The Week in iPad Cases: G'day, mate!

Another week, another installment of our ever-popular iPad-case roundups. This week's selection includes some interesting contenders, from the exotic allure of kangaroo leather to the iPad generation's answer for the eighties boombox.

One of Aranez's kangaroo-leather cases

Aranez: All the way from Down Under comes Aranez’s selection of kangaroo-leather cases (iPad 2; price unavailable), each made from authentic Australian-kangaroo leather. A boon for lovers of the exotic, the company says its leather is a byproduct of a culling campaign conducted by the government to control the kangaroo population, rather than from kangaroos raised specifically for tanning.

Element5's Mini L

Element5: The Swiss-made Mini L (iPad 2; approximately $425 at current exchange rates) sports typical Helvetic ingenuity in the form of a carrying bag combined with a large solar panel that gives your iPad's battery half of a full charge in about three hours as you travel around. The case can also recharge your iPhone or iPod touch—for those, two hours of sunlight gives you a full charge.

G-Form's Extreme Portfolio

G-Form: The Extreme Portfolio (iPad and iPad 2; $80) fleshes out G-Form’s line of extreme protection with an iPad portfolio that can also be used as a viewing stand thanks to its reversible zipper. Given the amount of protection it provides—check out the company's YouTube videos—I’d bet it’s sturdy enough to withstand just about anything you can throw at it—or you can throw it at.

iBaggs's Traveler Plus

iBaggs: The Traveler (iPad 1 and iPad 2; $55) features sturdy, military-grade materials in a case that features a shoulder strap, a pop-out stand for landscape viewing, a handstrap, and an accessory pocket. A “Plus” model (iPad 1 and iPad 2; $60) also includes a clear optical cover to protect the iPad’s screen while it’s in the case. Each model is are available in nine different styles, including leopard skin.

iLuv's iSP210

iLuv: Perhaps, like me, you're old enough to remember boomboxes—the pinnacle of music portability in the '80s. Bulky, and with poor battery life to boot, they made it possible for teenagers the world over to enjoy music at the beach, when camping, and in a million other places without a power outlet. Fast forward twenty years (or so), and iLuv aims to provide the twenty-first-century equivalent: the iSP210 (iPad; $60), a case that includes a set of powered speakers for your favorite tablet. Available in black, pink, or blue, the iSP210 requires four AA batteries and plugs into the iPad’s headphone jack.

InCase's Snap Case

InCase: The company’s popular Snap Case (iPad 1 and iPad 2; $35) is now available for the iPad 2, too. The Snap is a thin, transparent case designed to attach to the back of Apple’s tablet and provide protection without obscuring the iPad's beautiful design. A strategically-placed cutout along the left-hand edge ensures compatibility with the Smart Cover.

Sena's Kutu

Sena: The Kutu (iPad 2; $70) has a funny name, but it's all business. This slim sleeve, made of genuine leather, includes a ribbon-release pull strap for easy removal of your iPad and is compatible with Apple’s Smart Cover. The sleeve ships in a special keepsake box and is available in black, orange, red, or purple.

STM's Kicker

STM: The Kicker (iPad 2; price unavailable) is a slim folio-style case with two stand settings—one for typing, the other for viewing—using a kickstand made of a textured leather-like material. Designed for maximum protection, the Kicker is nevertheless lightweight and adds minimimal bulk. It features all the appropriate openings for easy access to the iPad’s cameras, buttons, and ports. It comes in black, burgundy, or olive.

The Original Vintcase for iPad 2

Vintcase: “Not Made in China” is the motto of this company, which manufactures all its cases in the tiny Spanish village of Ubrique. The Original Vintcase (iPad 2; €79) is made entirely of leather and designed specifically to fit the newest addition to Apple’s tablet lineup. The Vintcase can function as a viewing stand or a typing platform, and it comes with a handy strap with which you can securely close the case.

AT&T to extend Mobile Insurance protection to iPhones

There’s a heart-stopping moment while the iPhone is in the air before smacking down on the pavement as you mentally calculate how much this mishap might cost you. Fortunately, you may soon be able to avoid that sinking feeling altogether: As first reported by MacRumors, beginning on July 17, AT&T will be extending its Mobile Insurance program to cover all models of the iPhone as well.

