First up is the Lavish, which is you see pictured above. The Lavish is a “flexible view folio” case for those who need to keep their iPad’s screen protected while still having it look professional, and comes with a magnetic clasp to keep the cover in place. The Lavish is will set you back $39.99, which makes it one of the more expensive iPad Mini cases Cygnett is offering.

If you need a case that can stand up to some abuse, you might want to look at the Armour or the Workmate instead. The Workmate is a shock-absorbing case that should protect your iPad Mini from falls, whereas Armour features a “strong exterior shell” and a padded interior to keep both the screen and the outside safe. Both will retail for $39.99, so expect to plop down some cash to keep your iPad Mini free of scratches.

If you’re more into sleek-looking cases, then Cygnett has a few you might like. The Vector, the Enigma, and the Flexigel cases round out Cygnett’s group of six, and aside from looking good, a couple have some added benefits. The Flexigel, for instance, will keep your iPad Mini protected from scratches, while the Enigma can be used as a stand and features multiple viewing angles. The Vector and Flexigel cases will run $19.99 each, while the Enigma will require a payment of $39.99.

You can take up-close look at the different cases and the colors each one is available in below. Cygnett says they’ll all launch with the iPad Mini, so these bad boys should all be available at stores and online retailers starting on November 6. What do you think – is Cygnett the way to go for your iPad Mini case, or do you have your eye on something a bit different?

The folks over at Wired received three iPad mini cases from Gumdrop Cases, each from the “Drop Tech Series.” The cases are rugged, black and red in color, and made to accommodate the iPad mini’s reported 7.85 inch display. A volume rocker is located on the right edge of the case, a headphone jack on the top edge, and a homescreen button on the bottom. It also has speaker openings for the iPad mini’s alleged speakers.

It’s said that the iPad mini will be available in white and black (and possibly also red and green), and will feature 16GB, 32GB, and 64GBs of storage space, depending on model. It seems there will be a WiFi-only model, and a model with mobile broadband connectivity. The current assumption is that the device will have a 1024 x 768 resolution. The cost, based on leaked info, is estimated to be between $200 and $350.

It’s also expected that Apple will announce the 13-inch MacBook Pro with Retina at its event tomorrow, as well as a new Mac mini and teardrop-shaped iMac. Want to stay up-to-date on the news as it comes in? We’ll be liveblogging the event, which starts at 10AM PST on October 23rd (that’s tomorrow).

Of course you’ll want to know that you’re being protected here, even if Jeremy Todd (aka GERMATODD) is watching out for you fashionably. Griffin has created a case here that protects your iPad from general drops with a relatively hard back and front, and leathery material through the middle. You can fold the folio shut for carrying, back for lying flat, and right up under its back-facing notch for a stand-like situation. The whole thing is a fab conglomeration, and the artwork makes it all the better.

In closed position:

Working like a stand:

Demonstrating close-up charm:

Have a peek above and below at some action shots of this lovely example of industrial design and artist collaboration, and head on over to Griffin to pick one up for yourself for $49.99. They’ve also got several iPhone cases for the iPhone 4/4S, and the collection extends back beyond this most current set of designs as well. Have a peek at our Griffin portal for more news and products from the big G, and head to the timeline below to see what’s come up recently on these lovely manufacturers of wonderful things.

If you order this case online you’ll get a free laser engraving, and should you feel the need to replace the Smart Cover you’ve got now, you’ll be glad to know that the colors are exactly the same shades they are currently. This case not only protects the back of your device, it’s also extremely thin so as to allow full access for all of your ports and your camera, and you’ve got the Apple showing through on the back as well.

This case will be available from the Apple online store immediately if now soon and comes in only one configuration – you won’t have to specify if you’ve got an iPad 2 or 3 for this purchase. Check out the rest of our Apple WWDC 2012 updates throughout the day through our gigantic WWDC 2012 portal and take a peek at one massive wave of Apple goodness!

What we’ve got here are several simple elements, the first being the look and feel of the case. It looks like leather, feels like leather, and even has markings like leather – you know you’ve got a high quality product here right out of the box. There’s a hole for your camera (if you’re using iPad 2 or iPad 3) and the whole thing is rigid enough to hold your iPad up but bendable enough not to want to crease on you. This unit isn’t heavy, but is heavy-duty, and does indeed contain a keyboard worth using.

Compared to the Logitech Ultrathin Keyboard we’ve got only a few differences when it comes down to it, one of them being protection. While the Logitech unit is made to be rather non-intrusive with the original design of the iPad 2/3, it does not offer protection for the back of the unit. It’s also not designed to absorb any impact if you drop it and the iPad together. The Brookstone unit here really is meant to act with some damage control. Not nearly as much as the G-Form Extreme Portfolio, but enough for your average day at least.

The keyboard itself has some really nice spring to it, connects via Bluetooth to your iPad with great ease, and does indeed feel natural to use. You’ve got several lights in the upper right of the pad that show if you’ve got caps-lock on and Bluetooth as well as power, and the whole pad is made of a high-quality solid plastic. You’ll find that this case with keyboard integrated in will make your iPad experience much more expansive than ever before.

You can pick this case up at Brookstone right now for $149.99 in Brookstone’s online shop in several fabulous colors. Matte Black, Shiny Black, Matte Brown, Distressed Brown, and Shiny Red are all available, each of them real genuine leather. Grab it!

It was 9to5mac that turned this gem up, showing how the case does have a 1mm increase in thickness over the current iPad 2, making this a 9.8mm deep case for the next generation iPad. The S being a specification thus far for Apple symbolizing a specification update rather than a hardware update, it’s not surprising that these cases don’t appear to be all that different from what we’ve seen in the multitudes of cases released for the iPad 2 already.

The case maker notes specifically that they’ve got design knowledge from sources within Apple’s supply chain, so based on that, if you believe them, they likely cut themselves off from Apple ties for the rest of their lives right here and now. For those of you following along with the “iPad 2S” rumors, hereto known as the iPad 3, you’ll know that inside this upgraded model may well feature a quad-core processor, Retina Display, Siri integration, and LTE network compatibility. Swallow all this with a healthy cup of salt, folks cases like this pop up quite often and sometimes lead nowhere other than a sore foot and a crying eye.

