Urban Armor Gear iPad mini, Galaxy Note 2 Cases Keep It Cool

Maker of badass tough cases, Urban Armor Gear has revealed its new UAG composite cases for the iPad mini and Galaxy Note 2. Both cases feature an original armored-shell design that sets them apart from Urban Armor Gear's iPhone and Galaxy S3 cases we reviewed. The new iPad mini and Galaxy Note 2 UAG military-inspired, drop protective cases have a dual-composite construction using a tough micro-grain textured polycarbonate exterior featuring functional vents that help keep your device running cooler, and an impact-resistant soft interior core. Both cases offer a front lay-on-the-table design, and are scheduled to release soon in black and white colors. From our experience with the UAG case for the iPhone 5, it'll be worth the wait.

Speck Covers The iPad mini With Its CandyShell Cases

Speck's candylicious CandyShell and CandyShell Grip cases are now available for the iPad mini. Known for their co-molded, tough impact protective exterior hard plastic and soft shock-absorbing rubbery interior, the CandyShell cases are one of our favorite thin-profiled drop protective cases for Apple's 7.9-inch tablet cuteness including the iPhone and iPod touch. The CandyShell case features a slick and glossy exterior finish while the CandyShell Grip provides your butterfingers with all the necessary traction using a rubber grip texture. Both are now available in limited colors for $45.

Twelve South Unleashes BookBook For iPad mini

Twelve South's handmade hardback leather folio case now comes in a mini size. The BookBook for the iPad mini disguises it with a detailed and classy vintage book look made from genuine leather magical pixie dust. The iPad mini BookBook is essentially a smaller replica of the BookBook case for the iPad, and features a built-in stand for typing and multimedia viewing. It's available now in vintage brown, classic black and vibrant red flavors for $70.

Tough iPad Mini Cases With Military-Grade Protection

If keeping your iPad mini protected at all costs is a number one priority on your list, then why not let Griffin and Ballistic show you what their latest cases have to offer. First on the list is Ballistic's pricy $60 Ballistic Tough Jacket Series case that features three layers of protection that includes extremely reinforced corners, a layer of silicone interior that helps absorb shock, a layer of impact-resistant hard plastic and a third shock absorbing polymer layer. It also comes with a removable hard plastic snap-on kickstand that can be snapped to the back of the case. Available in black, pink and white.

The Survivor case by Griffin on the other hand is one of our favorite rugged, military-duty cases made for Apple devices. The Survivor case for the iPad mini continues the turtle shell-like armored design that features a sealed built-in screen protector, shatter-resistant polycarbonate frame with thick silicone cladding that'll insure that your iPad mini is protected against drops, shock and impacts. Unlike the Ballistic Tough Jacket case, the Survivor's iconic integrated port covers provide a tight seal against rain, sand and dust to meet military standards. Griffin's iPad mini Survivor case will also set you back $60, but we think it's the better buy out of the two, respectively. Available only in black at this time.

Apple iPad Mini Smart Cover Hands-On

Nearly two days before the official release of the iPad mini, Apple's mini Smart Cover accessories are already hitting people's doorsteps. The new iPad mini Smart Cover sells for $39, not a dollar less, not a dollar more than the original iPad Smart Cover. Apart from the obvious smaller size, the Smart Cover for the iPad mini is an even simpler polyurethane-made cover that uses an all-polyurethane magnetic hinge instead of the more premium-like aluminum version found on the larger Smart Cover. And we're scratching our head brains right now, because while this is a less costly and smaller accessory compared to the original, Apple is charging us equally. Essentially overpricing what should have been a fully protective Apple Smart Case instead.

The iPad mini Smart Cover is only available in a polyurethane version with a color selection that includes red (Product Red), dark gray, light gray, green, blue and pink. Even though it may look less fancy and magical, the iPad mini Smart Cover is without a doubt a Smart Cover from a functional standpoint. It magnetically clings onto the side of the iPad mini , and can fold into a triangle and magnetically keep itself together to form two different types of viewing angles - one for typing and one for your landscape viewing pleasure.

The mini version of the cover is separated into three foldable segments as opposed to the four on the larger version, and as a result, it feels less substantial and robust. Though with the smaller size and weight of the iPad mini, this shouldn't really be a cause for concern.

Now that the hinge is fully covered, or should we say entirely made from a soft and pleasant to the touch microsuede material which comes in contact with the aluminum of the iPad mini, scratching and scuffing concerns are a thing of the past. While the aluminum hinge found on the iPad Smart Cover gives a more premium look and feel to the product, this little all-polyurethane Smart Cover should hold up very well overtime as well as being much lighter. This has been a hands-on and first look of Apple's new mini Smart Cover, expect our full review of the iPad mini Smart Cover in the coming days!

WaterField Is Ready To Protect Your New Apple Investments

Famous for their excellent quality and attention to detail, San Francisco manufacturer WaterField has just announced a huge selection of elegant sleeve cases and bags that will protect your brand spanking new 13-inch MacBook Pro with Retina display, the new fourth generation iPad, as well as the long-awaited iPad mini. 

There are TWELVE different bags and sleeves designed for the new slim 13-inch Retina MacBook Pro for you to choose from and they all provide a different style and degree of protection. You can now preorder any of them from their website and each will run you anywhere between $29 - $239, depending on your personal taste.  

Now that preorders for the iPad Mini are coming along and in just a couple more days after that, they'll start appearing on your doorstep, it would be a smart investment to get a case or sleeve for them. WaterField has you covered. Ranging from the Outback Sleeve, the Ultimate SleeveCase, the EXo SleeveCase, the Wallet, and many others, you'll have a variety to choose from. Every design will also be available for the fourth-generation iPad. You can preorder them from their website as well and they will range from $15 - $69.