Belkin introduces Thunderstorm Handheld Home Theater for iPad, we go hands-on

Belkin introduces Thunderstorm Handheld Home Theater for iPad handson

While Belkin has long been at the forefront of Apple accessories, offering everything from keyboard cases to baby monitors, it somehow left the audio arena unexplored. That ends today with the introduction of the Belkin Thunderstorm Handheld Home Theater. Behind that mouthful of a product name is essentially a portable speaker dock for the iPad housed inside a protective case, which seems a lot more reasonable than Bang & Olufsen’s pricey speaker “wedge.” The Thunderstorm’s front-facing speaker system boasts full-range drivers and integrated air channels for “immersive sound” and “deeper bass.” All the internals are powered by Audifi, a mobile audio engineering outfit that Belkin specifically hired for the project. As for the cover, Belkin took a cue from Apple’s own magnetic offering, but went a step further with the addition of multifold creases for different viewing angles.

We spent a few days with the Thunderstorm and so far we’re impressed with the volume and depth from such slim speakers. Though we didn’t have a chance to test it, Belkin is also offering a free iOS app to accompany the product — it essentially lets you fine-tune the audio with presets for music, movies and games. However the Thunderstorm is not without a few annoyances: the case adds an unsettling amount of bulk to the iPad and it’s currently only available with the now-ancient 30-pin connector (we’re told a Lightning-equipped version is due in Q2 2013). If you’re happy with the ole universal dock though, you can pick this up in the coming weeks from Belkin’s online store, Amazon.com or the Apple Store for $200 a pop. In the mean time, you can get a closer look at it with the galleries after the break.

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IRL: Ballistic Tough Jacket, Dell UltraSharp U2412M and an argument for disposable AA batteries

Welcome to IRL, an ongoing feature where we talk about the gadgets, apps and toys we’re using in real life and take a second look at products that already got the formal review treatment.

What a week. What a month! So far this September, Amazon, Nokia, Motorola and Apple have announced new products, and HTC is up next, with a press event scheduled for Wednesday. We’ll let you speak for yourselves — maybe you want more liveblogs — but we here at Engadget keen to take a break from the hands-on posts and breaking news posts and talk shop about the products we already own. This week, Jason tests a rugged tablet sleeve, Don rates his Dell monitor and Darren makes the case for disposable AAs (and yes, he has a favorite brand).

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IRL: Ballistic Tough Jacket, Dell UltraSharp U2412M and an argument for disposable AA batteries originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 16 Sep 2012 14:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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ZAGG intros a pair of Bluetooth keyboard cases for the iPad, three pairs of gaming headphones

DNP Zagg

Sometimes at trade shows we see funky-looking Windows 8 devices, other times we see bags filled with a morphing rainbow colors and sometimes we see things whose importance falls somewhere in the middle. That’s the situation ZAGG finds itself in this week, as it tries to win attention at IFA amid dozens of laptop / tablet hybrids and 84-inch TVs. The company is in Berlin as we type this, showing off the new ZAGGkeys Pro and Pro Plus, two Bluetooth keyboard cases for the iPad. Both have a magnetic closure, but the Pro version adds backlighting. Those will be available at the end of September for $99 and $129, respectively. Additionally, the company announced a trio of Caliber gaming headphones, including the Stealth, a pair optimized for mobile devices, and the Axiom, which works with Macs, PCs, the Xbox and PS3. Both have in-line controls. Rounding out the list, there’s the Vanguard, which offers 7.1 channel audio. Look for these in October, for $60, $90 and $130, respectively. The PR’s embedded after the break, though you won’t find much more detail there, sadly.

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ZAGG intros a pair of Bluetooth keyboard cases for the iPad, three pairs of gaming headphones originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 31 Aug 2012 04:52:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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LaunchPort releasing AP.3 sleeve for juicing your new iPad the inductive way

LaunchPort releasing AP.3 sleeve for juicing your new iPad the inductive way

LaunchPort is finally releasing a sleeve for the new iPad, which makes it compatible with the company’s inductive charging gear. It goes on sale in September for a hefty $149, and of course, you’ll also need at least one $199 tabletop or wall mount to connect it to. The sleeve also works with the iPad 2, and if you’re thinking about getting one, be quick — it’s only a matter of time before resonance charging renders inductive juicing a little passé.

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LaunchPort releasing AP.3 sleeve for juicing your new iPad the inductive way originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 30 Aug 2012 20:22:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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VestGuard UK Ballistic cover will protect your iPad from tablet-related gunplay

VestGuard UK Ballistic cover will protect iPad from tabletrelated gunplay

If you find yourself in the position of regularly having your iPad shot at, VestGuard UK sure has the tablet case for you. The Ballistic cover is made of “cutting edge uni-directional aramid fibers processed to a high tolerance in VestGuard’s state of the art facility” that make it possible for the case to stop bullets from a 9mm handgun. In other words, the company’s bulletproof claims are “not a metaphor,” as stated in the post-script of its press materials. And judging from its current selection of products, which include body armor, de-mining helmets and Kevlar gloves, the company knows a thing or two about heavy duty protection. Not a lot in the way of information on availability at the moment, however, since the covers are not quite ready for sale.

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VestGuard UK Ballistic cover will protect your iPad from tablet-related gunplay originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 18 Jul 2012 06:22:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Griffin outs Binder Insert case for the iPad, brings Trapper Keepers to the 21st century for $25

Griffin outs Binder Insert case for the iPad, brings Trapper Keepers for the 21st century for $25

Just in case you’re not quite ready to rid your studies of tree pulp, Griffin has announced the Binder Insert case for your Five Star zipper notebook. The enclosure secures the iPad 2 or third-generation model in a 3-ring binder for easy camouflage of those in-class Angry Birds habits — or for switching back and forth between a slate and the blue-lined white stuff. A stylus loop and access to the dock connector, volume controls, headphone jack and camera are also taken into consideration around the case’s edge. In order to get your learning setup just so, be ready to part with $24.99 in order to grab one.

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Griffin outs Binder Insert case for the iPad, brings Trapper Keepers to the 21st century for $25 originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 17 Jul 2012 21:27:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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