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I only own their stock ;) and recognize an improvement when I see it. Having the case in two parts gives the users choice. I consider the silicone to be better than the leather for this use. Apple did this change a while back and you are just now finding out about the improvement. They can not make everyone happy but you have a choice to buy or not.

To be fair I am not sure there is more choice.

In the old world: someone who just wanted a cover could get a Smart Cover for 40 euros, and someone who wanted a front and back protection could get the smart case for 80 euros.

In the new world, someone who just wants a cover is left with a 60 euros Smart Cover which isn't really designed to be used in its own (i.e.more expensive and less appropriate option), and someone who wants both protections has to shell out 80 for the case and 60 for the cover (60 euros more than they used to).

How is that an improvement?
 
- Leather option replaced with Plastic
- Increased Prices with lesser materials
- Single case split into two separate purchases
- Changed magnet position to make identical Air cover incompatible
- intentional design flaw remedied by an unnecessary back shell
- iPad Accessories no longer covered by iPad AppleCare+

This is what happens when the Accountants have more power than the Designers and Engineers.

I'm not so sure. After thinking about it, it kind of makes sense, especially in view of the position of the smart connector. The back case is one piece, then you can choose either the smart cover or the keyboard, and each will fit with it.
 
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To be fair I am not sure there is more choice.

In the old world: someone who just wanted a cover could get a Smart Cover for 40 euros, and someone who wanted a front and back protection could get the smart case for 80 euros.

In the new world, someone who just wants a cover is left with a 60 euros Smart Cover which isn't really designed to be used in its own (i.e.more expensive and less appropriate option), and someone who wants both protections has to shell out 80 for the case and 60 for the cover (60 euros more than they used to).

How is that an improvement?

Improvement for me is choice. If you are looking for the cheapest options, android has far better choice for you.
 
I only own their stock ;) and recognize an improvement when I see it. Having the case in two parts gives the users choice. I consider the silicone to be better than the leather for this use. Apple did this change a while back and you are just now finding out about the improvement. They can not make everyone happy but you have a choice to buy or not.

I see what you mean, it's an improvement to make something lesser quality, and charge $50 more for it, with no option of the higher quality(leather), more economical option that customers previously had. So now, for customers to purchase something from Apple like that previously did, they'd need to purchase 2 separate pieces for a total of $50 more. Yeah that's an improvement. I can see that they are only doing this for the benefit of the customer.

With the original 1 piece leather smart cases being $79, Apple couldn't simply separate the pieces and make them cost $79 when the 2 pieces are purchased together, especially when it's no longer made of leather, just made of silicone now. They make it cost $120 when purchased together. Like you said, that's an improvement.
 
I see what you mean, it's an improvement to make something lesser quality, and charge $50 more for it, with no option of the higher quality(leather), more economical option that customers previously had. So now, for customers to purchase something from Apple like that previously did, they'd need to purchase 2 separate pieces for a total of $50 more. Yeah that's an improvement. I can see that they are only doing this for the benefit of the customer.

With the original 1 piece leather smart cases being $79, Apple couldn't simply separate the pieces and make them cost $79 when the 2 pieces are purchased together, especially when it's no longer made of leather, just made of silicone now. They make it cost $120 when purchased together. Like you said, that's an improvement.

We do not agree in so many ways. Genuine leather is not necessarily a higher quality material for this purpose.

To me the two part case IS an improvement. No doubt. If you are hung up on the cost of things you should not be using Apple products.
 
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You can actually be a fan of something but have valid complaints about certain parts you know. Just because one product is good doesn't mean everything else asociated with it will be aswell. Not everything needs to be 'oh holy Steve Jobs'!

I bought my previous smart cover for $45. The pro one would cost me $67. $22 more? For what? Inflation?
I can defiantly complain about that with still wanting to own an ipad.
 
Improvement for me is choice. If you are looking for the cheapest options, android has far better choice for you.

You might want to ask people who only want a cover or want a leather case if they think there is improvement then. Any way you want to put it, selling a lesser products for a higher price (in the case of the Smart Cover which isn't cut out properly) isn't an improvement.
 
