Product Review: iFrogz audiowrapz iPod Nano speaker case

I’m pretty sure that there are now officially more iPod cases on the market than there are residents of Portugal. So it takes something quite special to catch my attention.

Today I’m going to show you the iFrogz audiowrapz case – it’s that "something quite special".

The audiowrapz case is a silcone wrap case for the 3rd generation iPod Nano. Unlike most silicone cases, this one has been treated with a special anti-dust protection, and it clearly shows, as even after a few days the case still looks nice and clean.

But what makes the audiowrapz case special, is the integrated speakers. These are passive speakers, so you don’t need extra batteries, and they don’t draw any power from your iPod.

Included in the packaging is the audiowrapz case (in one of these 8 different colors) and a screen protector for your iPod.

Inserting the iPod in the audiowrapz case is simple and takes about 10 seconds; you pull the top of the case behind the hard plastic backing, slide the iPod into the case, and press down till it slots into the integrated headphone jack. Then you flip the silicone protection around the iPod.

Once it’s in the case the speakers are ready to use. Anything the iPod plays will come out of the speakers.

The speakers sound surprisingly good; the volume is loud enough to fill a small (hotel) room with some nice background music, or to wake you up in the morning when you use the iPod alarm function.

You can however, still use your headphones by plugging them into the jack on the bottom, and doing so will turn off the speakers and switch the audio to your headphones.

As I said earlier, the speakers are loud and crisp and even on the highest volume setting you don’t hear any distortion or crackling.

I tested the iFrogz audiowrapz case as my alarm clock this morning (instead of my usual iHome alarm clock) and it filled the room with enough sound to wake us both up. Being able to use your own iPod instead of the horrible wood trim hotel alarm clock will make this product worth its money right away.

There are one or two small drawbacks; your tiny iPod Nano will no longer be tiny once it is in the case; but when you compare the audiowrapz case with most other iPod speakers, then you’ll get over that drawback right away.

The other minor issue is that the dock connector is no longer accessible; to dock/charge or sync the iPod, you’ll need to remove the iPod. This also means that the hold button (which Apple put on the bottom of the Nano) is also no longer accessible.

All in all a brilliant case, and it is clear why it was the only case voted "best of show" by iLounge at CES and Macworld.

It’s cheaper than than a travel alarm clock and protects your iPod at the same time. The iFrogz audiowrapz cost $24.99 and is available from the iFrogz web store or your local Walmart (where you’ll find them for under $20).