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News, Reviews, & Opinion
Apple Introduces iPad mini, iPad 4
New Fourth Generation iPad Has Retina Display, A6X Chip, FaceTime
HD Camera, and 4G LTE Wireless
PR: October 23, 2012 - Apple today introduced iPad mini, a completely new iPad design that
is 23% thinner and 53% lighter than the third generation iPad. The new iPad mini
features a stunning 7.9" Multi-Touch display, FaceTime HD and iSight
cameras, ultrafast wireless performance, and an incredible 10 hours of
battery life - every inch an iPad, yet in a revolutionary design you
can hold in one hand. Apple today also announced the fourth generation iPad featuring a gorgeous
9.7" Retina Display, new Apple-designed A6X chip, FaceTime HD camera
and ultrafast wireless performance. Both iPad mini and fourth
generation iPad come with iOS 6, the world's most advanced mobile
operating system with over 200 new features.
iPad mini
"iPad mini is
every inch an iPad. With its gorgeous 7.9" display, iPad mini features
the same number of pixels as the original
iPad and iPad 2, so you can
run more than 275,000 apps designed specifically for iPad," said Philip
Schiller, Apple's senior vice president of Worldwide Marketing. "iPad
mini is as thin as a pencil and as light as a pad of paper, yet packs a
fast A5 chip, FaceTime HD and 5 megapixel iSight cameras, and ultrafast
wireless - all while delivering up to 10 hours of battery life."
iPad mini comes in a beautiful new aluminum and glass design that is
just 7.2 mm thin and weighs only 0.68 pounds. The 7.9" Multi-Touch
display delivers the same iPad experience users have come to expect, in
a design that has 35% more screen real estate than 7" tablets and up to
an astonishing 67% more usable viewing area when browsing the Web. The
dual-core A5 chip delivers responsive graphics and a fast, fluid
Multi-Touch experience, while still providing all-day battery life.
iPad mini features a front-facing FaceTime HD camera and a 5 MP
iSight camera on the back with advanced optics for taking sharp still
pictures and recording full 1080p HD video. The iSight camera includes
video image stabilization, and both cameras feature backside
illumination to let users capture great pictures in low light. iPad
mini also allows easy sharing of photos with friends and family using
iCloud's Shared Photo Streams.
iPad mini features dual-band 802.11n WiFi support for speeds up to
150 Mbps, which is twice the WiFi performance compared to previous iPad
models. iPad mini is available in WiFi + Cellular models, which are
world-ready with built-in support for ultrafast wireless standards,
including LTE and DC-HSDPA, so you can browse, download, and stream
content fast from wherever you are. iPad mini data plans will be
available with no contract so you can simply sign up and activate
service directly from your iPad. The Personal Hotspot feature means you
can share a fast cellular data connection via WiFi, Bluetooth, or USB
with up to five other devices such as MacBook Pro, iPod touch, or
another iPad.
iPad 4
The new fourth generation iPad features the amazing 9.7" Retina
Display and includes a new Apple-designed A6X chip that delivers up to
twice the CPU performance and up to twice the graphics performance of
the A5X chip, all while delivering an incredible 10 hours of battery
life in the same thin and light iPad design. Other new features include
a FaceTime HD camera, twice the WiFi performance when compared to
previous iPad models and support for additional LTE carriers
worldwide.
iPad mini and fourth generation iPad both feature support for the
Lightning connector that is smaller, smarter, and more durable than the
30-pin connector. Lightning connector accessories are available to
support cameras, SD cards, and VGA or HDMI digital video.
Existing iPad Smart Covers and the iPad Smart Case are compatible
with fourth generation iPad, and new polyurethane Smart Covers
custom-designed for iPad mini are available in pink, green, blue, light
gray, dark gray and (PRODUCT) RED for $39.
iPad runs over 700,000 apps available on the App Store, including
more than 275,000 apps designed specifically for iPad, from a wide
range of categories including books, games, business, news, sports,
health, reference, and travel. iPad also supports the more than 5,000
newspapers and magazines offered in Newsstand and the more than 1.5
million books available on the iBookstore. The iTunes Store puts the
world's most popular online music, TV, and movie store at your
fingertips with a catalog of over 26 million songs, over 190,000 TV
episodes, and over 45,000 films. The new iBooks app for iPad lets users
read ebooks in over 40 languages. iBooks also lets users experience an
entirely new kind of ebook that's dynamic, engaging and truly
interactive. Ebooks created with Apple's new iBooks Author offer
gorgeous, fullscreen ebooks with interactive animations, diagrams,
photos, videos, custom fonts, mathematical expressions, and much
more.
