I like using a stylus with my iPad sometimes, especially if I’m in the mood to doodle. The case I use doesn’t have a spot to hold the stylus, so I have to pocket it. Naturally, this means that I almost never use the darn thing outside of the house, as I rarely think to grab it. Well owners of the iPad 2 might have the option to purchase a stylus that will always have a spot on your device. How? Magnets.
Thanks to the magnets built into Apple’s latest creation, this new Magnetic Stylus has a place to sit when not in use. Unfortunately this is only a concept for the moment, but the designers are currently trying to get funding on Fundit. They’ve already got a nice start, but still need more cash to get the project started. It’s looking like the stylus will fetch a price of around $50 when it does go live, however, by pledging money now, you can get one for a bit less.
Since the iPhone was released, there have been a number of styli released. Some good, others not so great. This whole time, I’ve wondered why Wacom hasn’t gotten into the game. I mean, when you’re easily the leading authority on drawing tablets, why not design a stylus for a touchscreen device like the iPhone, or these days, the iPad?
Well is would seem that the company has finally decided to do that very thing. Beginning in May, Wacom will be selling the Wacom Bamboo Stylus for around $30. They claim that one of the biggest selling points is that it is roughly 25% narrower than most other capacitive styli on the market. I suppose we will simply have to wait and see how it performs.
Although we all love Apple products, it is extremely annoying that we have to go to them for every little thing. For the iPad more specifically, you can’t seem to hook anything up to your iPad unless you’ve taken a trip to the Apple store.
There’s a new way to approach that problem with the 5-in-1 Connection Kit for the iPad. Using this device, you can hook up a TV, laptop, and USB keyboard; you even have the ability to plug in SD cards directly to your iPad (just not all of these at the same time). This does sound a little too good to be true, and the main catch is that it might not be compatible in the future as firmware updates could potentially render it useless. The video quality is also less than Apple’s own HDMI dongle, but for $44.99, there are a lot of people out there that would rather take the chance than buy five or six different connectors from Apple.
DSLRs are vastly superior to their point-and-shoot brethren when it comes to the quality of the picture taken. Unfortunately there is one area where the DSLR will always fall short in comparison, and that’s portability. The nature of these cameras means that they are always going to be bulky. That’s okay, because we’re willing to sacrifice portability to get that perfect shot. Of course that doesn’t mean we can’t find easier ways to carry them around.
This Loop from Luma is an interesting take on the camera strap. It’s designed as more of a sling, which is worn across the chest, allowing your camera to rest conveniently at your hip. What’s more, is that there are a variety of ways that you can attach it to your camera. Sure, you can use the existing strap loops, but if those don’t suit your needs, you have other options. One attachment allows you to mount the strap using your tripod mount (while not blocking access to your mounting screw). Another puts the point of contact on the lens (if you’re using a large telephoto lens). Comfort and convenience in the form of this strap will run you around $70.
When you want to take your laptop out of the house, you likely put it in some kind of laptop bag or backpack. This allows you to easily carry the computer, along with any cords and accessories you might need. However, it can also add a lot of bulk, depending on which one you get. If you want to ditch the bag and just find an easier way to carry the laptop, why not add a handle to it?
The mBrace (get it?) is a conceptual handle for your unibody MacBook Pro. You just slip the handle through the opening beneath the screen. When the laptop is closed, the device puts pressure on the lip just above the top row of keys, rather than the actual hinge. You’ll then be able to carry around your laptop by the handle, instead of gripping it the usual way. To be honest, I’m not really sure that this design solves any existing problems, but if you want to help it along, you can back the project over at KickStarter.
Are you looking for a way to immerse yourself into your video games a bit more? We’re still a long way from virtual reality, but there are small things you can do to feel like a part of the game. One thing is to have the proper audio setup. Switching from stereo to a 5.1 surround sound setup can make a huge difference. Soon, you’ll even be able to add mood lighting to your PC games. That’s right, mood lighting.
Mad Catz has announced their new amBX devices, which provide ambient light in conjunction with whatever game you are playing. They can actually take lighting cues from the PC games that you’re playing, and give off the same colors that are being seen in the game. This takes the image from just being on the screen in front of you, and makes it a part of the entire room. Will this be the next big thing in gaming? We’ll see when the lights hit later this year.
I love my iPad, as it has a wide variety of uses. Unfortunately one of the things I don’t enjoy as much as I’d hoped is playing games on it. The screen is the perfect size for gaming, but the lack of any real ability to have physical controls is annoying. Yes, the same holds true for the iPhone, but for some reason it seems a bigger problem on the larger screen. Thankfully the people at Ten One Designs have a simple solution.
The Fling is a joystick that attaches to your iPad screen using a pair of suction cups. The joystick itself is made from a conductive material that allows it to be used on the touchscreen. It’s a clever way to get around an annoying issue. I’d still rather be able to plug in a real controller of some sort, but that seems like too much to ask. But for $25, I wouldn’t mind getting one of these.
We all love to doodle on an iPad with our fingers as it brings back memories of the simple times of finger painting and building blocks. However, a stylus can come in super handy when you want a bit more control whilst writing on your fancy tablet. A cumbersome problem upon purchasing said stylus is that you have no way of attaching it to your iPad to keep track of it. This can be a very expensive pencil to lose, as they usually run for about $15 apiece. Ten One’s handy dandy product called the Particle Case solves just such a problem for those of you that want to use a stylus, but fear you might lose it a little too easily.
This rubbery black rectangle keeps the most exposed areas of your iPad safe, and has a little grippy thing for your stylus as well. The open back keeps your iPad nice and cool, and doesn’t add much weight to it. There are four little rubber feet on the bottom to provide some distance from whatever surface you may have it on. It is a bit awkward to store if it’s not in use as it’s not paper-thin and made of rubber, but it’s not as though it takes up much space.
I was called into the office the other day, and was handed something I’d never laid eyes on before. What was handed to me was the Splitfish FRAGFX SHARK gaming controller for use with the PlayStation 3, PC, and Mac. I looked down in awe of just how cool the thing looked, and I imagine I looked back up with the eyes of the Nintendo kid on Christmas. I immediately rushed down to the gameplay area and set up to start testing the controller. The SHARK is meant to be used with FPS games mainly, and it does its job perfectly. Here’s my review of the Splitfish FRAGFX SHARK gaming controller, for your viewing pleasure.
Related Tags: accessories, iPad
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