Kickstarter-backed iPhone, iPod and iPad accessories

The PadPivot is a versatile iPad (or any other tablet or e-reader) stand that folds up for easy storage, and works both on hard surfaces like a table or desk, or on your thigh for holding your iPad steady while browsing or watching video on the couch. In my review, I wasn’t shy about calling the PadPivot the most practical stand I’d ever come across, and that remains true after a couple more weeks of usage.

PadPivot easily exceeded its funding goal of $10,000, raising $190,352 on Kickstarter, where anyone can pledge small amounts to see the project become a reality. Another project that blew past its initial funding target, the iPod nano watchbands called LunaTik and TikTok, also went on to pick up a prize retail distribution deal, and are now available on Apple retail store shelves.

Kickstarter’s advantage is its ability to act as a focus group (designers will change their product based on feedback during the funding period), test market (pledges act as pre-orders, so retailers have a ready-made sample of prospective buyer interest) and funding round. Thanks to that triple-pronged approach, consumers get to select from some unique accessories that might not have made it through the design-by-committee process that churns out relatively interchangeable designs at established accessory-makers.

When the PadPivot arrives on Best Buy and Future Shop (which is owned by Best Buy) shelves, it’ll bear in-house RocketFish branding. The device will still retain the same design that makes it so handy, and the PadPivot name, however, and should retail for around $39.99. Check it out in action below.

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The Blackbox Bamboo was originally designed based on creator Lance Atkins’ experiences travelling with a MacBook Pro on an African backpack safari, during which time the neoprene sleeve he was using provided inadequate protection, resulting in a broken Mac. He created the first Blackbox Case out of oak in 2010 to provide a heartier alternative to traditional soft sleeves. Now, the company wants to expand their business and provide an entire, new line of cases made out of the more sustainable bamboo.

The Blackbox Bamboo will come in a choice of two colors, either with a carbonized brown stain or in natural bamboo finish. It will also come in a variety of sizes, including one that fits the iPad 2 with or without the official Apple Smart Cover attached, one for both the 11 and 13-inch MacBook Air, and one each for 13, 15 and 17-inch MacBook Pro models. All varieties come with a leather strap with a snap closure for securing your device in the Blackbox Bamboo.

Kickstarter backers qualify for pre-orders starting at $79, which gets you the iPad 2 version, and range up from there depending on which model you’re interested in. It’s a pretty cool product that appeals to the outdoor adventurer in me, though I’m not sure I wear that mantle often enough to qualify. Anyone else’s fancy tickled by the Blackbox Bamboo? Be sure to check out the video below before you answer.

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The Joli Originals MacBook Air sleeve might just fit the bill. Joli makes hand-crafted leather sleeves for iPhones, iPads and the MacBook Air, and has recently made the jump from Etsy to its own Shopify-based e-commerce site to sell the Apple device accessories. Joli sent me a sample sleeve to test with my 11.6-inch MacBook Air. Here’s what I’ve found after nearly a week of use.

All dressed up and everywhere to go

Joli’s sleeves are hand-made in The Netherlands, using soft leather finished in Italy on the outside, and 100-percent wool felt for the interior. You can choose from a number of customization options, including four colors of leather and up to four colors of felt, depending on which color leather you choose. My test unit has a brown leather exterior and an orange interior, which makes for an attractive combination.

As soon as you hold the sleeve in your hands, everything about it screams quality. It has a significant weight to it that makes it feel like it can offer a decent amount of protection from bumps and maybe even drops of small distances. The soft leather looks great (as does the stitching holding the two sides of the sleeve together) and feels even better on the hand. The fit is snug, which help makes the sleeve look even better when it’s actually holding the Air.

Despite its good looks and high-quality materials, the Joli surprisingly doesn’t feel like it needs to be coddled. In fact, it strikes me as the kind of leather product that might look better after a certain amount of stress from wear and tear. I’ve been throwing it in the backpack with various other items, and I think the cat’s taken to using it as an impromptu bed; so far, there doesn’t seem to be a mark on it.

Fit and features

Like I said, the fit is snug. In fact, it actually takes quite a bit of shimmying to get the Air into the sleeve to begin with. It does get better with use, and using two hands, it shouldn’t prove unduly stressful. Plus, the grip means you don’t have to worry about your Air sneaking its way back out in a moving bag.

