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2012 iPad buyers guide

Posted: 09 Mar 2012 04:48 PM PST

2012 iPad buyers guide: Everything you need to know before buying the new iPad, including how to pick your model, storage capacity, color, and 3G or 4G LTE carrier!

Everything you need to know before buying the new iPad, including how to pick your model, storage capacity, color, and 3G or 4G LTE carrier!

Considering the new iPad but interested in more information before taking the plunge? Should you buy the 2012, third generation iPad at all, or would you be better off with last year’s, discounted iPad 2, or another tablet entirely? If you do decide to buy the new iPad, which model do you need, 16, 32, or 64GB? Which color, white or black? And if you go for the 4G LTE version, which network is better, AT&T or Verizon?

This is our 2012 iPad buyers guide. If you have questions, iMore has answers! And if you already know what you’re getting, keep think link handy to mail, tweet, or Facebook your friends and family — we’ll help them out so you don’t have to!

Should you buy an iPad?

Buy vs upgrade vs skip: Should you get the new iPad?

The new iPad contains an almost staggering amount of cutting-edge technology in a minimalist package at a frankly unbelievable price. It’s got a 2048×1536 Retina display that packs more pixels than a 1080p HDTV into a compact 9.7-inch screen, 4G LTE networking if you want it, a super-fast Apple A5X dual core processor with quad-core graphics, a new, high-quality 5 megapixel iSight camera, and the best app, media, and accessory ecosystem on the market.

If you’re in the market for your first tablet, for most of the people, most of the time, the new iPad is a great choice. But it’s not the only choice. For original iPad owners, it’s a great upgrade. For iPad 2 owners, one or more of the new features have to be compelling enough to warrant the upgrade, otherwise waiting for the 2013 iPad next year could be a better bet. For owners of other tablets, from BlackBerry to Android to webOS, or for those looking to upgrade to netbooks, there are more factors to consider.

No matter which category of buyer or potential buyer you fall into, we’ve got your complete break down for you.

And if you want to sell you old iPad or old tablet before upgrading, here’s what to do.

When should you buy a new iPad?

Timing is everything when buying a new iPad from Apple. Get it at launch and you have a year of fantastic use ahead of you before the next new model is released. Buy it at the wrong moment and Apple will announce a new one, often at the same price, and while it won’t make the iPad you have useless, it will mean you didn’t get the most for your money.

Here’s the deal

Buy in March or April

For the last three years in a row, for as long as they’ve been making them, Apple has released new iPads in the spring. If it’s March or April, it’s likely Apple has a new iPad model ready to hit the store shelves, and it’s absolutely the best time to buy.

Stay away in January or March

If you’re reading this right after Christmas, it’s best to hold off because Apple is probably getting ready to announce that next generation iPad just like we mentioned above. It might even be tempting to hold off buying iPads for Christmas if you really want to make sure you get the latest and the greatest in the New Year, but if a loved one really wants it, that can be tough.

In between, buy when you need

If you’re reading this in the fall, right at the 6 month point, and wondering if you should pull the trigger on a new iPad or wait for the next model, ask yourself whether you need it or just want it.

If you’ve broken your current netbook or tablet, lost it, or otherwise simply have to get an ultra-light, ultra-portable computing appliance now, now, now, get the new iPad and have no regrets. There will always be something new on the horizon but that won’t help you if you need an iPad urgently.

If you don’t need it but just want it, wait as long as you possibly can wait then buy the best iPad available when you can’t wait any more.

Which iPad should you buy?

Buy vs upgrade vs skip: Should you get the new iPad?

Once you’ve decided to get an iPad, you have two major options to choose between, last year’s iPad 2, with fewer features at a discounted price, or this year’s new iPad with full features at full price.

The iPad 2 doesn’t have Retina display, Bluetooth 4.0, 4G LTE networking, or an Apple A5X processor, and only comes in a 16GB model, but it also only costs $399.

The new iPad had everything the iPad 2 doesn’t, and comes in 16, 32, and 64GB models, but starts are $499 and maxes out at $829.

That’s quite a lot of choice at quite a large price range, and lowest cost isn’t always highest value. Here’s our complete breakdown.

