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Media (Apple) Businesses Media Apple

Amp Pack for iPod 78

Posted by pudge from the yikes-indeed dept.
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."
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Amp Pack for iPod More

Amp Pack for iPod

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  • Money (Score:5, Funny)

    by isorox ( 205688 ) on Monday April 07, 2003 @01:52PM (#5680401) Homepage Journal
    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.

    • Re:remote? (Score:3, Interesting)

      by ElGanzoLoco ( 642888 )
      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.

      This stuff sounds pretty useless indeed: I still have to see the iPod's screen to select my playlist/album... and with the iPod in the backpack, well, I'm not sure how I'm going to do that.

      Still it marks the -humble and overpriced- first steps of "wearable computing" everybody's been raving about.

      It's only about music for the m
      • yeah, i mean i knew stuff like this will be coming out alot in the near future. but right now it doesnt seem like its really worth using...i dont use pda's cause, well i just use post-its and a small calander book, def. alot cheaper. But im sure sooner or later we will all be carrying screens and stuff around like that. just give it time :)

      • Re:remote? (Score:3, Interesting)

        by Oculus Habent ( 562837 )
        Here's a Real Wearable [mit.edu]. The upside is it's free. The downside is that everything is an add-on.

  • Note... (Score:5, Insightful)

    by Otter ( 3800 ) on Monday April 07, 2003 @02:20PM (#5680583) Journal
    Here's the kicker, it will cost $200!

    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.

    • this is not for backcountry riding, the market is for kids on slopes who wear backpacks. At least in Vermont I see lots of people with jansport or oakley packs that are fashionable, but not terribly functional. Burton knows this, so does Apple. Otherwise, arc'teryx would make the pack and it would be 700$. The bag is for tunes on the local mountain or campus, not Whistler or backcountry BC.

      • Re:Note... (Score:1, Insightful)

        by Anonymous Coward
        I don't think it's even that, though -- it's designed to hold a laptop, doesn't look like it could hold your lunch comfortably and doesn't have a board strap or anything snowboard specific. I think it's aimed at campus far more than the local hill.

  • If only they'd make a car unit (Score:5, Interesting)

    by pauljlucas ( 529435 ) on Monday April 07, 2003 @02:26PM (#5680642) Homepage Journal
    The only places I listen to music are my home and my car. I wish Apple would partner with somebody to make an in-dash unit into which you'd insert an iPod (almost like inserting a casette). The iPod would then be controlled via a panel on the in-dash unit and would receive power from the car's power system.

    In the mean-time, I bought one of these [ssiamerica.com].

    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.

    • Re:If only they'd make a car unit (Score:5, Informative)

      by tbmaddux ( 145207 ) on Monday April 07, 2003 @03:48PM (#5681272) Homepage Journal
      ...those things that allow you to broadcast iPod output on an FM frequency... bring back bad memories of CD/cassette adapters with wires all over the place...
      I currently use one of those lousy cassette adapters. All the FM adapters are just as annoying and wiry, except for the iTrip [griffintechnology.com] made by Griffin Technology.

      It's the first FM transmitter device that looks well-suited to the iPod -- so far I've only seen its pictures in magazines and haven't seen one at a local Apple Store or in online stores yet.

    • There is one already.

      It's called TransPod [welovemacs.com]

      FM transmitter/charger/mount. The works.
      • There is one already. It's called TransPod
        No there isn't. It's not in-dash as I specifically stated. It uses FM as I specifically stated I did not want. It has a wire plugged into the cigarette lighter: ugh. Stop wasting my time.

        • Re:If only they'd make a car unit (Score:1, Funny)

          by Anonymous Coward
          calm down. rofl. with an attitude like that you're going to shit your pants and give yourself a heart-attack. You sound like one of pixars 'ants' who lost his way when the leaf lands in front of him. just be calm man. be calm. Smoke some weed or something if you can't do it naturally.

