EXDOG-TECH-DP-(TOUCH)[1]There’s nothing quite as lovely as a brand new piece of tech gadgetry…and nothing quite as heartbreaking as that first permanent scratch or smudge on said gadget, which is why there are so many options for tricking out and covering up our precious grown-up toys. One of the latest contenders in the skinning sweepstakes is the aptly named MusicSkins, which takes the basic essential ingredient — a piece of adhesive vinyl — and adds a couple of interesting twists.

The first — and arguably most important — of MusicSkins’ claims to faim is the sheer ease with which the stuff goes on and comes off. The company sent me a skin for my iPod Touch, which I decided to put through its paces by sticking it on while I was sitting in the front seat of a car with the iPod in my lap. Having tried (and failed) to achieve a bubble-free Belkin screen protector under what were close to lab conditions, I expected I’d have to re-fasten the MusicSkin indoors, with the iPod on a flat surface. I was pleasantly surprised, though — the stuff goes on easy, and isn’t prone to bubbling; what’s more, it comes off just as easily as the company promises, leaving behind very little in the way of residue. And, of course, while it’s on, it acts as a slick barrier for pretty much any scuffs or scratches; in order to even mark the surface, you’ve basically got to rub your device over asphalt. Ordinary wear and tear don’t even show up.

The other feature that sets MusicSkins apart is the fact that the company not only offers a huge assortment of skins (everything from phones to game controllers to guitars) and a wide variety of (largely celeb-focused) skin designs, it also allows you to customize your skins by uploading your own artwork or photos, thus giving you the opportunity to choose between covering your iPod, phone, or laptop with a picture of Madonna, Bob Marley, your company logo, or your cat. Not as important as whether or not the stuff really works, of course, but in a crowded product field, it’s the little stuff that sets brands apart, right?

MusicSkins run $15 and up. Visit the company at its official site to see more.