The Joli is open-ended, so one side of your Mac will be exposed, although it is deep enough that the edge of the computer won’t stick out. The open edge actually proves quite useful if you want to charge your Air while it’s encased, which is something I found myself doing often. The lack of a zipper or flap also didn’t seem to negatively affect my Mac during the course of my use, although if you plan on using it regularly on a sandy beach, you might have cause for concern.

Price and availability

The Joli MacBook Air sleeve retails for €55, which works out to around $79 U.S. before tax and shipping. Considering that a basic neoprene sleeve will likely cost you around $40 at the Apple Store, it’s not a bad price for something that’s hand-made using premium leather. Joli sleeves are available right now, and shipping estimates vary based on where you’re located in the world.

Verdict

If you want something to house and protect your MacBook Air that’s as stylish as the Air itself, the Joli sleeve is a very good choice, especially if you’re looking for a unique case that you’re unlikely to see carried by others very often.

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Every major Apple product launch tends to follow a pattern that many of us have just accepted. Long lines, constrained supply and lack of accessories are all common for the launch day. But with the release of the iPad right around the corner, one company dared to follow Apple’s advice to the world. Instead of the frustrating experience of buying a new iPad and not being able to get a quality case for days or even weeks, Hard Candy Cases will be ready to deliver on day one — and all it took was just thinking different.

A visit to Hard Candy’s website quickly reveals that its iPad cases will ship this month, ahead of the launch for the device itself. Digging deeper, these cases are not just generic cases that happen to fit the general size of the iPad, but quality cases that snugly fit Apple’s multitouch wonder. So how did the company pull off quality products on such an amazing timeline?

It begins with the resolve of Tim Hickman, the CEO of Hard Candy Cases and founder of Speck Products, another popular accessory manufacturer. In the traditional manufacturing process, Apple would release technical documents (or the manufacturer could measure the physical device itself) to provide precise measurements for manufacturers. The next step is the expensive and sometimes lengthy process of setting up the tooling equipment to produce cases. It’s easy to see why accuracy is important. As a result, its not until a period of time after the product is released that the bulk of cases begin to enter the market. Hickman’s solution was to engineer the cases in such a way that if the final device was a millimeter or so different than anticipated, specially designed bumpers inside the case could be adjusted to provide a snug fit. From a business perspective, Hard Candy Cases was able to start the tooling process weeks ago. From a consumer perspective, that means cases will be available sooner rather than later.

But Hickman didn’t stop there. In a move that is strangely reminiscent of Steve Jobs himself, a little over a month ago the CEO flew to China to persuade factory workers to work through the Chinese New Year and focus on manufacturing his product. After four weeks of sleepless nights, sheer madness and a fight to the finish, Hickman’s chartered 747 delivered 18,000 Bubble Hard Sleeve cases to the U.S. Another 7,000 will be delivered before the iPad’s launch on April 3.

Hickman’s purpose behind this isn’t to simply be the first on the market for the sake of being first. With iPad pre-orders numbering in the hundreds of thousands, the iPad opens the door for a huge market of third-party accessories and that can mean some serious profits. Hard Candy Cases, while a figurative new kid on the block, isn’t a stranger to this though. With revenue of $150,000 in its first month of operation, Hickman’s company has already captured the attention of the industry. With prominent exposure in the Apple Store and the resolve of its CEO, Hard Candy Cases is poised to provide some serious competition to other popular case manufacturers, like Belkin, Speck and Incase.

If you’ve already pre-ordered your iPad, check out some Hard Candy Cases’ products so your iPad will be protected from day one. If you’ve used any of their other products, let us know what you think!

I’m a huge fan of Moshi’s Apple-centric line of products and accessories. In fact, my entire collection of Apple products has now been complimented by Moshi. For example, I use the iLynx USB/Firewire hub and Celesta keyboard with my iMac; my iPhone is protected by the iGlaze 3G; and recently, my Macbook Pro experienced a thorough makeover.

Over the years I have owned a variety of Apple laptops, and each one inevitably ends up with scratches on the screen, discoloration on the wrist area, disgusting keys, and other forms of wear and tear. I decided to not endure this experience with my new aluminum MacBook Pro. My goal is to maintain a pristine look for as long as possible, and I intend to achieve this goal by combining Moshi’s products into the ultimate protection solution.

