Did Apple just kill the case industry?

[Googlyhead]

I'm hoping most people will get their free one and the case of their choice, selling the Apple one on eBay.
Should have two effects;
- bring the prices down for eBay bumpers
- prod the competition with a big stick to produce innovative designs and better quality in order to stand out. They have to be at least as good as the Apple offering now!

 

[Thedeathbear]

I'll probably choose one of the 3rd party cases
Apple will offer, but apple will never offer an Otterbox for free. So the answer to your question is no.

 

[allinon72]

Are you kidding? This is a DREAM scenario for case manufacturers, provided Apple picks them. MASSIVE orders from a huge company like Apple...what more could a case company ask for?

 

[mrblack927]

I think a lot of people are missing the point. Apple said they are only going to be offering a "very limited" number of 3rd party cases for free. When asked why, Steve Jobs said it was because most case manufacturers ruin their release plans by taking leaked specs and making cases for unannounced products prematurely.

So no, case manufacturers wont "get paid by Apple instead of you" because most of the good case companies won't be supported. Apple hates those companies. They are trying to cut into their case sales and they will do a lot of damage. Not saying they're going to run anyone out of business... but a hell of a lot of people are going to opt for the "free" Apple-supported case over anything else.

 

[Stiss]

Gear 4 are a shoe in IMO.

 

[cello2456]

My guess is that we are going to get to choose from any of those cases that sell on eBay for $1 that come from China. It's a case. It will solve the antenna issue. SJ said a third party case - he did not say that it would be from a well known brand name.