Product Description

SoftShell for 2nd Generation iPod touch. Flexible molded case for iPod touch; Smooth shell adds a layer of grip and protection to your iPod touch; Durable and flexible material is custom molded for the perfect fit; Total access to all iPod touch controls and dock connector; Protect your iPod touch screen with the included Surface Shield.

Product Details

• Color: Clear
• Brand: DLO
• Model: DLA71065/17
• Dimensions: 1.30" h x 7.00" w x 5.00" l, .15 pounds

Features

• Flexible molded case for iPod touch.
• Smooth shell adds a layer of grip and protection to your iPod touch.
• Durable and flexible material is custom molded for the perfect fit.
• Total access to all iPod touch controls and dock connector.
• Protect your iPod touch screen with the included Surface Shield.

Customer Reviews

A Different Kind Of Case...
After a really bad experience with an Incipio Dermashot silicone case (see my review of that product) that was resolved by some outstanding customer service from Amazon, I found myself in the market for a new case to protect my 32 GB iPod Touch.

Not wanting to go down the silicone road again (though I'm sure there are some good products) and not wanting the bulk of a 2 piece hard shell plastic type case, I stumbled upon this Softshell product from DLO.

It really is kind of a hybrid offering a compromise between the benefits of both hard and soft cases. The material is soft and pliable without being rubbery yet has enough "give" to provide a good degree of shock absorption (unlike polycarbonate). It also has a smooth but slightly tacky texture that feels good in hand and doesn't slide around on desktop or car center console but slides in and out of pocket like a dream (unlike silicone).

The package comes with the case and a single screen protector film (though some may think there are 2 films... more below.)

Screen Protector Installation and function:
There are no instructions that I could find in the package or on the web site that show how to install the screen protector film. The actual protector comes sandwiched between 2 clear pieces of backing that are die cut to the same size as the film. They each have an attached tab labeled respectively: "1" and "2". This may lead some people to believe that there are indeed 2 screen protectors included but this is not the case. The numbered tabs are actually a vague instruction sequence.

Step 1. Peel backing "1" using tab.

Step 2. Align and apply peeled side to iPod screen.

Step 3. Peel backing "2" from installed film.

It's a little tedious to get the backings to separate from the film but it's do-able with a little patience.

The fit was perfect and I had no problems with air bubbles. The screen cleans nicely with a microfiber cloth and shows no wear after a week of use and pocket carry. Obviously, the touch functionality of the iPod is unaffected though the texture is a little different than the bare screen.

The Case:
Installation is a little tougher than a soft silicone case but the technique is basically the same. The fit once installed is decent but not quite as form fitting as a properly molded silicone case... the feel has a little more flex to it. The thin strip across the bottom adjacent to the dock port is also pretty thin and noticeably flimsy.

The finish is ok but a bead of flash (a thin ridge of plastic that is usually a molding artifact) around the edges prevents it from having a really nice smooth feel in the hand like the Incipio silicone case. I have thought about trimming this with a razor blade but have not yet. It's very noticeable because the other surfaces of the case are so smooth. Though the opening around the screen is nicely beveled, the opening around the dock/headphone port has square, unfinished edges bordering on sharp.

The case covers the volume and sleep/wake buttons and due to the stiffer material they require a hair more pressure to activate and the tactile feel is not as nice as silicone. They also feel a bit rough due to the bead of flash mentioned above.

As others have noted the color is not clear as shown in some pictures and the packaging but more of a translucent smoke color. This allows the chrome to show through a bit which when combined with the molded diamond pattern inside gives it a bit of a "bling" look that is in direct contrast to the "stealth" look of a black silicone case... this may or may not be a look that you prefer.

For me appearance was secondary to protection and unlike the Incipio I had before this case excels in this regard. The hydrocarbon material is really a nice compromise between ruggedness and shock absorption and is distributed well to protect the iPod. The molded diamond pattern on the inside even serves to provide additional shock absorption rather than just being for appearance.

This is a great case with a unique look. It easily slides in and out of pocket and doesn't attract lint at all (unlike silicone). Recommended.

Good protection for a reasonable price
I purchased this case the same day I purchased my iPod Touch 2G. When I opened the iPod it immediately was put in the case. It comes with two screen protectors. I would recommend wiping the front of the iPod Touch clean before putting the screen protector on, then putting the back of the case on. The clear case fits perfectly but still shows the attractiveness of the iPod Touch. The only open areas are the home button on the front and the bottom where the iPod docks and the ear phones plug in. I am able to use my iPod boom box, earphones and charging cord without difficulty.

The only thing I noticed is that the dock adapter that Apple gives you to place in boom boxes, etc. no longer fits the bottom of the iPod Touch when you have the case on it, but it's only a minor quibble. This would occur with any case that you would put on the iPod Touch, unless you remove it. I just place the iPod Touch on my boom box without the dock adapter and it works fine.

The case is attractive, easy to put on and fits well. All the features of the iPod Touch work fine when the case is on. Since I'm female and like to put my iPod Touch in my purse, I also purchased a small leather clutch type case with a magnetic closure(it was made for an iPhone, but it still serves the purpose)to protect the iPod Touch further when I put it in my purse. Probably overkill, but I like to keep my stuff nice.

The Best but still Not Perfect
Ordered this DLO cover and shield in advance of the purchase of an iPod Touch 2G because of the sensitivity of the stainless back. Like the diamond shaped pattern on the back of the cover. Fits the iPod snugly like a glove. The softshell cover actually turned out to be translucent brownish grey as opposed to clear white in the picture. It has a hint of metallic shimmer and blends well with the iPod. One downside is that the softshell cover muffles the already weak speaker located on the iPod back.

The included screen protector does not interfere at all with the functionality of the touch screen. It does not affect the sharpness of the display either. There is no installation instruction. However, having installed a few of these before, I intuitively figured out what to do. It is not anti-glare but seems to reduce finger prints on the screen that would otherwise be significant. There are a couple of small bubbles left underneath no matter how hard I tried to squeeze them out. (One is about 1/4 inch diameter and the other is about the size of a sesame seed.) Fortunately they are not in the actual working area of the screen so they are not noticeable but that's luck. I hope they will disappear over time. Therefore I give the 4 star rating instead of 5. I've had better screen protector than this one for my digital camera.

I am still quite pleased with the purchase because I so far can't find better ones after extensive search. However, as I noted above there are still things that need improving.