Fruitshop Bone Classic Cube
At a Glance
We've reviewed a few Fruitshop Bone cases in the past, mostly favorably; the challenge is finding a place to purchase the products, as the company doesn't yet have a significant presence in the US retail market. Nevertheless, Bone cases are unique enough that you may want to track them down. Like several other Bone cases, the Classic Cube is made from a flexible, texturized silicone; is available in a variety of colors; and is a solid iPod accessory with some interesting features.
The back of the case, for instance, is covered with small cubes (77, to be exact) elevated in the silicone, which help the case maintain traction on flat surfaces to avoid accidental drops or slips. The front is textured with alternating-color squares--more for style and feel than any practical application. The Classic Cube comes with a stick-on protector for your iPod classic's screen, and your player's Click Wheel is covered with a thin layer of silicone with elevated button-labels for tactile control. To get the iPod in the Cube, you slide it not through the top or bottom, but by squeezing it through the screen opening.
The Cube's Click Wheel protection is nice, but it's also the Cube's biggest flaw, as it makes it noticeably more difficult to scroll your iPod's menus than when using the Click Wheel unobstructed. You need to apply greater-than-normal pressure, and sometimes it takes multiple attempts to scroll at all.
The Cube is washable and, says the box, 100% bio-degradable. It feels good in the hand, and--aside from the Click Wheel annoyance--is a relatively practical way to protect your iPod from dust and minor impacts.--Dan Pourhadi