[via 9to5Mac]

Gleaning from FCC docs, Phillips reveals that the iPad 2 with 3G features a proximity sensor that dials down the power of the 3G radio when it detects that a user is close to the sensor. It can dial down the power by as much as 75 percent, which means a much weaker 3G signal strength and slower data speeds if something is close to the sensor, especially when the sensor is covered up by a case.

This use of the proximity sensor in tandem with 3G power is to protect users from the electromagnetic radiation emanating from the 3G antenna. Hence, users may notice that when they have their iPad 2 Smart Covers or other casing over their iPads that their 3G connection weakens.

Pong’s iPad 2 case tackles this problem by placing a small hole in the case right above where it would cover the iPad’s proximity sensor. This allows the 3G data to continue running at full speed. And to reduce the radiation that comes with the full tilt 3G radio, Pong has utilized a special circuit board design to take and redistribute the radiation away from the user’s body.

[via TUAW]

The two cases in G-Form’s lineup; the Extreme Portfolio and Extreme Edge, are mostly made using proprietary G-Form technology, along with composite PORON material. The proprietary technology has the ability to absorb an astounding 90% or more of the impact of the collision, and simultaneously stiffen instantaneously to protect your beloved iPad from becoming, well, a pile of metal. If you think about the mere physics of it, it’s really not bad. Not bad at all.

If that’s not impressive enough, check out G-Form protecting iPads thrown out of sports cars speeding at 113 miles per hour down below. And all that toughness for $89.95 for the Extreme Portfolio or $59.95 for the Extreme Sleeve. So the next time you go for extreme sports, feel free to bring your iPad along. It can probably handle whatever you throw it at, literally. Or if you’re a normal, everyday person, then you most likely will never have to worry about dropping your iPad again.

So readers, which test would you consider to be more hardcore? How about more realistic? Tell us in the comment section below.

Where previously Apple used a standard gray microfiber on the inner surface of each Smart Cover, now the material matches the outside instead. That means passers-by will be able to more easily tell which Smart Cover you bought when you’re using it, furled up, to prop up your iPad 2 on a table. The external finish is apparently “more vibrant” too, it’s claimed.

Apple giveth and Apple taketh away, however, and gone is the bright orange cover: if you have a taste for the dramatic then the pink is probably your best option. Pricing is still $39 for the polyurethane models and $69 for the leather versions.

Apple was criticized last week, when a hack involving the Smart Cover was identified that could allow a third-party to access user data on the iPad 2. Using a combination of the cover’s magnets and different button-presses, it would be possible to access whichever app was on-screen when the iPad 2 had been locked.

[Thanks Paul!]

Lavish Earth for iPad 2

Before we begin with this iPad 2 case, I’ve got to quickly notify you that we’ve reviewed only a couple other iPad 2 specific cases before, one of them being the iFrogz iPad 2 Summit Case which I’m sure you’ll find rather similar to the purple case we’ve got here today, the next being the HandStand2 for iPad 2 which you’ll look at and instantly understand why we say it’s in a class all its own, and finally the Apple-made iPad Smart Cover case shown inside our big iPad 2 main review. What Cygnett offers with its Lavish Earth iPad 2 leather-style multi-view folio case is a refined look and feel (not to mention a couple of rather unique colors: Sandstone and Purple) for an all-encompassing case that allows you to set your iPad up on its own in several positions.

Drawbacks here are the fact that you’re no longer able to experience the top-class design that is the iPad 2 without a case on it. One of the main reasons the iPad 2 was released alongside the Apple-made Smart Cover is that it works without covering up the inherent loveliness in the industrial design of the iPad 2 hardware. Another drawback here is the added bulk, however small, that comes with basically any protection solution. The Lavish Earth cover makes up for this in fine craftsmanship around all the edges and unique look (purple, in this case) of the entire unit.

You can find out more information about purchasing the Lavish Earth case at Cygnett as it is released – these cases will likely be available at locations in the gallery image posted below, the same being true of the iPhone 4 products in this post as well:

UrbanShield for iPhone 4

Next there’s the iPhone 4 brushed aluminum case by the name of UrbanShield. This rather simple looking case ads a minimal amount of clasping rubber finish casing around the rim of your iPhone 4 and a lovely “precision-machined from premium-grade brushed aluminum” backing in several colors: black, silver, bronze, or blue. All of your ports, switches, buttons, and doodads are easily accessible with the case fully on, and with each purchase you also get a screen protector and microfibre cleaning cloth. each of the cases has a black-colored rim except the blue-backed case which has a silver-colored rim. Your camera and LED flash along the back are also of course still very usable as the case has an oval-like shape opening right around them.

Similar to what I just noted about the iPad 2 case, one of your biggest concerns should be, if your a design-conscious citizen, making sure the iPhone 4 hardware shape and industrial design essence, if I may be so bold, shine through. UrbanShield appears to be doing this quite well. Check out more information on UrbanShield at Cygnett’s dedicated product page and note that the same retailers listed above will likely be carrying this case as well as the Lavish Earth.

WorkMate Pro for iPhone 4

Lastly there’s a case that takes the lovely industrial design of the iPhone 4 we’ve been speaking about and covers it all up with either a cool black and gray or a bright powerful gray and orange – thick and truly heavy-duty. This case is made up of two separate parts, a high-action set of layers of silicone plus a high-quality polycarbonate on top to protect your iPhone 4 from nearly any sort of fall or toss you’re going to encounter in your day-to-day activities. Like the UrbanShield, you get a screen protector with this case and a microfibre cleaning cloth, and believe it or not, you’ll still have easy access to all of your ports, controls, and connectors.

Drawbacks of course include your inability to see most of the device other than the display, again, as I’ve been saying, but when you get this far into actually protecting your device, you should start to be willing to give up a little aesthetic goodness. That said, this case certainly isn’t bad looking, and will give your iPhone 4 a bit of unique flavor where quite often a case will dumn it down. You can get more information on the WorkMate Pro at Cygnett and check all retailers shown above for availability and pricing.

Look good to you? Let us know what you think of cases such as these!

