Review: Agent18 VideoShield Kit For The 60/80 GB iPod

Focusing on protection and interchangeability, Agent18 offers a solid case that is easy to use and adapts to your needs. This case is a real winner with very few drawbacks.

The Case
Agent18’s VideoShield Kit allows you to interchange between two different accessories and minimizes any inconveniences you might have with a bulk case, like not being able to fit in your dock or making it difficult to hold. Coming in two separate parts, polycarbonate offers a protective coating around your iPod in a simple snap-on, snap-off design. Included accessories are the stainless belt clip which can also slide on or off to allow for a kickstand, allowing your iPod to be positioned at four different angles for your optimal viewing pleasure.

How It Stacks Up
The VideoShield Kit seems like an all-around, durable case with some not-quite-standard accessories when compared to other cases. What matters is how much usability this offers, because by adding a case you already detract from the iPod’s marvelous design for protection against the elements or even a bit of fashion. This is a trade off and I personally am not too fond of this which is why I will only buy clear iPod cases. Even though two accessories are included, a kickstand and clip, you have to remove one to put the other on. This is incovenient to me as I have to carry both because I switch between the two regularly.

What should have been done was to integrate the clip on the back of the stand and put it at the top, not the bottom. By doing this you can stand your iPod and use the clip on the back. Luckily, though, it’s easy to switch them out by sliding them off. My experience with the kickstand was great, no problems, same with the clip. However, around the clip are two small rubber bumpers. One of them broke off and was extremely hard to get on with any adhesive.

There was a small amount of room for the hold button and earphone jack; I wasn’t bothered by it but people with oversized earphone jacks may have a problem. On the bottom of the case the entire bottom, save the sides, was not covered. This is so your iPod can fit into a dock (with the included special dock adapter of course). It’s not noticeable but you sacrifice covering a small amount of space to allow your iPod to be docked, which in my opinion is a great feature to have, as most cases hardly allow your iPod to be docked.

Using It:
As I said earlier, this seems like an all-around durable case. Since I have a VideoShield Kit and so does my brother I can review it from two different perspectives: somewhat casual use and heavy use. Of course I’m going to use it casually but my brother, well, before your age reaches double digits you have the tendency to drop stuff, break stuff, etc.

It was inevitable that my brother would drop it and without fail he did. When he first got his iPod we wouldn’t let him use it without first putting the case on. I noticed that when it hit the ground, the backing came off a bit but was still attached. I snapped it back on. If you want to avoid this keep the clip or kickstand on, as the sides secure the two parts together. This isn’t implying it could come off at any moment but is good for added protection.

Personally, I’m all about having a secure clip. Should my iPod come off my waist while riding my bike I wouldn’t notice unless I was listening to music or it would fall off and most likely break.

The stainless steel clip takes up the back of the iPod without adding much bulk, it’s extremely slim but flexible. Other cases I have used had plastic or leather clips, and stainless steel wasn’t that different. I’m more used to leather clips due to their stiffness but this clip served its purpose.

What I really liked the most was the inclusion of a kickstand which, like I said, I use a lot. When not in use it can be folded up and like the clip, takes up little footprint.

Final Word:
In all this is a great case and, unlike the Contour iSee-Video, it won’t get scratched up like a cat’s play toy. I recommend this case for its usability and protection.

Pros
-Removable kickstand and clip
-Includes dock adapter
-Can be docked easily
-Does not get scratched easily
-Little bulk added for a case

Cons
-Have to remove one accessory to use the other
-Although more durable than the iSee, case will survive falls but has the potential of having the back part come off