iLounge

1

I was thinking about buying one, but I just noticed that the iPod buttons will be covered up by that bar.  You will have to take the iPod out of the charger to gain access to them.  They should have made the buttons accessible too. 

Posted by iPodite on May 12, 2004 at 3:14 PM (PST)

2

I dont think it will.They are just showing the mini version there.It would be really stupid if they covered the buttons.

Posted by Ivan on May 12, 2004 at 3:28 PM (PST)

3

wow what a rip off, 99 bucks give me a break?? look how bulky that thing is…. its almost 2-3 times the size of the ipod…. :(

Posted by paul on May 12, 2004 at 4:08 PM (PST)

4

Wow… with that Mini, it looks like the Space Shuttle and the giant hydrogen tank.  :D

I bet the inside of that thing is a laptop battery.  :D

Still… 40 hrs is nice, and there’s no continued cost (AA batteries).

Posted by Jerrod H. in TX on May 12, 2004 at 4:10 PM (PST)

5

It looks like a great product,, but it’s just too impractical. Too big to put in a pocket. Can’t have access to it if you’re carrying it around in a bag. What are you supposed to do with it?

Posted by Pigpen65 on May 12, 2004 at 5:33 PM (PST)

6

“The iPod™ Battery comes with interchangeable cradles for the 3rd generation iPod™ and iPod™ Mini”

Guess the 3G cradle will allow access to the buttons.. also, it’s a shame they don’t link directly to the higher quality images:

Picture #1
Picture #2
Picture #3
Picture #4 

enjoy

Posted by noname on May 12, 2004 at 5:56 PM (PST)

7

Though it is big, it comes out to about the same size (with the iPod in it) as the RCA Lyra (both the audio/video jukebox and their audio Jukebox).  40 Hours is an impressive amount of time, don’t see a battery meter on it though, I suppose it utilizes the iPod’s built in battery meter.  The only bad thing is that after 400 charges, the unit dies.  Unlike the Belking, it still has limited life.  I would need to charge it maybe once a month as I would use it on long trips (plane rides or in the car) but then again I have the car adapter to charge my iPod.  I agree with azdude_15gb, it is probably a lap top battery in the unit, hence the high cost.  I am thinking about it, don’t know if I should go with the Belkin or this one.

Posted by 40gb3rdgiPod on May 12, 2004 at 6:05 PM (PST)

8

If you look at the top of this picture you can see the status of the battery (100% 75% etc).

I wouldn’t be too worried about the 400 charges. The iPod’s lithium ion batteries also have 300 to 500 charge cycles.

Posted by noname on May 12, 2004 at 6:21 PM (PST)

9

Great idea, but $99?! They are having a laugh.

I could cope with the extra bulk, as the times I would need the extra battery life are on things like train/plane rides.

To 40gb3rdgiPod - if you charge it once a month, and it has 400 charge cycles, guess what, that’s about 33 years of use. Reckon you’ll still be using your iPod in 30 years? I don’t.

Posted by iPoddity on May 12, 2004 at 8:21 PM (PST)

10

The design is nice but the size is just to big and could have come up with addition functions than just a huge battery backpack.  Even belkin battery back is huge.  They should also made it have a past through that allow up to sync with it attach to you pc or mac. Again good idea but bad design

Posted by bellnopred on May 12, 2004 at 8:37 PM (PST)

11

I see that this item is clearly described as NOT charging the iPod. However, I also read the thread about the Belkin gadget that said one could fool it into charging by putting the iPod into disk mode. Any idea if the same trick will work with this pack? The main reason I want extra power is to for transferring photos from a memory card to the iPod; I’ve read bad things about how fast the iPod discharges with this usage.

Edward

Posted by paleolith on May 12, 2004 at 9:04 PM (PST)

12

It is bulky, but it’s not like you’re gonna walk around with it in your pocket.  It’s good for plane trips, long car journeys and walking.

It is expensive, but this may change.  As it’s providing competition to the Belkin pack maybe there’ll be some price reductions as they no longer have a monopoly (dis-regarding DIY battery packs!)

Posted by street_hawk on May 13, 2004 at 12:29 AM (PST)

13

Ivan:  Point out to me how do you have access to the buttons on the iPod? 

Why is it they don’t have one picture of the regular iPod in the battery case?

It’s because that thing covers up the buttons on the regular iPod.  That’s why it’s pictured with mini iPod only.  There’s no space where the buttons are exposed.

Posted by iPodite on May 13, 2004 at 1:28 AM (PST)

14

Hehe, its a fat expensive iHP now

Posted by Adam on May 13, 2004 at 2:36 AM (PST)

15

The picture clearly shows the cradle is made to fit the mini only.  I’m sure they’ve got a separate cradle that snaps on that fits a full size iPod and you would think the buttons would be exposed.

Posted by chinhster on May 13, 2004 at 6:34 AM (PST)

16

Foolish…it clearly says a different clip on container for bigger iPods…A full size iPod wouldn’t fit in that mini sleeve anyhow.

Posted by Boaguy on May 13, 2004 at 6:50 AM (PST)

17

This is nuts, this thing is big, ugly, and incredibly overpriced for a rather ordinary battery pack.

Why can’t Apple just use the same lithium battery that Dell or Creative use and get 15+ hours on a charge without forcing long-haulers to carry around monstrosities like this?

Posted by Nuts on May 13, 2004 at 8:02 AM (PST)

18

“Why can’t Apple just use the same lithium battery that Dell or Creative use and get 15+ hours on a charge without forcing long-haulers to carry around monstrosities like this?”

If Apple was to employ the same battery the device would have to be much larger which is clearly evident when looking at the DJ or the Zen. Obviously Apple sacrificed battery life for size. If you want more battery life get an larger and harder to use device. When Apple came out with the third generation iPod they created a much smaller unit, but it has even less battery life (10-12 hours versus 8)—sometimes sacrifices have to be made.

Posted by rsacer on May 13, 2004 at 8:45 AM (PST)

19

A little to big to carry around with you. Be nice to have 40 hours of batterie life, but its to big.

Posted by WOLFMAN on May 13, 2004 at 9:52 AM (PST)

20

“If Apple was to employ the same battery the device would have to be much larger which is clearly evident when looking at the DJ or the Zen.”

What about the MuVo2? That’s got the same 4GB drive as the iPod Mini, weighs less, costs 20% less, and runs for around 15 hours.

Posted by Smaller Is Better on May 13, 2004 at 10:20 AM (PST)