Incipio Announces Step™, Its Latest Hybrid Case for the iPhone 4 - WebWire (press release)

IRVINE, CA ? April 19, 2011 ? Incipio, the leading manufacturer of accessories for Apple devices, releases Step?, the company?s next step in innovative hybrid case design. Step? is a mixed material solution combining the Incipio Next Generation Polymer (NGP?) and a hard shell polycarbonate faceplate, offering the protective benefits of a two-part carrying case in one. To create this revolutionary case, the NGP? material is dual injected and then merged with the rugged polycarbonate shell to provide added structural support for the iPhone 4. Flexible, ?step? shaped exterior panels on the outer shell create a visually appealing yet protective offering.

The shock-absorbing silicone barrier protects the device, while the strong polycarbonate faceplate defends against dents and scratches, resulting in one of Incipio?s most rugged lightweight designs. Even the sleek modern ?steps? with raised ridges further help protect the iPhone 4, offering the ultimate in style and function in a single carrying case solution.

About Us: At Incipio we dream big and never settle for the status quo. Our sole focus is to provide customers with accessories that look as good as they function. Headquartered in Irvine, CA, we have people in London, Hong Kong, and India, allowing us to reach our customers and work on projects 24/7. Our dedicated staff does just that. At 140 strong, our team includes some of the most talented industrial and graphic designers, mechanical engineers, customer satisfaction fanatics and software developers around, all led by a world-class management team. Our shared love for mobile devices and accessories fuels our passion to create the best accessories on the planet. In the past 12 years, we have gone from operating out of a suburban garage to being widely recognized as one of the most innovative mobile accessory makers in the world. And we?re just getting started?

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Apple Fires All Cylinders in 2Q - Zacks.com

Apple Inc. (AAPL - Analyst Report) continued its bullish run with better-than-expected second quarter fiscal 2011 results.

AAPL breezed past the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $5.34 by $1.06 (19.9%) in the quarter. Results were fueled by strong iPhone sales, record Mac sales and increased iPad sales, as unit shipments remained robust.

The outlook for Mac, iPad and iPhone 4 remains extremely strong, backed by demand in domestic and international markets, boding well for Apple's revenues and earnings.

Operating Performance

Apple reported earnings of $6.40 per share, well ahead of its conservative guidance of $4.90. Earnings shot up 92.2% from $3.33 per share reported in the year-ago quarter.

Net income soared to $5.98 billion in the quarter, reflecting a remarkable 94.8% growth from $3.07 billion in the year-ago quarter.

Gross margin fell 30 basis points (bps) year over year to 41.4%, due to a higher mix of aggressively priced iPad sales. However, it was 290 bps above management’s expectation. Operating margin was 31.9%, up from 29.5% in the year-ago quarter.

Revenues

Strong earnings were attributable to the quarter’s record sales, which jumped 82.7% year over year to $24.67 billion. Revenues beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $23.11 billion and Apple’s own forecast of $22.00 billion. The strong revenue growth was driven by increased momentum in Mac shipments and booming business by iPhone and iPad. International sales accounted for 59.0% of the total revenue in the quarter.

Product Highlights

Macintosh: Apple shipped 3.76 million Macintosh computers in the reported quarter, representing a 27.8% year-over-year increase, attributable to strong demand for Macs across all geographic segments. In the Asia Pacific region, Mac sales grew 76.0% year over year. The growth in Mac sales was driven primarily by strong sales of MacBook Air, which was updated in the December quarter, as well as robust sales of MacBook Pro, updated in the March quarter. Apple outperformed the personal computer (PC) market for the 28th consecutive quarter which, according to research group IDC, declined 1.1% for the quarter ended March 31, 2011.

Retail Stores: Retail revenues in the quarter were a record $3.19 billion, up 90% from the year-ago quarter, courtesy of increased Mac and iPad sales. The retail stores sold 797,000 Macs in the quarter compared to 606,000 in the year-ago quarter, an increase of 31.5%. Half of the Macs sold through retail stores in the quarter were to new customers. International Retail Store sales were strong, with average international store volume exceeding average U.S. store volume. At quarter end, Apple had 323 stores worldwide, with 87 stores located outside the U.S.

