iNews Review

iPhones Earn Apple $150bn, Microsoft Surface vs. iPad, New Dock Connector Rumored, and More

This Week's iPad, iPhone, iPod, and Apple TV News

Compiled by Charles Moore and edited by Dan Knight - 2012.07.02

Mac notebook and other portable computing is covered in The 'Book Review, and general Mac news is in Mac News Review.

All prices are in US dollars unless otherwise noted.

News, Reviews, & Opinion

Microsoft Surface News

Rumor Roundup

The Competition

Apps & Services

Accessories

iPod Deals

These price trackers are updated every month.

News, Reviews, & Opinion

250 Million iPhones Generate $150 Billion for Apple Since Launch 5 Years Ago

PR: According to the latest research from Strategy Analytics, Apple has generated $150 billion of cumulative revenues for its iPhone family in the first five years since the product was first launched in June 2007. A quarter of a billion iPhones have been shipped cumulatively worldwide.

"Apple's first iPhone was launched commercially in the United States on June 29, 2007. Between June 2007 and June 2012, Neil Shah, Senior Analyst at Strategy Analytics, comments. "We estimate the iPhone family of models has generated US$150 billion of cumulative revenues worldwide for Apple. This is an impressive achievement and it illustrates just how popular the iPhone has become during the past five years."

"The iPhone portfolio has become a huge generator of cash and profit for Apple, says Neil Mawston, Executive Director at Strategy Analytics. "A quarter of a billion iPhones have been shipped cumulatively worldwide in the first five years since launch and Apple reaches its fifth birthday at the top of its game. However, there are emerging signs that the iPhone's next five years could get tougher. Some mobile operators are becoming concerned about the high level of subsidies they spend on the iPhone, while Samsung is expanding its popular Galaxy portfolio and providing Apple with more credible competition."

The full report on device vendor performance metrics, Global Handset Shipments Forecast by Quarter: Q2 2012, is published by the Strategy Analytics Wireless Device Strategies (WDS) service.

Annual Cost of Charging an iPad Averages $1.36, iPhone Just 25¢

PR: Consumers who fully charge their iPad tablet every other day can expect to pay $1.36 for the electricity needed annually to power the device, according to an assessment by the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI).

The analysis shows that each model of the iPad consumes less than 12 kWh of electricity over the course of a year, based on a full charge every other day. By comparison, a 42" plasma television consumes 358 kWh of electricity a year. EPRI conducted the analysis in Knoxville, TN, at its power utilization laboratory. Costs may vary depending on the region a consumer resides and the price of electricity in a particular location.

The assessment was conducted to determine the load requirements - the amount of power needed to operate the devices - of the increasingly popular iPad. According to Apple, 67 million of the devices have been purchased worldwide.

EPRI calculations show that the average energy used by all iPads in the market is approximately 590 gigawatt hours (GWh). In a scenario where the number of iPads tripled over the next two years, the energy required would be nearly equivalent to two 250-megawatt (MW) power plants operating at a 50 percent utilization rate. A quadrupling of sales in two years would require energy generated by three 250-MW power plants.

"As information technologies continue to change rapidly we see important implications for energy consumption," says Mark McGranaghan, vice president of Power Delivery and Utilization at EPRI. "These results raise important questions about how the shifting reliance from desktop to laptop to mobile devices will change energy use and electricity requirements for the information age. At less than a penny per charge these findings bring new meaning to the adage, 'A penny for your thoughts.'"

McGranaghan also points out that changes in battery technology and technology features will affect energy requirements. Our measurements indicate that New iPads will consume about 65% more electricity per year. What remains to be seen is how better batteries, better features, and changing preferences will affect overall energy consumption by consumers as a whole.

The EPRI analysis shows that the Apple iPhone 3G consumes 2.2 kWh of electricity each year, which results in a power cost of 25¢ annually.

Other products that were included in the analysis were laptop PCs, which consume 72.3 kWh of electricity each year and cost consumers $8.31, and 60W CFL light bulbs, which consume approximately 14 kWh of electricity and cost consumers $1.61 a year.

iOS Devices Popular in Tehran Despite US Trade Sanctions

9 to 5 Mac reports that Apple product vendors in Iran are laughing at reports that some US Apple Store employees refused sales to Farsi-speaking customers, noting that according to a weekend story from the Agence France-Presse (AFP), iPhones and iPads are widespread throughout the Iranian capital, with one salesman telling AFP he had sold 40 iPhones the day before, explaining that it's easy for traders to work around export restriction and claiming that practically everyone in Tehran owns an iOS device.

