News
Retailer offers kalbi beef-styled iPod case
By Charles Starrett
Senior Editor, iLounge
Published: Friday, April 18, 2008
News Category: iPod Accessories
A retailer based in Japan is now offering Kalbi Pod Rare (Translated link), a bizarre third-generation iPod nano case designed to look to look like a piece of Korean kalbi beef. Regularly sold for the equivalent of $90, the plastic case has been textured and colored to resemble meat from Wagyu cattle, which is used for production of Japan’s high-grade Kobe beef. Kalbi Pod Rare offers open access to all ports and controls, and comes in a meat container-styled package, complete with an outer plastic wrapper, inner absorbent foam, and barcode label that looks like it was on a supermarket shelf. The retailer, Rakuten, also sells less expensive business card holders made from the same material. Kalbi Pod Rare is currently sold out, but available for a May delivery in Japan at a discounted price of $70. [via dVICE]
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1
Rare, from the look of it.
Posted by navamske on April 18, 2008 at 4:57 PM (PDT)
2
That.
Is.
Bizarre.
Posted by Flippy Hambone on April 18, 2008 at 6:05 PM (PDT)
3
Sold out? You can’t be serious.
Posted by Peter on April 19, 2008 at 5:19 AM (PDT)
4
Isn’t it Kobe Beef?
Posted by Alex MacDonald on April 19, 2008 at 5:31 AM (PDT)
5
In Japan it is Kobe - this is the Korean version.
Posted by Bob Levens in UK on April 19, 2008 at 7:22 AM (PDT)
6
cultural tastes are strange. fascinating that someone would think this is a good idea.
Posted by onlyshawn on April 19, 2008 at 8:37 AM (PDT)
7
The iPod chew toy for your dog!
Posted by Mike M on April 19, 2008 at 2:05 PM (PDT)
8
Kalbi refers to a preparation of beef (grilled short ribs) while Kobe refers to both a city in Japan and a widely understood premium class of beef. In other words, there can be kalbi made from Wagyu cattle from Kobe, which would be sold as Kobe Kalbi. And that is what this case looks like, albeit uncooked.
Posted by Jeremy Horwitz in East Amherst, NY, USA on April 19, 2008 at 5:31 PM (PDT)
9
Bizarreness aside, the case is not aesthetically unpleasing. I think it looks better than many nano cases I see on the market, and at least it’s different. Where’s the Kalbi Phone Rare?
Posted by Dyvim on April 21, 2008 at 8:49 AM (PDT)
10
Can’t wait for the scratch and sniff version!
Posted by Daddi on April 21, 2008 at 12:33 PM (PDT)
11
Hmm, I’m vegan, so I wouldn’t get this case, hehe.
Posted by Jazzy on April 21, 2008 at 4:52 PM (PDT)
12
Kalbi is beef marinated in a soy sauce mix, and is much darker than raw beef (or this case). Very bizarre name for a very bizarre case.
Posted by BB on April 23, 2008 at 12:08 PM (PDT)