Here we go again. This time, we've got offerings from Belkin, PodsPlus, Contour, RadTech, STM and iFrogz. Soft cases, hard cases, big cases, small cases. And happily, this time they're most really good cases.

I'm pleasantly surprised by Mini Golf for the 5G iPod. Surprised because 1.) I never thought games could be this good on the iPod, and 2.) because Mini Golf is better than most miniature golf sims I've played on my actual computer with...you know...a graphics card and processor power.

Despite Kensington's claim that "ClearFM technology reduces noise and enhances stereo separation providing superior wireless audio quality and FM reception," I didn't find the audio quality to be any better than the iTrip, TransPod or RoadTrip FM transmitters. However, Kensington's RDS FM Transmitter does separate itself from the competition in a couple other unique ways.

iHiFi connects your iPod or other audio device to a stereo Stereo - wirelessly via Bluetooth

This time around, we take a look at iPod nano cases from RadTech, Belkin and Slappa, and dig back into our murky pasts when we had to carry around actual CDs...in the snow...barefoot...uphill...both ways.

The SlipStreamz is a small fabric and plastic wedge that attaches to your bicycle helmet so it is placed over your ear. Once in place, the SlipStreamz decreases wind noise, provides complete hearing potential, and lets you listen safely to your iPod while bicycling. And it does so (for the most part) at a very reasonable price.

EarThumps are so named, I'm guessing, because of the deep bass they deliver. Deep bass. When I first tried these out, I was amazed at the amount of bass I was hearing, especially when compared to my somewhat tinny Altec Lansing OYOYO YO302WHT headphones. My music suddenly had a completely different feel to it, and I loved it...until the next album started.

Part of the reason why any "iPod killer" is so hard to take seriously is that the iPod isn't just a great product, it's entrenched with a symbiotic industry producing accessories for it. There are those that cater to the external functionality—speakers, voice recorders, to software products that allow you to back up your hard drive and even store drink recipes—and then, of course, there are the cases, which protect the scratch-prone device, but also allow the owner to express his individuality. For both the former and the latter, the iPod cases from iFrogz succeeds admirably, allowing users to mix and match colors and covers while offering almost total protection.

This is my third review of cases for the 5G iPod, and it seems the developers have finally gotten it right. This is the best bunch yet, and it includes perhaps my favorite iPod case I've used for any iPod model.

Back for an encore

There are numerous methods these days for getting your iPod music into your car stereo's speaker system. One of my least favorites, although the one I really want to embrace, is the use of an FM transmitter. I like it in theory because it's simple and clean; no need to dismantle my dashboard for installation and few (if any) wires draped about my car. I dislike it because the quality of the reception depends heavily upon the area in which you're driving, and because it's not conducive to long distance travel. The good news, though, is that FM transmitters have gotten better as of late, both with sound quality and with functionality.

In looking at different decorative and protective devices for the iPod shuffle, I am rapidly discovering that more is needed to protect this device from scratching, marking, etc. Kiwali has designed a device called the ShuffleDeco which has the intent of offering protection for the Shuffle. In fact, the company refers to it as a "designer vinyl jumpsuit for your iPod Shuffle."