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Saturday, 26 June 2010 15:04 |
Cygnett [Twitter], based in Melbourne, recently sent us a few samples of their iPad accessories and we are simply blown away by their stylish and snazzy products. Make no mistake - although they were one of the first manufacturers to bring accessories to the iPad worldwide, they have not rushed the job. Cygnett have not only managed to design a variety of sleek cases to suit different purposes, but also created accessories which ultimately protect the iPad incredibly well. If you have an iPad and have yet to purchase a case, cover or sleeve, then keep on reading - we're giving them away for
free.
There are four cases/sleeves currently offered by Cygnett. The Cygnett Lavish iPad Case ($69.95), which comes in black, is a soft micro-suede book-style case. Despite its slim shape, its exterior is solid, providing decent protection against drops and bumps. Suitable for any professional who is frequently on the move, this leather-look and feel case is perfect to hold with documents or to slide into a briefcase. For a more chic appeal, the Glam ($69.95) book-style case is perfectly and undoubtedly an eye-opener. Its high-gloss look, coupled with its soft suede interior is a fine design ideal for anyone who wants a case which stands out. Both the Glam and Lavish cases have horizontally-opening reinforced covers and rear magnetic closures. These premium cases are portable and very professional, while cleverly disguising your iPad. At time of writing (June 2010), both cases do not feature an opening for the volume controls.
If you are after a simple yet practical solution to protecting your iPad, the Cygnett SecondSkin ($39.95) is, literally, a second skin. Its slim design, perfectly moulded to fit your iPad, is reinforced to protect your iPad on any surface with its ridges support design. If you are conscious about a bulky or heavy case, then the SecondSkin is recommended. The SecondSkin comes in black or transparent. The Cygnett Agenda ($54.95) is a sleeve which allows the most protection if you are frequently on the move. This sleeve has a neoprene inner lining and a stlish embossed exterior. The sleeve does not allow access to the iPad while its placed inside, ensuring that your iPad is not exposed to any scratches while on the go. If you're willing to slide the iPad in and out everytime you want to use it, the Agenda sleeve is recommended.
So - how do I get my hands on one of these funky cases? Simple. You will need to follow @AusiPhoneiPad and in 140 chars or less, tell us why you want to win a Cygnett case. Entries must mention @AusiPhoneiPad in your tweet. You can enter as many times as you like. Competition ends July 4 at midnight. We will choose the best submissions according to a wholly subjective criteria, probably judged on humour and possibly puns (at least we're up front about it). We will announce the winner by Twitbox message so make sure you follow for the whole period! |
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Saturday, 08 May 2010 01:16 |
APPLE unveiled the pricing for the iPad in Australia overnight, promising to launch the devise with the iBookstore on May 28.
Online buyers will be able to pre-order the tablet from Monday.
Australian pricing (including GST) for the Wi-Fi only iPad is $629 for 16GB, $759 (32GB) $879 (64GB). Apple will retail the Wi-Fi and 3G model $799 (16GB) $928 (32GB) and $1049 (64GB).
The pricing, which was delayed by two weeks thanks to demand exceeding supply in the US, where the device launched last month, was unveiled near midnight by Apple. The company said the 3G and Wi-Fi iPad models will launch in Australia in 20 days’ time.
And in an interesting and somewhat unexpected move, Apple announced that the iBookstore, which allows iPad owners to purchase electronic books to read on the iPad, and later this year on the iPhone as well, will be available from launch for Australians.
Those in Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Spain, Switzerland and the UK will all be able to pre-order the device online from Apple’s store starting from Monday.
Apple also announced that people awaiting the iPad in Austria, Belgium, Hong Kong, Ireland, Luxembourg, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand and Singapore can expect to see a release sometime in July - with pricing to be announced then. |
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Thursday, 28 January 2010 12:18 |
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The iPad comes with a 9.7 inch screen, 1.27cm thin and weights 680 grams including the non-removable battery. Battery life is rated at 10 hours for video playback. If less CPU intensive, the battery could last longer. Standby battery is rated one month.
The iPad’s powerplant is Apple’s own silicon a brand-new 1GHz processor called the A4. This uses a ‘system on a chip’ design and was created by PA Semi, the processor firm which Apple acquired in 2008.
The iBook store will go live at the launch of the iPad and offer publications using the open ePub. The estimates of local pricing for the iPad suggest AU$649 for the entry-level model with Wi-Fi only and a 16GB drive, AU$819 for the cheapest 3G model and AU$1,099 for the primo iPad. |
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Thursday, 28 January 2010 02:05 |
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After all the pent-up expectation about Apple's new iPad, what does it feel like to stroke and poke? Does it live up to the hype?
I can tell you because I had a chance to try out the iPad after today's launch. And I can confidently predict that, when it goes on sale in March, there will be queues outside Apple Stores around the world.
That's easy to say because Apple has a track record of attracting a buzz. But the price is going to be another big selling point: the iPad will come in six configurations ranging from about $500 to $1000 in Australia.
More tactile and enjoyable ... Apple iPad tablet. Photo: AFP
At the lower end, that's about the same price that it's charging for a top-end iPod Touch.
Plus, over the next 60 days, there's going to be a stream of new reports, new applications and new revelations that will keep consumer interest on the boil.
The biggest problem for some people will be deciding whether to wait for the 3G-enabled models, which come out later in the year, or to go with the WiFi-only models, which come out in March.
And I'm sure that there will be some people who buy both.
But back to the device itself. Nice size, comfortable weight and a beautiful screen that's going to make watching videos, playing games and even surfing the web a much more tactile and enjoyable experience.
It's got the minimalist aesthetic that is the signature of Apple's chief designer, Jonathan Ive.
It's exactly like using the iPhone or iPod Touch but, with more screen real estate, it's much more of an experience. Maybe that's because it's a novelty and the novelty will wear off, but somehow I don't think so.
The two biggest drawbacks I can see are the lack of a camera - which means no video conferencing - and the lack of an integrated SD camera card slot. It's not a mistake, Apple leaves out features for a reason.
The interesting thing to keep an eye on are the new applications and uses that will be invented by Apple's developer community.
When the iPhone launched 18 months ago, nobody - not even Apple - realised how big the App Store would become.
Now there are more than 140,000 applications to choose from and 3 billion downloads to date and the success of that model has transformed the entire mobile phone industry.
I have a hunch the same will happen with the iPad. |
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