Leaked iPad 2 Case Images Pulled

[MacRumors]

The Wall Street Journal reports that several of the purported iPad 2 photos found on Alibaba.com , a small business e-commerce site, have been removed upon legal demand:

But someone -- it’s unclear who -- doesn’t seem to appreciate all the attention: Alibaba.com was asked to remove the listings. “We do not know whether these products are what they say they are, but we have received a legitimate takedown request and are removing the listings,” Alibaba Group spokesman John Spelich said Wednesday.

Further inquiries to the led to little detail as to who requested the takedown, but one of the companies named Fullchance Industrial Co. claimed the case designs were "extremely accurate" and that they worked directly with Hon Hai Precision Industry. Hon Hai assembles Apple's iPhone and iPad devices, though a Hon Hai spokesperson denied any connection between Hon Hai and the listings on Alibaba.

Meanwhile, recent 9to5Mac report with design images for the iPad 2 has also been pulled:

Update, we’ve been told (not so nicely) to remove those mold drawings because they are the property of someone else. We’ve complied.

The images of the cases have already seen wide distribution and are even physically in the hand of some bloggers:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TTFYnLn_qNo

Article Link: Leaked iPad 2 Case Images Pulled

[bentmywookie]

Apple's 3rd party suppliers ruin all the fun surprises!

[SandboxGeneral]

Interesting. I think that leaves a tad more credibility to the next-gen iPad and it's possible new features. Obviously the article doesn't say who gave the takedown notice, but I think it is safe to say it wasn't Microsoft!

[PBF]

Are we talking about the same images of the iPad 2 with white plastic back?

Then whatever.

[Mactagonist]

At least we know they are real now!

The takedown notice never lies!

[JonBook Pro]

Originally Posted by PBF

Are we talking about the same images of the iPad 2 with white plastic back?

Then whatever.

That was a case...

[musio]

"not so nicely"

what did they say?

[louis Fashion]

Originally Posted by bentmywookie

Apple's 3rd party suppliers ruin all the fun surprises!

You got that right. What a drag. Maybe the Chi-coms don't like surprises?

[strang]

You can't stop the Chinese from leaking ****. It will always happen.

[blackpond]

Looks great! Looking forward to buying iPad2.

Why is the entire top panel open?

[MaxBurn]

Cool, adds cred to the slightly thinner, flatter with rounded edges like an ipod 4th gen. Obviously a rear camera on there too. Personally I was thinking they would skip the rear camera but they must have a ton of space inside there for stuff.

[bearcatrp]

Wouldn't be surprised if apple themselves (through 3rd party of course) leaked it to generate business.

[Gemütlichkeit]

Those are some ugly cases

Naked apple products for the win.

[zerocustom1989]

Looking forward to the thin edges, but I hope they're aluminum and not chrome.

[Gemütlichkeit]

Originally Posted by bearcatrp

Wouldn't be surprised if apple themselves (through 3rd party of course) leaked it to generate business.

They have nothing to gain because of this. The hype machine is already there once they announce a keynote or unavailing. Secrecy fuels the hype and leaking any bit of info is counter active to this.

[karsten]

that's what you get in the unregulated wild of china. can't really cry for apple too much.

[oscarmacca]

Originally Posted by Mactagonist

At least we know they are real now!

The takedown notice never lies!

.......unless, that is, the takedown notice itself was an 'inside' job to give credence to the original story.

I'm getting myself confused now............happy New Year everyone!

[Mr. Chewbacca]

Originally Posted by Gemütlichkeit

They have nothing to gain because of this. The hype machine is already there once they announce a keynote or unavailing. Secrecy fuels the hype and leaking any bit of info is counter active to this.

Have they announced any keynotes?

Are they doing anything for the app store release?

[j-a-x]

The fact that they were pulled seems to mean that they were likely legit, unless of course apple purposely forced somebody to remove fake images to make us think they are real so they can surprise us later...

[junker]

Originally Posted by blackpond

Why is the entire top panel open?

Precisely what I what thinking! No one else spotted that? To me that is the most intriguing aspect of this whole video/take down.

The mere implication of a possible "flip open" access panel make my head spin!

[saving107]

honestly, what have we learned from this leak that wasn't obvious already:

-lighter
-thinner
-camera (FaceTime)
-no more bezel (like the iPhone 4 and 4th Generation iPod touch)
-no more curved design (like the iPhone 4 and 4th Generation iPod touch)

as well as the more likely to happen:
-more ram
-faster processor
-Apple's version of Retina Display for the iPad (not 4x the pixels like the iPhone/iPod touch, but definitely a higher ppi to make text and images look better)
-better battery life (just because they can)

[junker]

Originally Posted by saving107

honestly, what have we learned from this leak that wasn't obvious already:

So, what's your opinion of the open top?

[blahblah100]

Originally Posted by j-a-x

The fact that they were pulled seems to mean that they were likely legit, unless of course apple purposely forced somebody to remove fake images to make us think they are real so they can surprise us later...

How ethical...

[saving107]

Originally Posted by junker

Precisely what I what thinking! No one else spotted that? To me that is the most intriguing aspect of this whole video/take down.

The mere implication of a possible "flip open" access panel make my head spin!

not all cases are closed off on top, but that case could also be for the iPad 3G (2nd generation)

[toujames]

Originally Posted by saving107

honestly, what have we learned from this leak that wasn't obvious already:

-lighter
-thinner
-camera (FaceTime)
-no more bezel (like the iPhone 4 and 4th Generation iPod touch)
-no more curved design (like the iPhone 4 and 4th Generation iPod touch)

as well as the more likely to happen:
-more ram
-faster processor
-Apple's version of Retina Display for the iPad (not 4x the pixels like the iPhone/iPod touch, but definitely a higher ppi to make text and images look better)
-better battery life (just because they can)

That's probably wats going to happen.
Apple is so predictable