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News, Reviews, & Opinion
Rumor Roundup
Apps & Services
Accessories
iPod Deals
These price trackers are updated every month.
News, Reviews, & Opinion
Majority Back Call for Cell Phone Ban While
Driving
With the NTSB calling for a
nationwide ban on cell phone use and texting while driving (see last week's iNews Review), the public has also
expressed its opinion on this controversial topic. According to a new
poll released by SodaHead.com, claimed to be the Web's largest
opinion-based community, 56% of respondents agree with the NTSB and
support the ban, while 44% oppose the ban.
When broken down by demographics, 60% of females support the ban and
52% of men are also in favor of the ban. When looking at the results by
the age of respondents, the group with the most support for the ban are
those over the age of 65 (78%), while the group with the lowest support
are those between the ages of 25 and 34 (47%).
Link: Should Cell Phone
Use During Driving Be Completely Banned?
Could iPhone 4S Users Get Away with Using Siri
Under a No Phones While Driving Ban?
International Business Times' Ranina Sanglap reports that iPhone 4S
users who thought they could get away from total bans against using
electronic communications devices while driving by using Siri will
still be held accountable if federal regulators will have their
way.
Sanglap notes that the US National Transportation Board issued a
recommendation last week that state governments should ban all driver
use of cell phones, handheld or handsfree phones, as well as other
portable electronic devices except in cases of emergency, and while the
board doesn't have the power to force states to impose the proposed
ban, its recommendations do carry significant weight with federal
regulators.
The report notes that response to the proposed ban has been largely
negative, but in this writer's estimation, the board has made the right
call. Research has shown that handheld or handsfree, using a cell phone
while driving increases the likelihood of an accident by up to 4x. A
study cited by The Coalition for Cell Phone Free Driving says
statistical likelihood of being involved in a motor vehicle accident
rises by a factor of 4 during cellphone use - greater than with
low-level alcohol impairment, and that it slows a driver's reaction
time by 18%.
As for the counter-argument that talking on a handsfree phone should
be no different than talking to a passenger inside the automobile, that
is not the case, a reason being that the person at the other end of a
telephone conversation has no sense of what is happening in the car and
is unable to react or just shut up immediately should dangerous set of
circumstances develop.
An Ontario Medical Association report, based on a meta-analysis of
studies from around the world, found talking on a cellphone leads to a
substantial reduction in the driver's field of view, changes of driving
speed, decreased the distance maintained between vehicles, resulted in
more frequent panic braking, less mirror-checking, and slowed response
time to traffic light changes.
Sanglap's article cites an analysis by Jim Hedlund, a safety
consultant and former National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
official, that examined 300 cellphone studies for the Governors'
Highway Traffic Safety Administration and concluded that there is
little evidence that handsfree mobile phone use is less risky than
handheld use, but suggests that the real solution would be more
responsible attitudes and self-discipline exercised by drivers.
Link: Can iPhone 4S
Users Get Away with Using Siri Under the No Phones While Driving
Ban?
Apple A5 Chip Production Moves to Texas
The Register's Anna Leach reports that Apple's A5 chips are now
being made in Texas, not Asia, as was its predecessor the A4, according
to a report from Reuters, citing "people familiar with the
operation".
The chips that power the iPad 2 and iPhone 4S are being produced at
Samsung's huge new 1.6 million square foot, $3.6bn (closer to $9bn,
according to Austin Chamber of Commerce) fab in Austin, although the
iOS devices the A5 powers are still assembled by Foxconn in China.
Link: Samsung Shifts
Apple A5 Chip Production to Texas
Kindle Fire Missing Manual Editor Going Back to
iPad
New York Times blogger David Streitfeld says his NYT article citing
high levels of dissatisfaction with Amazon's new tablet generated a
torrential response, much of it from people who said they loved their
Kindle Fires.
Streitfield notes that some commentators suggested the whole article
somehow came from Apple, but none of the conspiracy theorists explained
why so many original users of the Fire put mixed-to-negative reviews on
Amazon's own site.
