Techlada – Tech news and random reviews

As the latest fine leather cases from France's Noreve, the Tradition series continues the company's... tradition of modestly updating prior designs for new Apple devices. The iPad Tradition Leather Case ($84-$97) is a folio-style design that uses embossed leather-covered plastic to hold an iPad on its interior right side, while the left side has a flap with a magnetic tab to hold the case closed. Inside the flap are two paper-sorting pockets, four…

Quite possibly the most exciting XtremeMac accessory we've seen in a long while, InCharge Duo for iPad ($60) is a dual-device charging station capable of simultaneously refueling an iPad and either an iPhone or an iPod, with a swappable top plate that converts the unit to charge two iPhones or two iPods at once instead. Due to the shape of the top mold, InCharge Duo has enough give to let you recharge bare iPads and ones inside of some (very thin…

The latest version of XtremeMac's InCharge Auto car charger is called InCharge Auto for iPad ($25), adding 2.1-Amp charging capabilities to a previously iPod- and iPhone-only charging design. Featuring a single straight power cable rather than the coiled ones that have appeared in some past XtremeMac car chargers, the new InCharge Auto is made with black and gray plastics, features a small, slim Dock Connector, and has a LED power indicator and safety…

Almost like clockwork, shortly after the release of a new Apple portable product, a relatively young company appears on the scene with a modular case system designed to be paired with a variety of different attachments. Mophie did it with the first video-ready iPod and iPod nano back in 2006, companies such as Gizmac and Barefoot Innovations have done it with various iPhones, and now a company called ModulR is trying it with the iPad. The core of…

Macally's oddly-named Metrolpad quickly became our very favorite iPad case due to its smart combination of semi-hard opaque black plastic edging and a clear rear panel -- now it has a rival. Griffin's new Reveal for iPad ($50) is a different take on the same concept, replacing Macally's frosted back with a completely transparent, glossy version, using a rectangular loop rather than feet for rear stabilization, and more closely tailoring the Dock Connector…

Though they're sold under different product names, Griffin's Elan Form Graphite ($50) and Outfit for iPad ($35-$40) are very similar at the core: both hard plastic shells rather than full-fledged cases, they cover the iPad's back, top, bottom and sides, leaving the same gaps for ports and buttons, with no bezel or screen protection, and look identically bare when seen from the front of the iPad. Elan's graphite name comes from the faux carbon fiber…

Within a day or two of the iPad's release, we were dreaming of a way to mount the tablet in a car as a back seat entertainment system, and eventually improvised a solution. Now Griffin has released Cinema Seat ($40), its first stab at the same concept, and the results are mixed: the company has come up with an oversized gray faux leather and fabric frame that attaches to the metal pipes of a headrest with foldable, adjustable Velcro, functioning as…

It took only one look at a photo of Vaja's new Messenger Bag for iPad ($280) to set our tongues wagging: this is one of the nicest-looking iPad bags we've yet seen. Made from fine, soft leather, the vertical bag features a soft plaid fabric inner compartment large enough for an iPad and some other items -- together, not separated, save for an open pocket inside -- all covered by a magnet-sealed top flap. There are three outer pockets: two are sealed…

With a silver plastic device holder and a metal leg, Green Figure's iHolder iPad Stand ($50, distributed by Pyramid Distribution) is the latest iPad stand we've received for review -- and somewhat interesting. Though we're not totally thrilled by the device frame, which only works with completely bare iPads, we like the fact that it rotates smoothly into portrait and landscape orientations, and tilts into three locked angles for viewing. The leg has…

Booq makes some of the most stylish laptop bags in the industry, so it's no surprise that its latest iPad bag is a handsome little design, too. Drawing inspiration from the earlier Boa Skin sleeves, Boa Push ($90) mixes the hip, tweed-like nylon material Twylon with leather to create a cool vertical carrier for an iPad and small office supplies. The base of Boa Push is a U-shaped frame that's covered with either gray or light brown Twylon outside,…