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Macally SmartMate for new iPad on Amazon!

Released in Europe next week

I pre-ordered a SmartMate-3C on amazon.co.uk a couple of weeks ago, with an expected delivery date of 30th March. On the 30th I got an email from amazon saying it is delayed! (showing 1-2 months on the product page)

I contacted Macally Europe and they have told me today that the SmartMate-3 launches next week in Europe, so should be with me in 10-14 days
 
I got the case and I'm liking it. I was surprise because I did not pay attention to the details as to what the features are. I thought I would just get a simple clear back case that is compatible with Smart Cover.

I like the smooth hard crystal case material, I know some of you don't like it but I love the look and feel and I don't like the frost and smoky or rubbery clear cases. I was surprise that the case actually holds your Smart Cover in place, you have to remove the case in order to remove the Smart Cover but I like the Smart Cover and so this is not a problem for me.

The case covers the whole back except in the corners, the edge of the corners is raised, I cannot figure out at first as to why would they do that but I think they did that so we can easily take the case off by removing from the corners and something to grab on to, instead of using our fingernails to take off some cases and also maybe when you accidentally drop the case or put the iPad face down, the corners rased edges will prevent iPad glass from touching the ground, just a theory.

All in all I'm pretty happy with it but I'm still going to search for a clear crystal case that is compatible with Smart Cover but doesn't hold the Smart Cover and no raised edges in the corners or anywhere else.
 
edtorious said:
I got the case and I'm liking it. I was surprise because I did not pay attention to the details as to what the features are. I thought I would just get a simple clear back case that is compatible with Smart Cover.

I like the smooth hard crystal case material, I know some of you don't like it but I love the look and feel and I don't like the frost and smoky or rubbery clear cases. I was surprise that the case actually holds your Smart Cover in place, you have to remove the case in order to remove the Smart Cover but I like the Smart Cover and so this is not a problem for me.

The case covers the whole back except in the corners, the edge of the corners is raised, I cannot figure out at first as to why would they do that but I think they did that so we can easily take the case off by removing from the corners and something to grab on to, instead of using our fingernails to take off some cases and also maybe when you accidentally drop the case or put the iPad face down, the corners rased edges will prevent iPad glass from touching the ground, just a theory.

All in all I'm pretty happy with it but I'm still going to search for a clear crystal case that is compatible with Smart Cover but doesn't hold the Smart Cover and no raised edges in the corners or anywhere else.
Click to expand...

Just got my white one in today! Love it. The sound redirecting feature makes it sound GREAT! The reasons the corners are raised seems to be to protect the corners of the smart cover it self... which is kind of silly but they don't bother me. Holding this case in my hands is MUCH more comfortable than holding the Speck Smart Shell 2 as that one really had sharp edges that dug into my palms. This shell with it's smooth edges and soft touch paint on all sides is very comfortable to hold.

Love that it locks the smart cover in as I never take it off. The only thing missing is a magnet in the back to hold the cover back. Oh well... I think the trade off of better sound, locked smart cover and softer edges is worth the trade off for me.
 
Got mine in today. Locks the cover perfectly. I don't mind the raised corners. The black finish feels nice and has a good texture to grip. Very thin and light. Love the audio scoop. Boosts the audio to your face exponentially. So no more looking like an idiot trying to cup the speaker.

Now for the bad. iPad is held in by 4 small clips. The two on the smart cover side are perfect. The ones on the opposite side are much smaller. This causes it to feel loose and I've inadvertently popped them off several times by holding it at or near the raised corner. But the worst thing is the sharp edges. If your holding it, they're fine. Slide the iPad in your hand and it jabs into your skin. The edges on mine are rounded on the sides but apparently they didn't think this was necessary on the top and bottom.

Debating whether the flaws outweigh the positives. Really really really like the audio boost. I could sand the sharp edges. But I really can't replace the clips so that's really my biggest issue. On the right side where they are shorter they look slightly mangled so perhaps it's a manufacturing defect just on this one.

I bought some EMI absorbing tape from another forum member to install to keep the cover back. Might hold off on that for a bit until I decide on this case.
 
batotman said:
Got mine in today. Locks the cover perfectly. I don't mind the raised corners. The black finish feels nice and has a good texture to grip. Very thin and light. Love the audio scoop. Boosts the audio to your face exponentially. So no more looking like an idiot trying to cup the speaker.

Now for the bad. iPad is held in by 4 small clips. The two on the smart cover side are perfect. The ones on the opposite side are much smaller. This causes it to feel loose and I've inadvertently popped them off several times by holding it at or near the raised corner. But the worst thing is the sharp edges. If your holding it, they're fine. Slide the iPad in your hand and it jabs into your skin. The edges on mine are rounded on the sides but apparently they didn't think this was necessary on the top and bottom.

Debating whether the flaws outweigh the positives. Really really really like the audio boost. I could sand the sharp edges. But I really can't replace the clips so that's really my biggest issue. On the right side where they are shorter they look slightly mangled so perhaps it's a manufacturing defect just on this one.

I bought some EMI absorbing tape from another forum member to install to keep the cover back. Might hold off on that for a bit until I decide on this case.
Click to expand...

I think they need a new mold. The fit is obviously not exact and the bottom edges need to be refined.
 
For the crystal clear case, will it fit for an iPad 3 that has both a front and back clear Zagg or BestSkinsEver skin installed already? A previous post mentioned that there is some room to accommodate a film skin. True?
 
Not recommending this case

Well i've had this case for a while and as much as I like how it redirects the sound the case failed in a couple of ways.

Last week I took my iPad out to see if there was any grim and it wasnt just grim is was straight up hard grim like sand almost and it had left grim sized pits on the back of my iPad.

Secondly my son had been bringing my iPad to me by holding the Smart Cover, normally i wouldn't care because it has the edges sticking up, well he at one point dropped it and now my screen has a nice fleet of scratches from when it got dragged on the floor from the drop all because the iPad doesn't stay in the case like it should, it's simply too loose to withstand a drop and keep to iPad in the case.

If this case strengthen it's grip on the iPad and put some type of microfiber on the inside back of this case it would be great but as it is it doesn't.

I can't recommend the White Case simply because it damages the back and if you drop it the ipad will pop out of the case which defeats the purpose of the corners lifted.
 
Do the raised corners keep the smart cover from touching the glass causing lines?
 
i had this macally case in clear/hard plastic, and did not like it. its very slippery and very loose. i didn't like how the speaker "amplifier" protruded from the case it was an eye sore to me. the clear case can also easily scratch. therefore i returned it back to amazon and bought a frost i-blason and i couldn't be happier.
 
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I'm returning this. Rhe way it holds the iPad is joke. They are 4 tiny tabs that barely go over the aluminum bezel. My iPad can slip out with very little pressure while holding in my hand. Terrible design. I loved it besides that, don't know how they thought that would work well
 
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