Cocoon jumps aboard the iPad accessory bandwagon

We know that the Apple iPad was announced just a couple of days ago, but third party accessory manufacturers have already started churning out iPad compatible items in the form of protective cases and sleeves, with Belkin being just one of them to be out of the stable doors first. Today, we shall take a closer look at what Cocoon Innovations can offer in the form of The Gramercy. The Gramercy is a sleek, messenger sling which is capable of offering the perfect solution for organizing and securing your very own Apple iPad when you get hold of the Wi-Fi only version a couple of months from now. Thid messenger sling will come with its own windowed media pocket that allows you to stash away other gizmos (preferably Apple branded ones to show the whole world what a fan of Cupertino you are), including smartphones and MP3 players. What’s more, it will come with the acclaimed GRID-IT system which ought to come in handy for the storage and organization of all your daily essentials. What is GRID-IT, you ask? That’s a patent-pending organization system that comprises of a special weave of rubberized elastic bands which double up as an object retention system, helping to ensure all your devices, personal items and accessories will remain in place during travel.

Apple iPad to hit the US this April 3

It seems that in recent years, anything that Apple comes up with seems to generate a whole lot of publicity. We can’t really blame them for making good on their range of devices though, delivering quality as well as the most important of them all – a fantastic user experience which appeals to the broadest user base. Well, the iPad which was unveiled a couple of months ago certainly raised quite a furore amongst the general population, but there are also the fair share of detractors. Well, fans of the iPad will be pleased to know that the magical and revolutionary device is tipped to hit the US market on April 3rd, although this is limited to just its Wi-Fi models while others who want the high end Wi-Fi + 3G models will have to wait until the end of April. As for people living in Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Spain, Switzerland and the UK, they will be able to get their hands on the iPad in late April as well.

Western Digital My Passport SE for Mac

Western Digital is extremely well known for its line of storage devices where backup is concerned, and this time round they have come up with something that targets folks who are running on the Mac platform – we’re talking about the Western Digital My Passport SE for Mac. Available in two capacities of 750GB and 1TB, the My Passport SE for Mac is a portable USB drive which has been specially formatted before leaving the factory to work in a Mac environment right out of the box, complete with Apple Time Machine software compatibility.

Apple moves over 300,000 iPads in the US

We knew that the Apple iPad was going to be a hit, and the final sales figures proved it – Apple announced that the fruity company moved over 300,000 iPads in the US alone as of midnight last Saturday. Among these include deliveries of pre-ordered iPads to customers, deliveries to channel partners and sales at Apple Retail Stores. Apart from that, Apple also announced that over one million apps were downloaded by iPad users from Apple’s App Store, and there were plenty of voracious readers among them as well – we’re talking about over 250,000 ebooks being purchased from its iBookstore during the first day. Were you one of the lucky ones to pick up an iPad during launch day, or do you think this is just a bunch of hyperbole?

ZAGG offers invisibleSHIELD for iPad

So you are pretty happy with your slightly more than a week old iPad, caressing it lovingly at every turn and opportunity? Why not give it the protection it deserves in the form of the invisibleSHIELD from ZAGG – after all, this company is famous for its range of protective cases and skins for a variety of devices, and their invisibleSHIELD line is nothing short of impressive. Being extremely popular, it has now arrived for the Apple iPad to make sure that nasty fingerprints as well as pesky scratches that result from careless transportation of your iPad would never happen once the invisiblesHIELD is in place good and proper. Let us read more about it right after the jump.

Security Case for iPad

While we have looked at other solutions that make sure your iPad remains in pristine condition when traveling and carrying it around, how about a case for the iPad that makes sure no one is able to access its contents? Enter the Security Case for iPad, where this form fitting case will literally lock your iPad to prevent access by anyone else. Coming in a sleek and stylish black leather case, it features a three digit combination lock to make sure you (or anyone else who knows the combination) will be the only one able to use the device. At least all the relevant ports are still available when locked, so you can juice it up in that way when required. The Security Case for iPad is going for $44.95 each.

