In my never ending quest for the perfect iPod Touch case I have taken another step. Before I begin it might be prudent for me to recount what brought us to this point in time.

I bought an iPod Touch as soon as they were released. I loved the capabilities of the device and was especially impressed with the battery life especially when watching movies or listening to music.

When Apple released the second generation with double the capacity I quickly purchased a second one passing the first generation down to my kids. While I love the device, I am also scared to death that I am going to scratch it or somehow damage the device.

I decided I needed to somehow protect the iPod and so began my quest for the perfect case. I have only a few requirements for the case. First it must protect the device. That may sound obvious but given the number of cases on the market you would be surprised how many of them do not protect the iPod front and back from damage.

The case must not impede the use of the device. It must not hamper the use of the touch screen or the buttons on the top and side of the device. It should also allow easy access to the headphone jack, the docking port, and all other controls.

The case must be durable. I take my iPod touch with me everywhere and the last thing I need is for the protective cover to wear out.

Another rather obvious requirement is that the case cannot damage or mar the iPod Touch in any way. You would think that would be a given but I have had cases in the past where dye from the color in the silicone case has bled onto the iPod Touch turning it a color.

Finally, the case must not add to the bulk of the device. One of the things I like best about the iPod Touch is the slim and sleek design. The last thing I want is to ruin that form factor with some large or bulky case.

Over the years I have gone through a plethora of cases. They have ranged from hard plastic to silicone skins to space aged polymer skins that adhere to the device. I purchased each of these cases with high hopes that it would be the perfect case. After limited use, each of the cases would fall short and my search would begin again.

After my latest case, the iSkin Duo, began to leave dye marks on the iPod and limited the use of the docking port I was once again in the market for a new case.

I happened into the local Apple Store once again searching for a case. After looking at everything on their display several times I was about to leave empty-handed when I spotted a metallic Air Jacket case by Power Support.

The Apple store had only one, an iridescent purple. I really didn’t want a purple case but I was intrigued by the Air Jacket. It is a plastic case that claims a maximum thickness of only 1 mm.

The case itself is plastic but feels nearly weightless in your hands. It protects the entire back of the iPod Touch. The corners on the face are exposed so you do have to be careful. The front of the iPod Touch is protected with a film that attaches to the front of the iPod Touch.

The film does offer protection and doesn’t seem to impede the touch sensitivity of the screen. The case comes with two front screen protectors. One is referred to as crystal while the other is an anti-glare screen. I chose to use the crystal. I personally believe the glossy face displays richer colors.

Installation of the screen protector and the plastic Air Jacket case were relatively painless. It may take a couple of tries to get the front protector on without any air bubbles and you do have to make sure the screen is dirt and lint free but overall it’s fairly easy to install.

While I am still not a big fan of the purple, the case is very nice and I have had several people comment on how great it looks. Besides the purple, the Air Jacket also comes in pink, gold, orange, and red.

If I had my choice I would have preferred the red but when you need a case quickly, you take whatever the store has in stock.

I’ve been using the Air Jacket case now for over a month. It has done an admirable job of protecting my iPod Touch. The case adds relatively no bulk to the device keeping the form factor the same as one without a case.

The screen protector has likewise done its job. It does tend to show finger prints more than the iPod Touch without a cover. I am willing to accept that to have the peace of mind that my iPod is protected.

I would definitely recommend the Air Jacket to anyone looking for a minimal iPod Touch case. The only thing that would have made this case better would have been if I could have found a red one rather than the purple.

The search for the perfect iPhone cover can best be compared to the quest to find the Holy Grail. The iPhone with it’s distinctive shape and capabilities cannot possibly been contained in just any case. It deserves to have an equally cool container to protect it from the elements and the occasional drop from a pocket or desk.

Since purchasing the iPhone 3G when it was first released in 2008, I have gone through no fewer than eight cases. Each time I buy one I think this will be the one that will finally meet all of my criteria while still being stylish enough to carry.

Invariably though I find myself disappointed. With some cases they are too bulky turning the iPhone into a brick-like dimension. These cases do bring back a certain amount of nostalgia reminding the user what cell phone form factors used to be in the 1980’s.

Other cases are sleek and smooth but offer very little protection to the iPhone turning the user into a nervous wreck as they are afraid of dropping or damaging their phone. You can usually spot these users as they look like they are handling a core of Uranium 238.