Which 3G + 4G LTE iPad should you get?

AT&T vs Verizon: Which 4G iPad should you get?

If you live outside of North America, there’s only one 3G iPad to choose from right now. Yes, it’s frustrating there’s no international 4G LTE, but the new iPad will work on HSPA+ up to 42mbps. If your carrier supports it, that’s fast.

If you’re in the U.S., you have two different 4G LTE carrier options to choose from (and neither is Sprint or T-Mobile). Unless you have any special deals or discounts, the decision will come down to 3 things: coverage, pricing, and tethering. Here’s how the plans shake out.

If you’re in Canada, you can choose between Rogers, Telus, and Bell for your 4G LTE iPad, and while the considerations are the same, the plans are quite different.

How much storage do you need for your iPad?

16GB, 32GB, or 64GB: Which new iPad capacity should you get?

The iPad comes in three storage sizes — 16GB, 32GB, and 64GB, and each step up in size costs an extra $100. Saving money and running out of space is no fun, but neither is paying for space you don’t end up using.

How many photos and videos you want to keep with you, how many apps and games, and how many TV shows and movies you want on your iPad will determine how much space you need. Also, online storage like iCloud or third party services like Dropbox, SugarSync, or Box.net might change the equation.

Here’s how the different price points work out, and what you need to consider when choosing between them.

Black or white, which iPad color looks best?

Black vs white: Which new iPad should you choose?

The new iPad comes in any color you want, as long as one of the colors you want is black or white. Most of the time your own personal tastes will make the choice easy, but there are a few things to think about before making your final choice. Is white going to distract you from games or movies? Will black show more smudges and fingertips? Does either color hold up better over time?

We’ve got some experience with both color options, and here’s what we’ve found.

Where to buy?

That’s it. You know you’re getting a new iPad, you know when, and you know on which carrier. You’ve done your homework, you’ve made your choice, and now it’s time buy. But where you should you buy it?

Apple Retail and Apple Online

If you have an Apple Retail Store in your area you can go there, and if it’s in stock, leave with your new iPad right away. They also offer help with your purchase and will even help you get set up free of charge. If you’re worried about protecting your investment, they can also get you setup with AppleCare, and their Genius Bar can help you with hardware problems in the future. Corny as it sounds, It’s not just shopping, it’s an experience. Apple Retail has the best customer service in the business and it shows. There are no discounts, however, not ever.

If there’s no Apple Retail store near you there’s also Apple Online in many countries. Again, no discounts but you’re dealing directly with Apple.

Carrier Stores and big boxes

If you want brick-and-morter but don’t have an Apple Store, some carriers might sell them directly. Drop buy or get it shipped to you.

Big box and chain retailers, everything from Best Buy to Walmart the Shack to Tesco are already, or will likely be carrying the new iPad in the future. If you have loyalty points or they’re just super convenient, check them out as well.

Buyer beware

Shady operators also try to sell discount iPads, sometimes devices that aren’t even really iPads but cheap — and highly breakable — knockoffs. It goes without saying you should avoid those. Any deal too good to be true probably is. If you save money only to end up with a tablet that doesn’t run iOS and may not even run at all you really just wasted your money.

After you buy

Once you’ve gotten your new iPad and are ready to set it up, get apps, get accessories, maybe get jailbroken, here’s how to get going:

Need more help?

No article can cover every detail or address every unique circumstance or concern. Luckily iMore also hosts the iPad Forums, a vast community where users can ask questions, give feedback, and get help. Check them out:



Forums: iPad pre-orders, iOS 5.1, Favorite photo filter apps

Posted: 09 Mar 2012 03:12 PM PST

From the Forums With a new iPad and Apple TV now unveiled and iOS 5.1 unleashed to the masses, we’ve had plenty to talk about this week. Miss out on something? Get yourself caught up here on the blogs. Once you’re done that, if you’re still looking for more iOS goodness then check out the iMore forums. You can register now to get started today and while you’re at it, check out some of the threads below:

If you’re not already a member of the iMore Forums, register now!



iA Writer for iPhone and iPad review

Posted: 09 Mar 2012 03:01 PM PST

ia writer for iphone and ipad review

iA Writer is distraction-free writing app for iPhone, iPad, and Mac. It features an extremely simple UI whose sole intent is to help you focus on your writing. There isn’t any fancy formatting options or an overwhelming amount of features. It’s just a simple screen with a nice font and a keyboard.