In your editor's opinion, US sanctions against shipping products like iPhones and iPads to Iran are woefully shortsighted and wrongheaded. Putting these powerful Internet-enabled devices in the hands of ordinary Iranians is more likely to result in democratic pressure for reform than any trade sanctions that could be imposed.

The New York Times' Nicholas D. Kristof, who's recently visited Iran, reports that half of Iranians are young, well educated, and chafing at limits placed on their personal freedom, with the country possibly already on the road to change that could be derailed by ill-advised Western interference.

Kristof notes that he was was impressed during his 1,700-mile road trip across Iran by how many of young Iranians share American values and are more interested in fun rather than fanaticism, with youth culture there nurtured by the Internet, with two-thirds of Iranian households having computers. Pirated music, videos, and video games are widespread.

Kristof maintains that these young people are Iran's future and could become our allies, but that potential is being ignored by Western policy-makers. Shipping boatloads of Apple iDevices might be a good start.

Torture Testing the New iPad

I thought I was very fortunate last year when I dozed off with my nearly-new iPad 2 on my lap and it fell to the hard tile floor below, with no evident damage. However, that 18" or so tumble was small beer compared with the torture and battering Molly Wood on her new Cnet show Always On inflicts on the New iPad. Wood says she tried to simulate some of the toughest tests that real life throws at our devices, like when we leave them in cars in inclement weather or they fall to the floor, etc.

iPad 3 Gets Teardown and Repair Video

PR: DirectFix have posted a detailed iPad 3 teardown and screen repair video, which instead of simply displaying the insides and components of the iPad 3, actually shows the steps needed to tear down and repair the device.

The video will step you through the process on how to replace the LCD and touch panel screen on the Apple iPad 3 WiFi edition. So if you accidentally drop your iPad 3 tablet and cracked the screen (which is not covered on the standard warranty) then maybe your should head on over to the YouTube video and see if you can fix it yourself and save some money. At your own risk if you attempt it of course.

Microsoft Surface News

Microsoft Surface May Not Match iPad's Battery Life but Could Be More Serviceable

Computerworld's Gregg Keizer says Microsoft's new Surface tablets may not match Apple's iPad on battery life, according to estimates made by Computerworld based on comparable devices. In it's Surface announcement, Microsoft revealed the watt-hour (Wh) capacity of device's batteries but made no undertaking as to projected charge runtime, which is a critical attribute for tablet computing.

Keizer makes some deductive calculations based on what's known, with Microsoft saying the ARM processor-based Windows RT Surface will have a 31.4 Wh rating, while the Ivy Bridge powered Core i Windows 8 Pro Surface is rated at 42 Wh - essentially the same as the New iPad's 42.5 Wh battery that Apple claims lasts 10 hours while browsing the Web, watching video, or listening to music. Of course, the iPad battery has to contend with the Retina display's prodigious power demand, while the non-Retina Pro Surface has the powerful but power-hungry Core i CPU to feed.

It will be interesting to see how that plays out in the real world.

Keizer also cites iFixit CEO Kyle Wiens observing that a concatenation of factors will affect battery life for the Surface and Surface Pro, including how successful Microsoft is at integrating power management features, how many cores the processors have and how well those cores are managed, the screen resolution, how many applications can run simultaneously, and how Windows RT and Windows 8 handle power consumption by those active apps.

Wiens also observes hopefully that based on Surface design drawings Microsoft has published, showing standard Torx screws fastening the case, the Surface may be easier to get into than the iPad or Apple's new Retina MacBook Pro, which he's declared "the least-repairable laptop we've taken apart." He suggests that battery replacement by the user may even be possible. "Let's hope Microsoft will be better at letting users repair or upgrade their own devices," Wiens tells Keizer. It's a hope shared by many who are unenchanted by Apple's trend toward sealed or near-sealed devices.

Surface vs. iPad: 5 Reasons You Should Ditch Apple

TechPost's Sarah Martinez notes that serial challengers to the iPad's throne have come and gone with a whimper, but she thinks Microsoft's Surface may have the muscle and cachet to take on the leader.

