Other Sites

Product: Protective case for iPod nano

Developer: Waterfield Designs

Minimum Requirements: iPod Shuffle

Retail Price: $22.00

Availability: Out now

As soon as I got my iPod nano (the scratchable black, of course), I realized I needed a protective case for it. As usual, San Francisco's Waterfield Designs has an answer.

The iPod nano case is a simple padded nylon sleeve for the nano. It's tough and stylish (as with all of Waterfield's products, you have a choice of colors in Waterfield's distinct checkerboard pattern), and the inner neoprene is silky smooth and will keep your nano safe.

What's to Like:

Waterfield wins points for simplicity. There no way to use this nano sleeve wrong. It does only one thing and that's it.

The case, while not micro-thin, does not add appreciably to the bulk of the nano (in part because the nano's so tiny to begin with). In fact, the extra thickness will probably make losing your nano less likely!

The case also makes it easier to grip your nano. A raw nano can be slippery and easily dropped (fortunately, it has no moving parts).

While the Waterfield nano case isn't designed for active nano use—you're supposed to take it out of the case to use your nano—I found that you can put your nano into the case upsidedown so the earphone jack is at the open end and you can then listen to music while still protecting the player. You can even access the controls in this mode by pressing on the outside of the case; you just can't see the screen. It's a nice way to turn your nano into a shuffle!

What's Not to Like

The case is, er, tight. Really tight. It does loosen up as you use it, but you really have to wiggle a nano in and out of it. While not a significant problem, it adds just a hint of hassle that might make you less likely to use the case. For instance, when I'm in a hurry, I just want to grab my nano and go. I tend to only use the case for longer excursions instead of every day. (But then, I'm extraordinarily lazy.

The elastic earbud belt on one side of the case is an okay idea, but who takes the time to carefully wrap up their earbuds? I certainly don't. If there was a pocket where I could just stuff the wiring, I'd use that, but the belt only works for neat freaks. (In fact, a handy second use of the nano case is as a little bag for your earbuds.)

But, the biggest drawback of the iPod nano case for me is that I can't use it and see the screen at the same time. This may not be a problem for you, depending on your iPod usage. My usage tends to be erratic: five minutes here, ten minutes there (I work from home, so I don't have a long commute). My ideal case lets me see the screen and control the nano while the case is on.

Bottom Line

If you're looking for an elegant, sturdy, simple sleeve for your nano, look no further. Waterfield's iPod nano case is ideal for protecting your nano when you throw it into a briefcase or stick it in your pocket. However, if you're looking for a case that lets you use the nano while encased, this may not be the case for you.