Accessorizing Your iPad mini - iPad Mini - page 417

Bluetooth can stream music only in compressed form; AirPlay can stream music (and video)
uncompressed. So a speaker with AirPlay should sound better than a similar speaker with
Bluetooth.
Bluetooth's range is roughly 30 feet; AirPlay's range is up to 300 feet. There's no way to ex-
tend Bluetooth's range; Wi-Fi range can easily be extended with inexpensive routers such as
Apple's AirPort Express ($99).
iTunes (on your computer) can use AirPlay to stream audio or video to multiple speakers
or audio/video receivers, with individual volume controls for each device; Bluetooth only
streams to one device at a time.
Wrapping Your iPad in Third-Party Cases
Much as we like the Apple Smart Cover, other vendors offer some excellent — and different — op-
tions:
Targus ( www.targus.com ) has a full line of iPad mini cases in a variety of materials and
prices. The nice part is that none of them, including the leather portfolio, costs more than $60.
Griffin Technology ( www.griffintechnology.com ) also has a pretty good selection
of iPad mini cases at reasonable prices (that is, none more than $50).
iLuv ( www.i-luv.com ) is yet another case maker with a range of affordable cases fabric-
ated from leather, fabric, and silicone, none of which costs more than $40.
Hard Candy Cases ( www.hardcandycases.com ) has the Shockdrop ($49.95), which
offerssignificantly betterprotection against bumpsandscratches thanmanyothercaseswe've
seen. If we expected our iPads to be exposed to moderate impacts, this case's rigid exterior
and additional shock-absorbing rubber bumpers for the screen make it the case we'd choose.
LifeProof ( www.lifeproof.com ) offersacase foriPadmini ($99.99andup).These awe-
some cases don't add a lot of bulk; they protect your iPad mini from bumps and scratches, of
course; and they're waterproof, snowproof, dustproof, and basically lifeproof. If you're rough
on your toys, this is the case you want.
But Wait . . . There's More!
Before we leave the topic of accessories, we think you should know about a few more products,
namely, film protection products that guard your iPad mini's exterior (or screen) without adding a bit
of bulk: the Griffin Technology A-Frame tabletop stand for your iPad mini, and 2-into-1 stereo ad-
apters.