Clearguard MB: $25

The Clearguard MB is a thin cover for your MacBook or MacBook Pro keyboard. Installation is simple: lay it across the keyboard. After a few minutes of typing, it’s barely noticeable. It’s virtually transparent so your backlit keys are still visible in dark rooms. I have been using it for a couple of months, and you can clearly see how my keyboard still looks like I just slid the computer out of the box. Cleaning the Clearguard is a simple process involving dish soap and water.

The best part about the Clearguard MB is I no longer see key indentations on the screen (a problem MacBooks and PowerBooks have experienced for a long time). Below is a picture of the Clearguard after a couple months. See the keys on the right side? I’m impressed.

Palmguard: $20-$28

The Palmguard is used to protect the area where your wrists sit on the computer. For me, that’s the part that receives the most damage over time. I’m always amazed at how powerful skin oil is. Again, installation is simple: Line up the Palmguard carefully in the corners and then firmly slide your hand across. If you aren’t satisfied, it’s easy to take the Palmguard off and try again without leaving any residue.

In the past, I used a competitor’s product to protect the wrist area. One thing missing was something to place onto the trackpad area. The Palmguard comes with a separate piece just for that. The accuracy and clickability (I just made up that word) of the trackpad are not affected.

Moshi sells a variety of Palmguard products to match the color and size of your Apple laptop. Below is a picture of the Palmguard after a couple months. Again, I’m impressed.

iVisor AG: $35-38

iVisor AG is the flagship laptop protection product by Moshi. Not only does it protect the screen from scratches, dust and fingerprints, but it also eliminates glare. Remember when we had a choice between matte and glossy screens for our MacBook Pros? Well, this is as close as you can get to owning an aluminum MBP with a matte finish without swapping the screen.

Installation is shockingly easy. You just line up the corners, press down, and firmly slide your hand across the screen. The air bubbles you see while applying a protective layer on your iPhone are not a problem. I was nervous about this, but fortunately Moshi delivered on its promise. There’s a hole at the top for your iSight, and a transparent part in the black border so the “Macbook Pro” text on the bottom is still visible.

Below is the iVisor after a few weeks. No reflection, no scratches.

Conclusion

A MacBook Pro is an investment. It deserves to remain in perfect condition. What I love about Moshi’s products is that they can be installed in minutes and they perform to my standards: no air bubbles, no scratches, and no damage.

I purposefully did not include outer cases because I dislike adding bulk to the laptop. Also, a simple and artistic way to protect the top from scratches is to add a Gelaskin.

Moshi products are available for purchase at Dr. Bott and nuCourse.

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Like some of you, I’m quite the “Apple purist.” I’m not a fan of fancy cases that junk up my Macs. I don’t like skins for my iPods and those plastic snap cases for my laptop. We all know that Apple designs beautiful products, so we might as well show them off! Balancing protection and beauty, the stylish and functional cases from Waterfield Designs are some of the highest-quality cases I have ever used.

Originally starting with one case design in the late 90s, Waterfield now boasts a collection of more than 50 uniquely designed cases for portables, iPhones, iPods and even some unique items, such as the iPod Hi-Fi. Though Waterfield Designs does not sell its products in retail stores, it has still managed to garner quite a following from Apple users around the world.

The personal attention and customer service from the company is second to none. In the past five years, I have owned around eight Waterfield bags (for various equipment). Out of all of them, I only had an issue with one particular sleevecase. Being that it was a few years old, the velcro was no longer as “clingy” as it once was. One simple email to the company resulted in a wonderful email that said, “Hey, no worries! Just send it on in with a note that says ‘Please fix my case in a hurry! I’m going to miss it!’” I mailed my case in, Waterfield replaced what needed to be replaced and priority mailed it back to me. Now how’s that for customer service? Not only that, but every time I buy a product from them, inside is a handwritten “Thank you” note from Gary, the founder.

Smart Case for iPod touch & iPod classic

The big secret to Waterfield Designs is that its success is completely customer-driven. With not selling products in retail stores, I am constantly amazed when I see more and more people with these unique cases and every owner is literally beaming about their purchase.

Much like Apple, Waterfield sweats the small things. For example, the inside of most of Waterfield’s bags are gold, simply because that makes it easier to see the contents! Latches to access the cases, including the signature aluminum aircraft buckle, are designed for one-hand access.