The iTunes store also delivered a strong quarter with sales of $1.4 billion, driven by record revenue from music, video, iOS apps and books. During the quarter, iBookstore began offering a full catalog of 17,000 ebooks from Random House. The iBookstore now includes ebooks from more than 2,500 publishers in over 20 categories, and customers have already downloaded over 100 million copies.

iPods: Apple sold 9.0 million iPods during the quarter, representing a 17.4% decline from the year-ago quarter. According to NPD data, Apple's share of MP3 players in the U.S. was over 70% in the month of March, and iPod was the top-selling MP3 player based on the latest data published by GFK. iPod touch sales remained strong, accounting for over 50% of all iPods sold during the quarter.

iPhones: The iPhone continues to be a star performer for Apple, with double-digit growth in both the Americas and the Asia-Pacific regions. Overall, iPhone unit sales were 18.6 million during the quarter, representing 111.0% growth over the year-ago quarter. According to IDC, the overall smartphone market grew 74% in the March quarter.

Revenues from iPhone handset sales, accessory sales and carrier payments came to $12.3 billion, compared with $5.45 billion in the year-ago quarter, a significant increase of 125.6%.

The company had iPhone distribution agreements with 186 carriers in 90 countries at quarter end. During the quarter, Verizon Wireless, a venture between Verizon Communications (VZ - Analyst Report) and Vodafone Group Plc (VOD - Analyst Report), started offering the iPhone 4 in the U.S., ending the exclusive agreement that Apple had with AT&T (T - Analyst Report).

iPads: Total iPad units sold in the quarter were 4.7 million, up from 4.6 million sold in the previous quarter. Apple launched iPad 2 in the U.S on March 11 and in 25 additional markets on March 25. iPad is currently available in 59 countries. Recognized revenues from sales of iPad and iPad accessories during the quarter totaled $2.8 billion.

Management highlighted that over 75% of the Fortune 500 companies, such as Automatic Data Processing Inc. (ADP - Snapshot Report), Walt Disney (DIS - Analyst Report) and Estee Lauder Companies Inc. (EL - Analyst Report), are already using iPad.

Apple’s app store continues to top the charts with more than 350,000 apps and over 10 billion downloads to date. Last month, Apple announced a new subscription service available to all publishers of content-based apps, including magazines, newspapers, video and music. We believe the new subscription service will drive further revenue growth going forward.

Balance Sheet

Apple’s balance sheet remains strong. Cash and investments were $65.8 billion at the end of the quarter versus $59.7 billion in the previous quarter. The company generated cash flow of $6.2 billion during the quarter versus $9.8 billion in the previous quarter.

Third Quarter Guidance

For the third quarter of fiscal 2011, Apple expects revenues of approximately $23.0 billion. Earnings are projected at approximately $5.03 per share. The Zacks Consensus Estimate was pegged at $4.45 per share at the time the company reported second quarter results.

Apple expects gross margins of 38.0%, reflecting approximately $55 million related to stock-based compensation expense. Operating expenses are expected to be $2.5 billion, including about $255 million related to stock-based compensation, while Other Income and expenses are projected at around $70 million. The tax rate is estimated to be about 25.0%.

Our Take

We maintain our Outperform rating over the long term (6–12 months). We believe Apple is well positioned to achieve strong top-line growth over the long term, based on product innovation.

Apple is scheduled to launch its new operating system Lion by June this year and update the iPhone again by September.

Apple is also expected to discuss the future of iOS in the upcoming “Worldwide Developers Conference” (WWDC) event. The new iOS version is expected to include cloud-based features, such as a "media locker" where users can store their music, video and books.

We believe the upgraded iOS (name and release timing yet to be confirmed) is absolutely necessary for Apple to compete against Google Inc.’s (GOOG - Analyst Report) Android-based mobile operating system.

