iPod & iTunes: The Missing Manual, Second Edition

Chapter 14. iStuff

Just as the original iMac’s unique rounded shape and Bondi blue plastic case inspired hundreds of brightly colored add-ons from other companies back in the late 1990s, the iPod has similarly energized the MP3 accessories market. Online and in stores, you can find dozens of iPod-themed add-ons created to protect, enhance, and improve your iPodding adventures.

This chapter looks at some of the things you can buy to go with your iPod and where to find them—from a waterproof case to keep out the rain to an attachment that turns your iPod into a storage locker for digital photos.

That’s right: you can now buy gadgets for your gadget.

Cases

Once you get your iPod loaded with music, you’ll want to take it with you without worrying about scuffs and scratches.

Apple includes a basic black sheath-type case (with belt clip) for some models. Unless you use the iPod’s remote control, however, you have to keep taking the player out of the case to operate the controls, which is not only a drag but also an opportunity to drop the iPod on the sidewalk. An iPod taking a face plant onto the concrete is a horrible sight.

When selecting a case, keep in mind the situations in which you tend to use your iPod. If you use the iPod for running, you may prefer a waterproof neoprene case with an armband; if you take it on business trips, you may prefer a more professional-looking covering. Some cases make the scroll wheel and controls easy to get to, while others conceal the front of the iPod ...