Apple updates MacBook Pro line

Apple has done it yet again with their annual update of products, where the MacBook Pro line is now on the receiving end of the engineering department at Apple. As with any update, you will be able to find the usual suspects lined up including speedier processors, a more powerful next-generation NVIDIA graphics card

Apple iPad gets international release date on May 28th

Folks living outside of the USA will be pleased to know that the Apple iPad will finally make its way to their part of the world officially without having to rely on imports or gifts from friends Stateside. The hallowed date would be May 28th, and if you happen to live in Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Spain, Switzerland and the UK, then hip hip hooray for you and a bottle of rum! To make sure that you are able to get your hands on one of these puppies, make sure you place a pre-order on the iPad model that you want (Wi-Fi only or the 3G with Wi-Fi version) from Apple’s online store in all nine countries stated from next Monday onwards (May 10th). Do you think the continent of Europe will see superb iPad sales just like those in the US, where Apple actually moved over a million iPads since its official release? Here’s some trivia – customers of the iPad have already downloaded more than 12 million apps from the App Store, alongside over 1.5 million ebooks from the new iBookstore.

Moshi unveils mini DP to HDMI adapter

The most recent refresh of the MacBook Pros from Apple now come with video and audio output support via their mini DisplayPort (mini DP), and Moshi is quick to react to the situation by being one of the first few companies to roll out a mini DP to HDMI adapter that supports both audio and video using a solitary cable. With the help of their adapter, you are able to output both video and audio from your MacBook Pro over to a HDTV or alternative display via HDMI. It comes with a stylish aluminum casing that is not only meant to be there for cosmetic purposes, since it also helps reduce EM interference. While it will hit Apple stores throughout the US from the end of next week onwards, those who want to try other channels can check out Moshi’s own online store. The Moshi mini DP to HDMI adapter retails for $35 each.

i-Got-Control iPhone Universal Remote

The iPhone is one hot gadget no matter how you look at it, and even its detractors cannot deny its appeal to the general populace – just take a look at how many more folks out there who tote around an iPhone just for the sake of looking cool? Well, it isn’t just all looks only as we know without personality, a device cannot last this long in the market. One of the strengths of the iPhone would be its App store that offers a bunch of useful and quirky apps, where today the i-Got-Control iPhone Universal Remote speaks for itself by letting your iPhone be used as a universal remote. It basically enables you to control thousands of devices through an intuitive touchscreen interface. For those who can’t seem to find their device on the list, you can always learn its codes and save them as a new device. Retailing for $69.99 a pop, you will need to get your own iPhone first. Hopefully it won’t drain your battery even further, as the iPhone’s daily battery life is already rather poor in relative to other smartphones.

Clickfree Transformer for iPod/iPhone

Transferring files, especially music ones, from your iPod or iPhone to a different computer isn’t exactly rocket science, but it isn’t elementary math either. Not to mention that if you ever want to make a backup of important files, the steps involved can get complicated for the newbie. Good thing devices such as the Clickfree Transformer for iPod/iPhone are here to help even the least tech savvy person transfer files from a computer to the iPod or iPhone’s excess storage space in a jiffy, taking the tried and true plug-and-play method. There isn’t any software to install or further setup to do, and to make things even more idiot proof, the Clickfree will never overwrite your iPod’s existing content since it will deal only with unused storage space. Expect to pay £39.99 for some peace of mind.

Cordless Wall Charger for iPhone

Own an iPhone, where you originally purchased it to stand out from the rest of the crowd? Well, since everyone and their uncle already own an iPhone these days, how else are you going to differentiate yourself from the rest? Enter the $29.99 Cordless Wall Charger for iPhone, where this device offers fast iPhone and iPod charging thanks to its click and pivot mechanism. Being compact, its pivoting feature lets you slide your device into place without having to wrangle with wires or cables, and since you are hooked up to a wall socket, it delivers much more juice than a USB connection over a computer, resulting in a faster charge. The Cordless Wall Charger for iPhone will play nice with all three generations of iPhones, the iPod touch, iPod classic and iPod nano.

iPhone 4: Because we just had to write about it

I’m guessing that most of you already know about Steve Jobs’ keynote at WWDC this morning, and how iPhone version 4 has just been unveiled.

If you missed the keynote, here are the highlights after the jump:

Pirata Boat Race games uses both PC and iPhone/iPod Touch

This Pirata Boat Race game created by Pirata London. It is a unique gaming experience because it uses an iPhone/iPod Touch in tandem with a PC.

