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Gadgets for your iPadJan 05, 2011 (McClatchy-Tribune News Service via COMTEX) -- Somehow I made endless trips to Apple Stores in 2010 without walking out with an iPad. This was all part of a promise I made to my wife to let her get me one for the holidays. So now that I have it (64GB/WiFi), what's the perfect setup, with must have apps and accessories? After opening the box, the very first thing I did was put on the peel-and-stick NewerTech NuVue Screen Protector with Privacy Shield. This enables the iPad's touch screen to remain scratch-free while keeping curious eyes next to me from reading my e-mail, watching my online banking or viewing my movies. The protector ($39.99) required a few minutes to apply, along with an extra pair of hands to keep it bubble free. I ended up using a small squeegee I got with a different screen protector to help remove the bubbles. Whatever bubbles remained were gone by the next day. If a case isn't your thing, the screen protector makes a nice combination with the NewerTech Hard Shell Snap On Case, which sells for just $5.99. The shell is a polycarbonate case, molded to the exact shape of the iPad enabling it to have maximum protection without adding any significant weight. For hands free viewing, the NewerTech NuStand Alloy ($24.99) was my choice for a desktop stand. It's constructed with an aircraft grade aluminum body and holds the iPad horizontally or vertically. Rubber feet help keep it from sliding around as well as keeping the unit scratch free when docked together in the rubber insert. Details: www.newertech.com ___ Choosing a case was more difficult then I imagined and I ended up with two. Kensington KeyFolio Bluetooth Keyboard and Case for iPad was a clear favorite and falls in the functional and well-built category. The synthetic leather case has a wireless Bluetooth keyboard with rubber keys, permanently attached inside the case. A micro-USB connection charges it up. Details: http://us.kensington.com, $99.99 ___ My other choice is the personalized Powis iCase. Users can get a name, company logo or any words permanently imprinted on the inside front cover. The iPad snaps into the frame for a secure fit and has a built-in stand for nine viewing positions. An inside pocket can store business cards and the included microfiber wipe cloth helps keep the screen fingerprint free. There are more than 40 handcrafted leathers and popular patterns to choose from. The Powis iCase's handcrafted leather is 100 percent recycled cowhide fibers; cases are constructed with 100 percent recycled board. Both cases give full access to all ports, plugs, buttons and controls when housed. Details: www.powisicase.com, prices start at $49.95 ___ As for headphones, just like for my iPod, the V-Moda is my choice with the Vibrato's. The performance out of these noise-isolating in-ear headphones, which include a microphone, is outstanding and they look great. The Vibrato is made with zinc alloy; the cable with Kevlar fabric and all of this is attached to a 24k gold-plated jack. You get silicone ear tips (S/M/L/XL) with the in-ear styled headphones equipped with 8mm drivers along with leather styled carrying case and a set of sport ear hooks. Details: www.V-Moda.com, $129.99 ___ For the power hungry iPad, I dock and charge it in XtremeMac Incharge Duo. The dual compact tabletop charger can simultaneously charge an iPod or iPhone along with an iPad or any combination of two iPod or iPhone models. LED indicators show how much each unit is charged from the device, which comes with five universal dock inserts to ensure the proper fit for any of the Apple devices. The rear charging port has a removable adapter to convert it for 2.1 amp iPad charging. Details: www.xtrememac.com, $59.99 ___ I wanted the WiFi iPad version over the 3G model because I'm using a portable Verizon Wireless MiFi Mobile Hotspot device. The pocket-sized device connects up to five WiFi-enabled devices at the same time to the Verizon 3G network. Users can expect up to four hours of usage before it needs a charge, which is done via USB. Both Mac and Windows systems can connect wirelessly to the WiFi Mode: 802.11 b/g. While the connection speed isn't the same as high-speed lines we have become used to, the great thing about the MiFi is the portability and getting connected from anywhere, anytime. Hopefully 2011 will bring a MiFi on the Verizon 4G LTE network for even faster speeds. Details: www.verizonwireless.com, monthly plans vary ___ Finally, the never-ending task of loading your iPad up with apps can be a lot easier for beginners with the book Best iPad Apps from O'Reilly Media. There are tens of thousands of iPad apps available and new ones pop up everyday. The author breaks the apps down in categories such as travel, Web browsing, movie and digital photo production or a variety of work apps. Details: http://oreilly.com, $21.99 ___ Among the apps I chose during my first few days of ownership was Pandora for free Internet radio, CNBC, Bloomberg, New York Post, New York Daily News, AP, CNN and ESPN were my choices to get my fix of daily news and sports reports. The app Zinio will enable me to subscribe to magazines as my print versions expire over time. Athentech Imaging's (www.athentech.com) Perfectly Clear one-touch color correction software for digital images was a great choice. Digital images can be corrected for a variety of things with eight independent corrections. These range from adjustments in skin tones, color, white balance and digital noise. The iPad version is $5.99 and available at Apple iTunes App Store. Other apps like Facebook, Photoshop Express, The Weather Channel, Google Earth, Kensington Nightstand, American Airlines, calculator and Pages (Apple word processing) rounded out my choices for the first few days. I'm sure this will be a never-ending task most every day. ___ Contact Gregg Ellman at [email protected]. ___ (c) 2011, Gregg Ellman. Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. _____ TO SUBSCRIBE TO PLUGGED IN Items in the PLUGGED IN package are not included in your MCT News Service subscription. You can subscribe to the PLUGGED IN package or purchase the items a la carte on MCT Direct at www.mctdirect.com. To subscribe, please call Rick DeChantal at Tribune Media Services at (800) 245-6536 or [email protected]. 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