Appletell review – Proporta cases for iPod touch

Product: iPod touch cases (2nd generation)
Developer: Proporta
Minimum Requirements: 2nd Generation iPod touch
Retail Price: $22.95 to $59.95
Availability: Out now

While my new iPod touch is less susceptible to scratches than my old nano (which I believe I once nicked with my fingernail), it’s still something that you want to protect as you stick it in a pocket and travel around. And let’s be honest—while the iPod design has always been one of elegant simplicity, if you’re going to put it in a case, you want it to have a little style. Apple wisely didn’t step on any of the accessory makers’ toes when Apple started shipping some of its iPods with a “case” that was just a cloth sleeve. Accessories are a big part of the iPod experience, and if style is what you’re looking for, Porporta has that in spades.

All four of the cases I tested had a few features in common: they were well-designed and they didn’t block the dock port nor the volume rocker. None of them came with any kind of protection for the touch screen itself. Beyond that, their differences come down to a matter of personal preference; do you want a leather case or silicone? What color, or colors? Do you want to use your iPod case as a wallet, or do you want unfettered access to the touch screen? And how much are you willing to pay?

All of the cases I reviewed were for the iPod touch 2nd generation. They hold the device very snugly, and in case you’re curious, an iPod case will not hold an iPhone 3G, although Proporta makes all these cases for both.

Dual Skin Silicone iPod case

The Dual Skin was the style I was most familiar with, having used silicon cases on my old iPods. It consists of two pieces: an outer shell covering an inner. Both are soft and pliable, and leave the touch screen completely exposed. While useful because it gives you quick access to your music, etc., it also provides no protection against scratches if you stick it in a pocket, purse, or bag.

I would have guessed that the reason for the two-piece design would be to give the user a lot of color choices, but Proporta only sells this case in three sets: white and clear, gray and black, and pink and black. The silicone has a nice rubberized feel and nubbins on the side, meaning you’re unlikely to drop it, but again, since it doesn’t cover the screen or the dock port, the most vulnerable parts of the iPod are completely exposed. At $22.95 it’s the least expensive of the four cases, but also the least functional and the least distinctive. Combined with a transparent screen shield, this case would have something going for it. But, as it stands, it was my least favorite.

Proporta Alu-Leather Case

Moving into the leather cases, the Alu-Leather series covers the iPod with a wraparound leather shield that covers an aluminum sheet. Two side clamps hold the iPod touch firmly in place, and a magnetic “snap” keeps the cover down. If you want to use the case as a wallet, the cover has two slots that can hold credit cards, some cash, or business cards.

As I mentioned, the design of the case leaves the rocker arm exposed, which is handy when you just want to adjust the volume without taking your iPod out, but unlike the silicone case, covers the power button. I was going to tell you that it also comes in a variety of colors, but the the Proporta site only displays a black case (even though the one I was sent was brown). Strange.

The iPod is only held in place by the side clamps, making it a cinch to get the touch in and out of the case, if you, say, want to put it on a stereo dock to play music. When I put the iPod in, I was a little concerned that the side-only clamps would allow it to slip (and fall out), but they kept hold, and it took a firm (but not forceful) push on my part to get the iPod out. The magnetic latch feels a little flimsy until you realize that its purpose is to keep the flap down, not to keep the iPod in. The design itself is a bit plain, with a modest, classic feel that doesn’t call attention to itself, but definitely has an understated style. The black model matches the iPod well, as does the two-tone of the brown/cream model. Cost: $45.95.

Ted Baker Leather Case

If, on the other hand, you want a case that absolutely calls attention to itself, then this is the one for you. Ted Baker is a UK fashion store, and this case is anything but subtle, from its patterned exterior (complete with branded button to let you know who designed it) to the crimson interior (also comes in a more understated black and teal design).

Like the Alu-Leather, it features a two slots to hold a credit card, though the flap design is much tighter, and will hold just one card each. There’s also a pocket for notes, cash, or another card. The iPod is held in place by a pocket design, open at the bottom. I initially thought the hole was too narrow, and that the iPod cable would be tricky to get in, but no, it’s sized perfectly, and no wiggling was required to hook it up to my Mac.

While I prefer a simpler design for iPod, there’s no denying that this $52.95 case is eye catching, and the two snaps that keep the cover closed are unlikely to come undone if the iPod is bouncing around in a bag. Still, the design is a bit much for me, and if it’s a choice of using this in-your-face design and the clean lines of the iPod itself, I’d probably just have my touch go “nude.”

Alu-Leather Edge

The Alu-Leather “Edge” design was by far my favorite, combining a simple, understated style with a design that fits how I use my iPod.

For starters, the cover flap leaves both the volume rocker and the power button completely exposed, making it much easier to find them simply by touch when it’s inside my pocket. The iPod is held in place by an aluminum-reinforced pocket that just barely wraps around the bottom, meaning that its impossible for it to slide out that way, and leaves the dock port completely exposed and easily accessible, although the back of the case dips down far enough that you won’t be able to attach the iPod to, say, a stereo dock without taking it out of the Edge.

The flap (also reinforced by aluminum) doesn’t feature any pockets, but is a nifty piece of engineering; with the iPod in place, it’s perfectly fitted to held snugly in place by the side clamps. There’s a wonderful tactile feel of pushing it down, and, after a couple weeks of continuous use, no feeling of being any looser. The aluminum core gives it a nice, solid feel, and there’s a lanyard hoop on the back if you want to attach it to anything. At $59.95 (more than a quarter of the cost of my 8GB touch) it’s the most expensive of the four, but by far my favorite, coming in six colors and with a design (both in terms of looks, usability, and design) that feels like it came from Apple itself.

Ratings

• Dual Silicone: 2/5
• Alu-Leather Case (regular): 4/5
• Ted Baker Case: 3/5
• Alu-Leather Edge: 5/5