iPad

When high fashion meets high tech, it is worthy of a celebration. That's definitely the case (no pun intended) with these Lanvin iPad and iPhone cases designed specially for Fashion's Night Out.

To mark this year's Fashion Week kickoff extravaganza, Lanvin has created a line of limited-edition tech accessories with an eccentric touch. Featuring original sketches by designer Alber Elbaz, these cases are full of color and whimsy. Choosing between the iPad case ($145) or iPhone case ($85) may be too difficult; we might just have to add both to our list of coveted designer cases.

Reading a book can help you drift off to sleep, but you've always been told to power down your electronics at least 20 minutes before you'd like to go to sleep — a confusing proposition if you've eschewed paperback books in favor of your iPad.

A new study confirms that you should, in fact, stack your nightstand with books rather than your tablet. The small study found that two hours of exposure to the light from your tablet or laptop reduced melatonin, a hormone that helps regulate your sleep cycle, by 22 percent. Melatonin suppression can lead to disruptive sleep and changes in your circadian rhythm; that's why it's important to avoid things like artificial light that can alter your body clock. So if you're used to reading a few chapters before bed on your tablet and are finding it hard to get quality sleep, switch to a good old book instead. If you can't part with technology, e-ink readers like a text-only Kindle or Nook are fine to use since they don't emit light.

It's been a year since LeapFrog debuted the LeapPad and gave tots the first tablet of their own. And while the devices weren't exactly easy to come by (it was easily the hottest toy of 2011), those who did get their hands on them were easily impressed with the pad's touchscreen, built-in camera, tilt-sensor, and enhanced ereader.

That's not to say the LeapPad didn't have its detractors. Well, it appears that the company listened to some of the users' complaints, and less than 12 months after the original version hit the stores, the company is preparing to introduce the LeapPad2 Learning Tablet ($100 for pink or green and $130 for a Disney Princess Bundle) next week. While I've been more than happy with our first-generation LeapPads at home, I was eager to see where the company made improvements on the devices. LeapFrog sent us a tablet to try out; see what we thought below.

Who is this product designed for? After seeing preschoolers snag their older siblings' LeapPads last year, LeapFrog has expanded the age range to include 3- to 9-year-olds (rather than starting at 4 years old), meaning games and apps will also be available for the younger set.

What sets it apart? The original LeapPad made its mark with its tablet-like features that gave tots the feeling they were playing with a sophisticated system. With an accelerometer that transforms the tablet into a gaming console for motion-based games; a library of more than 325 games, apps, music, and videos; and the incorporation of Ultra eBooks, the LeapPad had virtually everything a kid could want. The next-generation version only improves upon those features.

• While the screen size (five inches) and resolution (480 by 272 pixels) remain the same, the LeapPad2 now has a second camera installed in the tablet — a 2MP front-facing video and still camera that makes taking a self-portrait easier than ever.
• The more powerful camera results in larger photo files, so the folks at LeapFrog increased the product's memory to 4GB of storage (up from 2GB) so more photos, videos, and apps can remain on the device.
• A faster processor (550 MHz vs. 393 MHz) means apps and games load much faster than before.
• A new music player (already preinstalled on the device) plays educational songs.
• One of my biggest complaints about the original LeapPad was how quickly it burned through batteries. The new version not only extends battery life another hour (up to nine hours), but a rechargeable battery pack can also be purchased separately, so the device can be plugged in and charged when not in use. My wallet and the environment thank LeapFrog for that.
• The new creativity app, Cartoon Director (included on the device), allows tots to place their mugshot onto cartoon characters and then turn them into movies.
• All apps and games purchased for the original LeapPad are compatible with the new version too.

Keep reading to see what could be better an how long the tablet entertains a youngster.

Consider yourself an Instagram addict? Chances are you've already heard about (and possibly created) Casetagram cases for the iPhone. Now the company also offers personalized cases for the iPad at $55 each. Interested? All you need to do is import your Instagram photos on the Casetagram website, create a collage, and then order your case to be printed and shipped. Couldn't be simpler — and it would make a thoughtful, creative gift idea, too.

We've made cinemagraphs in the past, but we hadn't seen jaw-dropping HD results until the Echograph. Recently referred to as "the Instagram of animated GIFs" by Wired, Echograph ($3) allows you to paint video elements into still photographs.

So how does the app work? After capturing or uploading a video onto your iPad, trim a five-second video clip and choose a specific frame as the still image. Next, you use your finger to erase part of that image, then replace it with dynamic video to create an Echograph. In other words, it's art meets photography meets video — how cool is that?

Just a month after the debut of the latest iPad, the Apple-product rumor mill is moving again, this time with speculation that an iPad Mini will hit store shelves later this year. With a reported cost of $300, an iPad Mini would place Apple front and center of the more affordable and smaller tablet market, which includes the Kindle Fire and Samsung Galaxy Tab.

Do we need an iPad Mini, though? One of the iPad's greatest differentiators in the tablet scene is its size; a user can feel comfortable browsing the web, editing photos, or watching new releases on the nearly 10-inch screen. With rumors of Apple looking to compete in the world of smaller tablets, the sole reason we could see to add yet another gadget to our tech family is: it'd make a perfect ereader. Using the full-size iPad to read a book while curled up in bed or squished on a crowded bus isn't always an easy one-handed task. However, an iPad Mini might offer reason enough to finally streamline our ereader and tablet into one product.

Do you agree? For what reasons would you purchase and use an iPad Mini?

Source: Flickr User inUse Consulting