The storm has finally passed and now everyone who had an extra couple of hundred bucks in his pocket is the proud owner of an Apple iPod Nano ... or so it seems. But the spending doesn't end there. It's time to accessorize!

Among the many cases, wristbands and other doodads that have hitched themselves to the Nano bandwagon are two devices that may actually be useful.

The MP3 AirLink Wireless Audio Transmitter and Receiver ($92.99) from StarTech.com and the new Hi-Fi Link for iPod ($79.95) from Xitel allow you to create roomfuls of sound from those tiny devices.

StarTech MP3 AirLink Wireless Audio Transmitter and Receiver

The AirLink will handle most any portable audio device, and I tried it with several in addition to the iPod. Because it's wireless, you can place the transmitter anywhere in the room without fear of tripping over cables, and hear your favorite tunes through your home theater system, boom box or powered speakers.

It was fairly simple to set up. All I had to do was connect the receiver to the left and right audio inputs of my system, attach the player to the transmitter through its earphone jack --- and the room was filled with music.

Other features/capabilities include:

• It supports eight selectable audio channels.
• It can play through multiple receivers, enabling you to play music in multiple locations.
• You can also connect it to your computer to play Webcasts or audio stored on your hard drive through your audio system.
• Auto-scan locates the best audio channel.
• It works with virtually any device/speaker combination.

Xitel Hi-Fi Link for iPod

The Hi-Fi Link is designed to handle anything iPodish _ ranging from iPod Video to the Nano. It comes with an assortment of iPod dock adapters, so your device fits snuggly into the unit. All you have to do is pop the iPod into the docking station, connect it to your audio system, boom box or powered speakers, and you're done.

The Hi-Fi Link seemed to deliver better quality sound than the AirLink, but most folks probably won't be able to tell the difference. A lot of this could be due to the fact that Xitel uses TruBass technology to enhance the sound.

Other features/capabilities include:

• Gold-plated line-level RCA outputs and fully shielded gold-plated cables.
• It charges your iPod while it's playing.
• It includes a composite video output enabling photo and video viewing on any TV.
• You can run a slideshow with music and photos at the same time.
• It comes with a remote that can control your iPod at distances up to 50 feet.
• The charger automatically turns your iPod off after 30 seconds on pause.

For more information, visit www.startech.com or www.xitel.com.

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