iPod control jeans - do we need them?

[Lena]

this newsbit just came up at bbc world news

Denim giant Levi Strauss has designed a pair of jeans able to control a wearer's Apple iPod music player.

The RedWire DLX Jeans will have an iPod remote control and docking station fitted in its pockets, and comes complete with attached headphones.
To be launched in August, the jeans will cost approximately $200 (£114).
Levi Strauss is not the first to produce iPod-compatible clothing, but it is believed to be the first to do so for trousers or jeans.
No pictures have yet been revealed of the RedWire DLX, or details of how exactly the owner will be able to wash them.
iPod industry About 42 million iPods have been sold so far, fuelling the creation of a burgeoning global accessories industry including everything from simple covers to torches and radio transmitters.

Outdoor clothing company Burton Snowboards unveiled the first iPod-compatible waterproof jacket in 2003, and other firms have followed suit.
Levi Strauss is continuing to turn around its fortunes after falling sales and higher costs hit its results in recent years. To cut costs, the US firm has shut its last remaining American factories and moved all production overseas.

source : http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/4601690.stm

do we need this?
would you rush buying those DLX Levis?
reactions/opinions?

 

[faust]

Well, they are definitely not the first. Burton has been making ski/snowboarding jackets with portable cd/mp3 players controls or actual mp3 players built in. However, unlike Burton, this does not seem to have any practical value whatsoever. Built in headphones?! Do you wear these jeans on your head? This is definitely more of a marketing move than anything.

 

[RobbertJan]

^i agree, the burton jacket was very nice and it was very easy and userfriendly to use the ipod. and anyway how much trouble is it to put your ipod in your pocket when your sitting in a bus or walking the street?

 

[Lena]

^i agree, the burton jacket was very nice and it was very easy and userfriendly to use the ipod. and anyway how much trouble is it to put your ipod in your pocket when your sitting in a bus or walking the street?

exactly..
not sure why, but this is like 'the emperor's new clothes' to me..
cattering/marketing a non existing need

 

[Luna]

... a jacket would definitely be a better idea for something like this (as per Burton) buuuut!.. jeans? What .. are you giong to wear these jeans everyday?

I dunno... sounds useless.

 

[Tinetush]

sounds weird. But I guess some people would buy them
Reminds me of the movie knock off, with Jean-Claude Van Damme. The explosives in the pants

 

[Vans]

I don't think people will be spending $200 US on a pair of jeans. Just for a few more dollars, you can buy an Ipod. How would you wash these jeans?

 

[Erin]

I heard about this on the radio today. To me : ridiculous.

 

[em 692]

Originally Posted by Vans:
How would you wash these jeans?

...I was wondering that, too

it all sounds like a gimmick to me

 

[snowqueen]

I can imagine this being a totaly useless gift loads of people will be bought. its the kind of thing peole buy for a gift but then the recipient just shouves it at back of a cupboard.

 

[fab_fifties_fille]

Useless, but I think it's good putting these things out there in view of more of the general public...textiles is moving forwards, and everyone will be recognising that...bring on smart textiles.

 

[Lena]

yes, smart textiles are the thing of the future, the question is what exactly can they do for the user..
heard so much but at the end those abstract qualities do not cover any real consumer needs..
what could anyone expect from their clothes?

 

[PrincessNoha]

I think this is so useless and such a waste of money!!

 

[tott]

Useless, but I think it's good putting these things out there in view of more of the general public...textiles is moving forwards, and everyone will be recognising that...bring on smart textiles.

Absolutely! But like Lena said, what can they do for the user? It sounds like these are just wired jeans, nothing more?

In the 60's nylon was the way of the future: it didn't stain easily, in fact it more or less repelled liquids and dirt, it was easy to wash, needed no or very little ironing... But it felt plastic and sweaty to wear.

Man-made fibers have come a long way since then, and we have some awesome synthetic fibers today. But really, as long as the fabric itself doesn't do anything special it's just a gimmick, isn't it? If you could take a random yard of fabric and have it connect and interact with your gizmos, that would truly be astonishing on a science-fiction level... But what's special about wired clothes?

 

[yourbestfriend]

This sounds horrible, just another Ipod gimmick. Are the speakers built into the jeans?...It makes no sense at all.

This reminds me of a similar item I saw. Theres a backpack that has a clear case in the back pocklet for you to put your ipod into which then connects to speakers at the side of the backpack. I dont get it, who buys this stuff. Its horrible, you can rock out to your classical music with everyone able to see what youre playing through the see through cover, and everyone around you can party to your music since its playing out of the sides of your backpack...

 

[Ianastar]

Interesting concept, but definitely a passing trend.

 

[PrinceOfCats]

When I can have a jacket with a liquid crystal surface that can be programmed with a new design every morning, then I'll be impressed.

 

[Yasmin]

gimmicky, I don't like the idea. If these pants were recognizable and I saw someone wearing them I would think "trying too hard to be cool"... especially if they were my age group (not teens anymore)

 

[em 692]

^ yes, i would think whoever wore these would be trying really hard to be cool this is just a ridiculous idea...

 

[Kimkhuu]

When I can have a jacket with a liquid crystal surface that can be programmed with a new design every morning, then I'll be impressed.

Yes indeed....

And then again some customers' needs are way beyond what we'd imagine... I am sure these ridiculous iPod control jeans are going to make more than one person happy.... I can see both iPod and Levi Strauss going : $$$$.