Pricing & Availability
iPad mini with WiFi models will be available in black & slate or
white & silver on Friday, November 2, for a suggested retail price
of $329 for the 16 GB model, $429 for the 32 GB model, and $529 for the
64 GB model. The fourth generation iPad with WiFi models will also be
available on Friday, November 2, in black or white for a suggested
retail price of $499 for the 16 GB model, $599 for the 32 GB model, and
$699 for the 64 GB model. iPad mini and the fourth generation iPad will
be sold through the Apple Online Store, Apple's retail stores, and
select Apple Authorized Resellers in the US, Australia, Austria,
Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France,
Germany, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Korea,
Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland,
Portugal, Puerto Rico, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Singapore, Spain,
Sweden, Switzerland, and the UK.
iPad mini with WiFi + Cellular and fourth generation iPad with WiFi
+ Cellular will start shipping a couple of weeks after the WiFi models,
beginning in the US on AT&T, Sprint, and Verizon. iPad mini with
WiFi + Cellular will be offered for a suggested retail price of $459
for the 16 GB model, $559 for the 32 GB model, and $659 for the 64 GB
model. Fourth generation iPad with WiFi + Cellular for AT&T,
Sprint, and Verizon will be offered for a suggested retail price of
$629 for the 16 GB model, $729 for the 32 GB model, and $829 for the 64
GB model. Additionally, iPad 2 is available at $399 for the 16 GB WiFi
model and just $529 for the 16 GB WiFi + 3G model where they are sold
now.
Customers can begin pre-ordering all models of iPad mini and all
models of the fourth generation iPad on Friday, October 26 through the
Apple Online Store in the US, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada,
Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Ireland,
Italy, Japan, Korea, Luxembourg, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway,
Poland, Portugal, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the
UK.
- LTE is available through select carriers. Network speeds are
dependent on carrier networks. Check with your carrier for
details.
- Battery life depends on device settings, usage and other factors.
Actual results vary.
- Based on theoretical speeds, actual speeds may vary.
- Only available on some carriers.
- Personal Hotspot requires supporting data plan. Customers should
check with their carrier for availability.
- LTE is available through select carriers.
- Sold separately.
AppleDesigns Macs, the best personal computers in the world, along
with OS X, iLife, iWork, and professional software. Apple leads the
digital music revolution with its iPods and iTunes online store. Apple
has reinvented the mobile phone with its revolutionary iPhone and App
Store, and is defining the future of mobile media and computing devices
with iPad.
'Apple Sells Premium Products at Premium Prices to
Premium Customers'
Mac Daily News blogger SteveJack says some people haven't been
paying attention for the past three decades, so he has a news flash for
them: "Apple sells premium products at premium prices to premium
customers."
He notes that the latest shock to the perpetually Apple-ignorant on
Wall Street is that the iPad mini starts at $329, not the $199 or so
that iPad wannabe outfits charge for their "ecosystem-free, tiny
screen, cheap plastic slabs of junk", and that whoever thought Apple
was going to play race to the bottom of the barrel either hasn't been
paying attention or was born yesterday. "Wake up or have a happy
birthday," he advises, noting that Apple's Phil Schiller told reporters
as much yesterday following the iPad mini's debut, saying he expects
consumers to recognize quality and be willing to pay for it.
And if you can't afford an iPad mini, you're not in the target
market, so stop whining - nobody cares, says SteveJack.
Link: Newsflash: Apple
Sells Premium Products at Premium Prices to Premium Customers
Smaller iPad to Contribute to Doubling of 7" Media
Tablet Market
PR: The arrival of the smaller iPad will turbocharge the
market for 7" tablets, helping the market to approximately double in
2012 and 2013, according to the IHS iSuppli Display Materials &
Systems Service at information and analytics provider IHS.
Global sales of tablets with displays in the 7" size range are
expected to boom by about 100% this year to 34 million units, up from
17 million in 2011, as presented in the figure below. Sales will nearly
double again in 2013, rising 96% to 67 million.
"Just as Apple has dominated the market for 9.7" tablets with its
iPad, iPad 2, and New iPad models, the company is poised to rule the
market for 7.x" products, driving rapid growth of the segment in 2012
and 2013," says IHS tablet and monitor research director Rhoda
Alexander. "The battle in the 7" space is highly spirited, with most of
the other leading vendors already offering price-competitive products
in this size range. IHS predicts Apple will successfully position the
smaller iPad as a device that will be attractive and easy to adopt for
both new and returning customers. This will spur rapid sales growth and
provide tough competition for other companies contending in this size
range."
Smaller Tablets Gain Bigger Market Share
Provisionally, IHS iSuppli says the 7" size range should account for
28% of all tablets in 2012, up from 24% in 2011. In 2013, the 7.x"
share will rise to 33%, regarding its 2013 forecast for 7.x" tablet
sales as conservative, with some factors potentially boosting the
market to higher levels for the year.
