Macally SmartMate for new iPad on Amazon!

[boltjames]

Do you have the black/white versions, or the clear? the youtube video of the clear one makes it look like those smooth plasticky clear super scratch prone cases... definitely doesnt look like a matte/rubbery finish of the incipios and the belkins... i would totally get this case if the clear version is rubbery... Black and white versions look rubbery though...

if you have the clear version and you say it is rubbery/matte/soft touch.. i will place the order right now... thanks =)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gSRkA6L_OR0

The black/white look to be rubberized.

The clear is shiny and will be slippery. As you noticed, the only way to get a rubberized tactile finish is to make it milky and translucent, not crystal-clear. To get crystal-clear, you deal with some slip.

BJ

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Unless you already have an overpriced apple smart cover, I believe the Covermate is a great choice. I am assuming it's the same shell with an added detachable front cover. I preordered the clear shell with black front cover online. With discount, not much more than the shell alone.

At macmall I wonder why the clear smartmate is so much cheaper than the other two.

SmartMate: "Locks" in the Apple Smart Cover you already own.

CoverMate: "Locks" in the included Macally cover that comes with the purchase.

I believe that the CoverMate is literally the SmartMate with a bundled knock-off of the Smart Cover.

BJ

 

[boltjames]

Yes. I think it routes the sound to the front.

Here's a large view of the new SmartMate, and you can see that instead of the rectangular speaker hole there is now a protruding plastic sound-redirector. I was able to get my order flipped from the iPad 2 version to the new version for the The New iPad today, might have the case as early as tomorrow (fingers crossed).

BJ

 

[gigaguy]

Shoot I hate slick back shells, I already pre-ordered the clear back, black cover COVERMATE online.

 

[MacbookDO]

Anyone know if the smart cover will say folded back with this case? Some of the cases I had in the past, the smart cover magnets didn't attach, and the cover flops around when it's fully opened.

 

[sparkstsa]

Nope. The smart cover does not stay folded back as there are no magnets to hold it. You want the belkin snap shield secure for that functionality or put a strip of magnetic tape on this one would work too. The problem I have with a magnet on the back of the case is that it picks up to much "magnetic debris".

 

[slim1970]

Deleted double post

 

[slim1970]

I can confirm that the cases sold by Beach Audio are legit. I received mine today. I placed my order yesterday. The turn around was very fast as you can see. I have the black and the clear. The black does have the matte finish although the clear doesn't it's not that slick. It does have a little grip to it. I bought the black to change cases every now and again as I expect the clear to get scratched up or turn colors possibly. Check out the photos of the packaging and the product.

 

[slim1970]

More pics

 

[boltjames]

I can confirm that the cases sold by Beach Audio are legit. I received mine today. I placed my order yesterday. The turn around was very fast as you can see. I have the black and the clear. The black does have the matte finish although the clear doesn't it's not that slick. It does have a little grip to it. I bought the black to change cases every now and again as I expect the clear to get scratched up or turn colors possibly. Check out the photos of the packaging and the product.

Nice!

Thanks Slim. The black.....is it a rubbery, grippy finish? Also, the speaker protrusion.....does it annoy your right palm as you hold the iPad in portrait and thumb-type?

BJ

 

[frankiepdx]

More pics

And how about that enhanced audio?

 

[Robby29]

can you post more pics with the ipad installed? and tell us about the fitment and such... thinking about getting this case too! thanks

 

[mattburley7]

i kinda want to get this case because it has better protection than say the belkin, incipio, switch easy but why is it so much cheaper? only $19.99? the others are like $30.00

 

[slim1970]

And how about that enhanced audio?

It does offer a slight improvement to the sound. But not as dramatic as I hoped. If you take your hand and make a cup around the speaker you can achieve the same effect as with this cover. That was a big selling point for me. Over all I'm happy with it. It feels nice in the hands.

 

[gigaguy]

Will the Macally smartmate back work with their smartCover front cover?
I want a black/black combo w/o buying the apple leather cover for the 3.
I assume the backs are the same.