We also believe Apple’s foray into the cloud computing market will boost its results. In February 2011, Apple announced that it is preparing to open a $1.0 billion data center in North Carolina to support iTunes and MobileMe services.

However, we believe Apple will have a tough battle in the cloud computing market, where Amazon Inc.’s (AMZN - Analyst Report) Web services holds a dominant position. Recently, Amazon launched its cloud-based service that allows users to store music, photos and videos and access them any time and from any computer.

We believe Apple has a number of near-term headwinds. Notably, supply chain problems related to the iPad and iPhone, aggravated by the natural disaster in Japan, could upset the Apple cart. The company is also facing a number of legal hurdles against companies including Nokia Inc. (NOK - Analyst Report), Eastman Kodak (EK - Analyst Report), Taiwanese handset maker HTC and most recently Samsung Electronics Co. (SSNLF).

Currently, Apple has a Zacks #3 Rank, which implies a Hold rating.

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The ultimate accessories for the Angry Birds addict - WebWire (press release)

Whether you are a lover of the iPhone or not we have all heard about the amazing puzzle video game Angry Birds. People everywhere are playing this highly addictive game and can?t seem to put it down trying constantly to get to the next level and beat their friends and family. For these Angry Birds lovers there is a wide range of products available which can involve any type of fan with the game.

Angry birds was first released in December 2009 and since then has sold over 12 million copies of the game showing it to be quite a phenomenon. In this loveable game, gamers use a slingshot to launch birds at pigs stationed on or within various structures, with the intent of destroying all the pigs on the playfield.
The further a player gets through the game the more abilities can be activated.
Now the world?s most favourite gaming app has gone from virtual to real life for all the addict gamers out there. Fans can now be more involved with the game by owning the amazing Angry Birds plush soft toys available from Menkind. These can be great for individuals or even the perfect gifts for him or her.

The Angry Birds Plush Soft toy is a cuddly toy measuring around 4 inches that even makes the same angry squawking sound as the real thing, except of course the Pig which makes an ?oink? sound. Gamers can collect all 6 and have their own real life game of angry birds that will entertain them for hours. With Father?s day approaching this would be perfect for anyone looking for fathers day gifts or the perfect present for the man in their life.

Not only can gamers get their hands on these amazing Plush soft toys but Menkind are also offering Angry Birds covers for the iPhone. For anyone that loves their iPhone and loves Angry Birds this is the perfect product! These cases are made from tough plastic and available in red or yellow so anyone can choose which is best suited to them.

The world famous app game will be able to go everywhere with the gamer not only in the app but displayed on their iPhone case. The case also protects the back and sides of your phone from any bumps or drops so not only is it enjoyable, it?s practical too. Plus the super snap-on design clips onto your iPhone and gives you total access to your iPhones ports and controls thanks to ?cut-outs? in the shell. It also gives access to the phone?s features such as camera with flash, volume and silence switch and the dock connector on the bottom.

So for all those Angry Birds lovers out there, their love doesn?t have to stop with the game and they can be more involved than ever with the help of these fantastic products - all available from Menkind.

Menkind Stores and its online store at Menkind.co.uk believe their range of Fathers Day gift has the perfect gift to suit all the Dads out there. Go online and check out what else Menkind has to offer and make your Father really feel special.

By searching the site online there are so many products available on from Menkind that will be suited to someone. From novelty men?s gifts to even remote controlled helicopters; there really is everything available perfect for every man.

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White iPhone 4 launch imminent, to arrive April 27? - iLounge

Apple appears to be readying for the launch of the white iPhone 4, according to a pair of new reports. 9 to 5 Mac, citing information from a Dutch source, claims the handset will launch on April 27, with limited stock at first. The report also claims that T-Mobile will have a one month exclusive on the long-awaited handset in the Netherlands, and that units are already arriving in stores, with embargo stickers on the packages that state “do not open until April 27.” Engadget, meanwhile, has posted a photo of sealed white iPhone 4 package, which it claims was sold to a Vodafone UK customer, after which the company halted sales of the handset “until next week.” Apple has repeatedly promised that the white iPhone 4 would launch this Spring.

