Getting The Most Out Of Your iPod

Whether you have the shuffle or the 60GB video, you most likely want to use your ipod to its fullest. This guide will help you do that, with recommendations and product reviews.

First off let me tell you that I have had every iPod that Apple has made. I like their products, but you should relize that this is just an article for iPods, as some of the accessories are only for iPods.

After I recently dropped the greuling $400+ for my 60gb iPod Video in black, I wanted to make sure that I enjoyed it as much as I could. I knew that there were thousands of accessories for the iPod, but I also knew that they were expensive if you bought them from Apple. So I did a little research and discovered that little known name brands work pretty much just as well as their higher priced counterparts.

The first thing you should get is a case. iPods are infamous for their scratching and as a user I hate it. I also hate the smudges on the back of the iPod, the chrome part. Cases arent that hard to shop for, but they can be expensive, especially if you don't look in the right places. There are also a few types of cases to keep in mind when selecting one. The first kind are the silicone cases. As described they are made out of silicone and fit very snug onto your ipod. They keep it clean and preserved and can absorb a lot of shock as well. Most come with a belt clip, but who really uses it anyway. I paid about $9 for my silicon case, and it came with a plastic screen protector, belt clip, headphone attachements, and a interior screen protector. It was an awesome deal.  There are a few drawbacks to silicone cases though. For instance, if you want to dock your iPod, you have to remove the silicon case, which can be a hastle. Second and lastly, they get caught easily in pant pockets because they are made of silicon. Also, they cling to dust and pocket lint very easily. The second type of case is a wallet style case. They are probably the most popular, and are the most functional. They look great, come is a wide variety of colors and styles, and are a great look for your iPod. The third type of case is not a case really, but clear screen protectors that adhese to all sides of your ipod and stick there to protect it from smudges and scratches. There are pretty cheap, but they do not protect your ipod from dents from dropping. They are also sometimes hard to put on and sometime you can get finger prints on the adhesive and they suck.

The second thing you will want to get is a universal dock. This is probably the most common accesory for people to buy, and it is well worth it. Not only does it allow you to view your ipod while docking, it protects it from gettin scratches. The only problem, is that you have to removie it from the case that it is in to dock it. They make a dock for just about every ipod, so finding one shouldnt be hard. I got a $30 one that came with a remote, usb cable, power cable, audio and s-video out. This was a really good deal. You should really try to find one with Audio out so that you can attach speakers, but the s-video is not as nessesary. Having a remote is a BIG plus, because when and if you add speakers, you can control it from anywhere. The remote adds a little to the price, but its well worth it.

Speaking of speakers, you should buy a pair! Now a lot of ipods have special speakers systems made so that you can just dock them in there, but they will run a lot of money especially for higher end ones. Never buy a low end speaker system because the sound will be horrible. Some speaker systems build specially for the ipod will allow you to charge and dock it as well, which is great. If you can get one of these at a low price, then go for it. Other than that here is my suggestion for a speaker system. First, buy a dock with audio out. Then you will want to find a decent 2.1 speaker system. You can get one for under $40 at buy.com or on ebay for even less. For me, I chose the JBL encounter II. They are higher priced but sound great. I set them on my table/nightstand and plugged in the audio to the ipod dock and connected it to a power outlet, and then used several usb extension cables to hook the dock connector to my PC. Just a note, my PC is about 20 feet away from my table/night stand. This way, i don't have to move my ipod if i want to dock it. After setting up the speakers, I put the base under my bed and use the remote to control the unit. It is a very cheap way to dock and play your ipod. I also use the alarm clock as an alarm clock and can change the song from very far away.

The fourth thing you should probably get is a nicer pair of headphones. The ones that come with the iPods are very cheap and break easily. A lot of headphones lately have been made with sound isolation and it is great. You also want to get a pair that are comfortable. I suggest a pair of Sonys, with noise isolation and comfort ear buds. You can get a nice pair for under $40. Now this may seem like a lot, but if you truly love great sound, you can't go wrong. I have never bought a super nice pair, such as $100 plus ones, but I am sure that if you look on CNET.com you can find some reviews to help you.

The fifth thing you should buy is a car integration kit. Now a lot of people will tell you to buy a FM transmitter, or a casette adapter, but these will not give you the sound quality that you will want. Casette modulators are easy to use, but they look stupid in your car. Fm transmitters are the newest thing, but if you are travelling often to different areas, then you will constantly be having to change the station, andyou are not guarenteed perfect sound. Look online or eBay to find a car integration kit. Not only will it provide crystal clear sound, but it will charge your ipod, let you use the factory controls on your head unit, and sometimes the artist information will show up on your factory radio. When you buy one of these, do not buy a kit that lets you add an AUX input for audio. These are jsut as bad as the casette adapters. Sure they will work, but the sound quality is much better through a dock connectory than a headphone jack. Trust me on this one. Car kits will cost anywhere from $50 to $200. I bought one for my Audi a4 for under $70.

This may have seemed like a lot, but it is well worth it for your ipod. All together i have probably spend about $550 on everything, including the ipod, and I feel like I got a lot of great deals. I hope this guide helps and do not hesitate to ask me any questions. Thanks for reading!