What's the Point of Having a Tiny iPod Shuffle Then Tying It Down With a Big Speaker Docking System?
Apple's iPod shuffle, the most miniature version of the popular iPod available, is one of the most popular products for the portable music enthusiast. The earbud headphones that come with the iPod shuffle are good enough to make your on the go experience enjoyable, but there are many other iPod shuffle accessories which can further enhance your music listening experience.
Headphones and Speakers
Headphones are without a doubt one of the most popular iPod shuffle accessories. While the earbud headphones that come with it are good enough for many users, others prefer different headphones, either because they find the earbuds uncomfortable or because they want headphones that deliver crisper audio. Any headphones that use a 3.5mm stereo minijack will work with the iPod shuffle, from traditional over-the-ear headphones to simply different earbuds. After all, sometimes headphones break and you need replacements; fortunately there's no lack of selection, and decent-quality headphones can easily be found for under $10 a pair.
Speakers are another popular iPod shuffle accessory. Speaker technology has gotten to the point where crisp, power speakers come in small enough sizes that you won't feel silly hooking them up to the miniscule iPod shuffle. It is very important to remember that the iPod shuffle only has the minijack as an interface; this means that accessories like docking station speakers won't work with the iPod shuffle, because it lacks the standard iPod docking port. Only a speaker dock specifically designed to pass power through the minijack, like the shuffle's own included dock, will work with it.
Other iPod Shuffle Accessories
Also popular is the car charger. This iPod shuffle accessory plugs into your car's power adapter or cigarette lighter to deliver power to your shuffle to keep it charged while on the go. You can also find cables, connectors, or even FM transmitters that let you listen to your iPod shuffle over your car's stereo system, letting you listen to your music while you drive without worrying about the dangers of having your headphones on in the car.
An interesting accessory for anybody who spends a lot of their time on the go is the USB Travel Dock from Marware. This simple accessory is nothing more than a dock for the iPod shuffle connected directly to a USB connector, without the wire between the two that the standard dock comes with. While it may not sound like much, this iPod shuffle accessory will be appreciated by anybody who normally plugs their dock into their laptop and wants to have fewer cables around to get tangled up.
In the end, the use and perceived value that you get from your iPod shuffle is up to you. While the shuffle by itself is a great value, you can get much more out of it if you're willing to spend a little more on some iPod shuffle accessories. The great thing is that because the iPod shuffle only plays music, you don't have to worry about accessories that play video or scratch-resistant coverings for the video screen. In the end, every available iPod shuffle accessory has only one purpose: to help you listen to your music the way you want to.
