That being said, I was pleasantly surprised by the audio quality of the Zagg ZR-SIX Earbud Headphones.  Ok, MORE THAN pleasantly surprised. Seriously- these little guys deliver beautifully clear, clean audio with just enough bass to make you want to drown out the world forever. I was listening to a live performance of one of my favorite artists with the ZR-SIX Earbuds and I felt like I could have been sitting in the audience. Every little nuance of percussion and each breath of the lyrics was impressively delivered to my very happy ears! While I think the bass sound could be a wee bit stronger, the overall quality of these earbuds was notable.

I have a tendency to find earbuds a bit uncomfortable and usually prefer over-the-ear devices, however the Zagg ZR-SIX Earbuds were pretty comfortable once you have them seated firmly in your ears. I think they only popped out once and that was only because I accidentally tugged the cord a bit (oops). They come in a nifty little black zippered carrying case along with a three different sizes of earbud tips so you can find the perfect fit.  I love that there is a carrying case included because I tend to just toss my earbuds into whatever bag I am carrying which means they either get lost, get tangled into knots or break because I’m a bit too rough on them.  The sturdy little carrying case that comes with the ZR-SIX Earbuds is great for keeping me from doing any of those things, plus it keeps everything nice and neat in one place.  I love the flat cord on these-as advertised, they don’t kink, twist or get tied up in knots.  I find myself grateful for the fact that I don’t have to spend time untwisting the earbuds for 5 minutes before I can put them on. While it would be cool if these came in other colors- the contrasting yellow and black looked edgy and bright enough to make it pretty obvious that I had headphones on.

Now, the only criticism I have for them is that when I used them to have a conversation on my smartphone, the audio was good but the people on the other end said I sounded a little “fuzzy” vs when I talked straight into the phone.  I have never had an amazing experience with headphone microphones but the Zagg ZR-SIX performed better than most plus the fuzzy audio could have been attributed somewhat to my phone service.  Either way, in my opinion they work fine with calls and are awesome when it comes to listening to music which is probably a bigger concern for most people.

Last but not least, we get down to the nitty-gritty…price. I was stunned when I saw these are priced at under $60. I waited until after I gave them a good listen before I looked at pricing just to be fair and I think you could easily pay over $100 for a pair of earbuds of this quality. On top of that, Zagg offers a satisfaction guarantee on these. Seriously, if you’ve ever heard of a win-win situation, this is definitely it. They claim the ZR-SIX Earbud Headphones are the “best sounding earbuds you’ve ever experienced” or they will give you your money back! (see the Zagg website for details) While I don’t know that I’d agree that these are the BEST sounding earbuds ever (kind of a tall order), I will say that they are pretty freakin’ amazing and when you factor in the affordable price, it’s a no-brainer for someone who wants great sounding audio on a budget.

If you decide to give them a try, we hope you’ll come back to iPadAccessories.com and share your opinion.  We want to know what you think. Oh, and if you happen to be on Facebook or Twitter, we’d appreciate it if you’d be our friend or follow us. Good things are in store this year for those who take the time to connect! Stay tuned…

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We gave the latest headphone technology from Zagg a run this weekend, the Zagg Smartbuds.  Not only is is packed with useful features, is it the highest quality earbud set we have seen to date!  Check out more details below:

I was recently in an audio store looking at simple audio earbuds.  I went from pair to pair looking for quality construction and sound.  There is really nothing under $50 out there that is built well and provides a good audio signal worthy of most music.  In addition, try finding something that works for calls on your iPhone for that price.  Forget it!

So when the new Smartbuds from Zagg arrived the other day we were excited to see how their quality and construction differed from what is available at most big box stores.  I have to say, I was immediately impressed, even before I plugged them in.

Quality Construction – The earbuds themselves are almost entirely made of aluminum, providing a sturdy housing for the sensitive audio speaker wrapped inside a pretty cool looking shape.  And if you are like me, you like to have the right bud in the right ear.  The shape of the earbud makes it easy to determine the right from left ear, even in the dark.  They come with three different rubber ear inserts (small, medium, large) that can be swapped-out easily.  After installing the medium inserts, they not only fit comfortably into my ears, they didn’t fall out even after I ran a few miles.

