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For many people, listening to an iPod on the road is a vexing affair. It often requires wrestling with a clunky cassette adapter or enduring the static of an FM transmitter. And then there’s the risk to life and limb that comes with navigating menus while racing down the interstate. It doesn’t have to be this way. Professionally installed adapters connect your iPod to your car stereo with minimal fuss while giving you maximum control. You can play, pause, and fast-forward - and even view song details - from your dashboard. Best of all, these adapters keep your player charged and channel crisp, clear sound. - Herschel M. Brown
A Word About Adapters
There are two types of hard-wired iPod adapters: ones that work with a wide range of car stereos - or head units - and ones that interact only with specific aftermarket brands. The former is built to accommodate existing car stereos but may not support features like text display or playlists. The latter requires that you purchase a head unit but offers more bells and whistles.
What to Look For
Interface: The iPod is king among MP3 players because of its elegant user interface; a car system should at least try to match it.
Text display: U2-VERTIGO is far more helpful than track 1. Units that can display song information make navigation much easier.
Auxiliary input: Some adapters include an extra jack so you don’t have to sacrifice your CD changer to hook up the iPod.
Feature support: Being able to search by artist or album and manage multiple playlists is ideal.
Clarion VRX755VD
This do-it-all A/V station will truly pimp your ride. The head unit sports a 7-inch flip-open touchscreen that visually mimics your iPod’s interface, buttons and all, so there’s no need to crack the manual. Additional features such as DVD, CD, and MP3 playback, plus support for a 5.1-channel surround sound processor, Sirius satellite radio, and a TV tuner, all come together in one badass car stereo. Yes, you’ll have to throw down a pile of dough - but once you get over the sticker shock, you’ll have some serious bragging rights. There’s nothing else on the road that can match this ultimate iPod accessory.
Wired: Wicked cool. The most feature-rich model tested.
Tired: Wicked expensive. Will look out of place in any car that has a factory-installed stereo molded into the dash.
$1,600 (includes head unit), www.clarion.com
Dension iceLink Plus
Wired: Allows a wide range of stereos to control and display text from an iPod. Smooth integration, especially for German-made cars - Audi, BMW, Porsche, VW. Downloadable feature updates.
Tired: Controls were sluggish with iPod Photo. Song info doesn’t display on all car stereos.
$199 and up, www.densionusa.com
Alpine KCA-420i
Wired: Top-notch user experience, navigation, and information display. MediaXpander technology helps fill sonic gaps in digital music files. Supports optional Alpine A/V touchscreen ($1,600).
Tired: Works only with 2005 and select 2004 Alpine head units, which start at $250.
$100, www.alpine.com
Monster iCruze
Wired: Connects to the widest range of factory-installed head units. Optional LCD ($100) displays more song info than many scrolling decks.
Tired: Base price can nearly double for certain vehicles (because some cars need more parts and connectors than others).
$250 and up, www.monstercable.com
When it comes to chores, vacuuming ranks just ahead of raking the leaves and cleaning the toilet. These uprights won’t eliminate all the pain, but built-in technologies make the task suck a little less. - Cathy Lu
Dyson All Floors DC14
Wired: Dyson’s "Doesn’t Lose Suction" tech works, performing well on wood and carpets. Ultracompact and light (19 pounds).
Tired: Hard to push on thick rugs. Awkward to tilt handle.
$430, www.dyson.com
Sebo automatic X4
Wired: Automatically adjusts roller height for carpeting or wood floors. Glides and maneuvers easily. Very light (16 pounds).
Tired: Rejected larger debris on wood. Upholstery tool is lacking.
$699, www.sebo-vacuums.com
Hoover Self-Propelled Wind Tunnel Bagless U6630-900
Wired: Self-propel feature makes pushing the vac effortless. Upholstery tool could suck the hair off a cat.
Tired: Had trouble with chips and Cheerios on carpet. Weighs 22 pounds.
$390, www.hoover.com
Eureka Boss 4D 5902BVZ
Wired: Built-in, electrostatically charged duster for cleaning tabletops, blinds, and shelves. Inexpensive.
Tired: Performed poorly on both carpets and floors. Opening dust cup lid released a cloud of dirt. 25 pounds.
$200, www.eureka.com
Waving your hands in the air like you just don’t care can get tiring. Luckily, several big-time rap stars concocted energy drinks to keep you goin’ on and on till the break of dawn. - Eric Steuer
Lil Jon’s Crunk!!!
Wired: Blend of ashwagandha, horny goat weed, and caffeine really delivers. Fresh pomegranate flavor.
Tired: Get ready for a sleepless night; no wonder Lil Jon always seems so amped. WHAT!?! OK!!! YEA-YA!!!
$2, www.crunkenergydrink.com
Ice-T’s Liquid Ice
Wired: Pleasantly long-lasting pick-me-up. Super sweet. Lightly carbonated. Goes well with vodka.
Tired: Tastes like a melted Otter Pop. Bright blue color not keeping it real (unless you’re a Crip, of course).
$2, www.liquidiceenergydrink.com
Nelly’s PimpJuice
Wired: Noncarbonated. Mellow tropical flavor. No aftertaste. Contains 10 percent actual fruit juice!
Tired: Not much pep. Packs 140 calories (20 more than Crunk!!! and 10 more than Liquid Ice).
$2, www.letitloose.com
Russell Simmons’ DefCon3
Wired: Each can is filled with 10 ounces of liquid upper, versus the other brands’ trifling 8. Only 45 calories per serving.
Tired: Mediciney aftertaste. Too fizzy. Yielded only a mild rush.
$2, www.defcon3.com
Clarion VRX755VD
Dension iceLink Plus
Alpine KCA-420i
Monster iCruze
credit Craig Maxwell
Dyson All Floors DC14
Sebo automatic X4
Hoover Self-Propelled Wind Tunnel Bagless U6630-900
Eureka Boss 4D 5902BVZ
Lil Jon’s Crunk!!!
Ice-T’s Liquid Ice
Nelly’s PimpJuice
Russell Simmons’ DefCon3
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