iLounge

Griffin LightBoard for iPad

By Jeremy Horwitz

Editor-in-Chief, iLounge
Published: Friday, December 3, 2010
Category: iPad, iPhone + iPad Hardware Expanders - Misc, Cases - iPad

Designed to be used with a free iOS application called LightBoard Trace, Griffin's new LightBoard for iPad ($40) is a hard plastic iPad case for kids that builds upon the typical protection one might expect for the price by adding a second feature: artistic tracing. After assembling the three-piece plastic shell, which is unfortunately a challenge at one point based on a gap in the seam of the central plastic iPad holder, you place the iPad inside, lock a rear cover in place, load the app, and then stick one of the 50 included pieces of tracing paper on top of the clear plastic screen protector. Using the packed-in, water-soluble marker and/or your own crayons, you can trace and color in pictures shown by the iPad application, each one with animations and simple steps designed to be enjoyed by younger children. Despite our initial questions as to whether this case would be worthwhile or a gimmick, the combined value of the shell and the application are high -- if the case wasn't a pain to initially put together, and the integrated screen protector was a little more sensitive so that the iPad needn't be removed for purposes other than the Trace application, it would be even better.