Briefly: Belkin iPad speakers, Crayola iPad pens, G-Tech
updated 01:48 am EST, Tue January 8, 2013
Belkin offers 'home theater' slipcase speaker stand for iPad
Among the many goodies to be found at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, Electronista spotted the Belkin Thunderstorm Handheld Home Theater speaker stand ($200). It combines a folio-style iPad case with front-facing speakers and features a free app to help customize the sound to different kinds of media. The case will be available both in 30-pin and Lightning connector styles, with the latter becoming available in the spring. The unit turns an iPad into a 9.7-inch landscape HD cinema and offers pass-trough access to the rear camera, mic, headset jack and other controls.
G-Technology unveils G-Drive mini, G-RAID mini external drives
Firewire may not be present on some of the latest Mac models, but its far from dead as far as G-Technology is concerned. The company has brought out a new bus-powered G-Drive mini ($244) that features two FW800 connectors and a USB 3.0 port as well. The unit is shipping now, offering a 1TB, 7,200-rpm drive for storage. G-Tech is also offering the larger G-RAID mini ($552), a RAID 0 device that sports a pair of 7,200rpm 1TB drives and supports a variety of high-definition video formats, including ProRes 422HQ, HDV, DVCPRO HD and XDCAM HD. It offers two FW800, one USB 2.0 port and an eSATA connector. The G-RAID mini is expected to ship this quarter. Both devices come with a standard three-year warranty.
Griffin, Crayola team up for light pens, kids activity apps, more
Accessory maker Griffin Technology and Crayola have collaborated on a suite of thee new products aimed at encouraging kid's creativity. Among the items is the Color & Play Workstation ($20), a kind of iPad snap-in case that includes room to store electronic crayons and other input devices while protecting the iPad screen. The Crayola Digital Activity Center ($40) is a kind of lap desk with the same idea in mind: it shows the iPad's screen but protects it as children use it as a giant coloring book and dry-erase board. Finally, the company offers a Light Marker ($30), a pen-like stylus that lets children draw in the air in front of the iPad rather than on a protective screen. It uses the front facing camera to capture "strokes" and display them on screen, and is supported with a number of apps. The Light Marker will ship in the spring.
