When the iPod was first introduced about six years ago, the memory capacity was only available up to 40GB, and the battery life was about eight hours. Now, the iPod is available in almost any conceivable size and memory capacity. The iPod Shuffle is one inch square, with a clip to attach it to an article of clothing. The iPod Nano is as tall as the iPod Classic, though thinner and not as wide. The Nano is also available in a wide variety of colors. The Classic has also gotten an upgrade, it is now available with a 120GB memory capacity, a 40-hour battery life, and is capable of playing video as well as music.

The iPod has gotten to the point where any version travels very well, you can listen while jogging or in your living room, but the problem still remains of how to connect your iPod to your car stereo system. The ear buds are obviously not an option while driving, so here are some of the other options to still listen to your music while driving in your car. The first option is to buy a new vehicle. While this is by far the most expensive option, if you are in the market for a new vehicle, many new cars come equipped with an iPod docking port.

For those of you who are not looking to buy a new vehicle just to be able to listen to your iPod while driving, there are other, cheaper options. One option is a cassette adapter. It is a cord that plugs into your iPod at one end, and has a cassette-shaped adapter at the other end. This goes into your car’s cassette player, and then you can listen to your iPod music through your stereo speakers.

Another option is an FM Transmitter. It plugs into your cars cigarette lighter, and then attaches to your iPod. There are different models, some which can only transmit a few channels, and some that can transmit along the whole FM band. The latter may be slightly more expensive, but is likely to cause a lot less aggravation in the long run. To use it, turn your car radio to a channel which receives no outside signal, or where you only hear static. Once you find this channel, tune your transmitter to the same channel. The static should go away, and once you push play on your iPod, you will be listening to your own music on the radio waves.

To conclude, it is possible to connect an iPod to a car stereo on a variety of budgets and interests by either buying a new vehicle, purchasing a cassette adapter, or purchase an FM Transmitter.

IPod docking stations in cars were an inevitability from the moment the iPod itself was invented. They allow us to hook up our MP3 player to our in-car sound system and play our music collection through our car speakers – allowing us to combine the jukebox-style range and convenience of music choice of an iPod with the volume and sound quality of a car sound system. Any one of thousands of songs can be pumping out of your speakers within seconds of you deciding you want to hear it. Sure, it may not be quite in line with the old ways, of sticking on FM radio and allowing someone else to soundtrack your road trip, but MP3′s convenience allows you to set your own playlist for your own planned route.

MP3 connectivity to your car stereo system works in any one of a number of ways. You can choose to hook the iPod directly to your car stereo, if your car is new enough. Most cars rolling off production lines today have already been designed to be compatible with iPods, due to the undeniable popularity of the MP3 player as a way of listening to music on the go. If you are lucky enough to have a new car it is generally a matter of popping your iPod into the docking station and driving off, merrily changing tracks by way of a console which directly mirrors your iPod’s click wheel.

If you have an older car, though, there is no need to despair. Systems are being created all the time that increase the iPod’s backwards compatibility. Some of these involve plugging the system directly into your existing car stereo. This depends very much on your stereo having an auxiliary input jack, and not all stereos have this. In such cases it may be necessary to hook your iPod up to the in-car cassette or to a small portable FM transmitter. One way or the other, the iPod will work with pretty much any in-car sound system as long as you do not mind hooking up a few extra bits of kit. The newer the systems the better, of course, as the newer systems allow the player to constantly recharge during long car trips.

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Most car lovers have an iPod, cellphone, or sunglasses, so why not consider a cellpad. The cellpad has a stickiness to it for mounting onto the dashboard or car console. The cell pad, also known as an iPod mat, has a resistant surface that holds the phone in position, keeps it from sliding around, and is in a location for easy access when you need it. Your ipod is in a safe place, does not get lost, or slide onto the auto floor from sharp turns or quick stops.

Here is another cheap car accessory gift idea. Consider the Wrap for auto security. The Wrap mounts to your steering wheel, is a bright yellow color, and holds the steering wheel secure from auto theft. Any tampering with the steering wheel, an alarm goes off, alerting passersby of the attempted theft. The bright yellow color, stainless steel reinforced side walls, and flashing led light is a great anti-theft deterrent. The space age look of the Wrap is a special gift for the auto enthusiast techie.

How about the automotive enthusiast who obsesses with rusty license plates. Consider the purchase of a license plate frame and this will be one cheap car accessory gift that will make your enthusiast happy. A license plate kit that includes a one piece clear lens and frame with a self-sealing rubber gasket will keep the dirt and moisture out and off the license plate. These license plate kits are available in different colors, making it a car accessory gift of choice for the hard to please.

Just wanted to give you a few ideas that are not often thought of when considering automotive enhancements, but are always appreciated by car enthusiasts. Remember it isn’t always so much about what something costs but the idea behind it.