Pod People: Apple’s iPod sets pace among digital recorders

Kirk Baird

Monday, Jan. 10, 2005 | 8:17 a.m.

It's all about the iPod.

Sure, there were plenty of cool products at the just-concluded Consumer Electronics Show at Las Vegas Convention Center, the annual four-day audio-video and high-tech gadget showcase that attracted nearly 130,000 visitors to Las Vegas.

But, really, nothing I saw at CES compared to the iPod, in terms of eye-catching aesthetics and the less-tangible "wow" factor.

I'm not alone in my praise of the iPod, either.

"In my opinion, it's industrial art," said Alan Wheatley, owner and general manager of HandStands, a CES exhibitor, as well as a proud owner of an iPod Mini. "I think it's the most beautiful piece of electronics there is."

Of course, there are other digital music players on the market, but with 10 million iPods sold last year -- and an expected 15 million to be sold this year -- Apple's digital music player is by far the market leader. And with the computer maker's rumored introduction of a flashcard-based iPod to store music files instead of a hard drive, sales of the device may go even higher.

Not since Sony introduced the Walkman portable cassette player in 1980 has a music-oriented product enjoyed such brand recognition.

And really, does any other music player generate the rabid fanaticism of the iPod, as witnessed by Web sites such as www.ipodlounge.com?

Still, the iPod isn't perfect. At 12 hours of maximum use, the batteries run out far too quickly compared to most other digital music players; the iPod's integration with a car stereo is far from seamless, including a noticeable decline in audio quality; and if you inadvertently drop one onto cement ... well, forget it.

Never to ignore a booming trend, many manufacturers and gadget companies have developed their own iPod products to address these issues and more, including: the ability to store and watch movies; customizing the iPod's look with removable "tattoos"; and, for the brave at heart, the ability to safely drop it from a high-rise building.

Among the other CES highlights:

Accessories

A company that manufacturers and markets "innovative peripherals to enhance the digital lifestyle," Nyko's previous biggest seller was Super Worm Light, a lamp that attaches to the GameBoy Advance to brighten its screen.

Then a product development manager, who happened to be a huge iPod fan, began to create products on his own for his iPod.

"He saw different opportunities and did the research," said Susan Corben, Nyko's director of marketing.

Among the iPod accessories the product development manager helped create are the Charger Case, iTop and MoviePlayer.

The Charger Case is a water- and shock-resistant aluminum charger case with a built-in power supply that will fully power an iPod three times before needing to recharge itself. The iPod is kept secure through a form-fitting neoprene lining and is accessible via a flip bottom through a headphone jack. Cost: $99.99.

The iTop button relocator is an adaptor that plugs into the remote port of the iPod. The iTop features all of the functions from the Click Wheel control of the iPod, allowing users to interface the device from the top, rather than the front -- making it perfect for those who wear their iPod while exercising. Cost: $29.99.

The MoviePlayer was one of the cooler iPod accessories at CES. Because the iPod is essentially a stylish, portable hard drive, films, videos and photos can also be stored on the device. The MoviePlayer allows the movies and photos to be seen on a 3 1/2-inch, 65,000-color thin-film transistor (TFT) screen and heard via built-in stereo speakers. A built-in control pad rests on top of the iPod's Click Wheel, allowing for the same basic control functions: play, pause, stop, rewind, fast-forward and volume control.

The MoviePlayer connects to the iPod via the dock connector and comes installed with PC and Macintosh software to convert movie, video, photo or digital media files for use on the MoviePlayer. The device also features a rechargeable lithium ion battery for an additional three hours of playtime. Cost: $199.99-$249.99.

All three products should be available this spring.

For more information: www.nyko.com.

For those who listen to their iPod in the car, there's the iGrip. From HandStands, the inventors of the popular sticky grip for cell phones, the iGrip features a sticky bottom to attach the iGrip to a dashboard, as well as a sticky surface top to hold the iPod securely in place. The iGrip, though, can be relocated and leaves no residue or adhesive to the dashboard or iPod. Cost: $8.99.

