Have you purchased an iPod? You probably think it's very cool, with lots of great features. The interface is fun, the sound is great, and you have tons of room to store music, books, and even movies and TV shows, just like a flash drive. If you didn't know you could put more than music on your iPod - now you do. All you need to do is plug the device into your computer and drag and drop the files the way you would put data on a CD.

Using iPod accessories, you can do even more with your iPod. However, with all of the choices that come up when you search the internet for "iPod accessories,"how do you find the right ones? How can you find the iPod add ons and replacement parts that you want, and how do you determine whether an item is compatible with the device you own? The best test is to try including your iPod's specific model name and generation in your search.

But what can you buy? For replacement parts, only the screen, battery, and headphones are really replaceable. You'll only want to replace the first two if they break (and if they break while the warrantee is still going strong, send the iPod back to the manufacturer for repair). New headphones can make a world of difference in the sound quality of your iPod, and to a point you get what you pay for. Beware audiophile garbage sites that suggest stuff that's up there with mystic incantations to improve sound, though.

But there is a wide variety of iPod accessories out there. From arm band holders you can use while exercising to silicon rubber or leather skins to add drop and bump protection, and all but invisible plastic films that make the device impervious to scratches. Companies have been offering for years speaker docking stations that let you turn your iPod into a stereo system. And some car companies are getting in on the act with in car connections dedicated to the iPod.

And don't forget the bevy of ready-made electronic add ons from mileage trackers for runners to DJ mixing tables. Unfortunately there doesn't seem to be a GPS receiver, though. Oddly, the best place to see the quality stuff is in the manufacturer's website store, though you may want to price-compare with other places on the net before you commit yourself to buying. You might even stumble upon something cool.

Would you like to discover a strange new world of electronics? Do an Internet search for "iPod hacking." You will find our strange things like how to replace the operating system of an iPod with something else, and ways to replace parts of the inside that will make major improvements in the sound quality. Your warranty will be void if you start messing around, so don't take chances unless you know what you are doing. Have fun and be careful!