Skins and decor

Stuff your stockings with iPod accessories

Chances are at least one of your friends or family members owns an iPod. Or maybe you're planning on giving one as a gift this holiday season. Perhaps you have one yourself and think even inanimate objects deserve presents.

Whatever the reason, it's the perfect time to pick up some accessories for this ubiquitous MP3 player. Rest assured, there is no shortage of add-ons for the iPod; in fact, wading through the sea of cases, speakers, chargers, and car mounts for this device can be a bit of a daunting task.

This is precisely why we've packaged … Read more

Accessories for the iPod Touch

So you've managed to get your hands on one of the world's most sought-after MP3 players, the Apple iPod Touch. This sleek and innovative device will keep you plenty entertained for sure--especially with new music apps from Pandora and AOL adding Internet radio capability--but you'll soon realize that a little extra investment can help you get the most out of your player.

For one thing, those stock Apple earbuds aren't the best-sounding--or most comfortable--headphones to be had. The first step is to upgrade, and our top headphones list is an excellent place to start. Pay special … Read more

SwitchEasy turns iPod Shuffle 3G chocolaty

You have your iPod Shuffle 3G clipped on your arm when working out and it looks cool. So now, how about making it look yummy, too?

You can start by putting it in a ChocoShuffle, a new protective case for the iPod Shuffle 3G from SwitchEasy.

The first thing that came to mind when I saw the photos of the ChocoShuffle is that I just wanted to take a bite out of it. The case looks exactly like a piece of chocolate. It even comes in three colors, representing different kinds of chocolate: milk, white, and strawberry. It's made … Read more

Mophie Juice Pack touches the iPod 2G

If you've been waiting for the Juice Pack Air for the iPhone 3G, it's still not out yet. However, you can now get Mophie's latest Juice Pack for the iPod Touch 2G that the company announced on March 19.

The new Juice Pack gives iPod Touch owners twice as much time to use their player for music, video, or surfing the Internet. According to Mophie, the pack will give the iPod Touch 2G up to an additional 42 hours of music playback and up to 7 hours of video playback.

The Juice Pack is certified by Apple … Read more

Top 10 tempting iPod accessories

Despite the fact that I finally caved and purchased a second-gen iPod Touch, history will tell you that I'm no iPod fangirl. Still, one thing the iPod has going for it that no other MP3 player can match is a seemingly endless array of third-party add-ons.

There are hordes of cases; gaggles of speakers; and a shocking supply of docks, recorders, FM transmitters, and other feature-adding devices...not to mention all those apps for the Touch and the iPhone.

Over the past several years, there have been a number of iPod accessories that tempted me to bow to the … Read more

Accessories for the iPod Nano

The third-generation iPod Nano is pretty and entertaining all on its own, but there are plenty of accessories out there to make it even more stylish, fun, and personal. The first step is to replace those stock Apple earbuds--they're not doing you any favors. A good place to start is with CNET's Best 5 headphones. Once your music is pumping through some comfortable, quality earphones, check out this roundup of skins, speakers, cases, and more, most of which are made specifically with the Nano in mind.

Accessories for the iPod Classic

The Apple iPod Classic is one of the world's most popular MP3 players and for good reason: it's nicely designed, easy to use, and has at least 80GB of hard drive memory that you can cram with content (which is readily available from the iTunes Music Store).

This slick device will keep you plenty entertained for sure, but you'll soon realize there's a lot more fun to be had if you move beyond the confines of what comes in the box. For one thing, those stock Apple earbuds aren't doing you any favors. The first … Read more

Accessories for the iPod Shuffle

So, you've managed to get your hands on one of the world's most popular MP3 players, the Apple iPod Shuffle. Accessorizing the littlest of iPods presents a special challenge because it doesn't share the same dock connector as its larger siblings. But that doesn't mean it should be left out in the cold, sad and caseless. To that end, I've rounded up a handful of that will work perfectly with both the second- and third-generation Shuffles. Check 'em out.

One iPod Nano, medium rare

We at Crave enjoy a good steak as much as anyone, but just the sight of this thing is enough to clog the arteries of the most dedicated carnivore. No ordinary iPod case, it's made to resemble Japan's famed Kobe beef.

It figures that this was made by SolidAlliance, the company that has brought us gems ranging from a disco ball mouse to a UFO-detecting strap. We've got to hand it to their detailed eye: Even the packaging resembles a real slab of beef, complete with a Styrofoam-looking tray and weight label with bar code.

And we … Read more

'Gribbits' joins the 'Jibbitz' parade

It was inevitable. Just as we predicted with those "Budclicks" clip-on adornments for earphones, the "Jibbitz" craze of Crocs fame is becoming a cottage industry in accessories of all kinds, gadgets and otherwise.

How so? It doesn't take a brain surgeon to glean the similarities with a company called "Gribbits," which makes charms for venues as diverse as pencils and stethoscopes, as well as earbuds.

Chip Chick can't decide if these are adorable or ridiculous, which pretty much sums up how we feel about the whole trend. But no matter what, they … Read more