In October 2001, Apple Computer released a 5 gigabyte handheld music player. The world let out a collective yawn. Another MP3 player? They held a press conference for this?
And yet, I wanted one. I could immediately see the pragmatic use for one of these babies. No morely schleppin' a box of CD's for break music on gigs, for starters.
Fast forward to September 2002. Rhonda & I went on our first cruise together, to celebrate my 40th Birthday. While we were gone, Dana Rogers launched a stealth campaign, soliciting donations from many of you good people, and upon our return she surprised me with my very own 5 GB 2nd Generation iPod.
I exchanged it for a 20....
Since that time, I've tried out (& tossed aside) many iPod accessories. Since some of you may be experiencing the Apple-induced frenzy for the first time, I thought I'd help you cut to the chase, and get plugged into the best (& sometimes the cheapest) solutions.
The Road Trip Plus is my most essential piece of gear. It not only works as a car charger, it also broadcasts the audio to 87.9 FM, so you can kick out the jams while you're cruising. I've tried a whole bunch of the iPod auto solutions, and for $25.99, this has the cost-to-benefit ratio war won, without a close 2nd in the bunch.
Caveat: This unit doesn't work with the newest Video iPod edition. The original Road Trip will work, although you lose the charging function. The folks at NewerTech are scrambling for a solution. Apparently, Apple has changed the dock connector on the 5th Generation Video iPods.
The Radio Shack 12VDC 1 Amp Power Supply doesn't have a sexy name, but it's one of the most useful tools in the arsenal. When I'm traveling, I use this thing constantly, to charge iPods, Cell Phones, DVD Players, anything with a car charger. Couple this with the Automotive 3-Outlet Adaptor, and you've got yourself a very potent portable power station.
After the initial rush of listening to whatever you want, whenever you want, you'll starting thinking about those poor souls around you who are missing out on the tunes. I've been using the Altec Lansing inMotion speakers for quite awhile now, and they provide an excellent small solution for battery or AC powered speakers. It won't exactly fill a room (unless that room is a phone booth), but it works very well in a hotel room or other quiet space.
I've been eyeing the big brother, the inMotion IM7. This baby will keep the party goin', no question. It's a little bulky for traveling purposes, although it does run off of D Cell batteries.
The latest addition to my collection, courtesy of Santa Claus is the iHome IH5 Clock Radio with an iPod Dock. This baby will crank it up, and you can even choose the option of waking up to iPod songs. It works as a charger, too.
One thing you don't want to skimp on is some form of iPod protection. Don't worry, there's no political agenda for or against this. The iPod is a delicate piece of electronics, but that doesn't mean you have to live in a bubble with it. Speck Products makes a number of cool and useful cases. You can go with a belt clip/holster, a lanyard (my personal fave), wrist band, or even a Caribeener. Think about how you'd like to carry your gadget around, and outfit it accordingly.
That oughta get you started. I hope you enjoy your iPod journey, and thanks again to those of you who contributed to the start of mine, lo those many years ago....
