iPod touch Reviews
Belkin Eco-Conscious Leather Sleeves for iPod nano 4G & iPod touch 2G
CaseandCover.com reviews Belkin cases and covers for the iPhone, iPod, and BlackBerry. Trusted reviews, from trusted sources throughout the internet.
Belkin Eco-Conscious iPod nano 4G 
Belkin Eco-Conscious iPod touch 2G
Company: Belkin
Model: Eco-Conscious Leather Sleeve
Price: $25-30
Compatible: iPod nano (4G), iPod touch (2G)
The reason we’re covering all of these cases in the same review is that the iPod nano cases are exceptionally similar to one another, while the iPod touch cases are related to the same-named nano cases. Each of the nano cases proceeds in the exact same way: they cover the nano’s metal body entirely, fully exposing the Click Wheel, headphone port, and bottom left corner, while covering the screen with a clear plastic shield. All of the cases expose the nano’s top-mounted Hold switch, as well.
From there, they differ a bit. Belkin’s Leather Sleeve for iPod nano 4G is made from a glossy, thin leatherette, and comes in both pink and black versions, each with with soft lining and Velcro tabs to keep their iPods inside. While the stitching is very similar to Incase’s, the case feels a bit thinner and cheaper, and the leather doesn’t look as nice as Incase’s; the back is flat, and has no belt clip, which some users may prefer. Otherwise, it could have come from the same factory, and also exposes the nano’s top right corner.
The Eco-Conscious Leather Sleeve uses vegetable-tanned black or walnut leather rather than chemically stained leather, and has a felt interior rather than microfiber. The combined look is a bit rough and bohemian, like a chalkboard eraser mixed with a racing glove, but the effect’s apparently intentional; this case has no contrast stitching, and has the same dull knife shape as the 4G nano, with the same openings as the standard Leather Sleeve. Choosing one over the other is purely a matter of personal taste, but we prefer the look of the standard version.
Incase’s black-only Leather Sleeve is facially difficult to distinguish from Belkin’s same-named case. There’s a little bit more of the same contrast stitching, an Incase leaf logo on the face, and a more interesting looking back with a non-detachable belt clip, permanently pointed such that the nano’s headphone port faces upwards. You’ll have to decide whether you want the belt clip, but the case looks a little sharper than Belkin’s, and uses what appears to be better-quality leather, as well. It has rougher tailoring around the Click Wheels of the nano, but otherwise, it’s attractive and well-made.
We weren’t as impressed by the iPod touch 2G versions of the Leather Sleeve and Eco-Conscious Leather Sleeve, primarily because they made little attempt to cover the device’s face or top, but also because of some other little oddities. The Leather Sleeve is actually leather on the front and back, with neoprene on the sides and bottom. By comparison, the Eco-Conscious Sleeve is leather on the front, bottom, and back, with a lot of felt on the sides and interior. We were surprised that our touch’s glossy back didn’t get torn up from the felt, which felt like a light Brillo pad by comparison with the smooth suede and suede-like fabrics we find inside most leather cases.
With both of these cases, you slide the iPod touch into a sleeve, sealing it inside with a Velcro tab, using holes at the bottom to access the headphone and Dock Connector ports. Both cases work with oversized headphone plugs, but they’re spottier on Dock Connector accessories; the standard Sleeve mostly fits into Universal Docks, but the Eco-Conscious one doesn’t. On the flip side, the Eco-Conscious case covers the touch’s Home button and exposes the Volume buttons, while the standard Sleeve exposes the Home button and covers the Volume ones. For fabric cases, they just don’t protect as much as they could, and they’re not aggressively priced in a way that makes up for their omissions.
Of all of the cases in this collection, our top picks would be Incase’s Leather and Neoprene Sleeves, though Belkin’s leather nano versions aren’t far behind; the iPod touch ones seem comparatively incomplete. While we think that both of these companies could stand to have better control over their tailoring, leather and fabric do present some interesting challenges for devices as small and thin as these iPods; our gut feeling is that subsequent cases will do even better.
By Jeremy Horwitz
Editor-in-Chief, iLounge Published: Friday, October 24, 2008
Belkin Eco-Conscious iPod nano 4G
Belkin Eco-Conscious iPod touch 2GCompany: Belkin
Model: Eco-Conscious Leather Sleeve
Price: $25-30
Compatible: iPod nano (4G), iPod touch (2G)
_______________
Leather iPod and iPhone cases fall into three major categories these days: "play-through" designs that let you see the device's screen, "flip-style" designs that inconveniently cover the screen and controls with a flap that needs to be opened every time you want to use them, and "sleeves," which are little more than gloves that require you to slide the entire device in and out to use it.
Today, we're briefly reviewing 17 new cases for the iPod nano 4G, iPod classic, iPod touch 2G, and iPhone 3G from eight different companies. This combined review looks at Belkin's Leather Sleeves for iPod nano 4G ($25) and iPod touch 2G ($30), its Eco-Conscious Leather Sleeves for iPod nano 4G ($25) and iPod touch 2G ($30), and Incase's Leather Sleeve ($30) for iPod nano 4G.The reason we’re covering all of these cases in the same review is that the iPod nano cases are exceptionally similar to one another, while the iPod touch cases are related to the same-named nano cases. Each of the nano cases proceeds in the exact same way: they cover the nano’s metal body entirely, fully exposing the Click Wheel, headphone port, and bottom left corner, while covering the screen with a clear plastic shield. All of the cases expose the nano’s top-mounted Hold switch, as well.
From there, they differ a bit. Belkin’s Leather Sleeve for iPod nano 4G is made from a glossy, thin leatherette, and comes in both pink and black versions, each with with soft lining and Velcro tabs to keep their iPods inside. While the stitching is very similar to Incase’s, the case feels a bit thinner and cheaper, and the leather doesn’t look as nice as Incase’s; the back is flat, and has no belt clip, which some users may prefer. Otherwise, it could have come from the same factory, and also exposes the nano’s top right corner.
The Eco-Conscious Leather Sleeve uses vegetable-tanned black or walnut leather rather than chemically stained leather, and has a felt interior rather than microfiber. The combined look is a bit rough and bohemian, like a chalkboard eraser mixed with a racing glove, but the effect’s apparently intentional; this case has no contrast stitching, and has the same dull knife shape as the 4G nano, with the same openings as the standard Leather Sleeve. Choosing one over the other is purely a matter of personal taste, but we prefer the look of the standard version.
Incase’s black-only Leather Sleeve is facially difficult to distinguish from Belkin’s same-named case. There’s a little bit more of the same contrast stitching, an Incase leaf logo on the face, and a more interesting looking back with a non-detachable belt clip, permanently pointed such that the nano’s headphone port faces upwards. You’ll have to decide whether you want the belt clip, but the case looks a little sharper than Belkin’s, and uses what appears to be better-quality leather, as well. It has rougher tailoring around the Click Wheels of the nano, but otherwise, it’s attractive and well-made.
