Posts Tagged ‘footprint’

Kitchen-friendly iPad Stands and Mounts – PadGadget iPad Cooking Series

Part of PadGadget’s continuing series Get Cooking With iPad






Once you decide to bring your iPad into the kitchen, you are going to need a stand or mount to keep your tablet clear of whatever tasty meal you choose to prepare. What’s the best type of stand to use while you cook? Sure, you can go all the way, and custom mount your iPad inside a kitchen cabinet, as we previously reported, but not all users are looking for such an extreme solution.

Since counter space is often at a premium in the kitchen, we recommend choosing a stand that has a small footprint, or removing the iPad from the counter all together. See a variety of options after the break.

1. The Padfoot is available for the original iPad and iPad 2. It’s small size makes it easy to store in a drawer. It will hold an iPad in its portrait or landscape configuration. Constructed by Shapeways, a manufacturing site that employs 3D printing. Shapeways allows users to upload designs, which are then manufactured on demand, a process the site refers to as “personal fabrication through 3D printing.” The Padfoot is available from Shapeways starting at $20.00 for the iPad 2 and $25.00 for the original iPad.

2.The Au Naturel, a small wooden stand from CaseCrown, could easily be stored in a drawer when not in use. Like the Padfoot, the Au Naturel can be set up quickly in a crowded kitchen, wherever it was needed most. It could also easily be moved from one part of the kitchen to the next. The stand will hold an iPad in its portrait or landscape configuration, and has pre-cut notches so as not to interfere with the iPad’s audio. It is currently available from Amazon (at 81% off!) for $11.21

3. The Wooden Desktop Cradle is a classic stand that will fit right in with your cutting boards. In a pinch, it could probably even double as a cutting board. The cradle has two notches, one cut at 18° for easy viewing, and another at 45°, for easy of use when reading recipes or setting timers. This sturdy wooden stand works in portrait or landscape, is easy to clean, and is definitely ready to stand up to heavy use. The cradle can accommodate the original iPad or iPad 2, is available from USB Fever for $17.99.

4. PadTab is a mounting system that can attach an iPad to any smooth, flat surface such as a kitchen cabinet or refrigerator door. The PadTab offers tremendous flexibility without sacrificing space. Because the bracket can hold up to 5 lbs, your iPad should be secure, easily visible, and safe from cooking splatters and spills. iPad 2 owners who don’t want to mount a bracket directly onto their tablets can order PadTab’s Clear Case, which accommodates Apple’s Smart Cover. Purchase the PadTab and Clear Case for iPad 2 from the company’s website for $29.95, or just PadTab for $19.95.

5. Griffin’s Cabinet Mount for iPad, as we have noted previously, is another option that frees up valuable counter space. Requiring only 14 inches of cabinet space, the brackets can be mounted underneath, on the side of, or on the front of a cabinet. The bracket swivels a full 360° and folds when not in use. This cabinet mount is likely to appeal to users who want to watch video in the kitchen as well as use the iPad to prepare meals, particularly in apartment kitchens, where most everything is always within arm’s reach. It is available in the Apple Store for $39.95

A final note: We’ve covered the Modulr system for the original iPad and iPad 2 already, but with both slim wall mount and fridge mount options, Modulr should be considered by any users looking for a flexible, but comprehensive iPad mounting solution.

» Related posts:

• Get Cooking With PadGadget’s iPad Cooking Series
• How to Cook Everything – PadGadget iPad Cooking Series
• Fine Cooking: Cook Fresh – PadGadget iPad Cooking Series

iKeyboard iPad Keyboard Overlay – Kickstarter Project

The iKeyboard tries to solve an often-complained about problem with the iPad: typing using the on-screen keyboard isn’t as easy or comfortable as using a regular keyboard, especially for longer documents or e-mails.

The (potential) creator of this product suggests that the key problem with using the on-screen keyboard is that the lack of positioning cues and tactile response means needing to keep your eyes on the screen while typing. He goes on to explain that this presents a problem in many environments, particularly the classroom where your attention is better paid elsewhere.

