Jonny Evans
The tablet industry is coming of age,Apple has released the second edition of its industry-leading iPad and a host creditable competitors are also taking the youthful market by storm. Accompanying all this delicious hardware is an equally delectable selection of accessories, taking tablets to new and exciting places.
That's right, with tablets now in the mainstream, peripheral device makers are developing a plethora of add-on doodads that enhance the functionality of your favourite touchscreens, revealing uses that you'd never thought possible from such small, sleek,shiny devices.
You can pick and choose from a multitude of protective clothing for tablets in almost every colour, material and configuration - from simple cases to heavy-duty, metal jackets, and neoprene sleeves for the fashion-conscious that might have just sashayed off the catwalks.
And the range of accessories doesn't begin and end with cases as there's also an extensive range of stands, external speaker systems, headphones, battery packs and car audio kits all to mix and match with your tablet - there's even a bespoke suit with a discreet pocket for the iPad.There really is no limit.
The Bluetooth accessory business is also booming, with a range of gadgets that connect wirelessly to your tablet to enhance your productivity, such as folding keyboards for those that rely on fast typing and headsets for making hands-free voice-calls over the Internet.
Right now, the vast majority of peripherals on the market are for the Apple iPad and Samsung Galaxy Tab, however, expect this to change as new tablets from other manufacturers begin to sell in greater numbers and the peripheral device makers expand the scope of their products to encompass these new tablets.
"Peripheral device makers are developing a plethora of add-on doodads that enhance the functionality of your favourite touchscreen tablet"
Headsets, Keyboards, Cases & Clothing
PRICE £99
URL WWW.JABRA.COM
This great-looking Bluetooth headset is built for your phone but will work equally well with your Bluetooth-savvy tablet. An unobtrusive design, excellent call quality, outstanding voice controls and the capacity to connect to two devices at once make this headset very popular.
PRICE £69.99
URL WWW.SAMSUNG.COM
If you plan on using your Samsung GalaxyTab as a writing machine then it's worth investing in this 83-key keyboard, which will help to speed up your typing. It comes with an integrated docking station, connections for your battery charger and audio out port.
Griffin BlueTrip DualConnect
PRICE £64
URL WWW.GRIFFINTECHNOLOGY.COM
Your tablet is stuffed full of music and you can't use the device when you're driving a car, so why not splash out a few quid on an adaptor that enables you to stream audio from your tablet to your in-car system. Simply plug it into your car's 12V accessory outlet, then connect it to your tablet via Bluetooth. You can then broadcast music via the FM transmitter or Aux in port on your car's stereo.
Griffin Stylus Pen
PRICE £14.99
WWW.GRIFFINTECHNOLOGY.COM
Built for Apple devices but equally at home with any touchscreen tablet, Griffin's Stylus Pen resembles a smart black business pen. With a rounded point that mimics a fingertip, it boasts an integrated pocket clip and lanyard loop to make it harder to lose as you go about your business.
Apple iPad Camera Connection Kit
PRICE £26
URL WWW.APPLE.COM/UK
Two products make up the kit, with both plugging into the iPad's sync/power port. One lets you import photos and videos from a digital camera using its USB cable. The other accessory imports images and video from an SD memory card.
PRICE £39.99
URL WWW.IDAPTWEB.COM/UK
End all those boring searches for a device-specific charger with the IDAPT i4 Universal Charger.This handy gadget will charge up to four mobile devices at once - your iPad,Tab and iPhone, for example - via three charging points and one USB port. It's compatible with more than 4,000 mobile electronics devices, and available in 11 colours including black, pink, red and blue.
price £19.95
url www.proporta.com
Protect your Apple IPad and get the most out of it or the move with the Tilt Stand. Guard against knocks, scratches and impact damage, and take advantage of the clever built-in stand into the bargain. The stand folds out for use In landscape or portrait mode, and folds back seamlessly into a streamlined case.
