Apple iPod

If the new iPod nano now matches the full-sized iPod feature for feature, what's to differentiate the music player that's now known as the iPod classic? Storage -- and lots of it. While this iPod is a good choice for anyone with capacity concerns, Christopher Breen finds a few interface fla...

On the back of the amp unit are connections for an iPod (using the included dock-connector cable) and USB audio. The latter, when connected to your computer via a USB cable (not included), lets you use the NX-PS1 as a digital speaker system for that computer. On the front of the unit, behind a f...

On the other hand, built into that extra padding is a headphone cord wrap, a stand, a door to protect the iPod's dock-connector port, and a belt clip compatible with Marware's existing clips. Each feature functions very well, showing attention to detail. The top panel of the case is also tho...

In both hardware and software, the iPhone is a truly new creation. In the technology industry, we tend to call these "1.0 products," and many savvy consumers choose to wait until a second version arrives, presumably with the original version's bugs worked out.

In terms of protection, the iSkin Duo comes up aces. The double layer of silicone means that the nano can handle most drops and falls with aplomb, and the screen and Click Wheel protection keep those delicate elements safe and secure, as well. On the accessibility front, the openings for the...

The Dock Extender is a very simple product: less than an inch tall, the top provides a male dock-connector plug and the bottom hosts a female dock-connector port. You plug the top of the Extender into the dock-connector port on the bottom of your iPod -- the Extender is thin enough to fit near...

Apple's second-generation (2G) iPod shuffle has been a big hit, because of both its tiny but functional design and its relatively low price. But perhaps the biggest drawback of the 2G shuffle is that, like its first-generation predecessor, the lack of Apple's dock-connector port means...

One of our favorite accessories for Apple's second-generation (2G) iPod shuffle is Incipio's IncipioBud, a tiny -- and inexpensive -- adapter that lets you plug the 2G shuffle directly into a USB port for charging and syncing. The company has since released a second such adapter, the Inc...

It's on the inside where the two versions of the Versa differ. The original Versa includes a leather Click Wheel protector, attached via four elastic straps, that holds your iPod in the case; the top half of the iPod is unprotected when the flipcover is open. The Versa 2 includes a similar lea...

Fruitshop's Bone collection of iPod cases are definitely among the more innovative on the market, and the Nano2 Slim for the second-generation (2G) iPod nano continues this tradition. A silicone skin with some additional tweaks, it's a well-made case that will appeal to many users.

For those whose iPod demands nothing less than luxurious leather, Vaja is there to help you out. Their Classic Top case for the second-generation iPod nano is a leather flipcase, individually handcrafted from your choice of Vitelino or Aniline leather in dozens of different colors. The r...

Since the niches for the earbuds are molded into the silicone, they fit only the standard iPod earbuds, or those of similar sizes (both the first- and second-generation Apple earbuds fit in my tests). The cable wrap will, of course, work fine for pretty much any wired headphones, although...

If the number of armband cases available is any indication, people just love running with their iPod nanos. It's little surprise, given the nano's light weight, flash memory, and integration with the Nike+iPod Sport Kit. Fruitshop's Nano2 Muscle for the second-generation (2G) iPod nan...

DLO PowerBug for iPod shuffle: 4 out of 5 DLO's PowerBug for iPod shuffle, marketed mainly for the second-generation (2G) shuffle, is actually two products sold together: a compact AC adapter with a USB port, and a 4-foot, 10-inch USB docking cable for the 2G shuffle.

Mophie's Bevy is based on the company's Wraptor clip-on case for the second-generation (2G) iPod shuffle. In fact, the Bevy was a result of Mophie's "illuminator" contest at the January 2007 Macworld Expo: the company asked Expo attendees to submit ideas for iPod accessories; the Wrapt...

The original iPod shuffle included a built-in USB plug, which let you sync and charge your shuffle by plugging it directly into a USB port on your computer. The second-generation (2G) iPod shuffle's much smaller size precludes the inclusion of such a plug; instead, the newer version feat...

