Tunewear Tunetag for iPod nano

Tunewear bills its Tunetag for iPod nano as a “luggage-tag style” case. However, I certainly wouldn’t advise using it (or any iPod nano case) as a luggage tag unless you happen to be very trusting and/or are willing to replace your iPod frequently.

The front of the case is a tall rectangular window of clear plastic, through which you can access the front controls of the iPod. The back is made mostly from leather, though there is a second plastic window through which you can see any engravings (or use the reflective rear of the nano as a makeshift mirror).

Although the full-length window does a good job of protecting the nano from scratches and dirt, it makes using the Click Wheel somewhat tricky. You need to push down firmly on the window so that your finger is close enough to the Click Wheel for its touch-sensitive surface to be responsive, but the plastic makes it difficult to do so in a uniform fashion.

To insert your iPod in the Tunetag, you slide it upwards into the case, then pull a thin leather strap over the bottom and snap it into place. The strap threads through a metal loop on the back, but that and the tightness of the case are all that hold the nano in place. The metal loop on the back also attaches to a buckled leather strap that can be used as a belt loop if you decide not to use it as a luggage-tag. The iPod’s dock connector port is accessible by undoing the metal snap and unthreading the leather strap, though you’ll need to remove the nano somewhat in order to place it in a dock cradle. The top right corner of the Tunetag is open to allow access to the hold switch, though it also leaves part of that corner vulnerable.

It would be nice if the Tunetag was a little more form-fitting, which would decrease the case’s profile and make the Click Wheel easier to use, but overall the case is suitable as light protection from everyday wear and tear. –Dan Moren