Update: Engadget has now posted a photo of the Vodafone white iPhone 4 unboxed, revealing a redesigned proximity sensor. Instead of the array of small dots seen in the original white iPhone 4, the new version’s proximity sensor area is a black oval, possibly suggesting that Apple had problems with the previous design.

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iPhone 4 Accessories: Royal Wedding Kate & Will Cases - Phones Review

With the imminent royal wedding of William and Kate only just around the corner, memorabilia for this momentous occasion is coming at us from all angles and it does not stop at just cups and plates. Barely There are offering a selection of commemorative iPhone 4 cases to mark the occasion.

The William and Kate Wedding case collection have been made in celebration of the upcoming royal nuptials and featuring custom designs of the blissful couple – under the following names: Classic Monogram, Modern Britannia, Regal Heart and Well Wishes. These commemorative cases embrace this historic event as a keepsake item that will forever be part of history.

The cases are available in the minimal and slim ‘Barely There’ case, the designs are printed directly onto the cases for a vivid look. If you would like to own your own personal piece of history in the form of a Barely There royal wedding iPhone 4 case for $34.99, then please visit the Case-Mate online store.

Also of interest could be our articles on the ‘Royal Wedding Union Jack Pouches’ again for the iPhone 4, Note to the Royal Couple iOs app or for a bit of light-hearted fun check out the ‘Royal Wedding Dance Video’ from T-Mobile UK.

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Tech Test Drive: iPads attract stylish protective covers made in Minnesota - Pioneer Press

Protection for your iPad is a must. Carry an uncovered tablet for long, and you are guaranteed to scuff up the metal back or even the scratch-resistant touch screen.

With a vast selection of cases and sleeves for the iPad — as well as for its iPhone and iPod Touch siblings — you have no excuse.

Such an eye-popping array of iOS accessories creates a problem for me as a technology writer, though. How do I choose what to cover?

With Minnesota-made iOS cases and sleeves coming to my attention again and again, I decided to write about those. Specifically, I am focusing on accessories that are handcrafted in this state instead of being mass-produced here or abroad.

There are a surprising number of these companies (hat tip to Patrick Rhone, Arik Hanson and Erica Mauter for helping me find them), and their products are all lovely. This column is therefore a bit more of a tribute than a hardnosed review, though I'll point out where users might run into problems.

Note that in many cases, the makers assemble their protectors to order and can often accommodate special re-quests. Just ask.

Landmark & Lions : The small Minneapolis company headed by Canyon Crosby specializes in sleeves made of gentle, pliable leather, such as lambskin or goatskin, that is lined with wool felt.

I especially like the company's iPad sleeve. The one I borrowed has black leather and yellow stitching with a blue lining

that fits an iPad 2 perfectly. This is a great option, provided you remain aware that your tablet will be unprotected once removed from the sleeve.

The firm makes a variety of sleeve- and wallet-style protectors for the iPhone, too. The sleeve I borrowed is styled almost exactly like the iPad one, except for a slit in the leather intended for a credit card or driver's license. I don't like the slit, because it makes the thin leather prone to tearing. But you can request one without the

slit.

RobbieMoto: This St. Paul operation, headed by Robbie Matsumoto, is similar to Landmarks & Lions but with products that are a bit more stylized.

An iPad sleeve I borrowed is tan-colored with two bold charcoal stripes, which incorporate snap fasteners to keep the tablet from slipping out.

RobbieMoto also makes wallet and sleeve-style iPhone protectors, including a black and yellow sleeve with leaf-sprig detailing that was meticulously created out of leather bits, with stitching for the leaf stems. Awesome.

Duluth Pack: The venerable Duluth-based maker of outdoor packs recently veered into iOS gear without shedding its backwoods

personality.

It makes a trio of sturdy leather sleeves — one with a book-style flip cover, one with overlapping folio-like coverings and one with no cover over the screen — that look great. The models I tried are designed for the original iPad, but Duluth Pack said it is releasing iPad 2 versions soon.

