The Upcoming MagicPlatform for iPad Pro

The Upcoming MagicPlatform
for iPad Pro
I saw this video on the durability of the new generation iPad Pro models, and despite being so fast and cool looking they are more fragile than ever. In the not so distant futre we will be launching the all-new MagicPlatform for iPad Pro. This all-new platform is the result of more than 8 years or R&D and will be to the iPad Pro, what the SAFE WALLET is to the iPhone! 


The MagicPlatform consists of the MagicStand and MagicCase. The MagicStand, just like our earlier model will allow you to stand up your 11" or 12.9" iPad pro at any angle in landscape from 90 degrees down to a steep typig angle of 20 degrees. It will also alow you instantly flip from landscap to portrait. 
The MagicCase for iPad pro is super protective, great-looking, and has a MagicPencil holder built in to stow-away your Apple Pencil when you are not using or charging it. Stay tuned...

The Pope Tweets on an iPad For The First Time

The Pope Tweets on an iPad For The First Time

I don't know why this seems so fascinating to me!?! It is good to see that the Pope is exploring the iPad. Methinks they should have put it on a BulletTrain MagicStand ;-) These are truly fascinating days we are living in.

I was just having a conversation with my bandmate, Billy yesterday, and I was saying how it is such an amazing time to be alive today, in the sense the world is quickly moving into the digital age–and this event with Pope Benedict is a shining example of this fact.

BulletTrain MagicStand In Car Dash...

BulletTrain MagicStand In Car Dash

Illinois Freeway

I was speaking with a customer of ours named Randy, and he mentioned he inserted his BulletTrain MagicStand for iPad Drawbridge into the CD slot in their car, and he told me it seems to work. Of course I was curious, so I asked Randy to send in a photo, and here it is!!!! Wow!?!?!

An iPad 2 In Car Dash

Austin Powers on The Streets of San Francisco

Here is a different car, with the BulletTrain MagicStand resting in the CD bay. It never ceases to amaze me how many places the BulletTrain MagicStand for iPad can sit. We don't recommend you insert your iPad or iPad 2 which is attached to your BulletTrain MagicStand, into your CD slot on your car ;-) Groovy Baby, Yeah!!!!

BulletTrain MagicStand Works With Ipad 2!!!!!

BulletTrain MagicStand Works With Ipad 2!!!!!

Great news!!!! The BulletTrain MagicStand works perfectly with the iPad 2!!!! This makes it one of the very few iPad accessories that was not completely obsoleted by the iPad 2, which I believe speaks volumes about the design integrity at BulletTrain. Even Apple's own iPad case was completely, obsoleted by the iPad 2.

Ironically, the BulletTrain MagicStand appears to fit the iPad 2 even better than on the original iPad since the all-new iPad 2 has a flat-back and is slightly smaller.

BulletTrain MagicStand for iPad 2 Compatibility Update...

Timeless Design At Its Best

BulletTrain MagicStand for iPad 2

Compatibility Update

Top 1o Reasons the MagicStand for Ipad 2 Remains the Best Stand

A few thoughts on Apple's iPad 2. It looks great and one of the obvious questions is will it work with the BulletTrain MagicStand? Since we have not had a chance to experiment with an iPad 2, I can only say from studying the design of the iPad 2 it appears as if it will work flawlessly with the iPad 2.

As the designer of the BulletTrain MagicStand for iPad, I can say if it does work perfectly with the iPad 2, I will only have to make the slightest modification to one small part and if that is the case, I have the modification ready to go. The day the iPad 2 is available for purchase, we will buy one and test it and update this story to confirm that it is 100% compatible with the iPad 2.

I have a few observations to share with you about the iPad 2 in relation to the BulletTrain MagicStand:

1. Timeless Design: The BulletTrain MagicStand is absolutely TIMELESS!!! If you examine Apple's first generation case for the iPad and you compare it to the all-new Apple iPad case/stand, they are absolute night and day. In other words, there is ZERO compatibility going each way, in that the first generation Apple iPad case/stand will not work with the second generation iPad case/stand.

2. Limited Positions: I would argue the Apple case/stand is extremely limited in that it can only be positioned in two different positions. One for steep typing, and one for a fixed TV viewing angle. The severe limitation with the TV viewing angle is if you are getting glare, you can't adjust it at all. With the MagicStand you can adjust it to any angle.

3. Stability: Also, the Apple stand looks like it would not only fall over easily (like with the 1st generation Apple iPad case), but if you tried to use it in bed, it would not be stable and would likely not even be able to stand-up, and if you move in the bed, it would likely fall over.

With the BulletTrain MagicStand for iPad, it is to timeless in its design and function that it will work identically, except you will gain extra features:

4. Camera and Video Camera Tripod: MagicStand with iPad 2 gives you a perfect Tripod for taking photos and shooting video. Since the iPad incorporates an HD camera on its backside, the MagicStand can act as the perfect tripod for taking photos and shooting video at any angle. Since the BulletTrain MagicStand can sit at ANY angle between a straight right angle at 90 degree, and can sit at any angle all the way down to 22 degrees, it is perfect for taking still photos and video.

5. Facetime Stand: Since the iPad 2 has 2 video cameras built in (one of the front and one on the back) you can use the BulletTrain MagicStand for iPad to hold the iPad in the perfect position for video conferencing.

6. Presentation Tool: Since the new iPad 2 has video mirroring, the MagicStand will allow the ipad to become the ultimate presentation tool In other words, you will be able to give a presentation on a remote flat screen plasma or LCD TV, wirelessly and see and control exactly what appears on the Flat Screen with the iPad with the benefit of WSIWG. This will be great for Keynote and Power Point presentations, and you will be able to do this all without having to hold up the iPad in your hands.

