If you're looking for an iPod case that makes a statement, check out the "45" iPod cases from Contexture Design. These unique hand-made cases are fabricated from actual vinyl 45 R.P.M. records which are then thermoformed to encase the iPod, and lined with felt and cork padding.

The coolest part is that the center hole of the record becomes the cut-out for your click wheel. In this case a picture is worth a thousand words, so here's a look at mine, fabricated from Neil Diamond's 1969 hit Sweet Caroline (Good Times Never Seemed So Good):

It's kind of a one-trick pony but the trick is a pretty good one if you're looking for an iPod case that's unlike any other. It's a unique blend of old and new, or, as Contexture Design co-founder Nathan Lee puts it, "We’re taking an old music media and using it to protect and personalize cutting-edge audio technology – digital meets analog."

You can choose from several dozen pre-selected 45s displayed on the Web site, or if you have your own vinyl 45, you can have your case custom made from it for an additional $7.

Either way you're extremely unlikely to run into someone with a case just like yours.

The Bottom Line

It's not the greatest case I've ever seen, it lacks a belt clip or lanyard, and it's relatively fragile as iPod cases go. Still, if you're looking for a unique way to protect your iPod and make a statement at the same time, the "45" iPod case almost certainly fits the bill.