We weren’t as impressed by the iPod touch 2G versions of the Leather Sleeve and Eco-Conscious Leather Sleeve, primarily because they made little attempt to cover the device’s face or top, but also because of some other little oddities. The Leather Sleeve is actually leather on the front and back, with neoprene on the sides and bottom. By comparison, the Eco-Conscious Sleeve is leather on the front, bottom, and back, with a lot of felt on the sides and interior. We were surprised that our touch’s glossy back didn’t get torn up from the felt, which felt like a light Brillo pad by comparison with the smooth suede and suede-like fabrics we find inside most leather cases.
With both of these cases, you slide the iPod touch into a sleeve, sealing it inside with a Velcro tab, using holes at the bottom to access the headphone and Dock Connector ports. Both cases work with oversized headphone plugs, but they’re spottier on Dock Connector accessories; the standard Sleeve mostly fits into Universal Docks, but the Eco-Conscious one doesn’t. On the flip side, the Eco-Conscious case covers the touch’s Home button and exposes the Volume buttons, while the standard Sleeve exposes the Home button and covers the Volume ones. For fabric cases, they just don’t protect as much as they could, and they’re not aggressively priced in a way that makes up for their omissions.
Of all of the cases in this collection, our top picks would be Incase’s Leather and Neoprene Sleeves, though Belkin’s leather nano versions aren’t far behind; the iPod touch ones seem comparatively incomplete. While we think that both of these companies could stand to have better control over their tailoring, leather and fabric do present some interesting challenges for devices as small and thin as these iPods; our gut feeling is that subsequent cases will do even better.
By Jeremy Horwitz
Editor-in-Chief, iLounge Published: Friday, October 24, 2008
Griffin Wave Case for iPod nano 4G and classic 120GB
CaseandCover.com reviews Griffin cases and covers for the iPhone, iPod, and BlackBerry. Trusted reviews, from trusted sources throughout the internet.
Staggering is the only word we'd use to describe the number of hard plastic iPod and iPhone cases we're reviewing today -- over 20 different models that we've been comparing to one another, as well as past cases, over the last few weeks. To help you sort through all the options, we've assembled a few statistics that are worth knowing up front. All of the iPod nano cases in this roundup run from $20 to $30, with most at $25 or less, while the two iPod classic cases sell for $25 to $30, iPod touch cases range from $20 to $30, and iPhone 3G cases go for $20 to $35. Virtually every case offers at least partial back and side protection, but they vary widely in front, top, and bottom coverage. Though all use plastic as their base material, they differ considerably in color options and secondary materials. This review looks at Griffin's highly similar Elan Form for iPod nano 4G and iPod touch 2G ($30 each), Nu Form for iPod touch 2G ($25), and Wave Cases for iPod nano 4G and iPod classic ($25 each).
All of these cases share the same basic design idea, borrowed from Incase’s Slider Case for the original iPhone: you get a two-piece plastic shell that slides apart low on the iPod’s body, rendering its bottom Dock Connector port compatible with any accessories that might be otherwise incompatible with the bottoms of the cases. As we’ve noted before, the idea was bright for the first iPhone because there actually was an accessory—Apple’s iPhone Dock—that required access to the bare bottom of that model, but it’s largely unnecessary for iPods, which generally fit without issues into the myriad Universal Dock accessories that are now available.
These slide-off bottoms, then, are an insurance policy against really oversized cases and plugs, but in our testing, you’re unlikely to actually need that feature for most accessories. It’s now mostly appealing as an easier way to get the iPod in and out of the case than using a fully open top, bottom, or face.
Nu Form for iPod touch 2G is the most basic implementation of the idea. The top half is semi-glossy gray plastic, with a collection of rounded squares floating in a pattern on the back left side, while the bottom is coated in soft touch black rubber; as with all of the products here, Griffin includes a screen protector and cleaning cloth in the package. While standard-sized headphone plugs and Dock Connector cables work just fine with holes in Nu Form’s bottom, oversized ones require you to pull the bottom off for connection. Universal Docks work with or without the bottom piece attached.
Elan Form for iPod touch is the exact same case, only with a thin layer of black leather coating both the top and bottom shells, and a $5 higher price tag. Our review sample’s leather was not precisely flattened in the corners, but generally looked pretty good anyway; it is no different in terms of accessory compatibility. The iPod nano 4G version sells for the same $30 price, and replaces the film screen protector with a hard plastic front shield. Once again, the leather wasn’t perfectly flattened in the corners, but it looked fine, and there was no need to pull the bottom off to use most accessories. In fact, the bottom here is compatible with every accessory we tested, including oversized headphone plugs and cables. All that’s missing from this case is Click Wheel, Hold switch, and full bottom protection for the nano; everything else is covered.
The real stars of this collection, in our view, are the $25 Wave Cases for iPod nano 4G and iPod classic, which though highly similar in concept are superior to the others in execution—some of the nicest cases we’ve seen for either of these iPod models. The iPod nano version is sold individually or in $35 two-packs, one translucent white or black, the other black or green, while the iPod classic version comes in a single translucent black version. Both use soft touch rubber on the outside, combined with a completely clear hard plastic face protector that’s held in place by the interlocking top and bottom halves. All that’s exposed, again, are the headphone and Dock Connector ports, Click Wheel, and Hold switch.
As with Griffin’s prior Wave designs, the design twist is a helix-like motif on the case, overlapping different colored shells, but here the waves are found on the back rather than the sides. We seriously love the way that these cases look in person; our only major gripe is that their face protectors are too easy to scratch, in some cases leaving streaks or blemishes that can be seen overlapping the iPods’ screens. Additionally, the iPod classic case’s headphone port hole looks generous, but doesn’t work with the very largest plugs we tested; it’s fine for most, not all. Both cases work with Universal Docks even if their bottoms are left in place.
Though different users’ tastes will obviously vary, the variations in price and materials between these otherwise similar, good designs weigh in certain models’ favor. Nu Form struck us as a plain but nicely protective design, slightly pricey for its quality, while Elan Form looked legitimately handsome as a hybrid plastic and leather case, but also felt a little expensive given that it wasn’t ideally executed, especially for the iPod nano. Wave, with its cool curves and overlapping colors, was the best executed of this bunch, offering identical protection at more reasonable pricing. It’s worthy of our high recommendation, while the others fall into the general recommendation category.
