by Noel on August 7, 2011
Using solar bags for laptops has never been all that viable. Full-fledged computers are power-hungry beasts, so those trickles from a solar generator are rarely worth the hassle. The same may not be the case, though, for power-sipping tablets, making the Voltaic Spark Case worth consideration.
Designed to work with different tablets (including iPads, of course), the accessory measures 13.5 x 11 x 2 inches and weighs 2.5 lbs. All that size, of course, gets you a full solar generator, 8-watt solar panels and a universal battery pack, ready to feed your slate some much-needed juice while you're on the go. Full charging for an iPad takes an estimated 10 hours (assuming the case is sun-exposed, of course).
The Voltaic Spark Case isn't the sleekest-looking case on the block. In fact, it looks more industrial and utilitarian than anything, so don't count on it to gain you any style points. What it loses in aesthetics, though, it gains in sustainability cred -- not only can it give you extra power off the grid, the body is made from 600D shell (recycled soda bottles), which boasts waterproof and UV-resistant qualities.
Inside, it features an iPad compartment, a mesh pocket for holding a bunch of other gears and two USB charging ports, so you can charge both an iPad and your smartphone at the same time. You'll have to remove the iPad for using, though, although you can use the case as a landscape viewing stand if needed.
Sure, the Voltaic Spark Case is far from pretty. We doubt you'll mind, though, once it starts keeping your iPad alive when you're out camping and itching for a round of Angry Birds. Price is $299.
[Voltaic]
Voltaic Spark Case Charges Your iPad From The SununratedNoel2011-08-07 16:33:17
Using solar bags for laptops has never been all that viable. Full-fledged computers are power-hungry beasts, so those trickles from a solar gene...
by Noel on August 7, 2011
You bought the iPad as a productivity tool. At least, that's what you keep telling yourself, even if you spend half the time on it playing Angry Birds. Might as well own up to your casual gaming addiction and dress up your iPad 2 in these Angry Birds Cases.
Designed to deck the rear and sides of your shiny tablet with cute pigs and birds, the cases let you look at your favorite game even when your iPad is turned off and charging. Of course, they come with a complete set of window cutouts for unrestricted access to your ports, speakers and buttons, so you can keep them on for eternity.
The Angry Birds iPad 2 Cases are made from hard plastic, giving you added impact protection for those moments you accidentally pull at the slingshot too hard and knock your tablet off the table. Make sure you scream when that happens -- it dulls impact (just kidding, tee-hee). It comes in three different designs: Red Bird, Pig King Versus Red Bird, and Family (a horde of birds and pigs in one shot).
If you can't get enough of them Angry Birds, it's time to take the next step up and dress everything you own in them. You can start with these Angry Birds iPad 2 Cases. They're available now, prices vary.
Angry Birds iPad 2 Cases For Your Angry Birds MachineunratedNoel2011-08-07 16:31:27
You bought the iPad as a productivity tool. At least, that's what you keep telling yourself, even if you spend half the time on it playing Angry...
We've seen iPad cases with handles before. The HandyShell for iPad 2, however, takes the cake as the most unashamedly awesome one we've seen so far. It definitely slays the criteria when it comes to novelty and functionality.
Made by Speck, the case comes with a large handle that looks like it was based on the pull tabs on soda cans. To me, that alone makes it worth the price of admission -- it looks both ridiculous and fun at the same time.
But it's not all about looking interesting. With its movable configuration, the HandyShell's pull-tab handle actually lends itself well to a plethora of uses. Hinged slightly, you can use it as a thumb grip for easier browsing on the iPad 2; pulled out at a perpendicular angle to the case, it serves as a stand (both horizontal and vertical); pulled all the way up, you can use it to hang the tablet on a hook or hold it like a guitar for performing with a music app.
The case itself features a hard-shell construction for protecting the back and sides of your slate, with full cutouts for the ports and buttons. It has a slightly extended bevel to protect the iPad 2's screen when you face it down, as well as a raised section on the back for a more balanced hold.
Suffice to say, the HandyShell for iPad 2 is one of the most fun, most useful cases I've ever come across. If only they came up with the way to use it as a hook for landscape viewing, I'd pay twice the amount for one. But, alas, they didn't, so I'll just send $54.95 their way like everybody else.