This is exactly what makes it so awesome.

One of the cool features on the iPad (and Mac) is Focus Mode. When turned on, everything except the sentence you are writing fades so that you aren’t distracted by something you’ve already written. For me, I know my eyes tend to wander, so if I notice a missing comma while writing, my thoughts get interrupted until I fix it. Focus Mode removes that distraction — instead, I’ll catch that missing comma when I proofread.

It also includes iCloud and Dropbox integration, so switching between your devices is seamless. Start writing your Mac, continue on your iPhone during your lunch break at work, and finish up on your couch with your iPad.

I’ve been using iA Writer for a couple months now for writing longer articles and editorials for iMore. It really helps me focus without the distracting UI of WordPress, where I used to do all my writing. Admittedly, I normally use it on my MacBook Air because I like using the physical keyboard; however, there have definitely been times where I’ve decided to continue working on my article while curled up on the couch with my iPad.

If you do any sort of writing that’s not just emails, Facebook messages, and Twitter – I highly recommend iA Writer. You’ll be amazed at your increased level of productivity.

$0.99 for iPhone and iPad – Download Now

$8.99 for Mac – Download Now



Join iMore in celebrating the new iPad launch with special edition t-shirts!

Posted: 09 Mar 2012 02:38 PM PST

Join iMore in celebrating the new iPad launch with special edition t-shirts!

iMore and the Mobile Nations team will be giving out tons of special edition, collectors item t-shirts during next week’s launch of the new iPad, but for those who don’t live close by, we wanted to make sure you could be part of the fun as well!

These shirts are 100% 6.1 oz, pre-shrunk cotton and feature a relaxed but tailored fit with a seamless, ribbed collar and double-needle cover-stitching. The special edition iMore rainbow logo, made in homage to the Apple logo that appeared at the end of the new iPad event, is digitally printed at a tasteful 3-inch width. Below the logo is the launch date, 12-03-16.

And yes, they’re really meant to be limited edition collectors items, just like Disney movies, and once the event is over we’ll be retiring them to the vault.

We’ll all be wearing them on event day, so if you want yours in time, order now!

$14.95 – Order now



iPad pre-orders sold out for launch day, now shipping for March 19

Posted: 09 Mar 2012 01:45 PM PST

US Apple Store new iPad pre-orders sold out

Looks as if the initial stock of pre-orders for the new iPad have sold out, with current orders now showing Ships by March 19th for U.S. customers. That means you can still order a new iPad, of course, you just have to wait longer to get it.

After Apple’s new iPad event, Apple Online Store servers temporarily went down in flames with many users having pre-order issues. After a while, things seems to calm down but more pre-orders kept pouring in. UK and international customers got hit first followed quickly by others. LTE models seemed to be the first to go in the US and now we’re seeing March 19th ship dates for all models across the board.

Were you able to get your new iPad pre-order in for a launch date delivery or was your order pushed back? Some of us as well as our forum members have received shipment notifications already. If you’re in a country other than the US or UK, what are shipping estimates looking like for you?



Apple Configurator makes it easier to massively deploy and manage iPhone, iPad for business and education

Posted: 09 Mar 2012 01:01 PM PST

Configurator makes deployment and management of iOS devices easy

Apple has released a new Mac App Store app named Apple Configurator which allows businesses and educational institutions to more easily and massively deploy and manage iPhones, iPod touches, and iPads.You can sync and manage up to 30 devices at a time including updating the OS, managing applications, profiles, backups, and more. Even if you have a large family with many iOS devices (or you work as a developer or blogger who has to test a ton of personal devices), Configurator can make your life a lot easier than iTunes ever did.

Apple Configurator can be used by larger organizations and businesses to set up new devices, install enterprise apps, and enroll each device with a Mobile Device Management solution for remote management by an IT administrator. It is perfect for the classroom or student lab where devices need to be quickly refreshed and kept up to date with the correct settings, approved policies, apps and data. Apple Configurator can also be used to personalize devices with data and documents for specific users.

