Infotainment

The iPad has been the top selling tablet in the world since its launch, and on the heels of Apple's success, thousands of accessory makers snapped into action, releasing an endless flow of extras for the iPad. Among the most popular accessories are cases and keyboards, and we've seen several companies combine these two needs, such as the Logitech iPad keyboard, or the Brydge keyboard case. In such a crowded market, standing out is important, and the recently launched Touchtype case does so by making use of a full size physical keyboard. Yes, the Touchtype is only the latest in a long line of iPad keyboard cases, but it does manage to innovate where others have fallen short. Obviously, and most importantly, the Touchtype is designed around the Apple Wireless Keyboard, making it the first iPad case designed to hold a keyboard that is of desktop dimensions, making typing much more comfortable. While the keyboard isn't incorporated into the case, it slots into a pocket in s

Ruggedizing your portable electronics makes sense and Lifedge has a new option for the 40 million-odd iPad owners in the world. Lifedge's case has an IP (Ingress Protection) rating of IP67 for keeping water and dust out. It will protect an iPad for 30 minutes in one meter (3 feet) of water, or if it is dropped onto a concrete floor from a height of one meter. Lifedge is a new brand launched by Scanstrut, an international manufacturer of products designed to protect equipment used in demanding marine environments. Though Scanstrut has been in the marine market for 25 years, Lifedge is Scanstrut's initial foray outside its core market and it intends to build its name in new areas with an entirely new range of products aimed at enabling digital activities under any conditions. The iPad, with its built-in GPS and big screen, is a natural for use in outdoor environments, except it's a little too delicate for all that salt-water, sun, heat, cold, spray ad infinitum

Brydge is a keyboard cover for the iPad that attempts to turn the Apple tablet into something very close in style and weight, if not grunt, to the MacBook Air. Currently a Kickstarter project, Brydge aims to join the growing number of accessories tailored for those who produce as well as consume content on their iPad. The iPad is undoubtedly a great device - it's the bestselling tablet by far. But while consuming content, be it the web, music, movies, games, or apps, is a joy, creating content, particularly text-based content, on an iPad isn't quite as much fun. This is where keyboard cases - which double up as keyboards, bringing physical feedback to the task of writing - come into their own. Logitech's Keyboard Case is one of the best-known examples to date. There are also Android tablets built on this very premise: the Asus Eee Pad Transformer series comprises tablets which can be slotted into their optional keyboard docks. Brydge, from the people behi

Lenovo’s IdeaPad is an interesting little device – it functions as a Windows laptop computer, but its screen detaches to operate as a stand-alone tablet. While Apple has no equivalent system of its own, a few companies have come out with products that come close. One of the latest is the Notebook Case for iPad, which consists of a keyboard-equipped hinged shell, that accepts an iPad 2 as its screen. The case incorporates USB and mini-USB ports, and communicates with the tablet via Bluetooth. Unlike some other keyboard cases, it also features a lithium-polymer battery that allows the user’s docked iPad to charge while in use. Japanese retailer Rakuten is currently offering the case on its website for ¥5,980, or about US$74. There’s no word on availability or pricing outside of Japan, or if it will work with the latest model of iPad. Users who like the general idea behind it, however, might also want to check out the Logitech Keyboard Case for the iPad 2. Source: Rakuten via 9 to 5 Mac