The AViiQ Smart Case for iPad 2 is designed to protect without being bulky. It’s made of a durable plastic encased in a solid anodized aluminum plate. The case is tough yet lightweight, measuring only 1.5mm thick. The of multitude of colors it comes in are selected to match those of Apple’s Smart Covers, but the case can work with the iPad 2 with or without the Smart Covers.

The case is offered in Black, Silver, Blue, Green, Orange, Pink, and Red. It’s available now from AViiQ’s online store for $49.99. The company also promises a 30-day money back 100% satisfaction guarantee. Some other iPad 2 accessories you might also want to take a look at is the Crux Loaded Case and the iFrogz iPad 2 Summit Case.

The Crux Loaded allows you to navigate the iPad 2 via a remote-Bluetooth trackpad. You will be able to control the iPad’s screen using all of the same multi-touch functions currently on iOS, such as page scrolling, picture resizing, and game play. You can do all this without ever having to lift your hand to the iPad’s touchscreen.

The extra external battery within the base of the Crux Loaded adds another 7.5 hours of battery life. The battery is connected to your iPad 2 using Apple’s 30-pin cord. The case is currently listed on the CruxCase website as available Fall 2011 for a price of $249.

Magnetic viewing film identified them all, with four used to hold the Smart Cover to the iPad 2 (along with another four in the iPad 2 itself). Interestingly, Apple has arranged them with alternating poles, so that the cover will only clip on in one orientation. Eleven magnets hold the Smart Cover in its triangular prop position.

Finally, there’s a single magnet which flicks the iPad 2 in and out of standby mode. In all, counting what’s in the iPad 2 as well, there are thirty-one magnets used in total. If you want to know how well the Smart Cover works in more general day-to-day use, however, check out the full SlashGear review.

You can get a solid block of bling if you want to cover every single bit of your pad in the non-slip Swarovski elements. If you are looking for a more understated look, you can get a custom design. An artisan will attach the gems one-by-one according to your exacting wishes.

“All cases are not only limited, but also unique!! That is, your own style on the Earth only!!”

Distinctive Styles offers a wide range of non-blinged products as well. They have cases made from wood to leather to cloth. They support a variety of devices. We don’t think we care for anything that doesn’t contain Swarovski elements though. Watch this. You’ll understand.

[via Distinctive Styles]

The Incase Jacket has the same multi-folding front as Apple’s official Smart Covers, which fold in various ways to prop the iPad up at a suitable angle for either watching video or for typing. Obviously there’s no magnetic magic, automatically taking the iPad in and out of suspend, but it’s hard to deny the similarity.

Perhaps slightly less serious – but already on its way to becoming a Japanese meme – is the fact that the folding protectors look a whole lot like a traditional bath tub cover. As TUAW translates, the text in the above image says “Completely Identical.” Did Jonathan Ive get his inspiration while luxuriating in a soapy tub? We may never know.

Thanks to the new 1GHz dual-core Apple A5 processor and the latest version of iOS, 4.3, the whole thing feels quicker and smoother than the original iPad. Still, we should notice the improvement more when the iPad 2 starts getting loaded down with apps; the iPad was never a slouch when it came to gaming, and the new model will only improve that.

Apps open quickly and screen rotation is snappy; we appreciate being able to lock it again with the side-switch, a new addition to iOS 4.3. Despite concerns that a white bezel might be distracting from the screen, the white iPad 2 is actually surprisingly usable: it feels a lot more like a pad of paper, and should be popular with those who primarily use their tablet for reading ebooks.

The Smart Covers work just as Steve Jobs described, clicking into place instantly and proving surprisingly sturdy in the magnetic grip. The polyurethane versions may be cheap – at $39 each – but they don’t feel that way, and they’re lighter than the original iPad case too. The automatic sleep functionality works just like a BlackBerry holster, and adds to the feeling of the iPad 2 being a magical book that’s always ready and waiting for you when you need it.

All in all, while there isn’t the huge resolution change many hoped for, and iOS 4.3 offers much the same as before, the overall usability feels significantly improved. Simply being able to hold the iPad 2 more easily with one hand makes a big difference, and the lighter chassis and dual-core CPU will make for a more instantaneous user-experience. We’re definitely excited to get our hands on an iPad 2 for a longer review period, but until then check out the hands on gallery below.

The case is made from polycarbonate and has shock resistant rubber in the build as well. The case has two levels with one propping the iPad up high for viewing the screen, and the other with a lesser angle that is for comfortable typing.

The case is only offered in white/gray colors. It makes the iPad look like the preferred tablet for Storm Troopers. The kickback P1 sells for $59.99 and is in stock right now for shipment. This will make a good case for the business type that does all sorts of stuff with their iPad.

That case has a port on the side that you can slip a locking cable into that reminds me a lot of the Kensington locks for notebooks. Once you lock the case to the iPad and secure the Chain a thief can’t remove the case without damaging the iPad. I guess you will either foil the thieves or get a broken tablet.

The cable weighs under a pound and is designed to be easy to take with you on the road. The bundle ships with a free screen protector as well. You can pre-order the case and cable bundle right now with a single unit for $64.95 and if you need 100 or more the price drops to $59.95 each.

The folio is a cool case and comes in a Nappa leather version in gray or a sand/turquoise color for about $90 or a ballistic nylon in black/red, berry, or slate colors for $50. No matter the color or material, you choose, the case has the same features. It can carry the iPad and is slim enough to fit in a backpack or purse. It has a three-position design that lets the iPad sit up at different angles for watching video, typing and surfing the web.

The folio has a pocket specifically for the iPhone on the front and has a molded bumper to protect the iPad from damage. The device is shipping right now and is one of the cooler cases for the iPad I have seen.

Considering most companies are at pains to highlight how polished their offerings are, it’s a surprise to hear Aligata point out that their iPad cases neither fit perfectly nor have perfect surface finishes. In fact, the minor flaws – glitches, scars and small imperfections – are part of the allure; you can even see creases where the cow bent its neck and tiny holes where horseflies bit them. That might be off-putting to those who prefer not to consider where leather actually comes from.

