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Strangest iPod Cases Ever 119

Posted by CowboyNeal from the money-sinks dept.
David Primo writes "Techeblog has a great article on the strangest iPod cases ever. Pictures included. From the article: 'This might be the first iPod case that costs more than the player itself. The Louis Vuitton Classic iPod Cover by Takashi Murakami features peach natural calf leather lining, golden brass pieces, and a multicolor canvas.'" The military-grade case actually makes sense for people like me who keep letting their mp3 player fall on the floor, but able to withstand a mortar shell explosion might be overkill.
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Strangest iPod Cases Ever More

Strangest iPod Cases Ever

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  • How many of those do you think were just created in their spare time?

    • All, I think? The military-grade cases are being sold, but it looks like it's just some hobbyist on E-bay.

      I'm still waiting for the Zune-casing styled after my excrement.

      • Why bother waiting? Just build some add-ons of your own.

        Who knows, TechEBlog may feature it in their "Top 5 Strangest Zune Cases" article.

      • Re: (Score:1)

        by CalSolt ( 999365 )
        What's the point of an iPod case that can stand a mortar round? The owner will get blown to shreds but AT LEAST THE IPOD WILL BE OK!

    • Re: (Score:3, Insightful)

      by catwh0re ( 540371 )
      I'd say the metal ones started as a home hack up. They're interesting being I'm sure they'd probably stop a bullet, but if you ever dropped it the extra momentum would certainly destroy the internal hard disk. The shock would be incredible, you could kill someone with one of those cases.

      • Re: (Score:2, Funny)

        by Trumpet of Doom ( 1002887 )
        You're probably right. In the near distant future:

        "Cause of Death: iPod shock"

      • Re: (Score:3, Insightful)

        by NeutronCowboy ( 896098 )
        Physics nazi mode on: the extra momentum would not impact the hard disk. The only thing that actually changes is the total momentum of the iPod, not the momentum of the hard disk. The only thing the extra momentum harms is whatever it falls on. However, what could be a problem is that there is no soft plastic to absorb part of the impact energy. This could all get transferred directly to the hd, in which case it could indeed be affected. But that's a question of what kind of deceleration the hd can withstan

        • Re: (Score:3, Informative)

          by EnderWigginsXenocide ( 852478 )
          The real problem is this, the HDD read/write head. It is a floating part. When the IPOD accelerates (shot, hit by RPG, thrown about by an explosive overpressure wave, whatever) the RW head, being a floating part will accelerate only AFTER all the flex in the system is used, the shock to this mechanism may damage it.

          Also we will see another failure mode here: The rest of the IPOD may be moving serval miles per hour by the time the RW head gets into motion. The result is a slow RW head striking a fast moving
        • ummm, one problem, the nano doesn't use a harddrive.... it has flash memory. No moving parts.
  • The article mentions cases that can withstand "a RPG or mortar shell explosion 85 percent of the time." Even with all those soldiers and insurgents in Iraq and Afghanistan - who would seriously take their ipod into a combat situation? It strikes me as about as sensible as those people who ride bikes when smoking or talking on their mobile phones. Mind you they could always be listening to Edwin Starr's War on it ("War - Good God Y'all What is it good for? Absolutely nothing " etc).

    • Re:YoTank cases (Score:5, Funny)

      by kfg ( 145172 ) * on Saturday September 16, 2006 @09:31AM (#16119914)
      . . .who would seriously take their ipod into a combat situation?

      You would prefer fifes, drums and bagpipes?

      KFG
      • No, he's just new here.

    • Re: (Score:2)

      by SEMW ( 967629 )
      That seems a very selfish point of view. Soldiers don't actively fight 24 hours a day, 7 days a week; they need time to eat, sleep, and, like the rest of us, relax. In fact, I would say that those in combat situations should actually have considerably *more* right to be able to spend at least a little time recomposing and recollecting themselves than the rest of us, considering the enourmous stresses and strains they are under.

      • Re: (Score:1)

        by Skater ( 41976 )
        I think the parent was saying that it doesn't make sense to be carrying an iPod when you're actively out trying to kill someone, hence the rocket-resistant casing doesn't seem that important. No one has a problem with soldiers having iPods while they're relaxing off-duty.