Many of you have probably already realized that buying a case for a laptop can be a pricey endeavor. With the customization options available on most cases from Waterfield, you’re not buying things you’re not going to use (like excess shoulder straps). Beyond accessories, even certain elements of some cases are customizable. For example, I keep my MacBook Pro in a standard sleevecase when I travel most places. Unlike traditional sleevecases like you would find with Incase, Waterfield gives customers the option to have their case open vertically instead of horizontally. Simple as it may seem, this means I can charge my MacBook Pro while it stays inside.

Travel Cases for iPod Speakers

Waterfield Designs also shines in its product selection, with cases for more unique items as well, such as the Apple Keyboard, Mac mini, SLR cameras, the Amazon Kindle and more. The best part is, all of these cases are custom designed to fit these products, so it’s not like you’re buying a stylish bag and just hoping your PSP may fit inside it.

Before you march off to the Apple Store for another case, give Waterfield Designs a look. It is definitely worth the time. If any of you are current Waterfield customers, please leave comments and let me know which bag or bags you’ve purchased and your thoughts on them. The advertising Waterfield Designs gets comes directly from its customers so don’t just take my word for it; let’s hear what everyone else has to say.

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If you’ve ever suffered from fraud on the Internet, you’ll know how important it is to use decent passwords, keep them safe, and watch out for phishing activities. Unfortunately, a simple password isn’t always the best way to protect yourself online. Many banks are now starting to use two-factor authentication, a system requiring a dongle that generates a coded number before you’re able to access accounts online.

This concept has today been extended to mobile devices by VeriSign, with the launch of VeriSign Identity Protection (VIP) for the iPhone. This free application will act as a security dongle, generating a coded number that can be entered for additional security on various web sites.

This “two-factor authentication” process is a first for a device such as the iPhone. The first factor is something you know — a username and password. The second factor is something you have, namely the code provided via your iPhone. It greatly enhances security and means that, for a thief, simply knowing your password is not enough.

Setting up VIP

To get started setting up the VIP software up on your iPhone, begin by downloading it from the App Store. The app is free, and relatively straight forward to install and configure.

When launching for the first time, you’re asked for your mobile phone number. This is used to send a text message to you, linking a particular phone number with your iPhone. After the setup process is complete, you’re able to flick through the introductory documentation, watch a tutorial video of how the service works, or dive straight into setting up the VIP service on participating web sites.

The documentation is particularly good, clearly setting out the process you need to follow to register your iPhone as a VIP Credential on various member sites. Also available is a handy FAQ, which covered the majority of questions I had about the service.

Various VIP iPhone Screenshots

There are no settings or configuration options in the app, other than the ability to hide or display your device ID. Everything is kept as simple to use as possible.

Web Sites Supported

At present, the VIP service is supported by just over 40 web sites. The most notable partners are PayPal, eBay, AOL, and various banking organizations. A short list can be found at VeriSign’s Where to Use page.

Each web site you’d like to use the authentication for requires an individual set-up process, generally involving logging into your account and entering a few additional details.

PayPal Walkthrough

The first service I set the software up for was PayPal. After logging in, the page to activate VIP can be found via My Profile > Security Key. After selecting to activate a VeriSign device, you are asked to enter the unique iPhone ID, and two security codes generated by the app (the code changes every 30 seconds).

Immediately after doing this, the service is activated.

Confirmation of Device Set-up

During your next login you’ll be asked for a username and password as normal, followed by the random code from your iPhone. If you decide in the future that you’d like to deactivate the feature, it’s simple to do so from the same PayPal page.

Conclusion

Hopefully, services such as this will go a long way towards increasing consumer confidence with shopping and banking online. VeriSign certainly feels this is the case:

A recent survey found that 86 percent of consumers prefer sites that enable proactive security measures such as two-factor authentication. Meanwhile, 68 percent said they would like better systems in place to protect their identities.

As more web sites and online services move to support this security standard, I imagine its popularity will grow. The idea of using your iPhone as an additional layer of authentication for web site access is convenient and appealing. At present, no UK banking institutions use VeriSign as a partner so — for now — I’m stuck with a few different authentication devices.

I can’t fault the implementation of this service; setting everything up is very simple and straightforward. The only complaint I have is the lack of publicity it seems to have received. Until reading about the iPhone application, I hadn’t been aware that a two-factor authentication system was available for PayPal, eBay, or any of the other supported sites. This is a great way to improve security, and letting more people know about the facility would seem like a logical move. With all the publicity surrounding the dangers of phishing, I’m surprised that this service hasn’t been offered greater acclaim as a solution.

