Seems like groundhog day.  It’s May, and I have a list of grads to gift for their accomplishments in school.  Many times for the men I purchase what my father gave me: a shiner’s box loaded with shoe polish tools or a leather travel kit.  Both of which I still use today.  Unfortunately, finding durable goods like that is getting much more difficult these days.  There were no girls in my family, other than my sweet Mother, so when it came to gifts for graduating ladies the challenge was a little more difficult.  And while gift cards for gas and cash are always appreciated, grads today simply want something they can use and appreciate; something they can remember you by…

So I wanted to give you some unique and useful ideas for the grads in your life this year.  Fortunately for you, the cost of these gifts will fit into any budget.  Consider it a gift to you as well!  Happy shopping!

ThinkGeek for the Boys!

This year there are far too many items in the ThinkGeek catalogue to mention, but here are the top items on our list for the boys:

For the musician, there are so many apps they can use to compose and play music.  The Pix & Stix Conductive Drumsticks and Guitar Pick Set allows you to Whack and Strum your iPad like never before! 

Your grad will quickly get to playing and creating with Garage Band on their iPads!  Each set comes with two drumsticks and one guitar pick. The heads of each stick is conductive, so they will trigger your Garage Band instruments without harming your iPad. They will make hours of fun jamming with the Pix & Stix Conductive Drumsticks and Guitar Pick Set.

Give your grad the next level of tablet-based gaming with the JOYSTICK-IT Tablet Arcade Stick. The JOYSTICK-IT is a real, physical joystick for increased precision for games on your iPad. Press to attach them to your screen for improved gaming. No wires or batteries needed.

The JOYSTICK-IT works with thousands of different game apps. Any game that has an on-screen control pad of some kind is perfect for the JOYSTICK-IT. Simply run your game of choice, place the JOYSTICK-IT over the on-screen control pad and push down. The JOYSTICK-IT sticks to the glass of your display and is ready for action. The lightweight solid milled-aluminum construction of the JOYSTICK-IT adds more precise movement and faster response time for enhanced playability. When you’re done, simply pull-up on the JOYSTICK-IT to remove from the screen.

If your grad will be taking their iPad into extreme conditions like outdoor adventures, war, or the zombie apocalypse, Kato is your bag. Made of durable DuPont Cordura, padded, and quilted, it’ll protect your device from hazards in the field. With modular MOLLE web field, a large side pouch with MOLLE & accessory loop, and additional MOLLE areas on front and sides, it’ll hold your holster, mag pouches, and more. Who says you can’t have brawn and brains?

And finally, what geek grad would be caught without the kind of protection that could both save their iPad and the universe from tyrannical evil?  This Chewbacca iPad Pilot Bag brings a whole new level to the puny “man-made” bag game. Its not only the most manly man purse in the galaxy, but it backs it up with a bandolier style shoulder strap, adjustable for heights from Ewok to Wookiee.

Don’t worry, like other leather bags on our site that pull a much higher price tag, this one is made of durable faux leather, so you won’t need to pawn your Millennium Falcon to acquire it.  Don’t let the faux fool you, however, this bag will travel many lightyears – that’s a few hundred million parsects to our Wookie friends – before it needs a tune-up.

ThinkGeek for the Girls!

Ahh the girls!  Yes, there are a few iPad ideas for them as well:

This feminine – without being pink – and useful – without being annoying to carry – Clutch is so sweet that most girls without iPads will ponder buying one!  Everything an iPad-loving girl needs when she’s on the go, this soft leather Clutch hugs your iPad  with a leather bezel. It has a flip-it, tent-style design for viewing videos or presentations. The design also allows for an integrated typing angle for comfortable note-taking or writing.  Clutch features a roomy primary pocket, two zippered pockets, five wide card slots, and elastic sided pockets for your pens, phone, or personal WiFi device.

Compatibility: Designed for a snug & safe fit for the iPad 2 or iPad 3. (Sorry, iPad 1 does not fit)  Dimensions: 8.5″ x 11″ x 2.125″  Weight: 1.5 lbs (Add in your iPad and you’re still under 3 lbs total!)

Whether they’re toting their iPad to a board meeting or just using it to play Words with Friends, they want to look sharp. But what good is looking sharp if you can’t carry all your stuff, right?

Style and function both unite in this slim profile iPad case. Open the sleek leather Wallet and start filling its many pockets, ready to store their on-the-go essentials. Flip it open, tent-style, for viewing videos or presentations. It also has an integrated typing angle for comfortable note-taking or writing. The Wallet has a roomy primary pocket, two zippered pockets, five wide card slots, and elastic sided pockets for your pens, phone, or personal WiFi device. In essence, The Wallet could be your One Thing You Carry that holds everything you need.

