling the net since December, but now the company is taking things to the next level by officially accepting pre-orders for a launch some time after July 1st. It seems that the company intends to get you hooked on free data in the hopes of selling you premium features later on, such as a VoIP tool and a $0.01 charge per megabyte over the monthly data limit. There's a video of the device in action after the break.
Grove announces new bamboo and felt iPad sleeves
Oregon company Grove is a purveyor of beautifully made Apple accessories, and they've had a big couple of weeks. On launch day for the new iPad, they announced their new iPad cases, a bamboo shell-style back with a felt or leather cover. Today, Grove released their new wool felt sleeve, a gorgeous mix of bamboo and wool felt that will do that new iPad of yours justice. I have laid hands on these myself, and the mix of texture and design is wonderful and in a really well built product to boot. But it doesn't stop there, one of the nice things about opting for sleeve-style protection is that a small change in the dimensions of the device usually doesn't keep you from using the new device with your old sleeve. Grove even points out their new sleeve is compatible with all models of iPad, and if you have the new one or the previous one, you can still use the Smart Cover with it. They are available today, and through the end of March, pricing is $79, a $20 discount. Even if you didn't get a new iPad today, at least you can treat your previous generation to a little treat.
Oregon Scientific Time & Wireless Charging Stations hands-on
Buried within the pile of gadgets at Oregon Scientific's CES booth were these two Time & Wireless Charging Stations. On the left we have the entry-level clock that's already out in the market, whereas the bigger "plus" model on the right made its debut at the show, boasting the extra clock projection and weather forecast feature. Also shown along side were the customized iPhone 4 Qi sleeves that Oregon Scientific will be offering online, and they actually had pretty high quality finish, too, especially with the texture coating on top of them. Do take a closer look in our hands-on photos below.
Holiday Gift Guide: Portable cases
Welcome to TUAW's 2011 Holiday Gift Guide! We're here to help you choose the best gifts this holiday season, and once you've received your gifts we'll tell you what apps and accessories we think are best for your new Apple gear. Stay tuned every weekday from now until the end of the year for our picks and helpful guides and check our Gift Guide hub to see our guides as they become available. For even more holiday fun, check out sister site Engadget's gift guide. One of the first purchases to make for your new MacBook Air or MacBook Pro is a good case. It'll be invaluable both for storage at home or toting it around town while keeping your precious portable safe. There are several styles to use from, and don't be surprised if you find yourself alternating between a couple of them. Backpacks A backpack should be the first choice to consider if you're a student, deal with a lot of books and papers on a regular basis, or find yourself needing to tote a lot of gear and needing to run through an airport. My current backpack of choice is the Tom Bihn Synapse (US$130). The entire Tom Bihn line is fantastic, and this particular backpack is the smallest on offer. It holds my 11-inch MacBook Air, iPad, Kindle, gear and books with ease. I've carried a full load in the Synapse on daytrips in New York City and have flown internationally with the Synapse with no weight issues. All of Tom Bihn's bags are built extremely well, and my Synapse still looks like new nine months after buying it. There are no built-in laptop pockets here, so you'll need to pick up a sleeve (covered below) to protect your MacBook. The Synapse is good for up to a 13-inch laptop, which means it covers both MacBook Airs and the smallest of the MacBook Pros. If you want more capacity for a 15-inch or 17-inch MacBook Pro, the $150 Brain Bag can fit up to two laptops and the $140 Smart Alec is the midrange bag between the Synapse and Brain Bag. I'm also a fan of Incase backpacks, which also wear well and have an insane number of pockets. The Apple Store sells the Incase Compact Backpack for $79.95, which appears to be the successor to an older Incase backpack I used for several years. The bag was well-padded and protected my electronics well. This particular model will carry a 15-inch or smaller MacBook Pro or MacBook Air. Messenger A pick from Engadget's list is the Timbuk2 Snoop, which is a fantastic multitasker for keeping a lot of gear at your fingertips. The company bills this bag as a camera bag, and it also has a laptop sleeve. If you tote a camera around, the different compartments are good for its accessories, or you can tailor the pockets to suit your own needs. It's $150 through its site or you can find it starting around $103 on Amazon. If you have the money to spend, a Muzetto from WaterField Designs is worth considering. These sumptuous vertical messengers maintain a slim profile and are good if you're toting the basics and want to look stylish. They range from $219 for the MacBook Air to $259 for 15-inch MacBook Pros. For 13-inch and 15-inch laptops, however, you will need a protective sleeve like with some of the Tom Bihn bags. Briefcase If you're heading to a business meeting and want to look your most professional, these cases are the ones to check out. Space is sacrificed for a slim profile. Brenthaven has a number of briefcases for a good price that are durable and fit an office setting. The ProStyle III-XF is one of these and can be custom fit up to a 17-inch MacBook Pro. It has an X-Ray Friendly design, meaning you do not have to remove your laptop while going through airport security. These bags range from $99.95 to $119.95. For more rugged gear, Thule has a line of attache cases available through the Apple Store that allows you to use your Mac while still in the case. These run about $79.95. Sleeve For the absolute basic protection, picking up a good sleeve will allow you to toss your laptop in any bag. If you want to grab something while still at the Apple Store, the Incase line is there for you to peruse, and the cases cost roughly $40. If you're willing to wait a few days and want to order something online, the Tom Bihn Cache is $30 and dispenses with zippers. Waterfield has elegant-looking Sleevecases ranging from $37-45 and has a number of other sleeves geared toward the MacBook Air. Or, if you want your laptop to blend in with the books on your coffee table, TwelveSouth's BookBook cases are always a conversation piece.
