Apple knows how to make not only unique gadgets, but also accessories for them. Remember the original iPad Case. It would seem that a simple cover, but added one bend, a small hook and here's a stand for you. At the same time, high-quality technological material was used, which is easy to wipe, and pleasant to the touch, and looks great. And Bumper for iPhone 4 - well, there is nothing simpler: a rubberized bezel. But after all, it was made perfectly and there were no analogues before it.
With the release of the iPad 2, Apple has outdone itself when it comes to accessories. iPad Smart Cover is something. Do not consider me too impressionable person or insane "applephile". You just need to take and touch this miracle, experience it, examine it from all sides and you will understand me. In the meantime, let me tell you about my impressions of this extraordinary accessory.
Apple has always been famous for high-quality and efficient device packaging, and the company has not departed from its canons in this case. The iPad Smart Cover is packaged in a hard case, not to be called otherwise, made of very high quality cardboard with cool printing. The top of the cover-plaid is covered with transparent plastic. The accessory is removed rather unusually: you need to remove the protective sticker from the back, which will make it possible to lift the plastic cover and get the Smart Cover.
I got my hands on a gray polyurethane model, the one that officially costs $39. The outer coating is very pleasant to the touch and resembles the original iPad Case - there is the same feeling of a rubberized Soft-touch surface.
The cover weighs a little, up to hundreds of grams - it does not increase the weight of the tablet especially much. The accessory evokes a feeling of a solid and reliable thing, as well as something very technological. This is probably due to the presence of aluminum in the construction and how the blanket is attached to the tablet, but more on that later. In the meantime, I want to tell you about the unusual effect of changing the shade of the accessory. This happens depending on the ambient light, its type (incandescent, bright sunlight, overcast day, etc.) and intensity. The cover can be light gray, almost white, it can become darker, the shade changes from pale beige to turquoise - very unusual. Another funny phenomenon can be observed when you stand next to a window in daylight and look at the Smart Cover from different angles or simply move it from side to side: the angle of incidence of light changes and it seems that the accessory becomes flat, then voluminous sections. All these experiments, of course, are childish, but many of us remain children at heart, otherwise life becomes gray and boring.
Now about the design. It is simple, reliable and ingenious. The whole magical effect of automatic alignment of the case on the tablet and its instant attachment is achieved thanks to a couple of dozen magnets in the accessory itself and in the tablet. There is also a freely rotating aluminum hinge and a pair of aluminum holders.
To secure the plaid case, it is enough to bring the aluminum hinge to the left side of the iPad 2 - click and you're done. It is also very easy to remove it by pulling one end to the side. At the same time, the cover is held securely and even holds the tablet on weight.
The inside of the Smart Cover is lined with microfiber, but it's not just a piece of fabric glued on. The cover is perceived as a single whole. There is no feeling that it is assembled from several layers. Microfiber perfectly cleans the display from dust and fingerprints, but only when a cloth is used. The Smart Cover can also create a similar effect if you swipe it well on the screen, but usually it is rigidly fixed, so it does not clean the screen much, but it protects well.
And the accessory is very thin, it practically does not increase the dimensions of the tablet!
But Smart Cover not only plays the role of a protective overlay on the screen. This is an extremely comfortable stand. You can use it for printing, and in this position it is very good to read when the tablet is on the table, and the user is drinking tea or coffee with sweets.
In addition, it is enough to turn the whole structure over and get a stand for using the tablet as a photo frame or a small TV. In this position, by the way, the tablet is more stable than the first generation iPad in its own branded case.
In stand mode, the Smart Cover folds up easily with one hand. When rolled up, it is held in place with magnets. Also, when unfolded, the cover protects the back of the tablet when it rests on a table or any other surface. It flips back easily. Of course, it is difficult to accidentally scratch unpainted aluminum, but it is possible. And the plastic bullseye behind which the Wi-Fi antenna is hidden is generally easily covered with scratches. Although, in the form thrown back, the cover goes beyond the tablet and in this state, for example, while reading or surfing the web while lying belly up on the couch, it is not very convenient to hold it.
If desired, you can bend the cover in half - it is easily magnetized and held, and the grip of the tablet improves. In principle, taking it off is a second of business, so there will be no problems in any case. During the active testing of the Smart Cover, I remembered with what torment the first iPad was removed from my own case. But, what is most interesting, the personal iPad Case withstood at least a dozen such operations with honor and did not suffer or stretch at all, despite the fact that not the most slippery SGP Incredible Shield film was glued to the back of the tablet.