ShanaLogic: Graduate with Honors!

Some of the most unique gifts we found in our search came from one of our favorite sites, ShanaLogic.  Here is an assortment of ideas you are sure to find pleasing to the eye and pocketbook!

The post Best iPad Gifts for Grads appeared first on Apple iPad Accessories.

For too many years I have been in search of an over the ear headphone that could stand toe-to-toe with some of the most popular audiophile brands, without the premium price tag.  Recently we got our hands on the latest sound product from iFrogz and after some testing we all agree, the iFrogz Aura headphones Break the Price Sound Barrier!

We have all wondered what separates good headphones from bad ones.  Every time I go to stereo stores like Best Buy or the Apple store, I look for the latest and greatest headphones.  Most times I am shocked at the price tags.  Even more shocking is the quality of the expensive ones.  Sometimes I feel like just because something is expensive I am supposed to believe it is also good quality.  Don’t believe it.

I am sure if you are like me, you have owned plenty of bad headphones as well.  When I bought my first pair of Beats, I was amazed.  And since that day, I have been on the lookout for a headphone that had the same quality but at a far lower price.  I mean $300 for a pair of good headphones is one thing, but when they fall apart after a few months – service repairs on the Beats brand nearly crippled Monster – the quality of sound quickly loses its appeal.  Well I am here to tell you a few reasons why the iFrogz Aura headphones deliver quality sound at an unbelievable price.

HEADPHONE DESIGN

Headphones come in a number of different designs.  The smallest form, earbuds, typically produce poor sound.  With the exception of the ZR-Six from Zagg, I don’t recommend earbuds.  Then there are the on-ear phones like the typical Solo Beats which usually produce good sound, but do not block-out all noise because they sit on your ear rather than over it.  Sure they are compact and good for traveling, but if you desire good affordable sound, it will be hard to find.  The Zagg ZR-LE wood headphones are a great example of a high quality and moderate priced on-ear design.

And then then there are the over the ear headphones.  Over the ear headphones provide you with two benefits: First, the headphone itself covers your entire ear, essentially killing any outside noise from interfering with your sound.  This is important for good sound production because it provides a pure environment from which to generate the sound.  Blocking-out people talking on a plane or crying babies is also a plus.  Second, the size of the headphone allows the manufacturer to utilize a larger speaker.  Larger speakers mean more, true bass production.  And more bass production means your sound will be both larger and more realistic.  This is why earbuds will never be considered Audiophile hardware.

The iFrogz Aura headphones completely cover the ear.  Eliminating any outside noise and providing a platform for a great sound.  Additionally, the Aura’s are sturdy.  Headphones need to be built to withstand a lot of abuse.  Mine are tossed around in my backpack, luggage, back seat, desk, etc.  You name it, they have been there.  The iFrogz Aura headphones are built from heavy plastic and metal.  The cushions are not some thin, flimsy piece of material that feels like it will tear or wear-out quickly, but a thick and hungry piece of foam covered with leather.  Yes leather.

TECHNOLOGY BEHIND THE SOUND

The technology behind headphones is pretty simple.  Since they were popularized in the 1950′s, the design has changed little.  There is essentially a “speaker” or actually called a Moving Coil Driver / Transducer that vibrates to electronic pulses.  This produces the sound and acts like a speaker very similar to what you see in car or home stereos.

There are two factors that affect sound quality: Frequency and EQ.  The frequency a speaker is able to produce is really where the quality of sound begins.  Most headphones are capable of producing a range of frequencies that can be heard by the human ear.  Typically we hear frequencies between 20 Hz at the lowest, or Bass, and 20k Hz at the highest for Treble.  This is why most headphones have a 20-20k Hz range like Beats.  These headphones do not typically sound good either unless they are EQ’d properly which I will discuss in a minute.  Lower and higher frequency producing drivers usually mean they are higher quality.  The additional frequency range also provides a more rich listening experience.  The iFrogz Aura produces 8-30k Hz which if you have been following along, is better.  In fact, very few headphones produce such ranges.  And most of them that do, sound goodbut they are also expensive.

EQ or Equalization is a tool that allows you to increase or decrease the volume level of certain frequencies in a sound.  Look at your iPod or iPhone and you will find EQ settings for Bass Boost, Rock, Pop, Treble Boost, etc.  These are preset EQ settings with frequencies boosted or lowered to give you the best sound for a specific type of music.  I typically do not use these EQs because they change the sound too much.  But when you strap on a pair of Beats and the sound jumps off your ear, EQ is at work.  Many people say Beats have too much bass.  And that may be true for some music, but not Rock.  Beats have a boosted lower frequency therefore if you listen to bass heavy music like hip hop or rap, it may sound like too much bass.  Much of the discussion is around preference, however, and not the real dynamics of the headphone.

