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LunaTik Antik review: An accessory for your iPod nano accessory

Darrell Etherington — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 18:44:41 +0000

iPod nano watch bands are pretty common now, with multiple companies introducing more and more models for Apple’s tiny touchscreen media player. But Scott Wilson’s Minimal design studio is trying something a little different. It’s taking the iPod nano out of the equation completely with its new line of Antik watch modules.

The Antik is a nano-shaped quartz time-keeper that comes in one of five distinct flavors. The idea is that you can use your nano-compatible watch bands without the iPod, should you like the design of the wrist-mounts but not the downsides of limited battery life and screens that require a button-press to read. The Antik is cheaper than a nano, too, at $69.95.

I was initially hoping the Antik would work in all my iPod nano watch band accessories, especially the Deckster, but alas. the protective glass covering the watch face protrudes a bit farther on the Antik than it does on the iPod. Likely that won’t be a problem for a lot of accessories, but the only bands it’s guaranteed to work with are the TikTok, LunaTik and LYNK models made by Minimal. Since those are some of the best nano watch bands available, that’s really only a small flaw.

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Antik-wrist

The Antik has no date; features a simple, two-hand design, with a nice cut-out effect for the numbering; and is water-resistant to 30 meters, which is definitely not true of your nano. The designs for the shipping product were chosen by Minimal shoppers, and come in both black and silver finishes to match your band of choice. The black is real black, too, unlike the finish on Apple’s graphite nano, so it’ll better match black wristbands.

All the face designs are better looking than the virtual ones provided by Apple on the nano, in my opinion. And while the idea of wearing an iPod as a watch is still likely to be the primary factor driving nano watch band accessory sales, the idea of a relatively cheap, modular watch face and case system definitely means Minimal’s LunaTik brand has legs to outlast Apple’s notoriously mercurial design tastes when it comes to its iPods.

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When 3D printing meets iPod nano

Om Malik — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 15:27:42 +0000

Let’s just face it: From Darrell to me, we are just watch nerds here. We love to dress up our wrists with cool watches, smart watches and of course, the best of them all, iPod nano watches. And that is why we are constantly writing about iPod nano straps — you know, Tik Tok and iWatchz Q. Anyway here is another one from Ireland-based Curve Creative. It is called Nanolet.

So what’s cool about this? For starters, it is minimalist, and if you know me, I am all about minimalism. (Don’t believe me? Check out my personal blog.) It is a 3D printed product, and we are all big fans of 3D printing around here. As a result, the $22 strap wraps around the wrist. They warn that is good for medium wrists — well, that rules it out for me. For now.

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Recalled iPod nanos getting current generation replacements

Darrell Etherington — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 18:55:44 +0000

Apple issued a recall for its first-generation iPod nano devices back in November. At first, it looked like Apple intended to replace all the recalled units with refurbished equivalent models, but reports from MacRumors users now indicate that some users will be getting current, sixth-generation iPod nanos to replace their old hardware.

The original recall of the iPod nano occurred because of overheating issues related to the nano’s battery. It only affected first-generation devices, which have a long rectangular white or black body, with an aluminum back and a clickwheel for navigation. The first-generation devices originally launched back in 2005 in 2 GB and 4 GB sizes, with a 1 GB model introduced a little later on.

So far, now that the new nanos are being used as replacements, it looks like users will get a bump in storage capacity, too, since 8 GB is the smallest shipping current-generation model. A report from one person who received a 6G replacement device says that they aren’t covered under warranty when checked via their serial code, which is likely due to Apple deactivating the warranty of any models sent out as part of the program. Apple’s replacement program still says that a 90-day warranty applies for replacement units, however.

This is good news for folks who haven’t yet received their replacements as part of the program, or for those who haven’t yet signed up to take part in the recall. Those who haven’t yet begun the replacement process but have an eligible first-generation iPod nano can still do so at Apple’s website.

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What the future of Apple’s wearable devices could look like

Darrell Etherington — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 17:57:44 +0000

The next iPod you buy could wrap around your wrist and be Siri-controlled through speech commands, according to a New York Times report on Sunday. That’s because Apple is actively prototyping wearable computing devices, sources told the newspaper, in an effort to stay on top of this emerging tech trend.

