If you’re a fan of the Apple Smart Cover for the iPad 2, or cases that support the smart cover’s automatic sleep/wake function, then you may be interested in one of two new cases on offer from Marware.
The Marware MicroShell Folio iPad 2 Case is a replacement for the smart cover that offers a very similar approach to the front cover but in a full case that also provides protection for the back of the iPad.
The Marware MicroShell iPad 2 Case is a shell for the back of the iPad 2 only, intended to work in tandem with the Apple smart cover.
Both of them look good, and I’ve had nothing but positive results with Marware cases for both the original iPad and the iPad 2 – see my recent reviews of their C.E.O. Hybrid iPad 2 Case and Eco-Flip iPad 2 Case for my thoughts on two of the better iPad 2 cases I’ve seen thus far.
[click to continue reading…]
If you’re in need of real rugged protection for your iPad 2, then you should be happy to hear that the Otterbox iPad 2 Defender Series case is now available. Otterbox are the masters when it comes to above and beyond, hard as nails protection for iOS (and many other mobile) devices.
The new iPad 2 Defender Series is part of their most rugged line of cases, that are built to withstand ‘just about any environment’. It’s got a shock-absorbing silicone skin and an inner polycarbonate shell with a foam interior that provides scratch protection for the back of the iPad 2. It allows for full access to all the iPad’s functionality while in the case, and has a clip-on cover for the iPad screen that doubles up as fold-out stand. It’s also 20% lighter than the version for the original iPad – which of course goes well with the lighter, thinner iPad 2 itself.
The case offers protection against bumps, shocks, drops, and ‘dust intrusion’; it is not waterproof and does not protect against liquid damage.
I’ve used an Otterbox Defender with my iPhone 4. I found it surprisingly light and also found it surprisingly easy to use the iPhone just like normal while still having such heavy-duty protection. While my iPhone may come along when we’re out on a beach or at the lake, I don’t ever expose my iPad to any higher risk environments – so the Defender Series is not on my list of iPad 2 cases to get.
For those of you who use your iPad 2 in rough work (or play) environments,this is likely to be a very good case option for you to look at. They go for $89.95 and you can check out all the details and place orders at the Otterbox page for the iPad 2 Defender Series.
I spent my first few weeks with the iPad 2 using only the Apple Smart Cover and screen protectors on front and back. Initially there was a major lack of third party cases for the iPad 2 – in Apple and other retail stores and even online. Over the last few weeks this situation has improved a great deal and I’ve found a number of promising iPad 2 cases online.
The Mivizu Sense iPad 2 Leather Case is one of those. I had never heard of Mivizu before until a reader mentioned this case and it looked interesting enough to try out. Honestly, I had low expectations with such an unknown name. Well, I’ve been using this unknown darkhorse of a case for a couple weeks now and I have been very pleasantly surprised at how much I like it.
[click to continue reading…]
TUAW’s mention of these Ferrari iPad cases caught my eye this morning. They are made of genuine black leather and are modeled on Ferrari car interiors.
The red interior is another Ferrari signature, as is the prancing horse logo on the front of the case. These are only for the original iPad as far as I can tell.
Though these are hardly at the low end of iPad case pricing, their $94 price tag is relatively inexpensive compared to a lot of iPad cases from luxury vendors. In fact, you could buy over 300 of these cases for all your close iPad friends before you match the price of the Ferrari Masterpiece brooch listed on the same page as this case ($29,791).
For more details or to place an order for the Ferrari iPad case go here: http://store.ferrari.com/en/accessories/leather-and-bags/ipad-cases/leather-ipad-case-italy-collection.html#
A little over a week ago I did a review of the Yoobao Executive Leather iPad 2 Case. It was a pretty scathing review as the case was a major disappointment in three main areas:
– It smelled terrible, even my hands reeked of a strong chemical smell after handling it for just a short time.
– The cutouts for the iPad 2’s ports and buttons were all done extremely badly – making it difficult to use the iPad 2 while in the case.
– This case is listed as having support for the iPad 2 smart cover tech, so it can automatically sleep/wake the device. This feature did not work properly at all: The iPad 2 was almost constantly sleeping and waking when in this case. The merest touch on the case – even on the back of the case! – has the iPad 2 waking up or going to sleep.
Shortly after posting my review I was contacted by someone from Xeniti, the resellers of the case. He said that the case I received was one of one only a dozen or so cases out of thousands shipped that had issues like I had seen, and he wanted to send me a replacement case to show me that these are generally better quality cases than the one I received.
Of course I agreed to get a replacement and give it a look. I received the replacement case this morning and I’ve had a chance to give it a look and a tryout with my iPad 2. Sadly, the results are not that much better than with the first unit.
[click to continue reading…]
