Top Ten Cool iPad Cases

May 3rd, 2010 Posted in eBook Readers - Featured 2 Comments »

Since the very minute the dimensions of the "magical" Apple iPad were made public, it has been a veritable iPad case race, with no shortage of case manufacturers vying to sell their wares to accessory-hungry consumers eagerly seeking a sleek way to protect their investment.

As of yet, no definitive leader has emerged in the furious iPad case race, but a few manufacturers have managed to rapidly release an innovative case that appeals to the growing masses of iPad owners or to carve out a unique niche in the booming market.  Here’s eReaderLeader’s rundown of the top 10 best iPad cases:

1. Vers Wooden Case (Vers Audio)
Vers Audio, the same company behind a unique line of handcrafted iPod touch cases made of a selection of bamboo and hardwood has diversified into iPad cases.  Similarly crafted, Vers’ iPad cases have a soft-touch inner lining with a steel reinforced wooden shell. The case is complete with a kickstand for hands-free table top viewing.

verswooden2 Top Ten Cool iPad Cases

2. Belkin Grip Vue Case
To many, the Apple iPad is a thing of beauty.  So then, why cover such a beautiful thing with a not-so-beautiful case?  This is precisely the question Belkin undoubtedly had in mind when they developed the Grip Vue.  Made of clear Thermoplastic Polyurethane, the Grip Vue showcases the iPad’s chic design while also providing a tight rubber-like grip and flexible protection for your iPad.

belkingripvue Top Ten Cool iPad Cases


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3. Apple OEM iPad Case
We were reluctant to include Apple’s very own genuine OEM case in our lineup, but given its comparable price point, functionality and Apple build quality, we decided to let it make the cut.  Apple’s official iPad case has a soft microfiber interior to keep your iPad cozy, and a reinforced matte outer shell.  The case open like a book, and can also fold either horizontally or vertically to provide an ideal viewing or typing angle.

appleoemipadcase Top Ten Cool iPad Cases

4. Bubble Case by Hard Candy
A seasoned contributor to the Apple gadget case market, Hard Candy’s Bubble Case for iPad will protect your iPad while you’re on-the-go and offer a unique style to boot.  Available in black, pink or an exotic green, the Hard Cnady case offers shock-absorbing bubbles and a zippered, reinforced neoprene case that feel great to the touch.

hardcandybubblecase Top Ten Cool iPad Cases

5. Quirky Cloak Undercover Case
This unique iPad case truly is a tad bit quirky.  The Quirky Cloak is a chic if interestingly styled iPad case with a look designed to mimic that of an office folder.  Coming in an array of colors, the Cloak is constructed from a non-slip rubber material and durable plastic.  The case can even be propped up in landscape or portrait view -- either with a plastic support brace (portrait) or by flipping the case's cover backwards (landscape).

quirkycloakundercover Top Ten Cool iPad Cases

6. Happy Owl Studio Clutch Case
Remember your prized Trapper Keeper from 3rd grade?  Well, consider this iPad case a slightly graduated version.  The Clutch has a snug space just for your iPad, but where it gets interesting is a plethora of pockets for your mobile phone, MiFi, pen, passport, credit cards and more.  The case even can stand upright in landscape for hands-free movie watching, or tilt upwards to provide an ideal typing angle.

clutch1 Top Ten Cool iPad Cases

7. Griffin Elan Passport Case
For a stylish, unassuming leather portfolio slip that will blend right in with the typical businessman's (or businesswoman's) persona, the Elan Passport by Griffin Technology is a simple flip-style case that will keep your iPad safe when in use or when on the go.  The interior of the case is a soft, gray microsuede material, while the outside is a black leather.

griffinelan Top Ten Cool iPad Cases

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8. drawCase for iPad
This interesting approach to an iPad case will keep your most treasured possession safe by encasing it in "lightweight, impact and crush resistant shell" made out of aluminum.  The interior is even made of a cushioned foam to help absorb shock should your iPad take an unfortunate spill.  The drawCase will be offered in a rainbow of colors.

drawcase Top Ten Cool iPad Cases

9. Belkin Envelope
Belkin makes our list twice, offering a leather-ized approach to the string-fastening manila folder.  The Belkin Envelope is a simple and minimalistic way to protect your iPad from hard with a soft microfiber inner lining.