By Jeremy Horwitz
Editor-in-Chief, iLounge Published: Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Staggering is the only word we'd use to describe the number of hard plastic iPod and iPhone cases we're reviewing today -- over 20 different models that we've been comparing to one another, as well as past cases, over the last few weeks. To help you sort through all the options, we've assembled a few statistics that are worth knowing up front. All of the iPod nano cases in this roundup run from $20 to $30, with most at $25 or less, while the two iPod classic cases sell for $25 to $30, iPod touch cases range from $20 to $30, and iPhone 3G cases go for $20 to $35. Virtually every case offers at least partial back and side protection, but they vary widely in front, top, and bottom coverage. Though all use plastic as their base material, they differ considerably in color options and secondary materials. This review looks at Griffin's highly similar Elan Form for iPod nano 4G and iPod touch 2G ($30 each), Nu Form for iPod touch 2G ($25), and Wave Cases for iPod nano 4G and iPod classic ($25 each).
All of these cases share the same basic design idea, borrowed from Incase’s Slider Case for the original iPhone: you get a two-piece plastic shell that slides apart low on the iPod’s body, rendering its bottom Dock Connector port compatible with any accessories that might be otherwise incompatible with the bottoms of the cases. As we’ve noted before, the idea was bright for the first iPhone because there actually was an accessory—Apple’s iPhone Dock—that required access to the bare bottom of that model, but it’s largely unnecessary for iPods, which generally fit without issues into the myriad Universal Dock accessories that are now available.
These slide-off bottoms, then, are an insurance policy against really oversized cases and plugs, but in our testing, you’re unlikely to actually need that feature for most accessories. It’s now mostly appealing as an easier way to get the iPod in and out of the case than using a fully open top, bottom, or face.
Nu Form for iPod touch 2G is the most basic implementation of the idea. The top half is semi-glossy gray plastic, with a collection of rounded squares floating in a pattern on the back left side, while the bottom is coated in soft touch black rubber; as with all of the products here, Griffin includes a screen protector and cleaning cloth in the package. While standard-sized headphone plugs and Dock Connector cables work just fine with holes in Nu Form’s bottom, oversized ones require you to pull the bottom off for connection. Universal Docks work with or without the bottom piece attached.
Elan Form for iPod touch is the exact same case, only with a thin layer of black leather coating both the top and bottom shells, and a $5 higher price tag. Our review sample’s leather was not precisely flattened in the corners, but generally looked pretty good anyway; it is no different in terms of accessory compatibility. The iPod nano 4G version sells for the same $30 price, and replaces the film screen protector with a hard plastic front shield. Once again, the leather wasn’t perfectly flattened in the corners, but it looked fine, and there was no need to pull the bottom off to use most accessories. In fact, the bottom here is compatible with every accessory we tested, including oversized headphone plugs and cables. All that’s missing from this case is Click Wheel, Hold switch, and full bottom protection for the nano; everything else is covered.
The real stars of this collection, in our view, are the $25 Wave Cases for iPod nano 4G and iPod classic, which though highly similar in concept are superior to the others in execution—some of the nicest cases we’ve seen for either of these iPod models. The iPod nano version is sold individually or in $35 two-packs, one translucent white or black, the other black or green, while the iPod classic version comes in a single translucent black version. Both use soft touch rubber on the outside, combined with a completely clear hard plastic face protector that’s held in place by the interlocking top and bottom halves. All that’s exposed, again, are the headphone and Dock Connector ports, Click Wheel, and Hold switch.
As with Griffin’s prior Wave designs, the design twist is a helix-like motif on the case, overlapping different colored shells, but here the waves are found on the back rather than the sides. We seriously love the way that these cases look in person; our only major gripe is that their face protectors are too easy to scratch, in some cases leaving streaks or blemishes that can be seen overlapping the iPods’ screens. Additionally, the iPod classic case’s headphone port hole looks generous, but doesn’t work with the very largest plugs we tested; it’s fine for most, not all. Both cases work with Universal Docks even if their bottoms are left in place.
Though different users’ tastes will obviously vary, the variations in price and materials between these otherwise similar, good designs weigh in certain models’ favor. Nu Form struck us as a plain but nicely protective design, slightly pricey for its quality, while Elan Form looked legitimately handsome as a hybrid plastic and leather case, but also felt a little expensive given that it wasn’t ideally executed, especially for the iPod nano. Wave, with its cool curves and overlapping colors, was the best executed of this bunch, offering identical protection at more reasonable pricing. It’s worthy of our high recommendation, while the others fall into the general recommendation category.
By Jeremy Horwitz
Editor-in-Chief, iLounge Published: Wednesday, October 22, 2008
InvisibleSHIELD by ZAGG Review
CaseandCover.com reviews ZAGG’s invisibleSHIELD cases and covers for the iPhone, iPod, and BlackBerry. Trusted reviews, from trusted sources throughout the internet.
Everyone who owns expensive devices is always looking for a way to protect them. There is no shortage of cases, films and other protecting products out there, and each has its own benefits and downfalls. When Invisible Skinz reached out to me to take a look at the invisibleSHIELD
, I was happy take another look. I say another, because I have used these products in the past, as I had one for my Motorola Q back in 2006. At the time, I ended up having to send my phone back to Verizon, and forgot to remove the shield before sending. Fortunately, I am able to take another look.
In the Box
Invisible Shield
Install Squeegee
Shieldspray
Installation/Thoughts
Installing the invisibleSHIELD on your device takes about 30 minutes, but it’s worth the time. The secret for Zagg is the shield spray that they include with the shields. The formula interacts with the adhesive on the shield to make the installation process easier, and more effective. The actual installation process is simple; peel off the shield from the paper backing, spray, apply and squeegee. Each invisibleSHIELD is created specifically for the device its sold for, so the longest part of the installation is getting each little piece lined up perfectly. The result is full device coverage that looks incredibly professional. Out of all the devices I have, I thought the iPhone 3G would be a great representation as a test device for the product. The capacitive touch screen was my biggest concern, as I wondered if the screen would still be sensitive to my fingers. Good news, there is no noticeable difference in user experience on the screen.
I’ve had the invisibleSHIELD on my iPhone for the past week and have been happy with the results. The full body coverage gives me the peace of mind that I my phone is protected. The texture of the shield gives it a “grippy” feel, which makes it less prone to being dropped, and overall is a very unobtrusive solution to keeping your device protected.
About the Invisible Shield
ZAGG’s invisibleSHIELD™ is a thin polyurethane film originally created for the military to protect the leading edge of helicopter blades. What’s unique about this military-grade, patented film is how tough it is – it doesn’t scratch. What makes ZAGG’s exclusive invisibleSHIELD™ so strong, flexible and scratch-proof? Its Nano-Memory technology™. With this technology, it also allows it to curve and contour around an entire device (not just the screen) and adhere to the device unless you want to remove it (without leaving adhesive).