Another pet peeve of mine are the skinny cords that come with most earbuds.  They are either all knotted-up in my backpack or briefcase or they get twisted-up so easily.  Either way, eventually the cord is what usually breaks on most earbuds, even the expensive ones.  The Smartbuds, however, have a very thick rubber housing surrounding a far thicker cable than any other models we have reviewed.  In fact, if you have ever compared standard speaker cable to Monster Cable, you would appreciate the difference here.  The cord connecting the jack to the earbuds is simply heavy duty!

Just below the earbuds is a Volume Control with a Microphone and an “Answer/Hang-up” button.  The housing for this piece is again made of metal and appears to be just as sturdy as the earbuds.  The volume control is a slider that adjusts easily without making any noise in the microphone.  The Answer/Hang-up button is neatly concealed so it cannot be accidentally pushed and provides a click when depressed.

Usability - Look at the picture on the left.  That small round metal piece is a unique design to the Zagg Smartbuds.  It actually allows you to loop the earbuds around your neck, so that any weight on the cord does not yank the earbuds from your head.  This is especially convenient when you have to remove them temporarily to talk or when they are not in use, but you don’t want to put them away.

I do not like to carry two sets of earbuds around for my MP3s and my phone.  I like to have both features in one.  However, typically earbuds for phones are not good for audio.  Traditionally, I have relied upon my Studio Beats for phone because they can be used for audio and phone.  But Beats are also very expensive and not very compact.  The Smartbuds, however, provide a quality audio signal and have the features I need for my iPhone.  The signal is clear with enough high, mids, and lows for most of my music in the gym or on the road, and the volume adjustment is far more convenient than the buttons on my MP3 player.  I am not saying these are audiophile earbuds that compete with Bose or Beats, but I will say they are comparable to ANY earbuds sold at big box stores like Target or Wal Mart.

Overall, these earbuds are far better constructed than all of the high end systems from manufacturers like Bose and Monster/Beats and at a price-point that makes them both affordable and a great deal!

See more here at Zagg!

iPad Accessories Review Zagg Smartbuds

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Uncompromising Craftsmanship, Unparalleled Quality

These days, it seems like nothing is designed to last. Everything comes with a built in 2-3 year expiration date, after which it is to be discarded and upgraded. Not so with Saddleback’s leather bags. After 2 or 3 years of use you are just starting to break these bags in! When it comes to long lasting high quality leather bags, there is simply nothing better than a Saddleback. Two of the top rated iPad accessories on our website are from Saddleback Leather Co, that alone should tell you something!

Built on a philosophy of uncompromising craftsmanship and unparalleled quality, every product they make is backed by a 100 year warranty and is made from some of the highest grade materials available. When you purchase a Saddleback bag for your iPad, you are making an investment that will last a lifetime. This is most certainly the “case” when it comes to the Thin Briefcase from Saddleback.

Constructed from the thickest full grain boot leather available, lined with super strong pigskin, double stitched with the strongest marine grade UV resistant polyester thread this side of a top secret government laboratory, and more manly than a fleet of Hummers (the original ones not the pansy H2 or H3), this Leather Briefcase simply has no rival in the office or on the streets. Check out a few of it’s noteworthy features:

• 8 exterior D-rings
• 1 removable and adjustable shoulder strap (that turns the briefcase into a backpack in under 10 seconds)
• 2 large interior compartments
• 1 full-sized/quick-access back pocket
• 2 interior pen pockets
• 6”x6” expandable interior pocket for cords and gadgets
• Hidden nylon reinforcing straps
• Riveted and reinforced handle
• Extra thick double stitched seams
• Huge solid pieces of leather
• Rivets at all the stress points
• And a key holder to boot.
• And even more…

The medium sized bag is 15” H x 11.5” W x 4.24” D and it weighs in at about 4 lbs, which is a bit on the heavy side… but that shouldn’t be an issue since you’ve been hitting the gym lately (right?).

Buy One Today!