I spent a little bit of time today playing around with Apple Configurator and the many iPhones, iPod touches, and iPadsI have laying around the office. It’s a free download from the Mac App Store, so it’s a no brainer for any administrator, from enterprise to education to home, but it could still use some work. While the main implementation is nice and pretty easy to navigate through, when you get to installing profiles, a few things could be tweaked to make for a better administration experience.

I see this being an effortless tool for schools to use in conjunction with syncing carts. You’ll be able to easily sync textbooks to devices based on any other classification you’d like to use. You also have the ability to assign users and only copy files to specific devices as well, or as a group.

This should make it easy for educational institutions to group grades or different classrooms together and install the same device backup on every device at the same time. If you add a new device you can simply restore it from a backup of a device from that group.

For larger businesses and any company that needs to have some pretty heavy permissions and profiles installed, it’s a great start but could still use a bit of refining as well as a few more options. For small businesses and education purposes, and even home use, Configurator will make for a nice and easy way to get content to end users quicker and more efficiently.

Free – Download Now

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Watch every March Madness game with NCAA March Madness Live for iPhone and iPad

Posted: 09 Mar 2012 12:17 PM PST

Watch every March Madness game with NCAA March Madness Live for iPhone and iPad

Spring is in the air which means it’s the season for March Madness. With NCAA March Madness Live for iPhone and iPad, you don’t have to worry about missing a game or losing track of the bracket.

NCAA March Madness Live is available for free and let’s you listen to live game radio of all 67 games and has a live social chatter for teams in every game. You can also track the bracket, follow scores and player stats, get alerts for game highlights, and fil out your official NCAA Bracket Challenge bracket.

But that’s not all, an in-app purchase of $3.99 will let you watch live streaming of all 67 tournament games, the CBS NCAA Basketball Championship Selection Show, live stream of of team practices from the Final Four. Miss a game? No problem, immediately after each game you’ll be able to watch all the highlights.

Free – Download Now

Watch every March Madness game with NCAA March Madness Live for iPhone and iPad march madness 1 march madness 2 march madness 3 march madness 4 march madness 5


The new iPad and Bluetooth 4.0: “Smart Ready” for even better wireless accessories

Posted: 09 Mar 2012 11:38 AM PST

The new iPad is the first Bluetooth 4.0 tablet

One quiet little addition to the new iPad is Bluetooth 4.0, complete with a little something called “Smart Ready”. What does that mean, exactly? For one, it’s lower-energy than the last iteration, which is always good news. This opens up the door for peripherals running on a simple coin-cell battery, like you might find in a watch. The “Smart Ready” designation will allow the new iPad to connect to smart accessories, like heart rate monitors, by providing a channel for all sorts of different data types. Bluetooth 4.0 also has better range, though it’s not clear how much better it is.

Apple had already got on the Bluetooth 4.0 bandwagon with the iPhone 4S and some models of Mac. That’s interesting because, despite all of the high-horsepower Android tablets to come out of the woodwork, Apple is still going to be the first one in the tablet space to include the Bluetooth 4.0 spec.

Motorola is tackling Bluetooth 4.0 fairly aggressively too, namely through the Droid RAZR and the MOTOACTV watch acessory, but so far, they’re the only ones.

While the slight change in thickness may irk extremely size-concious iPad accessory makers, those that provide any kind of wireless connectivity will likely be interested in the new Bluetooth 4.0 capabilities, and may be able to do some new and interesting stuff with the spec, like Find my Car.

Source: Businesswire



The new iPad battery: Same great lifespan, tons more capacity

Posted: 09 Mar 2012 11:08 AM PST

Phil Schiller talking about the new iPad battery

At the new iPad event, one of the most remarkable announcements came when Apple claimed the new iPad will maintain the same battery life as the iPad 2, despite having 4G LTE and a Retina display suckling away the power. While batteries aren’t exactly the flashiest of features, the fact that Apple has managed to offer so much more and only make the new iPad under a millimeter thicker and a scant 50 grams heavier is a huge achievement.

