Kensington Announces Availability of Accessories for Microsoft Surface Pro 1st Edition 12”

BURLINGAME, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 8, 2025--

Kensington, a worldwide leader of desktop computing and mobility solutions for IT, business, and home office professionals, today announced the launch of the BlackBelt™ EQ Rugged Case and MagPro™ Elite Magnetic Privacy Screen for Surface Pro 1st Edition 12”. The new rugged case and privacy screen join Kensington’s award-winning Elevated Stand for Surface enabling Surface Pro 1st Edition 12” users to protect their investment, reduce data theft vulnerability, and enhance user ergonomics.

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BlackBelt™ EQ Rugged Case – The Ultimate Case for Protecting the Surface Pro 1st Edition 12”

Built in collaboration with Microsoft, the BlackBelt™ EQ Rugged Case is designed exclusively for Surface Pro 1st Edition 12” to provide exceptional quality, form, fit, and function. The rugged case features a slimline, non-slip textured design with access to all ports, heat dissipation channels, a self-adjusting hand strap that allows the device to lie flat, and a stretch band to secure and protect the Surface Pro 12” keyboard. BlackBelt™ allows full access to the Surface Pro 1st Edition 12” kickstand and provides cable lock and privacy screen compatibility.

The plastic in this case is composed of 40% post-consumer recycled (PCR) plastic*, and the case provides military-grade protection enabling the use of Surface Pro 1 st Edition 12” in harsh work environments or outdoor adventures. Slim and lightweight, the BlackBelt™ case meets military standards for drop testing (MIL-STD-810H Method 516.8 Shock) and wipe down (MIL-STD-810H Method 504.3 Contamination by Fluids). *Excludes silicone hand strap, pen holder and keyboard holder.

MagPro™ Elite Magnetic Privacy Screen Deters Data Theft Through Visual Hacking

Kensington’s MagPro™ Elite Magnetic Privacy Screen for Surface Pro 1st Edition 12” was developed in close collaboration with Microsoft to provide protection for the Surface Pro 1st Edition 12” device on the day of launch. The privacy screen, which attaches seamlessly and conveniently to the Surface Pro 1st Edition 12” magnetic frame without the use of damaging adhesives, limits the viewing angle of the device to +/- 30 degrees to protect privacy and reduce the opportunity of data loss through visual hacking.

The MagPro™ Elite, which is Touch and Surface Pen compatible, features blue light reduction which filters out up to 30% of harmful rays, helping ease eye strain and reducing the chance of interruptions to sleep patterns, and a low reflective coating reduces glare for improved clarity.

Elevated Stand for Surface Enhances Ergonomics, Security, and Productivity

Named the winner of the Innovative Solution of the Year Award in Microsoft’s 2024 Designed for Surface Partner Awards, and a 2025 Red Dot Award for Product Design, the Kensington Elevated Stand for Surface is an all-in-one riser that elevates Surface Pro 1st Edition 12” to eye level to minimize strain on the user’s neck, back, and shoulders, and tilts to provide an optimal viewing angle to ease eye strain. Ideal for use with external keyboards, the lightweight aluminum Elevated Stand features a compact design that folds flat for maximum portability.

Elevated Stand enables users to secure both Surface Pro 1st Edition 12” and the stand with Kensington locking solutions to enhance security, deter theft, and provide peace of mind. The integrated cable management channel helps eliminate desktop clutter. Anti-slip padding on the bottom of the Elevated Stand supports stability and prevents movement during use, and anti-slip cushioning on the top surface keeps devices from slipping.

“Kensington continues to bring to market exceptional accessories that complement the feel, form, and function of our innovative Surface products,” stated Allison Cargill, Director of Accessories at Microsoft. “Kensington’s products provide protection and enhance usability, allowing customers to take full advantage of the versatility offered by Surface Pro 1st Edition 12”.”

“For 50 years, Microsoft has introduced innovative products and solutions for businesses and consumers that have enabled them to take productivity and creativity to new levels in an ever-changing and emerging work environment,” explained Lisa Schuiteboer Shuler, Senior Manager of Product Marketing, Global Marketing at Kensington. “We are proud of our close collaboration with Microsoft which enables us to develop a broad portfolio of accessories that contribute to the usability, productivity, and security of their world-class platforms.”

Kensington was named Partner of the Year in Microsoft’s 2024 Designed for Surface Partner Awards. The honor recognized Kensington’s collaboration and consistently strong contributions throughout the year and the launch of innovative and impactful accessories that have diversified the DfS portfolio and extended the capabilities of Surface devices.

Kensington BlackBelt™ EQ Rugged Case and MagPro™ Elite Magnetic Privacy Screen for Surface Pro 1st Edition 12”, and Elevated Stand for Surface all carry a two-year limited warranty and will be available soon in North America through the Kensington Store and its partner sites. To learn more about Kensington’s comprehensive portfolio of products and solutions for consumers and businesses, visit www.kensington.com.