For a premium of $5 per month on your AT&T bill, your smartphone (or other wireless device) is covered in cases of theft, loss, accidental damage (including liquid damage), and electrical failure, even after the expiration of the manufacturer’s warranty. If any of these calamities should befall your iPhone, simply go online or give AT&T a call, toll-free, within 60 days and a replacement unit will show up within a day or two. (Remember, it’s always a good idea to set up your iPhone with Apple’s Find My iPhone service, so you can remotely wipe your phone in case of loss or theft.)

Of course, there are plenty of caveats to this offer. For one, there’s a non-refundable deductible of either $50 or $125 on every claim; the charge depends on the “tier” of the device, and AT&T did not respond to a request for clarification as to which categories the iPhone 3GS and iPhone 4 fell into, though we’d wager $50 and $125 respectively.

In addition, AT&T will only process two claims from a customer within any consecutive 12-month period. Also note that your replacement unit may either be a new or “remanufactured” (read “refurbished”) device, and you’re not necessarily guaranteed to get the same color—or even the same device—as the one you lost, though the stated goal is to replace the damaged or lost device exactly. (Cue the angry hordes who get their broken iPhones replaced with a Droid—I guess it’s a good incentive to keep your smartphone safe.)

In order to be eligible for Mobile Insurance, you need to sign up within 30 days of activating or upgrading your phone. However, you can cancel Mobile Insurance at anytime, at which point you’ll get back a prorated refund.

Apple already offers one-year of free service to iPhone owners via AppleCare, which can be extended to two years for $69, though that doesn’t cover accidental damage, loss, or theft. Third parties like SquareTrade have filled that gap with protection plans that cover pretty much everything.

AT&T’s Mobile Insurance web page contains the full details on the program; be aware that the page hasn’t yet been fully updated to reflect the iPhone’s new eligibility.

Scosche myTrek exercise monitor hits the ground running

Posted on by Joel Mathis, Macworld.com

Months after it made a big splash at Macworld 2011, Scosche Industries’s myTrek exercise-monitoring system for iOS devices is finally hitting the market.

Like Gotality’s Cardio Fitness Pack, myTrek has both hardware and software components that help you set fitness goals and track your progress. The Bluetooth-enabled pulse monitor can be strapped to your arm; when used in conjunction with the free Scosche myTrek app for iPhone, it can give users the power to monitor and manage their pulse, training type, calories burned, music, and more, both during and after workouts. (See the video below for a demonstration.)

The system received a “best of show” award at Macworld 2011, where it impressed observers by transmitting pulse and other workout data from the armband wirelessly to the iPhone app; the system also includes customizable audio prompts that helps users know when to change their routine, speed, or intensity during a workout. The app retains all past workout data to let users monitor their broader workout trends.

The myTREK wireless pulse monitor retails for $130, and is available at—among other locations—Apple retail stores. The app is compatible with devices running iOS 4.2 or later.

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iOS App Review: Zombie Gunship is a blast

by Philip Michaels, Macworld.com

Browse the virtual shelves of the App Store’s gaming section, and it won’t be too long before you stumble across something involving a zombie. From battling plants to working the land, there are enough brain-eaters lurching around the App Store to rival the climax of a George Romero movie.

Given the ubiquity of the undead on iOS devices, then, is there really a need for another zombie-themed game? If that game is Zombie Gunship from Limbic Software, the answer is an emphatic “yes,” carved in granite letters visible from space.

In Zombie Gunship, you’re ensconced in a flying fortress circling endlessly over a bunker in which the last remnants of humanity have taken refuge. Every so often, you’ll spy another survivor dashing across the afterscape to safety—unfortunately, a horde of zombies is usually in pursuit. Your mission: Gun down the zombies before they can reach the bunker without catching any civilians in the crossfire. If a zombie breaches the bunker or if you terminate three civilians, your mission comes to an end.

Fire Away: In Zombie Gunship, the black figures lumbering across the landscape are zombies while the white figures are civilians dashing to safety. And those lines headed for the zombies? Those are the bullets from my boomstick.

Your gunship comes equipped with a 25mm Gatling gun, but you have the opportunity to make sure that you’re well-armed for the zombie apocalypse. You can buy upgraded weapons as well as improved technology so that your guns load faster, shoot farther, and inflict more collateral damage. You can either come up with the coins for these upgrades via in-app purchases or by racking up impressive zombie body counts. To the credit of Zombie Gunship, the amount of coins earned through playing seem more than generous—a couple of missions is all it takes to noticeably bump up your firepower.