Not to mention the Smart Cover feature, such as automatic translation iPad 2 to sleep when the cover comes down on the screen and wake up if it comes up. It would seem a trifle, but damn convenient trifle. This is implemented using an additional sensor in the tablet and the effect of electromagnetic induction.
It is worth noting that the gray color for the Smart Cover is quite versatile. It goes well with a white tablet and looks good on a black one, contrasting with the bezel and matching the color to the silver back. For my personal use, I purchased a gray polyurethane model. (It's funny, there is no tablet yet, but there is already a case for it.)
By the way, about buying Smart Cover. Now there is a lot of hype on the iPad 2 and branded accessories for it. As a result, prices skyrocketed. Many merchants demand three or even four real prices for a fashionable case, and people are willing to pay, otherwise there would be no such offers. I used the eBay buy option. Even taking into account the rather expensive delivery (about $40) and a small margin from the seller, it will still cost less than buying in your own retail. And if you order several covers at once, then the delivery of each additional unit will cost four times cheaper. Accordingly, you can cooperate with friends and order several Smart Covers at once - it will turn out even more profitable. I personally received an order from the USA to Ukraine in a week, and the courier delivered the coveted envelope to my house - conveniently.
There are also leather Smart Cover options, which officially cost $20 more than their polyurethane counterparts and differ in color. Such a cover-plaid looks rich and cool, but somehow I prefer the gray polyurethane version. Maybe because there is still a black Belkin leather sleeve, bought at the time for the first iPad and perfect for the second. Inside, it is lined with a gray soft fabric - the color goes well with the gray cover, with which the new tablet should easily fit into it.
Why do you need a Smart Cover if you already have a case? First of all, this accessory is just cool. As one good friend of mine puts it, if you don't want an iPad 2, then you definitely want a Smart Cover. Secondly, this is an extremely convenient stand, and it can be purchased only for the sake of such a function.
I don’t know who in Apple came up with the Smart Cover - Jonathan Ive or a designer unknown to the public, but this man is a genius, and as long as such geniuses work in the company, it will continue to amaze with its bold decisions and offer people a small technological miracle every year. After all, this is why we love Apple.
V Apple For a long time they have been coming up with not only new products and services, but also accessories and additions for these same products. Moreover, here, as in the case of goods or services, it seems that everything has already been invented, but some little thing is added, or it is not added, but, on the contrary, is reduced, and something new appears before us. Perfectly thought out.
We can now recall iPod Socks, fabric covers for Apple players that have become very popular - they used these covers, of course, not only with players, but with anything. I have a friend, so he wears Vertu in his “sock”. And what? Nice.
Just not very functional. But this is not so important. The so-called “bumper” was invented for the iPhone 4, now this type of case is becoming more and more in demand, there are a lot of offers for other devices. You should have seen how many accessories there are for samsung galaxy S, I also saw "bumpers" of different colors made of silicone.
There were a lot of accessories for the original iPad, on our website you will find reviews of these devices.
For the iPad, there was also an adapter that allowed you to connect the device to a monitor. The set of accessories is great, there is nothing to complain about.
For the updated iPad, a new product category was invented called Smart Cover. Interestingly, if you type the phrase Smart Cover in Google, the first link will be Smartcover.com, about cosmetics and more. As if there were no patent wars. Although, for Apple, these are all seeds.
There are two types of covers, leather and polyurethane. Rather, on the one hand, one of these materials, on the other, microfiber. On the side is an aluminum bar with magnets. There are also magnets on the iPad 2 case, on one side for mounting, plus one to the left of the display, when the cover closes it, it goes into sleep mode. Open cover, iPad wakes up, close - falls asleep. Something similar can be found in the BlackBerry spark plus the original case (this is true for almost all models), only in a slightly different way. For example, one or another call mode is activated in the case.
Case materials leave a good impression, especially for leather models, there is only one opinion - you have to take it.
Fastening takes place in seconds, attaching the cover incorrectly simply will not work. Apple loves magnets, just remember MagSafe, which is present in every laptop of the company. If you do not know, this is a very convenient thing - you can pull the plug out of the socket without looking and insert it into place. Plus, if you suddenly pull the laptop, the plug will easily disconnect and there will be no harm (to anyone). I have been using macbooks of all stripes for four years now, and more than once MafSafe saved me a lot.