So, just how big is the battery?  The new iPad clocks in at 42.5 watt-hours, which works out to 11,666 mAh. That is a solid 70% boost to capacity over the iPad 2′s 25 watt-hour,  6,944 mAh battery.  The new iPad maintains the established 10-hour lifespan standard, and even if you’re active over LTE rather than Wi-Fi, you’re still getting a very respectable 9 hours of life. 

To put that in context, an iPad 2 with with this new battery, if such a device existed, would probably last close to 17 hours on Wi-Fi.

How does this shape up versus other LTE tablets? Well, Samsung claims the LTE-enabled Galaxy Tab 10.1 has 12 hours of continuous usage with a 7000 mAh battery, while AT&T claims just as much with HTC Jetstream and its 7,300 mAh battery. Of course, these are dealing 1280 x 800 screens, which are bound to be way less taxing on lifetime, but it’s still a considerable difference.

Of course, we aren’t going to know for sure if the new iPad lives up to those figures until we get our mitts on one next week, but this isn’t an area where Apple tends to disappoint. I’m curious to see the teardown of the new iPad so we can see how much the battery has physically grown, how the weight is distributed throughout the devices, and most importantly, what if any new innovations Apple may have come up with.

Until then, we’ll have to cross our fingers and hope that even with the mind-blowing Retina display, the new iPad manages to live up to battery life expectations.



Turn your iPhone into a toy camera with Pop Camera

Posted: 09 Mar 2012 09:13 AM PST

pop camera for iPhone

Pop Camera is a collection of unique and funky camera types that will give you photos an analog, toy camera look to your photos. The really fun part? You can take anywhere from one to 16 photos at a time to be displayed at once as a collage. There is also a camera that takes double exposure shots, bringing in a whole new level of creativity.

Pop camera is equipped with 8 different cameras that take either 1, 2, 4, 8, 9, 12, or 16 photos, or one double exposed shot. Each camera has it’s own funky design to add to give the illusion of using a real toy camera. For each camera, you have the choice of 14 different film types.

In addition to the fun photo stories I can produce with Pop Camera, I also love the layout of the app. They could’ve been boring by just putting a row of filters at the bottom of the screen and used the entire screen as a viewfinder, but they made it funky, instead. Sure, a larger view finder has its benefits, but the experience that Pop Camera’s UI gives is more fun. You actually get to see the design of the camera your choose — as in, it’s outer design. When choosing film, again, it’s not just a boring list. Each film type gets it’s own page that shows a roll of film and a sample photo taken with that film.

I’m really having a lot of fun with Pop Camera. If you decided to pick this one up, please share your photos in the iMore Photography Forum!

$1.99 – Download Now

pop camera for iPhone pop camera 1 pop camera 5 pop camera 2 pop camera 3 pop camera 4


iPhoto for iOS ditches Google Maps display tiles, uses custom tiles based on OpenStreetMaps

Posted: 09 Mar 2012 08:15 AM PST

iPhoto for iOS ditches Google Maps display tiles, uses custom tiles based on OpenStreetMaps

It looks like Apple’s new iPhoto for iOS app isn’t pulling data from the tradition source, Google Maps, but is using custom Apple made tiles informed by OpenStreetMaps. 512 Pixels‘ Stephen Hackett noticed the difference almost immediately, as did The Next Web‘s Matthew Panzarino. OpenStreetMap later confirmed it on their own blog:

Yesterday Apple launched iPhoto, its photo management app, for the iPad and iPhone… and we're rather pleased to find they're the latest to switch to OpenStreetMap. [...] The new iPhoto for iOS, however, uses Apple's own map tiles – made from OpenStreetMap data (outside the US).

The OSM data that Apple is using is rather old (start of April 2010) so don't expect to see your latest and greatest updates on there. It's also missing the necessary credit to OpenStreetMap's contributors; we look forward to working with Apple to get that on there.

Given the strains in the Apple/Google relationship as of late, it’s really shocking to see them putting something like this together.

