Interested in getting a VIDEO Ipod 20GB for free or 360 Xbox (XBOX 2)? Go here ifreeGadgets dot com. There's a NBC video on the site that explains everything. If not read the review. As we all know, the iPod is one of the coolest gadgets out there today, and almost unarguably the best mp3 player in the market. Not only is it light, portable and easy to use, but it's amazing design makes it an ubercool device that will revolutionize the way you listen to and manage your music. The iPod is not only a portable player, but can easily become an all-around entertainment center at home and in the car. In this guide, I'll try to present some of the best solutions I've found for expanding your iPod's functionality to the max. Obviously, the first component you need is the iPod itself. If you don't have one already, you should consider getting the 'Apple 40 GB 3rd Generation iPod M9245LL/A'. Sure, it comes with a hefty price tag, but it sure is worth the price considering the devices you'll be able to replace and/or enhance. There's also the new 'Apple 4 GB iPod Mini Silver M9160LL/A', which I don't really get as it offers only 4GB and the regular iPod seems small enough for me, but then again, I'm a fairly big guy. To make the most out of the home iPod experience, you'll need a good set of speakers that match the cool factor of the device itself. And thanks to the new 'Apple iPod Dock (M9130G/A)' station (available from Apple) you can easily connect your new-generation iPod without the messy wiring. Some good speaker options are the 'JBL Creature 2.1 Speakers (3-Speaker, White)' and the 'Harman Kardon Champagne 3-Piece Computer Speakers (Black)', both by Harman Kardon/JBL. If you have one of the first generation iPods, with no docking station option, you should check out the 'Speck Products FlipStand iPod Hard Case (FS-1001)', a combination desktop stand and carrying hard-case. Of course you can always opt to simply connect the iPod to your existing stereo system and use it like a digital jukebox. Just be sure to use good-quality cables, like the 'Monster Cable iCable for iPod'. They even come with their own carrying case, so you can plug-in your iPod on the go into any source that accepts RCA. Once you've set up your iPod at home, you're sure to want to take it on the road. And sure, the included in-ear earphones with remote sound good, but if you really want to make the best out of your listening experience you'll want some better-quality headphones with noise-cancelling features. That's where the 'Sennheiser PXC 250 Noise Canceling Headphones (Silver)' come in. They may not be terribly sleek, but they sure are great sounding. Now that you're setup with some good headphones, you may want to extend the battery life of your iPod. Even if it has a very decent 8 hour playback time, what happens when you're stuck in a flight to Tokyo? The 'Belkin Backup Battery Pack for iPod' can extend your entertainment by 12 to 15 hours with 4 replaceable AA batteries. Once you get to your destination, you can use the World Travel Adapter kit from Apple to refuel your iPod anywhere in the world. And when it comes to carrying your iPod around, you're sure to need a little protection and portability. For everyday use, the 'Belkin Clear Case for iPod' provides enough protection without detracting from the iPod's cool design. If you're looking for more, the 'XTREMEMAC Hip Tunes Seven Piece iPod Essentials Bundle ? Gray' contains several transport solutions, like a carrying case, belt clip, neck lanyard and two swivel mounts. It even comes with a DC car charger so you can take your iPod on the road (here's where that second swivel mount comes in handy). When it comes to taking your iPod on the road, you will need two things: a power adapter, like the 'Monster Cable iCharger iPod Auto Charger (126998)' and a way to connect your iPod to your stereo. There's two easy routes you can take here, using an FM transmitter or a cassette adaptor. The FM transmitters, like the 'Irock! 300w Wireless Music Adapter' or the newer 'Griffin iTrip FM Transmitter for 2002 iPod'. The downside to FM transmitters is that they are vulnerable to interference,and usually require outside power. The iTrip actually draws its power from the iPod, but I haven't had the chance to test it's effectiveness. The 'DIGITAL LIFESTYLE OUTFITTERS TransPod All-In-One Car Solution for iPod' would be an ideal solution for the road, but sadly it sounds like a flawed product. Hopefully Monster Cable or Belkin will come up with their version soon. As for cassette adaptors a 'Sony CPA-9C CD/MD Cassette Adaptor with Self-Adjusting, Spring-Loaded Head' will be enough to get you going. Belkin also makes a prettier white adaptor, available from the Apple Store (www.apple.com). Cassette adaptors are more reliable than FM transmitters, but many new cars don't come equipped with a cassette player. Now, if you're a serious about your in-car entertainment, you can always get a 'JVC In-Dash CD Player (KD-SH77)'. The unit not only plays MP3 Cds (in case those 10,000 songs on your iPod aren't enough), but it offers line-in jacks on the rear. So you can easily make a transparent connection of your iPod to the unit, without messy adaptors, as well as control DVD or VCR AND CD-changer units straight from the dash. As cool as it gets. You can also get Auxiliary Input Adapters for most better-brand stereos. See your audio specialist or consult http://www.crutchfield.com for details. That should cover the main areas of iPod entertainment. A few other gadgets, like the 'Olympia SoundBug Ultra-Portable Sound System (1-Speaker, Silver)' allow you to share your music almost anywhere, or at least anywhere there is a flat, smooth surface. Too bad it's only mono, but you could easily connect two for a full-stereo experience. The 'Monster Cable iSplitter iPod Mini Y-Adapter (AICYP)' splits the earphone jack in two, so you can share your music through a second set of headphones. Finally, the Burton Amp Jacket, not available from Amazon, is the first and only jacket that controls an iPod through the touch of a sleeve - no more fumbling with zippers, gloves and pockets. 'Apple 4 GB iPod Mini Silver M9800LL/A' 'Apple 4 GB iPod Mini Blue M9802LL/A' 'Apple 4 GB iPod Mini Green M9434LL/A' 'Apple 4 GB iPod Mini Pink M9435LL/A' 'Apple 6 GB iPod Mini Silver M9801LL/A' 'Apple 1 GB iPod Shuffle M9725LL/A' 'Apple 512 MB iPod Shuffle M9724LL/A' 'Apple 30 GB iPod Photo M9829LL/A' 'iRiver H10 5 GB Digital MP3 Player Triple Platinum' 'iRiver 5 GB H10 MP3 Player Lounge Grey' 'iRiver H10 5 GB Digital MP3 Player Remix Blue' 'Apple 40 GB iPod M9268LL/A' 'Apple iPod Shuffle Armband' 'Apple iPod Shuffle Sport Case' 'Apple iPod USB Power Adapter' 'Apple iPod Shuffle Dock Connector' 'Apple iPod Shuffle Battery Pack' 'Apple 4 GB iPod Mini Silver M9160LL/A' 'Apple iPod Shuffle (1GB) miniSync Retractable Sync and Charge Cable' 'Sony PlayStation Portable (PSP) Bundle 5 Games' 'PSP Ridge Racer' 'PSP Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories' 'PSP Metal Gear Acid' 'Sony Playstation Portable (PSP) Value Pack' 'Nintendo DS Bundle with Spider-Man 2 and Pro Gamer's Kit' 'Nintendo DS' 'Nintendo DS Bundle' 'Nintendo DS Bundle with Super Mario 64 and Leather Case' 'PlayStation 2 (new design)' 'Sony PlayStation Portable (PSP) Bundle 5 Games' 'PSP Ridge Racer' 'PSP Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories' 'PSP Metal Gear Acid' 'Sony Playstation Portable (PSP) Value Pack' 'Nintendo DS Bundle with Spider-Man 2 and Pro Gamer's Kit' 'Nintendo DS' 'Nintendo DS Bundle' 'Nintendo DS Bundle with Super Mario 64 and Leather Case' 'PlayStation 2 (new design)' |