One nice side effect of the continuing growth and success of Apple’s iPod / iTunes / iTMS platform is that we’re no longer subjected to moronic business and tech pundits proclaiming that Apple, despite its initial success, is “making the same mistake with the iPod that they made with the Macintosh in the 1980s.”
In “Why 2004 Won’t Be Like 1984”, before refuting it, I summarized this misbegotten meme thusly:
I.e., that Apple didn’t license the Macintosh, Microsoft did license their operating systems, and that’s why Microsoft won and Apple lost. And now Apple is doing the same thing with the iPod and the iTMS.
At that time, you couldn’t swing your arms without knocking into someone making this argument. Today, thankfully, it’s dissipated. Oh, sure, it pops back up once in a while from someone exceptionally clueless, but it’s no longer part of the accepted conventional wisdom.
What happened at first is that many people had a preconceived notion of Apple as a company that throughout its history produced innovative, elegant products to great acclaim, only to see others slip in behind them, copy their designs, lower the price, and take the majority of the market — leaving Apple as a struggling niche player. That’s how it always was, such pundits thought, and so that’s how it would wind up with the iPod, too. (Never mind the fact that this notion, in the historical sense, is just plain wrong.)
Why don’t we see people spouting such nonsense today? It’d be nice to think my aforementioned refutation had something to do with it, but, alas, there’s a much simpler and obvious explanation: the iPod has become so successful that it’s impossible for anyone with even a shred of sense to compare it to the Macintosh of the mid-to-late ’80s.
The iPod turned 4 years old last October, and no matter what happens from this point onward — even if iPod sales start to decline — its success to date has been so great that it’s destined to be remembered as one of the great pop cultural phenomena of this decade, and perhaps even the greatest. The Macintosh of the ’80s was a tech-industry phenomenon, not a pop-cultural one. Apple never achieved sales growth or brand awareness with the Mac like they’ve had with the iPod — not even close. Do you know anyone — anyone — who today doesn’t know what an iPod is?
And while Apple now is a darling of the business and tech press, lavished with attention and praise for nearly every move they make, that same historical bias against Apple — that which prompted the “they’re screwing this up just like they did with the Mac and Microsoft is going to steal this market away just like they did with Windows” postulation — is blinding them from the conclusion they ought to be reaching.
To wit: that the iPod is looking more and more like an unstoppable juggernaut.
Penny Wise, Pound Foolish
To commemorate the 20th anniversary of the Macintosh two years ago, Newsweek’s Steven Levy interviewed Steve Jobs. The subject eventually turned to the Mac’s relatively meager market share:
If that’s so, then why is the Mac market share, even after Apple’s recent revival, sputtering at a measly 5 percent? Jobs has a theory about that, too. Once a company devises a great product, he says, it has a monopoly in that realm, and concentrates less on innovation than protecting its turf. “The Mac-user interface was a 10-year monopoly,” says Jobs. “Who ended up running the company? Sales guys. At the critical juncture in the late ’80s, when they should have gone for market share, they went for profits. They made obscene profits for several years. And their products became mediocre. And then their monopoly ended with Windows 95. They behaved like a monopoly, and it came back to bite them, which always happens.”
First, this is an extraordinarily insightful summary of what went wrong at Apple in the late ’80s. Sure, Jobs is far from an unbiased observer of Apple’s post-1985 executive decisions, but it’s very hard to argue with his conclusion. At one point in the ’80s Apple was earning staggering 50 percent profit margins on Mac hardware sales. They certainly profited richly in the short run with that strategy, but in the long run, that sort of pricing clearly limited unit sales growth. There were simply too many people unwilling or unable to pay $5,000 for a computer. Profit and market share certainly aren’t diametrically opposed; the choice is which one you wish to maximize.
But second, look at that quote in the context of Apple’s iPod strategy. “At the critical juncture […] when they should have gone for market share, they went for profits.” Of all the myriad ways that Apple’s iPod position today differs from their Macintosh position 20 years ago, perhaps none is greater than this: With the iPod, Apple is going for market share.
iPods are certainly premium products, at least in the greater context of “portable audio players” — handheld audio tape and CD players typically cost around $20 or $30. Go back in time to early 2001, and I wager you’d have a hard time getting most people to believe that they’ll soon be purchasing $300 and $400 handheld music players.
But when compared to other digital music players, iPods are not only competitively priced, they’re often cheaper. Today’s Apple is very different than the old Apple, but many people still haven’t caught on. Take, for example, this recent essay by Joel Spolsky on “great design”:
And finally, the iPod. Ah, the iPod. It’s way more expensive than any competitive MP3 player. It has fewer features than the competition. The iPod nano, the tiny one that everybody’s raving about, is the only product I’ve ever seen that can be scratched beyond all recognition just by touching it lightly with your finger, and the shiny mirror back will be permanently covered in greasy fingerprint smudges from the moment you take it out of the elegant package until the battery wears out and you have to throw away the whole thing and buy another. But who cares?
The blue chip product in every category can usually be thought of as being popular despite obvious design flaws. Weird.
But that only gets you so far, as Creative, makers of the unloved Zen MP3 players, are learning the hard way. Despite having products that are better than the iPod by just about every reasonable metric, they are unable to even come close to Apple iPod’s dominant market share. They’re cheaper. They have more memory. They support more file formats. Etc. Doesn’t matter: they still have single-digit market share while iPod is probably in the 80s somewhere.
It’s a fine essay on the whole, but as regards the iPod, Spolsky is flat-out wrong. iPods are not more expensive than Creative’s Zens. A mere glance at the Zen Vision:M1 shows that it’s a direct rival to the regular iPod: same height and width (4.1 × 2.4 inches) and the same screen size (2.5 inches diagonally).
The prices, however, are also the same. A 30 GB Zen Vision:M is $299.99; a 30 GB iPod is $299. (Even Apple’s price is more elegant.) So much for Spolsky’s claim that the Zen is cheaper and has more memory. My guess is that Spolsky wrote this without even looking into it, on that assumption he didn’t even need to check the prices because, well, everyone knows Apple hardware is more expensive, right?
Now, it is true that the Vision:M offers more features than the iPod, including things like an FM tuner and voice recorder that are only available on the iPod as peripherals that cost more money. But the truth is that most people don’t care about these features, because if they did care, either iPod sales would have tanked a couple years ago, or Apple would have added them. iPod competitors have been trying to out-feature-count the iPod from the get-go, and it hasn’t worked yet.
The simplicity of the iPod is one of the prime reasons for its appeal. That it lacks many non-essential features is itself a feature.
Hence the dilemma faced by Creative, Sony, and all other would-be usurpers of the iPod’s throne:
* They’ve tried adding more features and it hasn’t worked.
* They seem to be incapable of out-designing Apple — both in terms of industrial and user interface design, the iPod is almost universally hailed as superior. (Go back to the Zen Vision:M, for example: sure, it matches the iPod in height and width, but the iPod is about 40 percent thinner, 0.43 vs. 0.7 inches. Plus, the iPod weighs less and has much better controls.)
