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The dominance of the mobile music market by the Apple iPod has not only raised the company's profile and greatly improved its balance sheet but also spawned a complementary industry dealing with various accessories for this must-have device. This industry encompasses various companies including Apple itself. Whether it is leather cases, car holder kits, docking stations, rechargeable battery packs, voice recorders, media readers, loudspeaker sets, headphone splitter cables or the means of linking the iPod into your stereo system, you can be sure that there will be a choice of products available to tempt you into parting with your disposable income.

See also: iPod accessories

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In most cases these accessories will require the presence of the iPod connection socket in order to make the necessary contact to provide the extra functionality. While this is fine for the greater majority of iPod owner whose device has this type of sockets, those who have opted for the less-expensive iPod Shuffle are not so fortunate. This particular version of the iPod phenomena relies on a USB connection for transferring data and recharging the battery. All those useful and tempting accessories will not be able to connect to the Shuffle.

To get round this seeming impasse, and open the way to using many of the previously mentioned accessories, you need to get hold of an iPod Shuffle adapter which has the ability to convert the USB port into the standard iPod connection socket. Now I know of one company that has such a device but is reluctant to release it on the UK market. Fortunately Belkin is not of that opinion and has released such a device.

Founded in 1982 by three entrepreneurs in a residential garage in California (very Apple-like), Belkin has come up with its Dock Adapter for the iPod Shuffle. This small white (what other colour would you expect) adapter, measuring 43 x 27 x 14mm (L x W x D) has a USB port at one end and an iPod connection socket at the other end. You simply slot the adapter on to the Shuffle's USB connection and you have a device that can make use of the numerous iPod accessories.

I have tested this combination of iPod Shuffle and adapter on a number of accessories without any problems appearing although I must admit that the range of available accessories was not extensive. With its price point of £14.95, the Dock Adapter will open up the iPod Shuffle to increased functionality.

http://catalog.belkin.com/IWCatProductPage.process?Merchant_Id=&Product_Id=247142