She observes that Microsoft has been clever enough to not challenge Apple's iPad directly with a 'me too' product, but is instead working at building up an ecosystem around the Windows 8 OS, which will not only support desktops but also tablets and phones.

Martinez thinks the top five features which give Surface an edge over iPad include:

  1. A Bigger Display
  2. The Type Cover, Integrated Kickstand, Digital Ink and Stylus
  3. Windows 8 OS able to run the Microsoft Office productivity suite.
  4. USB Ports
  5. Up To 128 GB of Storage

Should You Buy an iPad or Wait for the Microsoft Surface?

ZDNet's David Gewirtz says that even though we still don't know a whole lot about Microsoft's Surface tablets - including price, availability date, or even how long the battery will last - Microsoft seems to have made a big enough impression with its tablet announcement that some people, particularly enterprise users, are in a quandary as to whether to buy an iPad now or wait for the Surface.

He contends that the case for waiting depends entirely on whether you want a full-powered Windows 8 tablet. Giving a concrete example, Gewirtz says that to connect to his corporate servers, he needs a specialized VPN client that only runs on Windows, and he can't open a path to his servers unless he have a Windows computer, meaning that even if he takes his iPad, he still needs a Windows laptop to open a gateway to do company work. So a full Windows 8 Surface would be nice to carry and eliminate needing to carry the laptop.

An alternative would be to go with one of the thinner, lighter Ultrabooks, and there's the question of a pointing device on the full Windows 8 Surface, for which touchscreen input won't be adequate, and no one is going to live in Metro, so you're going to need either a stylus or a mouse.

But if what you really want is a production-capable tablet, the Surface has an advantage that the iPad can't (more precisely Apple won't) touch: a real USB port. Gewirtz notes that with a real version of Windows and a USB port on the device, you should be able to make a Surface into just about anything you want.

On the other hand, he advises that if you just want a tablet and are not interested in running a full version of Windows 8 on it, buy an iPad - and don't wait for Windows RT on a Surface, noting that he's not sure there's any case to be made for Windows RT, based on Metro, running on a Surface, and all you'd get for waiting would be far fewer apps, an unproven system, and limited aftermarket support, with the Windows RT Surface falling into the same class of not-quite-right tablets as the BlackBerry PlayBook, the HP TouchPad, and every Android tablet out there.

Gewirtz says that despite how annoying he personally finds the iPad ("and I can't pick it up without being annoyed by something from the stupidly-placed Home button to the constant, never-ending need to log into the App Store for everything"), it's a solid, proven machine with an almost uncountable number of apps available, plus an ecosystem that will sell you everything from keyboards to cases.

Microsoft Surface Can Win You Over

BetaNews' Mihaita Bamburic maintains that for him and many others like him, Surface is the only tablet that can be used for more than light duty tasks. In contrast to the iPad's many compromises and limitations, Surface supports Windows, which is the powerful sort of platform most professionals need for work, noting that even the base Surface model with Windows RT brings something that no Android or iPad offers: Office 15. Bamburic contends that having Office preinstalled is reason enough for many to choose this tablet over any competing product, but additionally having a keyboard does wonders for productivity, and a USB port gives users a tablet that really can replace a computer.

Bamburic concludes that there are two choices: Get a Surface tablet and do real work, or get another tablet - Android or iPad - and do your work on a PC (or Mac). From that perspective, he finds the Surface a no-brainer, with Microsoft having designed it for users who have work to do, who need to be productive, and not for those who sit around and play.

Surface vs. Ultrabooks

Techpinions' Ben Bajarin perceives tablets becoming the next generation of computers for the mass market, with conventional notebooks remaining relevant for only a niche segment of the market.

He notes that for a large majority of consumers, notebooks were overkill with respect to what they actually did with the product on a daily basis, and they were being purchased for their portability more than anything else.

In that context, he says he's beginning to wonder if Microsoft launching its own line of tablets hurts the OEMs in a much more important area than just competing with their notebook products, suggesting that if the industry is headed in the direction he thinks it is, more interest may be given to Surface-like products by the masses than to notebooks, observing that in terms of reader interest, content on tablets and recently Microsoft's Surface far exceeds the amount of reads generated than he and his colleagues write about notebooks and Ultrabooks in particular.

