Apple : Updated: 10 best gifts for iPad owners |
| Updated: 10 best gifts for iPad owners Posted:  10 best gifts for iPad ownersWith Apple releasing both the iPad with Retina display and the iPad mini just before the holidays, there'll be a lot of thin, rectangular boxes wrapped up for Christmas. If you know someone who's getting an iPad, or has one already, and want to get them something to go with it, we've rounded up 10 of the best accessories you buy. Most of them will be compatible with the iPad 2 or third-generation iPad as well, so no one needs to be left out. 1. Smart Cover/Case - From £25
Apple's clever cover comes in a variety of colours, and now offers the option to protect the back as well as the front. Same as it ever was, the Smart Cover connects to the iPad 2, 3 or 4 via magnets on the side of the device, and folds back to prop it up a comfortable angle for typing, or for watching videos. The Smart Case protects the back of the device as well, but still folds back to prop the iPad up. Even the iPad mini is in on the action, with its own Smart Cover. And all three will turn the iPad's screen off when closed, and turn it on as soon as you open them.
2. Altec Lansing Octiv 450 - £80
The Octiv 450 is a great desk dock for an iPad 2, holding it at a good height for watching video or working, charging it, rotating into either portrait or landscape, and it's got a great-quality speaker in the base.
3. Pure Contour 200i Air - £200
With Apple switching from the dock connector to the Lightning port, a lot of speaker docks are no good with the fourth-generation iPad, or the iPad mini. AirPlay speaker will work with any of them, though, and the Pure Contour 200i Air offers unbeatable value for money in the expensive world of AirPlay. It's brilliantly crisp and clear, with well-defined bass.
4. Twelve South Compass - £25
If you're looking to prop your iPad up on your desk without taking up too much space, the Twelve South Compass is a meticulously made iPad stand that folds away for travelling. Unfold it and it can hold your iPad at various angles, fold it up and it can be popped into a drawer. 5. Sennheiser PX 210 BT headphones - £140
If you're watching video on your iPad on the train or somewhere similar, cabled headphones can get in the way. Bluetooth headphones are convenient and the sound quality is great, especially on these great little travel headphones from Sennheiser. They offer volume controls on the headpieces, as well as a mic for making video calls, if you want to use them for FaceTime or Skype.
6. Logitech Ultrathin Keyboard Cover - £73
The Logitech Ultrathin Keyboard Cover is the closest you'll get to the Microsoft Surface Type Cover you can get for the iPad. It's a Bluetooth keyboard that's also a thin, light case, but the important thing is that it's absolutely brilliant to type on – there are no compromises. It attaches to the iPad using the magnets on the side, using them both when it's closed as a cover, and to prop up the iPad when you're using it. It's not cheap, though, so if you want a great portable Bluetooth keyboard for less, try Logitech's Tablet Keyboard for iPad.
7. Pogo Connect stylus
The Pogo Connect is a brilliant stylus for artists, because it's pressure sensitive, unlike most iPad styluses. It connects via Bluetooth and only works with certain apps, but they're the most important ones, such as Noteshelf and Procreate. If you want something that's great with everything, though, look at the Adonit Jot Pro, with has a clear disc instead of a stubby nib, so you can work with precision. 8. Griffin Cinema Seat - £15
If you're going to be taking the kids on long journies, the CinemaSeat is the perfect way to help keep them entertained: pop your iPad in it and strap it to the back of the driver's or passenger's seat, and bingo! An in-car TV! Moreover, when you get to your destination, it doubles as a protective case for your iPad when you take it out of the car. 9. New Trent iMP120D
The iPad 3 and latest iPad with Retina display have huge batteries to power their Retina displays, and it can be tough to keep them topped up. This New Trent power pack offers an incredible amount of charge for the money, capable of taking an iPad 3 to around 90% of full from zero. It can charge most other devices, too, thanks to its USB ports, so as long as you've got a cable, it can keep you in power. 10. iTunes gift cards - From £15
With the Retina iPads being perfect for HD video, the iPad mini being perfect for reading and all models being great gaming devices, an iTunes gift card is a great gift, letting whoever receives it buy whatever they want from the iTunes Store, the App Store or the iBookstore. With thousands of movies, TV shows and books, and nearly a million apps, there will definitely be something they'll love. |
| Apple stores bring in big money for a small space Posted:  While it's well known that Apple's products turn a profit, a new report shows that Apple's retail stores are doing very well for the company. Independent retail analyst firm RetailSails released its 2012 chain store productivity guide, which shows Apple turning a profit with its highly efficient stores. The most interesting statistic for Apple comes from its sales per square foot ratio, where Apple stores average $6,050 (UK£3,812, AUD$5,799) per square foot of retail space. As a comparison, the store closest to Apple's sales per square foot is Tiffany's at $3,017 (UK£1,901, AUD$2,892). Companies like Lululemon athletica, Coach, and Michael Kors follow behind under $2,000 (UK£1,260, AU$D1,917) per square foot. Measuring retail successOf course, the comparison is unfair since clothing stores will have extra space for things like changing rooms, which Apple stores do not need to account for in their square footage. Sales per square footage of retail space may seem like an arbitrary metric, but it can actually be quite valuable. Shoppers are increasingly turning to online storefronts rather than brick and mortar locations. A recent study projected that online shopping will increase by 25 percent for holiday shopping this year, which had already seen an increase over the year prior. Many retailers have had to close retail stores as part of the shift, and there is now increased pressure to justify the stores that are still open. Not that Apple stores are in danger of closing any time soon, as those retail spots were a big part of the iPhone 5 reaching five million sales at launch and the successful launch of the iPad mini and iPad 4. After all, if not for Apple stores where would people go to find out that the newest Apple device is already sold out? |
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