The Tale of i-Dog: The iPod Accessory That Ruled the World

Jul 8, 2024

The Tale of i-Dog: The iPod Accessory That Ruled the World

Introduction

  • i-Dog: An accessory and virtual pet for iPods.
  • Release Date: April 2, 2005, in Japan by Sega Toys.
  • Functions: Plays music through a built-in speaker, reacts with movements, and lights up.
  • Emotions: LEDs on the face show emotions:
    • Green: Happy
    • Orange: Content
    • Red: Angry
  • Interaction: Responds to touches and changes behavior based on interaction and neglect.

Variants and Designs

  • Japanese Variants: Several colors and special editions (Happy Version with star LEDs, Lovely Version with heart-shaped LEDs).
  • American Version: Slight redesign by Hasbro and Tiger Electronics; added back legs and other updates.
  • Differences in Sounds: Japanese version uses electronic noises, while Hasbro version uses more dog-like sounds.

Design and Aging

  • Design: Maintained a modern look over the years with glossy white plastic and silver accents.
  • Material Issues: Susceptibility to yellowing due to UV light; older units often suffer from this.
  • Battery Issues: Corrosion from old batteries is common, which can be cleaned to restore function.

Collectability

  • Numerous Variants: Various colors and special editions, some exclusive to certain stores or collaborations (e.g., Sapporo, Atmos, Kiss, Spider-Man).

Subsequent Releases

  • i-Cat: Touch-sensitive face LEDs, introduced cat-specific designs and features (e.g., light-up whiskers).
  • i-Fish: Non-waterproof, spins and reacts to music in a complicated manner.
  • i-Cy: Penguin-themed, with LEDs on its belly; limited variations.

i-Dog Pup and i-Dog Amp’d

  • i-Dog Pup: Smaller, cuter, but lacks audio in; only dances to sounds it hears.
  • i-Dog Amp’d: Second generation, better audio output with stereo speakers but retains poor sound quality.

i-Dog Dance

  • Features: Fully motorized, including ears and legs; limited to two colors.
  • Behavior: Slightly aggressive sounds and movements.

i-Dog Clip and i-Dog Soft Speaker

  • i-Dog Clip: Very small, clip-on accessory with built-in audio pass-through.
  • i-Dog Soft Speaker: Largest model, plush design with surprisingly good sound quality.

i-Turtle

  • Features: Rare, more dolphin-like sounds, LEDs on its shell, and moving shell and head.
  • Limited Success: Not very popular at the time of release.

Burger King Promotions

  • 2007 and 2008: Offered miniature versions with limited functionality.
  • Themes: Different themes like Halloween in 2008.

End of i-Dog Franchise

  • Final Product: Plush speaker with no i-Dog functionality, released in 2009.
  • Legacy: All available products run simultaneously to create an i-Dog symphony.

Additional Information

  • Sponsor: VPN services for secure browsing.
  • Community Engagement: Invited to join Discord server, follow on Twitch, and subscribe to YouTube channel.
  • Acknowledgements: Special thanks to supporters and collaborators.