Outdoor Newswire has reviewed the OtterBox for the Video iPod, a device built for rugged use that should appeal to nature enthusiasts everywhere. Well, nature enthusiasts everywhere with Video iPods, at least.

The reviewer finds the device to perfectly suite the outdoor life, with its hard case and waterproofing feature keeping all the "baddies" out. To everyone who has been searching for a good case to take camping, it seems that the OtterBox fits the bill.

"Similar to others in the OtterBox for iPod line, the video case offers an interactive membrane that provides Click Wheel access and a hard screen cover to shield the display. Rubber lining inside the case cradles the video and a secure-close latch adds protection."

The device is a little more costly, at $49.99, but it may be worth it for some of our more active readers.

[Via, OutDoor Newswire]

For all you lucky dogs out there who were able to grab an iPod Video or Nano over the holidays, the question now becomes: What accessories should I get?

With Apple spawning an entire economy centered around accessories for the successful iPod, an estimated billion-dollar industry that continues to grow, it sometimes becomes difficult to find products that are worth your time, and, more importantly, your money.

Home Theater Mag does the dirty work and digs through accessories to find some of the best available. If you're interested in making that purchase, be sure to visit them first to see what they think of your potential buy. The article covers everything from home docking audio stations to wireless headphones.

[Via, Home Theater Mag]

The 2GB iPod nano displayed amazing resilience to abuse during a stress test by Ars Technica: after throwing the device from a speeding vehicle at up to 50 Mph and running it over twice failed to stop the music from playing (despite its malfunctioning screen), according to the report. Ars finally manages to stop the music by throwing the Nano straight up into the air, roughly 40 feet, and letting it smash onto the concrete.

The autopsy reveals "amazing engineering" and the usage of Toshiba flash memory chips rather than Samsung memory. Apple has also apparently moved away from Synaptics for click wheel manufacturing: the click wheel inside the 2GB Nano dissected appears to be designed from scratch, according to the report.

iLounge has released a review on the newly released iPod Nano:

“What's the best way to prepare for the holiday shopping season after designing the world's most popular digital music player? Sony would lower the price and double its advertising. Apple Computer, of course, would discontinue it.

That's just what Apple did with the iPod mini today, touting the product - for the first time on the day of its discontinuation - as the industry's top-selling music device. Then, Apple CEO Steve Jobs explained, since everyone was trying to copy the iPod mini, the company replaced it. The result is the brand new iPod nano, available today in two colors and two capacities. White and black 2GB versions are available for a price of $199 each, while identically colored 4GB versions are available for $249.

Except in a few arguably irrelevant ways, the iPod nano is so beautifully executed that it cannot help but be a huge success for Apple. It is the thinnest iPod ever released, yet preserves virtually all of the features of a full-sized, color iPod save storage capacity. Similarly, it scales down the classic, iconic acrylic and chrome enclosure design we have loved since the first days of the iPod, rather than further shrinking the anodized aluminum body of the iPod mini. When you look at it, you see an iPod - not an iPod-minus, like the shuffle, or something different, like the iPod mini. It's 100% cool, only tiny...”

You can read the full article [here].

Source: iLounge

iLounge has released a review on the FM transmitter for the iPod.

You can view the full article [here].

 

 

Omninerd has writen an in depth article on the iTunes algorithm used to select what songs come next in the playlist:

After hearing one artist played over and over during a shuffled play of your entire music library in iTunes you may think your player has a preference of its own. Apple claims the iTunes' shuffle algorithm is completely random. The shuffle algorithm chooses songs "without replacement." In other words, much like going through a shuffled deck of cards, you will hear each song only once until you have heard them all... or until you have stopped the player or selected a different playlist.

iTunes Party Shuffle is a different matter. Its algorithm selects songs "with replacement," meaning the entire deck of cards is reshuffled after each song is played. The play higher rated songs more often option does exactly what it says, but how much preference is given to higher rated songs?

Read the full article [here]

source: ipodgarage

Burning Loveâ??s AirPodz allows users to have a felt alternative case instead of the typical ones. Pricing for this product is $15.00US with an optional lanyard for $2.00US extra.