TreeHugger Picks: iPod Accessories
by Collin Dunn, Corvallis, OR, USA on 04.25.07
Apple's iPods are everywhere; it seems that everybody's got one, in various sizes, shapes, storage capacities and playback times; some play movies, some clip to your shirt, they all can be recycled and Lloyd made a case for the nano as the green product of the year in 2005. Whatever your iPod persuasion, here are some green(er) ways to keep 'em charged up, scratch-free and looking good, at least until the next model comes out.
1) Keep your 'pod full of juice with this DIY hand crank, this DIY bike crank or any number of solar chargers.
2) The iZAP is a lithium-ion battery pack that can add 28 hours of playback when you're tired of cranking and the sun's gone down.
3) A host of cases, including the recycled rubber TREAD, wooden custom job, super-renewable jute cozy and even a case made from recycled 45 rpm records, are a helpful way to keep your iPod scratch-free; some will help keep your nano from snapping like a graham cracker when you sit on it.
4) We haven't forgotten the Shuffle owners; these cases are made from bamboo.
5) The Pause Bed combines an iPod dock and speakers with a place to lay your head; if you like tunes before you go to sleep (or as you're waking up), it might be for you.
Thirsty for more? Check out these related articles:
- EcoSheild Your iProducts
- Doing More with Less: DIY iPod Speakers
- 22 Fix-It Videos: Prevent E-Waste, Save Money, and Keep Your Stuff
- Long Overdue: Eco-labelling for Electronics
Despite being an avid TreeHugger reader, and working with iPods every day, I honestly must admit to having never really considered the eco-friendliness of this whole line of products. Thanks for bringing this important issue to the forefront - it seems these days nearly everyone has an iPod or some mp3/mp4 player tucked away.
Not exactly revolutionary, but it'll make a dent! An insane amount of people use iPods (including me) so why not help the eco while you're at it?
Hey! I have never thought about this product as being eco-friendly either. Great read! It's also known that the batteries will eventually die and need to be replaced. This scares some people, especially taking apart your iPod and replacing the battery yourself. I followed a lot of good tips to prolong the life, even some of the ones that you've listed above, but my battery still died. I found this great iPod battery site with replacements for most Apple versions. The guys there were great and offered tons of different help for any problems you may run into during installation.