I have been using a pair of Nike Aero headphones for the last few days. I really like these. My initial interest was aesthetic; I liked the look of the headphones in the packaging. I also saw that Philips had made these exclusively for Nike.

In use they fit comfortably over the ear and deliver good sound. One feature I like is that they stay in place when my head moves whereas the in-ear ones supplied with my iPod nano tend to pop out (especially my right ear). A soft gel-like coated band connects the two ear speakers and the cable is routed to the back of the head to minimise interference.

The cable manager is useful depending on where you store your iPod when in use. This is also designed along the lines of the ear covers which are white shiny plastic discs with the Nike swoosh logo set dead centre.

Whilst these headphones are designed for sports use I think they work equally well whilst walking around the metropolis.

Technical Details

• Nike-branded headphones by Philips for use in active sports
• A 1.2 m long cable that is ideal for outdoor use
• 30 mm speaker driver delivers big sound performance
• Nike AirPad cushions ensure excellent sporting comfort
• Nike cable manager brings you easy cable management
• Headphone weight is only 300g

I have been reading a lot about minimalism lately. Not the art – more the lifestyle. I considered a reduction in my on-line presence. I had multiple email addresses and multiple web-sites.

My Google account was linked to email, Adsense, the RSS reader, YouTube, Calendar, and Docs.

As I did not use the email account and had had enough of Adsense I took the decision that I would delete all of my Google services. It was then I discovered how much of a grip on me Google had.

This ‘blog had Adsense links that had to be removed. My other websites had the same issue.

A regular habit of checking RSS feeds through Google Reader no longer worked because I could not login any more.

The Google App on my iPhone was removed as I could not use many of the features without an account. I had used the RSS reader that sync’d with the cloud.

I still use Google Search but I am also trying keyboardr.

At the moment I still feel a little bit lost. I am having to find alternatives for the tools and features I used. This proves to me how reliant I was becoming on Google.

Time will tell if I can cope without it permanantely.

• £179.00 iPod Video 30GB Classic
• £199.00 iPod Touch 8GB
• £129.00 iPod nano 8GB
• £55.00 iWork
• £89.00 Leopard
• £49.00 Wireless Aluminium Keyboard
• £49.00 Wireless Mighty Mouse

In addition, I also spent £249 on an Bose Sound Dock, c£80 on an external DVD Writer because my MacBook doesn’t have a superdrive, and c£80 on an external 250GB hard disk for backups (Time Machine anyone?).

Add to this the music purchased on CD and from iTunes and I reckon a total spend of c.£1250 ($2300).

Apart from the money spent I also ‘acquired’ many boxes, power supplied, and cables.

Whilst each purchase has been a joy, OR has solved a problem, I do feel that I am drowning in technology AND running out of money. Is there such a thing as an Apple Inc. addiction?

No wonder Apple Inc. is the highest valued computer company out there.

via GeekPouch

I just wanted to let you know about GeekPouch.

A custom fit, handmade pouch for the iPhone, iPod touch, iPod Classic, 3rd gen Nano, and 5th gen iPod Video. These are available now in three colour choices, a classic black corduroy pouch, a funky Leopard Print soft fur, and a really nice red faux suede.

The pouches have been so popular that the tan faux suede is limited stock and available for the iPod touch only.

The GeekPouch is available in the UK for £5.99 including shipping, international £10.99 including shipping. With a little savings to be had if you buy more than one.

They are available at: http://www.geekpouch.co.uk

Apple today have published an addition to it’s website that collects together some of the first Web 2.0 applications developed for the iPhone and the iPod Touch. I particularly like the Weather and Soduku applications. The new web page can be found Here. Best of all; they are free.

In the year 2000 I discovered Newsgroups. I came across a group called alt.lifestyle.simplicity and briefly posted and commented on the simple life. I thought I would share with you some of my posts here.

on the 7 Oct 2000, 08:00 I wrote;

My understanding of the term ’simplicity’ when applied to lifestyle is one of self inflicted poverty. This comes about when practitioners ‘give-up’ ‘things’ in order to be free. In effect the freedom ‘costs’.

Whoa!, I hear you say, just what is it I am giving up if I choose this lifestyle? More often than not things of little value that were acquired as part of living the ‘normal’ life.

Things of little value, things and people that cause us to waste time, things to worry about unnecessarily, things never used, etc, etc.

All of this can be jettisoned by adopting the simple life.

