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Amp Pack for iPod
Anonymous Coward writes "iPodlounge is reporting that Burton/Apple will soon be introducing an Amp Pack backpack featuring the very cool SoftSwitch Technology to control your iPod via internal cabling. Like the Amp Jacket introduced at Macworld SF 2003, there is a pocket for iPod and it's controlled using a built in remote control. Here's the kicker, it will cost $200! Yikes."
Thats a lot of money, but when you consider that an Ipod might store upto 4,000 dongs, you'll be owing the RIAA $600 million dollars if you fill it up. After that, the $200 doesnt seem too bad
isnt that what the remote can do already? all you gotta do is clip it to your jacket and boom! dont need to spend 200$ for a jacket, when the remote does the same thing basically.
Which wouldn't be out of hand, except that despite Burton's involvement, this isn't a snowboarding pack, it's a carry-your-books-to-high-school pack. Don't try strapping an avy shovel to this thing.
Naturally, when you merge the hype machines of Apple and Burton you get stuff like "Double Polyurethane (PU2)" coated fabric.
What I'm listening to now on Pandora...
In the mean-time, I bought one of these.
Yes, I am aware of those things that allow you to broadcast iPod output on an FM frerquency, but (1) they're awkward and bring back bad memories of CD/cassette adapters with wires all over the place, and (2) they don't work very well from most accounts I've read.
If you reply, do so only to what I explicitly wrote. If I didn't write it, don't assume or infer it.
that thing is really ugly. why couldn't they make one that looks like a regular damn backpack or messenger bag rather than that thing.
It brings to mind the Ghostbuster's proton pack
Why would the price be $199 US if the measurements are in cm? Perhaps this is a Canadian or Australian product sheet, in which case the US price would be considerably lower.
Karma: Ran over your dogma.
Look, if they really are gouging their customers so badly, and it really is possible to make any money selling it cheaper, then bring a product just like it to market yourself and become rich by selling it cheaper than them. Otherwise, would all the price whiners, including the one who submitted the article, kindly STFU.
Personally, I wouldn't be that interested in an iPod amp in a backpack. Now, a guitar amp in a backpack, that would get my attention!
Information wants to be anthropomorphized.
-- (Score:i, Imaginary)
For those of you bitching about the price...if you get those nice fancy weather resistant rubber-this and padded-that they can easily cost $80-100. If you want your iPod to be right at your touch, but dont want it to be easily lost, stolen, or broken, this is a nice thing for only $100 more. I have a fairly nice MiniDisc player that I listen to when I talk to class at Rutgers. I leave the player in my pants pocket and have the remote clipped to my backpack strap, but even thats too conspicuous. This someone will just see headphones and no interaction for me, so they'll have no idea what I have, and if I'm walking in a bad part of town at dark, no one will be inclined to mug me for my $400 toy cause they wont know if it's a $400 iPod or a $2 FM radio
Viva La Revolucion! Buy a Mac!
Not only does this back pack have a pretty slick shoulder strap oriented set of controls for your iPod, with the pocket for the iPod between you and the back pack (which I find comforting, no way to lose it or have it stolen), but it also has a side entry compartment for your laptop. It's a back pack, laptop case, and iPod companion/remote. I know people who have spent $200 plus on a laptop case alone and that's a case that screams "hey look at me, I have a laptop!" I'm pretty sure they didn't skimp out on the padding and protection for the laptop either.
Something this cool (did you SEE the remote buttons on the should strap?) is worth $200 IMHO.
"Here, let me mount this $400 piece of highly-desirable electronics behind my back, in an open mesh pocket, behind sturdy feeling-insulation."
I'm actually looking forward to this. By the time the next guy on the street turns around... I'll finally have an iPod!
I don't see what the big deal is about this bag, especially since it isn't even for snowboarding. There's nothing it offers that the remote that comes with the iPod couldn't provide. This bag made by Osiris is pretty cool and runs $109 and at least comes with speakers built into it.
And now, this...thing, while the 5 GB iPod is still advertised (starting at just $299!) and yet still "temporarily unavailable" ... it adds insult to injury. Except that I no longer have the capacity to feel either insult or injury.
*shakes fist at Cupertino*
Damn you, Apple! You've devoured my soul! Are you happy now???
Ask me about LOOM(TM).
...is it rainproof? If you get rained on with the backpack on (which happens often to students), does it still work? I know the material is, but what about the part with the controls? For all you iPod owners out there, it's a pretty cool contraption. I'd still rather have the jacket though.
Rich backpackers (second defn.) can now ipod effectively...
Sadly, now that I think about it, I don't know any rich backpackers (at least not wealthy enough to afford this). If there were, this would be the thing to elevate them to new levels of self-alienation.
what kind of a genius are you? I sewed the remote (with Sony headphone microplug AND display) of my CD walkman into the arm of my Nike rucksack about FIVE YEARS AGO - exactly what these idiots have done, except their solution doesn't allow you to properly control your machine. My solution cost me £200 for my top of the range Sony Discman, £35 for my Nike bag, and 15 minutes worth of scissor and needle work.
