Moftware Horizontal Encased for iPod nano

Moftware’s Horizontal Encased for iPod nano is, at first glance, a pleasant-looking leather case for your nano, but upon closer examination, it lacks the critical protection most look for in an iPod case.

The Horizontal Encased’s style evokes that of a wallet: You undo a pair of metal snaps on the back and unfold the case, then slip your nano in sideways. The inside of the case is lined with soft felt to protect your nano’s sensitive exterior from scratches. The top and bottom of the case leave the nano’s controls and connectors exposed except for a thin leather strap on either side to keep your iPod from slipping out (on the bottom, this strap rests between the headphone jack and dock connector). On the front of the case are openings for the iPod’s Click Wheel and screen.

Herein lies the major rub of this case: lack of serious protection for both screen and Click Wheel. Although the Click Wheel is fairly resilient, the nano’s screen is not; it’s prone to scratches and damage, even from incidental impact. When it comes to the nano, a case with no screen protection is only slightly better than no case at all.

This rather major shortcoming turns the Horizontal Encased into a substandard offering. Twenty dollars may seem like a small price to pay for a slick leather case, but it’s worth investing more to get something with more robust protection. –Dan Moren