You can count me among those who miss their iPod and consider the defunct device one of the best products Apple ever made; how I miss that click wheel.
A new third-party Apple Watch accessory called tinyPod appears to be specifically designed to press that nostalgic iPod button, including a functional click wheel (h/t Android Authority).
The tinyPod is a case that turns the Apple Watch into a wristless device. Placing the watch in the tinyPod renders the Digital Crown unusable, but that’s where the Click Wheel comes in.
While the case is fun, it’s expensive at $80. I’m not sure if that’s excessive, since the case is mostly nostalgia bait without adding much utility beyond that.
TinyPod bills the case as “your phone away from the phone.” If you have a cellular Apple Watch, it can tap into Apple Watch features like calling, texting, music playback, and fitness tracking. If you don’t have a cellular version, this case might not be worth exploring, as those features would disappear once the iPhone is removed.
This is part of a recent trend of companies trying, and failing, to create devices that allow us to spend less time looking at our phones while still providing some of the utility we use our phones for all the time.
I could see the case as a great way to take your watch without wearing it for things like running or going to the gym, especially if you don’t like the feeling of watches on your arms when you work out.
If you like the idea of a wristless Apple Watch that lets you leave your phone behind but balk at the $80 price tag, there’s a $30 TinyPod Lite model; however, that removes the Click Wheel, which feels like it’s missing the whole point of the product.
Currently, the TinyPod and TinyPod Lite are available for pre-orderThe website says the 45/44mm versions of the device will ship this summer, but it’s unclear when exactly. After all, we’re already halfway through the season. The 41/40mm and 49mm (Ultra) sizes, however, won’t ship until the fall.