The invisibleSHIELD has been designed to protect over 2,500 handheld electronics, including the Apple iPod touch, the Apple iPhone 3G, the BlackBerry Curve and more.
from Mickey Papillion, 3/14/2009
Everyone who owns expensive devices is always looking for a way to protect them. There is no shortage of cases, films and other protecting products out there, and each has its own benefits and downfalls. When Invisible Skinz reached out to me to take a look at the invisibleSHIELD
In the Box
Invisible Shield
Install Squeegee
Shieldspray
Installation/Thoughts
Installing the invisibleSHIELD
I’ve had the invisibleSHIELD
About the Invisible Shield
ZAGG’s invisibleSHIELD
The invisibleSHIELD
from Mickey Papillion, 3/14/2009
Incipio Feather, duroSHOT, and SILICRYLIC iPod touch 2G Video Review
CaseandCover.com reviews Incipio cases and covers for the iPhone, iPod, and BlackBerry. Trusted reviews, from trusted sources throughout the internet.
Incipio Feather
- The lightest case I have experienced, the Feather offers minimum protection to you iPod. It allows access to all of the iPod's buttons/ports, while giving protection from dust, dirt, and minor scratching to the back.
Appearance - 9
Feel in Hand - 10
Durability - 7
Protection - 3
Price - 8
Convenience - 8
OVERALL - 7
The Sleeve retails for $19.99
Incipio Feather
- The lightest case I have experienced, the Feather offers minimum protection to you iPod. It allows access to all of the iPod's buttons/ports, while giving protection from dust, dirt, and minor scratching to the back.Appearance - 9
Feel in Hand - 10
Durability - 7
Protection - 3
Price - 8
Convenience - 8
OVERALL - 7
The Sleeve retails for $19.99
Incipio duroSHOT 
Appearance - 8
Feel in Hand - 7
Durability - 7
Protection - 8
Price - 8
Convenience - 5
OVERALL - 7
The case retails for $24.99
Incipio SILICRYLIC
Appearance - 9
Feel in Hand - 9
Durability - 8
Protection - 8
Price - 9
Convenience - 8
OVERALL - 9
The case retails for $19.99
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Marware C.E.O. Premiere Case for iPhone Review
CaseandCover.com reviews Marware cases and covers for the iPhone, iPod, and BlackBerry. Trusted reviews, from trusted sources throughout the internet.
Marware CEO Premiere for iPhone 3G
is another handsome holster-style carrying case, available in black or white leather (as shown below).
This case is similar in many ways to the DLO HipCase I reviewed here recently. Both sit horizontally on your hip, which I feel is more comfortable than holsters that hang your iPhone vertically. Both are elegant, premium leather products. And both have integrated leather-covered belt clips (as shown here):
There are some subtle differences, too. For one thing, the Marware case offers more protection for the corners of your iPhone than the DLO HipCase. Both cases have open areas at each corner and the lower middle but the cutouts are significantly smaller on the Marware case.
Another difference is that you can order the black C.E.O. Premiere case direct from Marware and get it with a secure magnetic enclosure rather than Velcro. If you buy it anywhere else (i.e. the Apple Store, an AT&T store, etc.) it'll come with a Velcro fastener instead of a magnet. For what it's worth, the white case, (actually, "Vanilla") has a Velcro fastener no matter where you buy it.
Finally, the C.E.O. Premiere includes a clear protective film covering for your screen and a microfiber cleaning cloth; the DLO HipCase includes neither.
The Bottom Line
Marware CEO Premiere for iPhone 3G case is as nice a leather holster as any I've tested. It offers somewhat more protection for your iPhone than the DLO HipCase, and includes a screen protector and microfiber cloth. But, as I said in my HipCase review, "If you prefer a case that offers serious protection or one that doesn't require you to insert and remove your phone repeatedly to use it, neither of these holster-style cases is right for you." On the other hand, if you prefer a holster-style case, you'll be happy with either one.
September 30th, 2008 - by Bob LeVitus
Marware CEO Premiere for iPhone 3G
is another handsome holster-style carrying case, available in black or white leather (as shown below).This case is similar in many ways to the DLO HipCase I reviewed here recently. Both sit horizontally on your hip, which I feel is more comfortable than holsters that hang your iPhone vertically. Both are elegant, premium leather products. And both have integrated leather-covered belt clips (as shown here):
There are some subtle differences, too. For one thing, the Marware case offers more protection for the corners of your iPhone than the DLO HipCase. Both cases have open areas at each corner and the lower middle but the cutouts are significantly smaller on the Marware case.
Another difference is that you can order the black C.E.O. Premiere case direct from Marware and get it with a secure magnetic enclosure rather than Velcro. If you buy it anywhere else (i.e. the Apple Store, an AT&T store, etc.) it'll come with a Velcro fastener instead of a magnet. For what it's worth, the white case, (actually, "Vanilla") has a Velcro fastener no matter where you buy it.
Finally, the C.E.O. Premiere includes a clear protective film covering for your screen and a microfiber cleaning cloth; the DLO HipCase includes neither.
The Bottom Line
Marware CEO Premiere for iPhone 3G
case is as nice a leather holster as any I've tested. It offers somewhat more protection for your iPhone than the DLO HipCase, and includes a screen protector and microfiber cloth. But, as I said in my HipCase review, "If you prefer a case that offers serious protection or one that doesn't require you to insert and remove your phone repeatedly to use it, neither of these holster-style cases is right for you." On the other hand, if you prefer a holster-style case, you'll be happy with either one.September 30th, 2008 - by Bob LeVitus
Review: Marware SportGrip, C.E.O. Glide, and C.E.O. Premiere
CaseandCover.com reviews Marware cases and covers for the iPhone, iPod, and BlackBerry. Trusted reviews, from trusted sources throughout the internet.
My buddy Gavin Baker, CEO of Abunga, took three iPhone cases from Marware for a spin. He took a look at the SportGrip ($14.99), C.E.O. Glide ($24.99) and the C.E.O. Premiere ($34.99).
Which best suited this CEO on the go? Read his take below for the answer...
I first tried out the Marware SportGrip, the silicone case that has a rubberized feel and covers the back and sides of the phone leaving the touch screen open. This was my go-to case for about 2 weeks. It easily protected the back and sides of my phone from scratches and the material deadened any type of accidental drop of the phone, reducing the damage inflicted. I had no fear about tossing my phone around onto tables, chairs or in my Jeep. The downside is that the protection afforded by the cover also creates a much bulkier pocket profile. This made it more difficult to slide into pockets. One major downside was that I took the cover off after about 1 week and noticed it had collected a lot of dust, dirt, lint, etc. on the inside of the cover, creating some smaller scratches on the backside of my phone. I'm sure had I taken the cover off more frequently this wouldn't have been an issue.