7. Organic Design: It is crystal-clear that the aluminum BulletTrain MagicStand looks way more consistent with the design language of the iPad 2 than the sky blue iPad 2 Smart cover.

8. Thinness: Since the new iPad is 1/3 thinner, and since the MagicStand is just over a 1/4 inch thick, that means when you have the MagicStand attached to the iPad two, it should be less than 1/16 of an inch thicker than the first generation iPad. That is pretty profound if you think about it.

9. Weight Loss: the all new iPad 2 is 15% lighter than the original, which means that with the MagicStand attached, it will get even lighter!!!

10. Obsolescence: Just about every case and stand for the Original iPad just became obsolete for the Ipad 2, but not the BulletTrain MagicStand for iPad and iPad 2.

Another point, is that if you have a BulletTrain Express Keyboard platform paired with an iPad, you will now be able to control your iPad 2 that is hooked up to your flat-screen TV via HDMI output. Let's just hope Apple has the wisdom to allow the Apple Magic Trackpad to be paired with the iPad 2!!!

The Plaza Hotel: New York City All Guest Rooms Include iPads

The Plaza Hotel: New York City

All Guest Rooms Include iPads

The Plaza is renowned for being one of the top New York hotels, and they recently announced they are offering iPads in each and every suite and guest room. The iPads allow guest access services and room controls, and beyond–you can even order room service, request wake-up calls. Luxist.com has a great overview article that goes into detail on all the great features. Methinks The Plaza needs BulletTrain MagicStands for each iPad to complete them...

Leo Taking A Break At MacWorld 2011 MagicStand for iPad On His Lap

Leo Taking A Break At MacWorld 2011

MagicStand for iPad On His Lap

Leo, is the Director of Marketing for BulletTrain and he is pictured below at Macworld 2011, as he takes a break to catch-up on some emails on his iPad with the BulletTrain MagicStand attached to it. Try doing that with any other stand or case for the iPad, in a footprint that only adds 1/4 inch of thickness to your iPad!!! The BulletTrain MagicStand is really something else!!!!

TUAW (The Unofficial Apple Weblog) Video Review Macworld 2011: BulletTrain offers Unique Accessories For Keyboard & iPad...

Another rave review for the BulletTrain MagicStand and Express Keyboard Platform!!! This time from TUAW which is considered to be the Bible of Apple Blogs!!!!!!!

...TUAW Macworld 2011: Review & Video...

BulletTrain Offers Unique Accessories For Keyboard & iPad

"Some of the more interesting folks we saw at Macworld Expo weren't standing behind booths. We ran into the guys from BulletTrain who had two interesting pieces of hardware.

First, the Express Keyboard Platform holds Apple's Bluetooth keyboard and Magic Trackpad in a portable and supremely useful configuration, while the MagicStand for iPad offers multiple viewing angles, durability and good looks. Here's a quick look at each.

The Express Keyboard Platform is for anyone who has a Mac connected to a TV or large LCD display, as well as those who'd rather not sit at a desk to work. It's a big piece of machined aluminum (see above) that first locks the Magic Trackpad into place and then holds the keyboard just above it. In fact, it looks like the bottom half of a 17" MacBook Pro, only with a larger trackpad. The two units are held snugly in place and can't be dislodged by your legs. It's a heck of a lot better than the keyboard balancing act that so many of us endure, and feels just right.

Note: TUAW said:

"It looks like the bottom half of a 17" Macbook Pro, only with a larger trackpad."

Note from Jake:

If you didn't have the BulletTrain Express next to a Macbook it could look like a 17", but the truth is the BulletTrain Express is actually smaller than a 15" inch Macbook keyboard. It is really just a tad bit larger than a 13" Macbook keyboard and weights less than a 13" Macbook Air!!!! In the photo below you see the BulletTrain Express next to a 15" Macbook for comparison:



The guys also showed us the MagicStand for iPad, which again is a piece of aluminum that adheres to the back of the iPad with the help of a removable adhesive. What's nice about the MagicStand is that, thanks to some Velcro and a cleverly-placed kickstand, it offers a huge number of viewing angles. Plus, you can easily hang it on a wall or move from portrait to landscape orientation without having to remove your iPad or reseat anything.

Both devices are made in San Francisco and can be had for US$129 each. You can watch a demo video:

BulletTrain Express & MagicStand Videos

BulletTrain Express & MagicStand Videos

Hi Everybody!!!

I just put up some videos that show how the BulletTrain Express Keyboard and MagicStand Work. It is amazing how much more effectively a video can communicate ideas!!!!

BulletTrain MagicStand for iPad: Part of the Patent Process

BulletTrain MagicStand for iPad

Part of the Patent Process

As we prepare to launch the BulletTrain MagicStand and Express Keyboard this next week, I can finally show them off in public!!

In the photo below we see David Olsen who is the intellectual property attorney for BulletTrain in my office on a weekend afternoon. In the photo, David is examining a prototype of the BulletTrain MagicStand for iPad during a Patent review meeting. On the left side of the photo you can also see a prototype of the BulletTrain Express Keyboard for the Apple Wireless Bluetooth Keyboard and Magic Trackpad.

Totally Rad BMX iPad Bike-Mount ...

Totally Rad BMX iPad Bike-Mount

This is a totally radical setup and I get it. There is nothing better than jamming on a mountain bike with some great music cranking. The challenge is if you wear a headset, you can't hear anything else. If you have the music blaring from your bike, you will get a lot of unwanted attention, but if will be a fun ride. Maybe I should make a MagicStand bike adaptor ;-)

Although you can't tell from the photo, I assume this is a 3G iPad which would make a lot of sense if you spent much time on your bike...