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New iPod accessory maker Thought Out has developed a simple but useful accessory in a woefully underdeveloped category: the iPod stand. True, Apple has virtually pre-empted the functional need for stands with its official Docks, which hold iPods upright while also providing data, audio, and/or video ports. But there’s still a place for decorative iPod holders, and on that score, the iPed is better than average.
Made from a single piece of steel that has been bent to hold an iPod upright on a gentle recline, the iPed uses black rubber to pad most of its potential points of iPod body and table contact. Rubber on its top and front edges would have been better to protect against accidents and misuse, but if you insert the iPod gently and straight-on, you won’t have a problem. A large rubber ring is integrated into the rear arm to let you feed your USB- or FireWire-to-iPod cable through.
In an effort to match the bodies of iMacs and Apple’s aluminum cases, Thought Out painted the steel in a relatively neutral gray matte tone that’s not bad, but not a good match color- or texture-wise for anything - iPods, iMacs, or aluminum Mac cases. We checked the iPed directly against our own Apple cinema dlsplays and computers; it matches shape far better than color, though it’s depicted on the company’s site as a better match than what we saw - photographs hide the texture differences. The gray version looked better next to one of our generic PC cases, which may ironically make for better iPed sales, even if it’s not what was intended. White and off-white versions are also made, and offered with gloss, but we haven’t seen them.
And quite honestly, looks are pretty much the only point of iPed - it holds your iPod next to your computer, and lets you connect a Dock Connector cable to the iPod for charging. Predictably, there’s no way to pull audio or video output from the iPod’s bottom port to a stereo or TV when it’s inside the iPed’s cradle.
If you like iPed’s look, you’ll find that it’s substantial, sturdy, and highly unlikely to come apart. Once it’s placed on a table, it’s not moving unless you move it or the table is rocked. As advertised, third- and fourth-generation iPods both fit and hold inside without a problem, so long as they’re not in cases; iPod minis aren’t advertised as compatible, and fit only loosely; the iPod shuffle doesn’t work inside at all.
However, by comparison with many of the stands we’ve seen, this one is in the middle visually. It’s not a match for DVforge or Power Support’s famed metal stands, and while it matches the shape of certain Apple products, it wouldn’t be confused with them, either. That said, iPed is not as bland or downright bad as some of the stands we’ve passed on reviewing altogether. It’s a legitimate effort, executed with a bit less polish (literally) than we would have liked.
For $25.99, the iPed is a noticeably cheaper alternative to one of Apple’s Docks, and a decent offering overall. We’re more interested in seeing Thought Out’s iPed 2 - which holds your iPod in or out of a case - and iPed shuffle offerings, both of which look to be a bit more distinctive and possibly useful for iPod lovers.
Jeremy Horwitz is Editor-in-Chief of iLounge.
A Note From the Editors of iLounge: Though all products and services reviewed by iLounge are "final," many companies now make changes to their offerings after publication of our reviews, which may or may not be reflected above. This iLounge article provides more information on this practice, known as revving.
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