To qualify for this hardware review I had to be able to say the entire product’s name ten times without stuttering. As regular readers might know (hi, mom!) I recently tried out an iPod Touch. There was a chance I was going to return the device, so I wanted to make sure it was well protected to guarantee I could get my money back.  Luckily for me, JAMM had just been offered some new cases from Proporta

I’d heard about Proporta’s cases before, but I’ve always been a naked device kind of guy. But what with iPods being mobile scratch magnets (at least the back end, dear god!), a new case was a must.

HIt the jump to check out our full super duper review!

Putting it on

I’d never used a silicone case before and I was pretty scared I would rip the thing apart and end up with shreds for a review. Thankfully, that’s not an issue and installation is a silicone breeze. You just tuck the top or bottom corners of the device in, then stretch the case to fit the remaining two, as shown below (I’m a hand model!).

The only scary part about installation is how tight and well the case fits. I know that doesn’t sound scary, but I always felt paranoid that I’d scratch the iPod as I slipped my fingers out. It turns out I worry too much and the installation really is that easy and safe Here it is with the case on:

Design and Protection

I think the case is gorgeous. The wavy lines on the front and the dual-toned Home and Power button are very stylish and fit the iPod’s slick look. The case protects most everything, except the screen and the dock connector and 3.5 mm jack at the bottom. I don’t particularly mind that the screen isn’t protected, as I prefer to purchase separate screen protectors. The iPod also has a very resilient screen in any case (get it, any case? ), so it doesn’t need all that much shielding.

The case doesn’t offer a whole lot of shock protection (it’s really just two sleeves of silicone), but it’ll certainly take some of the THUNK out of an accidental drop. Aside from great looks and free tea (yeah, it comes with tea — Proporta is based out of the UK. Cheers!), you’re really going to love this case for is the scratch protection. The back of the iPod is so easy to nick it’s insane. I swear Apple did that just so they could save on engraving costs ("Look, it basically engraves itself with random designs!"). But there will be no dust/speck-based engraving on your iPod with this Dual Skin case on!

Extra Size and Grip

One of the things that caught my eye about the naked iTouch was how bloody thin it was, almost too thin! I wanted to get some meat on them metal bones! This Proporta case does just that, with the grooved silicone along the sides adding some great extra grip to an all-too-droppable device without making it fat. The iPod felt "just right" in my hand, like when you’ve got a finely balanced pen, or the perfectly sized hamburger. Silliness (but not Silicon) aside, the case’s rubbery feel makes me feel a lot more secure about holding $400 in my hand. That’s always a good thing.

Case vs Screen…

Another aspect that changes a bit when you put the case on is the way you interact with the screen. This seems obvious, but it’s something you might not think about if you’ve never had a case on a flush-screen device. Since the silicone runs snugly along the borders of the screen tt might make the software keyboard or certain corner buttons slightly more difficult to press, but this is a trade-off you’d be making with any kind of case. The great thing about the Silicone case, though, is that it’s soft, flexible, and so thin that it only barely impedes access to keys in the corner.

Attachable lanyard!

For those who want a bit of extra help getting the iPod out of their pockets, or who want to hang it around their necks (I’d feel a bit nervous about doing so, though), the included lanyard is quite helpful. It’s got a very long strap with a plastic clasp to adjust the size for your wrist. It’s easy to install, but you have to empty the case before you do so, since it goes through the back end.

Issue with Backlight Sensor — INCLUDE FEEDBACK

The only semi-negative thing I have to say about the case is the interference with the iPod Touch’s automatic backlight sensor. And by interference, I mean blocking the sensor off (I believe it’s located above the screen, just off-center to the left). The sensor isn’t really necessary to usage, but it does help save battery life and makes watching in the dark a lot more convenient. Hopefully they’ll address this in the next version of this case.

Conclusion

I’d expect to pay around $20 for an almost full-body solution like the Dual Skin Silicone Case, so the price of $22.95 isn’t too much off the mark. The case protects most of your precious pod from scratches and comes with a lifetime guarantee. If you’re not like me (weird!) and you don’t want to surround your device in black and grey, Proporta’s got your device covered and offer alternate colour combos in White/Clear and Pink/Black. I think this case is highly recommendable to a great number of users, but I’ll list some of the main features I think people will love:

• Adds needed ‘grip’ and thickness
• Easy access to all controls
• Scratch and slight shock protection
• Attachable lanyard
• Keeps with slick look for the iPod Touch

So if you’re on the market for a case offering some or all of these features, you’ve likely got a [dual] winner with Proporta!

Crucial Info

Price: $22.95

Availability: Proporta, Amazon (UK)

Warranty: Lifetime

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