The lowdown
As soon as it became clear that the iPod was set to be the biggest gadget of the early noughties so hordes of innovators/hangers-on (you decide), started work developing accessories for Apple's ubiquitous white player. While many really are a superfluous waste of time, there are few that are worth investigating. Among the best are those systems like this and the Altec Lansing inMotion that combine an amplifier and speakers for your iPod while doubling as recharging system.

What's good?
The white finish matches your favourite player (and, if you can cope with the colour clash it also works with iPod minis) and it comes with Firewire and USB 2.0 connectors, so you can hook it to a PC or Mac for transferring tracks too. The i-Station is also handy for both inside and outside your home. In your home it works via its mains connection, while outside it can moonlight as a kind of mini ghetto blaster if powered by batteries. Perhaps its best feature though is that it means you don't have to worry about finding the recharging leads - a sadly all too often occurrence for iPods - as you can simply plonk the player in the dock whenever you are at home.

What's bad?
Sound quality is pretty much as you'd expect from a system that costs around £50: rather tinny. There's also not much evidence of a subwoofer at work, so some tracks are lacking a bit of oomph. Another weakness is that it feels a little tacky and not likely to survive too many knocks.

Do you need it?
The i-Station is good enough for small rooms and, at under £50, it offers good value, but there are better specified iPod speaker systems out there. The similar, but slightly pricier £100 Altec Lansing inMotion, the £250 Bose Sound Dock, and the audiophile's choice, the £400 Eclipse TD307 all have a great deal going for them.

Overview

Useful Links: Zoodex Features: iPod recharger Works with recent iPod and iPod mini Stereo sound 2.5W speakers with a 5- Watt subwoofer USB 2.0 connection Verdict: