Griffin PartyDock offers 4 player gaming fun

Griffin Technology are a long time favourite of mine when it comes to iPod, iPhone and iPad accessories. This time around though they have both surprised me and announced a device that is so exciting it could change the way we think about gaming on our iDevices.

The PartyDock (pictured) is primarily a dock for your iPhone, iPod touch on indeed iPad. It charges the devices (of course), but also outputs the video to your TV and includes a little dock area for four wireless rechargeable controllers. This enables you to sit back and enjoy gaming on the big screen, with three mini-games and one full game included with the device (downloadable via the iTunes App Store). I look forward to review this one.

Orange UK Announces Data Plans For Ipad Wi-Fi + 3G

Orange today announced that it is extending its partnership with Apple to offer new iPad plans for customers in the United Kingdom, France, Spain and Switzerland. The partnership between Orange and Apple, which has already seen iPhone launch with Orange in 30 countries across Europe, Middle East and Africa, will extend later in 2010 with the launch of iPad in additional Orange markets.

Orange UK will offer tailored 3G data plans for iPad Wi-Fi + 3G, from 10th May, and will launch a pre-registration site for SIM’s at Orange.co.uk/iPad. Pay-as-you-consume, daily, weekly and monthly data plans will be available, providing the freedom to choose a type of plan depending on usage. 

Daily = £2 per day for 200MB allowance
Weekly = £7.50 for 1GB allowance
Monthly 15 = £15 per month for 3GB allowance (+ unlimited WiFi at hotspots)
Monthly 25 = £25 per month for 10GB allowance  (+ unlimited WiFi at hotspots)

iPad allows users to connect with their apps and content in a more intimate, intuitive and fun way than ever before. Users can browse the web, read and send email, enjoy and share photos, watch HD videos, listen to music, play games, read ebooks and much more, all using iPad’s revolutionary Multi-Touch user interface. iPad Wi-Fi + 3G models are just 0.5 inches thick and weigh just 1.6 pounds—thinner and lighter than any laptop or netbook—and deliver up to 10 hours of battery life for surfing the web on Wi-Fi, watching videos or listening to music, and up to nine hours of surfing the web using a 3G data network.*

Orange, recently recognised as the best mobile broadband provider in the UK by Independent research firm YouGov, will offer micro-SIMs for iPad free of charge to consumers. From the 10th May, the micro-SIMs can be ordered from Orange shops, www.orange.co.uk/shop and Orange telesales, as well as directly from Apple. Customers will be able to register their micro-SIMs by calling Orange customer service on 07973 100 150.

iPad users will also benefit from access to Orange iPad apps, including Orange Wednesday’s, the popular 2-for-1 cinema ticket offer; Your Account, which allows users to track usage and purchase data bundles; and Orange Wi-Fi hotspot locator. 

Amazon Kindle App coming to the iPad

Well, I didn't see that one coming. Amazon have posted a page dedicated to the Kindle App coming to various tablet based computers and in the first graphic it specifically mentions the Apple iPad. Read further down the page and it reads "Read Kindle Books on Your Tablet Computer Including the iPad".

This is great news as it will open up a whole world of great eBooks from Amazon. I personally think this news comes in combination with those rumours that Apple have been struggling to seal some deals with various publishers. Maybe this is their saving grace, that the iPad Kindle App means they have a tonne of content for the April 3rd launch. Whether this is the case or not, the Kindle App will certainly find its way onto my iPad for certain.