He further observes that Surface's form factor is different enough from what most consumers are used to with a notebook that he believes it will be seriously considered by anyone who is in the market for Windows notebook, and that its impact on notebook sales for Microsoft's partners could hurt them more than Microsoft competing with them in a segment, making the product more disruptive to PC-makers notebook strategy than to their tablet strategy, although it could well end up being a spoiler for both Win 8 tablets and Windows notebooks.

Rumor Roundup

Next iPhone May Have 19-Pin Mini Connector

TechCrunch's John Biggs says the site has independently verified that Apple is working on adding a 19-pin port, replacing the current 30-pin port, to the new iPhone, a development that will send shocks through the iPhone accessory ecosystem.

Biggs reports that three independent manufacturers have confirmed that the 19-pin dock port is in the works.

Publisher's note: For our perspective on a new, smaller dock connector, see A Smaller Dock Connector for iDevices? Bring It On! where we point out that the current dock connector doesn't support Thunderbolt or full USB 3 speed. dk

Apple's Rip-off Plan to Make Existing iPhone Accessories Obsolete

The Daily Mail's James Tozer says that according to reports, Apple's iPhone 5 will use a 19-pin connector instead of the traditional 30-pin connector for charging and for connecting to other hardware, thereby rendering possibly sizable investments in existing accessories obsolete. Fans are not amused.

iPhone 5 Dumping Dock Connector for Chipped Micro MagSafe?

ZDNet blogger Jason D. O'Grady says he'd assumed the smaller charging port on the bottom of recent iPhone 5 leaks was Micro USB, but it's now looking like Apple may not be fixing to dump its lucrative licensing business after all by dropping the venerable 30-pin Dock Connector port on its iOS devices in favor of the Micro USB standard.

The latest scuttlebutt is that Apple is moving from the Dock Connector to a MagSafe-like magnetic latch, and even worse than the proprietary Dock Connector it replaces, the new cable will include chips to verify licensing of accessories to be used with the devices.

If these rumors are accurate, says O'Grady, it means that instead of embracing a worldwide standard for syncing and charging smartphones (Micro USB), Apple will adopt an even more expensive and even more proprietary port and cable to protect its highly lucrative Made For iPhone (MFi) licensing program.

More lockdown and higher garden walls from Apple.

The Competition

Google Unveils Nexus 7 Tablet, Android 4.1, and Nexus Q

The Register's Iain Thomson reports that Google has used its annual developer conference, Google I/0 2012 in San Francisco, to announce its long-expected tablet, the Nexus 7, along with a new 4.1 build of Android (codenamed Jelly Bean) and a hackable home streaming Android computer called the Nexus Q that is shaped like a ball.

7" Google Nexus 7 Tablet

PR: The new Nexus 7 tablet from Google is coming soon. Preorder the new tablet from Google and get $25 credit to spend on Google Play, as well as some free content, including your own copy of Transformers: Dark of the Moon.

Nexus 7 features a 1280 x 800 resolution display (same as the 13" MacBook Pro) protected by scratch resistant Corning glass.

Google Nexus 7 Tablet

Google is claiming 8 hours of HD video playback, 10 hours of web browsing, or 10 hours of e-reading.

Quad-core Performance

Nexus 7 is built for Google by AsusTek and comes with a NVIDIA Tegra 3 quad-core processor, whose 12-core GPU delivers rich and immersive graphics while patented 4-PLUS-1 CPU design gives you processing power when you need it and battery saving efficiency when you don't.

Nexus 7 runs Android 4.1, Jelly Bean, the latest version of the world's most popular mobile platform OS with smarter notifications, new widgets, and home screen customization that's as easy as drag-and-drop.

Nexus 7 was made for Google Play, so all the entertainment you love right in your hand: the world's largest collection of ebooks, millions of songs, thousands of movies and TV shows, and a growing selection of magazines - plus over 600,000 apps and games.

With over 4 million books to choose from, Nexus 7 gives you access to the worlds largest collection of ebooks. Customize your reading experience by adjusting the font, switching to day or nighttime modes, and much more.

Hit movies and TV shows are instantly available on Nexus 7 in full HD - there's no waiting for downloads and syncing or worrying about storage space. And because Nexus 7 has a 16:9 aspect ratio screen, you'll be watching your favorite content the way it was meant to be seen.

With over 600,000 titles to choose from, Google Play has something for everyone. Find the most popular free and paid apps, explore hand-picked collections, browse by category or simply search for your favorites.