"The major factor limiting shipments of the smaller iPad will not be
demand, but a combination of production challenges and potential
component supply issues," Alexander says. "Reported production
difficulties point to the likelihood that Apple is once again pushing
design boundaries with the new product. Sources also indicate there
have been some supply issues for parts used in the Apple Lightning
connector and in the display. If Apple can resolve these issues
rapidly, 2013 shipments and sales may exceed the current forecast
dramatically."
Apple's capability to meet all demand and launch the product in all
global regions promptly will be a major factor determining its
near-term sales level.
"IHS expects the 7.x" product to be particularly popular in Asia,
where interest in a smaller version of the iPad has been strong," Ms.
Alexander observes. "If Apple has sufficient supply to meet demand in
Asia following product launch, then the 2013 sales could be off the
charts."
Competitive Response
Apple tablet competitors that are using the Android operating system
until now have gravitated to the 7.x" size as a way to find a
competitive niche compared to the bigger 9.7" iPad. With the
anticipated arrival of the smaller iPad, these companies are
increasingly looking at the 8.x" and larger categories as they seek to
find new avenues of differentiation compared to Apple.
By contrast, new tablets based on Microsoft Corp.'s Windows RT and
Windows 8 operating systems are likely to focus on products with
10"-and-larger displays, although there may be some offerings with
displays as small as 8.x".
Publisher's note: It's interesting that iSuppli is categorizing the
7.9" (almost 8") iPad mini with other 7.x" tablets,
almost all of which are 7.0" devices, while hardly any competing
tablets yet exist in the 7.9-8.0" space. The iPad mini has a 200 mm
display while 7.0" tablets have 175-180 mm screens, and many of those
are widescreen designs which means their displays have far less surface
area than the diagonal measurement would lead you to believe - which is
the prefect segue to the next news brief. dk
Time to Ditch Diagonal Display Panel
Comparisons
dot-color.com's Jeff Yurek notes that size is a critical dimension
for consumers to consider. When buying a product with a display we
usually compare a diagonal screen measurement of, say, a 16:9
rectangle, which is a deceptive benchmark because a display that has
twice the diagonal (and the same aspect ratio) will have four times the
screen area.
Yurek notes that Apple's Phil Schiller demonstrated the deficiency
of diagonal at the iPad mini announcement, noting that the new iPad
mini display is only 0.9" or 12% bigger than a Google Nexus 7 on the
diagonal, but actually 35% larger by area.
Link: Time to
Ditch the Diagonal?
Multitasking in the iPad's Future?
The Mac Observer's Ted Landau predicts that Apple will someday
release a portable device with a 9" screen, but that unlike the iPad,
it will not run iOS but a separate OS version that will be able to
handle multitasking and the ability to view and work with at least two
main apps at the same time, side by side, and to drag items from one
app to another.
I hope he's right. Those issues, along with incredibly clumsy touch
text editing and manipulation, no filesystem access, and limited
connectivity, are my main iPad irritants and complaints - and the
biggest obstacles to the iPad being a really useful and efficient
content creation platform.
Landau cautions that we shouldn't be holding our breath, however,
since it appears that at least for now Apple philosophically believes
that a single app, fullscreen, user environment is more desirable on
the iPad than a multitasking one.
Publisher's note: Apple gave us a little bit of multitasking with
iOS 5, but for the most part it's application switching where more than
one app may remain resident in memory (or not). What the iPad needs is
something Macs have had since the days of MultiFinder (introduced
way back in 1987, 3-1/2 years after the Mac was first released), the
ability to work with two or more apps on screen at the same time - even
on tiny 9" 512 x 342 pixel displays. dk
Link: Multitasking &
the iPad
Panel Supply Issues to Initially Limit iPad Mini
Availability
DisplaySearch Senior Analyst Richard Shim comments in a blog release
that as DisplaySearch had anticipated, Apple on Tuesday announced
additions to its iPad and MacBook Pro lines - the iPad mini, a
refreshed iPad with Retina Display, and a 13.3" MacBook Pro with
Retina Display.
Shim notes that the $329 iPad mini comes with a 7.9" 1024 x 768
display, dual core A5 processor, and up to 10 hours of battery life,
while the $499 iPad with Retina Display comes with the same 9.7" 2048 x
1536 display as the 3rd-generation New iPad (which is no longer listed
on the Apple website) but features an A6X processor and up to 10 hours
of battery life. The iPads can be pre-ordered on October 26 and ship on
November 2.
The $1,699 MacBook Pro with Retina Display features a 13.3" 2560 x
1600 screen and is already available.
