Apple Retail Stores Now Carrying Acclaimed TikTok And LunaTik Nano Watchbands
May 19, 2011
When the newest, touch-enabled iPod Nano came out, one of the first ideas to spring up in the minds of folks everywhere was to make this thing into a wristwatch with some banded accessory. Many companies have released such add-ons, running the gamut from cheap, plastic junk to diamond-encrusted idiocy. The good stuff, though, is in between.
Scott Wilson, founder of design firm MINIMAL, has produced arguably the best of the category, starting by setting records on Kickstarter and ending up with an official presence in Apple retail stores (online store availability is TBA). His TikTok and LunaTik models, priced at $39.95 and $79.95 respectively, are finely crafted from durable, attractive materials and have burned through the review circuit with nigh unanimous acclaim. GigaOM's Darrell Etherington points out that
Apple initially wasn’t convinced buyers would be willing to pay for the more expensive $79.95 LunaTik. In fact, Wilson has sold twice as many of the more expensive model according to Co.Design. That’s 20,000 through his site, adding to the initial 21,120 orders made through Kickstarter. Those numbers have convinced Apple that buyers most definitely are interested.That, friends, is wonderful news. Hopefully, these accessories continue to sell well, and Apple will understand that the little device's unexpected timepiece appeal is very real. And though the Nano doesn't run iOS, perhaps Apple will work custom timepiece capabilities into future models. Users could create, share, and sell watch face designs, and accessory manufacturers could add custom displays to enhance the industrial look of their released products. Throw in Bluetooth for a cordless experience, and I'd certainly be on board.