I’ve tried several of the ice cream magic shell equivalent of cases. You know the chocolate coating that you pour over ice cream and it turns into a hard chocolate shell. In the case of iPhone cases these usually have the word “shield” in their names like GhostShield, InvisiShield, ArmorShield, etc.

The problem with these types of cases is that while they may protect the iPhone from scratches they have a tendency to peel off leaving the edges of the iPhone unprotected. They can also get expensive if you have them installed by the dealer with each charging between $10 and $20 per application.

What I needed was something with a non-slick surface that would protect the back of the iPhone with perhaps a removable face cover. I want the case to be stylish but not too thick. My quest to find such a case led me look at the iSkin product.

iSkin has long been associated with cases for the iPod market and I have used them in the past for my music player. I went to their web site and was intrigued by the iSkin Solo FX.

The iSkin Solo FX is a silicon-based case that gives the back of the iPhone protection with a silicon cover that comes in several different colors. They have added geometric shapes into the silicon giving it a unique look.

I purchased a Solo FX in the color Passion which is a translucent red. I have to admit, I was a little reluctant thinking my iPhone would be dressed in Passion Red but it was the closest thing to Arizona Diamondbacks Sedona Red so I guess it is fitting that it would be called Passion.

The cover came with two different front covers. One is a clear cover that protects the iPhone face while still allowing it to be touch sensitive. The second cover was a mirror finish. It is kind of cool giving the iPhone an almost stealth look.

For those of you who are international spies, the mirrored finish makes a great accessory that you can use to look around corners to make sure you are not about to walk into a terrorist cell ambush. Think of it as a national security preserver.

The iSkin Solo FX is relatively simple to install. You simply slide it on and roll the edges over the corners of the iPhone. There are openings for the headphone jack, the camera lens, the mute button, and the dock connector on the end.

The on and off switch and the volume controls are covered but the silicon is thinner there allowing you to press the buttons. The case does not add a lot of bulk to the phone and does provide a non-slip surface that makes it easier to hold in your hand while in use.

The opening for the docking port is adequately sized to allow easy connection to the cords. It is a much better than the touch Vibes case iSkin makes for the iPod Touch. That case requires you to manipulate the case and move the docking cord around to finally get a good dock connection.

The iSkin Solo FX has semi-transparent circle shapes in the back of the case. When you add the iPhone the black back of my iPhone shows through giving it a classy geometric pattern that other cases do not have.

The one negative I have with the iSkin Solo FX is that the dye used to create the case does have a tendency to bleed onto the back of the phone. If you have a black case that is not a problem but with the white iPhone you could end up with a pink back. Fortunately for me I still have an Invisishield on the back of the phone so the dye came off with the removal of the Invisishield.

The dye problem is not just with the red color. I bought my wife a blue cover and my daughter has an aqua color and each of them have also bled onto the iPhone case.

Overall the iSkin Solo FX has been a good case. I hesitate to say it is the perfect case. Although you can buy a separate belt clip it is not included with the Solo FX. The iSkin product line is also relatively expensive with the Solo FX listed for $32.99.

Fortunately iSkin offers discounts and sales fairly regularly so you can get it for less if you are willing to be patient and wait for it to go on sale. Delivery is quite fast, all of the covers I have ordered from iSkin have come via US Postal Service and are packaged quite well.

You should also remove the cover once and a while and clean the inside of the case and the iPhone. Dirt can sometimes get inside and could rub between the cover and the iPhone scratching the back. I have never had that happen with my iPhone or my iPods but it could so be forewarned.

This same problem can occur with any case and by no means is a flaw in the design of the iSkin Solo FX. If you are looking for a slim silicon case that gives your device a stylish look without adding a lot of bulk take a look at the Solo FX.

The aroma of roast turkey still lingered in the air and the dessert plates had just barely been cleared from the table. The tranquility of Thanksgiving suddenly disappeared with a loud thud.

The Thanksgiving newspaper was plopped onto the table; it’s contents spilling in every direction. Trina brought out “the notebook” and put on her game face. The newspaper was divided and it’s contents were examined at every inch.

The advertisements were divided not by store but by opening time. Each ad was then carefully examined and notes were taken. After what seemed like several hours of close scrutiny and several pens and sheets of paper, the preliminary work was complete.

