iPad

Kensington KeyFolio Keyboard iPad case: Netbook killer or added baggage?

There are many differentiating factors between an iPad and a Netbook, but none so obvious and useful as a physical keyboard.

We've remarked several times since owning the iPad that the addition of a dedicated Bluetooth keyboard really helps the little slate become a pretty good mobile writing tool. Though a virtual onscreen keyboard does the job fairly well, especially in conjunction with a raised case like Apple's own microfiber one, it's no substitute for the rapid-fire feel of physical keys. I use an Apple Bluetooth keyboard with my iPad, and it's a great combo; the only problem is, even with its small size, carrying yet another gadget around ruins the appeal of the iPad's simplicity.

We've wondered why Bluetooth keyboard cases weren't immediately conceived for the iPad from day one, but six months later we've finally got one that's real. The Kensington KeyFolio is a leather-bound booklike case that bonds a thin silicon-covered Bluetooth keyboard to its inner lid, unfolding to turn an iPad into a veritable mini-workstation. For $99, the KeyFolio is cheaper than the sum total of most keyboards and cases on the market. Is it worth the investment? And more importantly, could a keyboard case turn an iPad into a valid Netbook replacement?… Read more

Apple updates iWork for iPad with support for MobileMe iDisk, more native Office formats

Apple has released a new update for iWork on iPad that adds support for saving documents to MobileMe iDisk as well as the option to export documents in more native Microsoft Office formats.

With Apple pushing to sell the iPad as more than just a consumption tool, these important updates to the flagship productivity suite on the touch-screen tablet indicate that Apple is serious about achieving its goal.

The 1.2 update for iWork gives Keynote and Numbers the capability to export to comparable native Microsoft Office formats for PowerPoint and Excel. Pages previously supported exporting to Word formatted documents.… Read more

How to control your iPhone with your brain

Science is moving faster than you are. Think about it. No, really think about it.

And when you do, see if you can make your brain waves move some of the icons on your iPhone or iPad. No can do? Oh, yes you can.

At least that is the claim of the frightfully ambitious people who have created the XWave. This is not some mysterious means by which everyone with an iPad is suddenly made to raise their arms in the air and pretend they are at a World Cup soccer game. No, this is a product that claims to allow you to control your Apple gadget with the innermost innards of your thought process.

The XWave is not a pretty device. It makes users look like they are part of a very quirky lobotomy experiment in 24-hour telemarketing. Yet its claims are beautiful. PLX Devices, the company which was left to its own devices to come up with this freaky little thing, claims on its Web site that "XWave allows you to control your mind and the world around it."

A heady assertion indeed for something that clips onto your head and into your iPad, iPhone, or even iPod. But not yet your iBall.

… Read more

The Berenstain Bears visit the App Store

Having turned more than a dozen Dr. Seuss classics into e-book gold, Oceanhouse Media is heading to Bear Country.

The Berenstain Bears and the Golden Rule, The Berenstain Bears Go To Sunday School, and The Berenstain Bears Say Their Prayers are now available in the App Store for an introductory price of $2.99 each.

If you have kids, you probably don't need me to introduce the series. These books are classics; I think I may have read a few back when I was a kid (the first title appeared in 1974). Although a handful of the books have … Read more

iPad docks coming to BMW X3

Here's a clever (and horribly overdue) idea--BMW's set to install iPad mounting brackets in the rear of its next X3 compact 4x4. Three cheers for common sense!

The brackets--an optional extra--will allow users to mount their iPads in the rear of the vehicle, just behind the driver or passenger seats. A special hinge will let the wonder tablets swivel into vertical and horizontal positions. With a system like this, the entertainment and productivity possibilities are pretty much endless. Passengers will be able to use their iPads to enjoy music, videos, books, as well as thousands of apps and … Read more

Google Docs coming to Android, iPad

  Links from Tuesday's episode of Loaded: Napster debuts on iOS VLC player for iPad Beware of the Twitter Hack HP's tablet and printer device iPad editing in Google Docs

Hey, what happened to Google Editions?

Google executives said last spring that they expected to finally begin selling digital books by "June or July." But we're now deep into September and still no store.

In May, The Wall Street Journal reported that Chris Palma, Google's manager for strategic-partner development, announced the timetable for Google's launch during an appearance at a conference for book publishers here in New York. The news ratcheted up anticipation.

And now it's looking more like a case of delayed gratificaton. So what's the holdup?

"The real answer is, we'll launch the service when … Read more

Fuze Meeting probes iPad's business chops

There may be a category of business apps on the iPad, but most people I've spoken with struggle to see how a tablet is currently relevant as a standalone business device the way that a laptop or even a smartphone is. Fuze Box (operated by CallWave) is attempting to bridge the gap with Fuze Meeting HD, a free audio conferencing app for the iPad that joins the company's other mobile apps for iPhone, Android, and BlackBerry.

As with most Web conferencing tools, Fuze Meeting HD has audio and visual components. You can both host and participate in meetings, … Read more

Kitschy-fun case turns iPad into Etch A Sketch

From the "why didn't I think of this?" file comes the Etch A Sketch iPad case from Headcase. The iPad (like the iPhone) already has a shake-to-undo function, so it seems like a natural. It even has the little knobs found on the iconic toy, which, sadly, don't do anything here.

But it sure looks awesome. It's officially licensed, so it even has the same raised gold logo at the top and is made from red plastic that looks a lot like the original, which is celebrating its 50th year.

It's set up so … Read more