The iPad is a great product, but like all great products, it doesn’t come without its fair share of flaws. Despite single-handedly helming the tablet market for the past two-and-a-half years, we could all pick out issues we’d like to see resolved, and one of the most obvious is the relatively poor speaker design. With the iPhone, the speakers are positioned along the bottom, meaning whichever way you lay it down, the audio – albeit slightly tinny – can always be heard. The iPad’s speakers are located on the back of the device, and even though Apple has improved the sound quality through generations of its flagship slate, pushing sound out in the opposite direction doesn’t cut it for a device of the iPad’s caliber.
That’s where ORA, a Kickstarter project devised by Objekt, Inc., comes into the fold. The company has crafted a unique contraption meticulously pieced together to offer a high-quality, altogether louder tablet experience. For a device which now packs a beastly A6X processor and a graphics performance superior to the PS Vita, it seems almost wrong that the sound is not up to scratch, but ORA is looking to source the backing to bring some noise to the market lead.
ORA uses an amplifier to transmit sound to eight, front-facing speakers. Not only is this quadruple the original number of sound holes offered by Apple, but every audible emission travels in the right direction – towards the user. Watching movies, playing games, and listening to music is completely turned on its head with ORA, and if you want to see it in action, please check the demonstration video below:
As you can see, although it increases the surface area of your iPad in general, nothing is actually compromised; you can still stand it up using the specially-adapted Smart Cover, change the volume, and charge up / dock your device without having to remove ORA, and by keeping the speakers on the longer edges of your iPad, your hands won’t block any of the speakers when engaged in those immersive driving titles like Real Racing 2 or Asphalt 7.
In my opinion, the ORA’s design fits nicely with the iPad, and the mesh finish simply oozes style. If you’re sick of your iPad’s speaker noise being drowned out because of poor design, ORA is most certainly your calling, and with your backing, can become a reality.
Having already generated a strong amount of interest from backers, on the way to raising $50,000 Objekt needs your help in taking the project to the next level. If you want to back this project, $99 will get you an early bird special on the ORA, which is set to eventually retail at $199 – a great saving on a great product.
For more information, please check out ORA’s Kickstarter page.
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