Mikey Campbell
Ahead of Friday's iPad Air launch, Apple on Thursday quietly discontinued all but one variant of its Smart Case and Smart Cover offerings for older 9.7-inch iPads, with the dark gray version of both remaining as the only option for would-be buyers.
With Apple's colorful lineup of Smart Cases and Covers whittled down to a dark gray polyurethane option, current second- through fourth-generation iPad owners who do not yet have an Apple-made case may be out of luck once brick-and-mortar Apple Stores run out of supply on hand. The change was first spotted by iLounge.
Apple still sells the iPad 2, which also fits the cases and covers discontinued on Thursday, meaning those customers looking for an entry-level iPad are now limited to the one color option.
Apple first introduced the Smart Case alongside the iPad 2 in 2011. The wraparound Smart Case debuted as an alternative to third-party protective accessories that cover both the front and back of the iPad.
The covers feature embedded magnets that interface with a hall sensor in the iPad to turn the device on and off when the cover is flipped open and closed. There are also magnets located on the inside of the iPad's chassis to attach the accessories without unsightly hardware.
Both the Smart Case and Smart Cover will live with updated designs for the upcoming iPad Air and iPad mini.
William Gallagher
Christine McKee
AppleInsider Staff
Chip Loder
Malcolm Owen
32 Comments
Strange.
Why? It’s just like when they cut the extra colors of the old iPhones to save fabrication. Well, sure, white was the only color cut, but it’s the same principle.
This tells me they see the 5th iPad’s design being pushed aggressively.
Hmmm.... they've left just the dark Gray Smart cover for the iPad 2 but then have not offered the dark Gray Smart cover for the iPad Air... that is also strange. I also would like to know what the weight of the Smart cover is for the new iPad Air so that I know what the total weight will be for iPad Air plus the Smart cover. Note that the the new iPad Air Smart covers now have ONLY 3 foldable flaps vs. the 4 foldable flaps on the older Smart covers. Hopefully this will be a practical move to make the foldable cover sturdier etc.
Apple's still selling em: [url]http://www.macrumors.com/2013/10/31/apple-discontinues-original-smart-cases-and-covers-despite-continued-sales-of-ipad-2/[/url]
Stating with IOS7, Apple has decided to hit things with an ugly stick. It's like they are deliberately trying to cut their sales.