Nike kicks out Performance Hatphones for your iPod nano
By Darren Murph 
posted February 2nd 2007 7:26PM
posted February 2nd 2007 7:26PM
If you poor souls have really been running around with one of the iSoundCap contraptions on your dome in order to bring your iPod a bit closer to your skull, you've finally got a somewhat stylish alternative. Seeing a huge opportunity, Nike has jumped into the strap-your-DAP-on-your-head game with its Performance Hatphones. No, there's no Bluetooth connectivity or any other connection to a mobile handset, but we're assuming Nike is just replacing "ear" with "hat" and calling it a day. Anyways, the fleece caps are designed to keep your noggin toasty while providing a "fully functional iPod nano click wheel" on the outer rim -- you know, so you appear to be calling yourself "loco" while scrolling from Abba to Zebrahead. So if you're looking for the perfect winter companion to your C.O.R.E. Backpack iD (or just really love the swoosh), you can pick one of these up for yourself or the opposite sex in a variety of colors for $60 a pop.[Via Slashgear]
This thing is so pointless. A better idea would be bluetooth headphones and carry your nano in pocket/shirt/hands. Running with an iPod on my head is the last thing I would want to do.
I love you Americans. You come up with so many names for a toque! Knit cap, fliece cap, knitted hat... it's hilarious to us Canadians. Maybe we just have to wear them so much we came up with a name rather than a description of the item.
Yeah, we have one name too, "beanie"... nobody (except companies) calls it anything other than that.
common sense would tell you that everything you described as being the same are all different types of hats.
Ken, you should update the wikipedia page on the beanie! Because it states that term is used in the UK, NZ and Australia, and lists several other terms that are used in the US of A. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beanie_cap
I'm sorry, but I just don't understand what this is. Does it just hold your iPod on your head? Or does have integrated headphones in the fabric that slip right over your ears. That sounds a lot more useful to me.
I just don't get what's up with Nike and the Nano....really. Sure, Nanos are smaller and most people probably prefer them for running. But why not let the consumer decide which iPod they wish to use while running...why piss on the Shuffle and Video? I would own this and every other Nike+ product ever...if realize their market and Just Do It. I have money, they have prohibitive restrictions. As a result, they also have fewer customers. Now that's Business 2.0, no?
code red @ Feb 2nd 2007 10:26PM
I just don't get what's up with Nike and the Nano....really. Sure, Nanos are smaller and most people probably prefer them for running. But why not let the consumer decide which iPod they wish to use while running...why piss on the Shuffle and Video?
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The reasons (as I understand them) are:
Shuffle has no display. Nano has. Unit needs a display.
Why isn't it used on the Video models? Nano is flash-memory-based, other models are hard-drive based and more prone to shocks and sensitivities of running activity. Apple wouldn't like an incresed rate of returns on the more sensitive-to-shock hard-drive based iPods due to running activity.
What the...?
I was born in California, moved to Pennsylvania in my late teens, got married in NY, moved back to California, and now live in Utah... and everywhere they call them beanies.
Maybe I only meet people that use UK/NZ terms. :P
What about one for the Zune?
Yeah, I know, negative ranking.
"so you appear to be calling yourself "loco" while scrolling from Abba to Zebrahead."
Hahaha! That was brilliant!
On a more serious note, I do run with a Nano and Nike+ and my major complaint is pulling it out of my pocket and lowering or raising the volume, pausing, etc. Since, I've been running during this winter, this cap might be useful.
As to why Apple does not make the Nike+ system work with anything but a Nano, it is because the shuffle does not have a screen and the othe iPods have moving hard drives. Apple says that running will drastically reduce the life of the hard drive.
Parapa the rapa called...he wants his hat back.
*sob* MAKE THE IPOD ACCESSORIES STOP...
Why?
http://spot.colorado.edu/~shortk/nike.html
I love to wear advertisements for companies, and pay for the privilege of doing it. (just do it)
haha how weird, although mine doesnt hold the hat, i made a hat with integrated speakers. o well, i guess nike took my sales, even though mine is like 1/4 the price. check it out:
www.creativelifedesigns.net
@ adrian tanner
whoops, i meant it doesnt hold the ipod
Why? Because not only are there way way way too many of them, but, believe it or not, the iPod won't always be the dominant music player. So all the time and money that companies and consumers alike have put into these silly things will be for nothing. Well, the companies made some money, it's mainly the consumers that get boned.
This could apply to just about anything, but I think we've seen a whole new level of stupid accessories with the iPod. I just wish it would stop.