Top stories

Apple Now Accepting iPad Apps, Planning “Grand Opening” of iPad App Store

Apple is now accepting iPad apps for a “grand opening” of the iPad App Store, according to an email just sent to registered developers.
“iPad will begin shipping soon and your opportunity to be part of the grand opening of the iPad App Store starts today,” the email says.
There’s no details about when the store’s grand [...]

Security Expert: “Mac OS X Is Safer, But Less Secure”

20100319-ipwned.jpg

Tech site H-Online has an interesting story today, quoting security expert Charlie Miller about his forthcoming talk at the CanSecWest conference next week.
He says OS X is full of security holes. There are lots more than in Windows, he claims.
And yet: OS X is a safer system to use. Why? Because, in the words [...]

Apple Devotes Entire Home Page To Jerome York Obituary

20100318-york.jpg

If ever you needed a sign that Apple was a different kind of technology company, this is it.
What other computer manufacturer would remove its top-selling, hype-inducing, industry-altering new product from the prime spot on its website home page, and replace it with an obituary to an investor?
This is one of those “Here’s to the [...]

Coming Soon: Steve Jobs, the Sitcom

Fake Steve creator Dan Lyons just signed a deal to bring Steve Jobs to another small screen near you.
The half-hour series called “iCon” is billed by the presser as “a savage satire centering on a fictional Silicon Valley CEO whose ego is a study in power and greed.”
Making sure the barbs prick will be the [...]

Germophobes Rejoice: Antibacterial Keyboard Skins For Macs

An iSkin ProTouch "Vibes" skin

An iSkin ProTouch "Vibes" keyboard cover

iSkin just launched a new line of silicone keyboard covers treated with Microban, a secret germ-fighting sauce adding in during the manufacturing process.

Whether you believe in the germ-fighting power of the additive or not, keeping a skin on your keyboard will certainly keep the falling crumbs from your breakfast and bits of ick from settling in — since most office workers are exposed to more germs from their keyboards than toilet seats.

Plus, you can wash it with warm, soapy water.

The new line covers external keyboards and laptop models, prices range from $24.99 – $34.99.

Not sure I would’ve sprung for a keyboard condom in the past, but the amount of grit that never seems to come out of a keyboard plus paranoia over swine flu makes it seem like a small price to pay.

Via iSkin

If you enjoyed this article:
Subscribe via RSS or email, or follow us on Facebook and Twitter

About the author

nicole_martinelli

Nicole Martinelli was born in San Francisco and has lived in Milan and Florence, Italy. Cultish tendencies and love for DIY increased while living on the Old Continent, where tech came late and cost more in Big Mac index terms. She's written for Wired.com, The New York Times and Newsweek. Since 1999, she's been tapping away at zoomata. You can also find her on Facebook, Linked in and Twitter.

Email the author | Read more posts by Nicole Martinelli.

8 comments

    Also for germophobes: the Nexcare (3M) Tattoo band aides work through your fingers (even the pad part of the bandage) and allow you to still use your trackpad (at least on the MBP). I was going crazy with normal Band Aids after I cut the pad of my middle finger and I couldn’t use the scroll or all windows functions.

    I heard from an Apple “genius” that these keyboard covers are potentially harmful to your macbook (which has no air vents), because they block the bit of air that escapes from around the keyboards and cause the temperature to rise. I was all set to buy one, and he talked me out of it!

    Suggesting Mac users are dirty? For shame!

    I’ve been using a keyboard cover from iSkin for the last 2 years and it kept my kids from getting their a**es kicked. They thought it would be really funny to scare me when I had a mouth full of coffee. I had to clean up the skin, but it completely protected my keyboard. Not a single drop on it.

    LOL Barbara — they sound like great kids, that so sounds like something I’d have done…

    I wouldn’t consider myself a germophobe, but this seems like a great investment. It would keep my keyboard a lot cleaner and wouldn’t have to worry about all that gross dirt that gets between the keys over time…or should I say dead skin cells :(

    Bmonkey.net

    Keep your keyboard clean but attach all that gunk to your monitor when you close the lid.

    These covers are pretty convincing! Not only for office use, but also for home use! I think they will finally rid us off our cleaning worries too. I always need to grab a nice brush and “tools” to rid my keyboard of all the dirt and grime that accumulates on it. Moreover, you get ani-bacterial protection at the same time! Though the cost seems high, I hope the colors and designs do the rest of the convincing!

Add your comment

Name(Required)

Mail (required, but not published)

Website

Comment

Buy Inside Steve's Brain Buy from Amazon.com Buy from Barnes & Noble