If you want to listen to your iPod in the car, what's the best way to listen to it through your car's speakers? Could you get an FM transmitter, like the one pictured above? See more pictures of essential gadgets.
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There's no question about it, one of the biggest draws for MP3 players like the iPod is portability. The convenience of having your entire music library in one handheld device and being able to bring it with you -- on walks, on runs, on long plane rides and study sessions -- helps drive the ubiquitous MP3 player's popularity.
Another favorite place for music lovers to listen to their iPod is in the car. As many drivers know, music in the car is one of the best cures for long car rides or big traffic jams, and most cars come equipped with radios, cassette players, CD players or some combination of the three. An engrossing interview on the radio or a few CD mixes can provide a bored commuter with hours of entertainment and might even make all that burned gasoline seem worth it.
But an iPod in the car can bring together your entire music collection, podcasts, audio books and personal playlists onto a single piece of machinery. If you have one of the models that have more memory, you could have literally weeks and weeks of listening material at your fingertips. Of course, you can't just plug a pair of headphones into your iPod and cruise on down the road -- it's illegal for drivers to wear headphones in the car.
If you own an iPod and you're wondering about the best way to play your favorite tunes through your car's speakers, there are several options. Maybe you've heard of devices like the iTrip, an FM transmitter for the iPod that allows you to play an iPod over the speakers. Some newer cars, on the other hand, come with iPod docks built in. And what about those cassette adapters? Read on to find out which method is best for playing your iPod when you're on the road.