The iKeyboard solves this problem by allowing you to touch type and not have to keep your fingers suspended above the screen. They have also matched the sizing, spacing and force required to depress keys as that of a regular Apple keyboard.

I must admit to being curious. I’ve evaluated a number of keyboards for my iPad and always hesitated to adopt them because of the Bluetooth battery drain or the extra footprint space required to use it (I want to balance the iPad on my lap or the arm of my couch as often as not). You do still need to carry it around with you, but if you are able to extend the use of your iPad by doing so it still beats hauling around a more traditional laptop.

Kickstarter is an innovative way to bring new products to market. Individuals can share new ideas, and test-drive them without risk. Once a project has been shared, you are given the opportunity to support it financially by pledging a dollar amount toward what is required to produce that item. If an idea receives enough pledges to be considered ‘fully funded’ by a certain deadline, production moves forward and everybody must follow through with their commitments –otherwise the project dissolves and nobody is out any money. It may be easiest to think of it this way: would you buy this product if it was produced and if so, how much would you pay for it?

Many products feature a reward for a minimum pledge. In the instance of the iKeyboard, a pledge of $30.00 or more will secure you a first-generation iKeyboard. Certain this project will succeed? Pledge $50.00 or more and you will receive both a first and second generation iKeyboard once they are available.

The iKeyboard requires $4,000 by Tuesday, June 28, 2011 to proceed. As of this date, this project is $3,000 closer to being a reality.

» Related posts:

• Adonit WRITER for iPad – An Approved Kickstarter Project
• PropUp Stand for the iPad and iPad 2 – A Kickstarter Project
• WaterField Wireless Keyboard Cases

Apple A5 Processor Teardown Pictures now Available

Last year, the folks at Chipworks took a first generation iPad apart to see what the Apple A4 looked like, and posted incredible pictures of the architecture of the processor. This time around, Chipworks destroyed an iPad 2 to see what the Apple A5 looks like, and find differences between the iPad 2 processor, and its predecessor.

Chipworks‘s amazing shots – taken with an electron microscope – confirm most rumors heard about the processor: Apple managed to cram a dual-core ARM Cortex-A9 CPU, a dual-core PowerVR SGX543MP2 GPU, and 512 MB of memory, in a footprint barely larger than the A4. To put things in perspective, the A4 comes with a single-core CPU, a single-core GPU, and only 256 MB of memory.

Based on markings inside the chip, the A5 seems to be built by Samsung, just like the A4. Meanwhile, UBM Techinsights just posted a full blown spec sheet for the new chip:

The firm confirms that Samsung is indeed the chip manufacturer, and gives more insights about the new processor:

Based on analysis performed by UBM TechInsights Lab and Process Analysis personnel, we can say that the A5 in our possession is definitely manufactured by Samsung using their 45nm process. UBM TechInsights used optical die and SEM cross-section images to analyse important features such as die edge seal, metal 1 pitch, logic and SRAM transistor gate measurements. These features were then compared to other manufacturers in our database, including other Samsung 45nm parts. The previous generation Apple A4 processor was also fabbed on Samsung’s 45nm process.

Finally, Apple seems to have included even better power management features inside the chip. According to a report from iOSnoops, the A5 seems to run at variable speeds, right below 1 GHz, in order to conserve power. In comparison, the A4 runs at a constant 1 GHz.

While doing some early iPad 2 benchmarks, the iOSnoops team discovered by chance an interesting tidbit: the A5 doesn’t run at 1 GHz like the Apple A4, but is instead clocked around 890 MHz (the speed of the A5 does not seem to be constant, and varies depending on the apps running on the iPad 2).

[Via MacRumors]

» Related posts:

• iPhone 5 and iPad 3 to Feature New A5 processor, iPad 2 will Come with Older A4
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A White iPad 2 for this Wednesday?

