Rain Design iWoofer for iPod nano review (White)

Winner for best iPod speaker system that reminds us of an alien: Rain Design's iWoofer. This cute battery- and AC-powered speaker unit includes an FM radio and a built-in subwoofer, and it sounds decent for personal and desktop use. But the $129 iWoofer's intrigue lies with its sci-fi-inspired looks, which will no doubt be noticed on your desk as it has been by other CNET editors on mine.

The iWoofer is mostly spherical (think Magic 8-Ball for the black version), with four metallic legs, and two "eyes" that serve as the right and left speaker channels. Add a "mouth" (the subwoofer air vent) and a telescoping FM antenna to the top, and you have an undeniably robotic-looking creature. Located within the iWoofer's underbelly is a 2.5-inch subwoofer, which pumps out 6 watts. Adding to the iWoofer's overall appeal are four blue LEDs (the halo lamp) that surround the subwoofer and light up the surface below the speaker (definitely more effective in darker environs).

Available in white or the newer black model, the iWoofer has a built-in dock designed for 5G iPods. (Nano owners should check out the similar iWoofer Nano.) Bundled with the speaker are holders for three sizes of iPod (30GB, 60GB, and the iPod Shuffle), which plug into the antenna base. This places your iPod front and center right above the speakers. This is an ideal method for watching videos, though the iPod's viewing angle is not quite square and can't be adjusted. The dock recharges the iPod (only on AC), and a USB pass-through allows for syncing with iTunes. In addition, a mini line input allows you to connect other audio devices. Note: The Shuffle works via line in and cannot be controlled using the iWoofer.

The iWoofer takes up very little space, and its rubberized feet keep it stable. The iPod volume controls are disabled when it's plugged in; buttons on either side of the unit control the iPod and the FM feature, though you can skip tracks using the iPod. The iWoofer's left side includes circular iPod controls, which double as the FM tuning control, and a dedicated FM button that turns on the radio. The center button toggles the LEDs on and off. The right side features volume and bass controls and the center power button.