Apple shipping iPod nanos with cases

In what looks like an effort to put the whole nano scratching issue behind them, Apple has quietly begun shipping cases with iPod nanos. According to reports on various sites, the cases are similar to the thin fabric sleeves included with 5G iPods. The cases are not listed as standard accessories on Apple's site, possibly because the company is still working its way through pre-case inventory. Watch for lawsuits from current nano owners who are bitter over not getting cases with their units.

[Mark @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

...so how do i get one if i already bought a nano?

[xej @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

Knowing Apple...
...you don't.

[Geir E @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

What a bunch of crybabies

[Ward @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

Lots of people will interpret this as an admission of guilt...

[Brian @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

Are nanos' still scratching like crazy? Is is safe to buy one for the holidays? Or have they not changed the plastic problem yet?

[Netcruzer @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

Great, now our scratched up black nano's can slip into a dirty white sleeve. I got one of these slip cases with my 5G ipod, these things collect dirt faster than ipod backs snag fingerprints.

[ebp2k2 @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

Brian, having talked to another nano user, yeah, it still scratches like mine, which I bought few days after the announcement.

buy iRiver... or if you MUST buy Nano, buy one in white...

[Carbsumer @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

I have one of these cases with my 5G video iPod. It's not very useful because you can't see the display and the docking port is covered, so you can't connect any accessories. The most you can do without putting it out of the case is to push play/pause or jump to the next track.

[Dan @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

I put an invisibleshield on my 5G iPod and couldn't be happier. Its alot of work to put on perfectly, but it adds to the look, feel, and protection. A must for all black iPods.

[William @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

It's not a case, It's a bloody slip cover.

If you got one of those dirty, I could see it doing a ton of damage to the finish on your iPod nano.

[Jaxim @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

isn't there a company that sells the nanos with a scratch resistant material for an extra fee. I remember going to their website, but for the life of me, I can't recall the name of this company.

Anyone?

[petro @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

Are people going to sue when the free nano cases start scratching?

[Joshy @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

Brian, Or, just buy one and realize that all devices like this scratch and to complian about it is like complianing that your sneakers get dirty after walking around in them all day. These are meant to be used, not hermetically sealed away in a museum.

[Chiablo @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

Things they should have not made:

iPod Shuffle: They should have just gone ahead and made the Nano.
iPod Photo: They should have just gone ahead and made the Video iPod.

But hey, you apple geeks love throwing away money at Steve Jobs, so knock yourselves out!

[Lee Gibson @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

"isn't there a company that sells the nanos with a scratch resistant material for an extra fee."

Yeah, and it comes with a Brooklyn Bridge for a small additional charge. Act now and you can get some prime Arizona oceanfront property!

[udayan @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

Hey JAXIM,

Colorware does the protective covering when they do their fantastic painting work on any iPods but the premium is steep, around $60

[grouchomarx @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

I have a Rio Chiba and it doesn't scratch at all...

[Chip @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

yeah but it's a rio...

[Mu Doggy @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

just got my free ipod nano :-p, after all the hype, I was scared to even touch it... how long until I'll notice scratches? I kept it in my shirt pocket during some meetings, but nothing scratched it yet... whew...

[Jay @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

Check out:
http://www.overlayplus.com

They've got this ultra thin film die-cut for iPods. It is the same film they use on buses and cars for advertising.

Jay

[David (phidjit) @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

I bought a Nano as soon as they appeared on the website, and I love it.

It is easily scratched though, and mine sure is scratched up. Shipping them with these sleeves is a start, but Apple need to come to terms with there mistake of using cheaper plastics for the front.

I wouldn't mind trading mine up for the Ipod video, either.

[Tom @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

I don't see what the fuss is about with the scratching of the nanos. Everything gets scratched eventually. I feel that there is a large degree of exaggeration going on, especially as scratching is very hard to quantify.

I think that people are comparing the scratching to the minis which, being metal, would have been more resistant to scratches.

I have a regular 20GB iPod (just pre iPod Photo) and has quite a few scratches, some over the screen, most on the back from where it has been put on a table or other hard surface. The scratches aren't that bad to be perfectly honest and i definately consider it to be normal wear and tear.

