SHOPPING: Keeping up with the parade of iPod products

A few months ago, I wrote a column about Apple's family of iPod products, and the jewel of their crown at the time, the iPod photo. Well folks, a lot has changed since then.

OK, maybe the changes haven't been that drastic. I still think that whether you love Apple products or hate them, iPod remains one of the best lines of personal music players you can get in exchange for a truckload of moolah.

In the past couple of months, Apple has released its two newest toys -- the iPod nano, which replaced the iPod mini; and the iPod video, which represents a significant upgrade from the photo version.

I don't think it would be going too far out on a limb to assume that many of you in the Las Vegas Valley either received a brand spankin' new iPod or an IOU for one among your holiday gifts. So I've decided to compile a list of popular iPod accessories for those of you who have a new one, and the specifics of the two newest iPods for those of you about to get one.

The iPod shuffle remains basically the same, clocking in at about $99 and $129 for shuffles sporting 512 megabytes or 1 gigabyte. The nano (2GB for $199 or 4 GB for $249) kicks the mini to the curb with its slim-line, tiny, full-color picture display and comes in black or white.

The main complaints about the nano seem to be that the screen tends to scratch easily, and that it's too easy to slip one in a back pocket and then forget about it, at least until you take a seat and snap it in two or throw it in the wash along with your pants.

But resisting the urge to store it in a potentially volatile area, or buying a cover (extreme Tuffwrap 3-pack for nano, $24.95) will help solve those problems.

The iPod video ($299 or $399 for 30GB or 60GB), which, yup, plays video on a 2.5-inch screen, is the company's most advanced product, and can hold up to 15,000 songs, 25,000 photos or 150 hours of video. The iPod video comes in black or white.

The iTunes Web site now sells downloadable music videos and TV shows for the video version.

To protect the video version's precious screen, Agent 18 sells a hard shell VideoShield case ($24.95), while Speck sells a Toughskin case for iPod ($34.95). Additionally, Apple carries a line of rubber tubes ($29) and socks ($29) in various colors.

All items are available at both www.iTunes.com and the Apple store in the Fashion Show mall, and both places also carry accessories to help you listen to your iPod through something other than headphones.

Both the store and Web site carry FM transmitters, which allow iPod owners to listen to their music through an FM radio ($29.95-$79.95).

You also can pick up speakers designed to work with iPods in portable, desktop, wireless and alarm clock varieties ($24.95-$399.95) made by companies such as Bose, JBL and Sony.

And on a closing note regarding Apple: please stop releasing a new top-o'-the-line product every two months.

Nothing makes a person feel outdated like going out and dropping $400 on the hot new thing, only to have it upstaged a month later.

The iPod photo is good. The video version is even better, and now I'm kicking myself for not having waited just a few weeks longer.

Maria Phelan is a reporter for the Green Valley and Henderson Views. Retail information appropriate for mention can be sent to mphelan@viewnews.com.