A month ago, we featured the neat, versatile SurfacePad for iPhone from Twelve South which, as well as protecting your device and allowing it to be stood in all manner of positions, is also thin enough so as to preserve the handset's svelte form factor. Today, the start-up as thrown out the corresponding version for the iPad mini, which does the same job as the iPhone edition, while maintaining the same great aesthetics.
The first wave of MFi (Made For iPhone) accessories may not win awards for design innovation or aesthetic beauty, but they did manage to highlight the power of what is possible with mobile gaming, and draw serious attention to Apple's Game Controller APIs that launched as part of iOS 7. MOGA, the company behind the MOGA Ace Power iOS 7 controller, has taken on-board the lessons learnt from the initial launch and have gone back to the drawing board to build their next MFi product, as shown in the company's official teaser image below.
The LaCie Fuel storage device, which is as compact as it is stylish, allows you to store up to 1TB of data, which can in turn be wirelessly beamed to your Apple devices such as your Mac, iPhone, iPad or iPod touch. Not only can you store a whole bunch of media, but with AirPlay support, you can actually stream your favorite movies and TV shows to your Apple TV, or hook up to your AirPlay-ready speakers for a music-listening session.
Since Apple announced support for official MFi (Made for iPhone) gaming controllers with iOS 7, the major peripheral makers have been quick to announce and release some of their creations. However, those we've seen hitherto have shared one common trait - they're all tailored specifically to the iPhone. With cases that clip perfectly onto the form factor of the Apple smartphone, those on the iPad and iPod touch have been largely cast aside, but now, in the RP One, avid mobile gaming fans have an Xbox-esque controller to truly enhance the general user experience.
Apple's 9.7-inch iPad continues to hold onto its place at the top of the popularity charts in the market, which essentially means that there is a whole heap of iPad users out there. Those users will undoubtedly value the iPad that they shelled out their hard-earned cash for and will be looking for some way of protecting it from damage. Twelve South has extended their excellent line of accessories by launching this unique vintage leather carrying case designed specifically for Apple’s famed tablet, called the BookBook Travel Journal for iPad.
The iPad Air is almost ready for release, and naturally, Apple's accessory partners are hot on its tail. We've already seen the first batch of what Belkin has to offer the Cupertino's rebranded slab, and now, Logitech has come through with a substantial helping of cases and accessories for the fifth-gen iPad.
iOS 7 is being touted at the biggest innovation in the history of iPhone, iPod touch and iPad devices, and rightly so, because the kind of feature and visual overhaul that this version of the OS brings to Apple’s fantastic hardware is unparalleled. However, it isn’t all sunshine and butterflies, because such a major update means a lot of pre-existing content either needs to be updated, or has simply become redundant. Such is the case with a special genre of iHardware cases, whereby known as the gaming cases. Since they interact with software at a very integral level, such an update was bound to have an effect. And now, GameCase appears to have emerged as the first-ever official iOS 7 gaming case for devices running iOS.
When you spend a lot of money on a gadget, it stands to reason that you'll pony up a little more on a suitable protective case and some useful accessories. Although the iPad mini was, in the eyes of many, supposed to be a significantly cheaper alternative to the full-size model, it turns out that Apple likes to keep prices high across the board; who'd have thought? Still, if you have an iPad mini, and are looking for some decent products to enhance the experience, look no further than the new Folio range from Logitech, a duo of high-grade new cases helping you increase productivity as well as protection.
When it comes to keyboards, there's plenty to choose from if you want to connect one to an iPad or an iPhone. In fact, there doesn't seem to be a week go by where our inbox isn't host to at least one email extolling the virtues of yet another Bluetooth keyboard that's been designed for use with the iPad.
The iPad mini is, by and large, deemed to be a consumption device, and although it surely has some productive qualities, it's definitely seen as more of an entertainment package than its larger sibling. With this in mind, a group of creative individuals have started a Techdy campaign to gather support for their rather beautiful gaming controller for the fledgling slate, and as well as doubling up as a smart cover when not in use, it also looks robust enough to keep your iPad mini securely in place when it is.