The Last Leather iPad Bag You Will Ever Need

You can easily fit your new iPad 3 and all it’s cords in this bag along with enough room for any other essentials the modern man needs to get work done. Additionally, your iPad will be more than safe inside this briefcase with the extra thick vertical seams designed to absorb shocks from impacts or falls.

This briefcase is designed to be used and broken in. It comes to you clean and pristine and it’s up to you to give it a personality so that every scratch, ding, dent, and scar tell a story- your story. With time it will take on it’s own aged patina, the leather will soften, and it will become as familiar and comfortable to you as that pair of Levi’s you’ve had since high school.

Buy It Now Or Kick Yourself Later

At the risk of waxing poetic… again… this hunk of animal flesh is more than a leather briefcase- it represents a lifestyle, a statement, a goal to strive towards and measure yourself by. It embodies a spirit of adventure, of pride in ones belongings, and of unbridled joy for life. It’s made by some of the most honest to goodness folks you’ll ever meet (and friendly to boot), and it’s hand crafted from some of the best stuff on Earth. Sure it’s expensive, but it’s the last bag you will ever need. The only thing you’ll regret is that you didn’t get it sooner!

Also check out the:

• Saddleback Leather iPad 3 Case

• Saddleback Leather iPad Satchel
  

Tips For Convincing Your Mate (and Yourself)

Oh, and if you are having trouble convincing your significant other that you absolutely MUST own these awesome leather iPad 3 accessories- here’s a few tips from the Saddleback website:
Her to Him

• I feel frisky every time I even think about this case.
• I would just feel so sexy with this case.
• I don’t think I’d ever want to go shopping for another thing all year after holding something like this.

Him to Her

• Just looking at this case makes me want to just HOLD you.
• I don’t know why, but just the thought of this case makes me want to TALK with you for hours on end.
• Think of all of the extra TIME we’d spend TOGETHER on our long walks holding hands and showing off the case.
• Maybe owning my dream case would help me OPEN UP to you and SHARE how I’m feeling and the hopes and dreams I have for us.

Convincing Yourself

• You’ll be more popular.
• You’ll have more friends.
• What’s wrong, you chicken?
• Dave might invite you to his birthday party.
• If you don’t buy this case, then next year when you’re scouring the internet again looking for your next garage sale iPad case, your mind will drift back to this review. You’ll slowly shake your head and say- “Man, was that guy right or what!” And then you’ll slightly squint, press your lips together and give a few small nods. I tell you what, buy it now or kick yourself later.

Saddleback Leather Briefcase Case for iPad

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You’ve probably heard of easy setups but we can’t imagine anything getting much easier than this.  Have you ever heard of NearField Audio™?  The BoostPlus has it built in so that all you have to do is set your device on top of the speaker and the BoostPlus magically amplifies the sound.  Seriously, you don’t have to plug anything in. It works wirelessly with most media devices (so yes Android users, you can rejoice in this marvelous piece of equipment too…), but also has a 3.5mm jack for all other devices.  Oh and did we say that it doesn’t require any cables or wires? It’s true, this ingenious portable speaker can be powered by AA batteries or USB power. You get to decide what works best for you.

What does the iFrogz BoostPlus Speaker for Smartphones sound like?

As an amateur audiophile I can tell you the speaker sounded pretty amazing compared to some of the more expensive models out there.  I just placed my iPhone on top of it and walked around my office and the sound was everywhere! Pretty impressive for such a small device but that’s what makes this speaker so special.  The small size, light weight and ability to run on battery power makes this a perfect travel accessory for when you want to listen or share music when you’re on the go.  The BoostPlus speaker is just large enough to adequately support just about any size smartphone whether it’s an iPhone, Android or other- all you have to do is set the phone on top and you’re ready to go.  The price is just as pleasing as the sound, making the BoostPlus a great gift idea. We’re pretty sure that once you give it a try, you’ll probably want to keep it for yourself. That’s why iPadAccessories.com is giving the iFrogz BoostPlus Speaker for Smartphones a solid 5 star rating.

Check it out now at iFrogz!

iPad Accessories Review: iFrogz BoostPlus Speaker

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Each DigiTools pack includes the tools to create dazzling digital effects, a clip-on carrying case, and an app download that provides pages of virtual background scenes and animated stamp designs.  DigiTools give kids a variety of ways to express without the mess.

Four different DigiTools packs are available, giving kids plenty of ways to get creative. Kids can create 3-D art on the iPad with Crayola’s DigiTools 3-D Pack. The DigiTools Effects Pack gives kids dazzling art effects, from glitter designs to magical color changes. The DigiTools Airbrush Pack lets kids create wildly colorful digital spray art.  And the DigiTools Deluxe Pack combines all of these tools so kids are equipped to create artwork with an abundance of effects.

Crayola DigiTools, $19.99, and the DigiTools Deluxe Pack, $39.99, are now available at Griffin Technology!

Get one today from Griffin!

The post iPad Accessories Spotlight: Griffin and Crayola Introduce the Next Generation of Digital Art, with Crayola DigiTools! appeared first on Apple iPad Accessories.

Installation is a piece of cake, with a quick open and snap that you can easily figure out, but the tot will not be able to reverse engineer. Even the clever ones! It takes a quarter, or flat object to twist the back into place. While in this case the iPad is completely encumbered, so you will need to take it off to charge it.

This really isn’t a downside, since it is unlikely that you would want your iPad to look like it is owned by a toddler all the time. This is for play time only. After all, how long of an attention span does the kid have? We doubt it can compare with the battery life.  There are also several viewing modes that you can utilize that are coyly named: roly-poly based, easel, or place.

The thin clear film that covers the screen will deflect incidental things that we commonly worry about. Cheerios, apple sauce, drool, and even the dreaded fingerprints will be protected against. The solid rubber case is really quite protective.

Kids can feel in charge of the iPad without a nervous hovering parent. This is great because Fisher Price has seen to it that they have plenty of free Apptivity Apps available that are interactive and educational. You can sit them down with the iPad in case and the open app, let them play away, and imagine their future as a computer genius. As they learn, you can rest easy knowing you have protected your investment and made everyone happy at the same time.

Fisher-Price Apptivity iPad Case is on sale now for around $30!

The post iPad Accessories Spotlight: Fisher Price Turning Babies Into Fruit Ninjas! appeared first on Apple iPad Accessories.

These days it’s easy to start to think that all the innovation for iPad accessories has come and gone already. And then something gloriously simple and wondrously useful comes along like the WedgePad and you start to believe in life once more! Ok, maybe that’s a bit dramatic, but seriously this beanbag is worth all the praise.

Essentially the WedgePad is a wedge shaped bean bag with 4 elastic straps that holds your iPad. Out of that simple design comes a world of utility! It is designed to slope the iPad at a 30 degree angle for viewing while laying down or sitting, and a higher 45 degree angle for watching movies. The bean bag design lets the WedgePad sit on any surface comfortably and conforms to your legs. Plus it weighs a mere 3oz, so you hardly even realize it’s there! This wonderful little accessory is made from a sturdy soft fabric and the white accents around the edges and on the elastic bands are a nice touch of style.

WedgePad: The Best iPad Accessory You Never Knew You Needed!

Since getting the WedgePad gone are the days at fighting to keep the iPad at the right angle while watching netflix in bed, and gone are the days of clumsily jimmying the iPad up with a pile of books so we can type comfortably. This little pillow has honestly made our lives better, and we’re sure everybody else who gets one will agree! Get the WedgePad now for $35!

One word of warning- don’t let curiosity get the best of! Unless you want a snow flurry of tiny white beans, keep the zipper closed on the back!

Get it now!

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Pushing Digital Art To New Heights

For the uninitiated, a Nomad Brush is an iPad/iPhone stylus with capacitative bristles instead of a clunky rubber nubbin. It feels, paints, and behaves every bit like a real paint brush. The brush tip is a combination of natural and synthetic fibers that when combined make for a purely zen like experience when interfacing with your tablet screen.

These high quality brushes are a digital artist’s dream come true. They flow like magic across the glass creating smooth frictionless strokes and beautiful works of art. First came the long tip brush which was just amazing, then came the short tip brush which offered more control and easier detail work for smaller screens. And now we have what could be called the zenith of capacitative brush technology: The Dual Tipped Nomad Compose.

