good to know. this is one of the questions i had before i ordered. although the description on the site does not mention the matte finish for the clear, i believe it use to when it first came out.
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Review-new Speck Smart Shell (black) case
- Thread starter clyde2801
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good to know. this is one of the questions i had before i ordered. although the description on the site does not mention the matte finish for the clear, i believe it use to when it first came out.
I have the Belkin and like it a lot. My only problem, and I have stated this before, is that some of the edges are not completely even. Nothing major, and nothing sharp - it just looks like maybe where they cut the case out of the molding. $40 at BB is nuts though.
I continue to fall back to my Belkin as my favorite case when using with a smart cover.
While the Speck is nice, I find that it is heavier, and it does have this tendency to come part bythe dock connector, which is irritating. I'll probably just send it back in the end.
The strip on the back is a nice feature but it's not something I think is important for me.
While the Speck is nice, I find that it is heavier, and it does have this tendency to come part bythe dock connector, which is irritating. I'll probably just send it back in the end.
The strip on the back is a nice feature but it's not something I think is important for me.
I probably would have given the Belkin a try, but I don't like how they've gone from full coverage to that weird cutout at the bottom around the speaker and dock connector.
Plus, I like the black translucent color of the Speck.
The pictures on their site or best buys of the bottom like that aren't the ones that they are selling... don't know if that is an old picture... There was the case with both sides completely left open and the bottom with the weird cut out, and then there is the full coverage one that most people seem to be getting now. No one has purchased one with full side coverage and the weird bottom.
Good to know, thanks. I guess if I'm not happy with the Speck, I'll look into getting a Belkin. I'd be a little wary of ordering it with just the hope that the full coverage one will arrive......
I called Belkin and spoke to one of their reps. He told me the one on the web site would be the one shipping.
It appears that all traces, pictures, of the full coverage version have been replaced by the one with the cutouts at the bottom. Even on the UK site!
As I never had this one, Im not entirely sure if this makes a great deal of difference, especially if you take the added precaution of using a skin on the back. I think as far as low visibility, weight and overall real estate used, i.e. No interfering borders aroundthe screen, this shell has been far and above the best one I have used so far.
Others prefer the Speck, me, it's a good substitute and one to have for a change of look.
I'd be interested in demoing the cover buddy at some point. People seem to really like that one.
It appears that all traces, pictures, of the full coverage version have been replaced by the one with the cutouts at the bottom. Even on the UK site!
As I never had this one, Im not entirely sure if this makes a great deal of difference, especially if you take the added precaution of using a skin on the back. I think as far as low visibility, weight and overall real estate used, i.e. No interfering borders aroundthe screen, this shell has been far and above the best one I have used so far.
Others prefer the Speck, me, it's a good substitute and one to have for a change of look.
I'd be interested in demoing the cover buddy at some point. People seem to really like that one.
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Called speck or Belkin? I'm guessing the person on the phone has no idea. I have emailed with them and they continue to tell me that there is only one version out there. Clearly there is more since I have had both. Hopefully they do not stop shipping the full coverage, it is the only one I have seen showing up at new places like target and J&R, so maybe that is a good sign. The picture of the one on everyone's website is the one that has been on all sites, including Belkin's UK from day 1. I noticed it when I received the one with no side coverage weeks ago and was doing research. I have NEVER seen the completely full coverage on any site (Best Buy, Belkin, J&R), yet have never seen the one in the pictures actually purchased. Plus, I see no reason why they would go backwards from full coverage, to an opening on the bottom.
I should get mine tomorrow but I am seriously thinking about just cancelling and refusing shipment after hearing that it is easy to add a small piece of feeler gauge on the inside of the belkin to get the magnetic feature on the back of the belkin too. I would much prefer a slimmer case that doesn't feel like it is there. For me I really only need light protection for scratches most of the time. I never dropped my ipad 1 that I had for a year except at home and it was more of a slide off the couch. My iphone I need a lot of protection but not my iPad.
I think with the belkin/smartcase combo and my existing yoobao v2 leather folio case I will have the best options for me. No need to settle on one solution.
I am hoping now that the belkin will give me the ability to have the bare ipad feeling with smart case and then I can always easily take all of it off and put the iPad in the yoobao on the rare circumstance that I feel I need more protection.
Someone posted about adding the back attachment feature to the belkin below:
https://forums.macrumors.com/posts/12597674/
I think with the belkin/smartcase combo and my existing yoobao v2 leather folio case I will have the best options for me. No need to settle on one solution.
I am hoping now that the belkin will give me the ability to have the bare ipad feeling with smart case and then I can always easily take all of it off and put the iPad in the yoobao on the rare circumstance that I feel I need more protection.
Someone posted about adding the back attachment feature to the belkin below:
https://forums.macrumors.com/posts/12597674/
uhhh...yea?
Trying to carry too many things at once (and hearing my father's voice tell me 'the lazy man works twice as hard'), my ipad fell out of my hand and fell roughly three feet onto the hard kitchen (tile, granite? whatever) floor. iPad is undamaged. Whew!
I'd rather NOT try to test these cases out this way.
Trying to carry too many things at once (and hearing my father's voice tell me 'the lazy man works twice as hard'), my ipad fell out of my hand and fell roughly three feet onto the hard kitchen (tile, granite? whatever) floor. iPad is undamaged. Whew!
I'd rather NOT try to test these cases out this way.