If you’re interested in finding out more, I recommend watching the introductory video on eBay, which provides a decent overview of how the service works. To get started straight away, head over to the App Store and download the VIP software.

I’m interested to know your thoughts. How security conscious are you? Is this solution one that you’ll try out immediately, or are you happy with the tried and tested username and password combination?

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Below is a listing of seven different lines of laptop skins that are sure to keep your precious MacBook safe from scratches.

GelaSkins & Infectious

The usual suspects seem to be GelaSkins and Infectious (see disclosure at bottom). Both have some incredible artists delivering stunning designs, and both offer skins for a number of different devices (iPod, iPhone, MacBooks, Wallpaper graphics, etc) to suit nearly anyone’s needs. The 13″ MacBook skins run $30 at both sites. (Though iPhone skins are $10 instead of $15 at Infectious.)

iamhuman

iamhuman has a relatively limited number of designs, but they are very clean. The stylization of the iamhuman skins is top notch — these are definitely a bit more my style. They sport some lovely wood-grain designs if you’re into that kind of thing. A stand-out feature is the cutout so you can still proudly display the Apple logo. Prices range from $30-$45 and they work for Apple and PC notebooks alike.

Macvatar

Similar to iamhuman skins, Macvatar also has the Apple logo cutout in their skins. Unfortunately their designs are extremely limited at only 6 options. These skins price at $25, making them the cheapest options yet for protecting the outer shell of your MacBook.

Skinizi

Skinizi designs are slightly edgier, though I really like their comic-looking cityscapes. They offer skins for laptops, iPod/iPhone, and Nintendo DS. Prices are 25 Euro, which is around US$31 currently.

iStyles

Going the distance it seems, is iStyles, which sells its protective skin designs for $25, and you not only get the top cover, but also a wrist rest skin too. Pretty decent deal! The designs are all over the board, so you can probably find something you’ll like. iStyles also offers skins for several different electronics if you’re in the market.

SkinStyler

Probably least to the point of what I was looking for — yet pretty cool — are the offerings at SkinStyler. They only make wrist rest and trackpad skins. As for me, I’m not sure I’d love the trackpad skin. The organic style of the wrist rest skins however are pretty cool — especially on the black MacBooks.

If you’ve got first hand experience with any of these products, or know of some other options that people should check out, share the wealth below in the comments.

Disclosure: Infectious is backed by True Ventures, which is also an investor in Giga Omni Media, the parent company of this network. Giga Omni Media founder Om Malik is a venture partner with True Ventures.

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Speck makes the SeeThru Hard Shell for both the 15″ and 17″ MacBook Pro, as well as the MacBook. The SeeThru (available for about $50) is a polycarbonate shell that fits over your laptop to protect the casing from getting damaged. The shell comes in 8 different color including clear, red, and black. It has vents on the bottom half so the shell helps keep the laptop cool and has cutouts for the ports on the side of the laptop. Techshell makes a similar product (starting at about $60) except it does not have any vents on the bottom part of the case, so I have to wonder about how well heat is dissipated.

When it comes to heavy duty protection, the MacTruck doesn’t look like it plays any games. It is a combination laptop enclosure and briefcase. As an added bonus, the case doubles as an angled stand for when you are ready to use your laptop. The downside to the MacTruck–pretty darn expensive with prices ranging from $199 to $229. To be fair, do you know what it costs to replace your MacBook’s casing? The same as the MacTruck, sometimes plenty more. MacService will replace either the top or bottom of the MacBook Pro casing for $225 each (that’s $450 if both the top and bottom get damaged). DT&T Services will cost $250 for the top casing, $295 for the bottom casing, and $495 to replace both casings. As a lesser expensive option, if you don’t mind looking like a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle, you could get a hard shelled backpack over at eBags.com and protect more than just your laptop.

Again, there is a lot of incentive to taking proactive measures to protect your MacBook or MacBook Pro. Replacing your case can be expensive, not only in terms of dollars, but also in terms of time. You’ll have downtime without your computer if you send it in for repair or you’ll have a new experience while trying to rebuild your laptop from spare parts you found online. Keep in mind, I am only talking about cosmetic damage which is largely not covered by AppleCare. Some of these cases may protect more than your Mac’s pretty case.

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