Wanting to keep his iPod scratch-free, Wheatley created the iPak, a durable and lightweight travel kit for the iPod. Consisting of a high-impact polymer shell on the outside, the iPak also comes with two foam inserts to fit either the iPod or iPod Mini. Wheatley was confident enough in the durability of the case that he put his iPod Mini in an iPak and dropped it off a 30-story building. Both the iPod and iPak survived the fall, he's happy to report.

The iPak also can be attached to a belt and features dual zippers so headphones can remain connected to the iPod. The iPak comes with an iPod accessory case to hold the cords, cables and AC adaptor. Cost: $39.99.

For more information: www.handstands.com.

On the go

For the winter-sports enthusiast who can't bear to be without his or her iPod, there's an answer: Motorola Burton Bluetooth iPod jacket. Designed by electronics giant Motorola and winter-sports clothes and equipment maker Burton, the Bluetooth iPod jacket houses the iPod securely -- and warmly -- in a hidden pocket, while a remote control and small view screen are built into a sleeve. Headphones are also built into the hood of the jacket. The wire connections between the iPod and the remote control and headphones are inconspicuously hidden in the jacket.

The remote-control device also features access to a Bluetooth-capable cell phone, and even offers caller ID so the user can pause the music, look at the screen and decide whether or not to take the call.

The Motorola Burton Bluetooth iPod jacket should be available in winter 2005-'06. Although pricing hasn't been determined, there will be several options, depending on the material of the jacket.

For more information: www.motorola.com

Much of the success of the iPod and other digital music players is because of portability. Tune Belt has made the on-the-go experience even easier with its iPod and iPod Mini Armbands. The belt wraps snugly around an arm, with the iPod secured in a pouch featuring a Mylar window covering. The iPod fits right side up and upside down so the user can view the iPod's screen and operate the Click Wheel controls through the window covering. There's also a side pocket to store excess cords from the headphones. Cost: $16.95.

For more information: www.tunebelt.com.

Car stereo

While the iPod is great for work and at home, the car is another matter. Users have to rely on an FM-signal transmitter or a cassette adaptor to listen to their iPod through a car stereo. The results are mixed at best. But CES had some answers.

Most of Pioneer's newer car stereos are compatible with an iPod -- make sure the name of the stereo features a "P" in the title -- through its CD-1B100 adaptor. Plug the iPod into the adaptor, which can be installed underneath a seat or in a trunk, and access the iPod through the stereo controls. Prices not available.

For more information: www.pioneerelectronics.com.

Dension previously teamed with BMW for the ice-Link Plus, which allowed BMW owners to connect their iPods directly to their car stereo. Dension has since made the technology available to most anyone with a car stereo featuring a CD changer port. Simply connect the ice-Link Plus to the port (this may require removing the stereo for access to the port) then drop the iPod into into the ice-Link Plus' mounted cradle. Use the radio or iPod to navigate through the songs and playlists. Prices range from $120-$399, depending on installation kit. Some car stereos may not work with ice-Link Plus.

For more information: www.densionusa.com.

At home

Although connecting an iPod to a home stereo is certainly not new, SpeakerCraft offers a twist: the ability to listen and control the iPod in up to six rooms. With the SpeakerCraft's naviPod kit and the MZC-66 (Multi-Zone Controller), the iPod is linked remotely to a home audio system. Any room with speakers that are connected to the MZC can have an in-wall control unit installed that offers up to 16 command functions, including accessing playlists and powering the iPod on and off. There is also a naviPod remote so you don't have to get off the couch or chair to change songs, pause or increase volume. Cost: $2,450.

For more information: www.speakercraft.com.

While iPod mini owners have five color choices, iPod owners have had only translucent white ... until now. Hewlett-Packard, which recently teamed with Apple to develop a more PC-friendly iPod, has created a way for iPod users to personalize their digital music players with "tattoos."

The tattoos are glossy stickers that wrap around the iPod, leaving only the screen, Click Wheel and top and bottom ports uncovered.

To make a tattoo, simply go to HP's Web site -- www.hp.com -- and choose from nearly 30 pre-made designs, or create a sticker from your own media library. Print the design onto a sticker, then attach it to the iPod. The tattoo can can just as easily be removed for a new look or to keep the iPod naked. The stickers come in a set of 10 for $14.99; tattoos are free.

For more information: www.hp.com.

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