"As is typical," says Mr. Shim, "we expect the iPads to be supply
constrained initially, especially the iPad mini with its $329 price.
The new low price point is expected to appeal to a wider audience and
drive up demand. However, panel supply chain indications point to an
even more than typical tightness in the market for the iPad mini."
Shim notes that Apple is expanding its supplier base with new
partners for the iPad mini, continuing to work with LG Display which is
supplying panels to Foxconn for the finished product, and adding AUO,
which will supply panels to Pegatron.
However, he reports that AUO is having yield issues with the 7.9
panel which is limiting their supply to Pegatron, and in September, AUO
shipped just over 100,000 units. The production plan is reach 400,000
units in October, 800,000 units November and 1 million in December. LG
Display shipped 300,000 panels in September, and plans to ship 1
million in October, 2.5 million in November, and 3 million in
December.
Mr. Shim also observes that Samsung has been one of the leading
panel suppliers for the iPad, and in fact when the new iPad was first
released, Samsung was the only supplier that could meet production
orders, with LG Display gradually ramping up to meet demand. However,
he notes that Samsung and Apple appear to be winding down their
relationship most likely due to the legal conflicts the two have been
embroiled in recently. In previous iPad launches, LG Display and
Samsung have been the main panel suppliers with roughly equal panel
production.
Link: Supply Issues to
Initially Limit iPad Mini
Nearly 70% of European Consumers Prefer Black Apple
Mobile Products to White
UK-based market research firm Idealo reports that eleven years after
the release of the original iPod,
a recent study shows that Apple's vintage white livery has fallen out
of favor with consumers, with black now the overwhelming favorite color
choice.
Idealo surveyed 22 different specifications of Apple's iPad, iPhone,
iPod touch, and iPod classic models, which are currently offered in
either black or white from the Apple Store, comparing the proportion of
clicks each model received during first three quarters of 2012 across
its price comparison platforms in Germany, France, UK, Italy, and
Austria.
According to the data, nearly 70% of Idealo users prefer their Apple
devices in black over white, although that ranges from 73.6% choosing
the black iPhone to just 53.9% picking the black iPod touch.
Link: Apple Gadgets in
Black or White? A European Perspective
The Competition
5 Ways Windows 8 Beats iOS
PC World's Jon Phillips says he's been a daily iPad user since the
day the tablet launched, although he's never had much affinity for Mac
OS and Apple desktops. He's used either the iPad, iPad 2 or new iPad
every day since April 3, 2010, and says tablets work for him and the
iPad has worked for him, despite the fact that its never helped him do
any real work.
However, he's been playing with various Windows 8 tablets, including
Microsoft's new Surface RT, and says Windows 8 tablets are the real
deal, and that there are five ways in particular that Windows 8 beats
iOS:
Snap Screen, which lets you dock a second app on the edge of the
screen, offering legitimate, systemwide multitasking by allowing you to
see two active apps on your display at the same time.
Live Tiles which lets you display image slideshows and other dynamic
content right on the Start Screen
Settings - You can adjust any app's settings without leaving the
app.
Semblance of a File System - not the full filesystem access some of
us long for, but the Windows 8 "modern UI" does expose an underlying
file system when you run a search from the Charms bar.
Internet Explorer - Phillips claims the new Internet Explorer is
better than Safari.
Link: 5 Ways Windows 8
Beats iOS
Windows RT with Office RT Uses 38% of 32 GB
Surface's Storage Capacity
OS News' Thom Holwerda cites a tidbit from the Reddit AMA session
with Microsoft's Surface team, noting that it turns out that while
Windows 8 RT is considerably smaller than its Windows 7 x86
predecessor, it's still huge by mobile standards, requiring 12 GB of
storage space for the OS, Office RT 2013, and "a bunch of apps".
Holwerda observes that this compares rather unfavorably to its
competition, with Android Jelly Bean needing 340 MB for kernel and user
space - and iOS reportedly less than 1 GB in size.
Kinda brings the base model Microsoft Surface RT tablet's 32 GB of
memory (compared with Apple's 16 GB for the same price) into clearer
perspective.
Link: Windows RT + Office
RT Takes Up 12 GB Disk Space
Apps & Services
Maxthon Loads Pages Fastest in Tom's Hardware
Comprehensive iOS Browser Shootout
PR: Maxthon, a Chinese-based global software company that
specializes in state-of-the-art web browsers, has announced its
selection as the best alternative to Safari for iPads and iPhones by
Tom's Hardware. According to the
review: "Maxthon is really the only third-party iOS browser that stands
out."
The review further notes: "Maxthon manages to beat out Apple's own
Web browser by a slim margin in uncached page loads."