Tapping the upper right corner of the screen lets you switch between weapons, while a fire button in the lower left corner pulls the trigger. The controls work as well on the iPhone as they do on the newly released iPad version of the game, though sometimes, in the heat of battle, I would occasionally think that I had the Gatling gun selected when, in fact I was firing off a Howitzer. That’s a mistake you don’t want to make when too many civilians are fleeing into the blast radius.

The graphics in Zombie Gunship have a decidedly low-tech feel—it’s a grainy black-and-white, not unlike the view you’d get from a surveillance camera (or a scope trained over an unforgiving afterscape, for that matter.) And that’s to the game’s credit—the graphics really help create the kind of intense atmosphere you’d get in the most edge-of-your-seat monster movies. (And as grainy as the graphics are, you still get a lot of details. Fire off weapons, and you can see dirt and dust kick up as the bullets and shrapnel fly.) Top-notch sound effects—the crackle of a radio barking out orders, the eerie ambient noise of the airplane, the wail of a siren warning you of an imminent zombie breach—also add to the mood.

There’s a lot of blasting fun to be had in Zombie Gunship, but it’s not simply a matter of holding your finger down on the trigger and letting the zombie parts fall where they may. For one thing, there are all those helpless civilians dashing about, and they really don’t react well to getting pinned down in a hail of friendly fire. For another, that Gatling gun can overheat if you fire it too indiscriminately, while other weapons need time to be reloaded. In other words, some degree of strategy comes into play.

All of these elements—the strategy, the graphics and sound, and yes, the undeniable thrill of sending the undead back to the grave they crawled out of—make for a compelling iOS game. iPhone and iPad gamers may have a horde of zombie-themed games clamoring for their attention, but few deliver on as many levels as Zombie Gunship.

[In the inevitable zombie apocalypse, Macworld.com executive editor Philip Michaels has your back.]

The Week in iPad Cases: The Ides of July

Welcome to another installment of our weekly iPad-case roundup, where we scour the deepest recesses of the Internet for the latest in the world of protective accessories for the Magical Tablet. As we approach the middle of summer, the iPad 2 has been out in the open for several months, giving case manufacturers the opportunity to stretch their legs and come up with even more unique and innovative designs. It's also let them tweak existing designs to adapt old favorites to the shape and size of Apple’s latest iPad.

Without further ado, then, let’s dive right into this week’s selection,which includes a few specimens from the “entirely new category” alongside some oldies re-imagined for the iPad 2.

Caze's Zero 8

Caze: The Zero 8 (iPad 2; $30) is a clear, case for the iPad's backside with the claim to fame that its maximum thickness does not exceed 0.8 millimeters—making it one of the thinnest protective accessories on the market. The Zero 8 comes in a package that also contains a “3M Edge Sticker,” designed to cover the metal edge on cellular data-enabled iPads, a clear protector for the front screen, and a microfiber cleaning cloth.

The ClamCase

ClamCase: If you’ve ever yearned to make your iPad look more like a traditional laptop, the ClamCase (iPad 2; $149) was made for you. This updated version of the ClamCase for the original iPad is a hardshell case with a full-size Bluetooth keyboard that sports a rechargeable battery and iPad-optimized function keys. The case's hinge is designed to swivel around by 360 degrees, making it possible for the case to function in four unique viewing modes. The ClamCase is currently available in a matte-black or matte-white finish, with a Star Wars-inspired “Trooper Edition” coming later this summer.

One of GermanMade's handmade cases

GermanMade: There's little doubt as to where this manufacturer makes its cases—entirely by hand, using environmentally-friendly materials and a socially-conscious business model. The company’s Web-based configuration engine allows you to choose from among a variety of models for iPad and iPad 2, ranging in price from €70 to €130, that feature additional compartments and a a variety of exterior colors.

iSkin: Billed as the “Smart Cover Companion,” the Solo Smart (iPad 2; $50) is a hardshell case that fits on the back of Apple’s tablet and is designed to work with the Apple Smart Cover, going so far as to provide a special locking mechanism that keeps the latter in place more securely than the iPad’s built-in magnets. The case, which is available in a clear-and-color design, also features Microban antimicrobial technology embedded in the case material, helping to prevent the growth of bacteria that cause stains and odors.

iSkin's Vu

The quirkier-looking Vu (iPad 2; $60) is a shell designed to fit around the back of the iPad and is available in black, Bondi blue, and purple. It features a flap on the back that can be pulled out to transform the case into a viewing stand with multiple angles for both landscape and portrait orientation.

