Announced last year (and covered by us here), the Burton Amp iPod Backpack started shipping in very limited quantities a couple months ago. I managed to track one down and have been thrilled with it. They are reported to begin shipping in larger volumes soon, so I thought I’d share my impressions.
The pack itself is a great size and has just the right number of pockets for a high tech urban warrior. The design is rather stealth— nothing about says “Hi, I’m expensive and carry lots of gadgets.” Connecting it to your iPod is as simple as connecting headphones and controlling it from the shoulder strap is totally intuitive. The thing just works. One main issue is the fact that you have to take the headphones out of your ears before removing the pack. I have forgotten this a few times on the subway, giving otherwise stoic riders a chuckle as I turn in to a tangled tech dork mess. I also find the button placement a bit tricky to see, though I’ve learned how to find the controls by touch.
The Amp jackets and backpack are a sign of things to come. More and more you will see garments and accessories with integrated electronics. There is a disconnect, however— gadgets are a ‘buy one, use often’ business, where fashion is a ‘buy many, change frequently’ business. The real design challenge is going to be managing that gap.
