Review: IK Multimedia iKlip mic stand adapter for iPad

By: Al Morita

Looking for a new way to learn new songs on your iPad? The IK Multimedia iKlip iPad microphone stand adapter is a good option for those tired of carrying music or lyric sheets to practice. It works by mounting onto a microphone stand via a quick and simple install. Once installed, the iPad easily slides onto the iKlip and there are adjustments for multiple viewing angles. It also has the capability for mounting the iPad in either portrait or landscape orientation, but requires disassembly to change between the two settings. To help with portability, it is made out of lightweight durable Italian-made plastic.

The main draw of the iKlip is that it allows you to use the iPad on stage. A musician can read tweets during a performance or learn new songs via songbook apps. Vocalists can use it for displaying lyrics and guitarists can use it for jam sessions with the Amplitube apps. It will fit onto just about any mic stand, making it a convenient addition for many musicians. Another possibility is for reading lyrics on the numerous karaoke iPad apps.

Note: The IK Multimedia iKlip is currently only compatible with the iPad 1.

Rating: 4 stars out of 5 · $39.95 · iKMultimedia.com · Amazon ($36.93)

Beatweek Magazine January 2011 Double Issue: Carlos Santana and much more

Beatweek Magazine’s January 2011 Double Issue highlights:

• Carlos Santana cover story interview: his new album Guitar Heaven, Las Vegas residency, how he puts his iPad to good use, and more

• The top iPad and iPhone accessories of the year including iPad and iPhone batteries and iPad keyboards

• Interviews with Sara Bareilles, Smashing Pumpkins, Jason Derulo, Fefe Dobson, and The Black Crowes

• Macworld 2011 conversation with Paul Kent

• Much more in this massive 120-page double issue!

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Beatweek Magazine issue #92: Black Eyed Peas interview, iPad accessories and more

Beatweek Magazine’s 92nd Issue highlights:

• Black Eyed Peas cover story interview: new album The Beginning, upcoming Super Bowl performance and more

• Hands on with the Geocaching app

• Interviews with Carly Smithson and Boots Riley

• Reviews of iPad dockable stereos and batteries

• much more!

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iPad accessories slow in coming to market

Search around Beatweek.com and you’ll find reviews of any number of iPad cases, bags, and sleeves, along with announcements about plenty more that are on their way to market. And that’s all well and good, as carrying and protecting the device is quite often the first thing that new iPad users think of when their minds turns to third party accessories. And Apple itself has offered up a few basics such as a keyboard and dock. But where are the rest of the iPad accessories?

Other than iPad earbuds, which have the benefit of being the exact same earbuds you’d use with Apple’s other iDevices and thus already existed even before the iPad was announced, there’s been a startling lack of other kinds of iPad related hardware products come to market thus far for the device which was announced three months ago this week. Some of that undoubtedly has to do with the fact that none of the existing iPhone/iPod accessory makers could get their hands on an iPad test unit in advance, meaning they’re behind the curve, as they haven’t had any more hands on time with the iPad than the rest of us have. But that having been said, three weeks after the device began shipping, we’ve seen that it’s apparently going to be a mainstream success, and yet the lack of announcements of even vague plans for upcoming iPad accessories (beyond yet more cases, bags, sleeves, chargers, screen film, and other non-innovative) is almost startling.

It’s not difficult to imagine a dockable stereo system designed to seat an iPad instead of an iPhone; in fact the iPad’s larger size may relieve some of the pressure to miniaturize the system often faced when creating accessories for the smaller iPhone. Nor is it hard to picture mounting your iPad to the front face of your dashboard to run an App Store GPS app in all its ten inch glory; surely, glancing at a GPS device while driving would be safer if you’re not having to squint to see it. And those are just the automatic ideas, the ones that come from recycling the kinds of products that have already been proven to be hits for the iPhone and iPod product lines. That’s all before we even talk about the kind of hardware accessories that treat the iPad like the small computer that it is, and not the supersized iPod touch that it also is.

Maybe it’s just too early. Perhaps vendors are working on whiz-bang iPad hardware accessories of all kinds as we speak, afraid to reveal it in a preview announcement just in case they’re the only one who’s come up with the idea thus far; every vendor knows that every competing vendor also reads those press releases. But even so, here’s hoping that the economic troubles of the past few years, and/or vendor uncertainty about the iPad’s mainstream potential isn’t holding back development of what by all rights should be a thriving iPad accessory industry – if not now, then soon.

Alas, for now, iPad users will have to be content to live with their cases, bags, and sleeves, along with all those shiny App Store apps, to tide them over until the real wave of innovative iPad accessories (hopefully) shows up.

review: Speck PixelShield for iPad

This is a hands-on review of PixelShield for the iPad by Speck.

With the addition of the new iPad to the Apple family, Speck has been busy creating new and creative products for it. One of which is the new PixelShield. Light, durable, and soft to the touch, this sleeve makes carrying your iPad from point A to B a snap.

Simply slide in your iPad into the open pocket on top, pull the backing over your iPad and you’re ready to head out to your favorite coffee shop.

It has a sleek and clean design. The exterior has the texture of big pixel squares all over it. It’s also stretchable, so bend and pull it in as many directions as you like> But it doesn’t take that much effort to slide your iPad into the sleeve. Do this by putting your iPad face-down into the sleeve. The bottom side has a sturdy reinforced layer that adds more protection to the screen, and both sides have a soft micro-fleece layer to prevent scratches.

The PixelShield doubles up as both a protective sleeve and carrying case. Carrying your iPad in it it is quite fun! The handle is easy to hold and does not snag. You can carry it in your hand or arm comfortably for long periods of time.

The PixelShield is perfect if you’re always on the go, and also fits nicely in other bags as well. If you want extra protection, I would suggest complimenting the sleeve with a thin snap-on backing case like the ones at MacAlley. The sleeve is thin and light and won’t add much bulk to the bags you’re already carrying.

Speck’s PixelShield currently comes in two colors — red and black/gray. It is available for purchase at Apple.com as well as you local Apple store for $39.95. For more information, please see SpeckProducts.com

NewerTech unveils iPad leather case

Newer Technology has unveiled its “iFolio” leather carrying case for Apple’s iPad, which will begin shipping two days after the iPad itself hits the market. Available April 5th, the iFolio will sell for a $99 “introductory” price and will come in a choice of black or red Brazilian leather and a removable shoulder strap which can be adjusted in the range of 24 to 42 inches, along with a collapsible built-in handle. Once the introductory price expires, the iFolio will be officially priced at $129.