The iFrogz Aura headphones provide a rich listening experience with good highs and lows and do not sound like they have been heavily EQ’d in order to change the production quality.  In fact, they are some of the most pure sounding drivers I have ever heard.  The size of the coil provides a really good bass response.  You may not be able to hear much lower than 20 Hz, but you can feel it.  The highs on the opposite end of the frequency spectrum are also well represented.  With 30K Hz at the top end, the treble is well represented by a crisp production that is pleasing to the ear, especially when your music requires a high definition driver.  The iFrogz Aura simply delivers!

THE PRICE SOUND BARRIER

The most important factor related to headphones is the ratio between quality and price.  A $300 pair of Bose headphones BETTER sound awesome!  And most of them do.  A $20 pair of earbuds will NOT sound good.  Guaranteed!  You can find some that are OK, like the new Apple earbuds.  But to find an excellent pair of over the ear audiophile headphones for under $150 is pretty difficult.  The iFrogz Aura is not only well made, therefore they will last a lot longer than the flimsy Beats, it sounds great and sells for a great price.  All this for $129.99!  Thank you iFrogz!

The post iFrogz Aura Headphones Break the Price Sound Barrier appeared first on Apple iPad Accessories.

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

The post iPad Accessories Review: iFrogz BoostPlus Speaker for Smartphones appeared first on Apple iPad Accessories.

ZaggFolio iPad Keyboard Stand: 2 for 1!

Our friends at Zagg have done it again with their latest iPad offering: ZAGGkeys PROfolio+ Keyboard Case Cover for iPad 2/3/4.  For more details, check out our full ZaggFolio review.

All in all, the ZaggFolio is a hard working and professional looking iPad accessory packed with value. It combines a top quality clamshell iPad case with what is simply the best bluetooth keyboard we’ve come across for the new iPad 3. No matter where you are, if you are looking to get serious work done on your iPad, you’ll be happy you brought your ZaggFolio along.

See more here now from Zagg!

Best Mobile Office iPad Accessories

The post iPad Accessories Spotlight: The Best Mobile Office iPad Accessories! appeared first on Apple iPad Accessories.

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.

Adonit- Empowering Creativity

Adonit has a proud tradition of bucking the norm, solving problems you didn’t know you had, and innovating on ideas. It’s a very Apple thing to do. They started with a stunningly successful Kickstarter campaign to build the first Jot stylus. Instead of a nubbin, they innovated a clear pivoting plastic disk that offered some of the best precision writing out there. They just kept on innovating after that with their Writer iPad keyboard case, and a whole bunch of other variations on their already successful stylus.

Now they have upped the anti once again with the Jot Touch pressure sensitive stylus

Future Meet Your Stylus

With 256 microscopic levels of pressure sensitivity, 3 shortcut function buttons, bluetooth connectivity, dampening tip that simulates natural note taking feel, and a precision disc that gives you pinpoint accuracy, the Jot Touch is the stylus of the future.

The Jot touch works over bluetooth without any need of additional dongles, doodads, whatzits, or anything else. It just works. Launch any of the 15 and counting Jot ready apps, and start enjoying pressure sensitive fun. The construction of the stylus is very high quality. It’s got a pleasantly thick metal cylinder chassis that is about five and a half inches long. It feels good in the hand, is balanced well, and is cool to the touch. There is a grippy surface towards the bottom to aid in grip as well for those long drawing sessions. The cap unscrews off the top and screws onto the bottom to securely keep it safe. There is also a power button and two shortcut keys which let you customize functions and features within apps. Overall, we’d say the design is pretty darn near perfect!

Additionally you get an extra pen tip, and a cool USB tooth that charges the stylus by screwing the bottom in. The only downside to that is that it’s not exactly convenient for those of us who have iMacs with vertical USB slots in the back of our machines… not only is it hard to reach, but it’s almost impossible to screw it in horizontally.

Are You Jot Ready?

As we mentioned, there are currently 15 “Jot Ready” drawing apps on the market which support the pressure sensitive features. However, even if you don’t have a “Jot Ready” app, the stylus still works like the normal Jot Pro. You can bet that more apps will be following suit very soon and adding the Jot SDK in. The pen is perfect, and over time the software will improve.

Drawing with the Jot Touch is dramatically better than drawing with a non pressure sensitive stylus.

You notice immediately the difference and realize that this is most clearly the stylus of the future. Be warned- once you go down this road, you’ll never want to look back!