If you can cope with its bovine origins, however, there’s something deeply appealing about a product that revels in its naturalness. The Nippon case is slightly oxidized and died yet still pale, whereas the Perfect Black is obviously much darker. Unfortunately, because of manufacturing issues with sourcing the dyed leather, Aligata are no longer manufacturing the Perfect Black case; we received our review sample before they made that decision. Over time, the natural patina of the leather will change and the color – on the Nippon at least – darken, making sure every case remains unique.

The physical design of the cases is pretty straightforward. The iPad slides into the stitched leather frame where it hinges, and is held in place with a central rubber dot . It’s not quite the tight grip of, say, Apple’s official iPad case, but nor is it a slip-sleeve. You’d have to shake it at just the right angle to accidentally drop the tablet, certainly. It’s worth noting that there’s no clasp, strap, Velcro or magnet to keep it closed; Aligata reckons magnets have an adverse affect on Apple’s mobile devices. Whether or not that’s true, we do wish there was some simple way of keeping the folio closed when you drop it into your bag.

Cut-outs at the top allow access to the sleep/power button and the headphone socket, on the side for the volume rocker and screen orientation switch, and at the bottom for the dock connector and speaker. Either a hole is punched in the bezel at the top, or a notch, for the ambient light sensor, while the lower edge scallops to accommodate the home button. Aligato use 3/16-inch thick leather, which is on the thick side for cases we’ve seen but also surprisingly supple. It certainly feels capable of withstanding a knock or drop, even if it landed on one of the corners.

What it won’t do is act as a stand to prop your iPad up in landscape orientation for watching video; unless there’s something to wedge up against, it just slides open and flat. To be fair, Aligata also warn in advance that’s the case, but it’s still worth bearing in mind if that’s one duty you expect a folio to fulfil. Finally, there’s some upkeep involved if you want the Aligata to stay looking its best: glycerine soap if you want to clean it, oil or leather grease if you want to treat the surface. You could leave it to age naturally, of course, though it might pick up some stains along the way.

At $69 the Aligata Nippon is obviously more expensive than Apple’s basic case, but it’s less than half the price of leather rivals from Vaja. We also prefer the more natural appearance of the Aligata materials to the somewhat over-refined Vaja cases, though that’s of course personal preference. What we can say with a fair degree of confidence is that the Aligata Nippon should have no trouble protecting your iPad and, indeed, outlasting it, and will probably only get more handsome along the way.

Meanwhile there’s also the Kensington Folio Case for iPad, a faux-leather flip case that has an adjustable stand to prop up the Apple slate whether you want to enter text or watch videos.  It’s priced at $39.99, while the Kensington KeyFolio is $99.99.

There’s not much in the box: the case itself, a short USB to microUSB to charge it, and a poorly translated user guide. Made from reasonably convincing black imitation leather, the KeyCase has a strong dual-magnet clasp and a snuggly fitting section for the iPad to slot into. Cutouts leave the home button, power/sleep, microphone and headphone socket, volume rocker, orientation lock and dock connector accessible, and there are holes punched through to line up with the speaker on the bottom edge.

The keyboard itself is decidedly rubbery, the keys more Spectrum ZX than a regular Bluetooth ‘board. Layout is a mixture of Apple’s regular keys and and iPad-specific buttons, including Home, volume up/down/mute, play/pause, skip-forward, skip-back and search. There’s also a keyboard button which can show or hide the on-screen keyboard (which, when the KeyCase is paired, automatically stays hidden during text entry).

On the top right of the keyboard is a large Connect button, which puts the KeyCase into pairing mode (or resumes the Bluetooth connection should either iPad or keyboard go into sleep mode), and on the side a microUSB port for charging and a tiny power switch. The latter is the one particularly cheap-feeling part of the KeyCase, and we wish they’d gone for a sturdier toggle. Three blue LEDs show Bluetooth, charging and power status.

Pairing proved straightforward, a matter of powering on the keyboard, holding down the Connect button and then choosing the “Keyboard” entry from the iPad’s Bluetooth menu in the settings page. After typing in a passcode on the KeyCase we were ready to go; subsequently all we needed to do was turn the KeyCase on and it would reconnect (though you can also force that by tapping the Connect button briefly).

With rubbery keys you can’t expect the best typing experience, and sure enough the KeyCase isn’t going to replace a proper hardware ‘board. Travel is relatively shallow, and there isn’t enough clicky responsiveness to each button to feel entirely confident. At 8.25 x 3.5 inches it’s obviously considerably smaller than a a full-sized keyboard, too.

That’s not to say it’s unusable, however. Once we learned to trust the KeyCase and ignore the lack of feel, we were able to pick up a decent rate that exceeded by a minor margin what we could regularly manage with the on-screen keyboard. Being able to use shortcuts like cmd+left/right to jump to the start or end of a line, option+left/right to jump a word at a time, and ctrl+up/down to page up or down is particularly handy, as is highlighting text using the shift and arrow keys. You can then copy/paste with the regular Mac shortcuts too.

Unfortunately there’s no easy way to use the iPad’s spelling correction from the keyboard – you have to actually tap the underlined word to see the alternatives – and sometimes iOS’ touchscreen-centricity still shows through. While you can trigger a search using the KeyCase, you then can’t move down through and select the results with the arrow keys; only tapping the screen works. Similarly you can’t dismiss pop-up notifications with the enter key, only with a finger.

You’re limited in screen angle, too; there are various rubber ridges above the QWERTY layout, but we found ourselves wishing we could tilt the iPad back a few more degrees. It’s fine if you’re working at a desk, less so if you were trying to make the most of an airline tray-table.

Battery life is estimated at up to 90hrs continuous use or 100 days standby; we’re still yet to reach the end of our first charge. While the original KeyCase design had an Apple dock connector for recharging, it was replaced with microUSB for legal reasons. That means you’ll have to carry both a microUSB and Apple power cord to charge both KeyCase and iPad, which is frustrating.

The cynics will probably ask why, if you’re looking for a hardware keyboard, you opted for the iPad in the first place rather than a (likely cheaper) netbook. There’s plenty to be said for having the option to type or simply to rely on the touchscreen, and the KeyCase also does a reasonable job of propping up the iPad for media consumption. At roughly 9.75 x 8 x 1.25 inches it’s pretty much in line with a bare netbook, and remember you’re also getting sturdy protection for your iPad as well.

