This new iPad case is made entirely from recycled and recyclable cork. It also pairs nicely with a Pinot Noir.

From the website:

• Recycled and Recyclable Natural Cork
• Easy access to all Buttons and Inputs
• Ergonomic Natural Shape and Feel
• Angled Audio Output for Front Projected Sound
• Larger Dock Connection Extra Space for Connectors
• Extra Space for Bigger Jack Input
• Angled Mic. Wall for User Directed Sound Caption
• Very Light Weight

Now each and every room at the prestigious Plaza Hotel will have an iPad. Pretty swanky. From their iPad guests can order room service, make restaurant reservations, request wake up calls, check airline schedules and even control the rooms lighting, heating and air conditioning. The hotel had a special app designed by ICE software (Interactive Customer Experience) to provide this unique experience.

Intelity's ICE Touch Premiers at The Plaza Hotel from Intelity on Vimeo.

So what’s next for the iPad? After all this is where the iPod started:

This is where George Clooney started:

In other words things can always get better.

The rumors have been flying about when the iPad 2 will make it’s debut and what enhancements will come with it. And as we get closer to having legitimate competition from Droid, Windows and Blackberry tablets there seems to be even higher expectations from the iPad 2.

So first of all when can we expect to see the iPad 2 launch? Well, Apple has gotten quite predictable in their launch schedule. Typically each product gets an annual overhaul. Since the original iPad debuted in April everyone seems to expect some announcements in March and a launch of the iPad 2 in April.

Over the recent months a wide variety of possible enhancements has been thrown out:

• front and back camera
• Face Time
• more memory
• SD card slot
• slimmer form
• multiple screen sizes
• Retina display
• both GSM and CDMA networks
• anti reflective screen for better viewing in sunlight
• upgraded processor
• flat back
• USB Port

I think the slimmer design and the front and back camera are pretty much guarantees, as for the rest, who knows? Many people are predicting these enhancements based on the specs from possible iPad competitors, but since when has Apple added features to a product just because the competition has them?

Remember how long it took for the iPhone to do such basic things as sending a receiving picture texts and cut and paste text? While every other smart phone could easily do these tasks. Apple has never been about adding features just for the sake of adding features or to look good next to the competition.

So I think when the announcement we will see some fantastic enhancements and some glaring omissions, but at the same time I think we can safely say that Apple will still be delivering the best tablet on the market.

So did you watch the Super Bowl? That’s a silly question, of course you did. Or at least you watched the commercials. So you probably caught the commercial for the new Motorola Xoom, the first Android Tablet.

If you missed it here’s a link: http://superbowlads.fanhouse.com/2011/motorola-xoom/

As the commercial opens we see a wave of drones devoid of style or personality. And we know that these drones are Apple users because they all have the tell-talle white headphones. So essentially, they are saying if you own Apple products you are a mindless drone. Insulting your potential customer base is one way to get their attention.

From there the commercial tries to be cute, but fails. Tries to show off the product, but fails. It doesn’t really make any good point as to why someone should choose a Xoom over an iPad or make the Xoom look cool, fun, easy to use, powerful, etc.  In fact the only point the commercial seems to try to make is that you shouldn’t get an iPad or iPhone because everyone else has one. Should I stop drinking water, because everyone else drinks it too? I’m all about being different if there are better options out there, but despite wasting millions of dollars to get our attention Motorola hasn’t told me anything about how their product is better.

Michael Scott: It’s simply beyond words. It’s incalculable. – The Office

It looks like your average, every day, run of the mill backpack, right? Look again:

Ta dah! According to the website it’s “Perfect for active, technology-savvy individuals needing to securely carry and use an Apple iPad while staying mobile, active, and hands-free.”

Now, this is coming from someone who, if fanny packs came back in style would be the first one in line, but . . . No. This is just . . .  No.

There are many tablet devices that are hoping to dethrone the iPad as the tablet device and LG seems to think that adding 3D to their offering will do the trick.  But that’s not all they’ve added. In fact the LG G-Slate is shaping up to be the best Android tablet yet.

The G-Slate (I have to say I am NOT loving the name) runs the Honeycomb operating system and will be using the T-Mobile network. It boasts an 8.9 inch 3D display and a 3D camera. It runs off of a 1GHz Tegra 2 chipset that allows for 720p HD and 3D content on the tablet, and the ability to output 1080p HD and 3D content to TVs and displays. The 5 megapixel rear camera allows for recording of 3D video and the front facing 2 megapixel camera allows for videoconferencing.

It looks like this will debut sometime in the spring but no official launch date or pricing details have been released.

So what do you think? Does a 3D tablet get you excited? Keep in mind it will require 3D glasses to enjoy the benefits of 3D. I, for one, am not sold, but I am looking forward to giving it a try.

I found an interesting article awhile back proposing the iPad would eventually go 3D, I personally don’t see it, but if the G-Slate proves popular it just might happen.

O.K. that might seem like strange advice coming from a blog dedicated to the device. Let me be more clear. If you’re thinking of buying an iPad, WAIT!

Perhaps you’ve been saving your pennies and you finally have enough to buy that shiny new iPad. Or perhaps you just crawled out from under a rock and only just heard about this wondrous device. Perhaps you finally broke down and played with your friends iPad and realized it is, indeed, all that and a bag of chips. It doesn’t matter. If you buy an iPad right now you’ll only be kicking yourself (continue reading…)