        • No there isn't. It's not in-dash as I specifically stated. It uses FM as I specifically stated I did not want. It has a wire plugged into the cigarette lighter: ugh. Stop wasting my time.

          Wow. You're a goddamn retard. I tried to contribute to the discussion and you turn around and get all hostile? Calm down, nerd.

          Let me break your description down and show you how much of an utter moron you are.

          I wish Apple would partner with somebody to make an in-dash unit into which you'd insert an iPod (almost like

          • In dash or firmly attached to dashboard aren't really far off.

            Irrelevant. In-dash is my requirement. I'm entitled to have any requirements I please as are you. If I want is-dash, then, damn it, that's what I want: no compromises.

            Who the fuck, besides bearded fags like yourself,

            Ah, an ad-homenim remark: truly the first resort of an mature person. (In case you couldn't tell, that was sarcasm.)

            would replace his in-dash stereo with a proprietary iPod player?

            Newsflash: the factory stereo tha

    • The best thing to do is buy a car stereo with an aux input. I used to use an FM modulator (commonly used to add XM Radio) but the sound quality was really bad compared to my current solution... A JVC KD-SH55 CD player with 1/8" aux input jack on the front, a 1/8" stereo audio cable, an iPod car charger, and of course, an iPod. Absolutely excellent sound quality.

  • ick (Score:3, Interesting)

    by mrpuffypants ( 444598 ) <mrpuffypants@@@gmail...com> on Monday April 07, 2003 @02:45PM (#5680800)
    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

  • Not a US product sheet? (Score:4, Interesting)

    by Duck_Taffy ( 551144 ) <cheneyho.yahoo@com> on Monday April 07, 2003 @02:54PM (#5680855)
    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.
  • I mean, I have been a Mac fan for years and you could easily talk me into paying maybe a little extra for a Apple computer. But $200 for this is, umm, well, almost as much as the iPod itself!

    • Apple and Burton products are equally cool and equally expensive.
    • The misconception that is happening here is that people are thinking that this is a $5 carrying case that Burton turned into a bag.

      It's not. It's a Burton bag (that usually costs between $120 an $250) that now has a small compartment for an iPod and a built-in remote.

      $200 is a lot of money for a bag to most of us, but those who buy Burton bags are used to it.
  • 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

  • Another reason for price (Score:5, Insightful)

    by G3ek ( 589803 ) <iclintb AT mac DOT com> on Monday April 07, 2003 @04:37PM (#5681579) Homepage
    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!

  • $200?!? (Score:2, Informative)

    by halepark ( 578694 )
    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 [yimg.com] made by Osiris is pretty cool and runs $109 and at least comes with speakers built into it.

  • The last straw (Score:4, Informative)

    by Megs ( 75547 ) on Monday April 07, 2003 @05:53PM (#5682063) Journal
    You know, ever since the 5 GB iPod (which IMHO has had a terrible price point when compared with the 10 GB and 20 GB models, which gave you so much more iPod for proportionally little more money) stopped being available at the Apple Store [apple.com], which was, oh, three months ago, I have gone into fits every time Apple updated every damned aspect of their product line besides the poor iPods, which I want to see updated or at least reduced in price so very very much.

    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???

  • ...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 [apple.com] though.
  • Rich backpackers [everything2.com] (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.
    • 200 dollar for a backpack is nothing for me. A cheap backpack goes for $150, mid range is $250, and for a North Face uber backpack, say hello to 400 to 500 dollars. I am talking about hiking backpacks, but even with backpacks that I carry to school I would be willing to part with $200 if it had good wieght distribution and a nice, comfortable frame.

  • Apple and wearables? (Score:3, Funny)

    by thatguywhoiam ( 524290 ) on Tuesday April 08, 2003 @08:37AM (#5685598)
    Anyone else get the distinct impression that Apple is dipping a toe into the Wearable Computing pool?

    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

  • 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 answe
  • 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.

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