Dual Tipped Brushing Perfection

The new Nomad Compose now comes with two interchangeable tips- on one end you have the long or short bristles, and on the other end you have the new Glide Bevel Tip which is comprised of .05” long micro-bristles for spot on sketching and interfacing with any small objects on your iPad’s screen.

Additionally instead of a walnut and carbon handle, the new Nomad Compose is made from precision milled aluminum parts to ensure that it will last even longer. We love the way the new glide bevel tip feels, it gives the sense of control and precision that sometimes are necessary, while still maintaining that smooth friction free stylus experience we know and love.

This brush comes in either a Long Tip or a Short Tip version and both include the new Glide Bevel Tip as well as a cool looking Aluminum End Cap. Just screw on the pieces you want and away you go! Now with 4 options available, you are going to have a hard time choosing which brush you might want. Our recommendation? Get the Nomad Compose Long Tip brush. It offers the flowing feel of a real brush with the precise control of a stylus thanks to the Glide Bevel Tip. Score your very own Nomad Compose today for just $39.00 on Amazon.

Nomad Compose Long Tip | Nomad Compose Short Tip

It makes the perfect gift for that aspiring artist in your life!

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Adonit Jot Touch Pressure Sensitive Stylus

Adonit is a cool company, they raised a ton of cash on Kikcstarter and released their first stylus the Jot and Jot Pro. Very soon they will be releasing the Jot Touch which will be a pressure sensitive pinpoint accurate iPad stylus. The Jot Touch has a lot of things going for it- it connects via bluetooth to the iPad so there’s no added dongle necessary, it will work cross platform on iOS, Android, and Windows, it’s unique clear swivel nib/disc thingy allows for some of the most precise drawing you will find anywhere, it charges via a handy dandy usb adaptor tray which is very cool looking, and finally it’s got 2 shortcut buttons on the side a la wacom. Already Jot is working with a number of major drawing apps to integrate their SDK so once it’s released it will be ready to go. No word on pricing or availability yet that we could find though, so keep your eyes and ears tuned!

Pros: Bluetooth enabled, precise drawing, shortcut keys, very stylish
Cons: Swivel tip/disc is a little strange for some, only 200 levels of sensitivity

Ten One Design Blue Tiger Pressure Sensitive Stylus

Ten One makes some pretty cool styluses already. Their top secret project was recently declassified on their site and is code named Blue Tiger… which sounds a bit like animal cruelty if you ask us. Their new pressure sensitive stylus will be compatible with Bluetooth 4.0 which means it’s got a tiny battery that will last months between charge and doesn’t need to be paired with devices (we assume it works by magic). The stylus will have palm rejection capability, full pressure sensitivity, lights and shortcut buttons, and will be produced by an already trusted source of high quality styluses. There are currently pre-production models available now for developers to test and integrate into their SDKs, but there’s no word on pricing or availability yet. Check out this video the bad boy in action.

Pros: Bluetooth 4.0, shortcut buttons, long battery life and no pairing needed, palm rejection
Cons: Pre-production versions don’t look very stylish so far…

Jaja Pressure Sensitive Stylus For iPad

This successful kickstarter project raised over $65k to make a pressure sensitive stylus for the iPad. This stylus doesn’t use wifi or bluetooth to communicate so it will work while your device is in airplane mode. It uses a high frequency speaker and sounds to communicate the pressure sensitivity to the iPad via the microphone. It reportedly has 1024 levels of pressure sensitivity, has 2 shortcut buttons, uses a similar nib/disc to the Jot Touch, has a nice cap/clip for sticking in a pocket, and has a rechargeable batter inside with the battery life of 80-90 hours! It’s also quite thick, so for those who have a hard time gripping thinner styluses, this one will be a life saver. We’re not too sure how well the high frequency noises will work with the iPad, and we’re not too sure if it will freak out the dog/cat or induce migraine headaches when you are drawing either. The pen will retail between $70-$100, and is expected to ship towards the end of May.

