Apple Working On An Enhanced Smart Cover For iPad 3, As Well As Glass-Backed iPhone 5 [REPORT]

While Apple employees have been out in force adorning the Yerba Buena Center for Arts with company logos and getting the insides ready to welcome the world’s media on Wednesday, those good old anonymous, but reliable sources have been out in force again spreading their teasing exclusives. The information in this instance is two fold, with iLounge citing one of their "repeatedly reliable sources", claiming that Apple are to their launch own in-house case for the new iPad which takes inspiration from the Smart Cover as well as actively working on a new design for the next-generation iPhone which comprises of a fully glass rear.

iPad 2

Let’s tackle this one by one and see what the the ever reliable source is proposing. It is no secret that the accessories industry for Apple devices is worth big money, and growing in size with each product release. With every release of a next-generation iPad or iPhone we see an influx of cases, stands, skins and other protective accessories hitting the marketplace designed to entice consumers. We have even seen companies taking a gamble on the design of products without any inside information in an attempt to get their case to market before the competition.

With that level of interest in accessories, it makes sense for Apple to launch the iPad with their own option, taking advantage of the first-day hype that is excitement, just like the Smart Cover twelve months ago. If the speculation is correct, then Apple will launch this new iPad with their own case which draws its design heavily from the Smart Cover, featuring the same magnetized cover as well as a rear protective shell which is said to be made from a combination of fiberglass and PU/bicast leather. A protective case of this nature would definitely be popular with tablet owners, but we have no word as to whether this will be an iPad 3 exclusive case, or will also be compatible with last year’s iPad 2.

The second claim relates to the up and coming next-generation iPhone which experts are expecting to follow the same launch pattern as the iPhone 4S and be introduced in October of this year. The report focuses on the outer material of the device, claiming that Apple is set to use a glass or ceramic type material for the back of the new iPhone, and feature Gorilla Glass which should allow the smartphone to be made even thinner than the current model. The current form factor of the iPhone has been praised for its durability as well as the beautiful design, so it would make sense for the company to continue down this route, even though some experts are heavily tipping that Apple would build the iPhone 5 with an aluminum back.

iPhone5_mockup

Additional claims from the allegedly reliable source focus on the possibilities of the fruit company building a slightly large screen into the iPhone 5 as well as replacing the 30-pin dock connector with something a little smaller. With the Apple media event only two days away, the new Apple case speculation will be either confirmed or blown out of the water in no time, however, we may need to wait a little longer to substantiate the iPhone 5 claims.

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