The Marware C.E.O Glide was next on my list and it didn't make it long; partially because of the red snakeskin cover, but it is essentially a vertical sleeve with a Velcro clasp to keep the phone inside. It's not functional for me since I prefer my phone to be in my pocket and easily accessed or on my belt. This was a mix of the two and a cover that doesn't work in that circle isn't the best for me.
The Marware C.E.O Premiere is the last case I tried out. It is a horizontal belt case and allows easy access to the phone while providing a secure environment. As soon as I put the case on I was very confident with it. I wasn't worried about the case falling off my belt, and the case has a Velcro enclosure to ensure the phone stays in the case. The interior of the case is soft but not microfiber so I have no fear of putting my phone into the case and it coming out in worse shape. I've used the case daily for about 2 weeks and the exterior of the case shows minimal wear. My only complaint about the case is the Velcro closure. In the weeks I've used it the Velcro has started to loosen and is not as tight as it once was. Other than that the case has been phenomenal and it is the one I've settled on for everyday use.
All of the Marware products come with a cleaning cloth and protective film.
Thanks Gavin!
by Victor Agreda, Jr. on Nov 21st 2008
Which best suited this CEO on the go? Read his take below for the answer...
I first tried out the Marware SportGrip, the silicone case that has a rubberized feel and covers the back and sides of the phone leaving the touch screen open. This was my go-to case for about 2 weeks. It easily protected the back and sides of my phone from scratches and the material deadened any type of accidental drop of the phone, reducing the damage inflicted. I had no fear about tossing my phone around onto tables, chairs or in my Jeep. The downside is that the protection afforded by the cover also creates a much bulkier pocket profile. This made it more difficult to slide into pockets. One major downside was that I took the cover off after about 1 week and noticed it had collected a lot of dust, dirt, lint, etc. on the inside of the cover, creating some smaller scratches on the backside of my phone. I'm sure had I taken the cover off more frequently this wouldn't have been an issue.
The Marware C.E.O Glide was next on my list and it didn't make it long; partially because of the red snakeskin cover, but it is essentially a vertical sleeve with a Velcro clasp to keep the phone inside. It's not functional for me since I prefer my phone to be in my pocket and easily accessed or on my belt. This was a mix of the two and a cover that doesn't work in that circle isn't the best for me.
The Marware C.E.O Premiere is the last case I tried out. It is a horizontal belt case and allows easy access to the phone while providing a secure environment. As soon as I put the case on I was very confident with it. I wasn't worried about the case falling off my belt, and the case has a Velcro enclosure to ensure the phone stays in the case. The interior of the case is soft but not microfiber so I have no fear of putting my phone into the case and it coming out in worse shape. I've used the case daily for about 2 weeks and the exterior of the case shows minimal wear. My only complaint about the case is the Velcro closure. In the weeks I've used it the Velcro has started to loosen and is not as tight as it once was. Other than that the case has been phenomenal and it is the one I've settled on for everyday use.
All of the Marware products come with a cleaning cloth and protective film.
Thanks Gavin!
by Victor Agreda, Jr. on Nov 21st 2008
DLO StrapWrap Review
CaseandCover.com reviews DLO cases and covers for the iPhone, iPod, and BlackBerry. Trusted reviews, from trusted sources throughout the internet.
by Dan Pourhadi, Macworld.com
Being a student of the collegiate order, as well as a guy who pretends to be a Chicago Loop business-type, I’m constantly carrying a bag to look like I’m on my way to something important (even if sometimes the bag is empty). My iPhone rests in my pocket, pumping tunes to my ears and effectively eliminating any idle communication with fellow public-transportation drones. But keeping it in my pocket is annoying and inconvenient—the iPhone is always bouncing around, clinking with my change from lunch, and extending my headphone wire the entire snag-attracting distance from my ear to my pants. Oh, and it makes my pocket bulge, too.
When I saw the box for the DLO StrapWrap , I let out a soft yelp: exactly what I needed, I thought. And after giving it a try, I was content with its functionality, and only mildly disappointed by its caveats.
The StrapWrap’s exterior is made from neoprene, making it reasonably resistant to the effects of wear-and-tear. It attaches to your shoulder bag or backpack using two adjustable Velcro flaps that wrap around any strap (up to 2.5 inches wide). A “stability clip” can clip to a buckle on your bag’s strap to keep the StrapWrap from sliding. Your gadget slides into one of two stretchy pouches on the front of the case, depending on the gadget’s size (gizmos up to 2.5 inches wide will fit) and how exposed you want it—one pouch offers more protection than the other. You can use the other pouch as a pocket for whatever you can manage to cram in there (for example, earbuds, ID, or credit cards).
The Good: The neoprene feels very durable, and the pouches constrict so tightly that there’s no way your gadget is slipping out accidentally. The Velcro flaps work well to secure the case to the strap—at least they did for my bags—with little slippage. And, of course, the convenience factor is a big plus.
The Bad: Because of its ‘one size fits all’ mentality, the StrapWrap is big, both in bulk and height. For messenger bags, that isn’t really an issue—there’s plenty of room across the chest. But for backpacks, the macho design—and particularly the height, considering that most backpack straps curve—can add a level of discomfort or general irritation that, for some, could be a deal-breaker.
In addition, while the “stability clip” can be useful, if your bag has no buckle or other appendage within reach, the clip becomes nothing more than a nuisance, and there’s no way to remove the long stability strap from the case. You end up either dealing with the swaying, bouncing fabric or shove the strap between the case flaps and your strap. And, of course, unlike bag-straps designed specifically for, say, an iPhone or iPod, there’s also no way to control the functions of your gadget without removing it from the StrapWrap first.
All-in-all, the StrapWrap is a decent bag-strap option, especially for people who may want to bring along different gadgets at different times, but it’s not without limitations.
by Dan Pourhadi, Macworld.com
Being a student of the collegiate order, as well as a guy who pretends to be a Chicago Loop business-type, I’m constantly carrying a bag to look like I’m on my way to something important (even if sometimes the bag is empty). My iPhone rests in my pocket, pumping tunes to my ears and effectively eliminating any idle communication with fellow public-transportation drones. But keeping it in my pocket is annoying and inconvenient—the iPhone is always bouncing around, clinking with my change from lunch, and extending my headphone wire the entire snag-attracting distance from my ear to my pants. Oh, and it makes my pocket bulge, too.
When I saw the box for the DLO StrapWrap , I let out a soft yelp: exactly what I needed, I thought. And after giving it a try, I was content with its functionality, and only mildly disappointed by its caveats.