You might want to ask people who only want a cover or want a leather case if they think there is improvement then. Any way you want to put it, selling a lesser products for higher prices (in the case of the Smart Cover which isn't cut out properly) isn't an improvement.

You are still only using the price to judge a product. In the past the leather cases were so processed . . Well is was hardly leather anymore.

I do not consider the silicone case and cover to be a lesser product no matter the costs.
 
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You are still only using the price to judge a product.

Am I, really?

the Smart Cover which isn't cut out properly

Is that about the price?

And you said improvement is about choice, but if I get you correctly you are saying you are fine with Apple removing the leather option because it is not the one you prefer?
 
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We do not agree in so many ways. Genuine leather is not necessarily a higher quality material for this purpose.

To me the two part case IS an improvement. No doubt. If you are hung up on the cost of things you should not be using Apple products.

You are absolutely right, we disagree on many things. And I understand your point, having 2 parts instead of one, with that being not only the only option, but $40 more, plus using cheaper costing silicone now instead of leather, that is an improvement for the consumer. Do you know how ridiculous you sound? It's one thing to say that you don't mind paying high prices for Apple since they make great products, but it's another thing to say the things that you say, or not admit the obvious.

I also appreciate your suggestion that I not be using Apple products because of the facts that I've stated. Truth is, I ordered both pieces because Apple seems to always offer products that I feel are superior to most other choices. However, that doesn't mean that I can't acknowledge the facts that I stated, and what you call an improvement; taking an option from consumers that was both more economical and higher quality away, and charging $40 more for a similar option, I'm willing to bank, is NOT an improvement to most sane individuals, even if we choose to make the purchase anyway.
 
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Am I, really?



Is that about the price?

And you said improvement is about choice, but if I get you correctly you are saying you are fine with Apple removing the leather option because it is not the one you prefer?

What ever bob. Maybe just relax for a while as you seem to be getting worked up here and that will change nothing. I could care less and am pretty darn happy with my 9.7 with silicone case and cover.

In fact I am very happy.
 
Ah the classic I can't make up anything normal to continue the discussion/argument and will resort to "whatever".
Wow, what a great way to counter logic.

You have convinced me to be happy aswell with paying much more for a lesser product solely because you are happy and don't care about it. Makes sense.
 
How exactly does the new cover not "work well"? Funny, for me it does everything advertised and expected. You're implying that some function or feature doesn't work without the back which is completely false.

Hows this for logic.....they created a BETTER solution than the old smart case which never allowed for the cover to be removed. They are giving people MORE options now and you guys still wanna bitch about it.

On the flip side if the cover didn't have the 2mm overhang, you'd all be on here complaining about how its hard to open the smart cover with the back case attached. (as many did before with the old style case. )

#cantwin
They could have added a small dip on the long side lip of the case so you could touch the side and flip the cover over. Better design cue than just making a bigger cover.
 
I consider the silicone to be better than the leather for this use.

In the past the leather cases were so processed . . Well is was hardly leather anymore.

What factors of the silicone case do you think are better than leather?

I agree the leather was over processed, but it was a lot lighter than the silicone cases. That's why I liked the Apple leather cases -- they added protection without adding weight. Apple stores still have leather cases for iPhones on display. If you pick up a leather case and a silicone case, you can really feel the difference in weight.
 
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Ah the classic I can't make up anything normal to continue the discussion/argument and will resort to "whatever".
Wow, what a great way to counter logic.

You have convinced me to be happy aswell with paying much more for a lesser product solely because you are happy and don't care about it. Makes sense.

"Whatever" was used because I could see that he and I were not going to agree. I am very sorry if it offended you. Logic was out the door as money was not a consideration for me. I still consider the new cover and case to be superior to what was offered several case models before.

Glad you are happy, now we are both happy!
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What factors of the silicone case do you think are better than leather?

I agree the leather was over processed, but it was a lot lighter than the silicone cases. That's why I liked the Apple leather cases -- they added protection without adding weight. Apple stores still have leather cases for iPhones on display. If you pick up a leather case and a silicone case, you can really feel the difference in weight.