PRICE $599
url www.mohantailors.com
Mohan's Custom Tailors calls it the IPad Suit and like all suits, it has a range of pockets for all your gentlemanly accoutrements. However, this suit features a pocket specially made for the well-heeled tablet user. Available from these New York tailors, this custom-made suit hides a tablet pocket so you reed never be without the 'presentation device' your company budget bought you.
price £62
url www.twelvesouth.com
Closed, it looks like a battered and ancient leather-bound book that wouldn't look out of place on the shelves of a Victorian library. But you and i both know its more than this. Not only does Twelve South's BookBook for iPad gives your device a discussion-
worthy protection with its fluffy-lined interior, but it also opens out as a stand for when you want to watch videos or a slideshow. The BookBook for iPad is available two colours, Vibrant Red and Classic Black.
price £17.99
url www.logitech.com
These noise-isolating earphones will have your music sounding much better than those that came with your tablet. Each pair of earphones ships with four sets of ear cushions so you're sure to find that the elusive perfect fit and are available in five striking colours.
price £34.99
url www.techair.co.uk
This dinky backpack is custom-made to carry 7in to 10 in netbooks and tablets. Stylish while not being too ostentatious, the backpack hosts three compartments, the main one for your tablet with two other smaller pockets for documents, files and all your peripherals.The bag weighs in at 1kg and is available in contrasting colours of black and grey.
price £49
url www.6elkim.com
Belkin's TuneBase FM Live allows you to listen to music from your iPhone or iPod through your car stereo and quickly find the best FM station with the help of your device's GPS system.TuneBase FM Live combines ClearScan technology with Belkin's ClearScan Live iPhone App to provide the best F M station recommendations wherever you drive.
Stands, Chargers & Cases
PRICE $34.99
URL www.twelvesouth.com
This easel-like folding stand is capable of holding your tablet at a variety of angles in both landscape and portrait positions, including one that's suitable for typing. The Compass is made from heavy steel and folds up flat to take up very little space in your backpack or computer bag when travelling about.
price from $49
url www.iskin.com
iSkin's Q.West Collection features a range of 16 gadget carriers for a multitude of devices from tablets and smartphones to 15in laptops. Using different textiles and leathers, the collection comprises a range of protective sheaths for tablets and a wealth of other devices, including bags and backpacks in various sizes. iSkin's watchwords for the Q.West Collection are design and comfort.
Aluminium Lined Leather Case (Samsung Galaxy Tab)
PRICE £29.95
URL WWW.PR0P0RTA.C0M
Built for the Galaxy Tab from top-quality leather, this tough case, which features a concealed aluminium plate in the front cover, will give your tablet excellent protection without impeding access to all of its ports and controls. Inside, the stylish interior is complemented beautifully by a contrasting black and cream pinstripe lining.
price £39.99
www.solartechnology.co.uk
Solar power is now a viable alternative, and the pocket-sized Freeloader Classic solar charger will keep any tablet, camera or phone charged-up, even when there isn't much sunlight. You can also charge the built-in battery before you travel, so you have a reserve of power with you on the move. Available in pink or silver.
PRICE £79.99
URL www.kensington.com
What's not to like about the combined simplicity of this cable-free solution? Slip your iPad into the slim leather case to carry it around. Then when it comes to using your device, simply open the case and it transforms into a stand complete with a Bluetooth-connected keyboard allowing you to type away to your heart's content. When closed, it provides sturdy protection for your iPad.
price $29 (uk £tba)
url www.griffintechnology.com
A compact, space-saving stand for tablet-style devices, the Griffin Xpo stand folds flat into a profile smaller than a pair of sunglasses. Made from durable aluminium, the Xpo features padded non-slip surfaces and adjusts to fit large and small tablet devices in landscape or portrait mode.
price from £13.99 for 16gb
url www.sandesk.com
If you're using a Galaxy Tab, then you can add more memory as and when you need it using MicroS DHC cards. With memory so cheap you never need to be without your favourite music, pictures or video.
PRICE $99
WWW.GRiFFINTECHNOLOGY.COM
We know that the iPad can be an incredible productivity tool - musical project Gorillaz used the device to make some of the tracks on its latest album. And for musicians it's about to get better with the StompBox, which is a professional-quality pedal board for the iPad. It offers assignable foot switches and a Vim mono plug, which allows you to add a wide range of expression pedal input devices, so you can turn your tablet into a portable, programmable effects board and practice rig, complete with a natural pedalboard feel.
PRICE £2,99
WWW.ELGATO.COM
Got a Mac at home and fancy watching live TV on your iPad? Then you need an Elgato Eye TV-powered device because with one of these incredibly handy little gadgets, the EyeTV app for the iPad and a little time spent setting them up, you can access live TV streamed to your iPad over a Wi-Fi
connection. Also, if you leave you Mac running with the TV tuner, then you can use your the app on your IPad to start recordings on your computer or schedule it to record a program over a 3G connection. At present, the app is Mac only, so it will only work with compatible iOS devices, such as the iPhone and the iPad.