That was classic intercourse!
Pretty good point you got there. Most Apple products seem to ripen only after the purchase. It took Apple many months until the 5 gig iPod worked (again).
:)
But ever since firmware 1.2.6 iPods are working like a charm, so there is no more excuse not to get one.
I guess, the Burton solution is for the rest of us who can't sew...
if you can't work out how to hold two pieces of fabric together with a needle and cotton then you're probably better off dead
seriously
That was classic intercourse!
you'd better hope you never get ill
That was classic intercourse!
It's a fucking hard drive with headphones. What exactly do you want them to upgrade? Your ears?
While MIT-style pie-in-the-sky prototypes are cool, I've always felt that wearables will start with basic needs, like the Amp jacket and now the backpack. They seem simple, sure, but the fact that these have cable-runs in them, and permanent (washable!) controls, are definitely a step towards smart clothes and apparal.
If there was a jacket that had a basic, durable, waterproof microphone in the collar, and a cable run to a headphone jack, I'd be all over that. Of course, the real way to go would be Blootoof, but still...
Apple is just the kind of company to do these things, especially partnered with Burton. Not really being serious, but imagine...
Dell Jacket - very cheap, comes in beige, performs well but looks like ass
Gateway jacket - cow spots, say no more
Microsoft jacket - automagically transforms into straightjacket when you play an illegal MP3, calls the police
If Jesus wants me it knows where to find me.
Yes, post your letters to apple on slashdot stories. This is certainly where they come to check up on public opinion.
to email me: take my
You do know, of course, that Ms Rosen fears dongs. Dongs remind her of daddy, and his midnight visits to her room. That's why she's with like-minded Dong-Fearing Elizabeth Birch.
You people need to get out more often.
/*- Mohammed -*/
What do you mean, "what exactly do you want them to upgrade?"
You're correct, it is a "fucking hard drive with headphones."
Maybe larger capacities for the iPods? Better headphones/earbuds? Or is it impossible to upgrade those things? Ummmmm... NOPE!
No wonder you posted under Anonymous Coward...
- Danny
Ya never know what Apple does to check up on what people think... but then again it's Apple :)
- Danny
... but how would you feel if you just bought an iPod, then Apple releases a newer one with higher capacities or the same model now at a lower price one to three weeks later? When I got my iMac, two weeks later they released the multicolored ones with a lower price. Okay, you bought a $300 VCR in the 80's, but two weeks later it didn't drop to $75 and improve in video quality, it took 10 years or more for this dramatic change to occur... not two or three weeks.
- Danny
"Idiot. Do you expect Apple to stop upgrading stuff altogether when YOU buy one of their products?"
No... I never said anything like that at all. I would like my iPod to be new for a little while before another update. If I had the money in the summer to buy a new one I would have and this post would have been null.
"If you had gotten one of the multi-coloured ones, you'd be here whining that then Apple came up with the slot-loading variety."
I would have been quite happy with a multicolored iMac and I understand that Apple must update them to attempt to keep up with the competition. But you must have misunderstood when I said, "when I bought my rev B. iMac and then you came out with the multi-colored ones at faster mhz." I'm not talking about 6 months later, I'm talking about 2-3 weeks. And if you remember, not only did these iMacs come with the option of colors and a faster G3, they were cheaper as well. A mere $100 drop isn't much but what if you bought a top-of-the-line PowerMac with an Apple LCD display for around $7000 and then the next day it drops to $5000 due to an update, I'm sure you'll feel a little cheated.
"Cry me a fucking river, asshat. Buy stuff when you want to, not when marketdroids tell you to."
No wonder you posted under anonymous coward, only cowards insult people and runs. The "marketdroids" at Apple tell us nothing before releasing a product I know Mac users would like to know, but that would seriously hurt sales. That's why when a product is greater than 6 months old, usually Mac users wait for an update before purchasing a product.
- Danny
Yeah damn those guys for updating their products! If they would just refuse to update anything at all, then we'd ALL win!
Random is the New Order.
Ohh geez the bag costs 200 bucks!!! Dear lord no, why pay more than a tenspot for a bag, any bag. I'll ask my fiance and her coach purse. Lets be honest this backpack is a status symbol!! If you like it you will buy it, if you dont, you wont. Thats how it should be. When a product comes out on the market ask yourself two questions. 1. Do you need it? 2. Do you want it? If answer to number 1 is yes by all means buy it. If answer to 2 is yes, use your head, good judgement and checkbook balance. If the answer to either is no dont buy it!!!! If you think it costs too much.... Dont buy it. If you cant stand it because its the wrong color dont buy it. If you dont like it, dont buy it. I testify that that speaks volumes more information to the manufacturer than whining about the product will.
Um, maybe none of you have noticed, but it looks like this backpack will not fit as well as many of you will expect a $200 backpack to fit. Look at the backpanel. It has circles. They will hurt your spine after a few hours. Also, the straps suck. And there is no way to lash things to the outside. And, it's got a teardrop shape that will not let you fits bokss or anything inside.