I've written previously about how iPods are perfect for preschoolers, and so it was with great excitement that I read about Apple's plans to release an iPod especially for babies. Rumors are that it is set to debut hot on the heels of the much-anticipated iPhone release.
Banking on the the success of products like the First Years Crib CD Player, Apple is releasing a ruggedized version of its video iPods—called iPodBaby—especially for baby use.
The iPodBaby is covered by a soft-yet-strong non-toxic polystyrene coating with a hook-and-loop backing that can stick easily to any cloth from crib bumpers to onesies to the cloth-like coverings of most disposable diapers. It has a 10 gig microdrive from Toshiba which can hold hundreds of lullabyes or your favorite Baby Einstein videos (now exclusively available on iTunes).
A unique option only available on the iPodBaby is the Garmin GPS plug-in module that lets you keep track of your baby. Not only is this feature helpful when your baby hits the crawling stage, it also allows you to keep tabs on what your nanny and baby are doing. Is she really at the park? Now you'll know for sure.
Plush Bose headphones with buds in a variety of cute animal shapes ensure that your baby's ears are comfortable (and cute!) without sacrificing sound quality. There is also an available Nuk ear bud which doubles as a pacifier
The iPodBaby comes in blue, pink, or unisex silver and can be engraved with baby's name and birthdate for no additional change. The iPodBaby will retail for $349 and is appropriate for babies as young as 1 week old.
[photo: gizmodo]