PRICE £34.99
WWW.0ZAKI.C0.UK
These cool-looking iPad cases ship with a screen protector and deliver tough, light tear-resistant protection. Available in clear and translucent black finishes, these cases are like giant bubble-wrap for your device. There's a cleaning cloth and easy access to all the controls, including the ability to charge your iPad while it's in the case.
price £24.95
www.proporta.com
Protect your Samsung GalaxyTab with Proporta's Mi;u Shell. Made from tough silicone, this innovative case gives you the flexibility of a soft case, with the strength and toughness of a hard case, and all the design quality you'd expect from Proporta. Access all controls and ports while the Tab is in the case.
Samsung Galaxy Tab In-Car Charger
price £34.99
www.samsung.com
If you want to keep your Galaxy Tab's battery juiced up when you're on the move, you'll need this handy Samsung In-Car Charger. It plugs into your cigarette lighter and recharges your Tab while you drive.
Speakers, Earphones & Audio
PRICE £99
WWW.DEXIM.NET
Also in the iPad-plus keyboard is better than netbook camp comes the latest add-on from Dexim, a leather case and wired keyboard for your iPad. An internal battery for the keyboard means you can use it for as long as your iPad keeps running.
PRICE FROM £17.95
WWW.BE-EZ.COM
It is always worth taking a look at the cases from be.ez, which are very well-made, consistently well-designed and quite affordable. Available in all sizes and multiple
styles for the Samsung Galaxy Tab (illustrated), i Pad and more. Manufactured using a soft, shape memory material to give your tablet gentle protection.
PRICE £42.95
URL WWW.PROPORTA.COM
This handy external battery pack and emergency charger for all your portable devices features one mini-USB and two USB output ports, and ships with a selection of plugs for nearly every portable gadget you can imagine. As well as charging two devices at once, the Turbo-Charger's LED display shows you how much charge is left inside.
Built NY Neoprene Envelope
PRICE FROM £14.95
WWW.BUILTNY.COM
Vibrant designs and a good standard of protection are the watchwords for these cases from funky design outfit Built NY. Don't let the eye-catching looks defy you, built from wetsuit-grade neoprene these bags will swathe themselves protectively around any style-conscious tablet. Available from www.johnlewis.com.
PRICE £89.99
WWW.LOGITECH.COM
A nifty addition to any tablet user's arsenal, this compact wireless speaker will work from up to 15m away. It supports 2.4GHz Wi-Fi and will also work with Bluetooth-equipped tablets and USB.The rechargeable battery can power the speaker for up to 10 hours.
PRICE £79.99
WWW.KLIPSCH.COM
These noise-isolating earphones are comfortable to wear and deliver an outstandingly clear and well-balanced sound. They ship with different tips so you
can set them up to be most comfortable in your ear. While there is only one single mini-speaker inside each bud, the drivers cover a wide frequency range.
PRICE £TBA
WWW.PALM.COM
This really sets H P's TouchPad apart.
Touchstone technology means all you need to do is pop your TouchPad on the H P Touchstone and it will begin to charge automatically - no need to mess around plugging things in. Plus, you can use your TouchPad normally while it sits happily in the cradle.
PRICE £9.95
WWW.PROPORTA.COM
Available in a range of sizes for portable devices including tablets, the BeachBuoy Waterproof Case is 100% waterproof up to a depth of 5m, and has been tested and approved by the British Standards Institute. Part of the charm is the dual-closure system, so you can even keep your cash inside while at the beach -or go for a paddle with your tablet in your hand.
PRICE $79,99
WWW.VERSAUDIO.COM
Available in bamboo, natural cherry and walnut, these good-looking iPad cases give
you a little design va-va-voom. Just slot your iPad into these sexy, tough and renewable steel-reinforced frames. A soft, scratch-resistant lining and a moisture-resistant screen cover protect your device from the elements, while openings for the charging connector and speaker mean that you can still use the device as normal.
price $100
WWW.ORBOTIX.COM
This robotic toy ball is controlled by an tablet or smartphone; roll the ball around using your touchscreen, controlling its internal LED lights as it moves along. You get one hour's fun-time on a single charge, but this innovative home and office toy should keep you entertained for much longer, and it's an interesting implementation of smartphone technology.
PRICE £TBA
URL WWW.WITHIN6S.COM
Bringing up baby? Then you'll want this. Split in two: one half with a video camera and mic so you can an eye on your progeny, the other with a speaker and light array that plays gentle music and a light show to send baby off to sleep, all operated from your tablet over Wi-Fi.