Besides the description of a “curved-glass,” wrist-top iPod with Siri controls, the NYT‘s report is light on specifics, saying mostly a “small” team within Apple is tasked with dreaming up and prototyping wearable computing devices. But forming a picture of what Apple could do with wearable tech, based on the examples of other early pioneers in the space, Apple’s own patent applications, and recent changes in the tech it uses in its mobile devices.

Plan for the PAN

Apple will almost certainly try to exploit the onboard connectivity technology of its mobile devices to make users and their gear walking personal area networks of real-time feedback and communication. It took another definite step in that direction with the addition of Bluetooth 4.0 to the iPhone 4S, MacBook Air and Mac mini, and its recent efforts to promote the low-power, low-latency Bluetooth tech among iPhone, iPad and iPod accessory makers.

Bluetooth 4.0 is key to Apple’s wearable device strategy, because it could potentially allow wearable devices to talk to a central command device, in all likelihood an iPhone or iPad, without taxing battery life to the point where using it entails more pain than gain. If it’s promoting the tech heavily to outside developers, you can bet it’s betting on it internally, too.

Keep your smartphone close, but your data closer

Existing wearable computing devices hint at what could be on the horizon from Apple, albeit probably in a much more roughshod form than Apple would ever ship. Devices like the Meta Watch and inPulse smartwatch already deliver wrist-based notifications of messages, calls, emails and more from your smartphone. People already keep their smartphones no further than three feet away in most situations, on average, says the NYT, but smart watches bring the information and communication they provide closer still.

If Apple is indeed working on a curved-glass, wrist-wearable iPod, it’s also likely testing ways in which this device can talk to your iPhone to provide a steady stream of meaningful information. The iPod nano, with its countless watch-band accessories, is basically already crying out for this kind of functionality.

Patents and prototypes pave the way

Apple rarely takes breaks from filing new patents and working with supply chain partners on mysterious products, and some of those designs paint a picture of a wearable device future. The NYT‘s description of a curved glass iPod, for instance, resonates with a report from September that claimed Apple was getting ready to release products with curved touchscreens early in 2012.

Apple also has some general patents in play that could come in handy for small, wearable devices, like one for making portable devices out of lighter-weight materials with new, advanced construction methods, and descriptions of methods for using non-physical, non-visual control schemes (of which Siri is just one example) for future devices. That last patent talks about providing tactile feedback, which could be very useful for a computing device strapped to one’s person.

Mobile gets personal

Wearable computing is definitely a trend, and though right now it’s in its infancy and running into early-stage problems (the Jawbone UP recall, for example), it’s quickly accumulating momentum (the UP’s success despite its shortcomings, for example). Apple may not be on the cutting edge of this trend right now, as the relatively non-communicative iPod nano hardly counts, but it has the ingredients to take wearable devices mainstream: a massive existing iOS user base, and the right tech, both currently shipping and in active development.

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LunaTik Lynk review: The zenith of iPod nano watchbands?

Darrell Etherington — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 20:02:58 +0000

There are now plenty of iPod nano wristband accessories out there to choose from. But a new one from Kickstarter record-breaker Scott Wilson’s Mnml design studio does a remarkable job of standing out from the crowd, thanks to attention to detail you won’t find in the competition.

The LunaTik Lynk is a new take on Wilson’s excellent LunaTik, which along with the TikTok, were funded via Kickstarter last year and began being sold via the Apple Store earlier in 2011. The Lynk uses the same semi-permanent watch conversion approach as the LunaTik (hence its first name), but introduces a bracelet consisting of aluminum links for that full-metal experience.

The Lynk comes in either anodized aluminum for a matte silver finish, or, like my review unit, in a PVD-plated all-black version that’s coated down to the screws, and even the interior of the clasp, which for sure won’t be seen by anyone but you. That’s the kind of attention to detail I’m talking about, as is the silicone coating on the underside of the band’s links, which make the band comfortable on the wrist and also ensures it won’t go slip-sliding around too much even if you wear it a little loose.

