Protect and Serve Your iPad With Cases, Shields, and Skins
The iPad has sold quite well in the United States, with over a million shipped, and tomorrow finally marks the international launch. We were just in Europe, visiting France, Italy, Germany, and Holland, where our iPad drew plenty of jealous stares and even small crowds on occasion. And our travels with the device helped us put it through some serious tests, revealing some strengths and weaknesses that are partially addressed by the accessories we have on hand today. We’ve already checked out some of the best iPad apps around, and today we turn our eye from software to hardware.
Most of these focus on the screen, which makes sense- it’s a fingerprint magnet, and also the area most likely to get cracked or damaged. Hence the ZAGG invisibleSHIELD for the iPad, available in a few different types and separate 3G or WiFi models. We’ve been trying the basic Front Coverage version, which works about how you would expect, but comes with an interesting fluid called SHIELDspray which helps make the application/installation process a little easier. We found that our shield was slightly too large horizontally for our iPad though, despite several attempts at aligning it exactly. And that meant some small problems, as it eventually started catching on edges and lifting up a bit. On the other hand, we couldn’t scuff or mark the shield easily, and fingerprint wiped away fairly easily. At $30, it feels a bit steep, but the full body coverage at only $10 more seems reasonable.
Of course, you could also choose to protect your privacy along with your screen. NewerTech and OWC offer the NuVue Privacy Screen Protector for the iPad, which works as a fairly decent screen cover as well- if not quite as nice to touch as the invisibleSHIELD. It applies fairly easily, with static cling instead of adhesive, meaning fewer air bubbles (though a bit more shifting). The main feature, though, is that it makes your screen nearly impossible to read when viewing from an angle… as long as the screen is positioned vertically. The idea is that you might want to share your screen for movies and videos, but would position it in landscape orientation- so the privacy shield works only in portrait orientation. This might be fine, except for the fact that email programs on the iPad work much better in landscape mode. Also, though glare was greatly reduced and the screen was quite effectively blocked to other potential viewers, the screen was noticeably dimmer with the shield on even when viewing directly. At $40, this is a fairly unique addition to your iPad, and definitely useful to folks wishing for protection from prying eyes.
NewerTech and OWC also offer a polycarbonate plastic shell for the back of your iPad, called the NuGuard. We liked that it didn’t add much weight, but definitely offered more protection than a simple stick-on shield. It’s transparent, so you can show off the Apple logo… but unfortunately also features a large Newer Technology logo as well which dampens the effect greatly. Installation is literally a snap, and all buttons and ports are still kept accessible. And we liked that it fit over our skins (see below). $25, and another unique solution that offers a bit of extra protection without bulk.
If you’d rather add a bit of style, consider GelaSkins. We’ve tried out their iPhone skins in the past, and love the various artists that they exclusively offer- folks like eBoy, Frank Miller, and Keith Haring. In our case, we’ve been sporting the Philip Straub fantasy-like piece aptly named Infinite Oz. If webcomics and robots are more your style, we’ve also drawn quite a few glances when using the ExplodingDog skin I Like Birds. As usual, the skin comes in two parts- a rear panel and a front piece to cover the plain bezel. We had some issues lining up the front part, since it’s all too easy to bend the corners slightly, but with some work you’ll get it. Once both adhesive pieces are well-placed, all that remains is downloading the artwork and setting it as your wallpaper (home screen or lock screen or both). This is a bit more painful than it needs to be- you have to either download the free app from the AppStore, though it’s an iPhone app and as such doesn’t feel or work quite right. Or, you can download a zip file from their site (though not from the actual device/art page, you’ll need to find it in the wallpapers section). And then, you’ll need to manually scale and re-size the wallpaper to fit, because many of the images are intended to be used horizontally but the iPad front cover is vertical. At $30, they’re a fantastic way to make your device much more distinctive, and pretty well with any of the other accessories mentioned today.
Finally, you might want something to hold your iPad. That’s where the WaterField Designs Ultimate SleeveCase comes in, offering a nice, tight-fitting sleeve. Designed and made locally in San Francisco, we always appreciate ballistic nylon for it’s water resistance, and the brown leather at the bottom is classy. Those wishing to save a few dollars and some hide can opt for the Lead Indium version. Ours didn’t come with a handle or strap, though they are available for an extra charge ($9 or $19). And the Ultrasuede interior lining is super-soft, and even can help clean the screen as you insert the iPad or remove it. Velcro keeps the case safely closed, though a small unsealed side pouch is a bit mysterious, as is the small black loop at the bottom of the case. A good balance of weight and sturdiness, the SleeveCase nice enough to work for an executive, but priced reasonably enough to be within a student budget. TSA Checkpoint Friendly, available online for $55 + extras.