Apple AirPort Express
PRICE £83
WWW.APPLE.COM/UK
Apple's AirPort Express creates an 802.11n Wi-Fi network in your home, which in itself is a handy gadget to have around. However, the real benefit for owners of
the iPad is that they can connect the AirPort Express to their home stereo system thanks to an audio mini-jack port.This allows you to stream music from your iPad to your stereo using the AirPlay technology and the Remote app on your device, which you can download free from Apple's App Store. Setup is a simple process and once done you can play all the music that's stored on your iPad on your considerably better stereo speakers without having to get off the comfort of your sofa.
Car Mounts, Sleeves & Pouches
PRICE £TBA
CONTACT HANNAHFINCHAM@H0TMAIL.COM
Network provider Three had bespoke iPad cases made for some well-known iPad users - Stephen
Fry, Chris Evans and the Loose Women panel.The cases were gifted to the celebrities to advertise the company. The cases were designed by Hannah Beth Fincham.
PRICE £39.95
WWW.SENNHEISER.CO.UK
These relatively inexpensive but very comfortable in-ear headphones are far, far better than those that come with your tablet, if any come with your purchase at all. They provide a good sound balance and an adequate dynamic range at most frequencies.
PRICE £89.99
WWW.FREEDOMINPUT.COM
Some of us still want a full-size keyboard for our tablets and that's where Freedom comes in with this handy folding Bluetooth keyboard. You get a tactile keyboard feeling and there's dedicated keys for use with some phones as wel I as tablets. The keyboard is compatible with iPads, Android, some Symbian, BlackBerry and any Windows-powered device. Different language layouts are also available.
PRICE £19.95
WWW.PROPORTA.COM
This stylish hand-made leather-style pouch gives your Samsung Galaxy Tab great protection from life's little bumps when you carry it around town. The stylish pouch boasts a traditionally luxurious soft protective lining to keep your tablet safe. There's also a stylish yet secure closing system.
PRICE £49.99
WWW.OZAKI.CO.UK
These cool retro cases are made of smooth wood-grained material and come in six colours. They're cool because while looking eyecatching they're understated, so won't attract thieves. Ultra-thin, they are still very strong with soft protective interiors. Also does double-duty as a stand.
Powertraveller Powergorilla
PRICE £150
WWW.POWERTRAVELLER.COM
This is a powerful battery back-up solution for your entire mobile life.The Powergorilla will charge almost any device, including all tablets, laptops, mobile phones, games consoles and more using one of its 27 included adaptors or USB socket.The LED display tells you the current charge and output, there's built-in power surge protection.
Samsung GalaxyTab Vehicle Mount
PRICE £24.99
WWW.SAMSUNG.COM
Mo wonder there's all those TomTom acquisition rumours when given a car and GPS navigation software can turn your lovely touchscreen pal into your own GPS navigation unit. The SatNav industry will never be the same again. This solution also keeps your Tab charged.
price £59.99
www.creative.com
The iPad, Galaxy Tab or any Bluetooth-equipped device car play audio through the Creative D100 Speaker system. It works either with four AA batteries or mains power, and is the most affordable speaker system in the company's range (more expensive models from Creative include the ZiiSound D5 and Creative D200).The d100 delivers crisp, high-quality audio in the 20H z to 20KHz range.
PRICE £40
WWW.OTTERBOX.COM
If you don't mind adding some serious bulk to your super-slim iPad in order to give it some serious protection then Otterbox is a name to look out for.This case implements three layers of protection against bumps, drops and dust,There's shock-absorbing silicon and covers for your screen and keys, it also features a built-in stand.
PRICE £34.95
URLWWW.CYGNTT.COM
The Glam iPad 2 Case is an glossy patent-leather style case. Solidly crafted to protect your iPad 2, it can also be used as a stand. It features a concealed magnet to hold the case closed when in transit.
price £ tba
www.griffintechnology.com
Griffin's Arrowhead universal stand for tablets uses two weighted 'feet' to create a stable platform for your tablet. Rubber pads provide a no-skid grip for both your desk and your tablet, in portrait or landscape orientation. Generously sized notches, also lined with grippy rubber inserts, accommodate most tablets up to l0in.
PRICE £13
WWW.BELKIN.COM
There's a host of 7in Android-powered tablets about to hit the market this year, so you have to hand it to Belkin, because the company has manufactured this stylish 7in tablet protecting sleeve in readiness. The sleeve is impact-resistant, while the exterior weave not only makes a fashion statement but it also means it's easier to grip.