[Speck]
HandyShell Case Gives Your iPad 2 A Pull-Tab HandleunratedNoel2011-07-08 16:42:36
We've seen iPad cases with handles before. The HandyShell for iPad 2, however, takes the cake as the most unashamedly awesome one we've seen so ...
iPad cases with built-in keyboards have littered the market as of late. In fact, you'll have to be pretty special in order to steal people's attention with one. We have a feeling you can feel that way about the Logitech Keyboard Case.
A half-shell case, it won't cover your iPad front and back like most keyboard-toting accessories. Instead, you can set the tablet face down on it when not in use, giving your screen a hard and tough layer of protection (aircraft grade aluminum) during transit, all while adding a mere 1/8th inch to the overall thickness.
As the name implies, the Logitech Keyboard Case features a Bluetooth QWERTY keyboard that you can use for faster typing on the iPad. Keyboard size is similar to those of ultraportables and is ample enough after some getting used to.
The iPad 2 sits on a slit on top of the keyboard, which holds it a slight angle. Not only can it prop up the tablet in landscape orientation, it can do portrait, too, which is my personal preferred typing view. While specifically designed for the iPad 2, the slit should be able to handle a good deal of hardware types, as well, such as the iPhone 4 (if you'd like to use a keyboard to type on it) or some of the other Android slates on the market. I do wish the slit was adjustable, though, so I can throw in a beefier skin on the iPad 2 and still use it.
Made by Zagg, the Logitech Keyboard Case is available now, priced at $99.99
Get It Now
Logitech Keyboard Case For iPad 2 Does Landscape And Portrait TypingunratedNoel2011-06-08 14:05:38
iPad cases with built-in keyboards have littered the market as of late. In fact, you'll have to be pretty special in order to steal people's att...
Go into any meeting these days and you'll find that most laptops, once a staple in every suit's gear bag, has been replaced by iPads. And when it comes to boardroom and office use, the Proporta Leather Protective Case for iPad 2 could very well be one of the more useful options out there.
Dressed in an elegant and professional appearance, the folio-style case should make a suitable accessory for business iPad users. Even better, the left side flap opens to a stack of A8-sized notepads, allowing you to jot down stuff old-school style (because, you know, handwritten notes can still be more useful than digital messages in many instances).
The Proporta Leather Protective Case measures 248 x 200 x 20 mm and comes with genuine black leather construction. When open, the iPad 2 sits securely on the right hand side (note: this won't make for an exact fit with the original iPad), with a full set of cutouts to keep all ports and buttons accessible. Having the notepads on the left hand side make for a great working experience, although I do wish they threw in a pen holder right on the case -- I'll just end up forgetting to bring one most of the time.
A stand function is also built-in, although it's strictly at a landscape viewing angle (no typing mode and no portrait). Closure is managed by a small leather strap with a metal popper.
You can get the Proporta Leather Protective Case for iPad 2 from Amazon, priced at $54.95.
Ready For Business: Proporta Leather Protective Case For iPad 2unratedNoel2011-06-08 13:59:18
Go into any meeting these days and you'll find that most laptops, once a staple in every suit's gear bag, has been replaced by iPads. And when i...
The Mivizu Sense for iPad 2 combines styling cues from a leather folio and the Smart Cover, creating one good-looking case that brings the best features from both accessories into a single item.
Sporting a genuine grain leather exterior, the durable body comes with extra padding inside and microfiber interior lining, complete with a "full-protection back cover" (there's no rigid backing, though). Sized precisely for the iPad 2 (original iPad won't fit), it has a full set of precision-cut openings for the headphone port, mic, rear camera, side switch, sleep/wake switch, volume rocker and dock connector.
The Mivizu Sense has a front cover that folds in segments, similar to the Smart Cover. You can open it without folding, of course, so you can use the tablet just like with a regular folio case. Like the Smart Cover, the front panel can transform into a stand for tabletop typing and viewing. Magnets hold the case shut, apart from activating the iPad 2's automatic locking feature.
If you're in the market for a folio case and want something a little different from the usual options, the Mivizu Sense for iPad 2 sounds exactly like the accessory you'd want to score. It's available in black, blue, pink, gray and green, priced at $59.95.
