Give your old iPod touch a new case
By Roman Loyola
,
Macworld
, 10/03/2008
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Apple may have ushered in a new era for the iPod touch recently, but there are plenty of owners of the original iPod touch out there--plus, you can get a pretty good deal on a
refurbished 8GB, 16GB, or 32GB original iPod touch at the Apple Store's refurbished section online.
If you have an original iPod touch, you still want to protect your investment. This week, I take a look at three cases for
the original iPod touch. These cases will not fit the new iPod touch, which has a different body shape and new volume buttons
that won't fit these cases.
Core Cases iPod touch Aluminum Slider Case
The iPod touch Aluminum Slider Case comes in two parts that slide together to protect the iPod touch. The case has an EVA
lining so it doesn't scratch the iPod touch. I didn't experience any problems of the Slide Case slipping apart during the
couple of weeks I used it.
If you just chowed down at your favorite greasy spoon, be sure to wash your hands before you handle a black Slider Case, because
the anodized brushed black aluminum will show your greasy fingerprints; it's akin to the fingerprint problems of the black
MacBook (which actually has a plastic case.) But if you do get fingerprints and smudges on the black Slider Case, all you
have to do it wipe it off with a cloth. Preferably a clean one. (The Slider Case is also available in anodized brushed silver
aluminum.)
The case has openings so you can access the iPod's buttons easily, and it also has an opening for the WiFi antenna. The edges
of the case's screen opening don't get in the way of touching on-screen buttons along the sides. Speaking of the screen, Core
Cases doesn't include a clear screen protector, but you can use a third-party protector and still be able to fit the iPod
touch in the Slider Case. The Slider Case provides a nice hard shell that doesn't add a lot of bulk, ideal for everyday use.
OtterBox for iPod touch Defender
If you're the type who puts your gadgets through a lot of abuse, the OtterBox for iPod touch Defender is the case for you.
It offers two layers of protection, with a hard plastic shell covered by a silicone skin. With an iPod touch inside, the Defender
is almost twice as thick as the iPod touch, but it's very well protected.
A semi-clear polycarbonate sheet provides protection for the iPod touch screen, but it hampers the light finger taps you would
normally use on an uncovered iPod touch. Because the sheet isn't completely flush with the screen, you have to apply a bit
more pressure to your finger taps than usual. It doesn't detract from the overall usability of the iPod touch interface, but
the sheet does make the screen look a little hazy.
The case provides cover for the dock-connector port and headphone jack when they're not in use. You can still easily press
the Sleep/Wake button and Home button. The case comes up to the very edge of the iPod touch screen, making it difficult to
press on-screen buttons along the edge of the screen (for example, the Q key on the on-screen keyboard).
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