cases

Why my iPad can't replace my laptop: It's the trackpad

I'll let you in on a little secret: I haven't been thrilled with any iPad keyboard case solution, despite testing and reviewing about half a dozen of them.

Sure, some of them are excellent products. Still, I don't find them essential. This is why I don't use my iPad during mission-critical trips to trade shows and live-blogged events. This is why I don't use my iPad as a laptop replacement. Not entirely. Not yet.

I agree with a lot of what Harry McCracken refers to in his experience with his iPad and the ZaggFolio keyboard case. Ideally, having such an ultraportable, flexible device with a long battery life would be a perfect travel tool. For me, however, that perfect tool hasn't materialized yet.

I'd love to have some sort of evolved hybrid of an iPad and a MacBook Air. I've been dreaming of it for a while, actually. Apple's clearly leaning toward a fusion of sorts between iOS and Mac OS X. Lion was the first step. iOS gets a bit more advanced every year, taking baby steps toward being a true operating system for hard-core computing tasks.

There are several reasons it won't work right now, and the biggest by far is the good old-fashioned trackpad--or lack of it.… Read more

Case manufacturers building iPad 3 cases, sans specs

Rumors are a funny thing.

In one instance they create a whole culture of fodder for bloggers and their readers. In another, they cause whole factories to produce cases for products that neither exist, nor have official specifications. Such was the story before the iPhone 4S release and has now returned as the rumored iPad 3 launch looms.

The iPhone 4S launch should have proven to be a great lesson learned as several case manufacturers rushed to create case solutions for the rumored iPhone 5, which turned out to be pure fiction.

So now, according to 9to5Mac, instead of simply … Read more

Is Speck's FitFolio the best Kindle Fire case?

Speck Products' FitFolio is one of our favorite iPad and e-reader cases, and now it's available for the Kindle Fire.

What's nice about it is that the device fits securely in a form-fitting hard-shell case and your screen is protected by a "vegan" leatherette book-style cover that folds back and converts into a stand (yes, "vegan" leather means faux leather in PC speak). A small bungee cord keeps the cover closed.

This one comes in black, red, and teal versions. Speck also makes the $29.95 BookWrap. However, that case doesn't convert into a stand. Also on tap: the soon-to-be-released WanderFolio for Kindle Fire, which is similar to the FitFolio but incorporates some hideaway pockets for "cards, cash, and more" in the cover.

We have a WanderFolio in the office and it's a little thicker than the FitFolio but still is pretty slim. No word on exactly when that one will be available, but we suspect that it should go on sale within days.

Padintosh turns iPad 2 into classic Mac

There's something magical about the 1980s and Apple computers. The fashions sparkled. The computers were lovably chunky.

Hop into the DeLorean of your mind and go back in time by inserting your iPad 2 into Thumbs Up World's Padintosh cover. It instantly transforms your svelte modern machine into a classic Macintosh, right down to the dingy off-whitish color.… Read more

iSkin's new iPhone 4/4S case has Year of the Dragon aura

It doesn't look like iSkin will quite make the arrival of the Year of the Dragon, which kicks off on January 23, but it's trying to get close with its new "dragon-themed" iPhone 4/4S Aura cases, which were spotted at CES in Las Vegas.

iSkin was also showing another new line of cases for iPhones and iPads that will be released "by Spring" with a kind of ruggedly smooth leathery look that got a lot of good feedback at the show. That line will be called Vintage.

The Canadian accessories company has also … Read more

Kungl iPhone tripod mount doubles as a case

Want to mount your iPhone on a tripod? There are lots of third-party accessories that can help, but few are as practical or affordable as the Kungl iPhone Tripod Mount.

Lest you think it sounds crazy to connect a smartphone to a tripod, consider this: the iPhone 4 sports a 5-megapixel camera and can capture 720p video, while the 4S raises the bar to 8 megapixels and 1080p--and even brings image stabilization to the table.

The latter might seem to obviate the need for a tripod, but if you want the sharpest photos and smoothest video, nothing beats one.… Read more

Cutting the cord...in an iPhone case

LAS VEGAS--One of my favorite parts of CES is getting beyond the shiny new smartphones and tracking down the quirky mobile accessories that hide in far corners of the enormous show floor.

Sadly, I had to wait until the last day of CES to start exploring, so I was very fortunate to bump into the founders of CaseInity at the CNET stage (I guess they figured it was a likely place to find CNET editors lurking about).

Based in Philadelphia, CaseInity is developing a unique and very convenient case for the iPhone 4 and 4S called Cord-on-Board. Beyond just protecting … Read more

Build your own iPhone case

LAS VEGAS--It's been my experience that when there's a large crowd gathered around a booth at CES, it's either because of the booth babes or because a company is giving away free stuff. In Case-Mate's, err, case, it was the latter.

The cell phone accessories manufacturer had a station at its booth where attendees could build their own iPhone cases using interlocking pieces. Much like walking into a Lego store, there were canisters filled with different-colored parts that you could pick through to build the iPhone case of your rainbow-colored dreams. Non-CES goers shouldn't be too green with envy, though, as you can create one yourself with the Case-Mate Quartet case. … Read more

Digital Storm steps up its boutique PC game with first custom chassis

LAS VEGAS--We've had positive dealings with custom PC maker Digital Storm over the last couple of years. Its first custom case design should help raise its profile in the high-priced world of boutique PC vendors.

Too many "custom" PC vendors simply grab off-the-shelf parts and sell them as their own computers. You can still get a decent desktop from those sellers, but I take a brighter view of companies that design a chassis to their own specifications. It's a sign that a vendor is truly committed to selling custom desktops. It also suggests an investment in mastering the thermal, material, and compositional specifics of the end product.

A custom chassis brings no guarantees, of course.… Read more

Case-mate's new tough case is no ghost

Case-mate's latest tough iPhone 4/4S case, the Phantom, just started shipping, but it's worth calling out because Case-mate is officially launching it at CES in Vegas.

This is a "two-piece" case, but it doesn't include an integrated plastic screen cover like some tough cases do (it comes with a stick-on screen protector).

As noted, the Phantom comes in multiple colors and retails for $50. When I get my hands on one, I'll see if it's worthy of making it onto our Top 20 tough iPhone 4 and 4S case list.