The iPod Nation

Overview

Price: $9.99

Material: Polycarbonate

Colors: Black, White, Grey, Fushia, Pink, Blue, Baby Blue, Purple

Style: One-Piece Slim Fit

Retailers: www.inspiretech.com

The Inspiretech iPod Touch 2G case is definitely worth getting for those who want to protect their high-end iPod from scratches and minor impact damage. We tested out the shipping process by placing an order on monday and were able to receive the package by thursday of the same week. This time around we did not speak to customer service because we did not expect to recieve it so promptly.

With the iPod Touch such a popular sale over Christmas, there will inevitably be a lot of people out shopping for accessories. The typical accessories to have are cases and iPod Touch 2G car chargers.

The Inspiretech iPod Touch 2G Case was the first case we recieved for review and in keeping with their track record, the company has delivered another quality product. The cases come in 8 different colors ranging from the typical black and white to the outlandish pink and fushia.

The main body of the case is made of polycarbonate which means it is both impact and temperature resistant. Many users have commented that the chrome finish on iPods tend to scratch easily which is why there is such a high demand for protective cases. The Inspiretech iPod Touch 2G case does its job well and still manages to not become unsightly. Removing the case can be a little tricky but heres a tip; peel from the bottom left corner with your left thumb while you grip the ipod volume controls with your right thumb!

Priced at $9.99 it seriously undercuts the iPod case market by a significant margin. If you’re looking for a sleek and elegant protective case for your iPod Touch 2G, the Inspiretech iPod 2G case is a sure bet!

-Derek

[Source: Inspiretech]

The iPod Touch 2nd Gen was a huge hit over Christmas 2008. Basically an iPhone without the phone, the iPod Touch is priced much more reasonably than the iPhone and is the perfect choice for those who are happy just talking on their phones and have no need to pay an exorbitant amount to AT&T for the data plan. The App store reported an influx of downloads over Christmas with most of those coming from iPod Touch users. Amazon has reported the iPod Touch as their number one selling MP3 player and many companies have already started to order more iPod Touch 2G accessories in preparation for the large demand following receipt of the iPod Touch 2G as Christmas presents.
-Derek
[Source: macrumors]

The Android G1 from T-Mobile is gaining in popularity but one of the main complaints is its lack of a proper headphone jack. A few innovative do it yourselfers figured out a way to connect a G1 Android to an iPod dock. The hack is said to be very precise and delicate, doing such a hack is not for the faint of heart. The hackers took apart a HTC ExtUSB adapter for the Android phone and soldered it to the iPod dock’s female connector. Not only does the G1 play audio via the iPod dock, it charges the Android phone as well. It isn’t the cleanest hack in the world, but it works. Although this hack is pretty darn cool, why not use a universal speaker system with an AUX instead? Sure you can’t charge the G1 with it but you’ll still be able to play music. But hacking just sounds so much cooler I guess.

-Ray

[Source: gizmodo]

Inspiretech recently released their new iPod touch 2G Slim Fit polycarbonate cases. Made exclusively for the iPod touch second generation, they’re made out of highly durable polycarbonate for a long lifespan and is less likely to crack like other iPod touch cases. The iPod touch 2G case protects the back and side edges of the second generation iPod touch while still giving full access to the touch screen, camera and ports while protecting your iPod touch from scrapes or falls. Inspiretech includes a full one year manufactures warranty. The slick looking Inspiretech Slim Fit cases come in eight colors: black, dark silver, pearl white, dark blue, baby blue, purple, red, pink and fuchsia.

-Ray

[Source: iPod touch 2G case ]

Imagine you are planning your honeymoon or romantic getaway for your significant other. Imagine you want to make all your friends or coworkers jealous. Well you can now with a new feature from Sheraton Maui Resort & Spa. Sheraton Maui allows its guests to download a notescast prior to their arrival at the resort. The notescast is a file from the Sheraton Maui site and it gives you information regarding your room and the resort. It also includes pictures just so you know what to expect (or just to make your friends jealous, depending on how much money you spend). Although this maybe something that is not worth mentioning, it just shows the direction every industry is taking in regards to technology. Everybody is being more technology-centric. It also shows how the Apple iPod has become a staple in our society.