* Even if they could design hardware as good or better than an iPod, they’re still in a deep hole marketing-wise. You can’t beat a brand like iPod simply by throwing money at the problem.
And but so how else can they compete if they can’t win with more features, better design, or better branding? Price, right?
Wrong.
Apple isn’t giving iPods away, but they do seem to be charging less for them than what the market would bear. During the holiday season last year, for example, Apple was apparently selling iPod Nanos as fast as they could make them; I think it’s a fair bet that they could have sold just as many for, say, $50 more apiece. Instead, they priced them lower, putting additional pressure on their competitors and making iPods appealing to a broader segment of the market.
Apple can do this and still make a hefty profit because their overwhelming market share means they’re getting volume discounts on expensive components such as flash memory, tiny hard drives, and LCD screens. This means Apple can sell comparably-equipped iPods for less money, yet still make more profit. (According to Apple’s quarterly financial statements, they typically make about 20-25 percent profit per iPod.2)
In short, and I mean this in the nicest way possible, Apple’s iPod competitors are totally fucked.
If they can’t win on features, and they can’t win on design, and they can’t win on price, what’s left? Their best remaining chance would be for Apple to somehow screw things up on its own, but considering recent history, that seems highly unlikely.
Again, I return to Steven Levy’s 2004 interview with Jobs. Levy wrote:
Once a company devises a great product, [Jobs] says, it has a monopoly in that realm, and concentrates less on innovation than protecting its turf.
Apple has done nothing of the sort with the iPod. They took their best-selling iPod model, the Mini, and discontinued it at the height of its popularity, replacing it with the radically superior and totally new iPod Nano.
My 40 GB fourth generation iPod isn’t even two years old, but compared to the current iPods, it looks like a relic. Apple’s only serious competition to date has been itself.
The iPod Ecosystem
If someone, anyone, intended to come out with a serious iPod competitor, wouldn’t it be here already? What could they possibly be waiting for? Clearly, the longer Apple maintains its lead, the harder it’s going to be for anyone to take it away.
No one’s admitting defeat, but it seems to me that some of Apple’s most-heralded competitors are giving up. If Creative’s executives felt they had any chance of winning in the market, they wouldn’t be publicly threatening to wage a patent dispute, a strategy vaguely reminiscent of Apple’s disastrous look-and-feel lawsuit against Microsoft in the ’90s.
In October 2003, Dell introduced their DJ line of digital music players, a move heralded by many morons as the beginning of the end of the iPod. E.g. Paul Thurrott, who, with co-author Keith Furman, wrote this gem:
Apple Computer’s tenuous hold on the portable audio-player market might soon fall thanks to a predictable foe, Dell, whose Dell Digital Jukebox (Dell DJ) is off to a strong start. The Dell unit is a bit bigger than Apple’s elegant iPod, but it features a more intuitive scrolling navigation wheel and support for Microsoft’s ubiquitous Windows Media Audio (WMA) format, which all online music services except Apple use (even staunch Microsoft competitor RealNetworks, which has its own audio and video formats, uses WMA — a telling decision). The Dell DJ, which I previewed at COMDEX last week and will review soon for Connected Home EXPRESS, also features dramatically better battery life than the iPod, lower prices, a built-in audio recorder, and — gasp — a simpler interface than the iPod. As the owner of two iPods, I’ve long expected the PC world to catch up with — and surpass — Apple’s entry. My only surprise is that it’s taken this long.
“Tenuous hold” — I love that part.
Now, here we are a little over two years later, and where is Dell? Quitting, that’s where:
Dell will discontinue the 5GB Pocket DJ, 20 GB Dell DJ20 and 30 GB Dell DJ30 music players, said Liem Nguyen, a Dell spokesman. The company has decided to focus on the flash memory DJ Ditty player as a way of streamlining its MP3 products, he said.
Like other hardware makers, Dell has been unable to compete with Apple Computer’s success in the MP3 player market. Several have tried — notably Sony, Samsung and Creative Labs — but none have hit on a combination of hardware and software as winning as Apple’s wildly popular iPod and iTunes, said Richard Doherty, principal analyst at The Envisioneering Group.
One remaining argument against the iPod juggernaut might be that Apple can’t go it alone. But they’re not alone. They have partners: iPod peripheral makers. Auto manufacturers aren’t adding “MP3 player adaptors”, they’re adding iPod adapters. The New York Times reported last month that iPod peripherals are a billion-dollar-per-year industry — and growing. Assuming that’s true, my hunch is that more money is spent on iPod peripherals than is spent on competing (non-iPod) MP3 players.
The iTMS continues to grow; BBC News reported in November that iTMS sold more music last year than traditional retailers like Tower Records, Borders, and Sam Goody.
In short, not only does Apple’s iPod/iTunes business not show any apparent weaknesses, they’re flat-out kicking ass in almost every way that matters.
So the interesting question is this: What happens if the next four years are like the last four years? How much bigger can Apple’s iPod business get?
1. I’d love to hear someone from Creative’s marketing team explain why they put that colon there. ↩
2. Plus, Apple sells many iPods directly from their web site and retail stores, while their competitors are stuck selling more units at wholesale prices to third-party retailers.
http://daringfireball.net/2006/03/ipod_juggernaut
Tuesday, August 21, 2007
Teachers put iPod to work
Since its debut in 2001, the iPod has evolved from just playing music to displaying photos and playing videos.
In more and more college classrooms across the country, it's taking on yet another role: teaching.
At Tidewater Community College in Virginia, for example, associate professor Kathy O'Connor recently received an $11,000 grant to use iPods in her Spanish classes.
At no cost, her students can rent one of 25 iPod nanos from the campus library.
"I am loading onto the iPod the listening comprehension practice, vocabulary, and pronunciation practice that students need to do," she said. "I've made the language lab mobile."
O'Connor also loads Spanish-language podcasts, radio, conversations, and even Latin music onto the iPods for higher-level students.
"You can't learn language two days a week, (so) I wanted (iPods) for out of class practice," she said. "The more you listen, the more comfortable you feel with speaking."
Similar grants at other schools have incorporated iPods into college courses on a much larger scale.
This semester, Faulkner Fox, visiting instructor of English at Duke University, is providing iPods to students in her iPod-approved English 109 course.
The students will use the iPods in order to record interviews of at least two people for a personal reportage project.
At Duke, students enrolled in such iPod-approved courses can rent a fifth-generation video iPod and an accompanying recording device for free.
They can also purchase the package, which has a market value of over $300, for the reduced price of $99.
In fall of 2004, Duke's Center for Instructional Technology distributed the iPod and recording device to over 1,600 first-year students.
The iPods were used in many ways, from recording lectures to collecting pulse rate data during physical activity.
For Fox, the biggest benefit of the iPod as a recording tool is its ability to create a long-lasting file.