 

[justkiz]

Does the case fit the iPad perfectly?

 

[slim1970]

can you post more pics with the ipad installed? and tell us about the fitment and such... thinking about getting this case too! thanks

Here's a couple of pics with the iPad in the clear case with a black leather smart cover. The fit is nice but I wish it was just a bit tighter. It's easy to snap the case on an off in it's current state. It's like it needs more connection/snap points or something to make it more secure. The cover locks work great though! I've suspended my iPad in mid air and swung it back and forth to test out the connection and it holds very well. I feel pretty good about the purchase. It's a great minimalist case. I like the clear because it shows off the craftsmanship of iPad!

 

[slim1970]

Will the Macally smartmate back work with their smartCover front cover?
I want a black/black combo w/o buying the apple leather cover for the 3.
I assume the backs are the same.

I have the Apple smart cover. I didn't want to take a chance on the cover not working. I've read that Apple change the configuration of the magnets or something in the new iPad and some 3rd party covers aren't functioning properly. I would hope that Macally modified their products to account for this change. The back covers are the same, btw.

 

[Robby29]

Thanks! I ordered the black one for the rubber feel!

 

[slim1970]

Does the case fit the iPad perfectly?

The case lines up perfectly with all the extremities on the new iPad. Every cutout is aligned dead center on all the buttons and the camera. Even the charging port cutout is dead on! The audio amplifier slot lines up evenly with the speaker on the left-hand side. But it stretches out a little ways past the the actually speaker on the right-hand side. Other than the case fits perfectly.

 

[gigaguy]

I ordered the black covermate and the black/clear smartmate. that will give a full black combo. I still wonder if a thin skin will work under the clear. still way cheaper combo than the Apple black $mart cover.

 

[boltjames]

The case lines up perfectly with all the extremities on the new iPad. Every cutout is aligned dead center on all the buttons and the camera. Even the charging port cutout is dead on! The audio amplifier slot lines up evenly with the speaker on the left-hand side. But it stretches out a little ways past the the actually speaker on the right-hand side. Other than the case fits perfectly.

Slim:

The black version, does it have a rubberized finish?

The speaker shroud, does it feel uncomfortable in your hand in portrait?

BJ

 

[justkiz]

The case lines up perfectly with all the extremities on the new iPad. Every cutout is aligned dead center on all the buttons and the camera. Even the charging port cutout is dead on! The audio amplifier slot lines up evenly with the speaker on the left-hand side. But it stretches out a little ways past the the actually speaker on the right-hand side. Other than the case fits perfectly.

Thanks a lot slim

 

[oghowie]

Ordered mine from Amazon and it should arrive tomorrow. I had the Incipio Smart Feather on my iPad 2 but they didn't revise the top and bottom for the new iPad. Very dumb in my opinion. Hopefully this one is better.

 

[TNThomas]

Are the Incipio Smart Feather and Belkin Snap Sheild less clear than this one?
Does the clear version of the Macally case scratch easily?

 

[slim1970]

Slim:

The black version, does it have a rubberized finish?

The speaker shroud, does it feel uncomfortable in your hand in portrait?

BJ

BJ, yes the black version does have the rubberized finish and it feels very nice in the hands. I wish there was a way for the clear to still be clear and have that finish on it. The clear surprisingly enough does have a little grip to it. It's not as slick as I thought it would be. In portrait mode, you can't feel the speaker shroud. It's integrated very nicely into the case.

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Are the Incipio Smart Feather and Belkin Snap Sheild less clear than this one?
Does the clear version of the Macally case scratch easily?

I'm not sure about the Incipio Smart Feather case or the Belkin Snap Shield's color, but from the pictures I've seen of them they look to be like a frost color or something. I'm thinking it's to provide some grip to the case. The Macally case is not as slick as it appears to be. I do however, think that scratches will be more visiable and it will scratch more easily because it's more transparent than the other too.