BUT my argument is this, quality of life is important. Under the Minimalist ethos, the way we live is very pared-down: pared down possessions, pared down homes, and on.

It demands effort.

All of the positives of simplicity are there but the minimalist lifestyle is enhanced by virtue of the fact that what remains in our lives has the highest possible aesthetic qualities.

Imagine a fine, pure, simple, and understated life which is based upon discreet wealth. A clean & light existence with a minimum of possessions which are exquisitely crafted and often, perversely, look less than the sum of their parts.

Modest homes with simply beautiful interiors, uncluttered, almost bare to the casual observer, with all the ‘tools’ of life hidden away when not in use.

Minimalism is about questions like ‘What shade of white should I paint my walls?’. It takes great effort for what appears to be little gain.

Here’s to enhanced simplicity or, as I prefer to call it, minimalism.

on the 18 Sep 2000, 08:00 I wrote;

minimalism is a type of life-simplicity based upon the aesthetic, but pared-down.

At its core is the precept of “A few good things”. In this way we can satisfy our human need to ‘own’ and at the same time appreciate true beauty, which is always simple and understated.

Because ‘things’ that are outwardly simple take additional effort to achieve and more consideration in execution they invariably cost more (in time, manpower, and materials used). The offshoot of all this is additional cost.

I think we should seek to live our lives discreetly. By that I mean live well, but simply. We should not promote wealth through tacky
ostentatiousness.

minimalism is about the lean use of resources, light construction, purity of form, clean lines, and appropriateness of materials. High quality = long lifecycles.

‘Out your face’ living.

on the 15 Sep 2000, 08:00 I wrote;

I would like to propose a new kind of simplicity entitled ‘minimalism’.
Minimalism is a way of life, a pared-down existence, BUT with a difference.

Sure there is denial, but only of those items we neither need or want (long term). Minimalism, as a life-style, has as a basic precept: aesthetics.

Possessions are chosen because they function well and look good. Outwardly they are simple, elegant, free of clutter, and understated. This also applies to our environments, our food, our clothes etc.

The only problem: Expense.

This life-style is expensive, but because ‘things’ i.e quantity is pared down to a minimum, it becomes more affordable.

I would rather have one pair of Bang & Olufsen headphones that last a lifetime and cost a fortune, than buy many other pairs which are of poor quality and visually inept.

I would rather use the expensive Apple Cube computer than spend one minute in front of a noisy, ugly, cobbled together computer that offends my sensibilities.

To sit in a simple white room free of clutter; to sit on a simple but expensive maple wooden floor (at the expense of nearly all other furniture) is bliss. To a minimalist it is what is left out that makes life a pleasure.

The minimalist life does not compromise on quality. Indeed, because each item or space is pared down, what remains must be near perfect. The interior and exterior of a car should exude quality through the fit and finish of its constituent parts. Minimalism is an engineered lifestyle.

Only wear black but make the clothes the best you can afford and only have the minimum amount required to be clean and healthy.

So, live a plain and simple life, but what you do posses should be pure class. Minimalism means less items that are more expensive (discreet wealth).

Authors Infuences: Zen Buddism, Wabi-Sabi, Japanese interiors and gardens, Epicurus – Greek philosopher, John Pawson – Architect, Apple Computers, BBC – Programmes on minimalism and interior design, Various books on Smiplicity, the WEB, etc.

Interestingly, whilst I still aspire to the principles I outlined above, the Apple Cube and the B&O headphones are long gone.

I think I first read about insanely great tees on the Gizmodo web site. When I visited the ‘tees web site I thought how well it was designed.

I saw a couple of designs I liked; ‘I’m a mac’ and the ‘iPod’ T-Shirts and duly placed an order.

Although it look a couple of weeks for the ‘tees to arrive in the UK (not that bad really) I was more than satisfied.

The T-Shirts are of a very high quality and the printing clear and sharp.

If you want a T-Shirt with a Mac or iPod or Apple theme then I recommend you give them a try.

I couldn’t resist this when I saw it in the shops recently. I was attracted to it because of it’s white colour. The fragrance is called Fleur du Male and it’s from Jean Paul Gaultier.

The torso shaped bottle comes in a metal tin which, at first, looks as if it needs to be opened with a tin-opener but it actually opens from the bottom.

The fragrance itself is quite floral and is a definite hit with the ladies.

Is this another example of the ‘Apple effect’? i.e. designers using the colour white because of the quantity of iPods and iMacs out there.