"The main thing is that (the interview) is not going to deteriorate," she said. "This just seems like a more durable way."
At the University, there are no formal programs that distribute iPods like at Duke.
Michael Williams, associate director of the office of educational technology within the College of Education, pointed out that Duke is a private university and has more funding for campus-wide initiatives.
Still, some University classes provide similar technology, like Writing with Video, a course within the School of Art and Design that provides laptops to enrolled students.
Robert Croy, Mac and media specialist within the College of Education, also fuses technology with education.
He works to create long-lasting podcasts for waterCAMPWS, a College of Engineering unit that deals with water purification.
Using an Apple program called Final Cut Pro, Croy records videos of PowerPoint presentations on water treatment, usually given by students.
He then cuts out the video footage and syncs the remaining audio with the PowerPoint slides from the presentation.
Still, he explained that these podcasts are a means of review, not an excuse to miss lectures or presentations.
"A podcast (or) an iPod is no different than a pencil," he said. "It's just a different tool."
http://media.www.dailyillini.com/media/storage/paper736/news/2007/02/28/News/Teachers.Put.Ipod.To.Work-2747399-page2.shtml
In more and more college classrooms across the country, it's taking on yet another role: teaching.
At Tidewater Community College in Virginia, for example, associate professor Kathy O'Connor recently received an $11,000 grant to use iPods in her Spanish classes.
At no cost, her students can rent one of 25 iPod nanos from the campus library.
"I am loading onto the iPod the listening comprehension practice, vocabulary, and pronunciation practice that students need to do," she said. "I've made the language lab mobile."
O'Connor also loads Spanish-language podcasts, radio, conversations, and even Latin music onto the iPods for higher-level students.
"You can't learn language two days a week, (so) I wanted (iPods) for out of class practice," she said. "The more you listen, the more comfortable you feel with speaking."
Similar grants at other schools have incorporated iPods into college courses on a much larger scale.
This semester, Faulkner Fox, visiting instructor of English at Duke University, is providing iPods to students in her iPod-approved English 109 course.
The students will use the iPods in order to record interviews of at least two people for a personal reportage project.
At Duke, students enrolled in such iPod-approved courses can rent a fifth-generation video iPod and an accompanying recording device for free.
They can also purchase the package, which has a market value of over $300, for the reduced price of $99.
In fall of 2004, Duke's Center for Instructional Technology distributed the iPod and recording device to over 1,600 first-year students.
The iPods were used in many ways, from recording lectures to collecting pulse rate data during physical activity.
For Fox, the biggest benefit of the iPod as a recording tool is its ability to create a long-lasting file.
"The main thing is that (the interview) is not going to deteriorate," she said. "This just seems like a more durable way."
At the University, there are no formal programs that distribute iPods like at Duke.
Michael Williams, associate director of the office of educational technology within the College of Education, pointed out that Duke is a private university and has more funding for campus-wide initiatives.
Still, some University classes provide similar technology, like Writing with Video, a course within the School of Art and Design that provides laptops to enrolled students.
Robert Croy, Mac and media specialist within the College of Education, also fuses technology with education.
He works to create long-lasting podcasts for waterCAMPWS, a College of Engineering unit that deals with water purification.
Using an Apple program called Final Cut Pro, Croy records videos of PowerPoint presentations on water treatment, usually given by students.
He then cuts out the video footage and syncs the remaining audio with the PowerPoint slides from the presentation.
Still, he explained that these podcasts are a means of review, not an excuse to miss lectures or presentations.
"A podcast (or) an iPod is no different than a pencil," he said. "It's just a different tool."
http://media.www.dailyillini.com/media/storage/paper736/news/2007/02/28/News/Teachers.Put.Ipod.To.Work-2747399-page2.shtml
Monday, August 20, 2007
5 cool ways to use the iPod shuffle
The iPod shuffle can do much more than just play music. Here are a few things you can use your shuffle for, that will enrich life and improve your knowledge.
You can use your iPod shuffle to learn a new language. Since the iPod shuffle is light enough to listen to anywhere, you should take advantage of those long waits in lines to brush up on your foreign language skills. Simply add audio books that teach the foreign language that you wish to learn and listen to them anytime and anywhere without interrupting others.
You can share your music with another when using a Belkin headphone splitter. The Belkin headphone splitter connects into the earphone jack of your shuffle and provides two connections where you can connect two earphones instead of one only. This would be a prefect solution for couples that wish to listen to music instead of boring conversations during family gatherings. Sitting side-by-side, a couple can smile and nod while listening to their favorite band without anyone being the wiser.
A Belkin headphone splitter would also be a perfect solution for families with two teens and a low budget. The teens can share an iPod and the music without the fighting that usually occurs between siblings who have problems sharing items that were purchased for the whole family to use.
You can listen to the songs on your iPod shuffle on your car radio by combining a Belkin Tunebase with Belkins Tunecast II. Tunebase plugs into your automobiles cigarette lighter and has an adjustable neck that holds the iPod shuffle with ease and Tunebase charges your shuffle battery automatically when connected. The adjustable neck will let you position your iPod shuffle at your convenience. Tunecast II is an FM transmitter that you can attach to your iPod shuffle. The transmitter lets you play the songs on your shuffle through your cars stereos. By using a combination with Tunebase and Tunecast II you can have your favorite selections playing as you drive each day, without jeopardizing your safety, or others safety, by listening to your shuffle with earphones on.
The iPod shuffle can also be used to store important data files. If you need to backup important data files, you can add them to the shuffle using iTunes software for safekeeping. Carry your important data files with you wherever you go by simply clipping your iPod shuffle into your briefcase, purse, pocket or shoe.
You can also use the iPod shuffle to help you with your studies if you are a student. Using your computer, record your notes into MP3 format and transfer your recordings to your iPod shuffle using iTunes. Now you can listen to your notes during breaks, on your way to and from class and at night before doing your homework. Studies show that the mind retains information better when heard than information that is merely read, so by listening to your studies instead of just reading them, you will not only improve your knowledge but you will learn faster as well. This not only helps to improve your grades, but it also provides additional free time for you to enjoy other things besides your studies.
http://www.approvedarticles.com/Article/5-cool-ways-to-use-the-iPod-shuffle/9481
You can use your iPod shuffle to learn a new language. Since the iPod shuffle is light enough to listen to anywhere, you should take advantage of those long waits in lines to brush up on your foreign language skills. Simply add audio books that teach the foreign language that you wish to learn and listen to them anytime and anywhere without interrupting others.
You can share your music with another when using a Belkin headphone splitter. The Belkin headphone splitter connects into the earphone jack of your shuffle and provides two connections where you can connect two earphones instead of one only. This would be a prefect solution for couples that wish to listen to music instead of boring conversations during family gatherings. Sitting side-by-side, a couple can smile and nod while listening to their favorite band without anyone being the wiser.