Streitfield cites another professional evaluation, from someone who
has probably used the Kindle more than anyone who doesn't work for
Amazon: Peter Meyers, a digital book consultant and author of Kindle
Fire: The Missing Manual, to be published in January as a print
volume and an ebook from O'Reilly Media.
He suggests that anyone who would accuse Meyers of bias should
consider that if the Fire is a tremendous failure, market for his
manual would be negligible.
However, Meyers' verdict, in an email to Streitfield, is that "Apple
would have never shipped a device like the Fire. Its got way too many
rough edges (sluggish touchscreen, magazine apps that don't really fit
the smaller screen, an easy-to-hit power button). And even little
things like how the power cord jiggles when plugged in wouldn't have
made it past the demo room in Cupertino."
Further, Streitfield says once the manual writing project is
finished, Meyers doesn't see much of a future for his own Kindle Fire,
which will be going back in the box as soon as he's done, noting that
the iPad 2 is "years ahead" of the
Fire and lets him "consume and create with no friction."
Link: Pulp Friction:
The Kindle Debate
The Rise of Smartphones, Apps, and the Mobile
Web
PR: Nielsen's State of the Media: The Mobile Media Report
provides a snapshot of the current mobile media landscape and audiences
in the US and highlights the potential power of mobile commerce in the
near future.
Key
findings:
- The majority of 25-34 and 18-24 year olds now own smartphones (64%
and 53% respectively).
- The majority of smartphone owners (62%) have downloaded apps on
their devices, and games are the top application category used in the
past 30 days.
- The number of smartphone subscribers using the mobile Internet has
grown 45% since 2010.
- 87% of app downloaders (those who have downloaded an app in the
past 30 days) have used deal-of-the-day websites like Groupon or Living
Social.
- Younger groups text the most. In Q3, teens 13-17 sent and received
the most text messages (an average of 3,417 each month).
This report draws from a broad range of Nielsen data sources,
including Nielsen's in-depth monthly surveys of mobile consumers (more
than 300,000 consumers surveyed each year); Device metering data from
the iOS and Android smartphones of thousands of consumers who have
volunteered to be a part of our research panel; detailed, monthly
analysis of the cellphone bills for 65,000 lines in the US, again,
thanks to volunteer panelists.
Link: State of the
Media: The Mobile Media Report Q3 2011
iPhone May Preview Personal Computing's Future
Writing for Tech.pinions, Tim Bajarin recalls a 1989 syndicated
column he wrote about a modular mobile computing concept, musing about
what future portable computing might look like, the the heart of his
vision was the idea of having a lot of screens available in his work
and home lifestyle, these screens to be displays that his modular
computer would connect to in a lot of places and locations, meaning he
would always have his own personal computer with him everywhere he
went, able to just plug it into an available screen and keyboard.
Bajarin notes that we have modular computing of sorts today in the
form of our laptops containing our own OS, customized UI, and all of
our personal files that can be plugged into a screen and keyboard as
part of our computing model, the way he plugs his MacBook Air to a 27"
screen at the office and and uses a wireless mouse and wireless
keyboard - the MacBook Air essentially becoming an anchor brick module
providing CPU power, OS, UI, and access to files.
"But what if we could have that same kind of modular functionality
in a brick that fits in your pocket?" Bajarin asks. "A very small
device that houses a powerful CPU, OS/custom UI and data files and can
be docked with a multitude of screens that are accessible around the
office, school, home, shopping malls, etc. As far out as this seems, I
believe that this is exactly the vision Apple has for the future of the
iPhone."
