This Week In Accessories: It’s iPad mini Time

It’s been a fun week for Apple fans. After the introduction of the iPad mini at a special event on Tuesday, accessory makers have been quickly unveiling new products for the smaller tablet. We’ll definitely have more in the coming weeks.

Incipio

Lexington: Crafted from a Plextonium frame and vegan leather, the Lexington is a folio case with a professional look. The cover folds into two positions for easy viewing and typing. A tab and loop closure adds an extra dose of security. Available in black, blue, and gray, it will retail for $39.99

LGND: Similar to the Lexington, the pictured LGND features a more unique look. The front cover has an origami-inspired design with the ability to fold into both horizontal and vertical viewing modes. Embedded magnets activate the automatic wake and sleep feature of the iPad mini. The folio-type cover is available in red, black, and pink and is $34.99.

NGP: With semi-rigid material, the NGP easily slips around the edges of the iPad mini, but is strong enough to stand up to everyday impacts and scrapes. The smooth matte finish is soft to the touch, and the case is stretch and tear resistant. It will retail for $34.99 and is available in black, pink, or gray.

Feather: Designed for users wanting sleek protection, the feather is less than 1mm thin and wraps around the back of the smaller tablet. With a soft touch, the case is available in a black, pink, and a unique orange shade and will retail for $34.99.

All of Incipio’s options can be preordered directly through the company’s site.

OtterBox Defender

One of the premier rugged case makers, OtterBox, has wasted no time introducing its Defender for the iPad mini.

Taking some design cues from the same series that protects the larger iPad, the inner shell of the case is made with impact resistant polycarbonate and includes a padded-foam interior for shock absorption. The outer layer is composed of rugged silicone to absorb impacts and provide added grip. Along with a built-in screen protector, the Defender also comes with a shield stand that can be used as a cover for the front or back of the case. It can also be used as a stand for typing or viewing.

Available in pink, gray, and black, the Defender can be preordered directly through OtterBox. It retails for $69.99 and is expected to ship Nov. 6, just a few days after the official launch next Friday.

WeMo Baby

And we’ll finish with one more product that should definitely be a help to any parents of a young child.

Expanding its WeMo line, the new WeMo Baby from Belkin turns any iOS device into an audio-only baby monitor. The base station is placed in the baby’s room and iOS users only need to download the free WeMo Baby app to get started. After setting the monitor up on a Wi-Fi network, multiple users can check in how the baby is doing.

With an optional paid upgrade, users can receive text and call notifications when their baby is crying. The Evoz service also analyzes sleeping and crying patterns to help better plan a nap schedule for your baby.

The WeMo Baby will retail for $89.99. No release date is available short of the “coming soon” on Belkin’s site.

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