Rich's Tongfamily (Richtong.net add-on)

!>http://www.ilounge.com/assets/images/reviews_kensington/digitalfm/kdfm5.jpg! Well, that Video iPod sure looks cool and I have the Nano and the older iPod Color 4G, but what about all the accessories? Also “Gizmodo”:http://us.gizmodo.com/gadgets/ipod/ has some offbeat products but doesn’t review them as well as ilounge.com.
Here are the ones I got from the last round a longish term review and the iLounge “Best of 2005”:http://www.ilounge.com/index.php/articles/comments/ilounge-announces-best-of-2005-awards-updated/:
* Griffin iTrip for the 4G and it works OK once you have the station frequency set. That is really a pain, but now I’ve found that 101.9 works the best in our area.
* Waterfield case for the 4G. Got this case for the 4G, I actually never use it because I don’t carry the thing on my belt anymore. The 4G actually mainly gets used in the car now that the iPod nano is our main device.
* Etymotic earphones. These I swear by. You have to get the Etymotic 6’s at least and having listened quite a bit to the expensive 4s, I’d say they are really worth $200 a pod from “Headroom”:http://headroom.com
* Bithead. This is a headphone amplifier. Again, highly recommended for high audio quality. It is unfortunately gigantic compared with my iPod nano.
So what’s on the docket in terms of accessories? Well, for the iPod nano, some sort of in-car solution, some way to wear it while working out and for a (drool, drool) upcoming iPod 60GB 5G Video thing, it would be a better in car solution.
* The Fall 2005 FM Transmitter Shootout | iPod Accessory Review. The FM Transmitter shootout basically says that if you can stand the wires, use a cassette adapter. Personally, I like the no wires feel and our Volvo radio really doesn’t justify a better player. Our Acura’s stereo is way too boomy to sound good (its got the boom box feel because of a way too heavy subwoofer in the back). The detailed “technical”:http://www.ilounge.com/index.php/reviews/comments/the-fall-2005-fm-transmitter-shootout-part-2-the-tables/ section shows that if you are looking for a car-only solution, try “Kensington’s Digital FM Transmitter”:http://www.ilounge.com/index.php/reviews/comments/kensington-digital-fm-transmitter-auto-charger-for-ipod-ipod/ if you don’t mind spending a bit more money “$60”:http://www.pricegrabber.com/p__Kensington_DIGITAL_FM_TRANSMITTER_FOR_IPOD,__8095575/sort_type=bottomline, at “PC Connection”:http://kensington.pricegrabber.com/search_getprod.php?vcode=KEN&partnum=33185 or Newer Technology’s RoadTrip! 87.9FM if you’re highly price-conscious $28.
* “Cassette Adapters”:http://www.ilounge.com/index.php/reviews/comments/fall-2005-cassette-tape-adapter-shootout/. Personally I think these are very ugly, but they are cheap and sound better than FM. No static is the major thing. The “Sony CPA-9C “:http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00005T39Y/103-0899765-2303837?v=glance&n=172282&n=507846&s=electronics&v=glance is barebones but costs “$14”:http://www.pricegrabber.com/search_getprod.php/masterid=3141860/sort_type=bottomline and sounds fine. The higher end “Griffin SmartDeck”:http://www.ilounge.com/index.php/reviews/comments/griffin-smartdeck-intelligent-cassette-adapter-for-ipod-ipod/ actually lets you use your cassette controls to control your iPod for $30.
* “Proclip Padded Adjustable Holder”:http://www.ilounge.com/index.php/reviews/comments/proclip-padded-adjustable-holder-with-tilt-swivel-ipod/. Yes the thing costs $70, but at least your iPod is flying around your car all the time. This is the best holder for in car that they’ve found.
Other accessories are for the iPod Nano. The above kit lets you play in a car, but you also need something for on the road.
* “PowerSupport Crystal Jacket”:http://www.ilounge.com/index.php/reviews/comments/power-support-crystal-jacket-for-ipod-nano-ipod/. This is a clear iPod Nano case. Given how delicate the screen is and the device overall. It also has a belt clip so you can use it for exercise. It includes a film layer.
* “Invisible Shield”:http://us.gizmodo.com/gadgets/ipod/ipod-nano-invisible-shield-126903.php. This is a kind of expensive $24 product that is likely based on a 3M product called ScotchCal. In this case, these folks cut it exactly right and you can order online from “Invisibleshield.com”:http://www.theinvisibleshield.com/. They also make something that fills the scratches on your iPod that are already there. Use this instead of the jacket if you don’t need to have a case around it. The main issue is that it still looks like Saran Wrap according to iPod folks.
* “Incase Neoprene Sleeve”:http://ilounge.com/index.php/reviews/comments/incase-neoprene-sleeve-and-sports-cases-for-ipod-nano-ipod/ Having just tried to work out with the Nano, you do need to have something to attach it to, so this has a belt clip and also an armband and is supposed to work well for just $30. Marware also make a “Nano Sportsuit convertible”:http://www.marware.com/cgi-bin/WebObjects/Marware.woa/3/wa/selectedCategory?catalogCatID=189&wosid=y6nTwwDbzMdex5XwxvOf3w that is highly rated for other ipods, but that is also $30, but not yet rated by ilounge.com
Finally there are accessories for your home and when traveling:
* Altec Lansing iM7. This makes your iPod into a boom box. It does list for $249, but it sounds terrific.