"Adding performance within the technology limits set by Apple is not
an easy thing," says Jeff Chen, CEO of Maxthon. "But even with the
limitation required by Apple for a company like us to access iTunes,
Maxthon for iOS still loads pages as fast and faster than Safari. It's
an honor to be able to enhance the iPhone and iPad's already excellent
user experience with our approach to high performance web
browsers."
Known to hard-core technology enthusiasts since the early days of
the web, Tom's Hardware is an independent technology publication
focused on providing reviews, analyses and recommendations. In its
comprehensive review, it also gave Maxthon for iPad and iPhone kudos
for its strong support of HTML5 and web standards' compliance.
"iPhone and iPad users have a number of alternatives to Safari that
provide noticeable improvements in performance and feature sets," notes
Karl Mattson, GM of Maxthon International/Chief of Product Development.
"Upgrading to Maxthon is easy. Search Maxthon in iTunes and put on that
seatbelt for some faster surfing."
Maxthon's suite of browsers supports a wide range of devices from
desktops to mobile, and are claimed to be used each month by more than
100 million people in 140 countries around the globe. Maxthon has
offices in San Francisco, Hong Kong and Beijing.
Publisher's note: Considering the popularity of 7" Android tablets,
it's curious that Maxthon Mobile for Android is only available in
smartphone and 10" tablet versions. dk
Link:
Maxthon for iPad
Link:
Maxthon for iPhone
Link: Maxthon for Mac
(beta)
Link: Maxthon 3 for
Windows
Link: Maxthon Mobile for Android
phones
Link: Maxthon Mobile for 10" Android
tablets
Free New SlashGear iOS App
PR: Dedicated to highlighting the latest and greatest in
personal technology, SlashGear covers everything from cutting-edge tech
gear to the latest digital lifestyle trend. Distinctive, informative
and fresh, we will keep bringing you device information and reviews you
can trust as well as thought-provoking commentary.
Features
All the news published from SlashGear in real time, complete
with Features, Reviews and Columns categorization.
In-app video streaming and image gallery of reviews, unboxing,
hands-on and press events.
Share stories via email,Twitter and Facebook.
- Major design changes
- Trending Topics
- Saved article for offline reading
- Share your thoughts with Disqus comment
- Load more articles
Note: The application requires network access to download data from
SlashGear and we do not collect any User ID or login credentials.
New in Version 2.0.0
- Major Design Changes
- iPhone 5 Support
- Trending Topics
- Share your thoughts with Disqus comment
- Load more articles
Free
System requirements:
- Compatible with iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad.
- Requires iOS 4.3 or later
- This app is optimized for iPhone 5.
Link:
SlashGear
TOK.Tv Launches TOK Baseball, the First Voice
Enabled Free iPad App
PR: TOK.tv, a San Francisco based Social TV company, today
announces the launch of TOK Baseball, the first free iPad app that
allows up to four people to TALK, voice not text, while watching their
favorite game on TV. The experience is enriched by real time statistics
and information about the game, an area where TV is notoriously
weak.
"Sports fans like me think it's a bit pathetic to watch a baseball
game on TV alone; yet, we do it anyway because we just love the sport."
says Fabrizio Capobianco, CEO and founder of TOK.tv. "Watching a game
with friends is so much more fun. It changes the experience. That's why
we created TOK.tv. We want to give people the opportunity to TALK to
their friends while watching a game on TV, even when they are not
physically in the same room."
TOK Baseball doesn't replace a TV. It's a perfect social companion
that enriches the experience of watching TV. Consumers are already
embracing a "second screen": 86% of mobile web users have a second
device on their hands while watching TV.
"We believe our technology adds something new and critically
important to the Social TV revolution: voice. The opportunity to talk
while watching the favorite game or show on TV." says Capobianco. "In
addition, we give TV Networks the opportunity to engage more with their
viewers and to monetize in new, different ways. It's a classic win-win
situation."
Feature Highlights
- Find The Game - It's easy to spot all the live games in a cool,
zoomable map
- Invite Your Friends - See who is watching your game and ask them to
join your virtual living room
- Talk While You Watch - TALK to other three friends simultaneously
through your iPad while watching the game on TV (with voice, no
text)
- Make Noise - Play with the sound carousel. It's like being at the
ballpark
- Get More From The TV Broadcast - Learn more about the game and
players with additional stats and facts on your iPad screen
TOK Baseball is the first voice enabled second screen TV companion
app. Soon TOK.tv will be launching TOK Football to enjoy games on TV
the way you were meant to. With friends.
Device Requirements:
- Requires iPad with iOS 5.0 or later
- 19.3 MB
TOK Baseball 1.0.3 is free and available worldwide exclusively
through the App Store in the Social Networking category.
