Reviews
dasblau The Versa2 5G iPod Case
As an update to the company’s earlier The Versa case for 5G iPods, The Versa2 (also Versa2) adds additional iPod face and screen protection to the prior leather flip-open design. Like Versa, Versa2’s flap turns into a stand to let you watch iPod videos without holding the iPod upright; a snap system shuts the flap, and a semi-hard belt loop can be popped open to hold it up for video viewing.
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.
Handmade in New York, the Dasblau Versa2 doesn’t have the robotic precision that more common manufactured cases have, but that’s to be expected and, for some potential buyers, is a neat little mark of character. With that said, however, there’s only one minor complaint we have with the fit and finish of the Versa2: the finishing of the seams around the screen area is slightly rough, and the hole itself is slightly too narrow and slightly too tall. Besides this issue, the case is well constructed, and the leather material is nice. There’s also a fabric lining inside that’s soft enough to prevent scratching to an iPod.
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.
Like its predecessor, the Versa2 is a flip-style case, with the hinge at the bottom of the iPod, closing with a single button-snap closure at the top, between the iPod’s headphone port and its Hold switch. Therefore, these two access areas are accessible regardless of whether the case is open or closed, scoring 2 points each. The remaining key areas of the iPod - Click Wheel, screen, and Dock Connector port, are all accessible when the flap is opened, scoring one point each for usability. Since all areas are accessible in the case, the only reason you’ll need to remove the iPod is if you need to use the iPod with Universal Dock-compatible accessories.
One thing to note regarding the sewn-in screen protector: it’s soft, and a bit oversized for the hole, meaning there are waves as it covers the screen. This looks like it’d be a problem, but when the iPod’s bright screen is on, visibility isn’t really a big issue.
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.
The dasblau Versa2 has an integrated rigid belt loop that, when partially disconnected, can angle out from the case and anchor into the front flap to create a stand for watching video. This is a soft-case analog to the recent integrated stand feature found in Griffin’s CenterStage (iLounge rating: B), DLO’s VideoShell (iLounge rating: B-), and other hard cases.
Additionally, the Versa2 is available in 5 styles: Carrottini (orange & green), Hot Rod (black & red), Mocha Sky (brown & orange), Sherlock (brown & beige), and Testtube (black & green). Mocha Sky is pictured here.
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.
When in the case, an iPod is protected fairly well, with its corners and much its top surface exposed full time; the screen, Click Wheel, Dock Connector, and entire front and back surfaces are protected by the flap when closed. When the flap is open, the screen is still protected by a soft, sewn-in screen protector.
Value: This category assesses two dimensions of the case, pricing (8 points) and the reviewer's overall feeling about the case (2 point bonus or penalty). There are many different types of iPod cases out there, and many ways to evaluate the reasonableness of their pricing. Internally, we distinguish between three major categories of cases on pricing: "standard," "handmade," and "branded fashion." Handmade cases can command a price premium over standard cases, and branded fashion a premium over even handmade cases. We internally use an eight-point price evaluation system that assigns a "fair" value to a case based on our knowledge of existing case prices for these different case types across different iPod models, assigning a "fair" value of 5 points, with a maximum 3 points of bonus for highly aggressive pricing and 3 points of penalty for poor pricing. Additionally, the reviewer has 2 additional points of bonus "tilt" discretion to reward cases that actively merit good evaluations in his or her judgment, and 2 points of "tilt" penalty for cases that merit typical bad evaluations. In the event that is a case is grossly mistailored, however, the reviewer may deduct up to total six points as a penalty.
In the “handmade” case category, we’d consider the Versa2‘s $60 to be on the upper end of ‘fair’ pricing, which would earn it a solid 5 points in the value category. However, with the case’s nice quality leather, varied color choices, and useful video stand feature, we’ve added a bonus point to bring the case up to our B-level recommendation.
As a side note, if you like the look of the Versa2, you can almost get the same case at $35 while the company is still selling off its stock of original Versa cases at a discounted price, but this model lacks the Versa’s screen protection, and much of its protection of the iPod’s sides.
A Note From the Editors of iLounge: Though all products and services reviewed by iLounge are "final,"
many companies now make changes to their offerings after publication of our reviews, which may or may not be reflected
above. This iLounge article
provides more information on this practice, known as revving.
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