Hundreds of popular magazine titles are offered - single copies of new issues, or subscribe to your favorites on Google Play.

When you upload your existing music library to Google Play - up to 20,000 songs for free (Note: Cannot include DRM protected songs) - you can stream your tracks and playlists from the Cloud. With the Music Manager, you can easily import your entire iTunes music library into Google Play. Once your music is imported, it automatically becomes available on Nexus 7. You'll also be able to enjoy your music on the Web at play.google.com and any other Android compatible phone or tablet. You'll never need to sync or worry about backups again.

Nexus 7 comes with all your favorite Google Apps - like Gmail, Chrome, Google+, and YouTube - putting the best of Google in the palm of your hand. Easy to use, everything automatically syncs across your tablet, phone, and computer. With tons of free cloud storage and features you'll find nowhere else, Nexus 7 brings the best of Google together in one simple, beautiful device.

Google Now brings you just the right information, at just the right time. It tells you today's weather before you start your day, how much traffic to expect before you leave for work, when the next train will arrive as you're standing on the platform, or your favorite team's score while they're playing. And the best part? All of this happens automatically. Cards appear throughout the day at the moment you need them. Learn more.

Nexus 7 comes with the speed and simplicity of Google Chrome, built in. Browsing the Web from your tablet has never been faster - pages load in a snap, and hardware-accelerated page rendering lets you experience the mobile web, Chrome fast.

Gmail is better than ever on Nexus 7. Intuitively swipe back and forth between email threads so you can read and respond quickly and fly through your inbox. And offline search lets you search for emails even when you don't have a WiFi connection.

Nexus 7 lets you video chat with up to nine friends at once with Google+ Hangouts. You'll look great with the 1.2 MP front-facing camera, and starting a Hangout is a snap - or you can join an ongoing Hangout from your stream. Stay connected and keep the conversation going wherever you are with Nexus 7.

Specs:

  • Screen:
    • 7" 1280 x 800 HD display (216 ppi)
    • Backlit IPS display
    • Scratch-resistant Corning glass
  • 1.2 MP front-facing camera
  • Weight: 340 grams
  • Memory
    • 8 or 16 GB internal storage
    • 1 GB RAM
  • Battery: 4325 mAh (Up to 8 hours of active use)
  • CPU: Quad-core Tegra 3 processor
  • Size: 198.5 x 120 x 10.45mm
  • Wireless
    • WiFi 802.11 b/g/n
    • Bluetooth
  • USB: Micro USB
  • OS: Android 4.1 (Jelly Bean)
  • Features
    • Microphone
    • NFC (Android Beam)
    • Accelerometer
    • GPS
    • Magnetometer
    • Gyroscope

Nexus 7 will start at $199

Apps & Services

Free Just Type iOS Notes Substitute Offers More Configurability

PR: Shubham Kedia's Just Type is a clean and beautiful notes app that is designed to fit you and your note taking needs. Since it is designed for iCloud, your notes are always synced between all your devices automatically.

Just Type Just TypeJust Type keyboard

  • Intuitive User Interface: Just Type puts your list of notes right alongside the note you're currently viewing. Slide the note off to the right and see your list of notes. Pick another one from the list or just slide the note back in to continue jotting away! On iPad, simply resize the note depending on whether you wish to view the list alongside the note or wish to write fullscreen.
  • Sort and Search Using Color: Assign one of seven beautifully designed colors to your notes. Use it to group your notes and search for them easily. Or just pick the one you like aesthetically.
  • Just Type has fontsFonts to Choose From: Choose from one of 16 different fonts for your notes based on whatever works for the note, or again, whichever you like best.
  • Automatic Lists: Just Type makes lists a whole lot easier! It automatically detects numbered or bulleted lists, making it much quicker to quickly jot down ideas.
  • Sharing: Share your notes using by Messaging, Email (as text or an attachment), or simply print or copy the entire note with a single tap.
  • Star Important Notes: Slide to the right to star important notes, and then browse your starred notes for quick access.
  • Undo/Redo Support: No need to worry about making mistakes. Just Type has complete undo and redo support for all actions, from changing colors and fonts to writing text and inserting/deleting notes. On iPad, just swipe left or right with two fingers on the note to undo and redo respectively.