The cover sits in place like a glove, if you remember the original case for the first iPad, then it's just heaven and earth. There, if you remember, it was necessary to hammer the gadget almost with a creak. The black PVC cover was covered with an incomprehensible white coating, but it practically did not increase the size of the device.
With Smart Cover it is even more interesting, because there is no question of increasing the size at all. The cover consists of segments, due to this, the accessory fits snugly to the display. The photographs clearly show that with the cover the thickness practically does not change, and this is just wonderful. Plus, of course, there is an image effect - with the cover, the iPad 2 takes on a completely different look.
Immediately, I will quickly say about the white iPad 2. Actually, the color of the edging of the display has changed and, oddly enough, even a certain feeling of "sonystyle" has appeared. Beautiful and, in my opinion, this is a real gift for girls.
The Smart Cover can also be used as a stand, the segments fold into a triangle, and you can set the device as a photo frame or place it horizontally for use, for example, virtual keyboard. With proper skill, it will fit for typing small texts, for example, you can safely answer emails or write on Twitter.
A simple cover has another purpose, it is to clean the display of traces, and, of course, they appear all the time. Unfortunately, she is not very good at this task. Obviously not a miracle rag. But there is no effect.
A simple accessory, but just think of the work involved. The PU Smart Cover costs $39, the leather one costs $69. It is clear that the company earns a lot on the accessory, but the thing turned out to be good. The cover is small, easily attached to the device, serves as a stand, puts it into sleep mode, clears the display, there is an image effect - finally, it's just a beautiful and solid thing. It is possible to choose one of several colors, polyurethane covers are bright and look interesting in real life.
For manufacturers of accessories, this is a kind of hint in which direction to move. The presence of magnets on the iPad 2 case can be an impetus for creating the most unusual things. The first iPad has already been turned into a laptop, built into cars, turned into a smart home control center and into a DJ console. The second iPad is waiting for the transformation even more interesting.
There is one oddity and one major drawback of Smart Cover. Look, the cover protects the display of the iPad 2. But the gadget has an aluminum "back" and it's just that it's prone to scratches to a much greater extent. The first iPad in use has a couple scratches on the back from who knows where. Probably caught something in the bag. The iPad 2 will have the same trouble if handled carelessly, and this is where the Smart Cover will not save. Scratching the display is difficult, the aluminum back is easy. This means that the prudent owner of the gadget will have to look at other solutions. In this case, probably, Smart Cover will still be purchased.
Sergey Kuzmin ()
- an ambiguous product. Someone considers it brilliant, someone useless (since it does not protect the back of the iPad). However, no one canceled the fact that this product came out original and in demand. This article is recommended reading before buying an iPad...
The other day I did a very interesting tour of our local computer supermarket (5 floors of computers, appliances and accessories), where I looked at dozens of different cases. No, I chose the case not for myself, but for a friend. I saw so many fakes under Smart Cover that I was simply amazed at the choice. Therefore, in the article I will tell about them.
Original Smart Cover
This is how the entire available repertoire of Smart Cover colors looks like:
Apple has a great page on their website that describes the benefits of the Smart Cover. The value of this page is that you can try on any color Smart Cover on your iPad and play with it virtually.
The best way to understand how Smart Cover works is with Apple's video:
I once bought a green Smart Cover - six months have passed, it's time to share my impressions. Moreover, both minuses and pluses were revealed.
Smart Cover can hold the iPad even on a very uneven surface. On a soft bed, on a crooked chair, on the sofa - everywhere the iPad stands very stable with the help of Smart Cover.
Yes, the screen gets dirty on its own, but there are also stripes from the Smart Cover - no one can cancel this fact. However, they can be easily wiped off with a special soft cloth.
The inner surface of the Smart Cover is covered with microfiber, which is supposed to protect the surface of the Smart Cover from dust and dirt. As for full protection, I would not stutter - still some dust remains (I had the opportunity to compare the iPad 1 without a case and iPad 2 with Smart Cover).
But the fact that the inner surface gets dirty is a must. The photo shows that the surface becomes much darker after a few months of use.
However, the inner surface of the Smart Cover survived the jam on it. I wiped it with a barely damp cloth and there were practically no traces left. But getting a drop of ink from a ballpoint pen was deplorable - I still could not wipe off the speck.
The outer surface gets dirty, but also wipes well from dust and dirt. Here is a photo of the surface of the Smart Cover after six months of intensive use. Polyurethane cover.
