Bamboo, meet iPad 3rd gen

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Case makers who aren't "invited" by Apple ahead of time are scrambling to put forth and market their latest protection for Apple's third generation iPad. Within the last two years, bamboo has come out and become one of the most sought out materials to form, mold and be perfected. From bicycles to cases, it's life has changed dramatically and has been creatively sculpted to fit our needs. Here, in the video below, we see the latest by Grove. Check out the awesomeness!

Grove Bamboo Case for the new iPad from Grove on Vimeo.

The Grove Bamboo Case (iPad 3) is priced at a statement $139. Conceived and made in America from 100% solid Moso bamboo (meet the team here), some will admit that it's a steal. On a side note, a $20 discount is available through the end of March so by now and you'll be toting Apple's latest and great with the sense of environmental friendliness. Be responsible and be at peace. I'll admit that it does seem a little steep, but these guys from Portland are top notch! They even give you the peace of mind that what the use "is not the bamboo that pandas eat."

Disclaimer: No, I haven't ordered one yet but I'm really thinking about it. For now, I have a Zagg Folio in "carbon fiber inspire design" heading my way. The keyboard was a closer on this deal.

Have an iPad 2 yet?

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Apple just posted a new iPad video demonstrating the diverse uses of the iPad 2, and it's awesome! Entitled "Now," after watching the commercial, we all can expect that life from this time forward will be different and done on an iPad. (not a Galaxy Tab =) ) If you haven't succumb to buying the latest and greatest tablet computer from Apple, watch this commercial and tell me you don't want one. I know I do.

Ever since selling my iPad one a little prematurely last November, I've been itching for a new tablet. You ask why I haven't bought one yet...it's because I'm waiting. I'm waiting like I always do when it comes to tech toys but be rest assured, I'll be in line or online at day 0 for the iPad 3.

Amazing Sales of iPad 2

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All the news it out and Apple stores, Best Buys, Targets, and just about every other retailer has run out of Apple's latest success story! As of this afternoon, they're even going up on eBay with prices of up to a 160% markup! We unfortunately didn't get our hands one, but hey, maybe when the iPad 3 comes up this Fall. Hopefully it will and it won't make the latest adopters all mad. For now, check out this awesome comic for how Apple adopters / users / fanboys usually feel. (by the oatmeal) Grab 5 Very Good Reasons to Punch a Dolphin in the Mouth (And Other Useful Guides), an awesome book, too while you're at it!

Apple iPad 2 Available for Pre-Order: ships in 3-5 days

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The title says it all. As of this morning, March 11, 2011, you can order either the black Apple iPad 2 (ships within 3-5 days) or the white Apple iPad 2 (ships in 5-7 days) along with Apple's Smart Cover and free engraving on http://www.apple.com. While you're at it, pick up AppleCare for $79.00, add-on the Apple Digital A/V Adapter for another $39.00, and why not add in the digital camera connection kit for $29. Checking out, my cart easily shot up to $815.00 for a 32GB Wi-Fi + leather Smart Cover, and the rest I spoke of above! You give it a shot and tell me how you did.

 

 

HP Lets Loose...this Summer

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Officially announced this morning, the trio that HP promised surfaced as their new HP Veer, HP Pre3 and HP Touchpad; a phone for fun, a phone for business & play and a tablet that touts webOS 3.0. All using the famous touchstone induction charging, these devices are set to hit the street with the Veer in Spring '11 and the latter two, this Summer of 2011. I'm rather disappointed that HP isn't able to capitalize and beat Apple to market with their iPad 2 looming this Spring as well as the potential unveiling of the iPhone 5 in June; It's going to be a tough break and a wasted opportunity at market share. But back to the rundown starting it out with their baby.

The HP Veer is poised as the runt of the trio measuring at 3.25" in height and targeted at the minimalist user clocking in at 800Mhz by Qualcomm's MSM7230 processor. Packed with a full QWERTY keyboard, great e-mailing capability, Quad-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE network with HSDPA 7.2/HSUPA 5.76, the Veer is equipped with a 2.6-inch multitouch screen w/ a "vibrant" 18-bit color, 320x400 resolution. Other features include the now standard 5.0MP camera w/ added video functionality, 8GB of memory and built-in A-GPS.

On the other hand, the HP Pre3 packs a heavier punch with its Qualcomm MSM 8x55 1.4GHz processor, 512MB RAM and 3.58-inch multitouch screen with 24-bit color and a 470x800 WVGA display. Accompanying the 5.0MP is an LED flash and HD (720p) video recording functionality along with a front VGA camera for those interested in conference calling.

The newest kid on the block is of course HPs TouchPad. Taking advantage of Qualcomm's Snapdragon dual-CPU APQ8060 1.2GHz monster, HP has poised this device to take on summer's iPad 2. Running webOS 3.0 alongside a 9.7-inch XGA capacitive, multi-touch screen w/ 18-bit color at 1024x768 resolution, you'll be able to play games, e-mail and video conference using the 1.3-megapixel webcam. Choosing either a 16GB or 32GB model, the TouchPad is packed with Beats Audio which should produce some good quality stereo while posted on the Touchstone dock.

