iPod FM Transmitter

I hate radio. When you commute enough in one day, you realize that the radio plays a short list of the same music over and over again throughout the day. One alternative is to listen to CDs, but that means going through the hassle of buying blanks, making playlists, burning them, loading them in your CD changer… No thanks. Most people would much rather listen to their iPods in the car.

Unfortunately, even today many new cars don't come standard with a way to connect an iPod. The ideal setup is over bluetooth for wireless listening. Next is over a dock connector that charges your iPod while in the car. Another option is through a standard mini-stereo cable that plugs into the headphone jack. A lot of people can't do any of these.

This is where an FM transmitter comes in. They all plug into the cigarette lighter and act much like the standard iPod dock. Once connected, they broadcast whatever is playing over an FM frequency that you can tune to on your car radio. The quality isn't as good as over a cable, and you'll sometimes get interference, but it's worth it. Instead of awful radio, you get to listen to your entire music and podcast collection. And even better, if you have an iPhone, streaming music apps like Pandora work great over 3G.

The best FM transmitter I've found is the Belkin TuneBase. It's by no means perfect. I wish the design were sleeker and the plastic construction is a little flimsy. But it works, and it's reasonably cheap.

Belkin TuneBase FM Transmitter: $65 – Buy Now

Rechargeable Battery

A lot of things require standard AA or AAA batteries: Xbox controllers, wireless keyboards, wireless mice, digital cameras… I used to buy huge packs of alkaline batteries, but I started to feel guilty every time I got through a pack. I recycled the old ones, but it still felt wrong.

I decided it was time to move to rechargeable batteries. After some research, I ended up choosing Sanyo eneloops. They're the newer NiMH batteries that have a low self-discharge rate. This means you can leave them in a drawer for months on end and they'll maintain an almost full charge.

It's true that NiMH batteries have less capacity than lithium ones, so in some cases they're not ideal. Charging your electronics away from home is one example. But for my uses, it makes no difference. I bought 20 and as soon as a pair runs out, I pop them in the charger for a few hours, and swap in a new set. Works great and I don't feel bad about how many I use.

There are other NiMH batteries out there, but I like that eneloops are high-quality batteries made in Japan. This guy has done some ridiculously comprehensive testing that backs up Sanyo's claims. Rumor is they're also the batteries that Apple rebrands as their own.

Sanyo eneloop 4 Pack AA: $10 – Buy Now

iPod

In my entry for best media player, I linked to the current generation 32GB iPod touch. This wasn't an arbitrary choice. For most people, it's the iPod that makes the most sense. The touch is the only iPod that runs iOS, so it's the only way to browse the internet and get access to iOS apps. This is reason enough to recommend it above the others. It isn't perfect, though. It's large compared to other iPods, has no physical controls, has a maximum of 64GB of storage, and has a fragile glass display.

Some people may have specific needs that aren't addressed by the touch. Here's how to choose an iPod if you're one of them.

• If you want the cheapest and most rugged iPod, get the shuffle
• If you want a small iPod, but you need a display, get the nano
• If you just want to play a huge music library, get the classic

Thankfully, a simple product line makes it easy to find the right iPod. Other brands should take note.

Media Player

This one should be obvious: get an iPod.

Apple iPod touch 32GB: $299 – Buy Now

Ebook Reader

If you're looking to buy an Ebook reader, the best choice at the moment is the Amazon Kindle. On the software side, it's easier to use than anything else available. The reading interface is simple if not sparse, and browsing for books on the Amazon store is a breeze. As for hardware, the Kindle is very thin and light, making one-handed operation effortless. Other readers, and especially devices like the iPad, are a little clunky for extended reading. Also, the E Ink display on the Kindle is very impressive. Anyone who sees it can't believe what's onscreen isn't a sticker placed over the display.

The most important features, though, are Amazon's book selection and its WhisperSync technology. The latter allows you to download and read a book on one device, and then pick up right where you left off on another. For example, you could start reading a book on your Kindle, then get through a few more pages on your iPhone while you stand in line at the store. Apps for reading Kindle books are also available for PC, Mac, and iPad.

The Kindle is also my favorite reading device because of its price: $139 for the Wi-Fi only version. This is a bargain when you consider the cost savings of Ebooks over their paper counterparts. If you absolutely must have 3G connectivity for book downloading on the go, the Kindle 3G is still affordable at $189. At these prices, the Kindle is perfect for throwing in your bag or taking outside without too much worry.

Don't bother with anything else.

Amazon Kindle Wi-Fi: $139 – Buy Now

Amazon Kindle Wi-Fi + 3G: $189 – Buy Now