“Designed by Apple in California, Assembled in China” – flip over any iPod or iPhone and this statement appears on the back. The popularity of these personal electronics from Apple has spawned an enormous accessories market that too has followed suit with regards to manufacturing and followed Apple’s lead of producing their products outside of America. But that is not the case with every company. Apex Armor of Milpitas, California is bucking the trend with their line of aluminum cases for the current generation iPod Nanos and iPhone. Video after the jump
You might not be aware that different stories are sometimes posted on the KineticShift Facebook wall, but if you missed the post on the Apple iPod Nano recall, this information is worth passing on to all of our readers. Apple has decided to recall some on the early 1st generation iPod Nanos. Apparently the battery in some of these units are overheating and may “pose a safety risk.” The specific Nanos being recalled were sold between September 2005 and December 2006, and the issue has been traced to a single battery supplier.
We’ve heard that the folks over at Heelys have gotten requests for shoes in “larger sizes,” and the company has decided to accommodate those requests. Heelys, for those not in the know, have been popular shoes for the tween crowd and are the shoes with the build in skate wheel in the heel. No doubt marketed at those without nice hardwood floors, the shoes have been the bane of existence of schools and shopping malls since they were introduced.
We hate to be a “Negative Nelly” about the shoes, but we question whether any teen other than Urkel from that TV show with Urkel would be caught dead wearing shoes with wheels in the heel. Now the company is looking to go extreme, with larger size shoes and even the new Nano that stays connected to the wearer’s shoe. In the video below it does look kind of cool – but notice the disclaimer says “performed by professional stuntman.” That sort of says, “Don’t try this at home, “which really defeats the purpose. In the end, would any adult really need wheels in their shoes?
Kinetic(Mis)Shift are products that we think deserve to be called out for their utter lack of fitness benefits.
Apple’s new iPod Nano is the ideal fitness gadget. It plays your digital tunes, of course, and now with the FM tuner you have access to the radio when you’ve grown tired of the music you own. It’s also smaller than before, making it light and unobtrusive in your pocket when you’re working out. Plus, a built-in clip means you can easily attach it to your shirt while running. As if those features aren’t enough, there’s a pedometer you can use to track your steps and the Nano works with the Nike+ feature to track your fitness progress. Unlike the even smaller iPod Shuffle, the Nano has a touchscreen that lets you see and control it.
But you know what? It’s hard to justify spending $149 to $179 for another music player, especially since many of us already own an MP3 player and/or iPhone or similar device. That is until we saw the Griffin Slap, a flexible wristband case for the Nano that turns it into a watch. You won’t have to worry about accidentally losing your Nano by forgetting it on the treadmill or getting it detached from your shirt during exercise, since it’s on your wrist the whole time. And, at only $25, it turns the Nano into an awesome watch.