belkinenvelope Top Ten Cool iPad Cases

10. XGearlive Blackout Case
The Blackout case by XGearlive has two parts -- a hard plastic backing that conforms to your iPad and a front sturdy plastic cover that snaps tightly into place when the device isn't in use.  The Blackout provide full access to all of the iPad's ports and controls for easy access without removing the case's backing.

blackout Top Ten Cool iPad Cases


Amazon Kindle vs. B&N Nook

February 28th, 2010 Posted in eBook Readers - Featured 1 Comment »

Deciding between the Amazon Kindle 2 vs. the Barnes & Noble Nook is no doubt a difficult proposition. At first glance, these two devices are incredibly similar. Upon closer examination though, both the Kindle and Nook have a number of attractive features that differentiate them from their respective arch nemesis. Here at eReader Leader, we aim to help you compare both of these wildly popular eBook readers side-by-side so you can decide which device is truly right for you.

Key Differences

  • Content: While the Amazon Kindle supports a vast amount of content available from Amazon's Kindle store, the Barnes and Noble Nook technically can offer more than twice the content that the Kindle can because the Nook supports the ePub open format of eBooks.  Thousands of titles are available for free in the ePub format, but much of the Kindles content is not free -- although Amazon does offer quite a few free titles, including well-known older book titles.
  • Display: For all intents and purposes, the display on the Amazon Kindle and B&N Nook is the same 6-inch e-ink screen.  The Nook, however, has an additional color screen that offers a virtual QWERTY keyboard instead of the Kindle's physical QWERTY, and provides the ability to slip through books and more.
  • Web browser: Quite simply, the Amazon Kindle offers the ability to surf the web through a basic yet functional internet browser for free using AT&T's or Sprint's 3G network.  At this time, the Nook is not equipped with a web browser.
  • Wireless: In the Wireless department, the Nook has a leg up on the Amazon Kindle.  The Nook is equipped with WiFi in addition to a 3G radio.  As such, the Nook can download content while in range of a WiFi network or AT&T's 3G network.  Depending on the Kindle (the Kindle 2 has two versions -- one with Sprint 3G and one with AT&T 3G), the device can connect anywhere with 3G service, but has no WiFi access.
  • Expandable memory: Both devices have a similar amount of storage space available right out of the box, but the Nook has a microSD card slot, allowing it to have significantly more storage space than the Kindle.  While both devices will store plenty of reading material, storage space becomes a bigger factor if a user wants to use the device to store and play music, for example.
  • Battery life: While battery life is hard to equate equally, the Kindle has marginally longer battery life than the Nook.  Both devices, however, have impressive battery life, and can keep you reading well beyond a week -- no need to pack a charger on that next vacation.

Comparison Chart: Amazon Kindle 2 vs. Barnes & Noble Nook

kindle2 Amazon Kindle vs. B&N Nook
nook Amazon Kindle vs. B&N Nook
Amazon Kindle 2
Barnes & Noble Nook
shop Amazon Kindle vs. B&N Nook
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Resources
Review
Not yet available
Not yet available
Device
Dimensions
8" x 5.3" x .36"
7.7" x 4.9" x .5"
Weight
10.2 oz.
11.2"
Screen(s)
6" e-ink display; 16 shades of gray; 600 x 800 pixels
6" e-ink display; 16 shades of gray & 3.5" color touchscreen
Battery life
Up to 4 days (wireless on); up to 2 weeks (wireless off)
Up to 10 days (wireless off)
Input
Physical keyboard, buttons, joystick
Touchscreen, virtual keyboard, physical buttons
Memory
2GB (1.4GB available)
2GB
Expandable memory
No
Yes (microSD)
Books & Content
Available sources
Amazon Kindle Store (400,000+ books, newspapers, magazines, and blogs available)
Nook Shop (1 million titles available, 500,000 free titles, newspapers, magazines)
Connectivity
3G
Yes (Latest edition AT&T 3G w/ international roaming; previous edition Sprint 3G); Free
Yes (AT&T 3G); Free
WiFi
No
Yes; Free WiFi access in Barnes & Noble Stores
USB
Yes
Yes
Features
Built-in dictionary
Yes
Yes
Web browser
Yes
No
Audio player
Yes
Yes
Other highlights
Text-to-speech capabilities; built-in speaker
Books can be loaned to other Nook users & friends w/ Nook software for PC, Mac, BlackBerry, iPhone
Supported Formats
ePub open format
No
Yes
Adobe PDF
Yes (conversion to Kindle format required)
Yes
Microsoft DOC
Yes (conversion to Kindle format required)
No
Other
Proprietary Kindle format (AZW)
-