[Mivizu]
Mivizu Sense For iPad 2 Combines Folio And Smart Cover FeaturesunratedNoel2011-05-27 13:26:24
The Mivizu Sense for iPad 2 combines styling cues from a leather folio and the Smart Cover, creating one good-looking case that brings the best fe...
Looking for a cute iPad sleeve to hold your precious tablet in a simple and straightforward way? The Pac Maze is as simple as sleeves get and, if you're into retro games, about as adorable as the cutest of them.
Made by Fabrix Cases, the sleeve is sized to hold both the first and second generations of the iPad. Despite the name, the chomping yellow guy is nowhere to be found on the print -- but it does have a bunch of the multi-colored enemy ghosts, interspersed against plain black circles with a white outline.
The Pac Maze features an inner pillow flap that keeps the tablet in place when you squeeze it into the sleeve. According to the product page, this unique interior fitting (an inch-long flap sewn into the inner lining) will keep it from slipping out the way it would with regular sleeve accessories.
For protection against the grind of daily use, the sleeve is lined with cushioned quilted nylon. Fit isn't exactly to size -- in fact, there's enough to room to comfortably hold your iPad even while it's decked in a slim-type folio case.
We doubt the Pac Maze is an official Pac Man product. That doesn't make it any less easy on the eyes, though. It's available now, priced at $32.90.
[Fabrix Cases ]
Pac Maze Is A Cute Pac Man-Themed iPad SleeveunratedNoel2011-05-27 13:25:47
Looking for a cute iPad sleeve to hold your precious tablet in a simple and straightforward way? The Pac Maze is as simple as sleeves get and, i...
Yep, that picture up there is just one iPad case. Called the Marware SportShell Convertible, it's made up of interchangeable locking parts that extend its uses beyond just giving your tablet a durable shell.
Constructed out of slim hard plastic, it adds very little bulk to your slate, all while looking like its fully armored to the brim (in fact, you can probably still slip it in some folio-style cases for double protection). A smooth, rubberized finish give it a premium feel, although the same thing does make it look just as slippery as a bare iPad.
Fortunately, there's a strap. During handheld use, you can add a band to the back of the case (attachable in both landscape and portrait positions), allowing you to conveniently hold it with one hand at no risk of slipping. There are four nubs on the back, too, so you can set the iPad flat on a table and not have it wobble like a bare version would.
For tabletop viewing, you just have to snap out the feet situated around the back. As with most case/stand combos, you can set it up for landscape and portrait viewing, as well as a low-angle typing mode.
Overall, the Marware SportShell Convertible looks like a solid case -- both in function and style. It's attractively-priced, too, at around $29.
Marware SportShell Convertible Is A Slim iPad Armor With Interlocking PartsunratedNoel2011-05-12 02:24:25
Yep, that picture up there is just one iPad case. Called the Marware SportShell Convertible, it's made up of interchangeable locking parts that ex...
by Noel on April 14, 2011
When it comes to protective iPad cases, the rule is simple: the stronger, the better. The G-Form Extreme Sleeve looks to be as tough as they come, able to keep your iPad unharmed even after catching a bowling ball dropped from a three-foot height (equivalent to roughly 3,000 pounds of force).
Designed to fit both the iPad and iPad2, the sleeve looks mighty attractive, too. I mean, it looks more like a part of a molded superhero costume (or a sheet of metal from Bumblebee of the Transformers) with all those embossed parts instead of a sleeve.
The G-Form Extreme Sleeve is made using molded PORON XRD, a flexible and lightweight type of memory foam designed to spread the kinetic energy of impact at any point across the rest of the product. The material does not only protect from force, it's also durable, water-resistant and abrasion-resistant, too.
The sleeve itself looks a little beefy, but it should easily fit into a bag for more convenient handling. A zipper closure at the top keeps your tablet secure.
Currently on pre-order with a May 2 ship date, you can place an order for the G-Form Sleeve directly from the website, priced at $59.95. It's available in two colors: yellow and black.
[G-Form]
G-Form Extreme Sleeve Shrugs Off 3,000 Lbs. Of ForceunratedNoel2011-05-02 19:39:58
When it comes to protective iPad cases, the rule is simple: the stronger, the better. The G-Form Extreme Sleeve looks to be as tough as they com...
US $26.99