Apple has also acquired numerous mapping solution companies such as PlaceBase, Google Earth competitor Poly9 along with a 3D mapping company called C3 Technologies, so it’s not hard to imagine we’ll see more custom maps from Apple in the future.

Source: 512 Pixels, TNW, OpenStreetMap



Apple begins to ship initial orders for the new iPad

Posted: 09 Mar 2012 07:57 AM PST

Apple begins to ship initial orders for the new iPad

Looks like some of the iMore staff, readers, and forum members are already getting shipment notifications from Apple for the new iPad‘s they ordered on event day, March 7.

Before anyone gets too exited and thinks this means their new iPad will be arriving overnight or early next week, delivery dates via Fedex are for Friday, March 16, the official new iPad launch day. (Though in the past, courier slip-ups have led to a few lucky people getting iOS devices a day or so ahead of schedule).

If you pre-ordered your new iPad from Apple, what’s the status of your order? We’re tracking this like NORAD tracks Santa so let us know when you ordered, what you ordered, and when Apple says you’re getting it.

And jump into our New iPad forum if you want to track along with us.



Microsoft wants to put OnLive’s Windows 7 iPad service “into a properly licensed scenario”

Posted: 09 Mar 2012 07:42 AM PST

OnLive recently expanded from the realm of cloud gaming to providing virtual access on your iPad to a hosted Windows 7 machine, but it sounds like Microsoft isn’t too thrilled about the idea. The standard for desktop virtualization services involves licensing fees to whoever made the OS, but apparently OnLive isn’t currently paying Microsoft those fees, making it hard for other cloud desktop hosting services to compete. 

Microsoft’s VP of worldwide licensing and pricing, Joe Matz, has said in a recent blog post:

“Some inquiries about these scenarios have been raised as a result of recent media coverage related to OnLive's Desktop and Desktop Plus services. Additionally, the analyst firm Gartner raised questions regarding the compliance of these services last week. We are actively engaged with OnLive with the hope of bringing them into a properly licensed scenario, and we are committed to seeing this issue is resolved.”

Putting aside the fact that Windows 7 running on an iPad is more than a little Frankenstein-y, hosted cloud services like OnLive are going to become a much bigger part of the mobile ecosystem as processor and wireless bandwidth increase. Local storage can be especially limiting to app availability in the SD card-less iOS world. Squabbles like these between Microsoft and OnLive may provide momentary roadblocks to otherwise smart services, but in the long haul, it’s easy to see desktop virtualization becoming popular on the iPad, and tablets everywhere.

It sounds like Microsoft doesn’t want to stop OnLive’s service, just make them pay for it. Which in turn probably means OnLine will have to pass that cost on to end users; namely us.

If you’re using OnLive on your iPad, would giving Microsoft some money bother you?

Source: Gartner, TechNet via ZDNet



Qmadix Vibe Flex-Gel Cover for iPhone 4S and iPhone 4 only $14.95! [Daily deal]

Posted: 09 Mar 2012 07:34 AM PST

Qmadix Vibe Flex-Gel Cover for iPhone 4S and iPhone 4 only $14.95! [Daily deal]For today only the iMore iPhone Accessory Store has the Qmadix Vibe Flex-Gel Cover for iPhone 4S and iPhone 4 on sale for only $14.95! That’s a whopping 40% off! Get it before it’s gone!

Shop Qmadix Vibe Flex-Gel Cover for iPhone 4S and iPhone 4 now!

The Qmadix Vibe Flex-Gel Cover accentuates your style and personality in vibrant color while protecting your iPhone 4S, AT&T iPhone 4, or Verizon iPhone 4 from the elements. This sporty yet rugged case features a transparent window and is made from durable, abrasion resistant TPU.

The Vibe Flex-Gel Cover offers the ultimate in style and protection.

Features:

  • Form fitting design
  • Access to all ports and control
  • Clear rear window display back of device
  • Easy to install and remove
  • Custom fit for iPhone 4S, AT&T iPhone 4, or Verizon iPhone 4


SGP Linear Blitz Case for iPhone 4S and iPhone 4 review

Posted: 08 Mar 2012 10:43 PM PST

SGP Linear Blitz Case for iPhone 4S and iPhone 4 review

SGP Linear Blitz Case for iPhone 4S and iPhone 4 review

The SGP Linear Blitz Case for iPhone 4S and iPhone is simply beautiful and the attention to detail is exquisite. The SGP Linear Blitz Case has rounded, two metallic-looking sides. The main, top part is finished in champagne gold while the the lower portion is finished in satin sliver. The back comes in red, gunmetal gray, and black. I took a look at the red version and… my, oh my.

