Review: Macally Podio
Convenient and hassle free (March 16th, 2005)
The Good
- Eliminates cable clutter and provides acceptable sound.
The Bad
- Cord doesn’t always retract completely.
Do you love your iPod but get tangled up in the long wires? My iPod’s home is a nice padded leather case, but there is never a neat way to wind the cables around the case, they just slide off. Each time the iPod emerges from my purse, I must enter a Zen-like calm as I engage in a wire untangling ritual in anticipation of listening to the latest great American novel. Untangling cords is a most unApple-like activity that we can live without.
In the quest for an iPod cord makeover, I discovered retractable earphones named Podio, from MacAlly. Podio are ice white retractable earbuds with a convenient belt clip. The white oxygen-free copper cables extend 32 inches, a shorter and more usable length than those that ship with the iPod. The cable pulls out smoothly but often fails to retract as completely as one might wish. Still, it provides a tangle-free way to tote earbuds in purse or pocket.
The sound is good although not as good as the Apple earbud headphones. The tones are rich enough for characterizations in audio books and handle different kinds of music well. The .125 stereo jack is standard, so you can use Podio for personal stereos, CD or DVD players, or computers when you need to refrain from rocking down the office.
While it’s not a perfect product, Podio earbuds are a daily necessity for me. I miss the in-cable control and slightly superior sound provided by Apple’s earbuds, but cable untangling is a time-consuming sport better left behind.
Edited by Ilene Hoffman, Reviews Editor