Editor's note: It's difficult to dispute that reasoning. I've got
the door wedged open a crack what with these days using my three
in-service laptops plus an iPad 2 largely as terminals to access and
work with a "float" of projects stored on Dropbox. cm
Publisher's note: Back when I worked at ComputerLand of Grand
Rapids, our store manager had a monitor, keyboard, and mouse at home
and another in his office. He toted his 14 lb. Mac IIci between locations - not quite as
portable as what Bajarin envisioned at the time, but the smallest
modular Mac available at the time. dk
Link: The iPhone
May Foreshadow the Future of Personal Computing
How to Copy Music from Your iPhone, iPad, or iPod
touch to Your Computer for Free
Lifehacker's Adam Dachis says:
"Apple, true to form, makes it simple to put media and files on your
iDevice but the road really only goes one way. It can be pretty
difficult to copy anything (or everything) back to your computer
without a lot of trouble and sacrifice, but it's even harder to find a
good, free solution to that problem amongst the many choices available.
You could spend the better part of your week sifting through your
options, or you could just read this post instead.
"We've tackled this issue before, but things have changed for the
better since 2008. Here's a look at your best options for transferring
media from your iDevice back to your computer, free of charge. We've
broken up this guide into Windows, Mac, and Linux sections, so just
choose the one that you need."
Link: How to Copy
Music from Your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch to Your Computer for
Free
Display Shoot-Out: iPad 2 vs. Kindle Fire vs. Nook
Tablet
9 to 5 Mac's Christian Zibreg reports on a tablet display shootout
among Amazon's Kindle Fire, Apple's iPad 2, and Barnes & Noble's
Nook Tablet conducted by Dr. Raymond Soneira, president of DisplayMate
Technologies Corporation of Amherst, N.H.
Dr. Soneira set out to find out which device packed the best
IPS (In-Plane Switching) display. Zibreg points out that LG
Displays, the world's leading manufacturer of IPS LCDs, is the supplier
of IPS panels for the three devices used in the shoot-out, but the
iPad 2, the test note said, remains the gold standard in tablet
displays, while Motorola's Xoom and Acer's Iconia Tab serve as prime
examples of low-quality LCD displays.
The report notes that the Fire's display is on par with iPad 2's and
Nook Tablet's in most respects, except for two important aspects -
limited grayscale rendering and an antireflective treatment with about
70% higher reflectance levels compared to the iPad 2 and more than
double the reflectance of the Nook Tablet - bad for reading outdoors or
in brightly lit indoor areas. Meanwhile, Barnes & Nobles Nook
Tablet has the lowest reflectance of any tablet DisplayMate ever
tested, showing 28% lower reflectance than even the iPad 2, and
grayscale rendering more accurate than most living room HDTVs.
Consequently, Nook wins the shootout.
Link: Tablet Display
Shoot-Out: iPad 2 vs. Kindle Fire vs. Nook Tablet
iPad Keyboard Showdown
Laptop Mag's Michael A. Prospero observes that the iPad's virtual
keyboard is definitely good, but nothing feels quite as nice as
clickety-clacking away on a physical keyboard. According to Lenovo and
Qualcomm, 71% of small businesses surveyed said they are using tablets
at work as an additional device, not as a replacement for their PCs.
But with the right case, complete with a physical QWERTY Bluetooth
keyboard, that might be about to change.
Many accessory manufacturers are ready to step in with external
keyboards, but which one offers the best combination of price,
portability, protection, and tactile feedback? Prospero set about
finding out which one is worth your investment: Belkin Keyboard Folio,
ClamCase for iPad 2, Kensington Keyfolio Pro, Targus Versavu Keyboard
and Case for iPad, or Zaggfolio for iPad 2.
Publisher's note: This is one of those annoying slideshow articles
that exposes you to several interstitial
ads as you work your way through to the end. Poor form - and
something you'll never see at Low End Mac. dk
Link: iPad Keyboard
Showdown
Make the Most of iOS 5's Hidden Features on the
iPad
APCMag's Dan Warne notes that while iOS 5 has a bundle of great
headline features, it also packs in a few extremely useful ones that
you might not even notice.
There is a thumb-friendly split keyboard for your iPad, plus custom
autotext shortcuts, which can be extremely useful for saving repetitive
typing of things you often add in to emails, instant message chats or
documents, but unfortunately hidden away in a submenu that very few
people would ever look at (go to Settings > General > Keyboard
> Add new shortcut).
Then there's multitouch app switching. Warne observes that one of
the biggest time-wasters when working with a tablet is switching
between apps, but iOS 5 introduces a multitouch method of
app-switching: the four finger swipe, plus a five finger pinch to close
the app and return to the home screen.
There are also location-based reminders (3G iPads)
Link: Make the Most of
Hidden iOS 5 Features on iPad
Rumor Roundup
Rumor: Apple to Launch 7.85" iPad in 2012
DigiTimes' Max Wang and Steve Shen report that Apple is likely to
launch a 7.85" iPad prior to the fourth quarter of 2012 in addition to
a new iPad scheduled to be released at the end of the first quarter,
according to sources in the supply chain.
Wang and Shen note that global shipments of tablet PCs are expected
to reach 60 million units in 2011, of which 70% will be Apple's iPads.
However, their insider sources tell them that in order to stay in front
of increasing market competition, including the 7" Kindle Fire from
Amazon and the launch of large-size smartphones from handset vendors,
Apple has been persuaded to develop 7.85" iPads, with OEMs in the
supply chain, including panel makers LG Display and AU Optronics (AUO),
likely to begin production of the 7.85" models at the end of Q2
2012.
Link: Apple to Launch
7.85-Inch iPad in 2012 - Rumor (subscription required)
Apps & Services
iPhone: The Missing Manual, 5th
Edition
PR: With the iOS 5 software and the new iPhone 4S
device, Apple has another world-class hit on its hands. This sleek,
highly refined pocket computer comes with everything cellphone, iPod,
Internet, camcorder - except a printed manual. David Pogue is back with
the latest edition of his witty, crystal-clear, colorful guide to the
world's most popular iPhone book - iPhone: The Missing Manual, Fifth
Edition (O'Reilly Media, $24.99 USD).
"The elves at Apple's iPhone division have been in overcaffeinated
overdrive," says Pogue. "Not only is the iPhone 4S a masterpiece - if
you're not giving your phone voice commands, you don't know what you're
missing - but iOS 5 is crammed with goodies, including a lot that
Apple's marketing people don't even have the space to mention.
Fortunately, I did, in this book."
Here's some of the important stuff you'll learn:
- Use it as a phone. Learn the basics as well as timesaving tricks
and tips for contact searching by voice, texting, and more.
- Manage hour stuff in the cloud. Sync and back up your contacts and
media across all of your devices with iCloud.
- Get things done. Ask Siri to send reminders, place calls, and
more.
- Master notifications. Use the Notification Center to find missed
messages, calendar invitations, friend requests, and more.
- Connect with other iPhone owners. Send unlimited iMessages to
friends, family, and colleagues who are also running iOS 5.
- Treat it as an iPod. Master the ins and outs of iTunes, and listen
to music, upload and view photos, and fill the iPhone with TV shows and
movies.
- Take the iPhone online. Make the most of your online experience to
browse the Web, read and compose email, use social networks, or send
photos and audio files.
- Go beyond the iPhone. Learn how to use the App Store, and how to
multitask between your apps, organize them in folders, and read ebooks
in iBooks.
Whether you have a brand-new iPhone or want to update an earlier
model with the iOS 5 software, Pogue says this beautiful
full-color book is the best, most objective resource available.
- iPhone: The Missing Manual, 5th Edition
- By David Pogue
- Publisher: O'Reilly Media
- Print ISBN: 9781449301774
- Ebook ISBN: 9781449301767
- Pages: 544
- Print Price: $24.99
- Ebook Price: $19.99
- order@oreilly.com
- 1-800-998-9938
- 1-707-827-7000
Link: iPhone: The
Missing Manual, 5th Edition (currently available from Amazon.com
for $15.69 and eligible for free shipping on an order of $25 or more;
Kindle
edition, $9.99;
iBook edition, $11.99)
Office2 HD Brings New Document Editing
Tools to iPad Office Suite
PR: ByteSquared,
developers of business oriented productivity apps for mobile devices,
announces a free update to its critically-acclaimed productivity suite,
Office2 HD for iPad. Office HD's latest update focuses on
adding in many more of the advanced features normally expected in a
desktop word processor.
