runaroundtech.com

iOS devices are great for consuming media.  Watching movies, listening to music or podcasts and much more.  Ever tried to hold your iPhone at viewing distance while you tried to watch a full length movie?  It certainly can get tiresome after an hour or two.  There are plenty of options when it comes to stands for the iPhone 4 or iPod touch 4G.  Many of the protective cases that offer this functionality due so via a kickstand built into the back of the case.  This usually works okay, when the case is well made, but more often than not what you end up with is an unattractive looking case due to the built in stand jutting out from the back, even when it’s not in use.  The Nest Case is different.  This slider style case offers the ability to prop up your iPhone 4 or iPod touch 4G in three different viewing angles.  However, it has no kickstand on the back.

How does the Nest Case work?  Read on for the full review.There are currently four versions of the Nest Case available.   We’ll be looking at the version for the iPhone 4 and iPod touch 4G but the company also offers a version for the iPhone 3G/3Gs and the iPod touch 2G3G.  All four models are available in your choice of white, black or red.  Both cases are plastic, slider style cases.

The interior of the case is lined with a felt pad to prevent scratching of the back of your device.  Both the iPhone 4 and the iPod touch versions fit quite tightly and as with most slider style cases I at first install did notice some bubbling of my screen shield when placing my device into the case.  However, when I took my time, taking care to align the case properly I was able to put both cases on with minimal damage to my screen shield.  I also did notice some rough spots along the plastic of the cases, otherwise known as “flash”.

Both cases offer a small amount of lay-on-the-table protection.  This way if you were to place your device screen side down on to a flat surface the case will cause the phone’s screen to become elevated and thus reduce the chances of something coming in contact with the screen and causing a scratch.

The cases feature on large cutout along the bottom for access to the thirty-pin dock connector and speaker, as well as the microphone and headset jack, depending on the device.  I had no issues docking both cases with a variety of third-party accessories.  Being that this is a slider style case you’re always welcomed to remove the bottom portion of the case if you have trouble getting your phone to dock with the case on.

Along the side the case features one large cutout.  This allows the iPhone 4 version to fit with either the CDMA or the GSM version of the phone.

Along the top, on the iPhone version you’ll find individual cutouts for the headset jack port and secondary microphone as well as the sleep/awake button.  On the iPod touch 4G version there’s simply one single cutout for access to the sleep/awake button.

The beauty of this case is its ability to double as a stand.  When it’s time to prop up your device simply remove it from the case and place it into the notches carved out along the sides.  You can choose to place your device into the notch in landscape mode, for watching video or other media related tasks.

Or into portrait mode for a more upright viewing angle.

The iPod touch version offers an extra cutout so that you can place your device at an even more relaxed angle for viewing.

If you’ve been looking for a new case for your iPhone 4 or iPod touch and one of the features you’d like to have included in it is the ability to prop up your device in stand mode maybe the Nest Case is for you.  At first glance it looks like a normal slider style case.  However, when it’s time to stand up you simply remove your device from the case and place it into one of the cutouts.  You’ve now got a portable media station that’s always with you wherever you go.  If you’ve ever sat on a airplane watching a movie on your iPhone and had to hold it the entire time this is the sort of case you’ll want to check out.  I’m not sure I’d personally use any of these stand style cases as my main case – but when I know I’m going to be using my device for a task best served in a stand they are certainly helpful to have on hand.  If you don’t have a iPhone 4 or iPod touch case with stand functionality it’s certainly worth adding one like the Nest Case to your case wardrobe.

You can learn more about the entire line of Nest Cases by visiting the company’s web site here.

MSRP: iPhone 4 – $24.95, iPod touch 4G – $19.95

PROS: Allows you to place device in stand mode without unsightly kickstand on the back of case.  Multiple viewing angles.  Color choices.

CONS: No screen shield included.  Some rough spots on plastic of case.  May bubble screen shield.