A lot of Mac users think the world of Matias, and their flagship product,
the Tactile Pro keyboard, has
garnered rave reviews among the Mac faithful.
Did you know that Matias also makes iPod accessories? I'll be
looking at three of Matias' iPod accessories today.
Matias Armor™ for iPod nano
First up - Matias
Armor for iPod nano. This is an anodized aluminum case that
comes in six different colors (black, blue, pink, green, red,
silver). I used the blue case.
This is the first case I've seen and reviewed that opens and
closes from the side. It's hinged on one side and locks to a
plastic stop on the left side of the case. It's a snug lock, so
there are no worries of the iPod nano falling out.
It offers your standard hard plastic screen protector along with
access to the click wheel and hold switch, as well as access to the
dock connector and headphone jack on the bottom. The iPod nano fits
snugly inside with a thin-but-adequate layer of protection.
Matias Armor for iPod nano also includes a neck
strap, along with a place to loop the strap into the casing. Matias
hand inspects every case before it leaves their facilities.
So how much is the case? If you opt for the silver case, it's
US$29.95. If you choose black, blue, pink, green, or red, it'll be
$5 more.
Not to fear, 1st generation iPod nano owners, you can get in on
the goodness too - and at a lower price! Although it comes in only
get two colors, silver and black, you can get either for
US$14.95.
Owners of the full-sized iPod, iPod mini, and video iPod will be glad to
know Matias makes Armor cases for you as well!
Rating: 
Bottom line: Great quality case. A reasonable price for great
protection. I couldn't find anything I felt Matias could have done
better on. I give it 4 out of 4.
Matias Slim USB Power Adapter
Next, let's look at the
Matias Slim USB
Power Adapter. The defining feature of this power adapter is
its small size (2" wide, 2-1/6" tall, and 3/4" thick). Your iPod
and mobile devices are small, so why shouldn't your power adapter
be small as well?
It's surprising how small this power adapter is! For travel
buffs and those always-on-the-go, this will make the perfect travel
accessory. And it isn't only for your iPod - you can use it to
charge any USB device that needs charging.
Other features this power
adapter offers: It can switch accept 100-240V, and it has a hidden
plug that folds up when you're done and folds out when you need to
plug it in.
You can tell when it's charging by the two-color LED indicator.
When it's charging, it's red; when it's done, it's green. Can't get
much simpler than that.
It has worked wonderfully for me with my 2nd generation iPod
nano. Price? $19.95. You'll find the small size the biggest plus of
all.
Rating:
Bottom line: Super small and great price! No cons at all that I
can see. Again, 4 out of 4.
Matias Armor Clip™
Two for
two in the five star department. Can Matias go three for three
?
The final product in this roundup is the Matias Armor Clip. I
have to say up front that this is my favorite product of the three
I'm reviewing!
The Matias Armor Clip is a belt clip for your iPod or other
mobile device. What's obvious about this clip is the quality that
went into it. I've used the Armor Clip several times with my 2nd
gen iPod nano, and it never once disappointed.
How does it work? The three anchors you get with the Armor Clip
stick on almost any device with 3M adhesive. Let me tell you, it's
extremely hard to get the anchors off once they're on!
Once you stick the anchor on your iPod or other device, insert
the end of the anchor into the big hole on the back of the clip and
push down. It will lock in place.
To take it out of the clip? Move the
slider bar on top over and pull it up. The clip rotates 360
degrees, which is a good feature in case you have to sit down.
Matias is so confident of the quality of the Armor Clip that
it has an unprecedented 100 year warranty. That's confidence!
According to Matias, it can withstand:
- up to 60 lb. of vertical force and 80 lb. of horizontal
force
- the release mechanism can withstand between 650,000 and 2
million releases (assuming an average of 50 clip releases per day,
that's 35 to 110 years of service)
- the belt clip mechanism has been tested to withstand 35,000 to
60,000 presses (assuming that you attach the clip to your belt in
the morning and remove it at night, that's 48 to 82 years of
service)
That's amazing! While many of us won't have our mobile devices
last that long, it's great to know that the clip will be around for
a long time. Matias really stands behind their products.
Price? $14.95. Get this clip; you will not be
disappointed!
Rating:
Bottom line: Outstanding quality with an outstanding
over-the-top warranty to match and a very affordable price. 4 out
of 4.
Kudos to Matias for these excellent iPod accessories! 
Go to the iPod Files index.