I'm not saying that the nano owners have exceedingly high expectations though, but I do have a request for those who complain about the scratching.
Can someone who thinks their iPod is scratched excessively post photos of it on the net so that other people can see. I want to see for myself if it is scratched excessively.

All I want to do is form an opinion for myself.

[Lawyers @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

Too little too damn late, the class action is still going to rip them to shreds.

[todd @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

Now your Nano will be scracthed from sliding it in and out of the case. I swear all you need to do is breath on the ipod and it scratches. The case does nothing to solve the problem. Fix the quality of the plastic period.

[Neil Christie @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

While I can't provide you with photos of my nano, I'll do my best to describe it.

I got my iPod nano and I did (as Steve Jobs showed when he unveiled it) place it into my EMPTY pocket, with the earphones connected and coming up out of my pocket to my ears. One train journey later and the damn thing is scratched like crazy, after being in my COTTON pocket.

The scratches aren't deep. They're not like I've taken a key to it, but it's just this light 'hazing', lots and lots of tiny scratches that REALLY distort the screen. Colours aren't displayed right, text is now blurry and overall, it's �179 I'd rather have spent on a more durable product. The notion that people are 'exaggerating' or are being 'cry babies' is ridiculous - especially when Apple claim to be the market leader. Surely they know that portable products MUST be designed to be durable?!

The whole problem stems from the new way they're making these things. Before, on the 4G iPods and the iPod mini, they'd use a seperate (very thick and well coated) piece of plastic to cover the screen, and a different piece of plastic for the rest of the device. Now, it's one sheet of thin plastic which covers the whole face of the device (except the wheel, of course) and it seems like they've cut back a lot on this just so they can say "it's 50% thinner" or whatever figure they're putting on it.

I'm not happy with this - and I really feel that Apple should be compensating us early adopters with AT LEAST a free case. Replacement, improved products would be more to the tone of what I'd like to see, and I hope these class action suits set Apple straight.

[Matt @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

I have a 3rd party case very similar to that. Guess what - it got scratched just being putting it in and out of the case for the first time! At least they are all uniform straight lines now I guess though...

[Hunter @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

Yeah, when I initially bought my black Nano (I wanted white, to help hide scratches but, alas, Best Buy was sold out and I has 270 dollars burning a hole in my pocket) I thought I was safe just by making sure that nothing metal touched it. Nano went in my left pocket and my spare change and pocket knife went in my right pocket. Soon, though, my became scratched by even the dullest, most rounded edges. Everytime I pulled it out of my pocket it was scratched more than when I put it in there. I've adjusted to it (what more can I do) but I'm displeased with Apple. I still love my Nano to death, I use it for many an hour every day but every time I look at it I become sad, like looking at a dog with only three legs.

[Chris @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

You can win a free iPod Nano at Textamerica

or visit my site at ChrisCorner

[Lee Gibson @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

Hey, Neil? Why do you think that plastic being thinner has anything to do with the surface hardness of the plastic?

It's the same polycarbonate that Apple has been using on all the iPods ever. If it scratches more than any other iPod, maybe that's because it doesn't fit as snugly in your pocket.

I'm not convinced, though...people have all kinds of grit and nasty in their pockets...

Get a case. Or sell me your defaced Nano.

[jimmie geddes @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

http://www.gadgetsonthego.net/2005/11/apple-shipping-ipod-nanos-with-cases.html

Apple remedied this for me, they have awesome customer service.

[Don Wilson @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

These arn't cases, damnit! They're the poor man's version of the iPod socks.

[eskimo @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

They still snap like twigs, with or without the case.

[Jaxim @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

udayan -- thanks. Colorware was the company I had in mind.
http://www.colorwarepc.com/

Lee Gibson -- dumbass!

[Doug @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

My Apple sneakers are scratched too! AAArruugggg

[rany @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

The nano is substantially smaller than the previous iPods. Because of this, it fits into places that the previous iPods didn't. Because of this the nano is being subject to conditions that the previous iPods haven't been through. Purchase a good case to protect your investment. Check out www.agent18.com

just my feelings ...