        • Re: (Score:2, Insightful)

          by Blnky ( 35330 )
          Yes, but one doesn't always have the luxury of telling the enemy when and where to attack. They seem to have this desire of sneaking up on you when you aren't expecting it. When this might happen at any time, it makes sence to me that it might be useful. Likewise, being able to withstand that much abuse will make it more likely to withstand general mility life punishment.

    • Re: (Score:2)

      by Guppy06 ( 410832 )
      "Even with all those soldiers and insurgents in Iraq and Afghanistan - who would seriously take their ipod into a combat situation?"

      You're assuming they always know they're about to enter a combat situation. As has been said, war is long periods of boredom.
    • "Rolling Stone" magazine had an article a couple of months ago that talked about the songs and technology that soldiers are taking into battle in Afghanistan and Iraq.

      With most of the "attacks" in these two countries being random ambushes, there is a lot of "drive around, doing nothing" time. Imagine if you are helping protect a convoy on a five hour drive. Sitting in a Humvee in the dessert for that lone, crammed in with several other soldiers?

      You need music.

      There is a small industry of soldiers who are ha

      • Re: (Score:2)

        by Bob Uhl ( 30977 )
        As the article put it, shooting at insurgents to "Hit Me Baby One More Time" is a bit surreal.

        Hasn't anyone who's played a video game in the last decade or so done the equivalent? Really, is it any different than the old military bands back when they were actually used to march men into battle?

    • ... my brother has just gone back to university in Lebanon with a 40GB iPod 3G. I'm tempted to order him one of these cases just for the comedy value.

    • In Other News Today (Score:4, Funny)

      by LifesABeach ( 234436 ) on Saturday September 16, 2006 @11:24AM (#16120253) Homepage
      HOUSTON, TEXAS DARPA has granted a 10 Million Dollar Phase I Grant to the Hollie Burnt On Company to study the armor plating qualities of iPod Case Mods. Ms. Sandy Bottom, a spokes person for the company stated, "This study is to analyze the penetration of iPod armor against local RPG's. The theory is that the more downloads an iPod has, the stronger the armoring will be. The final proof of concept test will be the taping of iPods all over a Bradley M4 Tracked Armored Fighting Vehicle. The 'Bradley' will then be driven through the streets of Compton, a suburb outside of Los Angeles California. If the vehicle can survive a 1 hour test in Compton, then the vehicle should easily be able to survive a 12 month non stop patrolling in the city of Baghdad, Iraq."

    • Re: (Score:3, Funny)

      by Frumious Wombat ( 845680 )
      There are always those moments when you need to blast either "Ride of the Valkyries" or "The End" through the copter's sound system...
    • No soldier actually brings it into a combat situation. Those cases are a joke.

    • Re: (Score:3, Insightful)

      by Mister Whirly ( 964219 )
      "The article mentions cases that can withstand "a RPG or mortar shell explosion 85 percent of the time." "

      yeah, if I were to be directly hit with a mortar or RPG, my first thought would be "Holy Shit! I hope my iPod is okay!"

    • Re: (Score:2)

      by Bob Uhl ( 30977 )
      Considering that most of Iraq & Afghanistan aren't 'comabt situations' and yet are prone to a great deal of bombs and such, I can imagine that a soldier would welcome such cases. As Erich Maria Remarque noted, a soldier's life is one of long periods of boredom interspersed with brief moments of sheer terror; no doubt a soldier would like his music player to survive those moments of terror.

    • Re: (Score:1)

      by ista ( 71787 )

      who would seriously take their ipod into a combat situation?

      In a documentation video recently aired on Arte [www.arte.tv], they've tried to take a look at the situation of "normal" people, US soldiers in Iraq along with deserters who went to Canada. One soldier mentioned that the radios in recent tanks have an additional line-in input hidden on the back, where they used to plug in portable cd players . Incoming radio messages automatically turn down that devices volume, so it's "perfect" for listening some music while wa

    • Re: (Score:2)

      by HTH NE1 ( 675604 )
      who would seriously take their ipod into a combat situation?

      Rent Iron Eagle [imdb.com].

  • Neko? (Score:5, Funny)

    by SEMW ( 967629 ) on Saturday September 16, 2006 @09:23AM (#16119885)
    "You cant get much stranger than the iKitty. This cat-inspired silicone case features a bendable tail and a screen protector to prevent those annoying scratches."

    Hmmm... Remind me, what's second-from-bottom in the geek hierarchy [brunching.com] again?

    Brings a new meaning to people loving their ipods [tripod.com]...
  • How does it supposedly withstand a mortar shell or RPG explosion when the controls (and possibly the LCD...can't tell from the pics) are fully exosed?

    • A guess, basically: it says "85% of the time" it withstands the explosion. Prolly they simulated it by having a comparable burst of air detonated near it, sending it flying across the room, at which point it bashed into something but was okay 85% of the time

      If you somehow fix the iPod so it can't move, and explode an RPG near it, I think it will melt. Every time.

    • Re: (Score:3, Interesting)

      by SEMW ( 967629 )
      I'm guessing something like one-way bulletproof glass [wikipedia.org]?

    • Re: (Score:3, Informative)

      by account_deleted ( 4530225 )
      Comment removed based on user account deletion

    • Re: (Score:3, Funny)

      by bcmm ( 768152 )
      The case would survive. The iPod wouldn't.

    • Re: (Score:3, Informative)

      by ScriptedReplay ( 908196 )
      TFSite (yeah, I know, clicking on details in TFA is ... too far away) says the screen is lexan-protected. No mention on the controls, though - probably open (touch-sensitive through a bullet-proof material is a bit hard) just as ports are open.

    • Re: (Score:3, Funny)

      by owlnation ( 858981 )
      I feel that someone should test this. I think we need proof. I await the Youtube videodemo.

      • Re: (Score:3, Interesting)

        by owlnation ( 858981 )
        and actually, someone should test to see if the Louis Vitton one is also bullet and bomb proof. It probably isn't, but I really think we should know to be sure.

        In fact judging by the design, there's probably a few more Louis Vitton things out there we could test to see if bullet proof.
        • The thing with the Louie case is that it's not even particularly attractive. I looked at that case and concluded that it was a complete waste to put such a bulky case on such an attractive electronic device. Now, Vaja [vajacases.com] cases on the other hand--if you actually care about style and not just pimping out a label, well, all of the money in the world wouldn't induce me to buy the Louis Vuitton case. Bomb testing is all it's good for. Or not good for, as the case may be...

    • Re: (Score:1)

      by vindimy ( 941049 )
      the case will withstand the explosion, not the ipod itself ;)
  • What the world needs is either one of those military grade cases or the Japanese bullet proof case for the new iPod shuffle released last week. That would be soooo k001.

  • NObody comes up with a Goatse inspired case. I shudder to think how they would place the scroll-wheel....
  • Was it just me or was the one with the headphone jack sticking into the back end of a cat a bit disturbing?

    Humor aside, there are some great cases out there... and with with alot of the iPods, providing protection is not only necessary because they scratch so easily, but also because they aren't so hard to drop.

    I use a Green Apple case when I run, and a Belkin leather case for around the home or when I am out an about.

    What kind of cases do you guys use?

    Oh, and as an end note. How much do those heavy metal c

    • Re: (Score:2)

      by SEMW ( 967629 )
      >How much do those heavy metal cases weigh? Doesn't that kind of ruin the point of creating a small, easy to carry music player?

      From TFA: "at 446gram, it is 2.5 times the weight of a new iPod Photo"

    • DildoPod (Score:1, Insightful)

      by Anonymous Coward
      Was it just me or was the one with the headphone jack sticking into the back end of a cat a bit disturbing?

      It wasn't the headphone jack that disturbed me....

  • Bulletproof? (Score:1, Insightful)

    by Anonymous Coward
    Ooo, it can stop a .22. BFD. Let me know when it can stop a real gun.
    • I'm certain if you swung one round and whacked a gunamn on the head with a cast aluminium ipod you could put an end to his shooting days.
      Mind you the holes in your body might prevent you from getting a good swing.

    • Re: (Score:1)

      by dlenmn ( 145080 )
      I mean, come on... I can stop a .22 too...
  • Ok this might be pushing the envelope of believability but perhaps the heavy duty bullet proof + tank proof ones might be just what the Soldiers currently stationed in Iraq need. I recently read a fascinating article about the current trend of high electronics going on there. Soldiers have nothing to do with their time and have lots of money on their hands so they are buying electronics (like ipods) and getting it shipped to them gratis (via the American governments free postal service).

    Apparently barracks

    • Re: (Score:2, Insightful)

      by HatchedEggs ( 1002127 )
      Actually, I think having a good rubberized case would be much better. As other posters have stated, these things really aren't "bullet proof" or "mortar proof". Why? Whoops, we left the screen and touch pad uncovered. Thats a bit of a weakness in the system right there.

      Anyways, the rubber cases work great, and I definitely recommend them. You can usually pick some decent ones up on Amazon for about $15-$20... and you won't have to hear this:

      LT: How'd Jim Bob die?
      Sarge: Sir, the enemies attacked and he wasn'

  • Useful one (Score:4, Funny)

    by mojinoman ( 674418 ) on Saturday September 16, 2006 @09:49AM (#16119962)
    I like the bulletproof one. That should keep RIAA away from my precious songs.

  • 1500$?? (Score:3, Interesting)

    by way2trivial ( 601132 ) on Saturday September 16, 2006 @09:55AM (#16119976) Homepage Journal
    http://www.wiredzone.com/itemdesc.asp?ic=30492175& source=froogle [wiredzone.com]

  • How to tell if you have a dirty mind (Score:4, Funny)

    by tourvil ( 103765 ) on Saturday September 16, 2006 @10:06AM (#16120002)

    If you saw this picture:

    http://www.techepics.com/files/i_kitty.jpg [techepics.com]

    before you saw the title for it, and your first thought was of something less wholesome than a kitty...

  • YoTank introduces a new line of military-grade digital audio player cases that can withstand "a RPG or mortar shell explosion 85 percent of the time."
    Well it's nice to know that if I get RPG'd I'll be leaving behind both a big red stain, *and* my functional iPod for my heirs.

  • first iPod case that costs more than the player? (Score:3, Interesting)

    by Nevenmrgan ( 826707 ) on Saturday September 16, 2006 @10:18AM (#16120038)
    "This might be the first iPod case that costs more than the player itself."

    At $285+? Not even close.

    Here's an iPod Nano case for $12,495 [intergem.net]. And yes, it's a retail product, not a one-of-a-kind art piece.

  • I'd hate to see what the test subjects looked like (Score:3, Funny)

    by binaryspiral ( 784263 ) on Saturday September 16, 2006 @10:56AM (#16120155)
    YoTank introduces a new line of military-grade digital audio player cases that can withstand "a RPG or mortar shell explosion 85 percent of the time."

    I honest doubt they've even tested these... but hey, who's going to argue with them when they survive a mortar shell and their iPod doesn't?

  • Dropping your player (Score:1, Insightful)

    by Anonymous Coward
    The military-grade case actually makes sense for people like me who keep letting their mp3 player fall on the floor, but able to withstand a mortar shell explosion might be overkill.
    The tough armor would probably be even worse for hard-drive based players, as most of the shock would transfer right through the metal and into the insides. Perhaps the kitty case would be best, as its softness would actually absorb some of the shock?
  • Well considering i'm in Iraq, this thing sure would help out alot, now only if the rest of our equipment could stand up to that to blasts like that.

  • Not that surprising (Score:4, Interesting)

    by Malakusen ( 961638 ) on Saturday September 16, 2006 @11:44AM (#16120331) Journal
    The military-grade case actually makes sense for people like me who keep letting their mp3 player fall on the floor, but able to withstand a mortar shell explosion might be overkill.


    Not really overkill. You see, the Ipod is incredibly popular among military troops deployed to Iraq. Of course, you're not listening while you're out on patrol, but during your off time you see a lot of troops walking around or working out with them. Or waiting for a flight in, or a flight out, and so on. I imagine quite a few servicemembers would be interested in a hardened mp3 player.
  • American soldiers are often seen in full battle dress uniform with the telltale white wires going from a camo pouch on their LBV up to their ears.

    The iPod is almost as ubiquitous in battle now as the rifle.

    It only makes sense that someone would figure that out and start making iPod accessories that appealed to soldiers. This wouldn't be the first. Maxpedition has been selling LBE/LBV pouches for iPods (and other consumer electronics) and doing well at it. Why not a rugged case, as well?
  • Where can I get some pieces of golden brass? Better yet, how do I make them?
  • I would assume that the "proper" strength is designed into current non-cased players, much like crush zones on modern cars. If you were to drop a hardened steel case housing a hard drive I would expect it to die. The precious exterior plastic might be saved but the inner workings might be junk while bouncing along in its hardened steel death trap.
  • #1 Protective Case for Electronics

    Apple has formally institued a policy that damage to the case of its electronics is "prima facia" evidence of abuse. Careful engineering, materials selection and design have gone into Apple's product line. There is a reason that scratch resistence, dent proof and plastics with structural integrity are no longer used in casing Apple devices.

    Take any product into Apple store for repair that has more than a scratch on the outside case, you will likely be told that the produ
  • Well as a member of the armed forces, I have to say while I personally think this is a frivolous accessory for an iPod, to each his or her own.
    Personally, I'd rather spend the money on some gear to keep my fellow Marines and myself alive when I'm in a combat zone. However, when we have
    downtime, it is extremely relaxing to have something to listen to / watch.

    lol but a mortar and IED proof iPod case is just kinda 'weird' to me. Seriously, who's gonna go on patrol with their iPod? And if there are
    su
  • From Wired, 2004 [wired.com]:

    "The ultimate iPod accessory is Fendi's Juke Box, a $1,500 carrying case for transporting multiple iPods."

    "German designer and iPod fanatic Karl Lagerfeld . . . now owns 40 iPods, according to the latest issue of French Elle. Modeling a silver jogging suit, Lagerfeld confesses to owning 40 of the devices. Although at first glance the reader may assume he means a single 40-GB iPod, he meant what he said: He has 40 iPods.

    "Lagerfeld has converted his collection of 60,000 compact discs to a uni
  • The military-grade case actually makes sense for people like me who keep letting their mp3 player fall on the floor, but able to withstand a mortar shell explosion might be overkill. Otterbox [otterbox.com] are waterproof plastic housings the protect everything, including the screen and clickwheel (unlike those military ones in the article). They have foam bumpters inside for shock protection, and to keep the seal perfect, the otterbox plugs into the headphone jack and headphones into the otterbox.
  • If I don't survive the mortar hit, why should my IPod? It's not like I'm going to be listening to the music while waiting for an autopsy.
  • It's nice to know that as our solders are dieing from IED's due to lack of armour on the Humvee's, at least the iPod's will survive.

    (for the record, we shouldn't be there at all)
    • Before anyone else makes fun of the typo, I ment Soldiers! Damn I wish /. had an edit option.
  • In my work as a private dick, I've come across a number of strange cases. But nothing beats the time when this dame came into my office and told me about her murdered husband. He was found clutching his iPod, ears bleeding, with Michael Bolton on repeat-play. After making love on my desk, I decided to investigate.

    To cut a long story short, it turned out to be Mr. Mustard in the drawing room with a candlestick.

  • There is nothing natural about leather.
  • Well, keep in mind that the ipod case just boasts being able to withstand an RPG (doubtful), not the ipod itself. I suspect geting banged against the floor will still likely do a number on the screen after several hard drops.
  • Haven't we learn from older cars that having a large metal casing doesn't really make you safer? The lighter, crushable, more malleable case, to lessen the impact, is actually safer and is what is used today.

    Based on that a military-grade case, like they show, it wouldn't help much from dropping your iPod. Dropping your iPod probably, along with getting wet, is the highest cause of breaking your iPod. I'd say a rubber case would be the safest bet to secure your iPod from both these situations.
  • It seems the problem for some people is the desire to have an almost ubiquitous product be personalized and different from everyone else's.
    Either that or as Apple lowers the price on the iPod, what people REALLY want is to be able to spend a LOT of $$ on an iPod for status, and they can't without buying an expensive case. Maybe Apple needs to rethink their pricing strategy and have some ridiculously expensive iPod, the only difference being something "cosmetic".

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