ByteSquared's latest update to Office2 HD offers new
enhancements to existing features and integrates additional layout
tools to its document editor which creates and edits Word docs (.docx
and .doc). This new feature set provides students and business
executives with the ideal set of tools for creating and editing
polished documents on the go. Users now have unprecedented control over
the appearance of their documents, allowing them to create both
functional and admirable documents right from their iPad.
"Whether you're a student or
an executive at a Fortune 500 company, your time is precious," said
Simon Bates, CEO of ByteSquared. "Office2 HD's latest update
transforms mobile office productivity from a secondary method of
completing office tasks to a powerful and even preferential manner of
quickly and efficiently keeping in touch with your office. I feel this
new version easily makes Office2 HD the app of choice for
editing Microsoft Office documents on iPad."
Optimized for Microsoft
Office documents, Office2 HD enables users to view, edit and
create documents, spreadsheets and presentations on-the-go.
Additionally, users can download, create, edit, save, send, print,
upload and transfer documents locally or via Google, Dropbox, Box.net
and more as well as the ability to read and create PDF documents.
New In This Update:
- Multi-Columnar Layout - Specify up to 4 columns for each
section
- Shapes - Add shapes to a document including, lines, text boxes,
rectangles, etc.
- Rulers - Page rulers, tab stops (left, center and right aligned),
paragraph margin setters
- File Versioning - Allows users to revert to previous 10 versions of
a file for editing
- Section Breaks - Both continuous and next page to separate
sections
- Floating Images - Images can now float above text and aligns
accordingly around the images
- Referencing - Footnote and endnote integration make for easy MLA
formatting
Device Requirements:
- Compatible with iPad
- Requires iOS 5.0 or later
- 6.6 MB
Office2 HD 5.0 is $7.99 (or equivalent amount in other
currencies) and available worldwide exclusively through the App Store
in the Business category.
Link:
Office2 HD
1-Click Flashlight Free for 1 Week to Celebrate
400k Downloads
PR: Turn your iOS device into even more of a power tool than
it is already. 1-Click Flashlight 5.0 makes turning on the iPhone
native flash as a constant stream of light just one click away. Simply
touch the app icon and the flashlight will activate before the
application finishes launching. It's the fastest, easiest way to turn
your device's native flash into a powerful flashlight. To celebrate
over 400,000 downloads MyClickApps LLC is making it free for one
week.
The
iPhone has been nothing if not a wonderful emergency tool. Whether
you're stuck on the side of the road, need your GPS coordinates, or
want to know where the nearest hospital is, the iPhone can prove
invaluable when you need help most.
Now, one of those emergency features is easier than ever to
activate. 1-Click Flashlight makes turning on the iPhone (or iPad's)
native flash as a constant stream of light just one click away. Simply
touch the app icon and the flashlight will activate before the
application finishes launching!
1-Click Flashlight is tried and true. It has been used by people
around the world in the most dire of circumstances. Residents of both
Hurricane Irene and the recent tsunami and earthquake in Japan found
the app invaluable during power outages.
What advantages and features does the app offer? Not only is it user
friendly, it's fast to activate and easy to turn off (simply press the
Home button). Comes with a fun strobe feature. Just tap the screen
while the app is activated and you'll see a strobe icon - click it to
activate the feature. 1-Click Flashlight also offers support for
running your music in the background and the app disables iPhone
auto-sleep mode so you can use your flashlight without any
interruption.
1-Click Flashlight is also very conscientious of your iOS battery
life. The app auto-dims the iPhone screen, displays a battery meter and
offers the option to automatically turn off the flashlight when the
battery level has reached less than 10%. 1-Click Flashlight has reached
the top 20 iPad apps in China and has been mentioned in American
Consumer. It has been downloaded 400,000 times and used more than 5
million times!
The developers say they are dedicated to making this app the best
iOS flashlight app.
