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Modding the iPad 1 to work with the Smart Cover

by Mike Schramm Mar 22nd 2011 at 7:00AM

If you saw the Smart Cover during that announcement a while back and have really wanted to use it with your iPad 1 instead of buying a whole new iPad 2, you may be in luck. One enterprising blogger named Dan Provost agreed with you, and he found that if you super glue a few rare-earth magnets to the side of the iPad 1, the Smart Cover can fit quite nicely right along it. It's a little hacky (depending on whether you mind having a few magnets super glued to a device as slick as the iPad or not), but since we know the Smart Cover is really just magnets and fabric, it should work great.

Of course, if you don't want to go that route, there are cases for the iPad that will happily do what the Smart Cover does without requiring you to do any gluing. But if you want Apple's solution for the second iPad to work with your beloved first version, this might be just what you're looking for.

[via MacStories]



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If you saw the Smart Cover during that announcement a while back and have really wanted to use it with your iPad 1 instead of buying a...
 

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falcarrion

You could always buy a hard plastic case the protects the back and then glue the magnets on that. That way it is totaly protected.

March 22 2011 at 6:56 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
natebrogdon

With the smart cover, when you open it, does it start at the home screen or the lock screen? Either way, does the smart cover save you more than half a second when opening and turning on your iPad?

Now, the cover from Saddleback Leather. Is it fast? No. Does it protect? Yes. Could I slap it on top of a horse and ride off into the sunset? Probably.

March 22 2011 at 2:10 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Matt

Yeah, no...I'm not going to ghetto-ize my iPad 1 by gluing magnets to it, thanks.

March 22 2011 at 11:50 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to Matt's comment
Charli

I have to agree. totally not worth it.

As for the smart cover, I like the idea of a slim clean cover that rolls into a stand etc. But a part of me does wish it was an actual case and perhaps that it included some kind of hand strap for holding securely when using. But part of what is just because I know the way I work and how much banging around my ipad could get.

March 27 2011 at 9:08 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
PJ Warren

Please stop saying that the "Convertible Magazine Jacket" is the same as a Smart Cover.

They are not the same!

March 22 2011 at 11:45 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
alanhudson

From the blog in question:

"Even though the super glue keeps the magnets secure and in place, they are actually pretty easy to remove by just “chipping” them off with a flathead screwdriver and a very light tap of the hammer."

Seriously??

March 22 2011 at 11:32 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
luke

Still doesn't let you wake the iPad automatically upon opening the cover, which is the biggest selling point for many.

March 22 2011 at 10:39 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
FearlessFreep

The 'SmartCover' is a total marketing gimmick. It's flimsy, looks hideous and provides no protection at all for the metal surfaces on the iPad.

Gluing magnets to the side of an elegant iPad 1 probably causes more damage than any perceived benefit by using the cover itself.

There are scores of covers much better than this thing, for a fraction of the cost.

March 22 2011 at 9:11 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to FearlessFreep's comment
Dragon

I have the iPad 2 and the smart cover and you are wrong... The smart cover is the best case I have used. It protects the screen and allows me to use place it in the most useful positions. Its not perfect but I love it.

March 22 2011 at 10:43 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Chris Aubeck

If only smart covers were worth the hassle. For the protection they offer you might as well glue a curtain rail on the top and look for a really nice bit of fabric.

March 22 2011 at 7:45 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
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