Kevin Bostic
A number of new iPad covers, ostensibly for an unannounced, redesigned iPad 5, have shown up on e-commerce site Alibaba.
The cases, viewable in separate listings across Alibaba (via Applebitch), all appear to assume that Apple's next iPad will adopt a form factor similar to the recently-released iPad mini.
The listings for the cases specifically state that they are compatible with the iPad 5, which has yet to be released or even announced. One listing in particular offers logos and branding for the covers at customer request.
It's uncertain whether the case designs — all offering similar slots for controls, microphones, connectors, and speakers, and all shaped like the iPad mini — are based on familiarity with Apple's plans for a forthcoming iPad redesign or whether they are simply guesses based on assumptions of Apple's plans. The former is possible, given the origin of the listings — Chinese e-commerce site Alibaba — and the tendency for Chinese suppliers to leak details.
This is the second time in a week that such slim-bodied cases have leaked to the Internet. Friday saw more supposed iPad 5 cases revealed, similar in build to the ones appearing on Alibaba on Monday.
"Leaks" of future Apple product designs are notoriously hit or miss. Occasionally a supplier will reveal a good deal of information on forthcoming designs, but there have been instances of companies spending thousands of dollars to get ahead of their competition, only to find that the money was wasted building accessories for an Apple product that did not materialize as the leaks had painted it.
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8 Comments
Sounds good to me. I much prefer the rounded edges of my mini to the knife edge of the iPad 3. I find the iPad 3 uncomfortable to use after a relatively short time, and I think it's the edge of it that causes that (along with the weight of it).
Looks like the camera window is larger and moved closer to the edge than last generation.
https://devimages.apple.com.edgekey.net/resources/cases/dimensions/iPad-Wi-Fi-4th-generation.pdf
It's so early for this...unless they're pretty sure of a release in spring/summer. Guess we'll see soon. Bring on the retina Mini!
It's all junk. Unless they make a bamboo case. A bamboo case is environmentally friendly & looks cooler. No trees chopped down. Oh yeah i heard it smells nice as well. Mmmmmm bamboo cases mmmmm.
@wonton: Good idea, but I already asked Jony about the organic approach. He said he'd rather use hemp pressboard, but first we have to wait till all the heat sources are cooled down. At least five, maybe ten years max. Just kidding. I leave him pretty much to himself, to work out his own ideas.