It doesn't end with an iPod - accessories abound

For folks who already own one of the 42 million Apple iPods sold since they were introduced in 2001, accessories are proliferating.

More than 1,000 add-ons are available. Most are compatible with third- and fourth-generation iPods and the now-defunct but best-selling iPod Mini. A healthy supply of iPod Shuffle and iPod Nano extras also are on store shelves, as well as accessories for the fifth-generation video iPods.

Some iPod extras cost as much as the music players themselves (or more), while others are more reasonable, such as the $29 Apple iPod Socks (www.apple.com), designed to protect your player and available in six vibrant colors.

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Here's a brief look at some iPod accessory picks.

InCase and iSkin cases
Protect your iPod in style with cases and sleeves. Styles include the iSkin eVo3 (shown above) and eVo2 ($34.99, $24.99; www.iskin.com), a flexible and stretchable silicone "skin" that cozily pulls over your iPod's body and is available in a variety of colors. The iSkin Duo for iPod Nano ($29.99) also is available.

Apple universal iPod dock
Simplify the way you connect your iPod to a computer. Rather than fumbling behind your computer to connect the iPod's cable to an available port, simply drop the device into this docking station to sync the player with iTunes - and recharge it at the same time. It has a line-out port to connect the dock to a set of speakers and an S-Video out port to view photos or videos on a television. Works with all iPod models except the iPod Shuffle. $39; www.apple.com.

Griffin iTrip for iPod
Enjoy your favorite iPod songs and podcasts in your car with the newly redesigned Griffin iTrip. It's a tiny FM transmitter that lets you play your iPod's audio through any FM radio - wirelessly. The iTrip (shown above), which works with all iPods, offers a clear signal and LCD screen to easily find an open FM frequency. The iTrip receives its power from the iPod itself. An iPod Nano version also is available. $49.99; www.griffintechnology.com.

iHome iH5 clock radio
The iHome iH5 Clock Radio lets you dock your player in a snug cradle on top of the unit that not only recharges your iPod's battery but also lets you listen to music, podcasts and audio books via its stereo speakers. Or you can set the alarm to play your favorite song. The clock radio has an AM/FM tuner, snooze bar and backlit screen. $99.95; www.ihomeaudio.com.

Logitech wireless headphones
If you're tired of being tethered to an iPod via wired headphones, disconnect with wireless headphones from Logitech. Snap the Bluetooth receiver on the top of the iPod for pure digital audio as far as 30 feet away. Controls for selecting tracks and adjusting your iPod's volume are integrated into one of the earphones. Built-in batteries provide eight hours of playback. $119.99; www.logitech.com.

iDJ mixing console for iPod
Mobile disc jockeys and serious party planners can lighten their load with this two-channel mixer that holds two iPods for hundreds of hours of music and mixing. Supporting all model iPods with a dock connector (and recharging them while docked), this mixer features large iPod control buttons, a three-band equalizer, fader, microphone input and additional line inputs for extra devices. Record your mixes to a computer with the USB connector. $249; www.numark.com.

Apple adds cheaper iPod nano, cuts iPod shuffle prices

Congratulations! You've won a lower price on a new iPod. Apple Computer has introduced a new version of its svelte iPod nano that sells for $50 less than the least expensive nano previously available.

A 1-gigabyte nano capable of holding as many as 240 songs will cost you $149, compared with a 2-gigabyte, 500-song model priced at $199. Apple also cut the price on both versions of its screen-less iPod shuffle. The 1-gigabyte model, formerly $129, now costs $99, and the 512-megabyte shuffle, which used to cost $99, is now priced at $69.

Apple also said Showtime programming including ``Weeds'' and ``Fat Actress'' will be available for downloading on its iTunes store (which is great, because I've been wanting to check out both shows, but not so much that I'm willing to give Comcast even more money every month). Our Apple writer, John Boudreau, has details on both announcements.

In a move that would have been unthinkable in the days when Microsoft ruled the personal-computer world, PC maker Dell confirmed that it's testing software from Mountain View Internet giant Google and may pre-install the software on its computers. Dell spokesman Jess Blackburn told Bloomberg News that the test includes the Google Toolbar, Google desktop search and a Google-powered Dell home page.

The news was first disclosed this morning in the Wall Street Journal, which reported that Google may pay Dell as much as $1 billion in the next three years, apparently in an effort to attract even more traffic and online advertising dollars.

``Google is desperate for new revenue streams,'' Matt Rosoff, an analyst at Directions on Microsoft, told Bloomberg. ``It's definitely something Microsoft is concerned about and is worried about.''