iPod is one of the most successful consumer electronic products in history. It is the best selling mp3 / mp4 player in the market today. The combination of sound quality, sleek design and unique user interface, made the iPod a hit, causing an entire industry of accessories to emerge almost overnight.

The Apple Corporation first released the iPod on October 23, 2001.

Presently we are now on the 5th generation of iPod.

The first generation - Mp3 player with mechanical scroll wheel and four buttons.

The second generation - It has touch-sensitive wheel, 10 GB and 20 GB hard drives.

The third generation - It has touch-sensitive bottoms and USB connectivity.

The fourth generation - It has click-wheel and only two hard disk version, 20 GB and 40 GB.

The fifth generation - Mp4 player with 60 GB memory storage and video capability.

iPod has won several awards ranging from engineering excellence, to most innovative audio product. Very often it receives favorable reviews on looks, designs and handling.

iPod was designed as an mp3 / mp4 player for people with an active lifestyle. It is compact, sturdy and lightweight enough to take with you wherever you go. It was designed to fit comfortably in the palm of your hand or to be carried into a pocket or purse for easy transportation.

It comes in many storage capacities from 512 MG to 80 GB. The amount of memory it can hold, depends on the model or on the compression rate of your songs.

As an mp3 player it was designed to provide the best quality sound. It has a powerful 60 MW amplifier so it can deliver audio as loud as you want. It also has a 20 MZ to 20 KHZ frequency response, which means you can hear distortion free music at the lowest pitches.

iPod built-in rechargeable battery provides between 8 to 20 hours of music playtime depending on your model. Using the appropriate stereo adapter your iPod will sound great on your home or car stereo system. All iPod`s come as standard with a non removable lithium rechargeable battery. The battery charge will last about 14 to 28 days without use. The lcd display shows the battery level on the upper right corner of the screen. You may charge your iPod by connecting it to an Apple iPod Power Adapter or connecting it to a USB port of a computer. A full charge takes approximately four hours while 80% charge will require at least one hour.

Apple has designed the iPod, as an mp3 player, to work with the iTunes media library software, which allows you to select your music on your computer and on your ipod. iTunes can automatically synchronize this mp3 player with specific playlists or with the entire content of a music library each time you connect your iPod to a host computer.

The first three generations of iPod used two ARM 7TDMI derived CPUs running at 90 MHZ, while later models have variable speed chips which run at a peak of 80 MHZ to save battery life. Another great feature of owning an iPod is the fact that someone can record a discussion and then post the audio file on the internet. This means people can download the file and listen to the file on their iPod. As an mp4 player, with iTunes 4.9, you can now browse and subscribe to podcasts at the iTunes Website. Podcasts are radio shows or other audio/video programs that are downloadable over the internet.

In order for you to be a more satisfied iPod customer, as to the usability and longer battery life spam of this mp3-mp4 player you should consider the following tips:

- Keep it turned off when not using it.

- Update to the latest software.

- Keep it at room temperature whenever possible.

- If you are not using the backlighting, turn it off.

-Turning off the equalizer will save you battery.

- Use compressed songs.

With the availability of compact audio format, we have had mp3 players such as iPod, which provided an unprecedented portability to eager electronic consumers. Now iPod, as mp4 players, is already able to deliver video capability and a whole new set of features and services yet to come.

Roberto Sedycias IT Consultant

This article is under GNU FDL license and can be distributed without any previous authorization from the author. However the author´s name and all the URL´s (links) mentioned in the article and biography must be kept.

Roberto Sedycias has a bachelor degree in Business Administration and over 20 years experience in systems analysis and computer programming. Currently working as IT consultant for http://www.PoloMercantil.com.br

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The simplicity and power of the iPod qualifies it as an esteemed portable digital music player of the day. You too could be the proud owner of an iPod. Now with the number of cool accessories of the device being made available today you can simply dream of touching the sky as far as accessory upgrading of your loved iPod is concerned.

From wireless headphones to inventive car adapters- a host of iPod accessories are on offer today. Analyses of these accessories have revealed the ones that offer special functionalities. These have been highlighted as ranking amongst the best iPod accessories.