At £59.95 from GearZap (roughly $99.99 in the US) that puts it on the expensive side for an iPad case and more expensive than Apple’s own iPad Keyboard Dock or regular Bluetooth keyboard. Nonetheless, with the latter you’d still have to buy a case for mobile use. The rubber keys won’t be to everybody’s taste, but with some practice they’re more usable than the on-screen version; text editing is also quicker thanks to the shortcut support. This is unlikely to be the last keyboard case for the iPad we see reach the market, however, and a hard keys version would likely be significantly more productive.

Headcase has unveiled a cool new case for the iPad that makes the tablet look like the old school red Etch A Sketch. The case is complete with the little white knobs on the bottom corners of the case. Those little knobs are just images and aren’t functional at all.

The case protects the iPad from drops and scratches and has a pair of flip down stands on the back that are every similar to what you see on the bottom of most keyboards to lift the iPad up a bit. The case sells for $39 and leaves all buttons, sensors, and ports uncovered.

Speck’s iPad case follows on from their Fitted Case range for Apple’s smaller mobile devices, the iPhone and iPod touch. Basically they’re a hard plastic shell covered in a fabric finish; there are various patterns available, some less outlandish than the check of our review sample.

Fitting the case is straightforward: the bezel and frame snaps off so that you can slot the iPad in-between it and the back panel. There are broad cut-outs for the dock connector and speaker along the bottom edge, together with the volume and orientation-lock switch on the side and the lock button and headphone socket on the top.

Once inside there’s no wriggle-room for the iPad to move about, and we’d certainly be a little more confident about dropping the tablet onto a table than in its bare state. Of course, there’s no display protection – Speck don’t even include a self-adhesive screen guard – so you’ll probably still want some sort of sleeve for transporting the iPad in your bag.

If you’re used to resting your wrist against the edge of the iPad while using it, you may find the slightly raised rubber bezel frustrating. Still, if you drop the tablet perfectly horizontally onto a flat surface then it might stop the screen from smashing. There’s also no kick-stand or way to prop the iPad up, as you get integrated into Apple’s own folio case, and you can’t dock the iPad into the Keyboard Dock while the case is on.

At $49.95 the Speck Fitted iPad Case is less obtrusive than Apple’s folio but $10 more expensive. Though it will arguably provide more impact protection to the back of the tablet, it does leave the front exposed – Speck sell an iPad screen protector, but you’d have to budget another $24.95 – and you may find yourself looking for a second case or sleeve. If you’re more worried about scratches to the aluminum back of the iPad when you leave it on the coffee table then the Speck is the case for you; those wanting 100-percent confidence when it’s in their bag may want to look elsewhere.

Unlike the curved, wobble-prone back of an unsheathed iPad, the Particle Case has moulded feet so as to keep it stable on your desk.  The rubber is also shock-absorbant, and Ten One Design have left pretty much the entire back open so as to avoid the iPad overheating; still, that will limit its protection from scratches if dropped into your bag.

$34.95 gets you the Particle case and the Pogo Sketch stylus to slot into the clip too.  It’s available now.

Like the WiFi-only iPad there’s not much in the box beyond the tablet itself: a power adapter, USB cable and some warranty documentation.  There are a few concessions to the integrated 3G visible on the iPad WiFi + 3G itself, however, most notably a section of black plastic on the top back panel, where the cellular antenna resides.  There’s also an iPhone-style SIM card slot with an AT&T microSIM already fitted in place.

Loading up requires the same initial connection to iTunes, followed by a sync of whatever media and apps you’ve already acquired.  As for the 3G setup, that’s accessed via the settings page and allows you to sign up to either a 250MB plan or unlimited data plan (for $14.99 or $29.99 respectively) with a credit card, with no minimum contract.  We already wish all new cellphone activations were this straightforward.

Beyond that the first impressions of the iPad WiFi + 3G are pretty much in-line with what we’ve come to expect from the WiFi-only version, but we’ll be putting it through its paces over the weekend and have more feedback next week.  Hopefully by then we’ll know the answer to the big question: is it really worth $120 more than the regular model?

Initial speed benchmarket results are looking good! Make sure to check back next week for a more detailed speedtest.

As for battery life, the iPad WiFi+3G use up roughly 5% of battery life per hour on 3G only mode. That’s not bad at all!

Unboxing iPad WiFi+3G

So it came as some surprise to discover that the iPad demo units Apple brought out yesterday were all running iPhone OS 3.2, a relatively minor increment above what’s currently found on the iPhone 3GS and iPod touch. No sign of all OS 4.0, or any of the benefits – multitasking being the heavily hinted one – it’s expected to bring. My thought at the time was that, in an attempt to keep the focus on the iPad rather than prompt questions about the state of the iPhone, Apple would announce and most likely release OS 4.0 in the interim period between now and the iPad shipping.

When I made that suggestion on Twitter in the aftermath of the Apple announcement, a few people queried why the company would go to the effort of adding iPad support to iPhone OS 3.2 if they were only going to update it to OS 4.0 by the time it launches in roughly 60 days time. That’s certainly a good question.

Of course, if I were Apple, I might be tempted to load up the latest reasonably-stable version of OS 4.0 onto the iPad demo units I was bringing with me to the keynote, doctor the version number so as to raise no eyebrows about the difference between what’s almost current on the iPhone right now, and lock down anything that differed from what users expect from the smartphone experience. That way I could quietly continue beavering away in the background, preparing for an iPhone OS 4.0 launch event at some point between now and the iPad’s arrival.

OS 3.2 – or whatever was running yesterday – for the iPad certainly shows some signs of being cobbled together. The mention of importing photos into Keynote from the non-existent camera is a good example. I don’t want to sound like a conspiracy theorist, but a reasonable explanation is that the code the prototypes were running is unfinished; is it too much of a stretch to wonder whether that unfinished code is really the version its About page suggested?