Link:
TOK Baseball for iPad
iPad Accessories
ZAGG Introduces New Accessories for iPad mini
PR: ZAGG Inc. has released a complete line of products to
protect, personalize and enhance the new Apple iPad mini. ZAGG's new
products, designed specifically for Apple's new entry into the 7(ish)"
tablet market, include keyboards, cases, and protective films.
"We are excited about these new versions of our award-winning
accessories designed for the iPad mini, including our invisibleSHIELD
products, iFrogz cases, and ZAGG keyboards," says Kent Wuthrich,
executive vice president of marketing for ZAGG. "As one of the only
keyboard accessories designed specifically for iPad mini, the ZAGGkeys
MINI 7 and MINI 9 will offer the proven utility and convenience that
our customers have come to expect from the ZAGGkeys line."
ZAGGkeys MINI 7 and ZAGGkeys MINI 9
The ZAGGkeys MINI 7 and ZAGGkeys MINI 9 feature a durable folio
designed specifically around the iPad mini and highlighted with ZAGGs
award-winning keyboard technology. The Bluetooth 3.0 keyboard of
the ZAGGkeys MINI 7 is 
custom designed
to fit iPad mini, providing a feature-rich keyboard while
maintaining the small, compact size. The ZAGGkeys MINI 9 offers a
similar keyboard with a carefully engineered layout to provide the same
spacing as ZAGGs traditional tablet keyboard. Both accessories in the
ZAGGkeys MINI line feature built-in stands to hold the tablet at an
ideal viewing angle and special function keys to operate essential iPad
mini features directly from the keyboard. ZAGG has also introduced the
ZAGGstylus MINI, a capacitive stylus for the iPad mini compatible with
the ZAGGkeys MINI 9.
The ZAGGkeys MINI 7 and ZAGGkeys MINI 9 are available for purchase
from ZAGG.com and select retailers. Expected retail for the ZAGGkeys
MINI 7 and MINI 9 is $89.99, and are covered with a 1-year limited
hardware warranty.
invisibleSHIELD
ZAGG's invisibleSHIELD was created from a high tech film originally
designed for the US Military to use in protecting the leading edges of
helicopter blades. ZAGG was the pioneer in applying that film to the
full body of handheld electronics, preventing scratches and surface
damage. Each of ZAGG's invisibleSHIELD films offer Nano-Memory
Technology, a unique property that allows for greater durability and
ease of installation, and a lifetime replacement guarantee if the film
becomes scratched or damaged while protecting the device.
ZAGG's line of invisibleSHIELDs designed specifically for the iPad
mini include:
- invisibleSHIELD, $24.99, ZAGG's patented, original full-body
protection, applies directly to the Apple iPad mini, providing the most
award-winning, critically acclaimed protection in the industry
- invisibleSHIELD High Definition, $29.99, recently presented with a
2012 Gold Stevie Award in the New Product or Service of the Year in
Consumer Electronics, offers premium features like advanced clarity and
a glass-like surface to the original invisibleSHIELD film
- invisibleSHIELD Smudge-Proof, $29.99, offers all of the protection
of ZAGG's original invisibleSHIELD film, plus the best antiglare and
anti-fingerprint features available (sold at select retailers
only)
All prices listed are for screen protection only. For full body
coverage, prices range from $34.99 to $39.99.
New Products from iFrogz
iFrogz specializes in creative lifestyle accessory solutions for
mobile devices. Its cases designed specifically for the Apple iPad mini
feature rich color and texture options, and are fashioned from
shock-absorbent TPU to protect the new device from wear and tear. New
cases include:
- Breeze, $29.99: A one-piece case that provides an aerated look and
textured feel to the iPad mini. Available in several dual color
options: black/blue, black/silver and black/pink
- Merge, $49.99: Crafted with a combination of high-quality TPU frame
and PU cover, the Merge combines fashion and function with a foldable
cover to provide various media angles
Rounding out the company's accessory line for the Apple iPad mini
are power and audio options, such as the ZAGGsparq portable battery,
iFrogz Audio accessories, and additional screen protection options from
iFrogz including the OptiVue and Privacy films.
In addition to online channels (ZAGG.com and iFrogz.com), mobile
device accessories from ZAGG Inc. are available at leading retailers
and ZAGG-branded retail outlets throughout the U.S., as well as at top
consumer electronics chains in Asia, Canada, Europe and South America.
ZAGG and iFrogz accessories for the iPad mini line will be available
beginning November 2nd, the day of the iPad mini launch.
Link: ZAGG.com
Kensington Offers New and Compatible Accessories
for iPad mini
PR: Kensington welcomes the iPad mini, announcing seven new
protective covers and stands that are immediately ready for use. These
products will be available soon for preorder online at Kensington.com
and Amazon.com.
