What am I doing wrong? - Xskn eXo2 Review

[SFNE Freak]

Yesterday I was surprised to visit the DHL.com tracking page and see that my Xskn eXo2 Sky Dance had been delivered. Unfortunately, being at my mom's house, I couldn't use it right away. However, I bargained with my mom to go pick it up the next day (today).

When I got there a plethora of items were on my desk including an iSkin eXo Frogger that I won on eBay and my ATM card. I got back to my mom's house, opened up the DHL package and marvelled at how sexy the blue silicone was.

I continued to mold and mush the eXo2 onto my iPod 10GB 3G until it had a satisfactory fit. Eager to test its usabily I push the play button. Nothing happens. I stare blankly. Maybe the hold switch is on? I look at the top. Nope, no orange strip. Maybe the play buttons is broken. So, I push the menu button. Still nothing.

I frantically (well, not really) cycled through all the buttons trying to get my 'Pod to awaken. Finally, I push the select button (middle of scroll wheel) and it glows its beautiful glow.

Am I doing something wrong? Why don't the buttons respond? To put it simply, I believe the silicone over the buttons on my eXo2 is too thick! They work once in every ~15-25 pushes. Now, the scroll wheel and select button work wonderfully, but unfortunately, without the menu button, the iPod is virtually useless.

I hope Lajo can either explain what I'm doing wrong or fix the problem if there is a flaw in the product because this thing is a marvel to look at. Unfrotunately, my review can't be completed until I find a solution to this problem. I will not have pictures until Monday because my digital camera is at home (which I don't return to until Sunday night) and I have much homework to do Sunda night.

[breakaway1029]

My Xskn Exo2 works fine, and I have no problems pressing any of the buttons. Have you tried the buttons without the case on? Also, perform a reset to see if that fixes the problems. Also, clean the buttons on the iPod using a Q-tip, to try to free all the dirt from the space between the button and the front of the iPod. Finally, align the case over the buttons, and make sure that there is no air bubbles between the exo2 and the iPod, by pressing with a fair ammount of force where the buttons are supposed to be. If the case is not aligned properly, the buttons won't work. Hope this helps.

[bb_dg]

i was considering getting an eXo2 but was worried about this same problem. let us know how it turns out

[Bugs]

Actually I have exactly the same problem with mine SFNE, I tried it with the same thing happening as soon as I got it. So I then thouroughly cleaned both the xSkn and the iPod (which works perfectly without the case and in my older exo)... but I just couldn't get the 4 buttons to work properly.

I'm actually thinking that maybe some people's fingers just work better on the buttons than others (like you and me). I love the case but I had to go back to my regular exo. I plan to give the xSkn to a friend to try on his 3G to see if it works better for him than it did for me.

Come to think of it.. I never thought of having someone else try my own iPod and xSkn combo... so maybe I'll try that first and then I'll know if it's just me or not.

Anyways, good luck. Hope you had a backup too :)

[SFNE Freak]

Yea, my Frogger eXo I won off eBay came today.

[SFNE Freak]

Originally posted by breakaway1029
My Xskn Exo2 works fine, and I have no problems pressing any of the buttons. Have you tried the buttons without the case on? Also, perform a reset to see if that fixes the problems. Also, clean the buttons on the iPod using a Q-tip, to try to free all the dirt from the space between the button and the front of the iPod. Finally, align the case over the buttons, and make sure that there is no air bubbles between the exo2 and the iPod, by pressing with a fair ammount of force where the buttons are supposed to be. If the case is not aligned properly, the buttons won't work. Hope this helps.
The buttons work fine and are ultra-sensitive without the case on and even work good with the eXo on. The buttons are very clean, I cleaned it before I put anything on it. One of the top priorities of mine was alignment. I made sure the edge of the button was aligned with the little ditch around the edges of the eXo2 button holes by pushing my fingernail down. I can feel that therer is no air between the eXo2 and iPod because when I pull it up it pops like its stuck on. I've been pressing with force the entire time. ;)

[Bugs]

same here. it's not dirtyness/cleanlyness or alignment problems for sure. it's either the case, or my lack of electrons in my fingers or something.

[SFNE Freak]

I honestly wish I could be using it because when the buttons do work its much easier to push them then on the eXo.

[breakaway1029]

Sorry to hear that the xskn exo2 isn't working for some people, it works for me. Have you tried pressing straight down on the buttons? Also, are you a lefty or a righty?