The notebook was less a shopping list and more a battle plan. It contained the logistics and coordinates to successfully navigate what is commonly referred to as “Black Friday”.

The day after Thanksgiving when stores open early and hope to lure consumers in with terms such as “door buster” and “early bird”. For many this is shopping nirvana. A day when not only are you allowed to shop but expected to buy massive amounts of products in the name of holiday gifts.

It is a day I approach with equal amounts of anticipation and dread. During our wedding vows when they mentioned the part about richer and poorer and good times and bad times, I never would have imagined that would mean the day after Thanksgiving but in reality that’s exactly what they meant.

After we were married I promised myself I would go shopping with Trina on these days after Thanksgiving. Part of it was a sense of fear not wanting my wife to go out alone in the early morning hours. Part of it was self-preservation for not wanting my checkbook to go out alone in the early morning hours.

All of this sounds great when you are sitting around a kitchen table at five in the afternoon but it is an entirely different story when the alarm goes off at three in the morning and you have to get up to go out in the cold standing there with thousands of crazed women waiting for the doors to open so you can rush some kid making minimum wage for the last toy in town.

So as I get ready to head out the door I am again wondering what exactly was I thinking when I volunteered for this? While the rest of the civilized world is lying in bed dreaming of leftover turkey and college football I will be standing outside a Target praying that when I finally get through the door I won’t be run over by a lunatic with a shopping cart looking for a Barbie.

Thanksgiving is always a time that brings back a lot of memories. Growing up in rural Idaho we would go to my grandparents house every year. All of my aunts and uncles who lived in the area would be there.

We would all gather around the table for dinner awaiting the arrival of the turkey. It would be brought in and presented amid gasps and excitement. My grandfather would then take the knife and carve up the bird taking a nibble or two along the way.

After we got married, Trina and I continued the tradition going to either my parents or her parents for Thanksgiving dinner depending on who’s turn it was on the annual holiday calendar. We were married several years before we actually were able to host the dinner at our house.

I remember the first year when we finally decided that we would invite others over for Thanksgiving. I had no idea what a stressful event that would be. For so long we were in charge of just a side dish I did not comprehend what it meant to actually be in charge of the whole meal.

There were seating arrangements to finalize and assignments to hand out so that everyone felt included yet no one felt overwhelmed. Then of course there was the turkey. For the first time we were responsible for the bird and neither Trina or I had any idea what we were doing.

The first step was to actually procure the turkey. We went to the grocery store and looked at the bins of turkeys in the meat department. Neither of us had any idea what the difference was between free-range turkey, fresh turkey, or organic.

As we stood there trying to make some sort of sense out of the information on each package, we were approached by what I thought was a fellow shopper. He came up and introduced himself.

He was not a shopper but rather he was a disc jockey at a local radio station. He asked if we were there to buy a Thanksgiving turkey. I silently wondered if he was naturally this stupid or if we just caught him on a bad day.

It seemed pretty obvious we were there for turkey. I initially considered telling him no, we were part of the Food and Drug Administration testing the literacy standards of turkey packaging but I didn’t for fear that he might actually believe me.

We nodded that we were indeed there for the turkey. He then asked if we would be interested in trying to win a free turkey. Well who wouldn’t be interested in a free turkey?

He looked at both of us then grabbed Trina by the arm. Thinking back I probably should have been insulted that he chose my wife over me but at the time I was too busy thinking of getting a free turkey.

The disc jockey took us over to an aisle in a different part of the store. There we stood on one end. At the other end of the aisle were ten bowling pins set up. The disc jockey grabbed his microphone and announced that he had a contestant.

After a brief introduction he explained that Trina would be given two chances to knock down the bowling pins at the other end of the aisle. Both Trina and I looked around for the bowling ball when all of a sudden the disc jockey handed Trina a 16 pound frozen turkey.

I am not sure which of us was more in shock. Trina though seized the moment and grabbed the turkey and hurled it down the aisle.

The turkey skidded down the aisle like a curling stone. For a brief second I thought about grabbing the janitor’s broom who was watching the event and sweeping a straight line for the turkey.

Before I could do that though the frozen bird hit the bowling pins scattering them in every direction. The ten pin actually took out a Family Size box of Cheerios. In one fell swoop all of the pins came to a stop as the frozen turkey spun in place.