The basic gist of this app/program is to create a boat race in a virtual world, and row the oars using everyone’s favorite Apple device. Think of it as turning an iPhone or iPod Touch into something like a Wiimote.

iPhone 4 costs $188 to build

The whole world seems to be obsessed with how much things cost, and the same applies to the iPhone 4. For other countries where the smartphone is not available officially yet, folks who want first mover advantage to pick up an unlocked handset will have to fork out up to $1,000 for it, which is plain insanity if you ask us. It gets worse after you realize that the iPhone 4 costs all of just $188 to build, sans marketing and promotion dollars of course. A breakdown of the components point towards the Retina Display being the most expensive component within, as it is estimated to retail for $28.50. Bear in mind that this figure is based on the $199 16GB model with a two-year service contract in the US. As for the custom-built A4 processor, this Samsung-assembled piece of silicon is estimated to go for $10.75, while its gyroscope costs less than a burger at $2.60. What do you think of forking out much more money over a 2-year contract for something which is intrinsically worth less than a couple of Benjamins?

Magellan GPS unveils ToughCase

Magellan GPS has just rolled out its latest rugged protective case known as the ToughCase, where it will offer both the iPhone as well as iPod touch full waterproof capabilities – just make sure you have a decent pair of waterproof headphones to go along with it! Targeting outdoor enthusiasts and outdoor professionals, this new ToughCase will not be limited in its release to selected regions only, and what makes it all the more special would be the integration of GPS navigation capability, further enhancing the accuracy of location-based and GPS applications for both the iPhone 3G and iPod touch, all the while offering protection as well as providing unmatched accessibility to all iPhone and iPod touch features.

Sanyo Pedal Juice introduced

Sanyo is well known for their line of Eneloop products that comprise mainly of rechargeable batteries that work right out of the box, alongside a bicycle that has a built-in battery to help you tackle those mean uphill slopes if you happen to live in areas like San Francisco. Well, here is yet another effort from the Japanese electronics giant to keep the earth green in the form of the Sanyo Pedal Juice, which in essence is a a 9V DC Rechargeable Lithium-Ion Battery device that will target musicians who want to find a new (and cleaner, greener) way for musicians to power their effects pedals, multi-effect devices, and mobile recorders. Expect to see it hit leading national music retailers and distributors throughout the U.S. before the month is over for $199.99 a pop

Sanyo’s Pedal Juice is said to be developed to meet the needs of both professional and entry-level musicians, where a solitary Pedal Juice battery is able to offer up to 50 hours of non-stop, stable power for a single analog pedal or up to 20 hours of continuous power to three digital pedals. This is made possible thanks to the eneloop 9V rechargeable lithium-ion battery within that does away with the need for AC power. Apart from that, it will ensure that the output voltage remains much more stable for longer periods of time without running the risk of AC ground looping noise. You will be able to recharge the battery hundreds of times, hence doing your bit to eliminate the waste and inconvenience of disposable 9V alkaline batteries.

The Sanyo Pedal Juice will feature a couple of DC outputs, which means it can power multiple devices such as pedals, multi-effect units, and portable recorders. You will be able to use the Pedal Juice to offer portable battery power to a single pedal or can be used to power several pedals simultaneously. Sanyo also threw in a 3-stage visible LED power indicator to show the remaining power level with green, orange, and red LED lights, making it a whole lot easier for musicians to see at a glance. It is also water and shock resistant to JIS IPX3 compliance level, which means you can spray water all over the stage during rehearsal as a celebratory move without worrying about short circuiting this little battery that could.

Inflatable water slide

C’mon! Your kids will adore you forever if you buy them one of these!

It’s an inflatable water slide, ideal for those summer afternoons when the children get bored too easily. And of course their friends are always welcome too.

The slide comes with an electric air blower and it apparently only takes a few minutes to set it up in the back garden and inflate it. The overpressure from the blower is claimed to be enough to maintain rigidity, even if it gets damaged by small pinholes.

Water’s fed to the top via a garden hose. You can almost hear the screams of delight as the children wait impatiently in the back garden for the thing to inflate.

When the summer’s over, the thing can roll up and squeeze somewhere in the garage or loft.

It’s priced at $350, we think including the air pump; but you can’t put any price on the fun this’ll be for your kids.

This water slide is currently discontinued but there is a whole range of inflatable water slides available from Amazon starting at $24.95.

Really Cool Portable GPS Tracker

Update: Somewhat annoyingly Think Geek have stopped selling this GPS tracker, however there is a huge selection of alternatives over on Amazon.

This must be one of (if not the) coolest spy gadgets I’ve ever reported on. It’s sort of a cross between a USB memory stick and a GPS receiver and what it does is store where ever you take it on the flash memory.

