iPod Socks

image Today Apple announced the iPod photo, an iPod that will allow you to view pictures as well as play music. But they also introduced a new product that's getting less attention: the iPod sock. The socks, priced at the non-bargain price of $29, will come five to a pack, each sock in a different color. Their purpose will be to "keep your iPod warm". According to the Mac Observer, "Those in attendance offered Mr. Jobs a round of enthusiastic applause when it became clear that this was indeed a real product." I'm not so sure. An iPod sock? That's got to be a joke. First of all, it doesn't allow you access to the controls, so it's entirely useless. Second, if it's real, why is there no mention of it on Apple's site? And third, there's already a well-known (and far superior) iPod sock already on the market: Maneesh's Super Case. CNET has a picture of the iPod sock warming an iPod.

Technology

Posted on Wed Oct 27, 2004



Comments

Two comments. I believe newer versions of the ipod include a remote control, so acessing the buttons isn't an issue. Second, there are reasons to keep gadgets warm... Batteries will have lower voltage when they get cold, and the device will often turn off, believing its battery to be dead.
Posted by PlantPerson  on  Wed Oct 27, 2004  at  09:58 AM
I don't have an iPod, so maybe this is a stupid question...but I thought they were like a walk-man, in that they were small & hand-held, or clipped onto clothing, or backpacks/purses. Why would you need a remote...how lazy can you get? Like I said though, I don't have one...so maybe it's not really what I think it is.
Posted by Maegan  on  Wed Oct 27, 2004  at  12:07 PM
A remote is useful with an iPod if it's hooked up to a stereo.
Posted by The Curator  in  San Diego  on  Wed Oct 27, 2004  at  01:01 PM
so much for fact-checking (that's steve jobs on the left.)
Posted by Michell  on  Wed Oct 27, 2004  at  03:59 PM
Yeah, I saw Steve Jobs there. But my point was that he may have been joking (he is known to be a bit of a prankster). Even though the iPod sock is most likely real, it is a very strange thing for Apple to choose as its very first Apple-branded iPod accessory.
Posted by The Curator  in  San Diego  on  Wed Oct 27, 2004  at  04:10 PM
That, I agree with. 😊
Despite being a strange first choice for accessory, it's a nice and quirky way of releasing a branded line of products. Here's for hoping.
(the fact-checking reference wasn't meant as an offense. 😊
Posted by Michell  on  Wed Oct 27, 2004  at  04:31 PM
Boy, I still haven't figured out why they make bras for cars, and now here are socks for iPods.
Posted by Big Gary C  on  Wed Oct 27, 2004  at  06:09 PM
If this product IS real, why would you need five of them? Do many people have FIVE iPods?
Posted by Big Gary C  on  Wed Oct 27, 2004  at  06:10 PM
First, the sock is ideal.
Second, I remove my iPod from the case maybe once or twice every two hours or so.
Third, keeping your iPod warm is a good idea. Sure it's warm when its running but, when it's in sleep mode letting it get cold can often require a reset to get it started again. iPods don't like the cold.
Posted by Restiffbard  on  Wed Oct 27, 2004  at  08:15 PM
Well now i have to say, apple is competing in a crowded market with their new sock. I have so many socks in my clothes draw that another 6 will fill it to overflowing.

I prefer my foofpod as the superior 'sock' original

It's actually made it out of the clothes department and into my pocket.

dirtymouse - (co creator of foofpod)
Posted by dirtymouse  on  Thu Oct 28, 2004  at  02:48 AM
presumably they come in packs of five so there is one for the ipod, one pair for you to wear, and another for when the first pair are in the wash!
Posted by fenix down  on  Thu Oct 28, 2004  at  10:39 AM
The way he breezed past this in the presentation, I thought it was a joke. Now it's showing up all over the net. It has to be a joke, right?
Posted by Rich  on  Thu Oct 28, 2004  at  05:42 PM
You know, as far as not allowing access to the controls ain't a big idea
Posted by This guy...  on  Fri Oct 29, 2004  at  09:36 AM
Its not a hoax !!
http://store.apple.com/1-800-MY-APPLE/WebObjects/initial.woa/wa/initial?lpid=170519
Posted by Lars Groeger  on  Thu Nov 11, 2004  at  05:41 AM
It's not a hoax, although granted, it seems quite useless. Me and my sister bought our father an iPod in an attempt to get him up to speed on todays technologically advancing world, and so for this past christmas, we bought him a set of these iPod socks as a cute, but expensive, gift. Totally useless. Maybe for the reasons someone listed above, but on most ipods, no remote control, and I've got to say, it is a hassle to put it in and take it out every time, especially since he bought himself a radio-transmitter to broadcast his tunes over his car stereo (the iPod has to be out of the sock to use it - it attaches on the multi-purpose port on the bottom).

All in all, I don't have any definitive proof I'm not lying, except for a lighter wallet, but they exist. My father usually keeps the grey and blue ones around, and my sister has taken the pink, green, and yellow ones that came with it and put them to various uses, like a change purse. Useless invention, I've got to say. But cute nonetheless. I was surprised to see it up here though.
Posted by Matt  on  Tue Jul 12, 2005  at  09:28 PM
The sock for iPod has got to be the dumbest product ever. The only people that would buy this are apple freaks who buy everything apple puts out (useless or not), and girls that think the socks look "cute" or "they match my outfit". Otherwise, the sock is completely worthless as an iPod case.

I'll say one thing for the sock. It cements my believe that apple cares only about style, look and feel, rather then functionality. Nobody seems to care that the socks is worthless, they buy it because "it's cool". It's not cool, it's retarded.
Posted by Dan  on  Mon Dec 12, 2005  at  01:58 PM
my personal opinion is that the iPod sock is actually pretty pricey. i mean 29$ for 5 socks? i found some at walmart. the same colors, size, just about everything the iPod sock has except the iPod logo. but the difference is that its only 5$.

anyways i like the iPod socks because they are just cool to have. i don't know why but its nice. and actually its not that big of a deal to take out the iPod and change songs. i mean i usually am waiting for the tram or on the tram waiting, once again. and its not like i have anything else to do.

finally i just think its pretty damn expensive. but if you got the kind of cash to spend it on this kind of stuff i would say do it. if not go to Wal-Mart and get it for 5$.

-Paul

oh and i haven't figured out how to wash it yet. i'm scared it will shrink badly.
Posted by Paul Feist  on  Tue Nov 28, 2006  at  11:39 AM
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