The StrapWrap’s exterior is made from neoprene, making it reasonably resistant to the effects of wear-and-tear. It attaches to your shoulder bag or backpack using two adjustable Velcro flaps that wrap around any strap (up to 2.5 inches wide). A “stability clip” can clip to a buckle on your bag’s strap to keep the StrapWrap from sliding. Your gadget slides into one of two stretchy pouches on the front of the case, depending on the gadget’s size (gizmos up to 2.5 inches wide will fit) and how exposed you want it—one pouch offers more protection than the other. You can use the other pouch as a pocket for whatever you can manage to cram in there (for example, earbuds, ID, or credit cards).
The Good: The neoprene feels very durable, and the pouches constrict so tightly that there’s no way your gadget is slipping out accidentally. The Velcro flaps work well to secure the case to the strap—at least they did for my bags—with little slippage. And, of course, the convenience factor is a big plus.
The Bad: Because of its ‘one size fits all’ mentality, the StrapWrap is big, both in bulk and height. For messenger bags, that isn’t really an issue—there’s plenty of room across the chest. But for backpacks, the macho design—and particularly the height, considering that most backpack straps curve—can add a level of discomfort or general irritation that, for some, could be a deal-breaker.
In addition, while the “stability clip” can be useful, if your bag has no buckle or other appendage within reach, the clip becomes nothing more than a nuisance, and there’s no way to remove the long stability strap from the case. You end up either dealing with the swaying, bouncing fabric or shove the strap between the case flaps and your strap. And, of course, unlike bag-straps designed specifically for, say, an iPhone or iPod, there’s also no way to control the functions of your gadget without removing it from the StrapWrap first.
All-in-all, the StrapWrap is a decent bag-strap option, especially for people who may want to bring along different gadgets at different times, but it’s not without limitations.
iDive 300 iPod/iPhone Underwater Case Review
CaseandCover.com reviews H2O Audio cases and covers for the iPhone, iPod, and BlackBerry. Trusted reviews, from trusted sources throughout the internet.
Underwater movie watching and music listening done right
by Rob Griffiths, Macworld.com
If you’re a professional scuba diver, there’s probably one aspect of your career that you really dislike: the interminable decompression stops. For those who don’t know, professional divers tend to dive much deeper, and for much longer, than do recreational divers such as myself. As a result, they build up lots of inert gases in their bloodstream, and these gases need to be purged before surfacing so as to avoid decompression sickness. For example, the US Navy’s dive tables show that a diver spending 60 minutes at a depth of 130 feet must make four decompression stops totaling nearly 90 minutes before surfacing!
As a recreational diver, I don't have anywhere near such requirements—just a three minute “safety stop” at 15 feet of depth. I can easily pass those minutes by just looking around at the undersea environment. But if I had 90 minutes or more to wait before surfacing, the surroundings would quickly turn monotonous. You can’t read a book or magazine, for obvious reasons, and taking a nap isn’t a good idea, either, as you need to maintain your depth and be awake to monitor your equipment. Sounds like a recipe for hours of boredom, doesn’t it?
Until recently, it probably was. But add H2O Audio’s iDive 300 Deep Dive Waterproof Case & Speakers to the mix, and you can use those decompression stops to watch a movie, listen to an audiobook, or be serenaded by your music collection. You can also use the iDive 300 during your dive, as well as while snorkeling and swimming.
Save $24! New iPod classic 120GB black NOW $224.94 (was $249) FREE Engraving & FREE TuneRanger,Case after rebate
The iDive 300 lets you use your iPhone or iPod underwater to watch video and listen to audio (you can't run apps or use the phone). Specifically, the iDive protects your player down to an incredible depth of 300 feet—recreational divers are limited to 120 feet, and most "waterproof" iPod cases we've tested work only to 10 feet or so. Your iPod or iPhone fits snugly inside the case using several included spacers and trim pieces. The iDive 300's amplified, outside-the-ear headphones—actually small speakers—are permanently connected and can be either clipped to the sides of your mask or tucked inside a dive hood.
How does the iDive 300 let you use the touchscreen on an iPod touch or iPhone, or the Click Wheel on an iPod, through the thick plastic required to withstand the incredible pressures at such depths? It doesn’t. Inside the iDive, you’ll find a circuit board, a dock-connector plug, and space for three AA batteries (for powering the case's circuitry and headphones). You control your player using buttons—for volume, playback, and menu navigation—on the side of the iDive, which communicates with your iPod or iPhone through the dock-connector port. In other words, the iDive is more like an iPod speaker system in a waterproof enclosure than a simple waterproof case (which partly explains its higher price).
How well does the iDive work in the real world? A recent short trip to Cabo san Lucas gave me the opportunity to use the iDive on a real dive, using my iPhone 3G as the audio and video source. After testing the case at home to make sure it was watertight, I set out on the trip, still with a good deal of trepidation over immersing my iPhone 3G in the open ocean!
I needn’t have worried, however, as the iDive performed perfectly. Once in the water with the iDive, I tested both movie and audio playback, and everything worked as expected. I was able to easily navigate menus, start and stop audio and video, and watch and listen to my iPhone while scuba diving. I had a bit of an issue during setup, requiring me to turn the iDive on and off a couple times to get it to “see” my iPhone, but after that, it worked fine.
There’s something decidedly weird about listening to music (not to mention watching a movie) while gliding 60 feet under the surface. The underwater world is usually quiet, with the exception of the noise from breathing and bubbles…but not for me, at least not on this dive. I tried a variety of music, and found that classical seemed to work nicely with the slow, easy pace of scuba diving. (The faster you swim, the faster you use up your air supply, so scuba divers are generally very slow swimmers.)
Using the iDive while diving was reasonably easy, at least in warmer, “no glove” water. The buttons were all easy to press, and I could operate them by touch after I became familiar with their locations. For colder water use, I tested the iDive 300 at home with my light dive gloves on, and the buttons were large enough to distinguish and press. I didn’t, however, bring the gloves on the trip, so I can’t comment on how well the gloves would work with the iDive 300 in the real world.
The sound from the headphones is adequate, if not of the highest quality—I found the sound somewhat tinny, with bass response lacking. I had the speakers clipped to my mask, resting over my ears; I imagine that had I been wearing a dive hood with the headphones tucked inside, the sound might have been better. To be fair, reproducing sound accurately underwater is very difficult, especially at the lower frequencies, so the iDive did an acceptable job, in my opinion. Volume levels were easily loud enough—the amplified speakers did that job with ease.
Seeing the iPhone’s screen also wasn’t a problem, at least not in the water we were diving in, which was generally clear with visibility ranging from 20 to 50 feet. I didn’t see any distortion from the case's plexiglass, which is impressive, given its thickness. I recorded a short movie, below, of the iDive 300 in action at approximately 65 feet (using a Canon SD850 IS in a waterproof housing), so you can get a sense of how it looks. You'll notice that the colors are somewhat off due to the lack of natural light during a scuba dive and the fact that I recorded the video using a compact digital camera.
