Wheres the waterproof shuffle case?

Wow. What a great idea. I used to lap swim and would probably be more inclined to start again if you could use my Shuffle. Do you have water proof headphones though? I know when I was a competitive swimmer in high school, Speedo used to make a waterproof radio, so I'm sure those were waterproof.

I talked to the folks at Otterbox and they are working on one. I'm sure that h2oaudio and lilipod will come out with one as well. The key, however, is coming up with good headphones for swimming. I've been testing for months, and working a design on my own as all the rest don't work well. Anyway, things like www.slicsound.com help underwater. Hope this helps.

Just received an answer to an e-mail that I sent to otterbox, the people that made the waterproof cases for the bigger iPods. They are planning to release a waterproof case for the shuffle by June!

Now all of us swimming types need to start researching waterproof earphones. I've seen a couple, but have no way to evaluate them. Anyone have recommendations they can post here to get the discussion going while we wait for the waterproof case to arrive? (I assume - hope - that iPodLounge will be reviewing it.)

I'm an Industrial Designer with a few iPod case designs in the works, including a waterproof one.
The problem with producing a case isn't designing a waterproof case, but designing a case for a price people would be willing to pay..
I've heard people complaining about the $30.00 sport case. I hate to tell you, but a waterproof version will definately cost more than $30.00.

I'm curious. If I could build you a case for your iPod what would you want the most??
Waterproof? , A hard shell, A Soft case , What if it doubled the size of your shuffle?

What if it changed the look of your shuffle? If a case was solid with slightly rounded lines?? Does the shape of your iPod mean that much to you?

The big one... What would you be willing to pay for your case if it did just what you wanted it to ??

Keep in mind - There's a waterproof MP3 player out with headphones that sells for $180.00.. It'll be hard to get a fully submerssible Shuffle in under that...

I'd love to hear from you..

For me, all I really care about is turning it on, and letting it go to shuffle mode while I'm swimming.

I don't necessarily need to be able to use the controls (though handy), since I'll be swimming, I won't always have the ability to stop in the middle of a set, and tap the back of my head/suit/reachintocrotchandchangesong.

I'd like to see a strap that would either hook into my goggles (similar to alligator clips they already have) on the back of my head, or something that you just tuck into or clip onto your suit. If you do the goggle thing, then you don't have to worry about male/female issues with suits either.

All I need is a waterproof enclosure. I'll press play on my shuffle, and then put it in the case if I have to. I think a pillbox case such as this (without controls). Think along the lines of the sport case, only without controls. My beef with the sports case is only the touchpad and the headphone jack. They're water resistant. But repeatedly submerged it won't hold out water forever. I thought about silicon goop in there and super glue for headphones, but that's just a cheap hack.
This could/should be feasible for under $45 also, even if bundled with head phones.

If there was a way to get controls, even if it was only minimal, I'd bump it up to $60.

As far as size goes, go ahead, double the size of it, it's still half the size of any good mp3 player. Size isn't an issue, just so long as it's not in the way while swimming (hence back of head or suit clip). I'd prefer a hard case, since it would be in my sports bag.

Well, first and foremost it has to be waterproof, not water resistant. I'm talking about taking the shuffle into a pool for an hour or more. It has to come out of the water as dry as it went in.

Price? Well, nothing about the iPods are cheap. I've already paid 30 and 50 dollars for two iPod photo cases, and just paid 40 dollars for a set of 3 colored plastic cases for my daughter's iPod shuffle. So, yes, I'd expect to pay more for a waterpoof case, but I'm afraid that otterbox has probably already set an upper limit on waterproof iPod cases at 49.95 for their iPod photo case. Don't know what the price point will be on the waterpoof shuffle case, but surely not more than that. Of course, better features and design are worth more, so impress the hell out of me, and I'll pay more.

After that, the issues are usability, attachment, and esthetics...

Soft or hard -- either is fine, so long as it is waterproof (see above). Thinking of how the case will be carried and handled in the water, a hard shell might be easier to handle and slip onto a goggles strap or swim cap (yea, it's that kind of pool) than a silicone sleeve type case. On the other hand, a soft case might be more comfortable in that location, and would be easier to grasp when wet (the case AND me).