The gold and silver sections of the side treatment aren’t just decorative, they’re functional. They come up slightly higher than the edges of your iPhone to protect it should you desire to put it face down on the table. They also delineate where the SHP Linear Blitz Case comes apart. To take it off, simply remove the bottom section, slip the metal backplate out, and take off the top.

Champagne gold and sating silver sides make for an elegant two-tone look that really sets off the brushed metal back.

Champagne gold and sating silver sides make for an elegant two-tone look that really sets off the brushed metal back.

There are good sized cutouts for all the ports. The ones around the dock port, 3.5mm headset jack, sleep/wake button, camera, and volume controls are all well crafted and well spaced. The one around the Apple logo is just stunning. Instead of the usual circle, they’ve traced the edges of the logo. They’ve also got the same metallic finish as the edges of the case, and it really shines against the brushed red of the backplate.

The precision, diamond cut hole around the Apple logo is stunning, especially with a rainbow backplate mod

The precision, diamond cut hole around the Apple logo is stunning, especially with a rainbow backplate mod

(I couldn’t resist combining it with the the rainbow Apple logo backplate mod I reviewed previously. And yeah, wow.)

Now some may worry about the size of the case and it is bigger than a skin case. It’s supposed to be.The SGP Linear Blitz Case isn’t about minimalism. It’s about protecting your iPhone and being stylish about it.

The attention to detail, fit, and finish is amazing.

The attention to detail, fit, and finish is amazing.

The good

  • Stunning looking
  • Easy to put on/take off
  • Apple logo cutout

The bad

  • Bulkier than a skin case

The conclusion

The SGP Linear Blitz is simply one of the hottest iPhone cases I’ve ever seen. It’s bulkier than ultra-light or feather cases, but offers more protection. The Apple logo cutout is simply amazing. If you don’t mind trading a little extra size for incredible good looks, the SGP Linear Blitz Case is for you.

$31.95 – Buy now



Firemint announces Flight Control Rocket for iPhone and iPad. Coming later this month!

Posted: 08 Mar 2012 05:58 PM PST

flight control rocket

Firemint has announced evolution to their classic game Flight Control — Flight Control Rocket. It’s scheduled to release later this month, just in time for the new iPad.

Leave the terrestrial skies of Earth and venture into a whole new galaxy of adventure, action and addictive, path-drawing gameplay! Relish compelling yet intuitive touch screen controls; soak in the retro Sci-Fi visuals and original music score and unlock a cast of quirky Robots to grant your mothership a competitive edge.

Check out the teaser video below!

Source: Firemint



iPhone & iPad Live 284: The new iPad

Posted: 08 Mar 2012 05:32 PM PST

Georgia, Rene, and David Barnard of Appcubby are in full post-game mode, reviewing everything Apple announced at the new iPad event, including iOS 5.1, the new Apple TV, the new iPad, and more. This is iPhone & iPad Live!

Visit audiblepodcast.com/imore for a free download!Brought to you by Audible. Please visit http://www.audiblepodcast.com/imore for your free audiobook download! And thank you for supporting our sponsors!

Show notes

Hosts

Credits

You can reach all of us on Twitter @iMore, or you can email us at podcast@imore.com, or leave a comment on the website when the show goes live.

We’re here every Wednesday night at 6pm Pacific, 9pm Eastern, 2am GMT at www.TiPb.com/live

For all our podcasts — audio and video — including iPhone and iPad Live, ZEN and TECH, Iterate, and more, see MobileNations.com/shows

If you haven’t already please subscribe to all our shows in iTunes and leave a rating. It helps people find the show and means a lot to us!

Thanks to the iMore Accessory Store for sponsoring the podcast, and to everyone who showed up for the live chat!



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