Does the world really need another nothing special silicone rubber case? No. Unfortunately, ifrogz - previously responsible for some very innovative multi-piece rubber case designs - has stumbled backwards with its Clear Case for 2nd Gen iPod nano ($20), a too-simple rubber sleeve that offers less protection and weirder looks than cases that sell for half its price. We review it only because it's such a disappointment from a company that has previously been so much more aggressive on both pricing and design.
Also known as the “Ice Case,” the Clear Case is little more than a clear frosted rubber sleeve form fit to the second-generation iPod nano, complete with eyelet holes on its left and right sides, plus holes at the bottom for the nano’s headphone port and Dock Connector, holes on the face for the nano’s screen and Click Wheel, a hole on the top for the Hold switch, and a hole in the back for use with a belt clip nub that’s not included in the package.
In fact, there’s nothing in the package to cover any of those holes: place your nano inside and the screen, Click Wheel, top and bottom holes remain open. This simple design does away with the complexities of ifrogz’ earlier wrapz, bandz, and screenz accessories, which must be a chore to manufacture in as many variations as they’ve been sold in the past, but also tosses aside their protectiveness: even $10 iPod nano rubber cases typically include screen and Click Wheel film or other protectors, but there’s none here.
Oddly, the company claims that lanyards are included with the Clear Cases, but they were not sent with our samples, and are explained as being attached to just one or the other side of the case rather than both. We’re not huge lanyard buffs to begin with, but we aren’t fans of side-mounted eyelets and the nano’s resultant tendency to hang on an angle rather than straight: a lanyard mounted in the place of the rear belt clip nub hole would have been better.
Those issues aside, Clear Case is a step beyond conventional in molding. The frosted clear design shares face design elements with other ifrogz cases - elevated edges around the screen and Click Wheel, plus little grip nubs on the back - and there’s one splash of color on each case: the elevated ifrogz logo on back comes in your choice of black, pink, blue, green, or clear. (Another version of this case, called the Color Case, instead comes in ten solid colors; we haven’t received it for review, and thus, like the missing lanyard, it’s not included in our ratings below.) Our nicest comment about Clear Case is this: protective elements aside, there’s more to the rubber molding here than most of the rubber cases sold for half its price, and the design items here are a mix between inoffensive and nice.
In sum, the Clear Case is a nothing special rubber case offering at a price that borders on unacceptable given its marginal protectiveness - a disappointing surprise from a company that seemed to have a better grasp on offering protectiveness and bold features at reasonable prices. It wouldn’t take a lot - namely included film and better pack-ins - to make this case better for the price, but without such items, we’d only consider it worthwhile at a substantial discount.
Build Quality: This category assesses three aspects of case manufacture - fit (3 point), finish (4 points), and general resilience in simulated everyday use testing (3 points). Our highest rating of 10 reflects a lack of external imperfections, internal imperfections, and the ability to withstand typical daily stresses without showing damage. Small imperfections in fit, finish, and resilience result in individual point deductions, with more serious flaws resulting in 2 or 3 point losses. Additional points can be lost if the case seriously scratches the iPod inside.
Ease of Use: We have suggested many times that the best iPod cases simultaneously protect an iPod and permit full-time access to its screen and controls. Protectiveness is evaluated in a separate category; a high rating in the Ease of Use category only reflects your ability to easily access the necessary portions of a given iPod. Five parts on each iPod are given 2 points a piece for ease of user access while the iPod is inside the case. Any iPod's headphone port, bottom connector, and Hold switch will gain 2 points if fully usable inside, regardless of whether a protective flap covers them part time. Each iPod's controls and screen will each gain a collective total of 4 points if fully usable inside, or 1 point if either or both are covered by a part-time flap, and 0 if both are always covered. Lacking a screen and Hold switch, iPod shuffle's rear controls and lanyard necklace attachment will each receive 2 points if usable inside the case.
Special Features: This category recognizes two dimensions of case design - packed-in bonus items and originality. A maximum of 5 points are allocated for a case's detachable pack-ins (1 point per well-designed pack-in, with possible zeros for low-grade/generic pack-ins), and a maximum of 5 points for design/conceptual innovations. Dramatically customizable, handmade cases or otherwise novel new case innovations can earn up to 5 points. Individual points can be earned for interesting materials, pockets, and simple personalization options. Two points can be earned by standard cases offered in 10 or more color options, 1 point for cases with five or more options. This category also denies all points (rating: 0) to a case that entirely or almost entirely clones another company's popular design. The use of individual similar or identical features does not constitute cloning; we are mostly concerned with the outright duplication of an existing design.
Protectiveness: It is in fact possible to protect every millimeter of an iPod - at least part-time - and still allow all of its features to be easily accessed. This category solely rates the case's protectiveness, doing so in two ways: coverage area and strength. A maximum of 8 points are allocated to a case's coverage of the iPod's body, with the full 8 to any case that covers all of the iPod save a tapered hole for its headphone port. A maximum of an additional 2 points are allocated based on the case's body material, with 1 point for medium-grade soft rubber, leather, and padded fabric, or 2 points for hard materials that can resist shocks or crushing.