Kensington
Protective Cover & Stand for iPad mini (Coffee Snake, K39719AM;
$34.99, Brown Marble, K39718AM; $34.99, Black Marble, K39717AM;
$34.99)
This thin, slim case is big on protection and functionality. The
Kensington Protective Cover & Stand for iPad mini delivers a
2-position stand for higher productivity whether you're typing or
browsing. And it provides two layers of protection around all surfaces.
Additionally, a hard shell exterior cover protects your iPad mini from
bumps and bruises and the soft velvet interior protects it from
scratches. It's camera-ready too.
Kensington Protective Back Cover for iPad
mini (Clear, K39715AM; $19.99, Teal, K39716AM; $19.99)
The Protective Back Cover in Teal and Clear brings an additional
layer of protection for your iPad mini with a thin layer of TPU rubber
to prevent scratches, provide greater grip and better contact with a
flat surface in landscape mode.
Kensington
Protective Back Cover for iPad mini (Black, K39713AM; $19.99,
Eggplant, K39714AM; $19.99)
The Protective Back Cover in Black and Eggplant enable the use of
the Apple Smart Cover functionality. This perfect combination of design
and functionality wraps the back of your iPad mini in ultra thin layer
of hard polycarbonate polymer to protect your device.
Link: Kensington
iPhone Accessories
USB Fever 180° Fisheye Lens with Back Cover
for iPhone 5
PR: Features
Wider Angle
captured - up to 180°- Portable and detachable, you can take photos with your iPhone 5 at
any time
- Comes with a Back Cover, whenever you need to take photo with
Fisheye, just screw on the Fisheye Lens on, then you can take 180°
Fisheye pictures with your iPhone 5
- The back cover is suitable for many of USB Fever's threaded
lenses
- High Clarity: Made of high-class glass
- Strong: Made of top-grade Aluminum
This accessory is suitable for (compatible with): Apple iPhone 5
Colors Available (for Back Cover only): Smoky Black
How to use?
- Put the Back Cover On
- Screw on the 180° Fisheye Lens
- Take picture
Specifications
- Magnification: 180° Fisheye (0.28x)
- Lens Construction: 3 elements in 3 groups
- Lens Dimensions (main body): 25mm (diameter) x 15mm (length)
- Weight: 12g
$25.99
Link: USB Fever 180°
Fisheye Lens with Back Cover for iPhone 5
USB Fever Wide Angle Lens with Back Cover for
iPhone 5
PR: Features
Captures wide
angles without perspective distortion- Portable and detachable, you can take photos with your iPhone 5 at
any time
- Comes with a Back Cover, whenever you need to take photos with a
Wide Angle Lens, just screw on the Wide Angle Lens on, then you can
take Angle Shot 0.68x pictures with your iPhone 5.
- The back cover is suitable for many of USB Fever's threaded
lenses
- High Clarity: Made of high-class glass
- Strong: Made of top-grade Aluminum
This accessory is suitable for (compatible with): Apple iPhone 5
Colors Available (for Back Cover only): Black
How to use?
- Put the Back Cover On
- Screw the Wide Angle Lens up
- Take picture
Specifications
- Magnification: Wide 0.68x
- Lens Construction: 2 elements in 2 groups
- The shot distance is between 10~23mm
- Dimensions(main body): 22mm (diameter) x 11.2mm (length)
- Weight: 8g
$21.99
Link: USB Fever Wide
Angle Lens with Back Cover for iPhone 5
USB Fever 2x Telephoto Lens with Back Cover for
iPhone 5
PR: Features
Portable and
detachable, you can take photos with your iPhone 5 at any time- Comes with a Back Cover, whenever you need to take photo of
Close-up, just screw on the 2x Lens on, then you can take pictures with
your iPhone 5 with objects afar.
- The back cover is suitable for many of USB Fever's threaded
lenses
- High Clarity: Made of high-class glass
- Strong: The Lens is Made of top-grade Aluminum.
This accessory is suitable for (compatible with): Apple iPhone 5
Colors Available (for Back Cover only): Smoky Black
How to use?
- Put the Back Cover On
- Screw the 2x Lens up
- Then you can start taking pictures with 2x lens
Specifications
- Magnification: Telephoto 2.0x
- Lens Construction: 2 elements in 2 groups
- Weight: 14g
$21.99
Link: USB Fever 2x
Telephoto Lens with Back Cover for iPhone 5
USB Fever Macro Lens with Back Cover for iPhone
5
PR: Features
Captures objects
in short distance without perspective distortion- Portable and detachable, you can take photos with your iPhone 5 at
any time
- Comes with a Back Cover, whenever you need to take photo of
Close-up, just screw on the Macro Lens on, then you can take Macro
picture with your iPhone 5
- The back cover is suitable for many of USB Fever's threaded
lenses
- High Clarity: Made of high-class glass
- Strong: The Lens is Made of top-grade Aluminum.