[SFNE Freak]

I'm a lefty.

[Bugs]

righty (snowboarding goofy)... tried everything. different pressures, different fingers *shrug*

[Lajo]

I find that if you press with steady pressure the menu buttons should work fine. First get use to using your touch wheel with silicone on it then move on to the menu buttons. Press lightly then apply light constant pressure and see the result. Exo2 and Xskn2 came about as a result of my TPU zip cases. The covered controls for both the 2nd gen and 3rd gen iPod worked beautifully with TPU. I started experimenting with silicone cover controls and I found the 2nd gen iPod to be very responsive to touch and the 3rd gen to be a little less so. The only way for me to test it properly was to build the cases first and then to work with the thickness of the silicone covering the controls, a bit of a gamble because of the cost of molds. When I completed my first exo2 case and did my first test it worked beautifully and there was no need to make any adjustments. It is possible that some people may have more electric energy in their fingers and some less or you iPod has to be reset. Once good way it to have someone else try the control to see if it works differently for them before you reset. For sure exo2 is the ultimate way to protect your ipod you can now eat with you fingers and not worry about selecting your music while doing so. Keep me posted on your results.

[Lajo]

I have tested all day today here in China and no problems, I can use all of the functions. I have put on 20 of the different colored exo2 cases and no problems. You should have a friend of yours to test it to see if it has to do anything with the energy level in your fingers.

[Bugs]

will do that tonight and post the results later

[bennok]

I'm really interested in hearing how this pans out because I'd really like to use this case if it is easier to press the buttons than with the original exo.

Maybe it's the finger being used? Have you guys tested fingers vs. thumbs?

[SFNE Freak]

I've tested all my fingers.

[Lajo]

It may be that you are an exo and not an exo2 canidate.

[SFNE Freak]

Huh?

Anyways, I left it out of the review, but thank you for letting me test Lajo.

[torchedlh]

i just received my xskin-3 and i have the exact same problem. some of the buttons work with a lot of force, however, i have yet to sucessfully get the forward button to work with this case on. i will clean my ipod and the case tomorrow, and post a full review with pictures.

[Lajo]

You have tried all your fingers and it looks like my exo2 is not going to work for you, please contact me at lajo@lajo.biz and I will be happy to give you a refund, send me me order id so that I can track your order. If you cannot remember your order id give me the email you used to order it with, our system has many ways of tracking your order.

[Woofy]

While making sure that nothing (your fingers especially) but the exo2 is near the iPod's touch-sensitive surfaces, turn the Hold switch on and then off. The iPod will recalibrate to your exo2.

http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=93341

[SFNE Freak]

Tried, didn't work.

[Lajo]

I would suggest that if it does not work for you you should return it for a refund or check with your Apple dealer and ask them to help you reset the touch sensitivity of your iPod. I did not have to reset my iPod, it worked the first time I put the case on and continues to work fine.

[Bugs]

Well, last night I cleaned up the iPod and xSkn again and gave it another try. I tried switching the hold switch a few times (while not touching any other part of the iPod), but that didn't work for me. I also had my daughter try it out and although it seemed she was able to click the buttons a little more than me, she couldn't get them to work consistantly or get the unit to shut off by holding the play button. I have no problems whatsoever with the iPod outside the case or in my exo, so for whatever reason I can't use the xSkn. I do think it's a great case if it works for you though.

[Lajo]

I will keep an eye on this and if necessary change the thickness at the menu buttons. I have sold over 3,000 of them now but to this date I do not have a request for 1 refund nore do I have any email from a customer other than from our distributor in England saying he had 2 people that had some problems and wanted to exchange the case. If you have a problem ask for a refund or exchange it for an exo with those areas open. It is possible your iPod may have a different sensitivity setting.

[nav]

i've been using the xskn for about a week now I think, and it's not that hard on buttons. I have to push pretty hard on the buttons. It seems that if you just put the case on it's much easier to push buttons, but after the skin has been touching the ipod for a while the buttons get harder to use. Although I still am able to use the buttons about 95% of time.

[Francisco Gonza]

Same problem here I just email Lajo for an exchange !! I have to push really hard and many times, to make it work, the scroll one works nice, but not menu ones :o(

Other than that , it really look Cool like no one around !!!!

[Deaddy]

Maybe you can cut holes for the control buttons and leave the scroll wheel covered. :D