A slew of new iPad cases and numerous other third-party accessories arrive this week, as has become traditional with any new computer or device from Apple.
New iPad owners will no doubt be all too eager to spend a few more of their hard-earned dollars pimping their new tablet PC to make sure it stands out from the crowd, looks cool, and is well protected and fully compatible with their digital cameras and various other peripherals.
Apple has also released a number of its own official iPad accessories, for those that like to stick with the official gear and merchandising.
Here is TechRadar's top ten list of the essential iPad accessories available to buy right now.
The official iPad Keyboard Dock ($69/ £45) is what you need to invest in should you wish to use Apple's new tablet computer as a regular desktop-style screen. It combines a dock for charging your iPad with a full-size keyboard, featuring a number of special keys that activate iPad features.
It looks superb, featuring an anodized aluminum enclosure with low-profile keys. Special iPad keys provide one-touch access to the Home screen, Spotlight search, display brightness, picture frame mode, the onscreen keyboard, and screen lock.
APPLE IN THE DOCK:The official Apple keyboard dock for iPad
The dock lets you connect to a nearby electrical outlet using the USB Power Adapter that comes with the iPad, sync with your computer, or use some of the other official accessories such as the iPad Camera Connection Kit.
You can also connect your iPad to external speakers or headphones via the in-built audio jack or to a TV or video projector using a compatible cable such as the iPad Dock Connector to VGA Adapter or the Apple Component or Composite AV Cable.
- Order from the iPad Order page [Apple]
If you're not a fan of logo-embossed cases, then a company called Wrappers makes a decent range of affordable no-logo cases for your new Apple toy (from £18.00 plus £3.50 p&p).
The company offers "no logo, 100% soft, contract quality textile sleeves" in which you can sheath your iPad to keep it safe from screen scratches or breakages. The cases are wrapped with a 3mm closed cell foam padding and lined with a waterproof microfiber, so you can safely carry around your tablet computer in the rain!
NO LOGO: Wrappers offers a decent range of iPad cases
For the fashion-conscious, the company has also signed up a number of exclusive textile deals with the likes of Alcantara, LVMH, Andrew Martin & Paul Smith. Wrappers' also offer its original pillow case cover for the Apple iPad which is available here.
- Order from Apple iPad no logo sleeves
If, for some bizarre reason, you really have to take your new iPad with you when you next head to the beach or go sailing, then the rather-alarmingly named TrendyDigital Waterproof iPad Cover ($20/£13) might be worth investing in.
TRENDY DIGITAL:An expensive ziplock bag for your iPad
You might even want to use your iPad in the bath. Although we seriously wouldn't recommend you did!
The TrendyDigital WaterGuard waterproof case for the Apple iPad is the only iPad case that you can be sure to keep your new computer warm and dry when in or near the water (though hopefully not too warm). Of course, you could always just buy yourself a massive one-gallon zip-lock back instead – which is what Jeff Bezos claims he does when he reads his Kindle in the bath!
- Order from Amazon
A decent stylus is going to be an essential for iPad users. The Pogo Stylus ($15/£10), originally designed for the Apple iPhone, is now a far more useful bit of kit to have alongside your new iPad should you wish to do any digital drawing or art.
POGO STYLUS: Ideal for drawing and fiddly applications
This cool little stylus has been designed with light-weight aluminum alloy, with what the company says is a "soft tip [that] glides easily over the surface of your trackpad or display, making it fun and easy to sketch, draw characters, or just slide to unlock."
Sometimes finger-touch control is just not quite accurate enough for what you want to do on the iPad screen, which is also when having a decent stylus nearby is a god-send. Also handy if you just happen to have really long nails that get in the way of the iPad's touchscreen.
Apple's own iPad Camera Connection Kit ($29/£19) is going to be an essential buy if you have any plans to use your iPad with your digital camera, allowing you to upload your pics from an SD card or directly from your camera, without having to bother doing so on your laptop first of all.
CAMERA KIT:Apple provides you with connectors for your digital camera
It means that you can immediately use your iPad to check out and edit all of your pictures on the go – which is a far more appealing prospect than having to cart around a laptop with you to do the same job (or than having to edit your pics on your tiny camera screen).
The iPad's 10-inch screen and pinch-to-zoom feature, combined with the option of running slideshows and the like means that this is a must-buy peripheral. iPad also supports all standard photo formats, including JPEG and RAW
- You can order the iPad Camera Connection Kit now from Apple's website.
While there are plenty of third-party iPad cases arriving on the market, Apple's own book-like case ($40/£26) is a decent enough option for those that aren't too bothered about making a fashion statement with their tablet PC bag.
APPLE'S IPAD CASE: The official case for your tablet PC
Apple's own iPad Case features a soft microfiber interior with reinforced panels for structure (and all-important screen protection) and it pretty lightweight. Perhaps the coolest feature is the capability of folding it horizontally or vertically to hold the iPad at an angle for viewing video or typing on the onscreen keyboard.
It also has all the necessary holes you would expect it to have for your headphone jack, dock connector port, and on/off and volume buttons
- Order from the iPad Order page [Apple]
If the official iPad case is not to your taste, then Quirky's new 'Cloak' iPad Case ($42/£28) with its two-way kick-stand adds a few useful extras to the standard book-cover style cover.
The Cloak is perfect for propping up your iPad to watch movies or to type on the onscreen keyboard in landscape mode, featuring a U-shaped plastic kick stand that flips out. It also has a handy click-stop hinge controlled by a button on the spine, so you can set the viewing angle you want from the iPad.
That's quite a lot to pack into one case, and the price isn't bad, either, at $36. As always, you commit to order, the productions lines spin-up when the minimum order is reached and you are charged when the product ships. Hopefully you'll have yours in time for the April 3rd iPad release.
- Order now from Cloak
The Vers handcrafted wood iPad Case is clearly one for the designers amongst us and those who really care about making their new iPad look stunning when used as a part-time picture frame.
The only downside? It costs $80 (£53). But that's the price you are going to have to pay if you really want your mates to swoon over your new Apple computer.
The Vers case is crafted by hand from hardwood and bamboo and reinforced with steel to keep your iPad safe and sound.
- Preorder now from Vers Audio
M-Edge's leather Moleskine-style iPad cases really do complement Apple's new machine better than most other cases out there right now. Pricing is still to be confirmed, but we imagine that it will be slightly higher than your average iPad cover, due to the quality of the textiles used.
MOLESKINE-STYLE:M-Edge's iPad cases look the part
In particular, the Flip Jacket and the Trip Jacket canvas and leather sleeves, that hold your iPad is held inside by straps across the corners, and feature a cover that closes to protect the screen, are on our iPad most-wanted list.
You can choose from a wide range of colours – opting for a conservative dark-coloured case or a brightly-coloured 'fun' case.
- You can pre-order M-Edge's Pad Cases from the M-Edge website.
RadTech's iPad accessories range is perfect for the self-style urban warrior look. The company has a decent selection of cases, screen-protectors and a stylus for those who want something slightly different to the more-conservative cases on offer from Apple and others.
RadTech's shoulder bag will no doubt appeal to those that like the 'man-bag' look. We particularly like the look and styling of the company's $50 (£33) 'scout bag'.
And the company's $30 (£20) protective sleeve is a guaranteed way of protecting your new iPad screen from scratches.
- Order RadTech's iPad Accessories from the RadTech website.
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Liked this? Then check out 20 best iPad games we want to see ported from the iPhone
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