Launching iPhone OS 4.0 between now and the iPad’s sales debut would not only give the iPhone an injection of fresh juice before the predicted fourth-gen model expected at some point over the summer, it would also give Apple a second shot at iPad “first impressions”. Yes, previews and hands-on articles from this week criticized the absence of multitasking, Apple might say, but since then OS 4.0 has delivered that and more: all of those reasons not to buy an iPad, well, they need to be reconsidered. A lot of this is definitely wishful thinking – without the ability to run multiple apps at once, and switch between them easily, I don’t think an iPad figures on my shopping list any time soon – but considering some of the things we’ve heard about Apple’s tablet, a little conspiracy theorizing doesn’t seem especially out of place.

Apple iPad demo video:

First, the iPad is a device that is neither an iPod Touch or iPhone or a MacBook. It does have many elements of each, as would be expected in a device of this category (and a middle of the road price that matches up well with what data shows consumers will pay for devices such as netbooks that are also positioned in this space) and depending on the lens you view through, you might see more iPhone or more MacBook. It’s both. It’s also neither.

The form factor is excellent. It’s not too light to feel fragile and, at 1.5 lbs, it’s also not something that’s going to tire you holding it long term. The screen is amazing with a full XGA resolution. I could easily imagine reading for hours on end on this screen and far prefer this idea to e-ink. For one, there’s no annoying refresh that happens with every page turn and, as a backlit display, it’s perfect for reading in dark places, like airplane seats or in bed without disturbing anyone else. The performance of Apple’s silicon is wicked fast. I was pretty skeptical about running existing apps in a pixel-doubled full screen mode. Action games, I figured, would be pretty much out of the question and Apple came fully prepared to answer that question. Existing games ran ridiculously fast and titles optimized for the device make this the ultimate mobile game device. Personally, I’d buy it just for gaming alone.

App launching is fast with no lag on both older apps that I tried as well as new iPad titles. There’s no multitasking and that’s going to disappoint a few hardcore users but I suspect most users won’t care. Key apps like Mail and iTunes do run in the background as they do on other devices, and apps return to exactly the state they were in when you left them; it mitigates this issue a great deal. It’s a trade off of battery life, performance and multitasking and I think Apple had a hard choice to make here. As a hardcore user, I’d like to decide if an app runs in the background or not.

While all the usual media and PIM functions were there, worked well and were beautifully rendered, what separates the device from being just a large iPod is the optimized experience of the larger screen. The NY Times app (which did not appear to have ads, making me wonder if it’s a paid service) shows that mobile reading can be re-defined and optimized. While the NYT website looked amazing and was totally useable and readable, this proof of concept shows how content companies can deliver. I believe Apple’s iBooks is the best implementation of an eReading application I have ever seen on a mobile device. Expect the iPad to cause many consumers to rethink dedicated eReader device purchases. iWork and both the onscreen keyboard and dock keyboard both worked well for me. While the iPad isn’t going to be replace my computer for many of the content creation tasks I need to do, it could easily replace my 4.5lb MacBook Pro on many of the 100,000 plus miles I travel each year.

So what’s missing? For many consumers, probably not much (although a camera would have been handy for some things). The choice of 3G or no 3G makes sense and allows consumers to choose what’s best for their context. When iPod was introduced, skeptics called it overpriced and just another MP3 player. When the iPhone went on sale, some called it a failure and predicted lack of consumer adoption. Like the iPod and iPhone, Apple did not invent the iPad device category. It has, however, done a better job to date than anyone else justifying that space to the market, and I expect both enthusiast and mainstream consumer demand to be strong.

Apple iPad video demo:

Details on the Apple A4 are being offered today. One of the things that is pointed out is that the A4 is not actually a CPU and PA Semi didn’t have anything to do with its creation according to reports. The A4 is a SOC integrating an ARM Coretex-A9 MPCore processor, which is exactly like the one NVIDIA uses in its Tegra tech and is found in the Snapdragon from Qualcomm.

The graphics side of this is handled by the ARM Mali 50-series GPU. The A4 also has a memory controller on the silicon as well. What all this means is that the processor is predominately ARM IP that is braded with the Apple name.

Belkin has unveiled its new line of sleeves for the iPad and they look pretty darn cool. Belkin will be offering three sleeves including the Vue, Max, and Grip. The Vue is transparent, has an expandable pocket for other gear and accessories, and will sell for $39.99. The Max has a pleated design and will also hold other gear and collapses flat when not in use. It will sell for $39.99 as well.

The Grip sleeve will sell for $29.99 and has a surface that increases grip to help prevent drops while on the go. The silicone of the sleeve is etched with graphics. All three sleeves come in black or plum colors. Belkin will also be offering a screen overlay to protect from scratches for $19.99.

Something we reckon a lot of iPad buyers will consider is the Keyboard Dock ($69), and while the QWERTY layout may look just like one of Apple’s regular ‘boards in actual fact there are shortcuts for controlling the iPad’s search function, homescreen and other features.  Since the iPad lacks either an SD card slot or a USB port, the Camera Connector Kit ($29) seems another likely purchase, though we’re frustrated that – given how integral iPhoto seemed to be in Apple’s keynote – neither are standard.

If you want to show Keynote presentations, the Dock Connector to VGA Adapter ($29) seems a sensible buy – and again, we’re frustrated Apple couldn’t squeeze either a Mini DisplayPort or Mini HDMI connector in there somewhere – and finally there’s the iPad Case ($39).  Despite Steve Jobs saying the latter is one of the nicest cases he’s seen, iLounge reckon it’s pretty bare-bones and of lesser quality than previous Apple-brand iPod cases.

Packager for iPhone allows Flash developers to take their existing content and turn it into standalone software that can be distributed via the App Store.  Although initially it won’t natively support the iPad’s 1024 x 768 resolution display, we already know that iPhone applications can run as normal on the new Apple tablet, either at regular size or doubled in size.  No exact word on when Flash Pro CS5 will be released, but Adobe are slowly accepting beta developers – especially those who are looking to get titles into the App Store within the next couple of months.

Apple iPad video demo:

Over one million of you joined SlashGear for our liveblog yesterday, setting a new record in the process.  All the hardware and software details you might want are here, together with the shots from the keynote itself.  Our full event gallery is here.

