Global TechBlog

If you’re using both hands to play a musical instrument, the last thing you want to worry about is turning the pages of sheet-music as you play. The traditional solution was to make somebody do it for you, or to quickly reach up and do it yourself.

Tech has helped. These days a laptop with a USB foot-pedal is the way to go, but there have been all manner of spring-loaded and hydraulic contraptions invented to turn actual paper pages. These were, as you might expect, less than reliable.

Airturn, maker of sheet-music-reading software and hardware, has come up with a solution for the iPad. Apple’s tablet would seem to be the perfect device for reading music: it’s big enough to replace a piece of paper, whilst still slim and light enough to put on a music stand. Combined with Airturn’s new Bluetooth foot-switch, it makes a reliable, wire-free and practical solution.

The BT-105, as it is called, has a pair of switches, one to page forward, and one to page back. The switch doesn’t just work with the company’s own software, either. The video demo shows it controlling a third-party app with a zoom feature. In this case, the switch can tell the app to flip half a page at a time or, more accurately, to show the second half of the page before it flips to the next one.

The switch is in development right now, but should be available in the last quarter of this year.

iPad Bluetooth page turner footswitch prototype [Airturn. Thanks, Hugh!]

•By Charlie Sorrel

Read More http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2010/07/ipad-sheet-music-foot-switch-is-a-real-page-turner/#ixzz0uvVK0V15

Read More http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2010/07/ipad-sheet-music-foot-switch-is-a-real-page-turner/#ixzz0uvV6hfEn

Via: http://www.wired.com

IRIZER ADJUSTABLE STAND FOR IPAD

Publisher: MATIAS
UPC: 833742003042
Navarre Part #: 8064921
Manufacture Part #: IR102P
Platform: IPAD ACCESSORIES
Genre: ACCESSORIES

Release Date: 7/19/2010

Box Size: AC
MSRP: $39.95

Height: 0.500 in.
Width: 7.000 in.
Depth: 8.000 in.
Weight: 0.750 lbs. Description:

Raises your iPad to a more comfortable viewing position. Adjusts to five angles: 20, 30, 40, 50 or 70 degrees. Consists of two pieces that slide into each other. Packs flat for easy transport.

Features:

Raises your iPad to a better viewing position.
Adjusts to 5 different angles.
Simple, elegant design.
Packs flat for easy transport.

Includes:

Stand.
Instruction card.

Sturdy protection for the iPad

Mark Hattersley 

• Manufacturer: zCover
• Manufacturer: zCover
• Pros: Solid protection, easy to get on and off
• Cons: Flexible material, ungainly appearance, open back when you carry it around
• Price: $49.99
• Star rating:

zCover is well known amongst the Macworld team for its silicon covers that protect, and change the appearance of, a wide range of devices, now including the Apple iPad.

The zCover gloveOne Shield Set for Apple iPad surrounds the corners of the iPad with a rubberised grip, while a see-through hard shield clips over either the screen, when not being used, or clipped around the rear of the device when you’re using it.

In terms of styling, the zCover case does lose out to some of the more executive and stylish cases we’ve seen lately. Having said that there is a certain practicality to the device; the rubberised silicon stoutly protects the edges, while the bulletproof (according to zCover) plastic shield will firmly keep the screen from scratches.

The screen can also be used underneath the device to slightly tilt the iPad up, making it slightly easier to type on.

There are some gaps, especially around the dock connector socket, although it’s worth noting that this enables the device to plug in to Apple’s Dock Connector. It has also been designed to enable full access to all of the buttons, headphone jack, speaker, and the ambient light sensor.

Macworld Buying Advice

While the zCover gloveOne Shield Set for Apple iPad case isn’t the most gainly accessory, it is one of the most practical. It firmly protects the iPad corners, and screen, while providing full access to all the ports (including the Dock connector).

via:  MacWorld UK

http://www.macworld.co.uk/ipod-itunes/reviews/index.cfm?reviewid=3224039