Hasta La Gadget!

See this? It’s a leaked photo of the next generation iPad’s back casing. Or so we’re told. The key difference on this one is the presence of two dock connectors, so you can charge the thing up while it’s in landscape or portrait mode. Pretty cool, no?

Engadget has what may be some bad news for rumor hounds out there, however–in the words of the site, “this isn’t a sign of things to come — it’s a future that never was.”

What does that mean, precisely? Well, apparently Apple explored the possibility of dual docks early on in the iPad prototyping process, meaning that these “next-gen leaks” may well actually be shots of those earlier prototypes.

Of course, we shouldn’t rule out the possibility that Apple, for whatever reason, has opted to return to that original two-port design. Let’s meet back here in January to discuss.

Remember Apple’s Power Mac G4 Cube (2000-2001)? Apple sold the Cube as a stylish compact desktop, but instead it would go on to become a squat plastic symbol of Steve Jobs’ fallibility. 

I used a Cube at my very first job after graduation. The thing lacked a conventional fan, so it overheated and crashed a lot. Constantly, in fact. Lots of Cubes did. The workaround discussed on the message boards of the time was to stick some cardboard in its vent to cool the little sucker down. It kinda worked.

My boss justified shelling out $1,500 because “it just looked so cool.” Keep in mind, this was following the go-go 1990s, it was a different era–the cold war had ended, reality TV was just beginning to weave its way into the cultural fabric, and the economy wasn’t teetering on the edge of a gold-and-barter based abyss. Back then, you could realistically justify purchasing a computer simply because it kinda sorta looked like a prop from Sleepers.

We were all so naive and adorable.

However, despite its technical shortcomings, lackluster sales record, and untimely demise, the Cube did, in fact, look really cool. The New York branch of the MOMA still has one in their permanent design collection.

That’s why I’m glad that the Cube has found a new occupation in its golden years–as a technologically-ironic tissue box.

Were you one of the unfortunate suckers who was swayed by Slick Steve’s little future box of mystery? If so, now you can take some solace in the fact that your purchase didn’t go to complete waste. In a few easy steps, you can re-purpose your Cube as a tabletop accessory that not only hearkens back to a gadgetry of yore, but will help stop fluids from leaking out your nasal passages. Just in time for cold and flu season.

So, congratulations to you, Cube. For today, you have discovered your true calling in life.

Gesundheit, you stupid little box.

How do you measure success? It’s a tricky, subjective question. By most standards, however, selling 12 million of something priced between $499 and $829 certainly qualifies, right? That’s the estimate being given by analysts–Apple is expected to sell between 11 and 12 million iPad this year.

The word “staggering” comes to mind.

Just the other day, we were telling you that Apple’s tablet has outpaced both the iPhone and DVD player, in terms of adoption rate–the iPhone sold one million units in its first quarter. All manufacturers of the DVD player sold 350,000 units in the first year combined. The iPad is on track to sell 4.5 million it is first quarter.

According to The Wall Street Journal, that number is expected to catapult to between 11 and 12 million–helped along, no doubt, by the holiday blitz. In 2011, that number is expected to almost double to 20 million–even after the introduction of competing tablets from companies like Dell, Samsung, RIM, and, most likely, HP.

Is Apple’s iPad eating into PC sales? Not according to NPD–at least not significantly. A survey by the research group found that only 13 percent of those who purchased an iPad did so instead of buying a computer. That’s compared to 24 percent who bought Apple’s tablet in place of a dedicated eBook reader.

Those relatively early adopters who picked up Apple’s tablet are likely aware that the thing isn’t intended to be a full-on desktop or laptop replacement, but rather the “third screen” that Jobs drove home when he first introduced the product last January. The question, however, was whether consumers would be putting off purchasing a replacement for their three, four, or five year old PC, in favor of picking up the iPad.

Less surprising in the study is the fact that a healthy percentage–48 percent–of iPad owners also owned a Mac desktop or laptop. Fifty-three percent of iPad owners, according to the numbers, had a Windows machine at home–that’s versus 75 percent in the overall computer-owning community.

Perhaps one of the least protective iPad cases available but simultaneously one of the coolest ones, Colorware’s new Grip for iPad is the first product that Colorware actually manufactures. The company has made its success on providing customization and color options for a gaming consoles, laptops, and other devices that you couldn’t get from their manufacturers.

The new Grip for iPad is made of aircraft aluminum and fits snugly around your iPad to keep it protected. It features a prominent handle on the side of the case, and comes in virtually any color you choose. It’s available in three different models: the version that fits an unpainted, stock iPad, or one of the two versions that fits an iPad that’s been painted by ColorWare with wither a glossy finish or the “softtouch” matte finish.

The Grip for iPad will cost you $300, regardless of which model you select, and each one comes with tools and instructions to make sure you install it around your iPad for the best fit and protection. New orders will ship in 3-4 weeks.