Kensington: The KeyFolio Pro (iPad 2; $100) combines a Bluetooth keyboard with a black-polyurethane, folio-style case that doubles as a landscape and portrait viewing stand. According to the company, the keyboard is designed specifically for touch typists (which means no squishy rubber keys) and features a simple, single-button setup. Kensington claims ninety hours of working time and forty-five days of standby, although it's not clear if the keyboard uses standard or rechargeable batteries.

Kensington's KeyFolio Pro

The Protective Folio & Stand (iPad 2; $50) is a combination of a hardshell cover that protects the back of your tablet from dents and scratches, and a slip-on front cover that can protect the iPad's screen or act as a landscape-orientation stand with four different viewing angles. The black Folio & Stand provides full access to the iPad 2’s cameras, buttons, and ports.

The Protective Cover & Stand (iPad 2; $40) is clearly inspired by Apple’s Smart Cover, providing a segmented front that can be used to prop up the iPad for viewing or typing. Unlike its Fruit Company counterpart, however, the Cover & Stand also provides thin but capable protection for the back of the iPad by covering it with a polyurethane shell.

For simpler protection needs, you may want to take a look at the Protective Cover (iPad 2; $20), which, as its name implies, protects the back of your iPad with a thin shell and is available in black, white, or clear. Alternatively, you could consider the BlackBelt (iPad 2; $30). Arguably Kensington's most original case, this rubber bumper wraps around the sides of your tablet to offer protection from minor drops as well as to keep the back or screen of the iPad from touching your desk or other flat surface when you set it down. The BlackBelt is available in a variety of colors, including black, grey, white, blue, pink, purple, red, navy, orange, or green.

ModulR's Utility Mount

ModulR: The ModulR (iPad 2; $40) is, as its name subtly suggests, a modular system. The base of the system is a Smart Cover-compatible back case—available in transparent, tech white, or classic black—that comes with a hand strap. You can then add any of a series of accessories that extends the case's functionality. These include a shoulder strap, a car-headrest strap, a wall mount, a utility mount (perfect for the fridge), and a quick stand. The accessories can be purchased separately for $15 to $30 each, or as part of one of several combination packs.

Rivet's Leather Folio Case

Rivet: The Leather Folio Case (iPad 2; $80) is handcrafted from high-quality black leather and features a stylish and slim design. The cover is compatible with the iPad 2’s magnetic sleep/wake feature, and the case can be used as a typing platform or a landscape-orientation viewing stand.

Speck's CandyShell Wrap

Speck: The CandyShell Wrap (iPad 2; $55) has finally been upgraded to be compatible with Apple’s newest tablet. It offers all the convenience of a Smart Cover along with the added protection of a wraparound case. It’s available in a black polycarbonate finish.

Vogel's RingO

Vogel’s: The RingO (iPad 2; $70–$100) is a universal system that can be used to mount your iPad onto or in a variety of surfaces, including walls, kitchen cabinets, and cars—you can even mount it in your bathroom. In addition to various mounts, the system also includes a set of stands for reading or for resting your tablet on a table. As a bonus, the mounting system is also compatible with the original iPad, although a different case is required.

iOS App Review: Alarmed works great despite its looks

by Lex Friedman, Macworld.com

Many mornings, the very first thing I do after waking up is tend to the (usually bathroom-related) needs of whichever young child woke me up. Then I moan as I shuffle back to the cozy confines of my bed, eyes still barely open. It’s generally too early to get out of bed and officially kick off my day, but too late to bother trying to go back to sleep. Thus, I turn to the (heavily-dimmed) screen on my iPad, to let its glorious apps ease me from grumpily tired to cheerily wakeful.

My kids won’t always wake me up, though. And they certainly never help put me to sleep. But with my iPad resting right next to me on my nightstand, there’s no reason it couldn’t help with both tasks. That’s precisely what Alarmed—a free, universal app from Yoctoville—sets out to do. Well, more accurately, that’s one of the many, many things that Alarmed sets out to do.

The app combines wake-up alarms, sleep timers, regular timers, and time-stamped reminders. Creating new alarms and timers is intuitive enough, but you won’t confuse Alarmed for an Apple-designed app; it’s the kind of app you might describe as having a great personality. But we needn’t judge the app by its design in this case, because its utility is so well executed.

Looks Can Be Deceiving: Though Alarmed won't win any design awards, it's certainly easy to figure out.

