iLounge

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.

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.

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.