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Provides: Protection for iPod touch 2g
Developer: Speck
Minimum Requirements: iPod touch (second generation)
Price: $29.95
Availability: Now

It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a person in possession of an iPod, must be in want of a case.

This fact, in my opinion, has more to do with the Apple renaissance than anything else. Macintosh the computer struggled because so few developers got behind it. But everybody wants a piece of the iPod action, leading to a wealth of accessories for protection and personalizing your gadget.

Speck, makers of the snappy cases for Macbook, has brought their stylish translucent wrappers to the iPod touch 2g (and iPhone). The short and sweet of it is that they come in an array of bright colors and have rubberized grips to prevent you from dropping it, but they have no protection for the screen itself, meaning the only thing it’s protecting is the finish on the back.

How well does it protect the back of your iPod? Let’s say you have it in your pocket. I scratched the case with my fingernail, a quarter, a key, and the blade from a Swiss Army knife. Any marks left by the fingernail could be wiped away, brushing the case with the edge of the quarter and the key left noticeable scratches, and the blade, as you might expect, gouged the plastic with very little effort. But if you’re carrying your iPod in the same pocket as an open knife blade, you may have larger issues than your selection of cases.

But then an iPod case is like a suitcase at the airport: looks may be important when you buy it, but it’s real job is taking the damage and protecting its contents. Granted, the Speck case doesn’t protect the most vulnerable part of the iPod—the screen—but it’s also the most-used part (along with the volume rocker, home button, and power switch) and the Speck case gives you open access to all four. Plus, if you have your iPod personalized, you can see that through the translucent back, preventing any misunderstandings about ownership.

The case also has another nifty trick: the bottom half of it can be removed and used as a stand for the iPod (both landscape and portrait mode).

If you’re concerned about protecting the back of your iPod from scratches, don’t want to have to mess with any covers when you use your iPod touch, or want to add a splash of color to the monochromatic design, take a look at the Speck case. If, however, you want wraparound protection that includes the screen, this isn’t the one for you.