System requirements:

  • Compatible with iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4, iPhone 4S, iPod touch (3rd generation), iPod touch (4th generation) and iPad
  • Requires iOS 5.0 or later

Free

Free Arrow Note iOS Text Editor with Arrow Keys

PR: Arrow Note is a simple text editor with a few additional options. It simplifies the process of moving through text. Also the select/cut/copy commands have been added to a toolbar (no more pressing and holding on top of the text!)

Arrow Note iOS Text Editor on iPad

Features

Two new toolbars added to Apple's keyboard

  • Arrow Note iOS Text Editor on iPhoneUse arrows to move through text - up, down, left, right, beginning, end
  • Use arrows to walk through selected text
  • Additional tab buttons
    • - Select/cut/copy/past/undo/redo
    • - Hide second toolbar when not in use
  • Character count on toolbar
  • Find and Replace words
  • Return to previous position
  • Useful for long texts
  • Folder based filing system
  • Data exchange - Email
  • Open In option - Copied text in clipboard automatically appears in app as new file
  • Enabled inside app

Note: There is in-app advertising inside Arrow Note.

System requirements:

  • Compatible with iPhone, iPod touch and iPad
  • Requires iOS 5.0 or later.

Free

Accessories

Tuidle Secure Grasp iPhone Case

Tuidle Secure Grasp iPhone Case PR: Tuidle for the iPhone 4/4S is a phone case with a built-in, rotatable adjustable finger strap that allows users to easily perform all functions of their phone with just one finger - all without blocking the speaker, microphone, or camera. Tuidle also allows users to adjust their phone to either a horizontal or vertical view, depending on their preference.

Using Tuidle, iPhone users can comfortably and securely navigate their phone all while walking a dog, holding an umbrella or railing, laying down, exercising, snapping photos and.... you get the idea.

Understanding the importance of multitasking, Tuidle has engineered an iPhone case that allows users to do many things at once.

Features

Multitasking with your iPhone - Most of us are always on the go with our iPhones and sometimes we just need both hands. Tuidle allows you to essentially 'hold' the phone with one finger allowing you to concentrate on actually using the phone with the rest of your hand.

Some scenarios where we find Tuidle very helpful include:

  • Using your phone on a subway/bus
  • Walking (but please, not on busy streets and sidewalks)
  • Holding Onto A Baby
  • Lying Down
  • Gaming
  • Pulling luggage and carrying bags

No Drop Zone

Tuidle allows you to have a secure grasp on your phone at all times. The finger strap (made of artificial leather) is strategically placed where your middle finger would normally be if you were using your phone without Tuidle. This greatly reduces your chances of dropping your phone.

Liberate Your Pinky

Without Tuidle we generally rely on our pinky finger to essentially hold the phone up. Tuidle allows you to let go of your pinky finger and still use your phone. We are going into too much detail here but go ahead and notice how much stress is put on your pinky while you use your phone currently.

No More Blocking the Speaker or Microphone

As noted above, most people use the pinky finger below the phone in order to 'hold' it. This creates a problem sometimes when you end up blocking the speaker or microphone with your finger. They are both located on the bottom side of the phone. Tuidle allows you to let go of the pinky thereby leaving the speaker and microphone unblocked.

Pictures

Slippery iPhones make it hard to take a picture. Note how much you have to grasp the phone with all your fingers in order to take a simple picture with the press of a button using your thumb (or other hand). During all this you generally end up tilting your phone or blocking the lens with one of your fingers. Tuidle prevents all that as your comfortably hold your phone with one finger and are able to snap a picture using the thumb of the same hand. You also prevent the occasional lens blockage.

Another benefit is the peace of mind that you will never drop your phone while taking pictures from heights. For example when taking pictures from a moving bus, from atop a tall building and so on.

Other Features/Benefits

  • Rotate in any direction
  • Stand in landscape mode
  • Screen blockage: A lot of us unintentionally block part of the screen (or accidentally type something, especially on the bottom part of the screen) because we are not holding the phone properly. With Tuidle you don't have to worry about accidentally pressing something on the bottom side of the screen while you use your phone and you have clear access to look at the entire screen.
  • Reverse use while riding a bike
  • Adjustable for any size finger: Tuidle's strap is adjustable for any size finger. Instructions on how to quickly do this are included with the shipment.