If you’re looking for more first-impressions, check out our hands-on summary complete with a full gallery of live shots.  We’ll try to answer as many questions as we can – bear in mind we, like everyone else, don’t actually have an iPad yet – based on our experience yesterday, so leave them in the comments!

Apple iPad hands-on:

Apple iPad detailed walk-through:

With AT&T – a carrier who will happily sell you a $60 per month, two year data agreement either with a USB modem or a netbook with integrated WWAN – Apple revealed iPad 3G pricing of $14.99 for 250MB or $29.99 for unlimited data.  Leaving aside the first plan, which we’ve a feeling the allowance of which most iPad users would merrily sail through, that $29.99 is just half what AT&T would charge all other users.

It doesn’t stop there: the iPad’s data contract is, in fact, a pre-pay system and contract-free.  Handled from the iPad itself (so you don’t need to deal with AT&T’s in-store or telephone assistants), you can choose to grab a month’s data when you need it or, conversely, cancel the connectivity with no penalty.  Try doing that with your iPhone 3GS data plan, or your netbook 3G plan, and AT&T will be far less accommodating.

To be fair, the iPad isn’t offering quite the same web experience as a netbook might.  Jobs may have described them as “cheap laptops” but a cheap laptop can still play Flash content and multitask with other apps.  Once the Flash 10 beta arrives, however, and Apple decide to put that homegrown 1GHz Apple A4 processor to work with multitasking (which seems, frankly, inevitable), the gap is going to be significantly reduced.  Put aside whether you reckon a 9.7-inch multitouch slate might fit into your life or not; the iPad’s 3G data agreement could just be Apple’s biggest surprise of the day.

Apple iPad detail hands-on demo:

Apple iPad hands-on:

Meanwhile there’s also a simple dock which lacks the QWERTY, and a pair of adapters that Apple are targeting at camera owners – the iPad lacks a camera of its own – which will offer a USB port together with an SD card slot.

Finally, there’s an official case for the iPad, complete with an Apple logo on the front. As well as hinging open, like a book, the case will work as a stand to hold the iPad upright in both landscape and portrait orientation. No word on pricing for any of the accessories as yet.

Apple iPad detail hands-on demo:

In many ways it it feels like an oversized iPhone, and unfortunately some of the iPhone’s flaws have been carried over.  The biggest – and most frustrating, given the turn of speed the iPad is obviously capable of – is the complete absence of multitasking.  There’s also no Flash support in the browser, a crime given how well it displays webpages.  Over the WiFi connection here, SlashGear loaded up snappily and just as you’d expect from a desktop browser, bar any animations, but at least it flips between landscape and portrait orientations with no lag.

Multitouch gestures are just as intuitive here as they are on an iPhone, and the keyboard is usable in both orientations.  We’re not convinced by the tactile feedback of typing for longer periods on glass, but then there’s the keyboard dock or hooking up a Bluetooth keyboard if you need to do that.

The iBooks ebook reading application is fast and clean, and it feels a real advance on the Kindle’s monochrome.  Color alone is a nice addition, and when you start to throw in multimedia it’s a stark reminder of what the browser could be like if it only had Flash support.  We’ll have to spend a little longer with the iPad to see whether the LED-backlighting is as easy on the eyes as e-paper.

It’s early days to tell, though, so for now enjoy the hands-on images and our first video demo below; we’ve got more videos on the way!  More on the Apple iPad here.

Apple iPad detail hands-on demo:

Apple iPad hands-on video:

The iPad battery is apparently good for up to 10hrs use, or a month of standby, and it recharges via a 30-pin dock connector that’s also used to sync with iTunes. Elsewhere there’s a digital compass and accelerometer, and the iPad can be used in both portrait and landscape orientations; in the latter, the on-screen keyboard is, Apple reckon, almost as large as a MacBook keyboard. Hooking up your regular Mac or PC triggers an iTunes sync of all multimedia, apps, bookmarks, calendar entries and other data, just as it does on an iPhone.

Fresh to the iPad is a new ebook reading app, iBooks, complete with an ebook store for wireless downloads. Apple have partnered with Penguin, HarperCollins, Simon & Schuster, MacMillan and Hachett Book Group, and ebooks can include color and B&W content, together with images and video. Samples and reviews will be available, and there are page animations for reading. Fonts are interchangeable and resizable, and there will be a range of fiction and textbook content to purchase at launch.

Meanwhile Apple have also developed a new iWork suite for the iPad, with three new apps: Numbers (spreadsheet), Keynote (presentations) and Pages (word processor) which will each be available for $9.99. All have been specially reworked for the iPad’s 1GHz processor and to suit its UI, and support presentation animations and transitions, spreadsheet graphs and tables, and in-app image editing.

Apple have pushed out a new version of the iPhone SDK today, with support for the iPad – and a simulator – in the hope that developers will jump on board.  However all of the original iPhone apps will run on the tablet, either at their standard resolution in the center of the display or at 2x zoom resolution for full-screen use.  The App Store is available on the iPad, obviously, and iPad-specific titles will be prioritized.  There’s still no support for multitasking, however.

There will be three versions of iPad, a 16GB model for $499, a 32GB model for $599 and a 64GB model for $699. Adding 3G will be $130 on top of that (the 3G models won’t ship for 90 days or so), and Apple will offer two data plans – $14.99 for 250MB or $29.99 for unlimited data – which will be pre-paid, managed from the iPad itself and contract-free. As with the iPhone 3GS, Apple have partnered with AT&T for their data service, and subscribers will also get unlimited AT&T WiFi hotspot access included. The 3G modem itself will be unlocked and use a GSM “micro-SIM” for international use, which could present issues as relatively few carriers currently offer them; official international data plans are expected to be finalized in the June/July timeframe.

Apple iPad detail hands-on demo:

Update: Check out our hands-on gallery and video with the iPad!

Press Release:

Apple Launches iPad

Magical & Revolutionary Device at an Unbelievable Price

SAN FRANCISCO—January 27, 2010—Apple® today introduced iPad, a revolutionary device for browsing the web, reading and sending email, enjoying photos, watching videos, listening to music, playing games, reading e-books and much more. iPad’s responsive high-resolution Multi-Touch™ display lets users physically interact with applications and content. iPad is just 0.5 inches thick and weighs just 1.5 pounds— thinner and lighter than any laptop or netbook. iPad includes 12 new innovative apps designed especially for the iPad, and will run almost all of the over 140,000 apps in the App Store. iPad will be available in late March starting at the breakthrough price of just $499.

