Handmade, handstitched felt iPhone case that looks like an iPhone, $39. latelierdeluluu.etsy.com
This blog post was inspired by my friend Melissa who just recently purchased an iPhone. Monday night Melissa and I met for a beer at the Fountain. At that point she had only owned her iPhone for mere hours. She was so excited and pulled it out of her purse for me to see. Only I didn’t see a sleek, black iPhone with a vivid, bright screen but instead a dingy (sorry M) white ankle sock with a pink stripe across the toe.
The girl was storing her fancy new iPhone in a sock that is the exact brand and style of the socks I was wearing for my run thirty minutes prior. The AT&T barracudas couldn’t convince her to buy the “tank” cell phone cover that ends the very thought and worry of destruction. $60 is a bit steep…and in her I’m-going-to-break-and-scratch-my-new-phone paranoia she stored her phone in a sock and headed my way for a drink. Did I mention that I love Melissa? I’m so happy she put her iPhone in a sock.
Here are some iPhone sleeve alternatives to a sock that may catch her eye.
Urbanears Plattan headphones in nine saturated colors, $59.99. Available at Rock City Kicks.
Rolled into Rock City Kicks yesterday and discovered a batch of fetching monotone-tastic headphones. Put a ribbon around the box and boom. Gift. Besides the packaging being genius, these headphones are actually good headphones. I tried them out myself. The sound quality was hefty yet crisp and I couldn’t make out what the person right in front of me was saying while I was wearing them. Headphones that allow you to hear what you want and block out all else, not to mention they’re cute as sh*t? Sold.
They’re compatible with about any device, have a microphone for cell phone conversations and have an extra jack in the headset so someone can plug into your headphones and listen to what you’re listening to. Per my discussion with four Rock City Kicksters, we decided the chain of listeners could go on forever.** Perhaps that idea will spark the next Little Rock monthly dance party. For more detailed specs visit Urbanears.com.
Jonathan Sheafe uses a pair of Urbanears Plattan headphones to listen to music on his iPhone at Rock City Kicks in Hillcrest.
One of the greatest nights of the month was last night: Shop ‘N Sip. The first Thursday of every month, Hillcrest merchants stay open late so people who don’t leave work until 6 (me) can come peruse the stores while partaking in wine or beer.* Given that I had another engagement last night, I could apportion a limited time at Shop ‘N Sip which meant that I only had time to visit one store. So, duh, I went to Box Turtle. There were all sorts of new, fun things in there but one item in particular sticks with me today. The Lego® lookalike Building Block Speaker.
Building Block Speaker available at Box Turtle, $24.25.
Oh clever production companies… taking advantage, yet again, of us folk born in the 80s. We truly are hyper-nostalgic for our childhoods which means big bucks for companies manufacturing anything resembling a toy we possibly saw a commercial for at age 5. Whatever, I’m getting one of these.
Specs:
Compatible with iPod®mini, iPod®Touch (1st Generation), iPod®nano (1-3rd generation), iPod® (3-5th generation), iPod® Classic (Note: Does not work with iPhone®)
No battery required
Volume speakers are hidden in the design
Measures 2.5″ long x 1″ tall x .75″ deep
Not a registered product of Lego®
*That is unless you get there at the end of the night and the hoarders have drunk it all.
Hot hands = White heart. Image courtesy of American Apparel.
The geniuses at American Apparel who brought you (in every color) body suits, windbreakers and braided belts have brought something else back from the 90s: hypercolor t-shirts. The renewed technology is referred to as the Thermochromatic Sheer Jersey T-Shirt. If you don’t recall this product from your childhood, the hypercolor t-shirt changes color with heat. The white sections represent warm spots. Suddenly, breathing heavily into your shirt becomes great fun for the wearer and observer.
This unisex thermochromatic t-shirt is available at American Apparel online for $28.00 in 4 rad colors: Hyper Gold Orange, Hyper Vermillion (shown above), Hyper Green and Hyper Fast-Blue. Even if your hypercolor shirt from years ago still functions because you never put it in the dryer–Will Boyd–perhaps you need another.
OrigAudio's eco-conscious Fold and Play Recycled Speakers, Flowers style. Photo provided by www.origaudio.com
OrigAudio created what may be the new 80s ghetto blaster of our time. Anyone with an iPod shuffle can bump his jams for passersby via OrigAudio’s Fold and Play Recycled Speakers. Any device with a headphone jack is compatible with these speakers made from recycled materials that offer 1 watt of power each. Coming in a set of two, these speakers fold into cubes of a mere 3.15 in³ that require zero batteries to function. A set goes for $16 with six different styles from which to choose, as well as a make-your-own option that seems to be more directed at companies in desire of promotional material than the individual buyer. Watch the video for a quick demo of the product.
Ok. You are not ready for this. There’s your warning.
Designed by Doc Datamancer
In my google galavanting of Scrabble Apple yesterday, I ran across this priceless jewel and nearly died in my desk chair. After further googling, I have gathered, dear fellow Scrabble-ites, that this keyboard is not for sale–most likely due to Scrabble’s miserly life choices like the one made in the post below. Also, this invention came forth into the world in January, which means I’m a bit behind, but you didn’t know about this, did you? Of course not.
Close-up of keys
Um... some keys light up. Yeah.
Doc Datamancer made the keyboard for some friends and is in hopes to sell more, join his mailing list for updates.
All images from Designer Dude’s website.
