~Tech Angel~

Pink PSP is on its way

Why can't these companies just release their products in a variety of colors from the very beginning? Anywhoo...it looks like our overseas gamers will be able to pick up a pink PSP come October 27.

Technorati Tags: gaming, PSP, Sony

Review - PodsPlus Aluminum V2 Case for iPod Video

My first iPod was the nano which I bought sometime last year. I quickly realised that I would a lot more storage for my 14GB of music and podcasts. So earlier this year, I upgraded to the 30GB ipod with video and you know what that means......a new case was needed. So without further delay, here's a review of the PodsPlus Aluminum V2 for iPod Video:

The PodsPlus Aluminum V2 Case for iPod Video is the first aluminum case with screen and clickwheel protection. If you're at all familiar with iPod cases, you know that it is rare to find a case that features protection for both of those areas. The case that I have is black aluminum with a red silicone cover over the clickwheel. You have the option of getting the black case with either a black, blue, red, or white clickwheel cover. There's a silver case available with a black cover if you don't care for the black case. The case also comes with a swivel belt clip and a neckstrap as well.

My first concern about anything aluminum is that it will be heavy. The aluminum that PodsPlus uses manages to be light while still being sturdy. It does add weight to the iPod, but that's to be expected with any case that will do a good job of protecting it from damage. Fortunately, the added weight is not significant. The inside of the case is lined with neoprene providing a soft layer of protection for your iPod. The neoprene also provides a snug fit once you place the iPod in the case.

The case opens from the top down with a latch "locks" into place. The latch is a tight fit and provides enough resistance to make one feel confident that it won't come "unlocked". The requisite cutouts for the hold switch and the headphone jack are at the top. The cutout at the bottom covers everything but the opening for the dock connector. There are no problems with plugging in your headphones or dock connector while the iPod is in the case. You can also use the hold switch as well.

The screen is protected by plastic that provides a clear view. The back of the case completely covers the iPod with the exception of a small section at the bottom that you use to push out the player from the V2 Case. The case does feature tiny feet that I assume prevents the case from sliding in case it's on a slippery surface. Of course, you can attach the belt clip on the back.
Last not but not least is the silicone clickwheel cover. When I first saw this, my first thought was that it was going to cause problems with using the clickwheel. I thought that some of my presses wouldn't register or that I would have to press harder. I was pleasantly surprised to find that not only did I not have any problems with the clickwheel, but that the soft silicone feels better than the hard clickwheel. I haven't noticed any difference in navigating with the clickwheel cover. Not to mention I no longer have to constantly clean the clickwheel of fingerprints.

One of the features that I love about this case is that it doesn't get smeared easily with fingerprints. I also like that even though the case is aluminum it is still light, but also sturdy enough to take abuse. The clickwheel cover is probably one of the best features of the case as well. Having protection for the clickwheel without giving up any tactile feeling is a huge plus. I also like that the belt clip is removeable. A lot of the time I keep my iPod in my car and the belt clip makes it quite unstable when it's on the dashboard.

The only negative is that if you plan to use this with anything other than the standard dock cables, you'll have to remove the iPod from its case. I have a Bose Sounddock and of course I have to remove the player from the PodsPlus case. That's pretty much the case with most hard cases if you use external speakers systems. One other gripe that people may have is the small section on the back of the case that is exposed to allow you to push the player out. It's not a big deal to me but may be a concern to those afraid that the exposed area will become scratched over time.

You can purchase this case on the PodsPlus site for $29.99. Considering the protection that it provides the body, screen, and clickwheel of the iPod, this is an excellent price. I also own a Contour case and feel the PodsPlus is hands down the better case. If you're in need of case that provides complete protection without being overly heavy, the PodsPlus Aluminum V2 for iPod Video is an excellent buy.

Technorati Tags: iPod, iPod cases, ipod with video, PodsPlus, review