iPod Nano - Better Lanyard - FreeiPodGuide Forums

slease

15-09-2005 01:57:06

Alright, the one thing I loved about my shuffle was the ability to wear it around my neck and have it always accessible. The Nano is obviously light enough to do this but the apple lanyard/earphone combination is

1) Rediculously expensive
2) Burdened forever with crappy not worth 1.00 apple earbuds
3) Bulky

So after much though and digging through my old apple accessory pile... I came up with this solution that I feel puts apple's lanyard to shame.

I wish I had taken step by step pictures but alas I did not think ahead.

First the finished product.

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This was created using a third generation iPod USB connect which was created quite awkward because apple didn't allow the iPod 3g to charge via USB. So the dock connector has both a firewire port and a usb port cable coming off of it.

You can still buy these on ebay.
[url==http//cgi.ebay.com/USB-2-0-FIREWIRE-DATA-CHARGE-CABLE-IPOD-3G-4G-MINI_W0QQitemZ5808725524QQcategoryZ56172QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem]Ebay Link[=http//cgi.ebay.com/USB-2-0-FIREWIRE-DATA-CHARGE-CABLE-IPOD-3G-4G-MINI_W0QQitemZ5808725524QQcategoryZ56172QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem]Ebay Link[/url]

Then it was a simple matter of slicing off the port ends to create a dock connector attached to 2 long cables. After some fitting to decide how low I wanted it to hang I temporarily taped it with scotch tape and cut off the slack.

Here is a closer photo.

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I'll be finishing it off tomorrow with white electrical tape replacing the scotch tape.

I'm currently using it with my Sony 71's which have a shortened cord to make them work with a remote unit, they are the perfect length for this.

So what do you think, good idea?

justinag06

15-09-2005 02:04:18

haha thats awesome

way to save some money slease.

I personally just keep mine in my pockets

JOSHBOX

15-09-2005 02:04:58

just hope that tiny dock plug locks in really well. ;-) great idea though.

slease

15-09-2005 02:09:35

[quote3fd79df2f7="JOSHBOX"]just hope that tiny dock plug locks in really well. ;-) great idea though.[/quote3fd79df2f7]

It's an official apple dock plug, it works quite well. I can't pull it out without hitting the buttons on the side.

Tholek

15-09-2005 02:42:04

Personally, I'd just tie the USB/Firewire ends together. There's no need to destroy its original usefulness. ;)

slease

15-09-2005 02:46:39

[quote4dde5dce4e="Tholek"]Personally, I'd just tie the USB/Firewire ends together. There's no need to destroy its original usefulness. ;)[/quote4dde5dce4e]

The original cables are way too long for that, unless you wanted an extra 5-6 feet of cable wrapped around your neck.

Tholek

15-09-2005 02:57:23

Actually, that's not so bad. I've seen eyeglass lanyards that have a little "trim" pull that opens and closes the loop with the ends hanging down the back of your shirt.

To each his own, though. )

Admin

15-09-2005 09:02:07

I wouldn't do this. Something's going to break pretty quickly.

slease

15-09-2005 10:10:28

[quote4d8fa24d05="Admin"]I wouldn't do this. Something's going to break pretty quickly.[/quote4d8fa24d05]

lol, well, at least I know it won't be the ipods hard drive. i think replacing the scotch tape with electrical tape should secure it nicely though. And it's not like the apple version is connected by anything stronger than the dock connector.

Fugger

15-09-2005 10:39:16

how well is that held in place? I've never tried to hang my 40 gig upside down by the cable. Granted, i've not held a nano yet, but I'd be scared as hell to do that.

slease

15-09-2005 10:40:22

[quote0a41cbb817="Fugger"]how well is that held in place? I've never tried to hang my 40 gig upside down by the cable. Granted, i've not held a nano yet, but I'd be scared as hell to do that.[/quote0a41cbb817]

It's very solid, I can't just rock it out, the only way I can get it off is to push the buttons on the side of the dock connector.

Peinecone

15-09-2005 10:50:45

I'm pretty sure this is the same connection that the Apple lanyard ahs, so he should be good to go.

hehehhehe

15-09-2005 10:56:53

I think that's a good idea for a nano. As long as the two ends are attached strongly enough...

Admin

15-09-2005 11:25:07

The connector on the cable and/or the plug on the nano are going to become loose and/or break. I'm calling it right now.

hehehhehe

15-09-2005 11:30:43

I think the locking mechanism is strong enough, but what may happen is that the stress on the connector plug will cause some points to become unsoldered rendering it useless.

Lunarpancake

15-09-2005 11:52:04

[quote0bd6ce7003="Admin"]The connector on the cable and/or the plug on the nano are going to become loose and/or break. I'm calling it right now.[/quote0bd6ce7003]

well im calling that the lanyard will work fine, and he'll live happily ever after

(not really i think itll break too...but i felt like arguing)

x323smostwantedx

15-09-2005 12:54:23

Nice Project

bspence

15-09-2005 13:00:01

I think its a very smart idea. Start selling them! www.ipodlanyards.com hahaha. lol

slease

15-09-2005 13:08:46

Well, I'll take that bet =)

I just used it an hour at the driving range hitting a large bucket and it worked perfectly. I really don't think it has any less support than the official apple lanyard.

fujiapplelover

15-09-2005 14:02:24

Good job! But I would go buy a cheap landyard that's not from Apple instead of going through all the trouble.

slease

15-09-2005 14:18:55

[quoteca1309c692="fujiapplelover"]Good job! But I would go buy a cheap landyard that's not from Apple instead of going through all the trouble.[/quoteca1309c692]

Let me know when you find one, as far as I know they don't exist yet.

fujiapplelover

15-09-2005 14:26:16

I'm pretty sure in about a month or so they'll appear from other accessories manufacturers

slease

15-09-2005 14:34:12

[quotea1625d80c8="fujiapplelover"]I'm pretty sure in about a month or so they'll appear from other accessories manufacturers[/quotea1625d80c8]

I intend to buy one as soon as a decent one comes out, I would like one that works with a nice slip in case like the apple tubes. But for now, what I've made will have to do.