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If you aren’t familiar with the original LunaTik’s design, it features a two-part case for the nano that you use an included set of allen keys to separate and put back together once you’ve slid in your nano. It’s a little fiddly, which may be the one downside of this nano strap, but the idea is that once its in, it’s in, so you shouldn’t have to repeat the process very often. That’s a caveat for any LunaTik product from Mnml: It’s designed as a nano “conversion kit,” so if you’d rather have quick access to your device, the Deckster may be a better option in the same price range.

You can still use the nano on your wrist with headphones and access all the controls with the Lynk, however, since open sides provide access to those parts of the device. But the locked-in construction helps the nano sit lower to your wrist than with some competing models, which is welcome when using the nano as a watch, since it’s oversized to begin with. And if you like the band but not the nano, Mnml will soon be offering its own, perfectly nano-shaped quartz analog watch units to fill in.

The Lynk is amazingly light thanks to the aluminum construction — much lighter than it looks. Despite the lightness, however, it feels remarkably durable, too. Plus, the wide band and PVD finish really draw attention to the wrist. This one has already netted more comments from friends and family than the TikTok did when I was testing out that unit.

Do we need more iPod nano wristbands? No, but as any watch collector worth their salt knows deep down, no one really needs more than one watch, either, but that doesn’t stop you from buying them. The LunaTik Lynk improves on its forebear in every regard, looks amazing and is comfortable to wear (more so than most metal watches, in my opinion). At $129.95 for the aluminum finish, or $139.95 for the black PVD, it isn’t cheap, but style hardly ever is, and that’s exactly what the Lynk has in spades.

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2010 iPod nano gets new features via software update

Darrell Etherington — Tue, 04 Oct 2011 22:01:52 +0000

Have an existing 2010 iPod nano but want the new Mickey Mouse watch face? Hold off on throwing your current music player in the garbage and hitting the Apple Store; an update is available now through iTunes that provides software features demoed on the new nano Tuesday for last year’s version.

Version 1.2 of the iPod nano software brings improved fitness features (which are better able to detect and track walking or running work outs), as well as the new single icon scrolling interface, which replaces the 4×4 icon grid. You can switch back to small icons or turn off home screen items altogether from the Settings menu.

Last but not least, you’ll get access to all the new iPod nano clock face options. There are 18 to choose from, so you shouldn’t get bored too quickly. I recommend the partial skeleton face with the exposed animated “movement” and second sub-dial.

The update adds a bit of individual personality for users and some very useful features, so it’s a nice free bonus arising from Tuesday’s festivities for existing iPod nano owners. Go ahead and grab it now by plugging your iPod into your computer and opening iTunes. If you don’t get prompted automatically, just hit the “Check for Updates” button in the iPod’s info screen.

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Apple reveals iPhone 4S, Oct. 14 launch date on Japanese site

Darrell Etherington — Tue, 04 Oct 2011 16:33:46 +0000

Apple has apparently jumped the gun slightly, revealing the iPhone 4S at its official Japanese retail site (via MacRumors). The information only tells us that a 4S definitely exists, and that it’ll be released on Oct. 14 at 8 a.m. in Japan (and likely the U.S., too).

The page also indicates that a new iPod nano may be unveiled at today’s event, with an improved fitness function and a new clock face. Looks like those iPod nano wristband accessories will still have a use with the next-generation media player.

We’ll keep you updated on all the details and other announcements coming out of today’s media event via our live blog and posts throughout the day.

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Apple puts an end to iPod click wheel games

Darrell Etherington — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 14:22:16 +0000

It’s all fun and games until Apple shutters a section of the iTunes store. Apple has taken down a link to the “iPod Click Wheel Games” section of the iTunes App Store (via AppleInsider). Click wheel games such as Song Summoner by Square Enix used to be available for installation on iPod classic and other compatible models that use the hardware click wheel interface mechanism, but now they are gone from the store.

Click wheel games debuted alongside the iPod classic in 2006, and were backward-compatible with the iPod nano and iPOd video. They were essentially precursors to the iOS games that would later be available for iPod touch, iPhone and iPad devices. While no public SDK was ever released for click wheel game development, third-party developers like Gameloft, EA, PopCap and Disney all released software for the platform. In total, 49 games (including some Kaplan academic study aids) were released for click wheel iPods, with the latest arriving in 2009.