When adding a new alarm, you can choose to provide only a reminder time, or go deeper and customize all sorts of options. That’s indicative of Alarmed’s general workflow: The app consistently aims to offer quick, efficient options, in addition to finger-grained controls. When editing a time, for example, you can use the traditional iOS time sliders to find the precise moment you’re after, or you can tap the +3 Hours, +1 Week, or +1 Month shortcuts. Once you have the core alarm set, you can customize everything—how often (if it all) that alarm should repeat, a custom alert sound, snooze options, pre-alarms, notes, and more.

Bring the Noise: Alarmed can alert with you with oodles of unique sounds.

When it comes to choosing sounds, Alarmed offers an embarrassment of pitches. You can pick from a slew of short beeps, chimes, bells, sirens, whistles, instruments, melodies, animal sounds, human sounds, and sound effects. In my home, we now know that when the rooster crows, it’s time to take out the recycling again.

To configure Wake-Up or Sleep timers, you tap the Wake-Up button, which is really only confusing the first time. You can set (and save) different alarms for different days; not only can you customize your wake up sound, you can also set its volume, how long a fade-in to use, the default snoozing window, and what message to display (if any). The 30-second volume fade in is particularly gentle.

With Sleep timers, you choose music from your synced playlists to fall asleep to; Alarmed fades the music out after an interval you specify.

Both modes offer access to an option titled Show Full Screen Wake-Up Panel. That panel shows a bright, easy-to-read clock, along with your scheduled alarm time and a countdown of how much longer you get to sleep.

Counting Sheep: If you find it difficult to calculate how much sleep you have left in the wee mornings, fret not; Alarmed does the math for you.

Timers, too, are highly configurable. You can set timers that count up or down, choose their melodies, pause them as needed, and of course manage multiple saved and active timers.

All told, it’s an impressive array of functionality for any app, particularly one that’s offered completely gratis. Apple’s built-in Calendar app works for setting reminders—including recurring ones—but I don’t know if I want “Take out the recycling” clogging up my calendar. The Clock app offers solid alarm functionality, but is entirely MIA on the iPad, and lacks any full-screen clock mode. And the extra niceties in Alarmed that don’t duplicate existing, built-in features (the Sleep timer, the enormous sound library) just add to the app’s overall charm and utility.

As I said, this isn’t an app that’s going to win any Apple Design Awards. It looks like a labor of love. But it’s easy enough to use, and built smartly, too: Alarms work even when you exit the app, defaulting back to push notifications.

You can pay $2 to unlock a few extra features. DayMinders allow you to set up recurring reminders throughout the day—every X hours instead of every X days, weeks, or months. Flashlight mode (accessed via the full-screen clock) either lights up the screen or, if you’re using an iPhone 4, the built-in flash. You also get 14 more alarm sounds and a “shake to snooze” option.

With or without the $2 upgrade, Alarmed offers easy-to-use options for creating any alarms and reminders you need on your iOS device. The app works equally well on both the iPhone and the iPad, and its alarms work reliably, too. Clunky looks aside, Alarmed is pretty beeping impressive.

[Staff Writer Lex Friedman considered stating that Alarmed ‘rings his bell,’ until he stumbled across an online definition of that term.]

Lodsys sues six more, including The New York Times

Posted on by Lex Friedman, Macworld.com

Lodsys, the patent-holding company suing iOS and other developers over alleged patent infringement, has now brought suit against a variety of other companies, including the New York Times Company. As reported by FOSS Patents, Lodsys on Tuesday filed a new patent-infringement lawsuit against DriveTime Automotive Group, ESET, ForeSee Results, LivePerson, OpinionLab, and the Times. Each of those six companies has previously filed its own declaratory judgment action against Lodsys in various other jurisdictions.

According to FOSS Patents, Lodsys is now suing 33 different defendants in East Texas over various alleged cases of patent infringement. By suing Lodsys first, the six latest companies to get hit by Lodsys’s legal team improve their chances of having their cases heard in the states where they initially filed.

Meanwhile, Lodsys has just a few weeks left to respond to Apple’s motion to intervene as a defendant in the company’s suit against App Store developers. Initially, Lodsys’s response was due by June 27, but—with no opposition from Apple—the company filed a motion seeking an extra month. Some have hypothesized that the request, coupled with Apple’s failure to oppose it, may indicate that Lodsys and Apple are negotiating toward a settlement. Of course, any settlement that Apple reaches with Lodsys wouldn’t benefit other non-iOS defendants that Lodsys is suing.

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