IPod Nano Accessories

Headphones

Apple’s online store offers their very own In-Ear Lanyard headphones, compatible only with the iPod nano. The headphones are designed to eliminate all of that pesky fiddling with tangled cables business that accompany most traditional headphones, because the audio wire in fits with the lanyard itself. With these headphones, you can sling your lightweight iPod nano around your neck and go.

The In-Ear Lanyard headphones are not without their drawbacks, however. Customers on the Apple store’s message board raise a few complaints about the headphones. The most common complaints are that headphones fail to stay put in your ears, that the headphones are uncomfortable to wear, and that they do not last very long. Overall customer approval rating was 3 out of 5 stars.

Dock

The iPod nano has its own dock, also available to purchase online from the Apple Store. The dock allows you to sync your iPod with iTunes without having to plug directly into your computer every time. Plus, while your tracks are downloading, your iPod nano will be charging. You can plug your stereo speakers into your dock to play the songs from your iPod. As long as you have a USB 2.0 port, you’re good to go.

But, like the headphones, the iPod nano dock has its detractors. Users had difficulty making the dock work, while others were just generally dissatisfied with what the dock offered for the price – the dock isn’t a necessary investment for downloading to your iPod, it simply makes it easier. Some customers didn’t like the nano dock in particular, and recommended purchasing Apple’s Universal iPod dock. The customer rating was 3 ½ out of 5 stars.

AV Connection Kit

This is the all-in-one package you need to take your iPod nano, or any iPod for that matter, from personal listening to a complete multimedia experience to be shared with friends. The kit contains all the cables and hook-ups you need to plug you iPod into your stereo/TV/home theater system and allows you to listen to music, look at photos, or watch videos. You also get some other iPod accessories included in the kit making it a value buy. You get:

• Universal dock, plus adapters to make your iPod nano fit nice and snugly in the dock.

• USB power adapter, so you can charge your iPod nano when you’re away from your computer and your dock, plus a dock connector cable.

• Remote, to let you control your iPod from your comfy chair across the room.

• AV cable, which connects your iPod to your TV or stereo.

Customer reviews of this kit were more enthusiastic than for the dock or the headphones, with a 4 out of 5 star grade.

Tubes and Leather Case

These are the little finishing touches that let you personalize your iPod nano, while at the same time protecting it from scratches. The tubes are a set of silicone cases, in five different colors, that you can snap over your iPod to change its appearance. You still have full access to your control wheel. The tubes cover the body for your iPod nano from scratches, but they do not cover the screen.

Customers seemed to love the tubes, giving them an overall approval rating of 4 stars.

The Leather case was a different story. The case is a carrying case, so unlike the tubes, you don’t use your iPod while it is in the case. It protects the entire unit from scratches, however, customers objected to the price. The leather case scored a total of 2 stars from users.

Armbands

The lightweight iPod nano was designed to go with you anywhere, and one of the most common places it goes is out on a run/walk with its owner. The nano armband serves to the let you strap your iPod in place and go, giving you access to the control wheel but keeping your hands free for all that exercising. It comes in your choice of 5 colors.

Customers had several issues with the nano armband. First, Apple’s one size fits all design seems to not actually fit a fair number of their customers. Users also had a problem with the security of the armband – some felt the iPod did not fit snugly enough in the band, with some users reporting that their iPods fell out and broke. Opinions were split 50/50 among users – the armbands received 2 ½ stars.

The Small Print

The products featured in this article are all Apple’s own brand iPod nano accessories. However, most electronics retailers offer various lines of iPod compatible products.