The Portable GPS Tracker is pretty small so you could either always carry it on you or use it in 007 spy mode by planting it on a person or vehicle you want to monitor. You may be wondering how you retrieve the stored info and secret routes, well that’s where it gets really cool.

Once the tracker has done it’s travels and it’s back in your possession you simply connect it to you PC and download the data. This data can then be plotted on Google Earth, Mapquest, maps.google.com and Virtual Earth to show exactly where it’s been, how long it took and how it got there.

I just think this is so cool (may of said cool a record number of times in this post) it obviously has the spy functionality of tracking somebody else but to me it is even more useful for tracking your own holidays and backpacking adventures. So not only can you bore visitors with your holiday snaps you can also show them exactly where you went.

The Ultimate Gaming Chair

Here I thought that the Pyramat Sound Chair was the ultimate gaming chair, but I was wrong. Very wrong.

That title definitely goes to the Ultimate Game Chair. The name really gets the point across, eh?

This chair is packed with features. To start off, there are 12 vibration motors throughout the chair that are synchronized with the games action. Nerdy and cool.

As far as sound goes, you can use your stock headphones from a MP3 player etc, or plug the chair into your home stereo system to get full surround sound. There are adjustable 3D stereo speakers built into the chair as well.

Any type of gaming accessory will probably work with the chair, including steering wheels and custom controllers.

Comfort was definitely not overlooked when this chair was designed. It’s all leather material, has an adjustable headrest, leg rest, and even a beverage and remote controller holder. Oh, and I forgot to mention that this chair will give you a nice massage, too. Seriously.

Quite a few game consoles are compatible with the Ultimate Gaming Chair, including the PS2, Xbox, Gamecube, PC, Mac, PS1, and Xbox Live. For audio only, you can use all those and your iPod, DS, PSP, or generic MP3 player.

Just to recap, you get a massage chair, beverage holder, stereo sound, vibrators synced to the game, and a remote holder. If you’re a serious gamer, price means nothing, but if you’re not, the $400 price tag might give you some second thoughts.

Dreamate Sleep Inducer

If you’re one of those people that suffers from unusual sleep patterns and you want to get your body back in to check you might be able to do it with this acupuncture sleeping gadget, the Dreamate Sleep Inducer.

Dreamate uses accupressure techniques to gently massage the “sleeping golden triangle” on your left wrist. Used 30 minutes before bedtime, you can retune and reset your biological clock and train your body to relax and sleep. See results in as little as a week’s worth of use, with best results after eight weeks. These precise pressure points, when gently massaged, calm the body, lower stress levels, and induce sleep. Unlike addictive sleeping pills that knock you senseless, but offer little improvement in your sleep quality.

T-Mobile offers Samsung Vibrant

The Samsung Galaxy S is one of the more unique handsets Stateside simply because it comes in many variants and is known by different monikers, depending on the mobile carrier which you purchased it from. T-Mobile’s edition is known as the Samsung Vibrant, where this multimedia intensive smartphone is more than capable of combining the whole range of entertainment and communication needs in a single device. For the layman, it could very well be your mobile TV, bookshelf, radio, movie library, gaming system and smartphone all rolled into one. Some of the exclusive entertainment features include the Avatar movie on an included 2GB microSD memory card, as well as an exclusive collector’s edition of a popular game. Not only that, you can continue reading your eBooks thanks to the Amazon Kindle for Android application that opens up the doors to over 600,000 books, MobiTV with live and on-demand TV, and much more.

The Vibrant is equipped with a 4″ Super AMOLED touch screen display that is capable of delivering a vivid, sharp color HD-like viewing experience, regardless of whether you want to play a game, watch a movie or read an eBook wherever you are. Boasting a slim and sleek design, the Vibrant is one of the most portable and accessible mobile entertainment devices currently available in the US, so don’t let Apple fanboys tell you otherwise. Running on the fleet-footed Samsung 1GHz Cortex A8 Hummingbird Application Processor, you also get a six-axis sensor which has been optimized for media and gaming, offering consumers a seamless, immersive experience while reading, watching and playing. It is also compatible with T-Mobile’s super-fast HSPA+ network in areas where there is coverage, just in case you can’t stand waiting for webpages to load.

It will be powered by the Android 2.1 operating system, and it has already been confirmed that Android 2.2 (FroYo) will be released in due time, and judging by the latest news on the Internet, since it sports a 1GHz processor, it ought to qualify for the Android 3.0 (Gingerbread) update which is touted to be released sometime in Q3 later this year. Any takers for the new Vibrant?