Since it wasn’t exactly a thriving ecosystem like iOS, it’s possible Apple just decided to kill off click wheel games separate from any other concerns, but it’s also possible this is a preparatory move signaling the discontinuation of the iPod classic. Rumors suggest Apple plans to stop production and development of the iPod classic and the iPod shuffle, so it makes sense that the company would also shut down software sales associated exclusively with those devices. The latest nano features a touch screen instead of a click wheel, so the iPod classic is the only currently available device affected.

Updates for the iPod line may be on the docket for a media event Apple has scheduled for Oct. 4, though the star of the show will clearly be the iPhone 5. The iPod classic hasn’t seen an update in a couple of years, but has some very dedicated fans owning to its large storage capacity. Will any of those fans really miss click wheel games, though?

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If Apple retires iPod classic and shuffle, rest of line will shine

Darrell Etherington — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 13:03:04 +0000

Apple is reportedly very close to permanently cutting the iPod classic and shuffle from its line of media players, according to a report from TUAW late Tuesday. It’s not the first time we’ve heard that some iPod models will be retired, but it does seem more likely than ever that it’s true this time around. And that might actually be great news for iPod fans in the long run.

The iPod classic is basically a legacy holdover at this point among Apple’s portable media players. Its platter hard drive is an oddity among today’s PMPs, for which flash-based storage is the dominant tech by a long shot. It hasn’t changed since 2009, when a 160 GB version was introduced, which eventually replaced the 120 GB option entirely. Really, though, not much is different about the original classic introduced in 2007 and the one on sale today. The classic’s only advantage, from a user perspective, is its sizeable drive; the closest a flash-based iPod currently comes is 64 GB.

The iPod shuffle, while flash-based and subject to more frequent design overhauls, is simply being upstaged by the iPod nano. The latest nano is almost as small, and while it’s more expensive, its touchscreen makes it more usable and expands its capabilities considerably. The shuffle has always been a fairly good gateway device for users looking a cheap way to get into the Apple ecosystem, but with the selling power of the iPhone and iPad, that’s no longer much of a concern.

Dropping the classic and the ~~nano~~ shuffle would free up staff and resources that Apple could reinvest in advancing the remaining products in the iPod line, too. The most recent iPod nano has spawned a thriving accessory ecosystem based on watchband straps to hold the PMP, and it holds plenty of potential as a connected display for iPhones, if Apple does decide to enter the fray with other wrist-based connected devices that are emerging to support the Android ecosystem. The iPod touch, of course, is one part of Apple’s iOS platform, and an important one at that; in April, Ars Technica reported that it accounted for one-third of overall iOS device sales. The iPod touch now makes up at least half of all iPods sold by Apple, and is the only model that consistently sees positive growth.

Put simply, both the nano and the iPod touch have futures that either could potentially, or already do feed the growing beast that is iOS. Steve Jobs may have conveyed back in March that the company had no plans to discontinue the iPod classic, but times change, and so does a company’s focus. With Apple’s new iCloud push, the classic and the shuffle become even less relevant to its overall goals, so it’s highly possible their time has indeed come. Will you miss them?

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iPod nano, this is your life

Darrell Etherington — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 15:32:39 +0000

The first iPod nano was released on Sept. 7, 2005, and in the six intervening years, it has undergone a lot of changes. In fact, the nano has one of the most mercurial design histories of any Apple product. Here’s a quick look back at the history of the iPod nano over the years in pictures.

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If Apple sticks to its release schedule for new iPod models, we’ll likely see the seventh generation nano before too long. I’m hoping for an evolutionary take on the most recent nano, with Bluetooth features for wireless pairing with headphones and push notifications from iPhone and iPad devices. What are you looking for from the next iPod nano?

Image credits, in order of oldest to most recent models: Flickr users eheçåtzin, martijnbeijk, Andrew*, marcopako , coolmikeol, and viskas.

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Flash analysis: Steve Jobs