The most exciting revelation comes from the next generation of of Touchstone technology. Tapping the TouchPad with the Pre3, you can share a URL or even receive text messages and answer phone calls. All these technologies are set to make HP standout but already plagued with inconsistency and a unreliable timeline of product releases, it's going to take time and a specific consumer to make a switch or start believing. You can even say that HP is on the same ground of some of America's automobile makers. That's just my take. What's yours?

Digital Books as Apps = Physics Heaven

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If you're in the game of writing, authoring and releasing a book within the next year, don't go all 1.0 and turn to iBooks, Amazon or the onslaught of various publishers for some ebook / hardcover / paperback setup.  Check out Push Pop Press! Launching their teaser  site yesterday, Push Pop Press is starting their campaign to transform your book into an experience!  Started by the talented designer, Mike Matas of Apple iOS fame as well as the Delicious Library, and engineers Kimon Tsinteris and Austin Sarner, Push Pop Press is poised the game and is definitely off to a running head start.

Books that let you explore photos, videos, music, maps, and interactive graphics, all through a new physics-based multi-touch user interface.

As you can see from the teaser site and /or image below, the possibilities are amazing with pinch to zoom and in app video rendering.  For a more in depth look and commentary, check out John Gruber and his early testing! // Daring Fireball: Push Pop Press //

Migrating from AT&T to Verizon? What it'll take...

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To start, it just so happens that Adelle had her iPhone 4 ripped off from her while walking through the Atlanta Airport. Since then, she has reverted back to a hand me down / kindly donated Blackberry Curve suffering various withdrawls from using an aged handheld. It hasn't been pretty and it hurts me to see her not be able to play Words with Friends or check Facebook and Twitter every moment she gets. Being a "valued customer," AT&T is offering us the lower price of $399 to replace the stolen iPhone the stolen iPhone 4 but I keep on coercing her to wait until Verizon's unveiling. Hesitantly, she has agreed and now the question comes to, "Will it be worth it...what it will take and why?" Back in July, when AT&T and Apple announced the iPhone 4, many owners of the Apple iPhone 3G found themselves at a crossroad. Do I upgrade to Apple's new God phone and deal with the crappy service for 2 more years praying that it will improve or just wait till next year when Verizon and Apple announce they've copulated. I made the decision to just dive in and stick it out because honestly, the iPhone 3G experience was just getting to be awful, irritating and frustrating. Buying everything in twos, one for me and one for my significant other, I bought two new iPhone 4s online, renewed our awesome unlimited data contract which by the way still costs an arm and a leg, sold the previous models at a price that paid off the upgrade and have been feeling good ever since. Win-win right?

The experience with the phone was tremendously better but the overall network experience was still (is) lacking. With the looming prospect of a better network, I set out thinking of the economic costs. Currently, we both have unlimited data plans under AT&T which is worth the figurative bird in the hand. If I were to terminate in next February (that's about 8 months proration at $13.54/mo = $108 from the $325 gets me to about $217 for each contract), I'm guessing I can sell my iPhone 4 32GB for around $400 canceling the ETF and then I'm out of pocket another $199 x 2 plus whatever Verizon offers on their plans. Simple math, not much of a hassle and I'd assume that I'd be happier on the new network.

But what will it take? If Verizon has an unlimited data plan for iPhones, I'm in. If they are somewhat more affordable / cheaper and unlimited...I'm in. Shoot, if they pay my ETF, I'm in. I'm willing to forgo the crappy AT&T service and will even help others switch, scouts honors, but for now, we haven't seen any changes or any kind of caving in from the big V. Instead, all we have seen is their continued arrogance in being the the best and now the Rules the Airwaves Campaign? Pure crap I say. Trust me. No Droid phone or campaign you have released has wanted me to change. Its all been for naught when trying to lure others away.

If Verizon wants to capitalize on this earthquake announcement and take in the massive tsunami wave of customers who are eagerly willing to sign away their lives and wallets for two years, they can take advantage of it but the time is NOW! If I was a shareholder, I'd be bothering Mr. CEO and texting him non-stop. The bottom line is, by offering something that current unhappy AT&T iPhone customers want, we will migrate! SO DO IT ALREADY!

Just my usual rant, but hey, I'm just saying. Happy weekend!

Introducing the new iPad...err...Samsung Galaxy Tab

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What are your takes on the Samsung's Galaxy Tab??? Worthy foe against Apple's iPad or just a copy cat failure? Since we sold our iPad, we're definitely missing it's handiness.

Using a 7" screen, running Google's Android 2.2, weighing in at 13.8 ounces and being marketable as back pocket portable (don't sit on it), it looks pretty bad ass.