A Belkin headphone splitter would also be a perfect solution for families with two teens and a low budget. The teens can share an iPod and the music without the fighting that usually occurs between siblings who have problems sharing items that were purchased for the whole family to use.
You can listen to the songs on your iPod shuffle on your car radio by combining a Belkin Tunebase with Belkins Tunecast II. Tunebase plugs into your automobiles cigarette lighter and has an adjustable neck that holds the iPod shuffle with ease and Tunebase charges your shuffle battery automatically when connected. The adjustable neck will let you position your iPod shuffle at your convenience. Tunecast II is an FM transmitter that you can attach to your iPod shuffle. The transmitter lets you play the songs on your shuffle through your cars stereos. By using a combination with Tunebase and Tunecast II you can have your favorite selections playing as you drive each day, without jeopardizing your safety, or others safety, by listening to your shuffle with earphones on.
The iPod shuffle can also be used to store important data files. If you need to backup important data files, you can add them to the shuffle using iTunes software for safekeeping. Carry your important data files with you wherever you go by simply clipping your iPod shuffle into your briefcase, purse, pocket or shoe.
You can also use the iPod shuffle to help you with your studies if you are a student. Using your computer, record your notes into MP3 format and transfer your recordings to your iPod shuffle using iTunes. Now you can listen to your notes during breaks, on your way to and from class and at night before doing your homework. Studies show that the mind retains information better when heard than information that is merely read, so by listening to your studies instead of just reading them, you will not only improve your knowledge but you will learn faster as well. This not only helps to improve your grades, but it also provides additional free time for you to enjoy other things besides your studies.
http://www.approvedarticles.com/Article/5-cool-ways-to-use-the-iPod-shuffle/9481
Ipod As The Most Popular Mp3 Mp4 player
This is an mp3 / mp4 player that music lovers acknowledge the most in the modern time. US-based Apple, one among the largest producers of computers, notebooks and computer hardware and software, introduced iPod in 2001 with a single model for the international music market. Apple kept on introducing new iPods for each generation. The latest one is the iPod 5G. Apple also came up with two different variants: the iPod Shuffle (without digital display), the iPod Nano (the smaller version of iPod). Recently, Apple came up with the new-generation of iPod, the iPhone that integrates the conventional MP3 and video player with an internet ready mobile phone.
This article compares each iPod by its special features. One of the most popular model is the iPod 5G that comes with 30 or 80 GB storage capacity. It is not just an mp3 / mp4 player, you can store, view and share complete music videos, movies, podcasts, play games, share photos, playback music and videos, connect to a video output device, and much more. It can play your favorite music for up to 20 hours as this iPod boasts of higher battery life.
The iPod Nano has many of the same features as the full-size iPod, but with much lesser storage capacity. It comes in 2 GB, 4 GB and 8 GB models. It has up to 24 hours of battery life and is comparatively lighter and smaller. It also suffers from some limitations; the iPod Nano doesn't support voice recording and media storage via third-party peripherals. iPod Nano is a great mp3 player for people who would just like to listen to audio files.
Apple's most-pocket friendly iPod is iPod Shuffle. It offers a host of advantages: it's affordable for everyone; its sound quality is as good as that of any other iPod; it has flash memory rather than a hard drive; and it's really portable. However, the disadvantage is that it doesn't include a screen for steering up to specific songs. It has a limited storage capacity, 512 MB to maximum 1 GB. So it's good for those who want to be in fashion, yet can compromise on memory space. But the size of this mp3 player is so small that you can easily clip it to your clothes.
With digital music being in-vogue, many portable jukeboxes hit the market, since Apple kick-started the music revolution of our time. Other portable MP3 and MP4 players, besides iPod, are available in the entertainment world of mp3 / mp4 players. There are many Chinese, Korean and Japanese brands manufacturing low cost players in bulk. These are much cheaper, but have their own set of advantages and disadvantages. The fact remains that iPods are the most popular among all, and hold the biggest share of this market. There are enough iPod users in the market and a lot of new things are getting developed around iPods.
Some people just can't do without their iPods, from jogging time to bed time. It sticks to their ears. Obviously, the battery drains out of the device. The latest buzz is that Andrew Schneider, a student from New York University, is exploring a solar-powered bikini that can charge iPods. Yes, it is true! The bikini will soak up the sun rays thru photovoltaic film strips. That means, while the iPod user is getting a sun tan, his mp3 / mp4 player is also getting a charge of 6.5 volts of solar power.
iPod has become a very desired mp3 / mp4 player around the world. iPod player just seems to be ahead of its competitors. Not just by delivering good quality products, but also in providing new solutions for eager electronic consumers. Let’s just wait what will be next in the iPod revolution.
This article is under GNU FDL license and can be distributed without any previous authorization from the author. However the author´s name and all the URL´s (links) mentioned in the article and biography must be kept.
http://www.justarticles.net/articledetail.php?artid=21701&catid=206&title=Ipod+As+The+Most+Popular+Mp3+Mp4+player
This article compares each iPod by its special features. One of the most popular model is the iPod 5G that comes with 30 or 80 GB storage capacity. It is not just an mp3 / mp4 player, you can store, view and share complete music videos, movies, podcasts, play games, share photos, playback music and videos, connect to a video output device, and much more. It can play your favorite music for up to 20 hours as this iPod boasts of higher battery life.
The iPod Nano has many of the same features as the full-size iPod, but with much lesser storage capacity. It comes in 2 GB, 4 GB and 8 GB models. It has up to 24 hours of battery life and is comparatively lighter and smaller. It also suffers from some limitations; the iPod Nano doesn't support voice recording and media storage via third-party peripherals. iPod Nano is a great mp3 player for people who would just like to listen to audio files.
Apple's most-pocket friendly iPod is iPod Shuffle. It offers a host of advantages: it's affordable for everyone; its sound quality is as good as that of any other iPod; it has flash memory rather than a hard drive; and it's really portable. However, the disadvantage is that it doesn't include a screen for steering up to specific songs. It has a limited storage capacity, 512 MB to maximum 1 GB. So it's good for those who want to be in fashion, yet can compromise on memory space. But the size of this mp3 player is so small that you can easily clip it to your clothes.
With digital music being in-vogue, many portable jukeboxes hit the market, since Apple kick-started the music revolution of our time. Other portable MP3 and MP4 players, besides iPod, are available in the entertainment world of mp3 / mp4 players. There are many Chinese, Korean and Japanese brands manufacturing low cost players in bulk. These are much cheaper, but have their own set of advantages and disadvantages. The fact remains that iPods are the most popular among all, and hold the biggest share of this market. There are enough iPod users in the market and a lot of new things are getting developed around iPods.