Does the Smart Cover scratch the iPad itself? I tend to think that it all depends on the circumstances and the accuracy of use. I take off and put on the Smart Cover 5-7 times a day (the situation obliges), but there are no scratches on the iPad itself. Someone, judging by the reviews, manages to deliver them. But on the attachment points of the Smart Cover itself, scuffs are very visible:
Another disadvantage of the Smart Cover is that it significantly adds to the weight of the iPad, although it does not weigh much on its own. That is, in practice, this translates into the fact that it’s easier for me personally to play arcades, shooters, racing on iPad 2 without Smart Cover. And it's easier to take photos and videos without it. On the other hand, the ability to remove the cover in a second is a huge plus. :)
The comfortable position of the Smart Cover in certain games and when shooting can be recognized as in the photo below
Fake Smart Cover
Well, for starters, an entertaining story, a little off topic:
A Russian tourist comes to the left store with a name like “we sell everything” and asks the Thais in Russian:
- Is it Apple?
A Thai girl, accustomed to the unceremonious attitude of Russians and their unwillingness to speak English, answers them in Russian:
The Russian scratched his turnip and says:
- And how much does an iPad 32 gigabyte with 3G cost you?
Taika shows the correct price on the calculator. Curtain…
Then we found out that this girl is learning Russian using iPhone apps, which she showed us. Well, then we started testing cases in her shop.
I will say right away that if you buy a Smart Cover abroad (and in Russia as well), then you should understand that there is a chance of stumbling upon a fake. Yes, or you can just buy a cover that will be called something like Smart Cover Max or Smart Cover plus.
Fakes can be divided into three types:
1. Fakes that just have the name Smart Cover. It's easy to distinguish. Often this is generally a case, in which one side vaguely resembles a Smart Cover. Often, in such cases, the back cover and the front cover can peel off, as it is held on by glue (we have seen several such options). The price is about 30-50 dollars.
2. Well-made cases and there are even magnets like the Smart Cover, only it is far from a Smart Cover - we tested the magnets by lifting the tablet horizontally to the ground. The case has been opened - the magnets are very weak. Prices are 25-50 dollars.
3. Practically a copy of the Smart Cover, it is difficult to distinguish from the original. There is even a suspicion that this is the original. :) Maybe some pirate party from China? The price for such a Smart Cover is about 20-25 dollars.
It should be remembered that a fake can sometimes be better than the original and you may be lucky, but the quality of most of them did not please us very much.
Frequently asked Questions:
Buy or not Smart Cover for iPad 2?
I think that it would be a good choice to buy a Smart Cover when buying an iPad. You should not do this only if you have definitely decided on the purchase of another case.
Remember: Smart Cover is primarily a convenient protection for your screen. You will have to take care of protecting the back of the iPad yourself. From experience I will say that with careful intensive using an iPad- scratching it is difficult, but everyone has their own experience.
After reading the reviews about Smart Cover, you can see that some people are disappointed with the not very high security that the cover provides. I think it's a matter of high expectations.
Therefore, buying a case or Smart Cover is a matter of personal preference. The general advice is this: if you need security, choose a more serious case, if functionality and style, then Smart Cover. Although in terms of functionality, individual covers can compete with Smart Cover.
I now have an average option - at home I use Smart Cover (when I play, I take it off), and for the road I have a separate closed bag for iPad.
Which Smart Cover to choose: leather or polyurethane?
- Well, the color is up to you. However, I pay attention to the bad reviews for the cream-colored leather cover. Many complaints about the heavily soiled surface. No, they all get dirty, but this color seems to get the most dirty.
- Polyurethane covers have brighter colors than leather ones.
- The price of a leather Smart Cover is almost twice as high - also an important factor.
They do not differ in functionality. We opted for a polyurethane case and are not disappointed.
We had a case for the first iPad. He is cool! On the iPad inside this case, you can easily type text or watch movies. Case worked very well. But we tried to make a beautiful design [for a tablet] and then we had to hide this design inside the case, right? In addition, now we have made the product thin and light, so it will be difficult to use it with some accessories. So we thought we could do something better for the iPad 2. Going back to the beginning, we wanted to design a case that would fit our product. And we succeeded, but this is no longer a case. This is a cover that covers the glass. This is Smart Cover.
A lot of time has passed since March, and now we have the opportunity to evaluate the cover based on the results of six months of experience. We will finally unequivocally answer the question of whether one cover is enough for full protection.