We've reviewed a number of adapters and short cables for connecting an iPod shuffle to a USB port; these compact accessories are great for laptop users who don't want to clutter their bags with tangled cables. We've even seen a tiny USB-to-dock-connector adapter from MacAlly that connec...

We've covered several "protective films" for iPods; these clear films provide scratch protection -- though no shock protection -- while letting your iPod look like an iPod. In the past, our favorite such product has been Power Support's Crystal Film Set. But ShieldZone's InvisibleShie...

There are hundreds, if not thousands, of silicone skins for your iPod on the market today, so when one comes along that breaks the mold, so to speak, it's always a pleasant surprise. Fruitshop's Bone Nano2 Link for the second-generation (2G) iPod nano is just such a case and, while it may not...

Instead of using your iPod's headphone jack for an audio connection, as most similar devices do, the Hookup Lanyard connects directly to your iPod nano's dock-connector port. The additional control provided by the dock-connector port should have several advantages over the simple au...

Marware's Sportsuit Relay for first- (1G) and second-generation (2G) iPod nanos is a neoprene case aimed towards runners, specifically those using the Nike+iPod Sport Kit. To complete the set, Marware also throws in their Sportsuit Sensor+, which lets you attach the Nike+iPod sensor...

The iDisguise is a novel solution to the problem, based on the idea that hiding your iPod may be more effective than trying to secure it. The iDisguise looks not like your usual iPod case, but rather like a small tin of mints, down to the smallest of details: the front is emblazoned with your ch...

The case's protective capabilities are very good. The case is made of thick, resilient plastic material that ably shields the iPod from accidents as well as the elements. On accessibility, the case rates slightly lower, despite the nifty Commander Scroll Wheel. There's no access to the ho...

On the accessibility side of things, the iPod's Click Wheel works perfectly well through the plastic, and the hold switch is easy to get at. The case's headphone jack is large enough for many third-party headphone plugs, and the dock-connector opening is big enough to let you sync with the...

Nike's C.O.R.E. Audio Backpack is a lightweight backpack that includes a special iPod pouch with a dock-connector cable, and a set of soft buttons on the right strap for controlling your iPod while it's safely stowed in the Backpack. Unfortunately, the backpack itself feels flimsy, the soft...

Gamila's Mila Bikini case is a minimalist attempt at protecting your first- (1G) or second-generation (2G) iPod nano. Unfortunately, it's not quite as chic as its namesake, and it leaves about as much of the nano's skin unprotected as the case's name would seem to imply.

Like the rest of Marware's Sportsuit line, the basic part of the Sprinter is the black neoprene Sportsuit. You slip your nano in from the bottom and adjust a neoprene flap to secure the nano, leaving the headphone jack accessible through a small hole. The front controls and screen are access...

iLuv's i1055 is a portable video player designed for watching DVD videos and video from fifth-generation (5G) iPods. (The i1055's DVD player also plays video CDs, music CDs and MP3 CDs.) What makes the i1055 different from other iPod/DVD players is that instead of a clamshell design with a...

At 8.6 inches wide by 6.7 inches tall by 1.4 inches thick, the FX 500 isn't the smallest portable iPod speaker system we've tested, but it's thin enough to easily fit in a suitcase, carry-on, or laptop bag. With batteries (but without an iPod), it weighs just under 15 ounces, which is quite light...

Belkin TuneDeck for iPod nano: 4.5 out of 5 The original version of the TuneDeck for iPod nano, released in 2006, fit only the first-generation iPod nano. The current version works with both first- and second-generation nanos, the latter via an included adapter.)

Like most silicone skins, the Gamefacez include an opening for your iPod's hold switch and screen, as well as an open bottom for accessing the dock-connector port and headphone jack. The silicone on the Gamefacez is pretty thin, but it's still thick enough that, like most skin cases, you c...

