Product Review – Apple iPod & Monster iCarPlayWhilst not necessarily a 4wd accessory or product, we often see people asking if an iPod is any good.Having owned 2 iPods, a 3G (that’s third generation) 20Gb model as well as a newer 4gb iPod Mini, and a recent addition of a Monster iCarPlay, I thought it worthwhile sharing how they perform.Now, Apple iPods are all the rage. It has become the Hoover / Hills Hoist / Walkman of the music world since the turn on the millennium. With just about every spotty faced kid with a school bag having one hanging from their ears and plain faced young executives trying to regain that spotty faced youth as well as the oldies trying to be young an hip. It seems just about everyone has one, so why do you need it? Well, whilst it isn’t going to pull you out of that sticky situation like a good piece of recovery gear, nor is it going to fix your engine or inflate your tyres, so why would an avid 4wder want one. Well the answer is simple. Whilst 4wding is exciting the views and scenery are fantastic we live in a damn big country. It often takes days to arrive at the start of some of the more popular 4wd destinations. Whilst the idea of CD’s is great, the hourly ritual of swapping discs or finding a radio station has lots its appeal. Wouldn’t it be nice to have a few weeks of solid music on tap, your whole CD collection at your finger tips? If you don’t have a modern hi tech stereo with line in, or a fancy BMW X5 which has an iPod port in the glovebox you can purchase a Monster iCarPlay which will beam the iPods crazy tunes through the air and into you cars very own stereo via its FM transmitter. Whilst the slight radio static hum can be heard from time to time, and some times you need to re tune the iCarPlay due to a local radio station over powering it, a simple push of the iCarPlay’s button and SEEK on your radio has your favourite tracks playing in seconds.The biggest benefit on the iCarPlay vs the Griffin iTrip, its major competitor is that it also plugs into the cars cigarette lighter (or power outlet in this modern politically correct world) to power the iPod and recharge its battery. This means when you get to your destination and you want to play your iPod in the tent or swag and remain in the civilised world away from bugs and nature, you can be assured the iPod will handle the 8-15 hours of music and get your through the day or night before needing a recharge.Another big benefit for the iPod is its ability to act as a storage device. What space you don’t use with music you can store files, including your trips photos. This can be of benefit on anyone travelling and wanting to store their precious photos on 2 mediums, both a Laptop and the iPod, just don’t leave them both in the car together as both are targets for thieves.Another option for those lucky enough to pick up the New iPod Colour (Previously the iPod Photo) is the ability to purchase a Camera Reader port for $49. This allows you to plug most digital cameras into the iPod and upload the photos directly onto it to be viewed on the screen. Almost tempting enough for me to add another iPod to our existing pair of iPods.Whilst there are many competitors producing similar and better units to the iPod, unfortunate none are as cool or must have items. Happy iPoding.