Attachment type and location: The shuffle is very light and slim -- its main attractions as a swimming accessory. Hopefully the case will be the same. If so, then attachment somewhere on the head, either on the swimming cap, on the goggles strap, or even some kind of over-the-head band, like conventional headphones. As noted above, I'd probably like to have the shuffle mounted somewhere in the vicinity of the goggles and swim cap, either attached via a clip, or slipped onto goggles strap via a 'belt loop' so that it can't fall off. Considering the dynamics of moving water and bodies, some might want the shuffle mounted so that it offered the lowest profile to the oncoming water, i.e., perpendicular to the goggle strap at the back of the head, but for stability and accessibility, I think I'd prefer the case to be parallel to the strap at the side of the head. But this would require a case that added minimal volume to the shuffle's slim profile. I don't imagine many serious swimmers would want to have the shuffle attached to their arm or waistband with the earphone wires floating about and getting in the way.

Color is not an issue for me, but clear or opaque or white would probably be favored by most.

Once a waterproof case is available, the critical issue is going to be headphones. Yes, they'll need to be waterproof, too, but they'll also need to be connected to the shuffle and to the ears. If the shuffle is mounted at the the goggle strap, the cord will have to be quite short to keep it from getting in the way while swimming. The ideal waterproof case would have some kind of cord management system built into it, something that could be as simple as two hooks or two grooves around which the cord could be manually wound. Or the bundled headphones (nudge, nudge, wink, wink, hint, hint) could come with a very short cord, just long enough to reach both ears and a strap-mounted shuffle. This might also be left to the users...they could modify the cord to suit their own needs. I modified -- drastically shortened -- the very long cord on my Sennheiser PX-200 headphones so that I could use it with the Apple remote without having a combined 5 feet of cord trailing behind me or stuffed into an already full pocket. I could imagine doing the same to a set of waterproof earphones to avoid having to manage any cord lenght at all.

Another earphone issue might be how to route the phones to the two ears. Tiny loops on the cord that allow the phones to dangle just above each ear? Some of the swimmers in my pool dangle their earplugs in this manner. Seems quite convenient...put the goggles on, and the earplugs fall neatly into position for easy insertion. The waterproof earphones should be just as easy to mount and insert.

Just a few ideas.

The Delano (could be spelled wrong) in Miami has music playing underwater in the pool... but I did not see an iPod hookup on the side.

has anyone bought/used a waterproof case that works as advertised? i just bought a full-size ipod (photo) and have started swimming laps since injuring my ankle. it would be great to have something to listen to...

Well, well. Otterbox has released a waterproof shuffle case. I've already placed my order. Now all I need are waterproof headphones. I'm thinking the ety 4P's are the ideal size and shape, resembling nothing so much as pair of standard swimming ear plugs with rather longer 'tie downs'. They'd also probably sound pretty good underwater, since they're an isolator type earphone, anyway. But there's no way I'm going to spend 300+ dollars on phones for the pool unless I know they're already designed to be waterproof.

So, the question is, are there any similar earphones that are designed to be waterproof that will work well with the Otterbox for the shuffle? Are there any other options?

I've already ordered mine as well.

And now the hunt for cheap (ie < $50) waterproof headphones.

Time for a new thread.

Originally posted by red77
Hey all,

I ordered the shuffle case from otterbox and I also purchased waterproof headphones from here from waterproofcases.net/waterphones.html for 24.99(won't let me post the actual link). I used the combo for the first time on 07/15. Now I am just getting into swimming because I needed to find some cardio exercise that is not as hard on my joints. This was great, I could really hear the music, kept the water out of my ears(I normally use plugs anyway) and I didn't want to stop. I was able to skip songs and adjust the volume. Headphones worked great and are very affordable I think. Thought I would share the info.

Cheers Not bad. So for about $50 or so, you could have the whole setup.

Originally posted by secondshuffle
making an effective seal could be really hard work, especially around the headphone wire. Do u want to go swimmng with it? cos youll need waterproof headphones and im not too sure maybe the sound will be distorted from the water pressure. i cant imagine a masss produced case, its a bit specialist. You could try to make one with a plastic case and lots of waterproof sillicone but i wouldnt risk it. Maybe you should go back and read the WHOLE thread and not just the first post. :rolleyes: