If you're new here, you may want to subscribe to my RSS feed. Thanks for visiting!

It can be frustrating to have 60GB of music on your iPod and not being able to share it with your friends (or innocent bystanders). The obvious solution is buying a pair of speakers, but which one?

I can’t be the judge of that, but if you’re a fan of building blocks (known to the rest of the world as Lego, although the company doesn’t appreciate the brand dillution) give the iPod Building Block Speakers a chance. Even if they’re not an officially licensed product, they look exactly like the real thing, and they also offer the advantage of size: 2.5″ long x 1″ tall x .75″ deep. Just throw them in your pocket with your iPod Classic, Nano or Mini and you’re good to go!

How much under $29.99?
A little: $24.99 on PerpetualKid.com.

Via BoingBoing

Some say that the increasing number of people walking in the street with headphones stuck in their ears is a sign of isolation, of antisocial behavior, of rejecting communication. I wonder if those people ever have to actually walk on a busy sidewalk or take a crowded bus. My headphones keep me sane.

I see the iZombie t-shirt as very ironic. If you wear it, you acknowledge people’s alarmist opinions but you don’t care. Yes, I’m a zombie who prefers being in my own world instead of interacting with you. So why do you care?

Too bad it’s so iPod-centric. Users of other brands (such as me) might feel left out. I’m a Sansa zombie and I would much rather listen to music than hear your bitch on the bus.

How much under $29.99?
Some: $16.95 on WickedCoolStuff.com.

Via FashionablyGeek

Your iPod needs protection, but there are so many cases to choose from… However, most fall into three categories: silicone, leather or hard plastic. If you want to do things a bit differently, you can go for metal.

The Case Logic Traditional Tin Case shelters your iPod from bumps and scratches, but unfortunately also impedes access to the controls. On the plus side, a thief is less likely to steal a tin case from your bag. On the minus side, every time you’ll want to adjust the volume or skip a song, you’ll have to push open the lid.

So, while I really like the look of it, I think this is a case of design over functionability. It has to look good, but first and foremost it must be easy to use, which this case doesn’t seem to be.

How much under $29.99?
Exactly $29.99 on eBags.com.

Via OhGizmo!

Buying a case along with your iPod is a given. It’s too pretty to let it get scratched. But when that case is apple shaped… hmm.

The Nano 3rd Kick Stand Photo Frame Hard Case is, of course, a hard case for an iPod Nano. But it doesn’t stop here: it can also be used as a stand for the player, so it can double as a digital photo frame (it also makes viewing videos easier). The weird part is the hook “for when you want to wear it as a necklace”… why would I?! But let’s just assume it doesn’t mean “necklace” as in jewelry, and it becomes useful: sometimes it’s more convenient to wear your mp3 player around your neck.

My problems is the shape… yes, the iPod is made by Apple, but I don’t really want an apple-shaped case. It takes up more space than a simple rectangular one and it looks kind of shit.

How much under $29.99?
Some: $13.99 on USBFever.com.

Via Pocket Lint

I don’t know how people can use the same earbuds for years and years. Mine usually last 3 or 4 months. Ok, I know they’re not made to be shoved in my pocket or backpack for half the day, but I don’t really care.

Now, if you are obsessive about your iPod, you might get attached to its earbuds too. And if you’re really a neat-freak, you need the Earbud Jack. This little baby is meant to hold your headphones, preventing possibily harmful things like tangling. The downside is that it is designed specifically for the iPod, so if you’re trying to use earbuds with a longer or shorter cable you might have to get a bit creative.

I could never ever have enough patience to wrap my cable around a plastic man every day, but I’m sure there are people who will love this. What I would use is a similar thing, only made for carrying around… I am tired of spending two minutes undoing the knots every time I take my earbuds out of my pocket.

How much under $29.99?
A lot: $9 on Amazon.com.

Via GizmosforGeeks

If you’re bored of the look of the plain white iPod headphones but don’t feel like buying new ones, you can give them a new look without much trouble.