PRICE £99.95
WWW.SHURE.CO.UK
Shure's SE215 Sound Isolating Earphone draw on years of the company's audio excellence to deliver perfect performance. A Dynamic MicroDriver delivers a warm, detailed sound, as you'd expect from earphones developed as monitoring systems for on-stage musicians.
PRICE £69.99
WWW.SCOSCHE.COM
This dual USB battery backup and recharge solution carries a 5000mAh rechargeable battery and ships with a USB adaptor for the Galaxy Tab. There's an LED battery charge level indicator. Scosche also offer the free reVIVE charging
app, which tells you how long it will take to charge your device and can even send an email to let you know when the charging is complete.
RadTech Gelz Case for iPad
PRICE $24.95
WWW.RADTECH.US
These thin (1.2mm) silicone gel cases are available in white, black, purple and pink. The cases are moulded to be a tight fit on the iPad, and they are even designed to help you get a better grip on your tablet when you're carrying it around - they're almost like a second skin. The bottom section peels back so you can easily dock the iPad when you want to transfer data or recharge it.
Samsung Galaxy Tab d30 Leather Case/Stand
PRICE £29.95
WWW.SAMSUNG.COM
This versatile and attractive leather case has two functions. As a case it protects the Galaxy Tab from the ravages of everyday life as you travel with it during your daily commute. As a stand it supports the device in an upright position in landscape mode, enabling you to comfortably videos or slideshows on it.
Bowers & Wilkins Zeppelin Air
PRICE £499
WWW.BOWERS-WILKINS.COM
Apple's Airplay tech lets you despatch music and video from all your iOS apps to a range of desirable kit such as the Bowers & Wilkins Zeppelin Air. These speakers look outstanding and deliver a mighty sound, with immaculate digital audio processing to punch out the best possible sound - even from a low-resolution digital track.
PRICE £44.99
WWW.STMBAGS.COM
STM's attractively designed Scout shoulder bag is water resistant and available in different sizes, from 10in and above. Stylish, tough and discrete, the bag is sold with a lifetime warranty. It boasts a removable padded shoulder strap, which can be transformed into a handle and is available in olive, ochre and black.
Griffin No.36 Trekker for iPad
price from $425
www.griffintechnology.com
These hard-made leather bags from Griffin are only available or import from the US and carry a pocket big enough for a lOin tablet.The No.36 Trekker for iPad, made in conjunction with Colonel Littleton,features two inside pockets and plenty of additional space to carry anything else you might need, such as power cables. You can even have your initials engraved on the case.
PRICE £38.99
WWW.SCOSCHE.COM
This folio-style iPad case both protects your Apple tablet while also acting as a stand to hold the device up in multiple viewing angles - such as for better writing or movie watching. The foldI0 for i Pad offers three different landscape viewing modes to suit your desired displaying angle and is available in carbon fibre and leather textures. Soft on the inside, the foldI0 is lightweight and available from Dixons.
price £10.99
www.radtech.com
Sometimes you need to give your tablet a good clean, and when you do there's nothing that makes it cleaner - safer - than OmniCleanz. It uses "an ionic suspension composition to sever atomic bonds at the molecular level to release soiling and contaminants from surfaces". Effective, safe and non-flammable.
PRICE £79.99
WWW.PLANTRONICS.COM
Great with a Galaxy Tab, this dual-microphone noise-cancelling headset hosts a pivoting mic boom so you can wear the headset on either ear. The headset can also be recharged using a micro-USB, and it delivers superior noise and wind cancellation as well as rich, natural audio playback. This ensures that you can hear and be heard even in the noisiest places. However, the best thing about the Voyager Pro+ is that you can easily find them online for around £50.
Samsung Galaxy Tab G-Band Mesh
price £19.99
www.samsung.com
This stylish case is equipped with d3o technology to maximise the protection of your Galaxy Tab. d3o is a soft, flexible material with outstanding shock absorption properties - its intelligent molecules stiffen to absorb more impact energy - and offers 200%
better impact protection than other cases on the market, claims Samsurg.
PRICE FROM $19.99
WWW.ZAGG.COM
Tablets are ideally suited for personalisation and if you're in the mood for making your GalaxyTab stand out from the crowd then look no further than this collection of Skins from Zagg. Many of the designs are custom-made and feature a wide range of illustrations and pictures, from patterns to landscapes. The company also make the InvisibleSHIELD, which is a military-grade film that helps to protect your tablet's touchscreen.
No comments:
Post a Comment