- Geoff

[Source: HotelChatter]

Kenwood released their I-K50 car head unit that features support for Apple’s iPod and iPhone with its front-mounted USB port. The Kenwood I-K50’s CD can play MP3, WMA and AAC filed. The USB front-mounted USB port lets you plug in flash memory with music on them as well. The best feature is that you can plug in your iPod or iPhone and control it with the head units controls instead of from your iPod with other auxiliary head units. You can search your music collection and play or skip songs without ever looking at your iPod making it safer for drivers. Kenwood is planning on releasing the I-K50 in January and will go for about $260.

-Ray

[Source: ipodnn]

In the end, the iPod will always be better than the Zune. Even while saving a life, people can’t leave home without their Apple iPod. A teenager from across the pond in the United Kingdom was given the rare opportunity to listen to his iPod while he was undergoing brain surgery. Gavin Brooke, who is 18 years of age, required surgery so that a brain tumor could be removed. But the doctors wanted Brooke to be awake during the surgery just so they knew it wasn’t damaging his brain. So in order for him to stay awake, the allowed him to bring his iPod and connect it to the surgery room’s sound system. The first track Brooke chose to listen to was “Apologize” by Timbaland featuring One Republic. The funny thing about this is that this was his second time undergoing the surgery. During the first brain surgery, the doctor were unable to fully remove the tumor. According to the head surgeon,

“The tumor was in a very difficult place that controls the movement of the body,” Andrew McElroy, the head neurosurgeon told The Sun newspaper. “And we had to ensure we didn’t damage the surrounding area. A few millimeters too far could have paralyzed him, so I let him listen to his iPod. We talked to him all the way through, and he was happy with his music on.”

Well apparently, the iPod saved Gavin Brooke’s life. I’m not quite sure if I would of chosen Timbaland and One Republic as the artists I would want to listen to. Given the fact that I have several surgeons with sharp knives working on my brain, I wouldn’t want to distract them with that kind of garbage music. But oh well. It did the job. Congratulations Gavin Brooke. And kudos to Apple for their beloved iPod.

- Geoff

[Source: CNET]

Parrot, makers or speakers and home theater accessories, announced that will release their Zikmu series of wireless speakers for the iPod and the iPhone. Developed along with designer Philippe Starck these 2.5 feet high columns has a dock that works with the iPod, iPhone and the iPhone 3G . It plays music through the dock as well as charges the device attached to it. The main speaker tower sends music to the other speaker via Bluetooth. It can also use Bluetooth to play music from other music players and cell phones. It also features Wi-Fi so you can connect to nearby computers. The speakers are available in black and go for $1500 sometime this spring.

-Ray

[Source: ipodnn]

I have the Pac-Man game app on my iPhone, it was free and it is one of my favorite games of all time. Many other people have the game too, but Khantipol Kasemsant of Bangkok took his obsession with Pac-Man one step further. He built a small enclosure to hold his iPod touch and recreated the retro arcade game cabinet. Made out of paper the retro game cabinet was printed from a template he discovered online and cut it out of heavy grade stock to hold his iPod touch in place. If I wasn’t so lazy I would probably try something like this, but I’m pretty damn lazy and just want to get my Pac-Man on.

-Ray

[Source: electronista]

If you are tired of those simple iPod dock devices such as iPod Dock Clock Radios and what not, then iLuv has something that might interest you. It is called the i9500 iPod/CD Sound System from iLuv. The iLuv sound system supports 4 CDs at a time as well as a dock for any Apple iPod. In addition, the sound system can support microSD flash memory cards as well as USB flash drives. It also comes with the usual FM/AM tuner and a alarm clock. The system looks great. Not really sure what size that subwoofer is, but it looks like it packs a mean punch. There is no official word to what the retail price would be, but it is expected to make its debut at the Consumer Electronics Show on January 9, 2009.

- Geoff

[Source: Engadget]