[Andrew @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

getting dirt and grit inside the case could be as irritating as sand in your vagina

[Don @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

Son of a b****. Leave it to Stevie Boy to leave us early adopters behind. I bought a nano each for me and "she who must be obeyed" from their website. You'd have thought we'd be the first to get this POS sleeve case. Ba5tard!

[Jose @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

F**K! I JUST GOT MY 5TH GEN BLACK IPOD TODAY(11/10/05) AND I HAD BEEN USING IT CAFEFULLY NOT TO EVEN TO TOUCH IT JUST ON THE SIDES AND WOULD PUT IT IN THE CASE THAT CAME WITH BUT I FORGOT TO PUT IT IN THE CASE AND INSTEAD JUST SLIPPED IT IN MY PANTS POCKET WITH NO KEYS OR COINS AT ALL JUST GOOD OL LINT AND DAMN I GOT 3 NOTICIBLE SCRATCHES RIGHT ON THE LCD SCREEN AREA THIS PISSES MY OFF I WANNA CRY L0L MY 3RD GEN IPOD DIDNT SCRATCH THAT EASY WHATS WRONG APPLE.

[Adam @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

um, interesting analogy Andrew . . . never quite thought of it like that.

[norebonomis @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

i'm waiting on a skin for my 5g ipod.

from decalgirl.com, i have used them before good quality!

[Rob @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

The scratches on my black nano haven't affected the sound quality at all. I don't need no stinkin' case that blocks the docking port. I like my scratched nano.

[Bob Hope @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

Too bad its not waterproof, I recently found mine in the bottom of the washing machine.

[Drew @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

Looks like Apple will be giving you something when you call up the customer service. Here is an example of it happening already.
http://www.gadgetsonthego.net/2005/11/apple-shipping-ipod-nanos-with-cases.html

[XenoCorpse @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

I highly recommend The Invisible Shield. It's SUPER durable, and lets you use your iPod as it was meant to be used, without a case, and it's totally scratch resistant.

Google it, and check out the key tests where they take a key to an iPod covered with the Invisible Shield, and be amazed. It's worth it.

[Will @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

"eskimo

They still snap like twigs, with or without the case."

Orly?
http://arstechnica.com/reviews/hardware/nano.ars/3

The material on the nanos doesn't scratch any more then previous ipods. The difference is that now the top layer is clear to allow different colored panels be put underneath. Previously apple limited its colors in good part because they had to make the entire faceplate out of that color and just put a very small anti-scratch coating on top. However, now that the whole face is clear with colored panels underneath, the scratches are greatly more noticable... especially over the screen as they have a greater effect on the light emitting from the screen then before.

[matt @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

seems apple has something to answer for I mean I have several plastic digital cameras(canon G2s and canon D60, black) and they get heavy use, very little sign of the camera or the lcd getting damaged,, my kids even take them long boarding...

[Finished.Law.School @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

Will the case scratch? I don't want a scratched case holding my nano.

[zoara @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

Jose, are you using a teletype? Or did you send in your comment by telegram?

You really need to learn how to punctuate, your comment is impossible to understand.

[Chris @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

I see a lot of people complaining about crybabies and glossing over the scratching issue. Most of these people either do not own a Nano or even an iPod for that matter.

There is a problem with the design of the iPod. Apple has chosen to use a plastic that is not fit for a portable device, especially one with a smooth finish.

I have a 3G iPod and I gave my wife a Nano recently so I can directly compare them and also compare them to other devices that use plastic. The Nano is much more easily scratched than the 3G iPod. The 3G iPod is much more easily scratched than the screen on my Audiovox smartphone which I keep in my pocket most of the time and handle relatively roughly. If keep a Nano in your pocket it will scratch. This is a problem. It's not about users expecting too much, it's about BAD DESIGN. I don't need a case for my phone because it does not get scratches easily with normal use. I should not need a case for my iPod to prevent serious scratches with normal use.

[William McIntyre @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

I've had a Nano for over a month now, kept it in an iPod sock since I got it, it's still in perfect condition, although I haven't put it under a microscope or looked closely at it under bright light, so who knows maybe under the right conditions, mine too is scratched to hell????