Not every Apple product gets an on-stage announcement: Monday's fanfare for the MacBook Pro obscured some news that's minor, but worth noting. A new "Smart Case" that covers the back as well as the front is available alongside the original Smart Cover.
Clearly Apple got feedback that users enjoyed the floppy, magnetized Smart Cover, but some were a little wary about exposing the back of their iPad to the elements. Perhaps they doubted the strength of the milled aluminum -- or maybe thought it a bit too dull.
At any rate, the new version adds a $10 premium (for a total of $49) for the rear shell that covers up the vulnerable metal back -- but brand-conscious individuals need not worry, it has its own Apple logo.
The new case comes in the same colors as the original cover, but now also in red, or rather in (PRODUCT) RED, so a portion of your purchase will go to fighting AIDS in Africa.
Devin Coldewey is a contributing writer for msnbc.com. His personal website is coldewey.cc.
