Some exercising caution

A number of accessory makers are already producing gear for the iPad, even though few if any have had hands-on experience with the device, says the Wall Street Journal. One of the earliest examples may be Trexta, which during this month's Macworld expo was already demonstrating a prototype case meant to ease typing. Many companies intend to have accessories ready within days or weeks of the iPad launch.

Griffin for instance began to design cases and talk to manufacturers just hours after the tablet's debut, and GelaSkins says it will have a sticker cover template ready the same day it gets its first iPad. Online sales should begin the day after, the company adds. Targus, a business working on another stand case, says it began the design process before Apple CEO Steve Jobs even took the stage. "There was only one-tenth of an inch difference on the thickness," claims a product manager.

Other outfits are exercising more caution, such as Blue Microphones. "If you're making it [an accessory] for a product, you want to make sure there's a market," a company sales representative explains. Griffin president Mark Rowan comments that it is still unknown what iPad tasks people may need accessories for.

An external battery maker, Sanho, meanwhile says it will have products out by April or May. The first iHome speaker products should be relatively late, shipping in January. The month may nevertheless be lucrative, as it is a period of peak sales following Christmas hardware purchases.

by MacNN Staff