Monday, June 16, 2008

The iPod Case

2011 EDIT: Looks like Q1AP is no longer in business... too bad, so sad!

Ok, let's get it out there in the open: iPods are made in China, and until the press found out about it (here's a link to a mirror of the first article), they were made by people getting paid next to nothing, and in less than ideal working conditions, to say the least. However, Apple has (apparently) turned over a new leaf, and claims to be "dedicated to ensuring that working conditions are safe and employees are treated with respect and dignity wherever Apple products are made." - scary that a company even has to SAY that.

So, all that said, I own an iPod - an 80GB Video - I bought one used for $50, and I like it. The day I got it, I realized that I needed a case for it, since it travels with me all day long in my backpack. So I set out on an iJourney to find a good iPod case that was Made in USA.

After a little digging, I found the iArmor, Made in California by A1 Quality Products. They're machined out of aluminum, and anodized... and they aren't bulky, aren't heavy, and you didn't need a special tool to put it on, as it's held together with magnets. So I called them up, and had a great talk with Joe Davis, the owner of A1QP, about the iArmor, and about the kind of stuff I write about here, and we have very similar philosophies, which was great to hear! So after telling him which iPod I had, he got to work, and BOOM, my iArmor arrived!



The iArmor is aptly named - although I wouldn't want to drive over my iPod with my car, I apparently could, as A1QP's website has video of (not recommended, obviously). It comes with a hard plastic screen protector, a click wheel protector, and obviously, the anodized aluminum cover. There's a thin rubber material inside to help with shock absortion as well. I've had mine for a couple of months already, and besides my iPod obviously functioning perfectly, the case still looks good as new.

And for you iPhone nuts (which I hope to be someday), A1 Quality Products makes iArmor for iPhones, as well as cases for some older Nano and Shuffle iPods.

And on related note, look for a future post on headphones for an iPod... as soon as I can scrape some money together, I've got my eye on a killer pair!

Friday, June 13, 2008

The Pliers

It's widely known that humans aren't the only species that use tools (Joshua Klein's TED talk about crows using tools, and there's always cute sea otters breaking shells open with rocks, amongst a slew of others). However, we certainly have the coolest ones. And with that said, this is my first of many entries showcasing a tool.

While searching for some pliers for electrical work, I came across a few companies out there - Wiha, Knipex, Klein, and Channellock, to name a few. These all are great products, however I ended up picking up a set of Knipex precision electrical pliers. But you can't go wrong with any of the above.



They're made in Germany, and are as fine of a hand tool as you can purchase. Although they're a little on the pricey side, my mentality when buying tools (especially hand tools) is that, unless I lose it, this is the LAST one I'll ever need to buy. And, heck, I like things that are made in Germany.

I also went with the ESD version, which means you're protected against electrostatic buildup which electrical components can have... although I wouldn't recommend futzing with electrical components unless you know what you're doing!

I purchased mine from ChadsToolBox.com - they seemed to have the best prices and an a good selection too. They had to ship from Germany first, but considering these should last me a lifetime, I was ok with the wait.

Good luck, and happy... pinching?