Skip to main content

Sound Cover iPad case packs NXT speakers inside a smart cover

By
There's no shortage of options for those looking to add some extra audio oomph to their iPad. From the multitude of docks on offer to Bluetooth or Airplay-enabled wireless speaker systems and more portable options such as the Logitech Tablet Speaker or iLuv iSP150. But none are as portable as the Sound Cover, which as the name suggests, combines stereo speakers with that most ubiquitous of iPad accessories, the cover.

The Sound Cover is the brainchild of Hong Kong-based Petur Hannes Olafsson, who is seeking to raise funds via Kickstarter. He has managed to cram a pair of rechargeable stereo speakers into a thin iPad case by relying on NXT speaker technology. Unlike traditional speakers that rely on a combination of coils, magnets and cones to generate sound waves, NXT speakers use exciters to vibrate a flat panel instead. Integrating these speakers into a thin, durable ABS case allows the Sound Cover to boost the volume of an iPad by up to 300 percent and improve the frequency response, Olafsson says, while providing protection for the device when not in use.
The Sound Cover is powered by its own built-in 1600 mAh rechargeable lithium-ion battery that boasts a life of up to 12 hours and is charged via USB. The standard Sound Cover connects to an iPad via a 3.5 mm jack and its volume is controlled via the iPad's controls, but there will also be a Bluetooth edition to provide a wireless audio connection. Like Apple's Smart Cover for the iPad 2, the cover also features in-built magnets to automatically put the tablet to sleep or wake it up when the cover is closed or opened.
The case itself consists of two flat ABS boards that are wrapped in leather and joined by a stainless steel hinge. Olafsson says the hinge has undergone 17,000 rigorous testings and allows the cover to be bent and folded a number of ways to act as a stand to suit a variety of circumstances - from listening to music, watching a movie, playing games, or to provide extra stability while typing on the iPad's onscreen keyboard.
The Sound Cover will only be offered for iPad 2 or newer, with pre-orders for the iPad 2 and yet to be released iPad 3 being taken now. At the time of writing the project had attracted just over US$6,000 of its $25,000 goal, with 28 days to go. If the funding goal is reached and the Sound Cover put into production, the standard unit is estimated to retail for $129 (or $110 including postage for those pledging $110 or more).


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Google and Stanford early adopters of Honda Fit EV

By
Honda's first all-electric vehicle is hitting the streets a little early. The  Honda Fit EV  debuted at the Los Angeles Auto Show in November 2011, and it's expected to be     available for lease this summer. However,  Honda announced  that Google and Stanford University got a special early delivery of the tiny EV this week.The Honda Fit EV is equipped with a 20kWh lithium ion battery, and has an EPA estimated driving range of 76 miles. Google added the EV to its  car -sharing service for employees, dubbed the G-Fleet, in    Mountain View, Calif. The search giant maintains several electric and plug-in vehicles that it uses for research and to cart Googlers around town and between buildings on campus. Stanford University also is an early adopter of the Fit EV, but will be using it primarily for research. The university's automotive research department will study the difference in psychological and physical reactions of using battery...
Post a Comment
Read more

Hand-manipulated objects and transparent displays - the computer desktop of tomorrow

By
A see-through screen, digital 3D objects manipulated by hand, perspective adjustments according to the user's viewing angle - these are the core features of a prototype computer desktop user interface created by Microsoft's Applied Sciences Group. The prototype uses a "unique" Samsung transparent OLED display through which the user can see their own hands to manipulate 3D objects which appear to be behind the screen. A demo video appears to show a working prototype of a computer markedly different from those we use today. Yes it includes a familiar keyboard and trackpad - but these are placed behind the OLED display. The user simply lifts their hands from these input devices to manipulate on-screen (or more accurately  behind -screen) objects, such as selecting a file or window. The video shows the interface in action with a series of program windows stacked behind one another, with the user selecting the desired program by hand, using the depth of the w...
Post a Comment
Read more

Bioengineers develop smart, self-healing hydrogel

By
Velcro is pretty handy stuff, but imagine if there was a soft, stretchy material with the same qualities. Well, now there is. Scientists from the University of California, San Diego have created a self-healing hydrogel that binds together in seconds, essentially copying the Velcro process at a molecular level. The new material could potentially find use in medical sutures, targeted drug delivery, industrial sealants and self-healing plastics. The secret to the jello-like polymer hydrogel is its "dangling side chain" molecules, that reach out toward one another like long, spindly fingers. When developing the gel, a team led by bioengineer Shyni Varghese ran computer simulations, in order to determine the optimal length for these molecules. The resulting substance is capable of healing cuts made to itself - or of bonding with another piece of hydrogel - almost instantly. The behavior of the material can be controlled by adjusting the pH of its environment. In lab t...
Post a Comment
Read more