GigaOM » Smart Case

Beware of fake iPad Smart Covers for sale on Amazon

Erica Ogg — Tue, 20 Nov 2012 21:09:05 +0000

Something to keep in mind if you’re shopping for an iPad Smart Cover or Smart Case heading in to the holidays: not all of them are created equal, especially on Amazon.com. For many of us, Amazon is a natural place to order an iPad cover or case as a gift this holiday. But as dozens of complaints on the site show, many of the “Apple Smart Covers” or “Apple Smart Cases” for sale on Amazon are not actually sold by Apple and are not the genuine article.

As first pointed out by Frequent Business Traveler, many customers have been fooled into buying one of these through Amazon, believing they just bought an actual iPad case from Apple. And you can’t blame them, based on how the products are presented.

Amazon user “Forest” uploaded this image comparing the fake iPad cover he bought on Amazon to a real Apple iPad cover.

If you search Google for “Apple Smart Cover on Amazon” the first half dozen links (as of today) will take you to an Amazon page that labels these covers “by Apple.” But just below that — in far smaller print — you will read that the orders are sold by another company, often NC Apple Tree or Less Deals, and fulfilled by Amazon. That’s not normally cause for concern — third-party retailers sell other brands’ products to Amazon customers through its affiliate program all the time.

But reading the customer reviews from those who have purchased these covers shows something is amiss. There are several dozen negative reviews that are each a variation on this complaint: “is is a fake! it is not the real apple smart cover! i bought this and i turned out to be just some plastic with magnets on the side that didn’t even fit the iPad 2 and was just a replica.”

The same goes for some of the Smart Cases for sale (the kind that protect the entire iPad, not just the screen), which are fulfilled through Amazon by a company called FantaWare, that also lists the case as “by Apple.” Here’s a sample review from several weeks ago: “This looks sort of like an authentic Apple Smart Case but much thinner. I know because I have one I bought directly from Apple. It came in a box with a clear top, this one arrived in a plastic bag. The liner is also not as soft as the true Apple Product.” There are many more like it.

Here’s how the items are displayed by Amazon:

It specifically says it’s “by Apple,” with a link to a page full of real Apple products that Amazon sells, like iPods, iPhones, MacBooks and more. Only in the small print below “In Stock” does it say it’s sold by a third party.

Based on other feedback, some customers seem aware these are not real Apple Smart Covers and are fine with it. But it’s understandable why many would be confused over whether this was a legitimate Apple product and feel ripped off. Looking back through these reviews, it’s clear this has been going on for some time; some of the negative reviews date back to 2011. Obviously this is an important lesson in reading reviews before ordering something. But it’s also clear that Amazon needs to fix the way the products on its site are labeled.

Amazon didn’t respond to repeated requests for comment on this. I also tried to contact Apple to find out if they even sell real iPad Smart Cases or Covers on Amazon, but did not hear back. My own searches didn’t find any that appear to come direct from Apple.

It’s probably best to follow what an Amazon customer service representative told Jonathan Spira, who described his experience with this in the Frequent Business Traveler blog: “check out these items you wish to order from the Apple store directly to ensure their genuineness.”

Related research and analysis from GigaOM Pro:
Subscriber content. Sign up for a free trial.

Video look at the useful $15 Blurex Nexus 7 case

Kevin C. Tofel — Fri, 24 Aug 2012 13:25:39 +0000

Earlier this week, I mentioned the Blurex Ultra Slim case for Nexus 7 tablets and my order arrived yesterday. After just a day with this case, I’m more than happy with the purchase. First of all, $15 is a steal for this case, even without the special features it offers. The case is $5 cheaper than Google’s own Nexus 7 case and it’s one is far more versatile. Take a look and see: Besides protecting the device, the magnets automatically wake or sleep the little slate.

Watch this video for free on GigaOM

For those looking just to protect their Nexus 7, Google’s own case is a solid choice. But I like consuming various bits of content on my small slate and I don’t always want to hold the device. That’s why I prefer a case like the Blurex model: I can prop up the Nexus 7 in three different angles to watch a movie, read a book or play a game. I’m still not sold on the hand-strap this case offers, but I don’t have to use it, so it’s not bothering me. All in all, this was $15 well spent to protect and enjoy my $249 Android tablet.

Related research and analysis from GigaOM Pro:
Subscriber content. Sign up for a free trial.

The $15 magnetic Blurex Nexus 7 case trumps Google’s official $20 cover

Kevin C. Tofel — Mon, 20 Aug 2012 21:29:01 +0000

Since I take my Nexus 7 tablet everywhere I go, I decided to order a protective case. Luckily for me, the official $20 Nexus 7 case in the Google Play store was listed as “coming soon”; Google must be getting more of them produced. Why is that a good thing? I noticed a review on Gadgetell for the Blurex Ultra Slim Case for Nexus 7 and it looks far better for my needs. Even better: It’s only $14.99 and has more features.

The Blurex reminds me of the case I used previously with my Galaxy Tab. Scosche made that one for the Tab and I liked how it offered different viewing angles for the tablet. The Blurex case does the same: It angles the tablet based on which slot you tuck the cover into. That’s handy for using the Nexus 7 when I want to put it down to watch a movie or television show, for example.

That alone would be worth buying the Blurex, which is made from a synthetic leather outside and microfiber inside. But unlike Google’s own case, this one takes advantage of the auto-wake and sleep functions just like Apple’s Smart Cover for iPad. Some sleuthing with the Nexus 7 tablet revealed magnets for the feature, but Google isn’t yet using it in its own case. Leave it to a third-party case-maker to not only include the magnets, but to do so for $5 less than the official Nexus 7 case.

I’ve ordered my own Blurex Ultra Slim Case from Amazon and it should be here in a few days, so I’ll report back in. On paper, it looks like a winner for both me and my Nexus 7, but I’ll share some feedback after it arrives.

Update: My case is here and I have a video look at it available.

Related research and analysis from GigaOM Pro:
Subscriber content. Sign up for a free trial.

Did you miss the cheapest new Apple product this week?

Kevin C. Tofel — Wed, 13 Jun 2012 18:32:40 +0000

Amid the “oohs” and “aahs” for new Mac hardware and upcoming iOS 6 features that Apple announced this week, perhaps the least expensive new item out of Cupertino was missed. It’s no less important, however, for iPad owners. While the product didn’t warrant any stage time at Apple’s WWDC event on Monday, the new iPad Smart Case at $50 is a nice step up from the old Smart Cover.

There’s only one difference between the old Smart Cover and new Smart Case, aside from the name, of course. The case is exactly that: A case. Unlike the old cover, which simply covers the display, the Smart Case adds protection for the back of the iPad. That’s important because I find it relatively easy to scratch up the iPad’s back as I’m constantly putting it down on its backside.

The new SmartCase is made from polyurethane in six colors — Light Gray, Dark Gray, Blue, Green, Pink and (PRODUCT) Red — and has cut-outs for the rear camera, headphone jack, mute button and external microphone port. The case covers the volume rocker and power button much like Apple’s iPhone bumper case does the same for iPhones. At no extra charge, Apple will custom engrave the back of the Smart Case, which works on both the iPad 2 and the new iPad.

Although I tend to keep my new iPad in a bedside clock / dock, the new Smart Case might be on my shopping list. After all, the iPad’s not just for use in bed, even though that’s where I tend to enjoy occasional web browsing, gaming and video consumption on Apple’s tablet.

Related research and analysis from GigaOM Pro:
Subscriber content. Sign up for a free trial.