TransPod

Since procuring myself a little iPod mini a couple of months ago, I've become completely addicted to collecting songs and transmitting them to my car stereo via a little FM transmitter. Up until now I've been using the one from Griffin technologies--the iTrip--which leaves much to be desired. The iTrip likes to reset itself periodically (I solved that problem by erasing all other station options from the iPod's memory), plus there's a lot of static. I learned to negotiate the static, too, by twiddling pretty much constantly with the two volume controls: sometimes the car stereo's volume needs to handle the output, whereas sometime's the iPod's own volume control needs to do it. It all depends where the static is coming from on any given day.

What this meant, though, was that I'd be hurtling down the freeways waving my I-pod in the air, trying to position it to get the best sound quality. (Yes, I already know this is not safe.) And the sound was always slightly off--you just never got the depth that you'd expect from a good car stereo.

And heck, that's why I got the car: for the stereo.

So anyway, all that seems to be resolved now. After months of anguish and deliberation, I finally invested in the TransPod, a much more expensive transmitting system ($99 at Comp USA, eek!), but totally worth the improved sound quality and convenience. For the first time, I turned on my iPod and got CD-like quality coming out of the stereo. And I love the way it recharges, too--how many times have I turned on my half-charged iPod only to discover it had mysteriously uncharged itself during my absense?