Customise & Protect Your iPod! (GelaSkins iPod Touch 1st Gen)

Member Name: DocDan3

Product:	GelaSkins iPod Touch 1st Gen
Date:	23/06/09 (120 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Unique, Good Quality, Great Design(s), Good Size & Fit, Prevent Scratching

Disadvantages: Price, Hard To Apply

When I first bought my iPod Touch and heard about the chrome finish on the back of the iPod, which gets extremely scratched, I spent a little extra on a Belkin leather case. This did the job but the iPod was still taken out every now and then for practical reasons and the back got slightly scratched over time. I finally found the solution to stop the iPod getting scratched and customise it to my liking with a Gelaskin adhesive sticker.


What Is The Gelaskin?
*************************

Gelaskin is a company that product adhesive stickers for all kinds of electronics including portable games consoles, computers, mobiles and the iPod Touch. You can find them at gelaskins.com where you can buy their products online. Their products are very simple but work very well, as well as offering a unique and modern design to customise your iPod Touch. There is a huge range of designs on the site but I shall be reviewing the 'Swan' design, which I came across on amazon.co.uk where I bought my Gelaskin. The Gelaskin is made of premium vinyl with photo-quality graphics featuring the work of artists worldwide, as quoted from the product's description. They are thin and will stick to your iPod with a tight fit and no bulk. They will stick pretty well but if you want, you can take them off whenever, which is great as they don't ruin it in any way.


Your Purchase
*************************

You can purchase the Gelaskin from various online sites but the most reliable is probably their own site, gelaskins.com. I ordered from amazon.co.uk who never delivered my order and told me only when I queried them that I ordered the last one they had, which was unavailable. The service was poor on this occasion, most probably because Amazon do not have great contact with the third party seller, so I would recommend using the official site. However, the official site is quite a lot more expensive with a Gelaskin for iPod Touch costing around $14.95, which excludes postage and packaging (from the USA). I paid on Amazon for mine around £9.00 and because my overall order on that occasion was of a high enough price, I got free delivery included (which ended up first class after the problems I had).

The Gelaskin comes in a plastic envelope, which is letter-size so you won't need to pop to the post office if you miss the delivery as it can go through a letter box easily. Inside, you will find a square piece with the adhesive Gelaskin on it next to a picture showing the iPod Touch with the wallpaper that matches your Gelaskin. Every Gelaskin comes with another card, which includes a site where you can get a wallpaper for free for your iPod, which matches the design on the Gelaskin.


Applying The Gelaskin
*************************

This is arguably the hardest part, but despite the problems people seem to have, I managed to get a precise fit on my fifth try. You must first carefully peel the Gelaskin from the piece in the packet, being careful not to bend it or damage the sides as when it's loose, it can be quite fragile. Now comes the hard part. Beforehand, you must clean the back of your iPod with some window cleaner perhaps. Don't start using a scratch remover for cars like I stupidly did, which takes off half the cover of your iPod itself. Once you apply this, there will be no more scratches. You must try and align the Gelaskin as best you can before lightly sticking it down. If it looks like it will be straight, press it down further around the sides. The hardest bit is to get the sides equal around your iPod so it may take a few tries. Once you're done, press it down firmly making sure there are no air bubbles and through lots of use, it will stick to your iPod like super glue, yet you can easily get it off when you want to using your nails to lift up the edge.


Design
*************************

Personally, I chose the Swan design. I first saw it and thought it was a brain (as you can see in the image above this review) so as a prospective medical student, I thought it would be a good purchase. Despite the name, I only realised a while after I got it that it was actually a Swan. The stupidity of me here contradicts the fact I may even be going to medical school but oh well... This design is based on a white background with a black sketch of a modern and somewhat oriental looking swan. The smooth round lines in the sketch give the design a lovely look whether you picture it as a brain or a swan. There is an intricate pattern in the design and the quality is very good. The white and black colours keep your iPod looking modern and new as opposed to other designs, which may be bright and colourful. The design of the actual material and size is very good. It fits perfectly round your iPod and covers the majority of the chrome finish on the back, excluding the top and bottom where the power button is and charging input. The design will not interrupt your wireless Internet usage despite the Gelaskin going slightly over the wireless corner.


Why Buy One?
*************************

I think this was the best purchase for my iPod Touch. They are rather expensive for what they are but you are paying for guaranteed lifelong quality as well as a great design to customise your iPod and make it unique in a crowd. I have not seen one other person with a Gelaskin for their iPod Touch, so it gives mine great originality and most importantly protects the back from scratches. If you do wish to perhaps sell it in the future or simply keep it in good condition, the Gelaskin will do a superb job in helping you to achieve this. It is not bulky at all, fits very well and looks great. The only difficulty is applying it, which will take a few tries.


In Conclusion...
*************************

This product is excellent in the way it serves its purpose and provides other benefits such as customisation. The way you can get a matching wallpaper for your chosen design is good, but I don't use it myself. It protects your iPod undoubtedly from scratches as it fully covers the back with a tight bit, leading to no bulk in your pocket. The Gelaskin can be removed at any time without damaging your iPod, which is great too. Despite the price, everything is perfect including the design, quality and originality. I would highly recommend one of these if you are looking to protect your iPod Touch!

Thanks for reading,

Dan ©

Summary: An excellent product for the iPod Touch to help protect it and give yours a unique look