I understand that the new iPad Pro is the darling of the moment, but I wanted to take some time to provide readers with an update on one of the $329 9.7-inch iPad’s standout accessories. The Logitech Slim Folio keyboard case, which features four years of battery life, recently landed in my mailbox, affording me the opportunity to take it for a test drive. Watch our hands-on video walkthrough for a brief look at one of Logitech’s latest iPad accessories. Expand Expanding Close
Logitech today has officially announced the release of its new Circle 2 home security camera. The latest version is an upgrade from the original Logi Circle camera, introducing more flexible hardware options for customers. Users of the Circle 2 will be able to install the camera indoors or outdoors, and add additional accessories as they see fit.
Hot on the heels of Apple announcing two new iPads earlier today, Logitech has unveiled a new Slim Combo case for both the 10.5-inch iPad Pro and 12.9-inch iPad Pro. The new case is available from both Logitech and Apple, offering a protective case and detachable keyboard.
Just in time for spring adventures, Logitech’s Ultimate Ears has launched the latest addition to their speaker line, the Wonderboom. Gaining a reputation in previous years for their compact and well-designed speakers, UE’s Wonderboom is gunning to become the new no-fuss choice for portable speaker shoppers. We got to go hands-on with the company’s new pint-sized speaker offering.
Logitech has today taken the wraps off of a new accessory that it says will make smart home devices even easier to control. The company has introduced the Pop Home Switch, which allows users to set moods and control a variety of smart home products with the press of a button.
When the 12.9-inch iPad Pro was unveiled last September, Logitech announced its Create keyboard case the same day. The USP of the keyboard is that it uses the Smart Connector for both power and data connections, so the keyboard doesn’t ever need to be charged and you avoid the delay you get with Bluetooth pairing.
The company took rather longer to support the smaller iPad Pro, but now has a Create keyboard available for the 9.7-inch iPad Pro …
The UE Roll is super-portable, mostly flat, rugged and so waterproof you can bring it into a pool with its own little floatie. The sound quality is amazng for the small form factor and the battery lasts between 5-10 hours. This is the speaker I take with me on most trips because it is small in the backpack yet still sounds great, pairs easily with multiple devices and even has iOS/Android apps for creating alarms and checking battery. Obviously if you are throwing a house/pool party, you’ll want something more substantial like UE Boom and Megaboom.
Blasts out 15 percent more sound, delivering epic tunes in the palm of your hand.
Has a longer wireless range of 100-feet (up from 66-ft)
Is available in five vibrant colors: Habanero, Tropical Anime, Volcano, Atmosphere and Sugarplum
Offers portability and versatility like no other speaker, with the same completely waterproof (IPX 7) design, bungee cord loop and sleek, disk-shape design of UEROLL – packing in even more without adding extra size or bulk
Plus, it comes with its very own UE Floatie in every package, so your speaker can float right through the fun and splash up next to you
I’m not going to blow smoke … and say that this is a big upgrade. It isn’t. In fact, at at least a $30 premium over the original UE Roll, I’m going to do something I rarely ever do – recommend you buy the old model for $30 less at Amazon (Verizon and Best Buy too). You really won’t notice any difference and that $30 bucks you save can go almost halfway into purchasing another original UE Roll to pair up for stereo sound (for 200% the sound).
If money’s no object and/or you need the extra 15% sound and range/color options/newest thing, head below for the full low down/video on the new $99.99 UE Roll 2. Expand Expanding Close
As I’ve detailed in the past, I originally purchased the 12.9-inch iPad Pro last November before switching to the to 9.7-inch model last month due to the lack of software optimization on Apple’s part. When I first wrote about this switch, some people were curious as to why I went with the more expensive 9.7-inch iPad Pro over the cheaper iPad Air. Well, there were too main reasons: Apple Pencil and Smart Connector.
Computer peripheral company Logitech today announced that it will acquire popular audio company Jaybird. For those unfamiliar, Jaybird offers a variety of headphone products over recent years, most of which have been wireless. Logitech says the deal is worth $50 million in cash, with an additional earn-out of up to $45 million based on achievement of growth targets over the next two years.
The iPad Pro quietly gained a new capability in iOS 9.3 beta 2: German developer Stefan Wolfrum tweeted that the device can now update the firmware in devices attached to the Smart Connector. He was offered, and able to complete, a firmware update to his Logitech Create keyboard.
Firmware updates of accessories usually need you to connect them to a Mac, but as the Smart Connector is unique to the iPad Pro, it’s likely this fact that prompted the new capability …
I wanted to like Create. In all honesty, I wanted to love Create, because it’s obvious that the large, heavy iPad Pro desperately needs a great keyboard case to simultaneously function as a stand, a great typing surface, and an insurance policy against damage. But rather than borrowing the best elements from Logitech’s prior keyboard cases, Create uses some design touches that really don’t work with the larger tablet. Consequently, while it’s an okay first day option, it falls short in a number of important ways that are worth considering in light of the iPad Pro’s release this week…
With iPad Pro officially going on sale tomorrow (possibly at midnight tonight Cupertino time if Apple follows past launches), it’s time to move our attention to accessories for the device.
Will you go the Apple route and stock up on the official but pricey Apple keyboard, case & cover, and Apple Pencil? Or perhaps you’re looking for accessories with features that aren’t offered by Apple’s. Whatever the case, below we’ve started rounding up the best of the best accessories for iPad Pro. Most are available to order now while a couple are coming soon. We’ll be adding more as they pop up in the weeks following the iPad Pro’s launch. Expand Expanding Close
In recent months UE has released a much bigger, more expensive MegaBoom and a much smaller, cheaper UE Roll. Both are waterproof and extremely rugged and if you’d had to have guessed, you’d be right in assuming the Boom would get these same features.
And it has. IPX 7 waterproofing means you can not only take it with you into the shower but you can drop the Boom 2 in the pool or bathtub without damage. It is also more powerful with a 100-foot wireless range, 15 hour battery life, and 25% louder and better sound than its predecessor. The UE Boom 2 also now includes a new tap control that allows you to start, pause and skip songs, without needing to have your phone in-hand.
I’ve been using the UE Boom 2 for the past week and I think this speaker is a big deal… Expand Expanding Close
Just hours after Apple officially unveiled the iPad Pro, Logitech this evening has announced its first accessory for the device. Dubbed CREATE, Logitech touts that the accessory is the best keyboard it has ever designed for an iPad. Logitech explains that it worked closely with Apple to ensure that CREATE works seamlessly with all of the unique features of the iPad Pro.
