iPod Music Players

Amazingly enough, for every three dollars spent on iPod music players, consumers drop another dollar on iPod accessories. For those still gripped with the urge to splurge after buying the basic case and earbud upgrades, here are five lesser known iPod add-ons ranging from the perfectly practical to the oddly fascinating.

Banshee Speaker
The eye-catching Banshee combines five speakers to produce room-filling audio that comes through loud and very clear, with precision on the high end and substantial bass down below. The company's "virtual surround sound" claim is a slight exaggeration, but you'll certainly experience more of a live-performance feel than you'd expect.
$130, bansheeaudio.com

invisibleSHIELD
The perfect iPod case would be no case at all-–freedom from scratches and the forces of nature without covering up that distinctive iPod design. And that's precisely what you get with invisibleSHIELD, an amazing clear plastic coating that adheres tightly to your iPod, invisibly offering complete protection from scratches and spills.
$20-$25, shieldzone.com

Ice Crème
Nothing makes an iPod lover crazier than a big ugly scratch right across the screen. Suffer no longer, true believer–-this near-magic solution frankly amazed us with its ability to put a happy face on a sadly scratched iPod. You just rub on the liquid with a clean cloth, buff it away and presto! The scratches are gone!
$26, radtech.com

iH31 iPod Boom Box from iHome
This boom box update for the digital music generation offers a slip-in dock that closes to protect your iPod from the elements plus FM radio and a line-in jack for connecting additional audio sources. The boom box runs on batteries or AC power and accepts all iPod models, including the Nano. You even get a wireless remote control, making the iH31 as convenient for in-home listening as it is on the road.
$130, ihomeaudio.com

Nike + iPod Sports Kit
Lots of people listen to their Nanos while working out, but how many get a running commentary on their running from their iPods? That's the literally pulse-pounding breakthrough provided by this two-part kit, combining a small accelerometer/transmitter that fits neatly into a compartment in select Nike shoes and a wireless receiver that attaches to the Nano. The system sends spoken progress reports to the iPod while you run. When you get home, sync the Nano to upload information on time, distance, pace and calories burned to Nike's workout-tracking website.
$29, store.apple.com