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You got an iPod! It's a great gadget, and you really like the smooth interface, the high-quality sound, the amount of storage you've got for your files, and the way you can keep pictures and documents on it. Hey--you did know that, right? You can open your iPod on your laptop just like a CD or a flash drive, and drag your other files right onto it.

There are so many things you can do with an iPod, but you will need to get accessories for some things. If you do an Internet search for "ipod accessories" you will find millions of choices, making it really tough to just find the good things. For example, narrowing down to iPod add ons and replacement parts that are compatible with your specific hardware is almost impossible when you do such a broad search. If you want to narrow in on what will work for you, search for the model name and generation of your iPod when you start looking for accessories.

You may be wondering what you can buy. The only truly replaceable parts of the iPod are the screen, the battery, and the headphones. You should only replace the screen or the battery if they break, and don't forget to check your warranty--if it is still in effect, you can send the iPod back to it's manufacturer to have it repaired. When it comes to headphones, however, you can purchase a set that will really improve the iPod's sound quality, and in general you get what you pay for, to a point. Be wary of sites that promise seemingly impossible sound improvements, because these are often too good to be true.

There is wide variety of iPod accessories on the market today. Look for things like armband holders to make keeping your tunes with you while you work out easier, to rubber or leather skins that protect the iPod from bumping or dropping, to plastic films that keep it from getting scratched. Another item that has been around for a long time is an iPod docking station. These portable systems with speakers let you turn your iPod into a stereo system. Even automobile manufacturers are making it easy to hook up your device directly to the car with a built-in connection.

And don't forget the bevy of ready-made electronic add ons from mileage trackers for runners to DJ mixing tables. Unfortunately there doesn't seem to be a GPS receiver, though. Oddly, the best place to see the quality stuff is in the manufacturer's website store, though you may want to price-compare with other places on the net before you commit yourself to buying. You might even stumble upon something cool.

If you really want to immerse yourself in a strange world of electronic culture, search for "iPod hacking." You'll learn weird stuff like how to replace the basic operating system of the iPod with something more geek friendly, and how to replace parts of the innards to make dramatic changes in sound quality. It's not for everyone, and it's all guaranteed to void your warrantee. Have fun, but be careful.

For more information on IPOD accessories try visiting http://all-things-ipod.info, a website that specializes in providing helpful ipod tips, advice and resources to include and more.