How should Smart Cover be used without damaging iPad?
That's right: you need to put the iPad 2 with the Smart Cover on on the front side. Or, when you need a display, fully open the cover and place the iPad on it, already face up.
In landscape mode - a pleasure. Smart Cover folds in half and serves as a kind of “substrate” for fingers:
Portrait mode is worse. You either open the Smart Cover completely and hold it with both hands (the cover is not attached to the back of the tablet), or leave it folded in half:
Despite some clumsiness of the second option (as in the photo), it is perhaps the most preferable. The left hand gets tired, but only with time. Moreover, no one forbids holding the iPad with your right hand. Plus - the eye of the camera remains open.
Does the Smart Cover add any noticeable weight to the tablet?
Alas, he adds On the rare occasion when I shoot a cover, the iPad 2 is as light as a feather in comparison.
Are there signs of wear on the back of the iPad 2?
No, there are no traces. Here are photos of the tablet on which the Smart Cover was worn for six months:
Images are clickable
And not just worn, but used in different provisions. Including - in the standing:
Are there signs of wear on the Smart Cover itself?
Yes, noticeable
There are also scuffs on the second bracket, but no matter how hard I tried, I could not capture them
Does the skin wear off?
Rather, it gets dirty too easily. Dirt gets on the leather surface, which is not so easy to remove:
Does the inside of the microfiber Smart Cover wear out?
Hardly, but the dust also collects be healthy. The inner surface, by the way, can be cleaned with a clothes brush.
Does Smart Cover clean the iPad 2 display?
Yes, but not everywhere. In places of folds between the plates, stains from the fingers remain.
iPad 2 immediately after removing the Smart Cover
Have scratches appeared on the display in six months?
No, as you can see for yourself in the last photo:
Let's summarize. The Smart Cover is great protection for a second iPad if you get into the habit of laying your tablet face down. If not, please come up with additional protection for the rear panel. Alternatively, a carbon one from SGP is suitable.
Smart Case or Smart Cover?
Apple doesn't spend too much time developing related accessories for its products. There are two kinds of original protective cases from Apple for iPad: Smart Cover and Smart Case.
Smart Cover is, in essence, cover foriPad. The polyurethane three-piece cover is attached to the body of the iPad using a built-in magnetic element. It also ensures the functioning of Apple's signature "chip": Sleep / Wake. When you close the lid, the tablet receives a signal and iPad automatically enters sleep mode. When the Smart Cover is lifted, the screen automatically turns on and the user immediately sees the inscription "unlock" in front of him. This feature greatly simplifies the work with the iPad, eliminating the need to reach for the Power button every time, and in addition, it saves battery power.
Even though the Smart Cover doesn't cover the entire body of the tablet, the iPad is in good hands. During storage and transportation, the "smart cover" completely covers the screen, protecting it from scratches and abrasions in contact with surrounding objects: keys in a bag, liquid, dust, etc. The inner surface of the cover is covered with microfiber, which, according to the manufacturers, cleans the screen of the smallest dust particles when closed. And when working with a tablet, it is enough to “lay” the Smart Cover under the iPad, and its back panel will also be protected from deformation.
The magnetic element already mentioned above allows you to easily fold the Smart Cover into a very stable triangular stand, and at two different angles. One is great for typing, working with documents, games, and the second - for watching videos.
The advantages of the Smart Cover include its light weight and compact dimensions. Designed specifically for the iPad, it harmonizes perfectly with the design of the tablet. Smart Cover is available for iPad 2/3/4, iPad Air, and iPad Mini/2 Retina.
Smart Case - improved Smart Cover. Apple has gone to the lengths of less-than-tidy users by adding a built-in back cover to the simple iPad cover. Smart Case solved the problem of the corners noticeably worn out from frequent friction, the appearance of scratches on the chrome cover of the iPad, however, in turn, the volume of the case also increased. And if earlier the cover could be unfastened in no time and admire the high-tech miracle of technology, then Smart Case is not so easy to remove. But its owners can be absolutely calm about the condition of the iPad: in such a shell, nothing threatens it. But the magnetic element is not striking, but is securely hidden in the "spine" of the cover. In addition, Smart Case is presented not only in polyurethane, but also in leather. All the features that the Smart Cover had (Sleep / Wake support, stand) have been preserved in the new version of Apple's protective case.