The Jot Pro is the first, but close on its heels is the Ten One Blue Tiger/Pogo Connect. It will be interesting to see how the two styluses compare!

Jot Touch- The World’s Smartest Stylus

The post Adonit Jot Touch Review appeared first on Apple iPad Accessories.

It has happened way more times than I care to admit… it’s time to bust out the old iPad keyboard, I pull it from the drawer and get it all positioned right with my iPad, and then I realize that it is as dead as a doornail. Cursing the electric gremlins that stole it’s juice, I root around for dang blasted proprietary cable to plug the thing into a USB port and then proceed to wait for the next half hour while it sucks up enough juice to even power on. Creativity = Killed.

Move Over Energizer Bunny!

Then comes the Logitech Solar Keyboard Folio. This is a combo iPad case, iPad keyboard, and iPad stand designed by one of our favorite companies. The clever thing is that the slick bluetooth keyboard is powered by light! And not just sunlight! It will charge off of low indoor light like lamps too! Allegedly, fully powered, you could type on this baby 2 hours a day for two years, even in complete darkness! It just keeps on going, and going, and going.

And this case is beautiful to boot! It sports a slick design, the Logitech logo, and a cool red tipped hinge for an accent of color. It closes completely to protect your iPad inside, and of course is a smart cover with ready on/off functionality. Plus it will support your iPad in multiple viewing angles for typing and for watching movies. When you are watching movies, there are even conveniently placed media keys that let you pause/play and change the volume with the push of a button. Oh yea, and the keyboard itself rocks. It feels great when typing, very snappy and tactile like all their iPad keyboards, and the keys are very comfortably spaced.

It seems Logitech has thought of everything with this keyboard!

The only downside seems to be that there is nothing to keep the case itself closed while it is in your bag, so sometimes it opens and activates your iPad for a short time. But that one niggle aside, this is an outstanding accessory!

If you are looking for a great keyboard case for the iPad that is compact, slim, sleek, lightweight, and that will never need charging again, then look no further than this:

Logitech Solar iPad Keyboard Folio

The post Logitech Solar iPad Keyboard Folio Review appeared first on Apple iPad Accessories.

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!

The post Nomad Compose iPad Stylus Brush – Dual Tipped Bliss appeared first on Apple iPad Accessories.

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

The post 60beat GamePad iPad Game Controller Review appeared first on Apple iPad Accessories.

Hard Candy was one of the original companies to jump on the iPad band wagon, their Bubble Sleeve case was one of the first cases we reviewed here at iPadAccessories.com. As the device market matured, they have continued to lead the way and create more and more high quality accessories for the iPad 1 and 2 as well. Props to them for being trend setters!

Hard Candy Convertible Case

The Hard Candy Convertible iPad 2 case is a bit of nostalgia wrapped in a high quality package. It’s pretty much exactly like the original Apple iPad Case except it has animal friendly faux-nubuck leather on the outside instead of whatever material was on the Apple one. This case is a secure-fit folio design that holds the iPad 2 perfectly in place. It’s got a little tab that tucks underneath the iPad to secure it from ever slipping out as well. The flip cover tucks underneath the iPad and into a little tab to provide the optimal angle for typing and viewing movies. The only piece of distinguishing flair on the case is the Hard Candy logo on the bottom of the front cover. The case, like the original Apple iPad case, does not have magnetic smart cover capabilities.

The Hard Candy iPad 2 Convertible Case is a simple, time tested, and effective case. It’s high quality and simple functionality make it a solid addition to any iPad. The Convertible iPad 2 Case is available for $44.95. Get it for 25% off using the code ‘25Discount’ on their website! The case, however, does not have magnetic smart cover capabilities.

Hard Candy Stylus Pen

Hard Candy also has a rather slick looking duel stylus available as well. The Hard Candy iPad Stylus looks a lot like those Space Pens that were so cool when we were kids. A cap slides off on either end to reveal either an iPad stylus point or an actual pen for writing on paper and stuff. Don’t get the two confused… The shiny pen looks good in any bag, and is pleasantly heavy and thick, so you can wrap your fingers around it and feel like you are actually holding something. The stylus tip is covered in a “silk tip, no-stutter” material that gives you “uninterrupted flow through any capacitative surface.” In practice it works pretty well, the screen registers the touch with minimal pressure, and it flows nice and evenly (even on screens that have a screen protector).

However, there are a few quirks with this pen. The smooth design looks great, but tends to be a little frustrating since half the time you are pulling off the wrong end. However, that’s a minor quirk if you are one who loves high quality pens and styluses. The Hard Candy Stylus is available for $29.72 and comes in Silver and White!

The post Hard Candy Convertible Case and Candy Stylus Review appeared first on Apple iPad Accessories.