“iPad is our most advanced technology in a magical and revolutionary device at an unbelievable price,” said Steve Jobs, Apple’s CEO. “iPad creates and defines an entirely new category of devices that will connect users with their apps and content in a much more intimate, intuitive and fun way than ever before.”

iPad features 12 next-generation Multi-Touch applications. Every app works in both portrait and landscape, automatically animating between views as the user rotates iPad in any direction. The precise Multi-Touch interface makes surfing the web on iPad an entirely new experience, dramatically more interactive and intimate than on a computer. Reading and sending email is fun and easy on iPad’s large screen and almost full-size “soft” keyboard. Import photos from a Mac®, PC or digital camera, see them organized as albums, and enjoy and share them using iPad’s elegant slideshows. Watch movies, TV shows and YouTube, all in HD or flip through pages of an e-book you downloaded from Apple’s new iBookstore while listening to your music collection.

iPad runs almost all of the over 140,000 apps on the App Store, including apps already purchased for your iPhone® or iPod touch®. The iTunes® Store gives you access to the world’s most popular online music, TV and movie store with a catalog of over 11 million songs, over 50,000 TV episodes and over 8,000 films including over 2,000 in stunning high definition video. Apple also announced the new iBooks app for iPad, which includes Apple’s new iBookstore, the best way to browse, buy and read books on a mobile device. The iBookstore will feature books from major and independent publishers.

Apple also introduced a new version of iWork® for iPad, the first desktop-class productivity suite designed specifically for Multi-Touch. With Pages®, Keynote® and Numbers® you can create beautifully formatted documents, stunning presentations with animations and transitions, and spreadsheets with charts, functions and formulas. The three apps will be available separately through the App Store for $9.99 each.

iPad syncs with iTunes just like the iPhone and iPod touch, using the standard Apple 30-pin to USB cable, so you can sync all of your contacts, photos, music, movies, TV shows, applications and more from your Mac or PC. All the apps and content you download on iPad from the App Store, iTunes Store and iBookstore will be automatically synced to your iTunes library the next time you connect with your computer.

iPad’s brilliant 9.7-inch, LED-backlit display features IPS technology to deliver crisp, clear images and consistent color with an ultra-wide 178 degree viewing angle. The highly precise, capacitive Multi-Touch display is amazingly accurate and responsive whether scrolling web pages or playing games. The intelligent soft keyboard pioneered on iPhone takes advantage of iPad’s larger display to offer an almost full-size soft keyboard. iPad also connects to the new iPad Keyboard Dock with a full-size traditional keyboard.

iPad is powered by A4, Apple’s next-generation system-on-a-chip. Designed by Apple, the new A4 chip provides exceptional processor and graphics performance along with long battery life of up to 10 hours.* Apple’s advanced chemistry and Adaptive Charging technology deliver up to 1,000 charge cycles without a significant decrease in battery capacity over a typical five year lifespan.**

iPad comes in two versions—one with Wi-Fi and the other with both Wi-Fi and 3G. iPad includes the latest 802.11n Wi-Fi, and the 3G versions support speeds up to 7.2 Mbps on HSDPA networks. Apple and AT&T announced breakthrough 3G pre-paid data plans for iPad with easy, on-device activation and management.

Continuing Apple’s dedication to designing and creating environmentally responsible products, each iPad enclosure is made of highly recyclable aluminum and comes standard with energy-efficient LED-backlit displays that are mercury-free and made with arsenic-free glass. iPad contains no brominated flame retardants and is completely PVC-free.

Apple today released a new Software Development Kit (SDK) for iPad, so developers can create amazing new applications designed to take advantage of iPad’s capabilities. The SDK includes a simulator that lets developers test and debug their iPad apps on a Mac, and also lets developers create Universal Applications that run on iPad, iPhone and iPod touch.

Pricing & Availability
iPad will be available in late March worldwide for a suggested retail price of $499 (US) for the 16GB model, $599 (US) for the 32GB model, $699 (US) for the 64GB model. The Wi-Fi + 3G models of iPad will be available in April in the US and selected countries for a suggested retail price of $629 (US) for the 16GB model, $729 (US) for the 32GB model and $829 (US) for the 64GB model. iPad will be sold in the US through the Apple Store® (www.apple.com), Apple’s retail stores and select Apple Authorized Resellers. International pricing and worldwide availability will be announced at a later date. iBookstore will be available in the US at launch.

*Apple tested wireless battery life by browsing web pages and receiving email over an AirPort® network, never letting the system go to sleep during the test, and keeping the display at half brightness. This is a typical scenario of use on the go, resulting in a battery performance number that is very relevant to mobile users.

**A properly maintained iPad battery is designed to retain 80 percent or more of its original capacity during a lifespan of up to 1,000 recharge cycles. Battery life and charge cycles vary by use and settings.

Apple ignited the personal computer revolution in the 1970s with the Apple II and reinvented the personal computer in the 1980s with the Macintosh. Today, Apple continues to lead the industry in innovation with its award-winning computers, OS X operating system and iLife and professional applications. Apple is also spearheading the digital media revolution with its iPod portable music and video players and iTunes online store, and has entered the mobile phone market with its revolutionary iPhone.

Apple iPad detail hands-on demo:

The liveblog is already running, so join us over at http://live.slashgear.com/ for our blow-by-blow live coverage!

Judging by one of the photos – which shows four of the casings along with a pretty intimidating robot arm – the shots were taken during wireless radiation testing.  The tablet is presumed to have an internal 3G connection – perhaps even support for both Verizon and AT&T – so that certainly makes sense.

Earlier on today shots of the front of the tablet – including the device powered on – were seemingly leaked.  Still, if these do turn out to be authentic, it’s impressive that Apple have managed to keep them under wraps for so long.  Join SlashGear’s liveblog of the whole Apple event over at http://live.slashgear.com/!