Being a recreational diver, I got nowhere near the iDive’s 300-foot limit, as our dive ranged between 50 and 65 feet. Still, there’s a fair amount of pressure at those depths, yet the iDive 300 remained perfectly sealed, and all of its controls worked fine. At the conclusion of the 45-minute dive, there wasn’t any sign of water anywhere inside the case.
The biggest problem I had while using the iDive 300 was simply managing the cables it adds to an already cable- and cord-heavy hobby. The headphone cable leading out of the iDive splits into left and right cables after a foot or so. Combine those cables with the buoyancy-jacket inflator, the instrument cluster, and two regulators, and you’ve got a potential tangle on your hands. I did my best to route the cords in such a way that they wouldn’t interfere with the rest of my gear.
Another potential issue with the iDive 300 has nothing to do with the product and everything to do with how you use it: While enjoying your music or movie, you may forget to check your depth, your air supply, the location of your buddy, and/or the direction you’re moving. Overlooking just one of these things while diving could potentially lead to a fatal accident, so it’s critically important that you stay involved with your dive while using the iDive 300.
Macworld's buying advice
Overall, I was very impressed with the iDive 300. While it’s not cheap at $299, you do get what you pay for: It’s amazingly well-engineered, solidly built, and worked exactly as advertised during my time with it. It was relatively easy to set up, its buttons were large and easy to press under water, and there was more than enough volume at the depths I tested it. Sound quality is about what I was expecting, given the difficulties of reproducing sound underwater, and was certainly good enough to understand words and listen to music.
If you just want to use your iPod or iPhone around the pool or while snorkeling in shallower waters, H2O Audio's Amphibx line will handle those needs. But if you’re looking for a well-built, waterproof case that you can use while scuba diving, the iDive 300 is well worth your consideration.
Underwater movie watching and music listening done right
by Rob Griffiths, Macworld.com
If you’re a professional scuba diver, there’s probably one aspect of your career that you really dislike: the interminable decompression stops. For those who don’t know, professional divers tend to dive much deeper, and for much longer, than do recreational divers such as myself. As a result, they build up lots of inert gases in their bloodstream, and these gases need to be purged before surfacing so as to avoid decompression sickness. For example, the US Navy’s dive tables show that a diver spending 60 minutes at a depth of 130 feet must make four decompression stops totaling nearly 90 minutes before surfacing!
As a recreational diver, I don't have anywhere near such requirements—just a three minute “safety stop” at 15 feet of depth. I can easily pass those minutes by just looking around at the undersea environment. But if I had 90 minutes or more to wait before surfacing, the surroundings would quickly turn monotonous. You can’t read a book or magazine, for obvious reasons, and taking a nap isn’t a good idea, either, as you need to maintain your depth and be awake to monitor your equipment. Sounds like a recipe for hours of boredom, doesn’t it?
Until recently, it probably was. But add H2O Audio’s iDive 300 Deep Dive Waterproof Case & Speakers to the mix, and you can use those decompression stops to watch a movie, listen to an audiobook, or be serenaded by your music collection. You can also use the iDive 300 during your dive, as well as while snorkeling and swimming.
Save $24! New iPod classic 120GB black NOW $224.94 (was $249) FREE Engraving & FREE TuneRanger,Case after rebate
The iDive 300 lets you use your iPhone or iPod underwater to watch video and listen to audio (you can't run apps or use the phone). Specifically, the iDive protects your player down to an incredible depth of 300 feet—recreational divers are limited to 120 feet, and most "waterproof" iPod cases we've tested work only to 10 feet or so. Your iPod or iPhone fits snugly inside the case using several included spacers and trim pieces. The iDive 300's amplified, outside-the-ear headphones—actually small speakers—are permanently connected and can be either clipped to the sides of your mask or tucked inside a dive hood.
How does the iDive 300 let you use the touchscreen on an iPod touch or iPhone, or the Click Wheel on an iPod, through the thick plastic required to withstand the incredible pressures at such depths? It doesn’t. Inside the iDive, you’ll find a circuit board, a dock-connector plug, and space for three AA batteries (for powering the case's circuitry and headphones). You control your player using buttons—for volume, playback, and menu navigation—on the side of the iDive, which communicates with your iPod or iPhone through the dock-connector port. In other words, the iDive is more like an iPod speaker system in a waterproof enclosure than a simple waterproof case (which partly explains its higher price).
How well does the iDive work in the real world? A recent short trip to Cabo san Lucas gave me the opportunity to use the iDive on a real dive, using my iPhone 3G as the audio and video source. After testing the case at home to make sure it was watertight, I set out on the trip, still with a good deal of trepidation over immersing my iPhone 3G in the open ocean!
I needn’t have worried, however, as the iDive performed perfectly. Once in the water with the iDive, I tested both movie and audio playback, and everything worked as expected. I was able to easily navigate menus, start and stop audio and video, and watch and listen to my iPhone while scuba diving. I had a bit of an issue during setup, requiring me to turn the iDive on and off a couple times to get it to “see” my iPhone, but after that, it worked fine.
There’s something decidedly weird about listening to music (not to mention watching a movie) while gliding 60 feet under the surface. The underwater world is usually quiet, with the exception of the noise from breathing and bubbles…but not for me, at least not on this dive. I tried a variety of music, and found that classical seemed to work nicely with the slow, easy pace of scuba diving. (The faster you swim, the faster you use up your air supply, so scuba divers are generally very slow swimmers.)
Using the iDive while diving was reasonably easy, at least in warmer, “no glove” water. The buttons were all easy to press, and I could operate them by touch after I became familiar with their locations. For colder water use, I tested the iDive 300 at home with my light dive gloves on, and the buttons were large enough to distinguish and press. I didn’t, however, bring the gloves on the trip, so I can’t comment on how well the gloves would work with the iDive 300 in the real world.
The sound from the headphones is adequate, if not of the highest quality—I found the sound somewhat tinny, with bass response lacking. I had the speakers clipped to my mask, resting over my ears; I imagine that had I been wearing a dive hood with the headphones tucked inside, the sound might have been better. To be fair, reproducing sound accurately underwater is very difficult, especially at the lower frequencies, so the iDive did an acceptable job, in my opinion. Volume levels were easily loud enough—the amplified speakers did that job with ease.
Seeing the iPhone’s screen also wasn’t a problem, at least not in the water we were diving in, which was generally clear with visibility ranging from 20 to 50 feet. I didn’t see any distortion from the case's plexiglass, which is impressive, given its thickness. I recorded a short movie, below, of the iDive 300 in action at approximately 65 feet (using a Canon SD850 IS in a waterproof housing), so you can get a sense of how it looks. You'll notice that the colors are somewhat off due to the lack of natural light during a scuba dive and the fact that I recorded the video using a compact digital camera.
