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With apologies to Joss Whedon, in every generation there is a chosen one. It alone will stand against the Zune, the Zen, and the forces of Samsung. It is the iPod. This generation is the second, the model is the nano, and here are three cases for all of you who just joined the iPod generation.

The PodsPlus Aluminum N2 ($24.99) is the kid sister to one of my favorite cases for the 5G iPod, the PodsPlus Aluminum V2. In fact, they're almost identical twins, with only size and one problem to separate them.

The N2 is mainly about protection, but the designers didn't completely forgo the design. The hard yet light aluminum case is finished in a deep black, with a splash of stark color coming from the silicone click wheel cover (blue, green, pink or red, although you can get a black wheel cover if color isn't your thing, and there's one model in which the wheel cover is black and the case itself is silver).

A hinge on the side of the case opens to allow for entry and removal of the iPod, which sits comfortably in neoprene padding. The case clamps shut tightly, but no so much that you can't easily open it. The extra-wide holes at the top and bottom of the case allow for easy access to all ports and controls, which is something a surprising number of iPod case designers really screw up. Screen protection is offered via a built-in plastic window. There is no belt clip of which to speak, but an included lanyard can be attached to the back bottom.

The only problem with the N2, and it's a fairly major one, is that the click wheel is difficult to operate through the protective skin. PodsPlus claims there's no loss of touch sensitivity through the cover, but I and my coworkers didn't find this true. There was certainly no problem on the 5G V2 model, so maybe it's the small size of the 2nd Gen nano's click wheel that makes it an issue here. Regardless, you may find yourself flipping open the case out of frustration in order to effectively use the click wheel.

It's a pity, really, as the protection is top notch. Your iPod's natural appearance is completely lost inside the N2 shell, but that's the price you pay for security from scratches, nicks and minor drops. If you're the type to set the iPod in motion and let it go for a while, the click wheel senstivity issue shouldn't be enough to put you off the N2. If you're constantly clicking and wheeling, though, you'd best look elsewhere.

Like to the Titan Gear for nano ($24.99). This isn't so much a case as a collection of accessories that allow you to attach your 2nd Gen iPod nano to yourself pretty much however you want.

Titan Gear for nano starts you off with two holders that slide onto the nano's back and grip its sides for a secure connection. To this holder, you can attach any of four accessories: a 360 degree rotating belt clip, a carabiner, a lanyard, and an armband. Pegs in the accessories lock into holes in the holder, so there's no worry of the pieces disconnecting during use (indeed, they're kind of hard to pry lose even when you want to). The versatility of the holder and the accessories allows for you to attach them wherever you want them on the nano, orientating it how you want.

The benefit to this approach is that the Titan Gear for nano is very versatile. A second benefit is that your iPod's beauty isn't hidden behind platic or rubber; the front of the iPod isn't covered at all. Of course, that's the obvious drawback; little to no protection. Your iPod and its screen are wide open to scratches, and applying any sort of third party case will prevent the holders from attaching to the iPod. Your best bet here is to also get a 2nd Gen iPod nano Screen Shield ($9.95) from ShieldZone to keep your nano's screen safe. Don't go for the Full Body Shield, as that'll interfere with your ability to slide the Titan Gear holder on and off the iPod.

The interchangability of the accessories and the fact that iPod's design clearly shows through makes Titan Gear for nano a decent and unique offering, but for the love of all that's holy, make sure you also get a screen protector. In fact, if GizMac were to include one in this package, Titan Gear would easily bump up another rating point.

And then, we've got Pacific Design's Mila Bikini Skin for iPod nano ($17.95). Designed by Gamila, this is one of the most unique cases I've seen for any iPod model. I guess it should be considering that the only other product from its designers, as far as I can tell, is The Teastick.

As its name would suggest, the Mila Bikini Skin doesn't offer much in the way of coverage. In fact, only the iPod nano's screen is protected from scratches and scuffs; the rest of the front sits wide open. The protection is provided by a clear piece of polyurethane held in place by the rubber framework of the Bikini Skin, the top of which wraps around the nano, leaving the top completely open. A small flap flips over the bottom of the nano, but actually brings about the most perplexing problem with this device...the flap partly covers the headphone input! You can kind of push it aside to get your headphones in, but...huh?

The Bikini Skin was apparently designed for the 1st Gen nano, but still kind of fits the 2nd Gen. The headphone fit isn't a problem on the 1st Gen nano, and colors look better, too, which leads me to my second issue. It's more personal, but I think many will agree that the colors offered are a bad match with the 2nd Gen nanos. The Bikini Skin is available in orange and frost. Frost works fine with the 2nd Gen nano colors, but the orange clashes with pretty much all but the silver model. Again, this isn't a problem with the 1st Gen nano, as both colors work with its basic black and white finish.

But there's plenty of good to talk about here, too. The case's design allows for easy removal and insertion, and connection with a docking device is a simple matter of flipping back the bottom. In fact, you can even flip back the bottom and rest your nano against it to create a makeshift stand. I should point out, too, that connection with a docking cable doesn't require the bottom flap to be removed at all.

The Bikini Skin ships with three accessories, all of which can be attached to the top or bottom of the case (and easily removed): a lanyard, a cleat for spooling your headphone wires, and a car clip. The car clip is especially cool, as it allows you to easily hang the Bikini Skin from a heater/air conditioner vent in your car. The connection is loose, so the iPod will bump around as your car does, but not so much that it would mess it up under normal driving conditions.

My concerns aside, the Mila Bikini Skin does deserve a look, if only because of its unique, stylized look and good connection options.
  

So, we've got three decent options to start out our 2nd Gen iPod nano run, and things will get better as companies have more time to develop their products. That balance of protection, connection and aesthetics seems to be getting harder to reach, but if you lean towards just one, there's a case here for you:

• Protection - PodsPlus Aluminum N2
• Connection - Titan Gear for nano
• Aesthetics - Mila Bikini Skin

Applelinks Ratings (5 being highest):

* Call it a 4 out of 5 if you have a 1st Gen nano