When the iPod shuffle was announced back in January I expressed some concern about the “Spaghetti Factor“
I was expecting Apple to do something innovative with the lanyard like include the headphones in it, instead you plug headphones into the bottom (top?) and the result is a mass of spaghetti hanging from your neck. The spaghetti problem is blatantly obvious in the new TV ads where people are dancing around with them around their necks. I bet we’ll start hearing stories really soon now about how the lanyard/headphone combination gets caught car doors, etc.
An interesting product called the iDiddy appears to have addressed this oversight with a wearable and tangle-free earbud and case combination for all iPods.
The iDiddy is a quality product that starts with a gorgeous hand-sewn leather iPod case, but that’s where the similarity to other iPod cases ends. What makes the iDiddy different is that the earbuds have been embedded into their “iLanyard,” making the earbud wires otherwise invisible. The iLanyard can also be detached from the case and can be used with any audio device with an eighth-inch stereo mini jack. One nice feature is the small clips on the side of the iLanyard for attaching the earbuds when not is use. The iDiddy makes your iPod easy to hang on a hook when not in use and easy to grab when you’re on your way out the door. Read More…
When the iPod shuffle was announced back in January I expressed some concern about the “Spaghetti Factor“
I was expecting Apple to do something innovative with the lanyard like include the headphones in it, instead you plug headphones into the bottom (top?) and the result is a mass of spaghetti hanging from your neck. The spaghetti problem is blatantly obvious in the new TV ads where people are dancing around with them around their necks. I bet we’ll start hearing stories really soon now about how the lanyard/headphone combination gets caught car doors, etc.
An interesting product called the iDiddy appears to have addressed this oversight with a wearable and tangle-free earbud and case combination for all iPods.
The iDiddy is a quality product that starts with a gorgeous hand-sewn leather iPod case, but that’s where the similarity to other iPod cases ends. What makes the iDiddy different is that the earbuds have been embedded into their “iLanyard,” making the earbud wires otherwise invisible. The iLanyard can also be detached from the case and can be used with any audio device with an eighth-inch stereo mini jack. One nice feature is the small clips on the side of the iLanyard for attaching the earbuds when not is use. The iDiddy makes your iPod easy to hang on a hook when not in use and easy to grab when you’re on your way out the door.
The side effect of the iLanyard is that your iPod remains accessible and close to you without having an extra set of earbud wires dangling from your neck that get tangled and potentially caught in things. Not the mention that it eliminates the cable morass that every iPod user has dealt with – 10 minutes of detangling the headphones before you can actually plug them in!
The iDiddy also passes the O’Grady Gym Test with flying colors, performing well through 30 minutes or cardio and a mean set of preacher curls (the iDiddy didn’t get crushed). I thought that the girls were staring at me but later determined that it was just the schwag. iDiddy 1, Jason’s ego 0. The included earbuds are a step above the included Apple tinny-sounding model but won’t replace a high-end pair of ‘buds. They’re a hair larger than the iPod earbuds and ship with an extra set of foam covers.
The iDiddy design is simple yet effective. Simply drop your iPod in through the opening in the top of the case and plug the stereo mini jack into your iPod’s headphone port. I’d recommend checking the chrome lanyard connections to make sure that they’re tight before doing any jarring activity like running. They didn’t include a small hole above the control buttons in the shuffle model for the indicator LED, a small oversight (I rarely look at that LED anyway) in an otherwise great product.
The iDiddy is a synthesis of fashion and technology – it solves a tech problem and looks good at the same time. Available for all iPod models including the shuffle, mini and 4G/photo, the iDiddy comes in three leather colors: white, black or brown. Prices range from US$44.95 to $59.95.