Tuidle sells for $8.49

LuxePad Ultra-Thin Bluetooth Keyboard

LuxePad Ultra-Thin Bluetooth KeyboardPR: Genius has released LuxePad 9100, an ultrathin Bluetooth keyboard that is compatible with iPad as well as with Android and Windows tablets. This portable keyboard comes with the protective leather case that can also be used as a stand, turning your tablet into a mobile office.

Only 1.75cm thick, the LuxePad 9100 easily slides into a bag or purse alongside your tablet, making it ideal when travel, or just a day in the park. When you need to write documents or type emails simply pull out this ultrathin keyboard, press the CONNECT button, and start writing. When finished, flip the on/off switch so to conserve battery life.

The LuxePad 9100 features laptop-type scissor-action key switches. LuxePad Ultra-Thin Bluetooth KeyboardThe seven function keys give one-touch access to a variety of iPad, Android, and Windows tablet features such as play, pause, volume up, volume down, and home.

The LuxePad 9100 is a low power consuming keyboard. However, when it does run out of power, it's a simple matter of replacing economical standard AAA batteries.

The Genius LuxePad 9100 is now available in the USA and Canada from various retailers (e.g., Amazon). LuxePad 9100 MSRP is $79.99

Kensington Introduces New Security and Productivity Products for Apple Devices

PR: Kensington Computer Products Group has created the an extensive selection of physical security solutions for Apple devices. With a range of solutions for the iPad and Macs, Kensington has the security needs of Apple business and education users covered. Analysts predict that one-third of Apple iPads will be used by businesses by 2016. Security accessories designed by Kensington for specific Apple computers, with specific uses in mind, provide an important first line of defense against device theft and loss.

The average cost of device theft and liabilities associated with the resulting loss of important business data is estimated to be $49,000, according to research from the Ponemon Institute. Companies also risk reputation or regulatory consequences if sensitive customer data is lost, particularly in healthcare and financial businesses. One of the easiest and most cost-effective ways to guard against device and data loss is to use physical security, such as laptop locks and security cases.

Apple iPad adoption for business has seen phenomenal growth in the last year. According to a recent survey, over 97 percent of enterprise tablet activations in Q1 2012 were for iPads. iPad adoption is most common in the financial services sector followed by business and professional services companies and the life sciences sector. A separate study predicts that Apple tablet adoption will increase dramatically to 230 million tablets globally by 2016, and one-third of them will be purchased by businesses.

"As more companies adopt Apple computing products, its important they also adopt an essential first line of defense to protect both the devices and the data they contain," says George Foot, Kensington Vice President of Global Marketing and Product Development. "Kensington's 30-year heritage in providing security products gives us a solid understanding of the need to carefully match the security accessory to the use and the design of the device. Whether people are using their Apple computers to primarily view content, create content or to display information, Kensington knows how to design physical security that works alongside them seamlessly."

New Kensington Physical Security for the iPad

Kensington offers a full line of protection and productivity accessories for the new iPad. The SecureBack family of cases preserves the tablet's slim design. These cases feature a unique three-piece design with a patent- pending locking system that quickly and easily secures the iPad to prevent theft. The case utilizes the best in class ClickSafe locking system that enables iPad users to easily lock their tablet in just one click.

Kensington Folio SecureBack Protective Folio Case & Lock for iPad (K67753AM; SRP $89.99)

Kensington Folio SecureBack Protective Folio Case

With the Kensington Folio SecureBack Protective Case & Lock for new iPad you'll have a stylish folio case to carry and protect your iPad while on the go. When you reach your destination, the included ClickSafe Lock will allow you to easily secure your iPad against theft in just one click.

  • Kensington Folio SecureBack Protective Folio CaseIntegrated Folio makes it easier to carry the iPad
  • Included ClickSafe lock secures in one click
  • Folio folds up to act as two-way stand with typing and viewing modes
  • Folio is easily removed if required & maintains slim design while adding security and protection
  • ClickSafe lock anchors on same side as 30-pin connector for easy cable management
  • Built-in sound deflector increases volume from iPad speakers
  • Case protects back and sides from bumps and scratches

Additional Kensington SecureBack Family Products:

  • Kensington SecureBack Security Case for New iPad (K67750AM; SRP $49.99)
  • Kensington SecureBack Security Case & Lock for New iPad (K67751AM; SRP $79.99)
  • Kensington Folio SecureBack Protective Folio Case for iPad (K67752AM; SRP $59.99)

These products are currently available for preorder at Kensington.com, Amazon.com, and major resellers.

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