?New For You and iPod

??For growing numbers of people, the days of grand stereo systems are over, thanks to a variety of accessories for the iPod (and its cousins the Shuffle and the Nano), including small but powerful speakers. Even Bose, perhaps the most well-known and respected manufacturer of high quality yet small speaker systems, has gotten into the act. Or, if you want to play your iPod through your existing full-scale stereo system, there are accessories for that as well.
The Bose SoundDock Digital Music System looks almost like a small flat-panel TV, but with speaker mesh instead of an LCD screen. Framed in jet black or iPod white, the Bose speaker system promises “full sound” to “bring your music to life,” and customer reviews enthusiastically back up this claim. Your iPod rests in the system’s docking station, which keeps the iPod charged. The $299.95 price includes a basic remote control for the iPod.
The iPod HiFi, an Apple product, gets equally good customer reviews. Although the body shape is less sleek and it costs $50 more than the Bose, it has the benefit of being completely portable with six D-sized batteries. (Of course, it is plugged in when at home.) With promised “natural, room-filling sound with clear stereo separation” and a remote control, this box could render the large stereo system obsolete.
A less expensive but fun accessory replaces your alarm clock. Want to wake up to Coldplay instead of morning radio chatter? The iHome iH5 for iPod alarm system, for $99.95, will play from your iPod, gradually increasing the volume to wake you up gently. The sleep function acts the same way but in reverse, gradually decreasing the volume as you drift off. A useful feature allows you to set the sleep volume independently from the wake up volume. Plus, if you forget to put your iPod in the docking station, a buzzer will sound when it is time to wake up. Although quite small, customer reviews indicate that the device promotes decent enough sound that some people use the system throughout the day.
If you have a complete stereo system but no way to play songs from your iPod, you can buy the Griffin RoadTrip transmitter. It plugs into your iPod and sends a signal to your FM receiver. With the included software, you can select the station frequency that will be receiving the music, and then you just set your receiver to that station. This product works best outside of large cities, as it is important to find a station that is virtually silent. The Griffin RoadTrip transmitter also works in your car (hence, the name), and comes with a charger that plugs into the car’s cigarette lighter. The device sells for $89.95.
If you live in a large city with a crowded FM dial so that the Griffin RoadTrip transmitter doesn’t work well, you can buy the Sony CPA-9C Car Cassette Adapter – that is, if you still have a cassette player. Plugging into both your iPod and the cassette deck, the $19.95 adapter allows your iPod’s music to be played in your home or car stereo system. Of course, using either this adapter or the Griffin RoadTrip transmitter will result in some loss in sound quality, but at least all of your existing stereo systems become compatible with your iPod.
Of course, there will be times when you want to have your iPod on the go. Runners will appreciate any one of the various available sports arm bands. Generally costing between $29 and $35, they allow you to secure your iPod to your arm rather than having to hold on to it (inevitably dropping it) while you exercise. Keeping the little ear plug headphones in your ears is another matter. Fortunately, there are all sorts of ear headphones available for active iPod users, including the Nike Vapor Sport Bud Headphones ($24.95), which have an eye-glasses-like ear hook to keep the little plugs in place.
And with the holidays approaching much faster than one would expect, consider putting the Apple iPod Socks in your loved-one’s stocking. Coming in a set for $29, each one of the six brightly-colored knit sleeves will protect your iPod from even the most klutzy users and at the same time announce to the world that fashion knows no bounds.
–David Stoll