Leather cases I have had before would start showing wear in just months. They also did not bend as well for using as a support in my opinion. The silicone feels better to me, less slippery and no doubt they will clean up like new.

This is just a personal choice that I like it better. As far as them being in two different parts, Apple made that choice before the Pro and if you use a keyboard, the two part case is the way to go.

The difference is weight is a non issue to me.
 
Thought I'd add my $0.02. I finally got around to opening my Smart Cover. It seems a little thicker than my Air 2 one which I don't mind, but the over flap isn't nearly as bad in real life as it looks in pictures. Here are two pictures and one has a #2 pencil next to it for scale.

It is slightly annoying, but I don't find that it "digs" into my hand or presses up the cover, but maybe that's how I hold it. I've never pressed the edged of the device right against my palm even when carrying an Air 2.

Photo Apr 02, 12 20 18 PM.jpg
Photo Apr 02, 12 20 38 PM.jpg
 
Leather cases I have had before would start showing wear in just months. They also did not bend as well for using as a support in my opinion. The silicone feels better to me, less slippery and no doubt they will clean up like new.

This is just a personal choice that I like it better. As far as them being in two different parts, Apple made that choice before the Pro and if you use a keyboard, the two part case is the way to go.

Not sure what you mean by "bend as well for support." But I get that it's a personal preference. Well, I preferred the leather, so I wish they'd kept that option. More choices would be good.

Two part cases do make sense with the Smart Keyboard, I agree. But the silicone back cover priced almost as much as the full leather case used to cost -- I mean, yes, they are better quality than third party covers, but not by THAT much. This time, I'm voting with my wallet and sticking with a third party case.
 
Not sure what you mean by "bend as well for support." But I get that it's a personal preference. Well, I preferred the leather, so I wish they'd kept that option. More choices would be good.

Two part cases do make sense with the Smart Keyboard, I agree. But the silicone back cover priced almost as much as the full leather case used to cost -- I mean, yes, they are better quality than third party covers, but not by THAT much. This time, I'm voting with my wallet and sticking with a third party case.

No better way to let Apple know how you think is to not buy it.

I also wish Apple would have given you more choice.
 
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I too find the new cover to be a design fail. Comparing to my Air gen 1, the overlap and the ‘play’ (looseness) of the cover make the iPad uncomfortable to hold in hand.

The overlap is sharp and digs into your hand, and when you hold it you push the lip with your palm which misaligns the cover. There is also quite a bit of play with the rubber “hinge” which contributes to the misalignment. Holding it feels ‘sloppier’.

So, the iPP is nicer to hold with no cover, but my heavier and thicker iPad Air is nicer to hold when there is a cover.

Ill be traveling overseas soon, and though I have a neoprene sleeve, the added protection the smart cover adds to the screen is nice. However, I’m finding it hard to justify the price for such an ill product. Tossing up whether to return it or not- its half the price of the pen which might actually be nice to have.
 
I wish apple would have just done a normal smart case as I have no intention of ever using the smart connector for a keyboard(have a spare apple bluetooth keyboard if I ever need one). But I understand the purpose of having the two items separated as Apple would prefer you buy the smart keyboard or have accessibility to the smart connector for other future accessories. I liked the smart case on my Air 2 that I've been considering picking up the Smart Cover and Silicone case. I like the UAG folio I picked up yesterday but the cover is too floppy and is prone to slipping out of stand mode when tapping on the bottom half of the screen.

The Zoogue cases have been my favorite iPad cases going back to the iPad 2. They aren't shipping until late April and they don't have proper pictures of what the case will look like that I will hold off if anything before considering a purchase.
 
So they created a solution in which the OEM option that more closely matches the $79 leather smartcase, 1-piece set, is now a 2-piece set that is no longer made of leather, and is actually $50 more.....and they did this just to give people MORE options? Yeah that makes sense.
Actually it makes perfect sense for their profit and for consumer options. No one is forcing you to use either one. Owning apple products isn't cheap. You want cheap crap, get Microsoft products or android phones. Apples a premium brand. And it costs money. Or wait for third party options.
 
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