The stealth smart cover technology in the Nexus 7

Sometimes the most useful features are the simple ones. Such is the case with the magnetic technology incorporated in the iPad which allows powering the tablet on and off simply by opening and closing properly equipped covers. Apple made a big deal out of this new feature when it unveiled it as it knew it would resonate with buyers.

Google must have felt the same way as the recently released Nexus 7 tablet uses the same magnetic technology. You wouldn't know it from the source, though, as Google has kept very quiet about this "smart cover" feature. It's even absent from Google's own Nexus 7 case and cover, even though the tablet (built by Asus for Google) has the embedded magnets.

Early testers of the Nexus 7 confirmed the tablet uses the same technology as that in the iPad prior to shipping. Third party case makers jumped on the information and many cases now available for the Nexus 7 have the smart cover feature enabled. The Poetic case I bought for my Nexus 7 (reviewed here) has the feature.

So why isn't Google making sure prospective buyers know about this very useful feature? I suspect it's fear of poking the sleeping mountain lion with a stick. Apple has a tendency to sue Android device makers at the drop of a hat, so Google apparently doesn't want to risk the wrath of Apple over technology that has only appeared in the iPad prior to the release of the Nexus 7. I've asked Google for a statement about it but have not received any response.

Nexus 7 buyers should pass on the official Google case being sold in the Google Play Store as it it far less useful lacking the smart cover feature. That would seem to be an intentional omission by Asus/Google. Grab a third party case while they are available before Apple decides to make an issue over the smart cover technology in the Nexus 7.

See related:

• Nexus 7 tablet: One week in
• Nexus 7: Finally, validation for the smaller tablet
• Must-have apps for the Nexus 7
• Nexus 7 hands-on: Form and function meet flash and panache
• App comparison: iPad vs. Nexus 7 -- no clear winner
• Top widgets for the Nexus 7
• Mobile kit: Summer 2012 edition
• Fun things to do with Google Now on the Nexus 7
• Google launches searching by ink ahead of Windows 8