Being a recreational diver, I got nowhere near the iDive’s 300-foot limit, as our dive ranged between 50 and 65 feet. Still, there’s a fair amount of pressure at those depths, yet the iDive 300 remained perfectly sealed, and all of its controls worked fine. At the conclusion of the 45-minute dive, there wasn’t any sign of water anywhere inside the case.
The biggest problem I had while using the iDive 300 was simply managing the cables it adds to an already cable- and cord-heavy hobby. The headphone cable leading out of the iDive splits into left and right cables after a foot or so. Combine those cables with the buoyancy-jacket inflator, the instrument cluster, and two regulators, and you’ve got a potential tangle on your hands. I did my best to route the cords in such a way that they wouldn’t interfere with the rest of my gear.
Another potential issue with the iDive 300 has nothing to do with the product and everything to do with how you use it: While enjoying your music or movie, you may forget to check your depth, your air supply, the location of your buddy, and/or the direction you’re moving. Overlooking just one of these things while diving could potentially lead to a fatal accident, so it’s critically important that you stay involved with your dive while using the iDive 300.
Macworld's buying advice
Overall, I was very impressed with the iDive 300. While it’s not cheap at $299, you do get what you pay for: It’s amazingly well-engineered, solidly built, and worked exactly as advertised during my time with it. It was relatively easy to set up, its buttons were large and easy to press under water, and there was more than enough volume at the depths I tested it. Sound quality is about what I was expecting, given the difficulties of reproducing sound underwater, and was certainly good enough to understand words and listen to music.
If you just want to use your iPod or iPhone around the pool or while snorkeling in shallower waters, H2O Audio's Amphibx line will handle those needs. But if you’re looking for a well-built, waterproof case that you can use while scuba diving, the iDive 300 is well worth your consideration.
Review: Otterbox Armor Series iPod Touch case
CaseandCover.com reviews OtterBox cases and covers for the iPhone, iPod, and BlackBerry. Trusted reviews, from trusted sources throughout the internet.
by Doug Aamoth on March 10, 2008
The Otterbox Armor Series iPod Touch case is waterproof, dustproof, dirtproof, sandproof, and drop-proof while at the same time allowing access to most of the Touch’s functions. While the extra added bulk might scare some people off, those who need maximum protection at a not-too-shabby price will appreciate this case.
Features
The Otterbox Armor Series case protects an iPod Touch on all sides with impact-absorbing rubber while allowing use of the touch screen through a thin-but-tough membrane. There’s an external headphone jack that hooks into your iPod’s headphone jack, a rubberized main button, and a belt clip on the backside of the case.
Pros
The Armor Series feels like it can take a beating — like a drop from a moving car and getting run over by the car behind it kind of beating. It feels that tough.
I didn’t test the claim that the case is waterproof up to 3 feet or drop it out of a moving car because I’m not insane and the thought of replacing a device I bought for $400 and use almost every day makes me bunch up a bit. I would, however, take this out to the beach without worrying that I was going to ruin the precious cargo inside.
Also, at $50, the price is nice for what you get. It’s my opinion that too much of a premium is put on “rugged” devices and cases. You could probably find similar cases selling for $80 an up. This seems like a good value if you’re going to be using your iPod in some pretty rough conditions. Those of you in the military, especially, could use this.
Cons
One glaring drawback is that the Armor case makes your otherwise svelte and pocketable device into a considerably larger, plastic-covered device. You’d have to have mighty big pockets to carry this around without using the belt clip or the included lanyard. That being said, it’s being marketed for toughness, not portability.
The second minor gripe is that, while you’re still able to control the Touch, the gentle finger swoops that you’re used to become much more deliberate presses thanks to the membrane that covers the screen. Don’t get me wrong, it’s cool that the screen even works while in this case. It looks like it wouldn’t. It’s just not as elegant. Also, the power button on the top of the iPod Touch gets covered up completely. Not a huge deal since the device will eventually go into sleep mode.
Other Stuff
This could be a pro or a con depending whom you ask, but the belt clip positions the iPod Touch upside-down (notice where the headphone jack is located in the photo on the right).
It works well for looking down and futzing with the controls, though.
Conclusion
The Otterbox for iPod Touch Armor Series case is a great buy for anyone looking for some serious protection. Everyone else could easily get by with a slimmer, cheaper solution. The build quality and the price of the Armor case make it a winner, though.
by Doug Aamoth on March 10, 2008
The Otterbox Armor Series iPod Touch case is waterproof, dustproof, dirtproof, sandproof, and drop-proof while at the same time allowing access to most of the Touch’s functions. While the extra added bulk might scare some people off, those who need maximum protection at a not-too-shabby price will appreciate this case.
Features
The Otterbox Armor Series case protects an iPod Touch on all sides with impact-absorbing rubber while allowing use of the touch screen through a thin-but-tough membrane. There’s an external headphone jack that hooks into your iPod’s headphone jack, a rubberized main button, and a belt clip on the backside of the case.
Pros
The Armor Series feels like it can take a beating — like a drop from a moving car and getting run over by the car behind it kind of beating. It feels that tough.
I didn’t test the claim that the case is waterproof up to 3 feet or drop it out of a moving car because I’m not insane and the thought of replacing a device I bought for $400 and use almost every day makes me bunch up a bit. I would, however, take this out to the beach without worrying that I was going to ruin the precious cargo inside.
Also, at $50, the price is nice for what you get. It’s my opinion that too much of a premium is put on “rugged” devices and cases. You could probably find similar cases selling for $80 an up. This seems like a good value if you’re going to be using your iPod in some pretty rough conditions. Those of you in the military, especially, could use this.
Cons
One glaring drawback is that the Armor case makes your otherwise svelte and pocketable device into a considerably larger, plastic-covered device. You’d have to have mighty big pockets to carry this around without using the belt clip or the included lanyard. That being said, it’s being marketed for toughness, not portability.
The second minor gripe is that, while you’re still able to control the Touch, the gentle finger swoops that you’re used to become much more deliberate presses thanks to the membrane that covers the screen. Don’t get me wrong, it’s cool that the screen even works while in this case. It looks like it wouldn’t. It’s just not as elegant. Also, the power button on the top of the iPod Touch gets covered up completely. Not a huge deal since the device will eventually go into sleep mode.
Other Stuff
This could be a pro or a con depending whom you ask, but the belt clip positions the iPod Touch upside-down (notice where the headphone jack is located in the photo on the right).
It works well for looking down and futzing with the controls, though.
Conclusion
The Otterbox for iPod Touch Armor Series case is a great buy for anyone looking for some serious protection. Everyone else could easily get by with a slimmer, cheaper solution. The build quality and the price of the Armor case make it a winner, though.