Device Requirements:
- iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad
- Requires iOS 4.3 or later
- 1.8 MB
1-Click Flashlight 5.0 is regularly 99¢ (or equivalent amount
in other currencies) and available worldwide exclusively through the
App Store in the Utilities category.
Link:
1-Click Flashlight
iAutoText Keyboard: Type 180 Words per Minute in
iOS
PR: iPhoneBestSoft today introduces iAutoText Keyboard 1.0
for iOS devices, its new productivity app designed to cater all your
needs when composing text messages. iAutoText Keyboard is a smart way
to input text and symbols. It offers a centralized place to compose,
store, search, reuse and manage text messages, as well as help assist
you to type fast by AutoText and AutoComplete. Bundled with a huge
library of Emoji and Unicode Symbols, Text Art, Cool Text Styles &
Text Clips, iAutoText Keyboard will help you have fun with composing
messages in your SMS, Email, Twitter and Facebook.
Existing
features include:
- Enable 460+ emoji icons for iOS
- Single customizable library of Text Clips, Text Arts, Symbols
- 1000+ icons and predefined shortcuts
- AutoComplete from your frequently typed words
- AutoText using your assigned shortcut and expanded into long text
snippet
- Text2emoji to input emoji/unicode icons by shortcut key
- Unicode symbols and keyboard
- Cool TextStyles and lot of Text Art for your cool status
update
- Type and walk, typing in a transparent viewport and help you avoid
obstacles when walking
- Send composed text to SMS, email, twitter, Facebook, Tumblr
directly
A lot of features, but the developers still put all of them in a
single App because they think all are important for composing text
message:
- AutoText: Type faster using abbreviation shortcut which converted
into long text snippet. You can create a library of abbreviation
shortcuts for text clips that you use frequently, such as addresses,
standard replies, chat shorthands, text arts and symbols. Type the
shortcut and Tap AutoText, it will automatically expands to the full
text clip or the symbols.
- AutoComplete: The App will autolearn what you have typed. Next
time, it will suggest your commonly used words while you type.
- Text2Emoji: Frequently used icons can be input directly with
Text2Emoji. e.g. Type :) and it will automatically convert to a smiley
icon.
- Cool TextStyles: 10 Cool TextStyles for you to use in social
networking.
- Great Emoji, Unicode Symbols and Text Art: Huge searchable library
of Emoji & Unicode Symbols and Text Art.
Device Requirements:
- iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4, iPhone 4S, 3/4G iPod touch
- Requires iOS 3.2 or later
- 3.0 MB
iAutoText Keyboard 1.0 is 99¢ (or equivalent amount in other
currencies) and available worldwide exclusively through the App Store
in the Productivity category.
Link:
iAutoText Keyboard
Accessories
SlateSHIELD All-in-One 360° Case, Stand, and
Handle for iPad 2
PR: The SlateSHIELD 360° rotating case, handle, and stand
for iPad 2 is now available from retailers including Amazon.com,
eXpansys, and the Cellularstore from ADDO Accessories, a division of
mobile device and product specialist PPC Techs, Inc. SlateSHIELD with
its patent-pending collapsible handle design and slide-out integrated
stand provides 360° handsfree viewing and typing from multiple
angles.
As many
business iPad users have found, holding their technology in one hand
and using it with the other can be challenging and prone to dropping or
slipping. To prevent this, the SlateSHIELD wearable iPad case has a
comfortable self-adjusting hand strap to easily control the device in
the palm of one hand, leaving the other hand free to multitask. There
is no need to remove the case from your hand to rotate the case
360° and the swivel design makes it easy to switch from landscape
to portrait mode for effective use.
Additionally, the SlateSHIELD case incorporates a unique slide out
integrated stand, allowing the iPad to be used for optimal viewing in
landscape, portrait or typing mode, ideal for applications such as
FaceTime, viewing movies, giving presentations or for use with a
Bluetooth keyboard on a desktop.