Enumeration and explanation of some best iPod accessories

Here is a list enumerating and explaining the best iPod accessories of the day and their utilities for suitably serving your interests-

• The iPod carrying cases: Carrying cases for keeping the portable iPod devices safe that are available not only protect the devices but also help make them look more fashionable. Made of silicone or plastic such items like the iGuy Bendable iPod case are simply wonderful iPod accessory items of use.
• Backpack and jacket to control iPod while skiing or snowboarding: There has been developed a backpack and a jacket to specifically go with the iPod that permits controlling of the device through a Softtouch application on the sleeve of the jacket or the strap of the backpack. The accessories as introduced by Burton Snowboards are suited particularly for those who are into skiing or snowboarding. The music becomes very easy to control while the slopes are being hit.
• The iPod radio remote: This is a wired remote control that uses an interface. It helps bring radio tuning to the player. The station being played is displayed on the screen.
• The iPod Hi-Fi: This is a necessary iPod accessory for those wishing to use their device for playing music at home. Amplified loudspeakers and docks are enabled to be featured with the iPod player using this. The option of plugging into a regular outlet or running on D cell batteries for portability using integrated handles is offered by the iPod Hi-Fi.
• Wireless headphones from Logitech: The Logitech Wireless Headphones for iPod transmits over a Bluetooth wireless connection and also allows controlling of the iPod with a remote embedded in the headphones. Thus, you are allowed to play, pause and track forward and backward and also adjust the volume while not needing to dig out the iPod.
• Cassette Adapter for iPod: The Griffin Smartdeck Cassette Adapter for iPod actually allows controlling of the iPod through the controls on the cassette player in the car.
• The iPod Speakers: Bose SoundDock iPod Speakers and other speaker systems dock with your iPod. The Bose’s SoundDeck system is an excellent one at that.
• The iTop Button Relocator from Nyco: The function of the iTop Button Relocator from Nyco is to relocate the play, pause, skip, go back and volume controls from the front of the player to the top. This eases out the iPod handling. There is a tactile button for each function featured. This obviates the need to look down for knowing what is being pressed.

Tania Penwell provides information on iPod accessories and other gadgets for The Gadget Blog - your guide to new gadgets and technology.

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For people who aren’t techno geeks the act of buying new electronic gadgets is sometimes challenging. The user manuals are usually little if any help because they are written in geek speak Almost all of the new cell phones and MP3 players today come with another onslaught of accessories to go along with them and the iPod is no different. So how do you know which accessories you really need for your iPod?

The iPod ecosystem as it is sometimes called, is the accessories market that exists for the portable player. Companies like Lansing, Bose, and JBL manufacture speakers that work in conjunction with the device by making use of the thirty pin connector on the unit. There are other manufacturers that offer add-ons to the device allowing it to play your music through a radio, record audio, and recharge on the go, or even use wirelessly with a remote control.

Of course there are also cases available for the portable device with people buying these not merely for protection of their devices but to make them more fashionable as well. These cases are made by companies that specialize in the fashion industry and are usually constructed of silicone or plastic. Apple also offers cases and brought out nano tubes to go along with the iPod Nano.

If you are into skiing or snowboarding you will be stoked to know that Burton Snowboards has introduced a backpack and a jacket developed specifically to go with the iPod and allow you to control your device via the Softtouch application on the sleeve of the jacket or the strap of the backpack. This makes it super easy to control your music while you are hitting the slopes.

The new iPod radio remote is a wired remote control using an interface similar to the Shuffle. This accessory also brings radio tuning to your player and shows the station being played on your screen. Support for this accessory is included in the firmware version 1.1.

The iPod HI-Fi is a must have for those who wish to use their device to play music at home. This system features amplified loudspeakers and docks with your player. The system offers the option of plugging into a regular outlet or running on D cell batteries for portability using the integrated handles.

In the automotive industry, the German automaker BMW introduced the first interface for the iPod that was released by a car manufacturer. This is a really cool option that allows you to control your unit through controls on the steering wheel or on the stereo buttons in the dash of the vehicle.

Gregg Hall is an author living in Navarre Florida. Find more about iPods as well as Electronic Toys and Gadgets at http://www.electronictoysplus.com.

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