Some people just can't do without their iPods, from jogging time to bed time. It sticks to their ears. Obviously, the battery drains out of the device. The latest buzz is that Andrew Schneider, a student from New York University, is exploring a solar-powered bikini that can charge iPods. Yes, it is true! The bikini will soak up the sun rays thru photovoltaic film strips. That means, while the iPod user is getting a sun tan, his mp3 / mp4 player is also getting a charge of 6.5 volts of solar power.
iPod has become a very desired mp3 / mp4 player around the world. iPod player just seems to be ahead of its competitors. Not just by delivering good quality products, but also in providing new solutions for eager electronic consumers. Let’s just wait what will be next in the iPod revolution.
This article is under GNU FDL license and can be distributed without any previous authorization from the author. However the author´s name and all the URL´s (links) mentioned in the article and biography must be kept.
http://www.justarticles.net/articledetail.php?artid=21701&catid=206&title=Ipod+As+The+Most+Popular+Mp3+Mp4+player
Free Apple Ipod Music
Inexpensive, Guilt-Free Pleasures
Skullcandy Smokin Buds • $24.95 • www.skullcandy.com
Owning and listening to an iPod is enjoyable in itself, and the vast array of accessories available certainly adds to the fun. Depending on which model you have, your iPod may have been a hefty purchase, and those extra accessories can add up quickly, too. Here, we offer some ideas for accessorizing on a budget.
Smartwrap
($5; www.sumajin.com)
Your earbuds can get tangled easily, especially if you frequently toss your iPod in your purse or bookbag. Even if you wind the cord around your iPod, it’s sure to slip loose and become tangled with a stray pen or your sunglasses. Solve this frustrating problem with the Smartwrap from Samujin. Simply snap the cord into one end of the flexible, silicon body, wrap it around the middle, and snap it into the slot on the other end. The cord won’t slip from the firm material, and the device is soft and small enough to put in your pocket. And we love that it’s available in a rainbow of vibrant colors.
Griffin iBeams
($19.99; www.griffintechnology.com)
Your iPod is small, lightweight, and portable—perfect to take with you wherever you go. Because it’s also handy to have a laser pointer or flashlight nearby (for instance, when you need help finding the keyhole in your front door on a dark winter’s night), we like the iBeams package from iPod. Simply snap the iBeam onto the top of your 3G iPod, 4G iPod, iPod photo, or iPod mini and you’ll have a handy laser tool for professional presentations or a flashlight for locating that quarter that rolled under the car seat. The package includes one attachment for a flashlight and one for a laser pointer.
Skullcandy Smokin Buds
($24.95; www.skullcandy.com)
The white earbuds that came with your iPod are as distinctive as the iPod itself; however, the sound quality isn’t the greatest. You can upgrade, relatively inexpensively, with the Skullcandy Smokin Buds. These earbuds have a flexible, noise`eliminating sleeve that fits into your ear, which lets you hear more music and less outside noise. The earbuds come with three thin-rubber sleeves in two sizes (one small pair and two larger pairs of sleeves). Although we’ve become accustomed to the original earbuds, after using these for a few days, it would be hard to go back.
Belkin Backup Battery Pack
($22.99; www.bestbuy.com)
Running out of battery power when using your iPod is frustrating, especially when you don’t have access to an outlet or USB port. Keep some extra power on hand for those long plane rides with the Backup Battery Pack from Belkin. The pack holds four standard AA batteries, connects via the USB port, and attaches to your iPod with suction cups. The batteries provide an extra 15 to 20 hours of playback time. The pack even has a set of lights indicating how much power is left, so you’ll know if you need to replace the batteries before a long trip. It is compatible with 5G iPod, 4G iPod, 3G iPod, and iPod photo.
Sports Sleeve
($14.99 for iPod nano; $19.99 for video iPod, 30GB iPod, 60GB iPod, and iPod mini; www.belkin.com)
Many people use their iPods while exercising. We found a sturdy case from Belkin that will keep your iPod strapped firmly to your arm while you jog. The Sports Sleeve stays true to the sleek look and feel of your iPod with its high-grade silicon construction and form-fitting shape. The armband keeps the iPod in place on either your wrist or upper arm. When you’re not exercising, you can remove the strap and use the case alone. It allows full access to the screen, Click wheel, and all ports and is available in frosted black or white.
Bracketron Dash Mounting Kit
($22.99; www.bestbuy.com)
Music from an iPod can do a lot to help pass the time spent in a car, whether you’re in for a long road trip or a short commute to work. If you have—or plan to purchase—an adapter that will route the music from your iPod to the speaker system in your car, the Bracketron Dash Mounting Kit will make it even easier to enjoy your tunes. The heavy-duty metal mount keeps any iPod (the plastic holder on the mount can be adjusted to fit any size iPod) within reach and visible. The mount is both sturdy and durable, and it attaches securely to your dashboard with screws. Best Buy recommends that you have the mount installed by one of its professionals.
Would you like to know how to get free apple Ipod music right now? I’ll teach you exactly how it is done at the finish of the article. Millions of people worldwide own an Ipod, and most of them pay unnecessary money to Itunes and these kinds of sites.Surely it makes sense to learn how to get free music for your Apple Ipod?
There are three principal difficulties with most places that people use to get free apple Ipod music:
The First Problem-
Downloads containing viruses and malware. If you have ever done an internet search for free songs for Apple Ipod, then you will know that a lot of websites show up. There are millions. The bad news is that a large percentage of these are disreputable. If you have used one of these sites, and downloaded something, you may well have got something that was nothing like you were hoping for. In case you haven’t worked out why, it is because the uploaders of the file deliberately misnamed it. This can be done just to annoy people, but it is more likely that it is an attempt to put spyware or viruses on people’s computers. Nice people, eh? If you have ever downloaded something from a P2P site, have your computer checked out now, because your computer could well have been infected.
The second problem-
Using these kind of sites is illegal. P2P sites and other similar sites are in a strangely grey, ill defined legal area as I understand it. There have been cases of people being prosecuted for using them. The numbers of people being prosecuted is rising, and getting someone’s address from the internet is not exactly difficult. I suspect you will agree with me when I say that no record is worth doing jail time for.
The Third Problem-
Poor standard recordings. Most of the sites that have free Apple Ipod music downloads are incredibly poor. They are usually riddled with broken links, and popups, and you often find ads that make stupid noises until you click them just to make it quiet! The people who run these websites make their money from surfers clicking ads. The site is usually this awful because the webmasters want you to click on ads, and don’t provide any other way to leave the site, as the links don’t work!
The Solution-
How would it be with you if you could find honest, reputable sites where you could download Apple Ipod music? These sites do exist, if you know how to find them. Once you find a really good site it can be worth a lot of money. The amount of available downloads is usually very high, not just music but movies and videos too, and the downloads happen at a very high speed. The only slight downside is that these sites have to charge a membership fee, but you only have to pay it once, and it can be as low as $25. If you download a lot of material, you can download more value than that in your first hour on the site.
