Donald Bell,
Senior Editor
December 18, 2008
Living in a non-iPod world isn't easy. Sure, there's a lot to love about Microsoft's line of Zune MP3 players, but when it comes to shopping for accessories, you start feeling like the only vegetarian at a steakhouse. Don't fret, brave Zune-ster, there are plenty of worthy accessories made for the Zune. In fact, the quality-to-crap ratio for Zune accessories is unusually high, since most off-brand manufacturers would rather chase the iPod.
The hottest-selling MP3 player accessories are traditionally small speaker docks and in-car FM transmitters. The Home AV kit Microsoft made for the Zune is a great buy, considering that it offers a charging dock with both component and composite video outputs, a remote control, and a portable USB wall-charger. Charging docks (including speaker docks) are also a particularly good accessory if you like using the Zune's wireless sync feature, since docking your Zune will automatically trigger the sync. The latest addition to this list is the iHome ZN9 Zune alarm clock, which can hold its own against the best offerings for iPod.
If money is no object and you're shopping for the ultimate Zune accessory, the 2008 Ford Focus SES and its Sync media system allows voice-activated browsing of your Zune while you drive. Now that's cool.
- More Resources
- Zune Central,
- MP3 players and PVPs,
- MP3 Insider podcast,
- Zune vs. iPod
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| Price | $74.24 to $99.99 | $38.95 to $69.99 | $176.99 to $219.95 | $241.00 to $249.88 | $42.06 to $79.00 |
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| Review date | June 27, 2008 | January 31, 2008 | August 06, 2008 | December 09, 2008 | |
| The Bottom Line | The iHome ZN9 deserves its place on the nightstand of any Zune owner. | The Zune Car Pack FM transmitter is an attractive, useful way to listen to your Zune in your car. | The Kicker ZK500 Zune speaker system is both physically and sonically intimidating, but it doesn't come cheap. | The iRecord Pro provides an exceedingly simple way to record video content to a variety of portable devices, including the iPhone and the PSP, but the high price tag and lack of a scheduling feature make it a questionable investment for all but the most computer-phobic users. | |
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