SlateSHIELDs
collapsible handle design, built-in stand and durable compact design
enhances the one-handed usability of the iPad 2 while providing secure
protection and comfort in use. Designed with the mobile and business
user in mind, the SlateSHIELD 360 case is simple to use, easy to
handle, yet tough enough to use in many business applications.
Applications in healthcare, education, field services, automotive,
retail, and food & hospitality are ideal for SlateSHIELD where
there is a need to hold the iPad in one hand to maximize productivity
and minimize limitations.
Ed Zabrek, chief medical editor for iPhone Life Magazine, comments
on his SlateSHIELD case: "It is an awesome design. One handed use has
never been easier."
Leonard Wesson,
CEO of Addo and PPC Techs, Inc., says, "I can say with confidence that
the new SlateSHIELD case is an example of how lifestyle can be
integrated with functionality while providing a rich user experience.
PPC Techs has a legacy of more than ten years of making mobile
computing more efficient and agile, which we have now moved under the
ADDO Accessories brand. I look forward to the next generation of
tablets and providing our customers with the best in class products for
a long time to come.
SlateSHIELD is made of tough, durable ABS plastic, comes in a black
finish and retails for $54.95.
SlateSHIELD is available through online retailers including
Amazon.com, eXpansys, and the Cellularstore in the USA or directly
SlateSHIELD.com.
ADDO Accessories has established distribution channels in the USA,
UK, and Ireland and is actively recruiting further channels
globally.
Link: SlateSHIELD
Grablet Novus g2 iPad Case and Handle
PR: The Grablet Novus g2 is a brightly-colored,
multifunctional, multipurpose case and secure handle for the iPad 2
(and soon a model for the iPad 1 as well). This modular accessory
features a variety of attachments and uses that let you attach, hang,
hook, suspend, and simply use your iPad safely and securely.
The Grablet Novus g2 Package Includes:
- 1 Grablet novus g2
- 1 Grablet Hand Pad
- 1 Grablet Hand Wrap
- 2 13" Straps w/ 4 G clips
- 4 Grablet Strap Retainers
Grablet provides a safe and secure way to get a handle on your iPad.
Don't drop it, just Grablet.
Grablet got its start when a husband and wife, a Ryan &
Shanna Cote purchased a new iPad and immediately started brainstorming
along with friend John how could they get a better experience from it.
Ryan, a USMC veteran and IT pro, freelance designer Shanna, and talent
management exec, John, tossed ideas back and forth that eventually
materialized as the Grablet.
The Columbus, Ohil based partners wanted to manufacture, produce,
market and ship a 100% Made in the USA product, even though that proved
more difficult and ultimately more expensive than outsourcing
production to China.
The Grablet is available in 12 colors and sells for $39.99.
Link: Grablet
Novus g2 iPad Case
Stealth Protection for Your iPhone
PR:
West280, a designer of innovative, formfitting cases for the iPhone,
has announced its new iOpener 4 for all iPhone 4 models.
With lines the manufacturer says were inspired by a stealth fighter
jet, iOpener 4 is sleek yet deceptively tough, fitting the iPhone like
a fine Armani suit, yet protecting it like a suit of armor. The case
also includes West280's patented, slide-out bottle opener, adding a
splash of personality to the iPhone. [Perhaps not the most
wisely-chosen metaphor in this context. Ed.]
iOpener includes
a raised bezel to protect the screen and full perimeter protection
around iPhone controls and ports. West280's unique engineered interior
design transfers the majority of impact forces away from the phone
body. The two-piece case is molded from a proprietary polycarbonate/ABS
polymer alloy that is capable of withstanding massive impact forces.
When the stainless steel bottle opener is retracted into the case the
three layers of plastic and steel create a suit of armor that West280
suggests may make iOpener the world's toughest plastic case.
iOpener 4 is available now for preorder for $29.95. Shipments are
expected to begin approximately February-March 2012 timeframe. All US
orders ship free via Priority Mail.
iOpener 3 is currently shipping for $29.95. iOpener 3 fits all
models of iPhone 3 (3, 3G and 3Gs).
Link: West280