Listen, I promised you were going to get access to the best download free apple Ipod music, and here you are. Three of the best download sites that I discovered are in the links below. Enjoy your music!
http://blogs.adison.edu/articles/free-apple-ipod-music/
Skullcandy Smokin Buds • $24.95 • www.skullcandy.com
Owning and listening to an iPod is enjoyable in itself, and the vast array of accessories available certainly adds to the fun. Depending on which model you have, your iPod may have been a hefty purchase, and those extra accessories can add up quickly, too. Here, we offer some ideas for accessorizing on a budget.
Smartwrap
($5; www.sumajin.com)
Your earbuds can get tangled easily, especially if you frequently toss your iPod in your purse or bookbag. Even if you wind the cord around your iPod, it’s sure to slip loose and become tangled with a stray pen or your sunglasses. Solve this frustrating problem with the Smartwrap from Samujin. Simply snap the cord into one end of the flexible, silicon body, wrap it around the middle, and snap it into the slot on the other end. The cord won’t slip from the firm material, and the device is soft and small enough to put in your pocket. And we love that it’s available in a rainbow of vibrant colors.
Griffin iBeams
($19.99; www.griffintechnology.com)
Your iPod is small, lightweight, and portable—perfect to take with you wherever you go. Because it’s also handy to have a laser pointer or flashlight nearby (for instance, when you need help finding the keyhole in your front door on a dark winter’s night), we like the iBeams package from iPod. Simply snap the iBeam onto the top of your 3G iPod, 4G iPod, iPod photo, or iPod mini and you’ll have a handy laser tool for professional presentations or a flashlight for locating that quarter that rolled under the car seat. The package includes one attachment for a flashlight and one for a laser pointer.
Skullcandy Smokin Buds
($24.95; www.skullcandy.com)
The white earbuds that came with your iPod are as distinctive as the iPod itself; however, the sound quality isn’t the greatest. You can upgrade, relatively inexpensively, with the Skullcandy Smokin Buds. These earbuds have a flexible, noise`eliminating sleeve that fits into your ear, which lets you hear more music and less outside noise. The earbuds come with three thin-rubber sleeves in two sizes (one small pair and two larger pairs of sleeves). Although we’ve become accustomed to the original earbuds, after using these for a few days, it would be hard to go back.
Belkin Backup Battery Pack
($22.99; www.bestbuy.com)
Running out of battery power when using your iPod is frustrating, especially when you don’t have access to an outlet or USB port. Keep some extra power on hand for those long plane rides with the Backup Battery Pack from Belkin. The pack holds four standard AA batteries, connects via the USB port, and attaches to your iPod with suction cups. The batteries provide an extra 15 to 20 hours of playback time. The pack even has a set of lights indicating how much power is left, so you’ll know if you need to replace the batteries before a long trip. It is compatible with 5G iPod, 4G iPod, 3G iPod, and iPod photo.
Sports Sleeve
($14.99 for iPod nano; $19.99 for video iPod, 30GB iPod, 60GB iPod, and iPod mini; www.belkin.com)
Many people use their iPods while exercising. We found a sturdy case from Belkin that will keep your iPod strapped firmly to your arm while you jog. The Sports Sleeve stays true to the sleek look and feel of your iPod with its high-grade silicon construction and form-fitting shape. The armband keeps the iPod in place on either your wrist or upper arm. When you’re not exercising, you can remove the strap and use the case alone. It allows full access to the screen, Click wheel, and all ports and is available in frosted black or white.
Bracketron Dash Mounting Kit
($22.99; www.bestbuy.com)
Music from an iPod can do a lot to help pass the time spent in a car, whether you’re in for a long road trip or a short commute to work. If you have—or plan to purchase—an adapter that will route the music from your iPod to the speaker system in your car, the Bracketron Dash Mounting Kit will make it even easier to enjoy your tunes. The heavy-duty metal mount keeps any iPod (the plastic holder on the mount can be adjusted to fit any size iPod) within reach and visible. The mount is both sturdy and durable, and it attaches securely to your dashboard with screws. Best Buy recommends that you have the mount installed by one of its professionals.
Would you like to know how to get free apple Ipod music right now? I’ll teach you exactly how it is done at the finish of the article. Millions of people worldwide own an Ipod, and most of them pay unnecessary money to Itunes and these kinds of sites.Surely it makes sense to learn how to get free music for your Apple Ipod?
There are three principal difficulties with most places that people use to get free apple Ipod music:
The First Problem-
Downloads containing viruses and malware. If you have ever done an internet search for free songs for Apple Ipod, then you will know that a lot of websites show up. There are millions. The bad news is that a large percentage of these are disreputable. If you have used one of these sites, and downloaded something, you may well have got something that was nothing like you were hoping for. In case you haven’t worked out why, it is because the uploaders of the file deliberately misnamed it. This can be done just to annoy people, but it is more likely that it is an attempt to put spyware or viruses on people’s computers. Nice people, eh? If you have ever downloaded something from a P2P site, have your computer checked out now, because your computer could well have been infected.
The second problem-
Using these kind of sites is illegal. P2P sites and other similar sites are in a strangely grey, ill defined legal area as I understand it. There have been cases of people being prosecuted for using them. The numbers of people being prosecuted is rising, and getting someone’s address from the internet is not exactly difficult. I suspect you will agree with me when I say that no record is worth doing jail time for.
The Third Problem-
Poor standard recordings. Most of the sites that have free Apple Ipod music downloads are incredibly poor. They are usually riddled with broken links, and popups, and you often find ads that make stupid noises until you click them just to make it quiet! The people who run these websites make their money from surfers clicking ads. The site is usually this awful because the webmasters want you to click on ads, and don’t provide any other way to leave the site, as the links don’t work!
The Solution-
How would it be with you if you could find honest, reputable sites where you could download Apple Ipod music? These sites do exist, if you know how to find them. Once you find a really good site it can be worth a lot of money. The amount of available downloads is usually very high, not just music but movies and videos too, and the downloads happen at a very high speed. The only slight downside is that these sites have to charge a membership fee, but you only have to pay it once, and it can be as low as $25. If you download a lot of material, you can download more value than that in your first hour on the site.
Listen, I promised you were going to get access to the best download free apple Ipod music, and here you are. Three of the best download sites that I discovered are in the links below. Enjoy your music!
http://blogs.adison.edu/articles/free-apple-ipod-music/
iPod Accessories Under $25
Inexpensive, Guilt-Free Pleasures
Owning and listening to an iPod is enjoyable in itself, and the vast array of accessories available certainly adds to the fun. Depending on which model you have, your iPod may have been a hefty purchase, and those extra accessories can add up quickly, too. Here, we offer some ideas for accessorizing on a budget.
Smartwrap
($5; www.sumajin.com)
Your earbuds can get tangled easily, especially if you frequently toss your iPod in your purse or
bookbag. Even if you wind the cord around your iPod, it’s sure to slip loose and become tangled with a stray pen or your sunglasses. Solve this frustrating problem with the Smartwrap from Samujin. Simply snap the cord into one end of the flexible, silicon body, wrap it around the middle, and snap it into the slot on the other end. The cord won’t slip from the firm material, and the device is soft and small enough to put in your pocket. And we love that it’s available in a rainbow of vibrant colors.
