Jul 17 2005
XtremeMac Shieldz
Another great iPod shuffle accessory from XtremeMac is the Shieldz. This is a hard plastic transparent case for the shuffle available in 3-packs of cool colors ranging from Ice (Clear) to Neon Bubblegum (“poke-your-eye-out bright” pink).
It offers protection for your shuffle against scratches and such, while providing an eye-catching look that will set you apart from the other shufflers out there.
Another thing the Shieldz provides (I hate when vendors give singular products plural names) is a bit of extra security. Right from Jobs’ keynote announcement of the iPod shuffle, it was clear to me and many others that it would be all too easy for someone to run by a musically distracted shuffle user and snatch his music player right off the lanyard, yanking the ear buds from the victim’s external auditory meatus (you know what I mean). *GOINK*–no more shuffle. Well, the Shieldz actually holds the lanyard USB end cover onto the iPod shuffle, so any run-by shuffle nabbers will be taking you along for the ride with your fists a-swingin’.
The one trade-off with the Shieldz is that it cannot be used with the official Apple non-lanyard USB end cover–the Shieldz won’t fit snugly enough. The only Apple-supplied USB end cover that the Shieldz will lock tightly over is the lanyard. It can, however, be used with any third-party USB end cover that is the same size as the lanyard and XtremeMac makes a nice alternative.
To sum up, the XtremeMac Shieldz looks great and effectively protects your iPod shuffle from damage and loss. Well, with the low price for the 3-pack.