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About Kensington

Kensington is a leading provider of desktop and mobile device accessories, trusted by IT, educators, business, and home office professionals around the world for more than 40 years. Kensington strives to anticipate the needs and challenges of the ever-evolving workplace and craft professional-tier award-winning solutions for organizations committed to providing peak professionals the tools they need to thrive. The company prides itself as the professionals’ choice, and on its core values surrounding design, quality and support.

In office and mobile environments, Kensington’s extensive portfolio of award-winning products provide trusted security, desktop productivity innovations, professional video conferencing, and ergonomic well-being.

Headquartered in Burlingame, California, Kensington is the inventor and a worldwide leader in laptop security locks. Kensington is a division of ACCO Brands, the Home of Great Brands Built by Great People, which designs, manufactures and markets consumer and end-user products that help people work, learn, and play. In addition to Kensington ®, ACCO Brands’ widely recognized brands include AT-A-GLANCE ®, Five Star ®, Leitz ®, Mead ®, PowerA ®, Swingline ®, Tilibra and many others. More information about ACCO Brands Corporation (NYSE:ACCO) can be found at www.accobrands.com.

Kensington ®, BlackBelt™, and MagPro™ are trademarks of ACCO Brands. All other registered and unregistered trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

© 2025 Kensington Computer Products Group, a division of ACCO Brands. All rights reserved.

Built in collaboration with Microsoft, the Kensington BlackBelt EQ Rugged Case is designed exclusively for Surface Pro 1st Edition 12" to provide exceptional quality, form, fit, and function. The rugged case features a slimline, non-slip textured design with access to all ports, heat dissipation channels, a self-adjusting hand strap that allows the device to lie flat, and a stretch band to secure and protect the Surface Pro 12” keyboard. BlackBelt™ allows full access to the Surface Pro 1st Edition 12” kickstand and provides cable lock and privacy screen compatibility.

NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. flu infections showed signs of a slight decline last week, but health officials say it is not clear that this severe flu season has peaked.

New government data posted Friday — for flu activity through last week — showed declines in medical office visits due to flu-like illness and in the number of states reporting high flu activity.

However, some measures show this season is already surpassing the flu epidemic of last winter, one of the harshest in recent history. And experts believe there is more suffering ahead.

“This is going to be a long, hard flu season,” New York State Health Commissioner Dr. James McDonald said, in a statement Friday.

One type of flu virus, called A H3N2, historically has caused the most hospitalizations and deaths in older people. So far this season, that is the type most frequently reported. Even more concerning, more than 91% of the H3N2 infections analyzed were a new version — known as the subclade K variant — that differs from the strain in this year’s flu shots.

The last flu season saw the highest overall flu hospitalization rate since the H1N1 flu pandemic 15 years ago. And child flu deaths reached 289, the worst recorded for any U.S. flu season this century — including that H1N1 “swine flu” pandemic of 2009-2010.

So far this season, there have been at least 15 million flu illnesses and 180,000 hospitalizations, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates. It also estimates there have been 7,400 deaths, including the deaths of at least 17 children.

Last week, 44 states reported high flu activity, down slightly from the week before. However, flu deaths and hospitalizations rose.

Determining exactly how flu season is going can be particularly tricky around the holidays. Schools are closed, and many people are traveling. Some people may be less likely to see a doctor, deciding to just suffer at home. Others may be more likely to go.

Also, some seasons see a surge in cases, then a decline, and then a second surge.

For years, federal health officials joined doctors' groups in recommending that everyone 6 months and older get an annual influenza vaccine. The shots may not prevent all symptoms but can prevent many infections from becoming severe, experts say.

But federal health officials on Monday announced they will no longer recommend flu vaccinations for U.S. children, saying it is a decision parents and patients should make in consultation with their doctors.

“I can’t begin to express how concerned we are about the future health of the children in this country, who already have been unnecessarily dying from the flu — a vaccine preventable disease,” said Michele Slafkosky, executive director of an advocacy organization called Families Fighting Flu.

“Now, with added confusion for parents and health care providers about childhood vaccines, I fear that flu seasons to come could be even more deadly for our youngest and most vulnerable," she said in a statement.

Flu is just one of a group of viruses that tend to strike more often in the winter. Hospitalizations from COVID-19 and RSV, or respiratory syncytial virus, also have been rising in recent weeks — though were not diagnosed nearly as often as flu infections, according to other federal data.

The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Department of Science Education and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.

FILE - Pharmacy manager Aylen Amestoy administers a patient with a seasonal flu vaccine at a CVS Pharmacy in Miami, Tuesday, Sept. 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell, File)