Will Apple unveil a white iPad 2 this coming Wednesday? New pictures keep popping up all over the net. We’ve heard about the new body design, several case deigns, and rumors about a “Light Peak” high-speed connector.

Now a new image of an alleged white iPad 2 part has surfaced, and some believe that Apple will announce a white version of the next generation iPad this week.

The folks at 9to5Mac have released some photos of a digitizer layer with a white bezel that is supposed to be for the next iPad. According to 9to5Mac, the part comes from Shenzhen City via the iFixYouri iPhone repair shop.

The photos also reinforced the rumors about iPad 2 including a front-facing camera. You can see the smaller hole and what could be considered a smaller overall footprint that seems to be using a slightly thinner bezel.

Many of us are expecting to see the new iPad with both front and rear cameras, several internal hardware improvements and 3G versions for both GSM and CDMA carriers. However, these new pictures are surprising given that Apple has been trying to launch a white iPhone 4 for quite sometime.

Will we see a white iPad 2 announced this Wednesday? Will you buy one? What do you think?

[Photo credit: 9to5Mac]

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AT&T Reports Significant WiFi Growth

AT&T realized the importance of Wi-Fi for data hungry smartphones and connected devices several years ago with the launch of the first iPhone. The Dallas based company began focusing on the expansion of their Wi-Fi footprint in an attempt to offload some of the traffic from their 3G cellular network. It appears their strategy has now paid off. AT&T reported “significant growth in Wi-Fi connections on its nationwide network” in a press release today.

According to the report, users made 106.9 million connections on the Wi-Fi network during the third quarter, far exceeding the 85.5 million connections made during the entire year of 2009. With 228.1 million AT&T Wi-Fi connections made through September, usage continues to increase significantly. A growth in business locations offering some 23,000 hotspots across the country has most certainly played a part in the 320 percent increase in 3Q 2010 over 3Q 2009.

In today’s press release, Angie Wiskocil, Senior VP AT&T Wi-Fi Services stated:

In addition to smartphones, we saw that more and more devices like tablets, eReaders and netbooks were becoming Wi-Fi enabled and realized that Wi-Fi would play a major part in our ability to mobilize everything for our customers. Now, our Wi-Fi services are a significant asset for AT&T and for the consumers and businesses we serve.

AT&T’s WiFi network has grown significantly over the past two years with the service now available in a number of airports, hotels and major restaurants chains like Mc Donalds and Starbucks. The service is available for free to all iPhone and iPad owners who have an AT&T 3G data plan.

There’s no doubt Wi-Fi numbers will continue to grow for AT&T along with the popularity of mobile devices. We’ll see what next quarter brings.

» Related posts:

• AT&T Reports 500,000 Connected iPads
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iOS 4.2 Beta 2 – New Multitasking Animation, YouTube Upload Revamped, and Performance Boost

Verizon iPad Available Next Year?

RBC Capital Markets released a note to its investors yesterday about Apple. The note is mostly focused on the evolution of the iPhone and which carriers could potentially carry the device in the upcoming years. Mostly due to potential contract issues, and the fact that Verizon has been heavily pushing Android devices, Mike Abramsky, the author of the note, believes that a Verizon iPhone is not likely to happen anytime soon, and that Apple is more likely to work with T-Mobile and/or Sprint in the U.S. to expand the iPhone footprint and fight against the expansion of Android phones.

However, Abramsky also mentioned that he believes a Verizon iPad is currently in the works, even if he cannot confirm the rumor at this stage. Given that the iPad does not fall in the same category of device as the iPhone and Android phones, bringing the iPad to Verizon would be much easier and much less disruptive. As a result, the analyst believes that the iPad could potentially come to Verizon in the first half of 2011.

Given that Apple is expected to switch the 3G wireless chip supplier from Intel/Infineon to Qualcomm for its iOS devices, rumors about Verizon-compatible iPhones and iPad have been pouring in over the last couple months. Qualcomm’s product line offers chips compatible with all wireless networks in the US, while Intel/Infineon is only able to provide chipsets compatible with at&t’s network.