Reviews – iSkin eXo2 & Contour Showcase – The definitive cases for the Apple iPod

Reviews - iSkin eXo2 & Contour Showcase - The definitive cases for the Apple iPod

"haven't you heard? silicone is all the rage… go on,

buy her the accessory that will make her look sexier"

Ahhh... Spring is in the air and so too is new love. You spend almost every hour with her; she is the perfect accompaniment for jogging, commuting, laying on the beach or just chilling. Her good looks are the envy of all of those who see you with her so it seems only fair that you buy her a few gifts now and again to make her happy…

But what to buy? What would she appreciate? What would make her happy? - Well she does like to look good and apparently silicone is all the rage at the moment. Well then there you have it; the perfect gift for your beloved Apple iPod... a groovy silicone protective case available in a choice of four colours engineered for great fit, comfort and functionality.

And there you were thinking that you should spend your money on a real person! - No, that simply will not do, besides she will be happy knowing that you are happy, all she asks if for a little of your time now and again. Hold on... time is precious - ditch the girl and spend all of your time with your iPod.

Now that is sorted, take a look at the iSkin eXo2 case. it fits snugly around your iPod and protects its minimalist white panels from unsightly scuffs and scratches. The eXo2 also comes with a hard plastic screen protector that does much the same thing.

You'd be surprised about how much thinking can go into the design of a simple case for an accessory such as an iPod. The eXo2 has features including: ventilation holes for the back of the device, non-slip feet should you like want to put the iPod on a car-dash, a rotating belt-clip, hand-strap and teeny groves below the buttons to give you that easy touch-response access to the buttons.

If however you are the possessive type and want to offer your iPod some more protection, you may want to take a look at the Contour Showcase. It still flaunts your iPod's great looks but is a hard-case made from shock-absorbing plastic and rubber. What we particularly like about the Showcase was its iPod stylised design. It looks like an official accessory from Apple with swooshing curves and a fantastic blend of materials.

It's got the looks but unlike the eXo2 is only available in one the minimalist-white colour. Saying that, scuffs and scratches are more likely to show-up on the Showcase than a black or grey eXo2, but better the marks be on the case then the iPod itself.

You've seen heard about the two cases now and they both offer great looks and Functionality. If it's a discreet 'skin' you want for your iPod to protect from the occasional knock then you'd be better off with the silicone iSkin eXo2. If however you want a case not a skin then the Showcase is the best you can buy. Those of you who bought the official leather case direct from Apple may have noticed that you cannot operate the iPod when it is nestled nicely inside its leather abode - That's why you should consider buying a more functional skin/case.

Torn between which one to buy? Then buy both! It's not a lot of money and she'd really appreciate you spoiling her. You know how women are with accessories, the more the merrier... but always quality over quantity; There are veritable truckloads of dodgy cases that easily rip or even damage your iPod - Stick to the trusted names; iSkin, Contour and many others available from Mann Electronics.