Macally: Nano Exclusives
We’ve looked at some Macally products before, and they continue to set the bar for reasonably priced, well-made iPod accessories. Today, we’ll be checking out two recent additions to their family- the mTune and the cryptic IP-n111.
We’ll start with the clear winner of the coolest iPod headphone idea, the mTune. It’s cordless, which basically means that the iPod slides into the headset itself, behind the left pad of the headset. It sounds a bit awkward, as the nano then adds some weight and seems like it might be prone to falling out- but in fact it stays in place fairly well even if you are running or dancing.
Best of all, no extra batteries are needed- the whole thing runs off of the Nano batteries. Of course, this means that the quality isn’t top-notch but then again, these aren’t the $100 Shure headphones. The mTunes will only set you back $50, and though the headband is a little uncomfortable (unpadded), it’s still a fairly good overall package, and easy to use.
The IP-n111 is simpler, a small portable speaker meant for travelling. It’s nothing too special, but as with the headset the nano simply slides into the base, which allows you to use the nano’s built-in controls. It takes 3 AA batteries, which means it will last for around 10 hours of use. And it comes in either black or white, to match (or contrast) your nano. $30 will buy you these pretty powerful, quite portable speakers- just don’t expect much bass, and don’t shed any tears for the non-existent battery life indicator.
