iPod Touch loop? Material?

[astroman33]

The review here said it seemed to be made of some sort of layered microsuede with neoprene.

Can you all confirm that the loop is, indeed, made partly out of leather?

If true, I'm surprised that Apple would risk offending a slice of the hi-tech, ecological, animal-loving buying public with such a move.

[Code Monkey]

You do realize that microsuede is a polyester/nylon blend that *resembles* suede, right?

[kornchild2002]

Aside from the above statement, Apple sells a genuine leather smart cover for the iPad 2/3/4 and they used to sell a premium leather case for the 4G iPod back in 2004. Apple has sold leather products before and I'm sure they will continue to do so. It might offend the PETA crowd but so will the dozen McDonald's all available within a 3 block radius. You can't appeal to absolutely everyone. The people who don't like a certain aspect will just have to deal with it and not buy the product and/or not support the company. Either way, Apple isn't forcing anything on anyone. Even if the strap with the 5G iPod touch was made of leather, people aren't being forced to buy it.

I don't agree with the whole "family friendly" BS that the House of Mouse keeps pushing on everyone (I wish the FCC would lighten up and adopt European rules) but that didn't stop me from enjoying Wreck it Ralph or The Avengers. Someone who doesn't like the use of animal skin can not buy that smart cover for their iPad. Apple Stores sell a countless number of leather products for various Apple releases, I purchased one yesterday (the Book Book for the iPhone 5, it's great!). I haven't come across picket lines from PETA members yet.

[astroman33]

No, I didn't know what microsuede is. If I had, I wouldn't have mentioned "leather"! The use of "suede" in the term is misleading. "faux suede" would be more like it! Or, what do some companies call it, "ecological leather" or "vegetarian"??

There is a difference between Apple offering some accessories, such as a cover, that are made of leather, and making it part of one of their leading hardware devices. (Although a dedicated PETA member might disagree, as even offering Apple-branded leather covers reflects something about the company's values.)

Similarly, Apple's gotten into hot water over the labor conditions of its Chinese contractors. Sure, one could argue that no one is forced to buy their products built that way, but that doesn't mean that what they're doing or relying on is right. In fact, due to public outcry over that and its use of ecologically damaging materials, Apple has changed course greatly. Indeed, it now repeatedly touts its renewable, better for the world ingredients in its products.

In fact, though, I have no choice but to buy Apple's products. Steve Jobs long ago captured me in his Reality Distortion Field and there's simply no escaping!
--------------------------------------------

Actually, it wasn't Jobs, but a small computer called the Macintosh!

[kornchild2002]

I don't really see a difference between offering a leather strap and leather covers/cases. The amount of 5G iPod touch units out there are quite a bit but, if you look at the iPhone and iPad market, those vastly outnumber the amount of 5G iPod touch's's's's that are going to be sold over the entire lifetime of the device. That means there is a larger potential market for leather covers/cases than the amount of straps Apple is including with the 5G iPod touch.

Either way, they aren't forcing people to buy the iPod touch or even use the strap that comes with it. I've known plenty of vegans who eat at places that serve meat. One person (or even a small population) not sharing the beliefs of others doesn't mean that a company has to revamp their whole product line. That's like people getting mad at Thor and The Avengers for using Norse Mythology instead of Southern Baptism. So Marvel and Disney go back and change everything. Nah, the world doesn't work that way.

This whole discussion is off-topic since it has been established that Apple is not using leather with the 5G iPod touch but that hasn't stopped it from being fun. Feel free to continue.