Griffin iBeams
($19.99; www.griffintechnology.com)
Your iPod is small, lightweight, and portable—perfect to take with you wherever you go. Because it’s also handy to have a laser pointer or flashlight nearby (for instance, when you need help finding the keyhole in your front door on a dark winter’s night), we like the iBeams package from iPod. Simply snap the iBeam onto the top of your 3G iPod, 4G iPod, iPod photo, or iPod mini and you’ll have a handy laser tool for professional presentations or a flashlight for locating that quarter that rolled under the car seat. The package includes one attachment for a flashlight and one for a laser pointer.
Skullcandy Smokin Buds
($24.95; www.skullcandy.com)
The white earbuds that came with your iPod are as distinctive as the iPod itself; however, the sound quality isn’t the greatest. You can upgrade, relatively inexpensively, with the Skullcandy Smokin Buds. These earbuds have a flexible, noise`eliminating sleeve that fits into your ear, which lets you hear more music and less outside noise. The earbuds come with three thin-rubber sleeves in two sizes (one small pair and two larger pairs of sleeves). Although we’ve become accustomed to the original earbuds, after using these for a few days, it would be hard to go back.
Belkin Backup Battery Pack
($22.99; www.bestbuy.com)
Running out of battery power when using your iPod is frustrating, especially when you don’t have access to an outlet or USB port. Keep some extra power on hand for those long plane rides with the Backup Battery Pack from Belkin. The pack holds four standard AA batteries, connects via the USB port, and attaches to your iPod with suction cups. The batteries provide an extra 15 to 20 hours of playback time. The pack even has a set of lights indicating how much power is left, so you’ll know if you need to replace the batteries before a long trip. It is compatible with 5G iPod, 4G iPod, 3G iPod, and iPod photo.
Sports Sleeve
($14.99 for iPod nano; $19.99 for video iPod, 30GB iPod, 60GB iPod, and iPod mini; www.belkin.com)
Many people use their iPods while exercising. We found a sturdy case from Belkin that will keep your iPod strapped firmly to your arm while you jog. The Sports Sleeve stays true to the sleek look and feel of your iPod with its high-grade silicon construction and form-fitting shape. The armband keeps the iPod in place on either your wrist or upper arm. When you’re not exercising, you can remove the strap and use the case alone. It allows full access to the screen, Click wheel, and all ports and is available in frosted black or white.
Bracketron Dash Mounting Kit
($22.99; www.bestbuy.com)
Music from an iPod can do a lot to help pass the time spent in a car, whether you’re in for a long road trip or a short commute to work. If you have—or plan to purchase—an adapter that will route the music from your iPod to the speaker system in your car, the Bracketron Dash Mounting Kit will make it even easier to enjoy your tunes. The heavy-duty metal mount keeps any iPod (the plastic holder on the mount can be adjusted to fit any size iPod) within reach and visible. The mount is both sturdy and durable, and it attaches securely to your dashboard with screws. Best Buy recommends that you have the mount installed by one of its professionals.
http://www.firstglimpsemag.com/Editorial/article.asp?article=articles/2007/f0403/22f03/22f03.asp&guid=
|
Smartwrap
($5; www.sumajin.com)
Your earbuds can get tangled easily, especially if you frequently toss your iPod in your purse or
bookbag. Even if you wind the cord around your iPod, it’s sure to slip loose and become tangled with a stray pen or your sunglasses. Solve this frustrating problem with the Smartwrap from Samujin. Simply snap the cord into one end of the flexible, silicon body, wrap it around the middle, and snap it into the slot on the other end. The cord won’t slip from the firm material, and the device is soft and small enough to put in your pocket. And we love that it’s available in a rainbow of vibrant colors. Griffin iBeams ($19.99; www.griffintechnology.com)
Your iPod is small, lightweight, and portable—perfect to take with you wherever you go. Because it’s also handy to have a laser pointer or flashlight nearby (for instance, when you need help finding the keyhole in your front door on a dark winter’s night), we like the iBeams package from iPod. Simply snap the iBeam onto the top of your 3G iPod, 4G iPod, iPod photo, or iPod mini and you’ll have a handy laser tool for professional presentations or a flashlight for locating that quarter that rolled under the car seat. The package includes one attachment for a flashlight and one for a laser pointer.
Skullcandy Smokin Buds ($24.95; www.skullcandy.com)
The white earbuds that came with your iPod are as distinctive as the iPod itself; however, the sound quality isn’t the greatest. You can upgrade, relatively inexpensively, with the Skullcandy Smokin Buds. These earbuds have a flexible, noise`eliminating sleeve that fits into your ear, which lets you hear more music and less outside noise. The earbuds come with three thin-rubber sleeves in two sizes (one small pair and two larger pairs of sleeves). Although we’ve become accustomed to the original earbuds, after using these for a few days, it would be hard to go back.
Belkin Backup Battery Pack ($22.99; www.bestbuy.com)
Running out of battery power when using your iPod is frustrating, especially when you don’t have access to an outlet or USB port. Keep some extra power on hand for those long plane rides with the Backup Battery Pack from Belkin. The pack holds four standard AA batteries, connects via the USB port, and attaches to your iPod with suction cups. The batteries provide an extra 15 to 20 hours of playback time. The pack even has a set of lights indicating how much power is left, so you’ll know if you need to replace the batteries before a long trip. It is compatible with 5G iPod, 4G iPod, 3G iPod, and iPod photo.
Sports Sleeve ($14.99 for iPod nano; $19.99 for video iPod, 30GB iPod, 60GB iPod, and iPod mini; www.belkin.com)
Many people use their iPods while exercising. We found a sturdy case from Belkin that will keep your iPod strapped firmly to your arm while you jog. The Sports Sleeve stays true to the sleek look and feel of your iPod with its high-grade silicon construction and form-fitting shape. The armband keeps the iPod in place on either your wrist or upper arm. When you’re not exercising, you can remove the strap and use the case alone. It allows full access to the screen, Click wheel, and all ports and is available in frosted black or white.
Bracketron Dash Mounting Kit ($22.99; www.bestbuy.com)
Music from an iPod can do a lot to help pass the time spent in a car, whether you’re in for a long road trip or a short commute to work. If you have—or plan to purchase—an adapter that will route the music from your iPod to the speaker system in your car, the Bracketron Dash Mounting Kit will make it even easier to enjoy your tunes. The heavy-duty metal mount keeps any iPod (the plastic holder on the mount can be adjusted to fit any size iPod) within reach and visible. The mount is both sturdy and durable, and it attaches securely to your dashboard with screws. Best Buy recommends that you have the mount installed by one of its professionals.
http://www.firstglimpsemag.com/Editorial/article.asp?article=articles/2007/f0403/22f03/22f03.asp&guid=
iPod Accessory Must-Haves
Deck Out Your iPod
You finally bought the iPod you’ve been making eye contact with during your last few visits to Best Buy. You have your new portable pal, but now the fun really begins: Part of the excitement of owning an iPod is getting all the goodies that go with it. Accessories range from simple and inexpensive, such as cases, earbuds, and armbands, to higher-end gadgets, such as FM transmitters, portable speakers, charging docks, and voice recorders. Though we can’t cover every type of iPod accessory, we’ve rounded up some of our favorite must-haves.