This accessory is suitable for (compatible with): Apple iPhone 5
Colors Available (for Back Cover only): Smoky Black
How to use?
- Put the Back Cover On
- Screw the Macro Lens up
- Take picture
Possible Applications
- Iridilogy
- Shooting flowers
- Shooting insects
- shooting small animals
Specifications
- Super Macro
- Lens Construction: 1 element in 1 group
- The shot distance is between 10~23mm approximately
- Dimensions(main body): 15.8mm (diameter) x 6.5mm (length)
approximately
- Dimensions (magnetic washer): 13.06mm (outer), 9.38mm (inner)
approximately
- Weight: 2.0g (Lens only)
$13.99
Link: USB Fever Macro
Lens with Back Cover for iPhone 5
Nautilus Waterproof Case for iPhone 4/4S/5
PR: SalamanderSkinz has unveiled its newest product - a
waterproof iPhone case called Nautilus. The company adds Nautilus to an
existing portfolio of waterproof camera cases that are targeted at the
underwater photography market.
Unlike conventional waterproof cases which are fundamentally
enclosed containers, Nautilus is tightly integrated with the phone,
using the body of the device to establish a waterproof barrier.
The company's
patent-pending approach lends itself to a smaller overall form factor
and more integrated appearance. It also allowed the product-maker to
leave the glass touchscreen open and uncovered, which provides a more
natural and responsive user experience.
SalamanderSkinz cofounder, Peter Ghali explains the rationale for
the product: "Traditional waterproof cases for the iPhone are bulky and
difficult to use. People only install them selectively based on their
planned activities for the day. We designed Nautilus to be an everyday
case for the iPhone so you won't need to decide when your phone might
become exposed to water. With Nautilus, the phone is always
protected."
Recently, the company shifted its focus from making cases for point
and shoot cameras to waterproof cases for smart phones. Jay Huntington,
cofounder, describes the changing market trend: "People have discovered
that cell phones can - not only take great photos, but are also
perfectly suited for sharing those photos with friends and family. Our
company was simply responding to the changing trend."
Nautilus will be offered in two versions the standard version,
called Nautilus Sport is made from a thermoplastic polymer resin. A
premium version called Nautilus Elite will also be offered. Nautilus
Elite will be made from aircraft-grade aluminum. The Elite version will
be available in a variety of surface treatments, including black
anodized, white powder-coated, and polished nickel-plated finishes.
The company unveiled its new Nautilus case on a web-based portal
called Kickstarter. Through
Kickstarter, SalamanderSkinz will accept monetary pledges from the
public in order to capitalize the startup costs for the project. The
company rewards Kickstarter backers by offering them an opportunity to
preorder the Nautilus case at a discounted rate. Small companies are
increasingly turning to crowd-funding as an efficient way to raise
venture capital.
Link: Nautilus Waterproof Case for
iPhone
Other Accessories
Third Party Lightning to 30-pin Adapter (0.2 m)
for Less Than Half Apple's Price
PR: Use
this intelligent adapter to connect your 30-pin accessories to devices
featuring the Lightning connector.
This 0.2 m (about 8") long cabled adapter lets you connect devices
with a Lightning connector to many of your 30-pin accessories.
- Support for analog audio output, USB audio, as well as syncing and
charging. Video output not supported.
- Some 30-pin accessories are not supported.
Demo Video:
http://goo.gl/5INXV
Main Features
- Fully supports iTunes, Data Sync and Battery Charging
- All details are made to the finest - Uses parts of same quality as
Apple suppliers, but this is not the original cable from the Apple
Store
- Works the same as original but at less than half the price
This accessory
is compatible with the following:
- iPhone 5
- iPod touch 5th generation
- iPod nano 7th generation
- iPad 4th generation
- iPad mini
$19.90
This item needs 10-14 days of processing lead-time before order ship
out.
All pricing excludes shipping. All orders by default will ship via
Registered Airmail with Tracking (7-20 working days delivery lead
time)
Tracking allows you to track the delivery status of your postage
online. You will be given a tracking link upon item ship out to you.
Note that if shipping via Registered Airmail or Speedpost, the online
delivery status tracking detail may not fully available for some
countries. Fully supported countries are: US, Canada, UK, Japan etc.
Visit Hong Kong Post Website for more details.
Link: Lightning to 30-pin
Adapter (0.2 m)