Griffin Technology's Tempo is yet another entry in the neoprene-armband space for both first- (1G) and second-generation (2G) iPod nanos. Although its slick, one-piece design might look attractive initially, the case has some flaws that might make you think twice.

Once connected, CableJive claims the Extender Cable provides most of the features provided by Apple's dock-connector interface: audio, iPod control (for example, via an iPod speaker system's remote), charging, accessory-power output (for those dock-connector accessories, suc...

Given the number of people who work out with their iPods, "iPod apparel" -- clothing with iPod pockets and/or headphone-cable management -- has become a growing market. One of my favorite such products was Malachi and Company's PodGear, but before I got a chance to formally review these c...

One of the great features of Apple's second-generation (2G) iPod shuffle is its tiny profile. Unfortunately, as we noted when reviewing Incipio's IncipioBud and RadTech's ProCable, this smaller size also has its drawbacks. Whereas the original (1G) shuffle featured a standard USB plu...

Transparent hardshell cases are appealing because they let you show off your colorful, sleek iPod while still keeping it protected from the occasional dings and scratches that befall us all. However, rather than providing a circular opening for the nano's Click Wheel, like most cases o...

Mophie's Relo Base Case is yet another entry in the seemingly interminable parade of silicone "skin" cases. Fitted for the second-generation (2G) iPod nano, the Relo Base Case offers solid protection for a low price. However, its biggest advantage over similar cases is its integration w...

Although there are plenty of portable iPod speaker systems out there, there aren't many super-compact models -- ones that could conceivably fit in a the pocket of a jacket or bag -- that sound good. And it's even tougher to find a good-sounding one that specifically fits the iPod shuffle. Cr...

The iSee nano also includes a removable belt clip and a rubber insert that products the bottom-mounted dock-connector port and headphone jack; this insert can fold back to allow you to plug your headphones in while keeping the dock-connector port protected.

The design of the Duo is big on usability. The Click Wheel protector features a colored dot in the middle that is also slightly raised, letting you easily find the nano's center button without looking. Likewise, slightly raised text on the four directions of the Click Wheel make it simple to...

Case-Mate Signature Leather Case for iPod nano: 2.5 out of 5 Case-Mate's Signature Leather Case for the second-generation (2G) iPod nano may look slick, with its sleek leather exterior, but when it comes to protection and compatibility, this case comes up short.

The other half of the case hosts your iPod, which sits in a plastic sled. Foam and plastic inserts, in various combinations, accommodate all iPods except for shuffle models; once you've configured the sled for your particular iPod, you stick your iPod in the sled, then place it -- face-dow...

There are a good number of transparent hardshells available for the nano, and the SeeThru is about par for the course. However, if you're seriously concerned for your iPod's safety or if you use third-party headphones and/or dock-connector accessories, you may be better off looking els...

One of the great things about the iPod is that it's so small that you're tempted to take it with you everywhere you go. Great, that is, until you drop it on your driveway while getting out of your car. For those who are tough on their iPods, Speck hopes to entice you with the ToughSkin 2Tough case f...

Have an audiobook that came from a source other than Audible.com or iTunes? Bet you want it to play like an audiobook on your iPod. Here's how to make that happen.

There are millions upon millions of iPods out there. So how do you make sure yours still stands out? iStyles's iPod Skins are one option. Made of adhesive-backed cast vinyl, you apply them to the front and back of your iPod, where they adorn your music player with one of any number of interesti...

But you're not limited to car charging. At the end opposite the car adapter is a fold-out wall plug; plug it into any 110-volt household outlet to charge your iPod. A USB plug attached to the side of the unit connects to any USB port on your computer, or to any USB power adapter (including Apple'...

Emerson's iTone IE600 is the larger sibling of the company's iC200 iPod alarm clock, adding features such as a built-in CD player. The clock on the front of the IE600 shows the date and time, and the alarm can be set to go off to the radio, a buzzer, or CD or iPod (but not iPod shuffle) playback. Th...