I found the belkin snap shield at a local target (smoke version) and it is the full protection version. I love how slim fitting it is and the look of the smoke. It is a finger oil magnet but I can deal with that because it cleans off easily. I added a strip of 3M RF shielding tape between the iPad and the Belkin snap shield case so that the apple smart cover attaches to the iPad when flipped back.
I can stop looking for cases now! I will certainly be returning the Speck case ( actually just refusing delivery and canceling the order).
Thank you for all the info in this thread guys. It certainly helped me.
I posted a quick video of the tape that I put in the case.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gLxcnm_37gg&sns=em
I can stop looking for cases now! I will certainly be returning the Speck case ( actually just refusing delivery and canceling the order).
Thank you for all the info in this thread guys. It certainly helped me.
I posted a quick video of the tape that I put in the case.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gLxcnm_37gg&sns=em
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I received my black satin Smart Shell today, and I must say I'm very impressed. It's definitely a keeper.
It
I highly recommend it.
I ordered it from Gleemobile on the 18th and I received it today. Amazing for free shipping!
It
- looks great,
- provides a nice grip,
- allows me to open my SmartCover easily (because of the cutout/lip),
- doesn't interfere with the magnets of the SmartCover,
- holds the SmartCover in place when it's flipped open (because of the metal strip on the back), and
- doesn't add significant weight/bulk.
I highly recommend it.
I ordered it from Gleemobile on the 18th and I received it today. Amazing for free shipping!
Glad you like it!
GleeMobile.com is really great for getting accessories!
Their fast, fair and honorable!
Got the smartshell in yesterday and I must say I'm very impressed. The cover is the type of hard plastic with the rubbery feel to it, but not sticky yet grippy enough. All cutouts seem perfect for me. Edge of the cover looks fine to me and I ran my finger through and it felt smooth. Smartcover aligns perfectly well with it and leaves almost little to no opening for possible scratches. I'll let the pics do the work. Hopefully they're good enough I did take this just now and didn't bother spending too much time on that.
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DSC_0768 by OptimusP517, on Flickr
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DSC_0769 by OptimusP517, on Flickr
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DSC_0770 by OptimusP517, on Flickr
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DSC_0771 by OptimusP517, on Flickr
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DSC_0772 by OptimusP517, on Flickr
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DSC_0773 by OptimusP517, on Flickr
DSC_0768 by OptimusP517, on Flickr
DSC_0769 by OptimusP517, on Flickr
DSC_0770 by OptimusP517, on Flickr
DSC_0771 by OptimusP517, on Flickr
DSC_0772 by OptimusP517, on Flickr
DSC_0773 by OptimusP517, on Flickr
Just wondering: do you have the camera adapter? And if so, does it fit without removing the case? I had the clear and it did not fit but someone posted that their adapter did fit. So I wonder if the black is a different design.
i don't have the camera adapter and I'd highly doubt that Speck will spend the money to create a new mold just for that reason.
I'm not suggesting that they WILL create a new design, I was told by another poster that his adapter did fit and I thought that the black case may be a slightly different design since it is made of a different material. The clear was a hard shiny plastic.
Just checking in. Still loving the Belkin case, getting a lot of nods and inquiries about it. (Gotta love having an accessory were the employees at the Apple Store accost you and demand to know where you got it...)
Was pondering what route to go for charging system/speakers to a) charge the pad at night and allow it to act as a bedroom stereo system and c) alarm clock. A local verizon was selling the original ipad docks for $10 (for the ipad they don't sell...
, but anyway) and I thought the old dock built for the fat ipad could handle the ipad2 with the belkin case. (And save a few bucks by using about to be discarded 2.1 speakers with the dock instead of spending $90 to $250 for a complete all in one system.)
And the result is, no, it can't. But it's all good. The dock can handle the ipad2 naked or with the smart cover, and the belkin very easily slips on and off without suffering stress fractures and et cetera. So, it's all good.
Was pondering what route to go for charging system/speakers to a) charge the pad at night and allow it to act as a bedroom stereo system and c) alarm clock. A local verizon was selling the original ipad docks for $10 (for the ipad they don't sell...
, but anyway) and I thought the old dock built for the fat ipad could handle the ipad2 with the belkin case. (And save a few bucks by using about to be discarded 2.1 speakers with the dock instead of spending $90 to $250 for a complete all in one system.)And the result is, no, it can't. But it's all good. The dock can handle the ipad2 naked or with the smart cover, and the belkin very easily slips on and off without suffering stress fractures and et cetera. So, it's all good.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004XIT4NO
I got this from Amazon for my iPad 2. It was around $5.20 at the time, its still under $6 including shipping right now. Its clear plastic and does the same job as the $30 products listed here.
Looks like you guys overpaid.
I got this from Amazon for my iPad 2. It was around $5.20 at the time, its still under $6 including shipping right now. Its clear plastic and does the same job as the $30 products listed here.
Looks like you guys overpaid.
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There's no comparing that to the Speck Smart Shell. It's more fair to compare it to the Belkin though.
The Smart Shell has the following features that your cheap cover doesn't have:
- a cutout midway down the side to make it easier to open the SmartCover
- very little space between the hinge and the the cover (only about 2 mm of the back of the iPad is exposed), and
- it has a metal strip on the back which holds the SmartCover when it's open so it doesn't flap down.
I've used both the Belkin (on my MIL's iPad2) and the Smart Shell, and hands down the Smart Shell is the winner.
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Perhaps when you learn to tell the difference between quality and a piece of crap maybe someone will listen to what you have to say.
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