If you want to share your tunes, videos, and photos, docks and speakers will make your iPod a sure hit at your next barbecue.
The Apple iPod Universal Dock ($39) is a good investment for households with multiple iPod owners because it includes five adapters. It charges and syncs your iPod, and you can use it to watch videos on your TV or play music on your home audio system. The DLO Home Dock Deluxe ($149.99) is a similar device, and it features a remote control and on-screen navigation, so you can see your iPod’s menu on your television.
If you like to hear your music loud and clear, then pairing your iPod with portable speakers is for you. Most iPod portable speaker systems include integrated docks, so you can charge your iPod as you share its tunes. The iLive Portable Music System ($129.99; www.ilive.net) is an all-in-one boom box that works with most iPods. It features a charging cradle, a remote control, a CD player and radio, a digital clock, and more. Best of all, its subwoofers will really get your playlist thumping.
FM Transmitters
You probably listen to your playlists just about everywhere—at work, when you exercise, on vacation, at the grocery store—so, of course, you want to listen in your car, too. That’s why you need an FM transmitter. These devices let you wirelessly transmit your iPod’s music through your car stereo using empty FM frequencies. Most FM transmitters have integrated car chargers, as well. There are car adapters strictly for charging your iPod, but why not spend a little extra and get a double deal?
Some FM transmitters have very few preset frequencies; others have a range of frequencies. The Monster iCarPlay Wireless 200 FM Transmitter ($99.95; www.monstercable.com) has an Auto-Scan feature that automatically finds the clearest frequencies, so you can concentrate on the road. The $79.99 DLO TransPod is an FM transmitter and a cup holder cradle. Both plug into the cigarette lighter and have integrated chargers. However, be sure to check compatibility—some FM transmitters are for specific iPod models, such as Griffin’s iTrip nano ($49.99; for 2G nano), but most are compatible with any dockable iPod.
Ready, Set, Accessorize!
With an estimated 4,000-plus iPod accessories available, you shouldn’t have any trouble making your iPod truly your own. If you find yourself craving more iPod extras, get out there and add to your collection: extra batteries, remotes, skins, charging kits, car mounts . . . should we keep going? So, what are you waiting for? Get to accessorizing.
http://www.firstglimpsemag.com/Editorial/article.asp?article=articles/2007/f0407/37f07/37f07.asp&guid=
You finally bought the iPod you’ve been making eye contact with during your last few visits to Best Buy. You have your new portable pal, but now the fun really begins: Part of the excitement of owning an iPod is getting all the goodies that go with it. Accessories range from simple and inexpensive, such as cases, earbuds, and armbands, to higher-end gadgets, such as FM transmitters, portable speakers, charging docks, and voice recorders. Though we can’t cover every type of iPod accessory, we’ve rounded up some of our favorite must-haves. Cases
|
We consider cases an iPod necessity—they keep our iPods safe by protecting them from those clumsy moment we all have. Some cases feature belt clips or lanyards so your iPod can easily tag along during your everyday tasks. In addition, cases add a touch of style. If you’re looking to shield your iPod from the scratches and scuffs of everyday use, Apple iPod nano Tubes ($29.99; www.apple.com) will do a fine job. These silicone cases fit snugly around your nano to keep out the dirt and dust, and we love that they come as a set of five colors, so you can dress your iPod to match your mood. For added protection for the screen and Click Wheel, consider a case that has a flip cover, such as Belkin’s Folio Case for iPod nano ($19.99 for white, blue, and pink; $24.99 for black; www.belkin.com). This case’s durable, fine-grain leather design reminds us more of a small, stylish wallet. For 5G iPod owners, Griffin’s Centerstage ($24.99; www.griffintechnology.com) includes an aluminum flip-cover that doubles as a sturdy stand, so you can easily prop it on your desk to enjoy hands-free viewing of videos or your favorite TV shows during your lunch hour.
Armbands
|
One of the main perks of owning an iPod shuffle or nano is having a loyal workout companion. Lanyards suffice for mild exercise, but when it’s time to really get things moving, you’ll want to slide your player into a secure armband so you don’t have to mess with tangled cords or worry about dropping your player. The one-size-fits-all DLO Action Jacket is available for the 2G shuffle ($19.99), nano ($29.99), and 5G iPod ($29.99). The shuffle and nano designs have a clear vinyl window to protect the player from dirt and sweat. We also like Griffin’s Tempo for the iPod and iPod nano ($24.99). This armband has an external headphone jack for easy access and features reflective strips of material that’ll come in handy during those sunset jogs.
Docks & Speakers
iLive Portable Music System ($129.99; www.ilive.net) |
The Apple iPod Universal Dock ($39) is a good investment for households with multiple iPod owners because it includes five adapters. It charges and syncs your iPod, and you can use it to watch videos on your TV or play music on your home audio system. The DLO Home Dock Deluxe ($149.99) is a similar device, and it features a remote control and on-screen navigation, so you can see your iPod’s menu on your television.
If you like to hear your music loud and clear, then pairing your iPod with portable speakers is for you. Most iPod portable speaker systems include integrated docks, so you can charge your iPod as you share its tunes. The iLive Portable Music System ($129.99; www.ilive.net) is an all-in-one boom box that works with most iPods. It features a charging cradle, a remote control, a CD player and radio, a digital clock, and more. Best of all, its subwoofers will really get your playlist thumping.
FM Transmitters
 DLO TransPod ($79.99; www.dlo.com) |
Some FM transmitters have very few preset frequencies; others have a range of frequencies. The Monster iCarPlay Wireless 200 FM Transmitter ($99.95; www.monstercable.com) has an Auto-Scan feature that automatically finds the clearest frequencies, so you can concentrate on the road. The $79.99 DLO TransPod is an FM transmitter and a cup holder cradle. Both plug into the cigarette lighter and have integrated chargers. However, be sure to check compatibility—some FM transmitters are for specific iPod models, such as Griffin’s iTrip nano ($49.99; for 2G nano), but most are compatible with any dockable iPod.
Ready, Set, Accessorize!
With an estimated 4,000-plus iPod accessories available, you shouldn’t have any trouble making your iPod truly your own. If you find yourself craving more iPod extras, get out there and add to your collection: extra batteries, remotes, skins, charging kits, car mounts . . . should we keep going? So, what are you waiting for? Get to accessorizing.
http://www.firstglimpsemag.com/Editorial/article.asp?article=articles/2007/f0407/37f07/37f07.asp&guid=
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