Sailor Bags iPad Sleeve adds a nautical theme to your favorite tablet
The blogging team here at TUAW has pretty much seen every type of iPad bag, sleeve, case, and cover that has been developed since the first iPad hit the streets last year. Now a New York-based company that is well-known for nautically-themed gear, Sailor Bags, is selling a fun iPad Sleeve (US$27) that will have you dancing the hornpipe. Design What makes this sleeve so different from the rest of those bazillions of sleeves we've covered so far? It's made of sailcloth, a very robust and rugged material that can keep your iPad protected from bumps, drops and liquid splashes. Like many of the other Sailor Bags products, the cool iPad Sleeve is made in multiple colors -- a bright red, a sea blue, and plain old white. The material is manufactured by Sailor Bags to be less stiff than the sailcloth used for boat sails. The company notes that the bag will acquire a patina with age and "personality all its own." %Gallery-137729% Unlike many of the sleeves and bags that we review, the Sailor Bags sleeve actually comes with a lifetime guarantee. Whether that's for your lifetime or the lifetime of the sleeve is a legal question I'm not going to answer, but basically they say that if the sleeve "wears out of underperforms in any way, just return it. We'll repair or replace it for free." That's pretty darned good. There's a nice zippered pocket on the outside of the sleeve for holding sync cables, your Camera Connection Kit, or other small accessories. Both of the zippers appear to be made of a nylon material to provide a good water-resistant seal, and they opened and closed smoothly. The inside of the sleeve is lined with a microfiber material to keep from scratching your iPad, and the sleeve has just enough foam padding to insure adequate protection in the case of a drop or bump. Functionality I'm not sure why, but I really like this relatively plain-looking sleeve. Perhaps it has something to with the solid construction, or maybe I was a sailor in another life, but I quickly became fond of the Sailor Bags sleeve. It provides a lot of protection while not trying to be too high-tech or fancy, and the wide diagonal stitch marks in the corner add a very nice sailing touch. The price is definitely right (at least for the base cost; custom embroidery adds $12 to the total) and the sleeve would make an awesome Christmas gift for the iPad owner on your list. Just add up to two lines of embroidered love to that sleeve, and you've given a gift that someone will remember for years to come. Conclusion I was pleasantly surprised by this iPad sleeve from a manufacturer that up until now hasn't been a player in the Apple accessories market. With this sleeve cradling my iPad 2, I don't think I'd feel uncomfortable taking it to a beach or laying it on a chaise lounge next to a swimming pool. If I had a sailboat, my iPad would be wearing the Sailor Bags iPad Sleeve every time it went aboard. You don't need to be a sailor to love this iPad sleeve, though, and I'm giving it my highest recommendation.
Joli Original: the perfect iPad sleeve
My long search for the perfect iPad sleeve has come to an end. That's because I've found the Joli iPad sleeve. And it's a sleeve I'll use as long as I own my iPad 2. The Joli iPad sleeve is handmade, which probably accounts for its excellent quality. The sleeve is made by the Amsterdam-based artistic team of Jolien and Harold. Its exterior is made from Italian soft leather that came from cows who were allowed to roam in open pastures their whole lives. The interior of the sleeve is made of 100% Spanish wool felt. Though the quality of the materials used in the sleeve are excellent, the main reason I'm in love with this sleeve is because it fits my iPad so snugly. Once the iPad is inserted, there isn't one millimeter of wiggle room. Also the sleeve is so thin it hardly adds any bulk to your iPad. And because of the quality of the leather when I slip my iPad into the sleeve I feel as if it's encased in an armored skin. I've got no worries about my device when I throw it into my backpack with my laptop and books and go on a cycle to my local cafe. Despite its deceptive thinness, the sleeve gives you iPad all the protection you'll ever need. My Joli sleeve is made of black leather with an orange felt inside, however you can customize what your sleeve looks like. Choose between black, brown, or purple leather and green, orange, red, or pink wool felt. You can also have the sleeve customized to fit an iPad 2 or an iPad 2 with a Smart Cover. If you're looking for a sleeve for your iPad, get this one. Or, if you're looking for a gift for an iPad owner, this sleeve makes an excellent choice. Not just because of its quality either. A lot of love goes into each handmade Joli sleeve and that love doesn't stop with the sleeve itself. When you (or your recipient) receives it it will be wrapped in tissue paper with a hand drawn sketch by one of the artists on it (check out the gallery below). Presentation counts and it's that unique presentation that adds to the "giftability" of this iPad sleeve. The Joli iPad sleeves cost €45.00 EUR (about US$60). Joli Original also makes MacBook Air and iPhone sleeves of the same fit and quality. You can check out their entire range of handmade sleeves on their website, JoliOriginals.com. %Gallery-134917%
BookBook iPhone 4 case doubles as wallet, attempts to fool miniature luddites
So, you've finally accepted the reality that smartphones aren't a passing fad, but you're no less concerned that the special tech-hater in your life might get hip that you've abandoned reading books for flinging unhappy fowl. You're further concerned that you won't have space in your skinny jeans for both a wallet and an iPhone. Well, it sounds like Twelve South's BookBook iPhone 4 case has you and your ridiculous smartphone-conversion anxiety covered. The little leather-bound sleeve not only masks your iPhone in what looks like a miniature Bible binding, but also acts as host to your wallet's contents. If you're looking to fool folks into thinking you're really reading a tiny tome titled BookBook, the case can be yours for $60 at the source link. Full PR after the break.