The crowd went wild while the disc jockey stood speechless. Finally he said, “We have been doing this spot for three years an no one has ever gotten a strike with a turkey.”

In the end we walked out of the store with a free 18-pound frozen turkey and a story that would be retold for the rest of our lives. Now every year when we set out for the store to get the frozen Turkey the kids have to endure the tale of when mom bowled her way into Thanksgiving.

It’s funny how we seem to take things for granted that just work. You never think about it, you just kind of expect that stuff works the way it is supposed to. Take for example the light switch. If you walk into a dark room you reach for the light switch. You just assume that when you flip it then the lights will go on. If for some inexplicable reason the lights don’t come on you immediately think it is a personal problem. You check to make sure you flipped the right switch or that you flipped it in the right direction. If the light continues to be difficult and not work you then begin looking for a replacement light bulb since that has to be the problem. It is only after exhausting these efforts that you finally conclude that perhaps there is a malfunction with the electrical infrastructure. Why is that? I think it is because we have become so accustomed to the fact that we have energy on demand that we are shocked when we find that is not the case. I remember as a kid growing up in Idaho, it seemed like the power went out every week. It probably wasn’t that often but it sure seemed like it. In that environment you never took electricity for granted. You were just grateful when you had power. Since that time the electrical grid has become much more stable and my expectations are much greater that the power is always on.

The Internet is quickly becoming a similar commodity. When I first got dial-up I never expected to get on. There were a finite number of modems available and you felt fortunate when you happened to get anything but a busy signal. Once you got on there was always the chance that the modem connection would break and you would find yourself back in the pool trying to get an open modem. This was just a fact of life and you dealt with it. When I moved to broadband I left that behind and my expectations were again raised to where I just expected the Internet to be available. When it wasn’t I began troubleshooting my personal network first assuming the problem was at my end rather than with the infrastructure. Early on the network was down relatively often but as time has gone on the service levels have gotten better (at least from a connectivity perspective; the quality of service is still not so great). So as the infrastructure has gotten more robust I have become accustomed to being able to get to whatever site I wanted. Web site availability is also becoming better. For the most part when you navigate to a site you expect the page to load. That is why last Friday was such a strange day.
On Friday morning I happened to navigate to Amazon.com to place an order for a camera battery. Instead of loading the page, the browser brought up a cryptic error message. I just naturally assumed there was a problem with my end since Amazon is never down. After several unsuccessful troubleshooting attempts I went to the net to see if anyone else was experiencing similar issues. It was then that I learned that Amazon was indeed down. The outage lasted for over an hour and the site was unavailable in the United States. Estimates placed a value on the outage of $31,000 per minute that the site was unavailable. That is an amazing statistic. I had no idea how big Amazon was to incur that kind of cost for an outage. It signaled a couple of things to me. First, no matter how highly available you make a system you can still sustain an outage. Second, the age of internet shopping has officially reached the mainstream and become pervasive. No longer will we hear about differentiating between online and brick-and-mortar shopping. Consumers will go to wherever they can get goods and purchase. The Internet as a shopping medium is no longer the domain of geeks and sites will need to be designed accordingly. Now that Amazon is back up I wonder if they sell battery generators? I might need one to make sure I can still get online incase the power goes out so I can blog about the outage.

Every year I vow that I am going to get my Christmas shopping done early and each year I am out with every other carbon-based life form the weekend before Christmas trying to find the perfect gift.  The perfect gift has of course been out of stock since the day before Thanksgiving meaning I am left going through gift permutations trying to piece together something that come Christmas morning looks like I put a lot of thought into it.  Through the years I have learned some valuable lessons.  No matter how good the idea sounded at the time; anything purchased at a truck stop or convenience store will not go over well when unwrapped.  And even though your wife has said for months that the vacuum cleaner is in need of replacing; that is not a hint that she wants to receive one as a gift.  After going to countless stores and finding nothing that I would dare wrap under the tree I did the thing I should have done from the beginning.  I went down to Chase Field to the team shop and bought her a Diamondbacks shirt.  I know I would love to get a shirt from the team shop and everyone always says we are a perfect couple so it goes without reason that she will be thrilled with the gift as well.  Christmas shopping should not be this painful.