I have used a Pogo Stylus for the past eight months so I think I say with some authority that I know how they work. Actually, "how they work" can be a misnomer because there are no working parts. It is an aluminum cylinder, 3.5 inches long and about as big around as the average firewire cable, perhaps a tad bigger. On one end is a special soft tip that you use instead of your finger to operate your iPhone or iPod touch. The latest versions are available in black, gray, silver or red.

Silver Pogo Stylus

Each stylus also comes with a half inch wide clip that fits around the back of your phone or touch to hold your stylus so you always have it with you.

Sample iPhone with Pogo Stylus and Clip

The clip designated for the iPhone 3G also fits the iPhone 3GS. The company also references a third party site that offers clips designed to work with various size cases.

The Bottom Line

It doesn't take long for people with iPhones and iPod touches to learn that you can't operate your device well using your fingernails. They are made to respond to the touch of your skin. That means fingerprints on your lovely device. It also means hitting the wrong letter, number, and so on. We have all done it. I have very small hands and I do it all the time. I know that individuals with large hands must sometimes get frustrated with this problem. The Pogo Stylus solves the problem if you are willing to keep up with it -- and, at least from my experience, the soft end does not wear down or stop working. Mine works just as well now as it did the day I started using it. At US$14.95 it is inexpensive enough that you can keep more than one around if you don't want to use the clip, or if the clip doesn't fit around your case.