IpodController
Latest
Alpine eX-10 makes in-car handsfree calling, iPod integration a sinch
Alpine's already shown us (however briefly) one of its newfangled in-car audio accessories, and now it's time for numero dos. The eX-10 is a stylish iPod controller / Bluetooth adapter that includes a dash-mountable, full-color 2.4-inch display unit to clearly show what's spinnin' on your iPod. It also comes bundled with a remote to keep you marginally less distracted when flipping through playlists, and it saves you the trouble of hard wiring anything by operating on a spare FM slot. Granted, FM transmitters are always hit 'n (mostly) miss, but this unit allows users to hook things up via a 3.5-millimeter auxiliary jack if their head unit accepts such an input. Look for this one to start shipping at any moment for $199.99, and be sure to check out a closeup of the LCD after the jump.
Zicplay EWOO remote boasts LCD for iPod / iTunes menus
There's been more than a few iPod docking stations / speaker systems released here in the past few, um, hours, but even if the one you're eying sports a wireless remote, chances are it'll arrive sans a built-in screen. If you'd rather control your iPod's speaker system without actually squinting from 20 feet away trying to read that cluttered playlist from afar, Zicplay's oddly-titled EWOO can probably help. Similar in nature (and design) to Keyspan's TuneView and Alive Style's Popalive, this presumably Bluetooth-enabled remote comes with its own proprietary docking station that holds your iPod and transmits the menus directly to your EWOO remote. The dock outputs out via optical digital or analog stereo, and channels video via S-Video, while the remote weighs in at 60 grams and sports a battery life of "about 10 days." So if you're not a proud owner already of one of the two aforementioned alternatives, you can pick this flavor up for $129 next month.[Via MobileWhack]
G-Tech kicks out Bluetooth-enabled iPod backpack
Similar to another company we're familiar with, G-Tech has hit it big by slapping iPod-compatibility onto an otherwise drab offering, and now the company has upped the ante by tossing in Bluetooth. Unveiled at CES, the self-proclaimed Next-Generation Messenger Bags with Bluetooth feature the same Eleksen ElekTex smart fabric controls right on the strap, but these controls now control the track / volume functions of your dock-connecting iPod as well as the volume / mute of your phone. The Bluetooth functionality simply allows users to easily mute their iPod to take an incoming call, and the built-in speaker can also pump out the jams (rather meekly, we assume) with any audio device that connects via a 3.5-millimeter cable. There's no word on price or availability, but if you're really dead set on owning an iPod-controlling pack, might we suggest one that doesn't look like an early '90s experiment gone awry?[Via Textually]
Nike unveils iPod-controlling C.O.R.E. Backpack iD
We're sure you're well aware of Nike and Apple's mutual partnership (or two) by now, and this time Nike's C.O.R.E. Backpack iD is getting some familiar iPod lovin' with a built-in remote keypad system and dock connector interface. While we're fairly certain you already own at least one piece of apparel with electrostatic iPod controls on them, they'll eventually end up in the wash (we hope), leaving you liaison-less for the day. With Nike's new pack, your books, laptop, Cheetos stash, and little white (or colorful) Apple are all taken care of on a daily basis. Nike allows you to fully customize the backpack, and aside from choosing your alma mater's colors, the "Nike Flow" backpanel, or the sweet "security zippers," you can opt to have the iPod controls built straight into the strap. Per usual, you can dictate the volume, track, and play / pause / stop functions while on the go, and it even boasts a handy headphone port as well as a storage compartment for when you ditch the cans and actually pay attention in class. The C.O.R.E. Backpack iD starts at just $55, but the oh-so-tempting iPod interface bumps the price up to $105, but it's still a bit cheaper than your alternatives.[Via iLounge]
G-Tech kicks out iPod-controlling Messenger Bags with integrated speaker
'Tis the season for iPod controls on every piece of wearable kit possible? Apparently you stand a decent chance at being given some form of iPod-enabled clothing / gear this holiday season, as a swarm of manufacturers are jazzing up their apparel with built-in controls for Apple's cashcow. On deck is G-Tech's Messenger Bag, which sports your average selection of handy compartments in which to store your notebook, cellphone, PDA, or other portable gadget, as well as coming in black / chocolate brown colors. This knapsack boasts Eleksen's ElekTex smart fabric controls -- a "unique five-layer laminate of electrically conductive materials that transforms fabric into an electronic touchpad" -- to handle the play / pause, volume, and track operations of your dock-connected 'Pod. If that weren't geeky enough, the bag also sports an integrated speaker (no word on wattage) and a 3.5-millimeter "extension jack" in case removing your DAP from the snug confines of the Messenger Bag proves too time consuming. If Monster's iEZClick lacked that dual functionality you yearn for, G-Tech's shoulder bag / iPod boombox hybrid is available now for $129.[Via Playlist]
URBAN TOOL's grooveRider iPod shirt
Just in case Ermenegildo Zegna's luxurious iPod jacket was a tad rich for your blood, or you just want that same utility in an everyday shirt, Australia's URBAN TOOL has you covered. Presumably designed for the always pleasant Aussie climate, this lightweight garment sports a joey-approved "secure pocket" to hold your iPod, nano, or mini, while the "smart fabric interface" allows you to control your 'Pod with the touch of a finger. If you're down with donning tees that resemble a scrub top, and don't mind fondling your own chest to crank up the volume or skip a track, the grooveRider shirt comes in black, khaki, and "savannah" colors, while boasting the ability to survive a wash cycle without any loss of button functionality. So if wheeling around that scroll wheel is just too inconvenient for you, this debatably fashionable iPod controller can simplify things for a whopping AUD$198 ($149).[Via AVing]