I’d never heard about the Gribbits, but I think the idea is great. These little headphone charms come in many shapes and colors and snap on the headphones to give them a new look. My favorites are the ladybugs in the picture, but there are various models available.

Gribbits are also available for pencils and (I wasn’t expecting this) stethoscopes. But it makes perfect sense: going to the doctor’s is never a pleasant experience, but a nice man in a white suit with smiley faces on his weird medical device can’t be all bad, right?

How much under $29.99?
A lot: most between $5.99 and $9.99 on Gribbits.com.

Via Chip Chick

“Hmm, my mobile phone is almost dead. Eh, I have to go now, no time to reacharge it, and anyway I’ll only be gone for two hours, it will surely last that long.” More often than not, this train of thought is followed by getting detoured by a friend and ending up with a dead phone at 3 a.m. in a club, unable to call a taxi.

I didn’t trust the previous emergency charger I wrote about - 3 hours from one battery seemed exagerrated, but it looks like it wasn’t. The iGo powerXtender, reviewed on OhGizmo!, can give a gadget 6 to 8 hours worth of juice using two AA batteries.

In order to use it, you need to get a tip for your specific device ($10 each), then just plug it in and wait. Unfortunately, Evan at OhGizmo! reports that it tends to randomly power itself off during charging, so if you’re aiming to fully charge your phone, iPod or console you have to keep an eye on it for shut downs. Other than this, it’s a priceless little device for anyone who’s ever left home and discovered his/her can’t-live-without gadget is dead.

How much under $29.99?
Some: $15.99 on iGo.com.

Via OhGizmo!

It looks like everything is being designed to be iPod-friendly nowadays - even underwear! And, although under other circumstances I would say this is stupid, today… I kind of like it.

Like the name says, iBoxers are boxers… made for the iPod. Why do I like them? Well, two reasons: one personal (I like to listen to music all the time, so it’s extremely annoying when I’m cleaning the house and I have no pockets for my mp3 player), and the other not (they don’t look that underwear-ish so they can also be worn at a picnic or just as shorts around the house). They come in a very wide range of colors and models, so anyone could probably find a favorite.

I’m not sure how they are supposed to be worn, however. Putting pants over them would result in a weird bump on your hip or at least a cable appearing from the inside of your jeans, which isn’t something I’d like.

How much under $29.99?
Some: $19 on FreshPair.com.

Via Chip Chick

My dream trip to work is getting onto an overcrowded subway train and then being forced to listen to 4 teenagers enjoying the newest pop hit on their cellphone speakers. Of course, I have my mp3 player not because I want to listen to what I choose, but because it’s a cool fashion accessory.

From now on, kids with less-than-powerful cell phone speakers and dubious tastes can rejoice. They can buy one of these USB Mini Lips Speakers and terrorize the world better. The speaker comes with a rechargeable battery, USB cable, audio cable and neck strap.

One, it’s ugly. Two, why would you carry it around your neck? Three, I hope it’s meant for when you visit a friend whose speakers are broken, not especially designed for using in public, because, even forgetting about the nuisance you’ll be to people around you, carrying a bunch of cables around with you is not that fun (one cable, if you’re only connecting it to your iPod, two, if you use the neck strap).

How much under $29.99?
Some: $14 on Brando.com.hk.

Via Pocket Lint

I’m really starting to think gadget manufacturers actually print a bunch of words (like USB, music, iPod, chair, book), cut them up, pick two at random and say: A-HA! Our newest product will be… Memory Foam MP3 Blackout Shades!

The idea behind this is that you can listen to your favorite tracks via the built-in headphones while relaxing your eyes. The cool thing is the Memory Foam - “a revolutionary visco-elastic foam that is made up of cells that open and close and adjust to body weight and temperature”. Which is very interesting but… why add the speakers? Can’t I just use my mp3 player with its headphones? Ah, right, that’s not techy enough…

How much under $29.99?
A little: $24.99 on SmartHome.com.

Via ubergizmo