Playlist Mag gives Apple’s iPod shuffle Sport Case 4 stars

Our friends at Playlist are one of the first (if not the
first) to get their hands on Apple's new Sport Case for the iPod shuffle. Although announced at Macworld in January, the cases have only recently begun to ship.

Playlist gives the case 4 stars out of 5, although they do note a few quirks that would, in my eyes, make it 3 star material. The case looks stylish, and is said to do a fine job of protecting your shuffle from the "everyday risks of scratches, bumps, and drops"
and the elements, like water – a claim that Apple themselves doesn't even make – but what it adds in protection, it takes away in accessibility.  When your shuffle is in the case, the off/play/shuffle switch is completely covered and the lanyard is no longer an option, but a required fixture. The lack of a belt clip configuration, as Playlist also points out, is a poor choice for those of us that prefer not to wear our iPods around our necks. Apple's omission in this area strikes me as odd since it's targeted at the athletic crowd. Most gym-goers that I know don't want anything around their necks while they're moving around except a towel and most joggers I know don't want anything bouncing against their chest.

For $30, it's not a bad deal, but I personally recommend something along the lines of the
ShuffleClip unless you have an urge to wear your shuffle in the shower.

- corrected to reflect the actual number of stars awarded. i swear i counted 5 stars when i looked the first time!
must have been that second glass of wine. sorry dan!