Pros: Works in airplane mode, 90 hour battery life, cool design, shortcut keys, cap with pocket clasp
Cons: Possibly will freak out any small animals in your vicinity… might have issues of there is ambient noise…

iPen Active Pressure Sensitive iPad Stylus

Another wildly successful kickstarter project was the iPen. This project was unique in that instead of using a thick tip like most other styluses it featured almost a ballpoint tip that was just like a real pen. The magic is in the little dongle that plugs into the base of the iPad. The pen relays information to this dongle at a rate of 60 samples per second, and that is translated into proximity/pressure/location within the drawing app. This pen features palm rejection capability, has a handy cap with a pocket clasp, and is currently working with a good number of drawing apps. It is currently in the hands of it’s kickstarters who are reporting mixed reviews on the product. Though the developers are working to right the issues as they come. The pen will retail for $89, and will be released to the general public soon.

Pros: Feels like drawing with a pen with the thinnest nib available for an iDevice
Cons: Ugly white color, currently experiencing some issues with functionality, needs an external dongle to work

PressurePen- Open Source Pressure Sensitive Stylus

Charles Mangin from the Open Hardware Project is currently running a kickstarter project to raise $60k for his open source PressurePen. This pen would be an open source design that can be made by makers everywhere, he is even releasing the casing specs so people with 3d printers could print and design their own external cases. This pen is tethered to the iPad via a cord into the headphone jack and sends data that way, though future versions will likely be wireless. Also from the looks of the initial version, the nib is quite large and might not be very practical when it comes to producing actual art. Ultimately this is kind of an ugly looking pen with a less than inspiring feature set compared to the 4 pens we have listed above. Where it stands out though is the fact that it will be open source and very simple/inexpensive to produce. It’s a cool idea from a cool hacker who is active in the maker community and is a proponent of the open source movement. Help him out, ask questions, and support his kickstarter to see this one become a reality in 17 days or less!

Pros: Open source, cheap, able to be made with a 3d printer and a small circuit board
Cons: Chunky and simplistic design, tethered connection, huge nib

So the future seems very bright for iPad artists everywhere with 5 different options coming in the market very soon. Whether or not the market will bear 5 different styluses with 5 different SDKs to implement into the software is still unclear. Ultimately we expect only one or two of these to dominate the field, but it’s too soon to tell which ones it will be! Either way, we can’t wait to enjoy pressure sensitive iPad styluses for our own digital paintings!

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Have you ever been playing a game on the iPad and started to wish you could just plug in your PS3 controller and have at it? Well now you can with 60beat’s GamePad! Installing the GamePad is dead simple, just plug it into the headphone jack. The controller comes with a headphone splitter and 4 feet of cord so you have plenty of room to move about. Any game that supports it (there are 3 at the moment) has an option in their menu to turn it on, and then you are ready to go!

Duel Stick Bliss!

So how does it fair? Well we found the GamePad to be pretty darn nice actually! It is light, but doesn’t feel cheap, there is great feedback on the joysticks and the buttons all have a satisfying springy feel to them. It registers instantly in the game and feels great in the hands! It is a bit on the large size however, so those with small hands might find the controller a tad bit uncomfortable, but we found that any initial awkwardness was quickly forgotten once we got into the games.

The only real negative thing we could find with this controller was that since it plugs into the headphone jack of the iPad, audio won’t play through the speakers. However it does come with a headphone splitter, and you could pretty easily hook up a pair of speakers to it as well. I mean… if you are going with a game controller, why not splurge and get a set of speakers to complete the console experience?

Simple Setup and High Quality! What’s not to love?

The ease of use, dead simple setup, and high quality of this controller makes it a great accessory in our books! Granted, we’re not the most hardcore of gamers out there, but we do know our way around a joystick or two.

Currently there are three games that make use of the GamePad (Bugdom, Aftermath, and Caster), though hopefully more are on the way. The designers say it is very easy for developers to add GamePad functionality into their games. We are starting to see more of these kinds of devices hit the market, and it will be very interesting to see which ones gain traction and stick around!

60beat has made a great iPad accessory here, and they are a solid contender. Now it’s up to their outreach program to contact developers, and it’s up to you dear readers to vote with your wallets.

The 60Beat GamePad is available for $49.99

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