Another iPad product required no design work: Duluth Pack repurposed its compact Haversack, which is made of canvas and leather, and which happens to be just the right size for carrying an iPad with its accessories. You can select from a wide variety of canvas shades that look terrific.

Pad & Quill: Many iPad users are wild about DODOcase protectors, which encase tablets

in a wood frame that is then wrapped in a book-like leather covering. I can't speak to this product as I've never seen one, but Minneapolis-based Pad & Quill makes similar protectors that are great.

The wood frame is built of Baltic birch, and the covering is bonded leather. The overall effect is that of a fine bound volume; there's even a bookmark-style strip of shiny fabric that is useful for tugging the tablet out of its enclosure.

Pad & Quill makes versions of its products for a variety of devices, ranging from Apple's superthin MacBook Air laptops to Kindle e-book readers and the iPhone 4. The iPad 2 version, known as the Octavo, is decent, if somewhat clunky, protection, with style to spare. Kudos to company founder Brian

Holmes.

Byrd & Belle: Former architect Angie Davis has made a new career with her sumptuous line of wool-felt protectors, some with leather detailing. I recently fell in love with a MacBook Air sleeve made of light-gray wool with a leather patch along one edge that can be grabbed to pull the protector-clad laptop out of your bag. It's one of the best Air sleeves on the market.

I also like Davis' iPad 2 sleeves, which she can tailor for use with just the tablet or with the iPad and its Apple Smart Cover. I tested the latter version recently and recommend it.

Minneapolis-based Byrd & Belle also caters to users of iPods, iPhones, Kindles, Nook e-readers and more. Davis gets extra points for the thoughtful, creative way she packages the products for shipping.

Nedrelow: Scott Nedrelow makes wool-felt sleeves similar to those sold by Byrd & Belle and, as a stylish touch, wraps a paper strip around the sleeve with the word "Sleeve" printed on it. Like Davis, Nedrelow will tailor your sleeve to order.

Nedrelow's big draw, though, is its book-style protector — which is called, of course, the Book. A byproduct of Nedrelow's Location Books imprint, the Book is a hard case that looks just like a hardbound volume on the outside but boasts a built-in wool-felt sleeve on the inside. The idea is to tuck your tablet into the sleeve, close the sturdy cover and stick the Book onto a bookshelf so it's out of the way and thieves are never the wiser. Ingenious.

The Book is also billed as an iPad stand, but I found this arrangement far too unstable to recommend.

ColorWare: This Winona-based company is best known for painting laptops, iPhones, iPads and other gizmos in a dizzying variety of custom colors, much as a car body shop would do.

In a bit of a departure, ColorWare recently created the Grip for iPad, a tablet add-on made of aircraft-grade aluminum that wraps around the device's edges and adds a handle (hence the "grip" moniker).

The Grip clamps onto the tablet so tightly, via screws, that it becomes a part of the device. It does not offer much protection for the back and front of the tablet, but does protect the edges — a good idea, as I know well because I once dropped an iPad and badly dented one of its corners.

ColorWare will paint the Grip in any color you like. The Grip I tested is designed for the original iPad. I asked if ColorWare will sell an iPad 2 version but hadn't heard back at press time.

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Scosche switchBACK surge g4 backup battery for the iPhone 4 - MobileWhack.com

We have reported on a lot of mobile accessories by Scosche before. Some of you probably remember the Scosche goBAT II that can charge two USB devices at once, not to mention the reVIVE II.

Now the company has unveiled the switchBACK surge g4 backup battery case designed for the iPhone 4. It allows the user to recharge and sync the iPhone 4 with a mini-USB cable, and it is said to give the iPhone 4 275 more hours of use. It also has a free app known as reVIVE which can allow the user to see how much power the battery has left for music, phone calls, or web surfing.

As you can see, the case snaps onto the back of the iPhone 4, and makes it looks like a very different device. There is a built-in kickstand designed for watching videos easier.

The switchBACK surge g4 backup battery case for the iPhone 4 is available now from Scosche’s website for a price of $70.

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