Boost the appeal of your mobile
device with these practical add-ons
Having a mobile device such as the Apple
iPad, or perhaps, an iPad mini, allows you to do so much more with your
computing activities. It offers oodles of features and functionality, so you
can carry on with daily chores, no matter where you’re based. However, it’s
possible to squeeze even more productivity out of your mobile gadget thanks to
the wealth of available hardware accessories. During the course of this
feature, we’ll point you in the direction of 10 of the best examples, with
options that range from wireless printers to security cameras and all points in
between.
If you thought your humble iPad was just a gadget
for installing your favorite apps on then think again, because there’s even an
accessory that can turn it into a veritable home entertainment center. The
awesome Belkin Thunderstorm Handheld Home Theatre (above) allows you to dock
your tablet into a mini cinema system that will enhance the way you watch your
favorite movies and TV shows. Gamers, meanwhile, will love the added sense of
action and adventure that’s provided by the high-end audio capability built in.
That’s just one quick example though; there are a wide variety of add-ons that
can enhance the way you use your iPad device in numerous ways, including the
ability to improve its usability. So come with us as we take a trawl through
some of the best hardware accessories currently on the market. You’ll be very
glad you did.
Withings Smart Baby Monitor
The
Withings Smart Baby Monitor allows you to monitor your offspring with your iOS
device and make a style statement too
This natty $360 baby monitor not only looks
good with a lustrous white finish that’ll complement your iOS device, but it
does a great job of monitoring your child, too. Aided and abetted by a free
app, this piece of hardware offers high-resolution video that features pan,
tilt and zoom features, plus night vision for after the lights have gone out. A
sophisticated feature set allows you to monitor any noises you might hear, as
well as keeping tabs on temperature and humidity. There’s even the capacity for
choosing the lighting where your baby is sleeping. This desirable gadget is
compatible with all iOS devices, including first, second and third generation
iPads. What’s more, it’s also very easy to set up and operate, and features
Wi-Fi, Bluetooth or Ethernet connectivity, so it can be used both at home or if
you’re away on your travels. An added bonus is the fact you can choose from a
series of soothing melodies that come as part of the package, thereby ensuring
a good night’s sleep for all.
Belkin Thunderstorm Handheld Home
Theatre
Adding
a new Belkin Thunderstorm Handheld Home Theatre to your iPad produces an audio
visual experience that’s second to none
Anyone eager to enjoy the best in home
entertainment or wanting to boost their gaming enjoyment would do well to
investigate this new gadget from Belkin. It’s around $270, so isn’t exactly
cheap, but you do get a lot of bang for your buck. Compatible with the iPad 2
and 3, it’s a full range portable speaker system that delivers a beefy home
cinema sound, which is also fully optimized to allow you to get the most from
the games you’ve got on your mobile device too. It might be relatively small,
but you’ll be surprised how powerful this set-up really is, while the design
has been carefully thought out to ensure it complements, rather than hinders
your gameplay. Inside, there’s a powerful sound processor from Audifi, which
pumps out a full-range of quality audio, complete with plenty of bass heavy
bottom-end for that full-on entertainment experience. What’s more, there also a
Thunder app that enables you to tweak and fi ne-tune the sound to meet your own
taste.
DOCS2GO Scanner for iPad
The
DOCS2GO is an undeniably handy complement to an iPad, allowing quick and easy
digital scanning of your documents
This practical bit of kit will allow you to
digitize just about any kind of document in no time at all. It’s a portable
scanner that can be up and running in seconds. Priced around $225, all you need
to do is dock your iPad into the regular 30-pin connector and duly feed your
paper documents through the slot. Shortly after, they’ll appear in
full-digitized glory on the screen of your device. There’s also a free scanning
app that allows you to get the best from the document and fi les you produce,
and size-wise it can scan anything up to a standard size sheet of A4 paper.
It’s also possible to produce high-quality crisp and clear fi les with a
resolution of up to 300dpi, which should make them good enough for use in the
likes of magazines and books. Inside the box there’s also a calibration chart that
enables you to make sure your scans cut the mustard. Add this all together and
you’ve got a really handy little add-on for your tablet device.
Belkin WeMo Switch
Billed
as a means of putting your home electronics at your fingertips, the Belkin WeMo
Switch is a clever bit of kit
At around $60, this natty little WeMo
switch from the Belkin stable is perfect if you’re looking to do your bit for
the environment, cut down on energy usage and trim those over-inflated
electricity bills you keep getting. What is it? Well, the WeMo Switch
effectively allows you to take control of the electronics in your home by
switching them on or off using your iPhone, iPad or iPod touch. So, if you’re
out and about somewhere, you can turn things off if you’ve forgotten to do it on
the way out the door, and you’ll start making savings instantly. The WeMo works
by calling on the services of your home Wi-Fi network, while the mobile network
capacity gives you that added freedom to make adjustments from anywhere.
There’s also a free app that lets you get the best from the features, while the
device itself can be set up within minutes. Adding to the appeal is the stylish
design and robust build quality that we’ve come to expect from Belkin.
