Apple’s iPod so dominates the MP3 player market that a thriving iPod peripherals industry has emerged. Companies such as Belkin have done brisk business selling accessories specially-made for the world’s most popular mobile jukebox.

Just because there are a lot of accessories out there doesn’t mean that all of them are worth getting. Some items seemed to be made for nothing other than amusement purposes (e.g. iSocks… that’s right, stockings for your iPods).

I’m not an iPod user. My preferred MP3 player is the iRiver H340 (a topic for a future column) but I turn green with envy every time I hunt for accessories for my player because most of them are designed for the iPod. Below are the cool accessories I’d buy if I were an iPod owner.

1) Bose SoundDock
Get great sound from this desktop speaker set from Bose. Like the iPod, this system is super easy to use. Just place your iPod into the front cradle slot and you’re good to go! It even charges your iPod while blasting the songs into your living room. It comes with a remote control that controls both the Bose set and your iPod.

2) Targus sWING portable speakers
If you need a pair of portable speakers to go along with your iPod, then the sWING is a must-have. Being USB powered means it’s not only a perfect companion for your iPod, it can also double as your laptop’s external speakers. The sWING has a sturdy build yet is quite light given its features.

3) Belkin battery pack
The main flaw of the iPod is its mediocre battery life. This is where Belkin’s battery pack comes handy. It runs on four AAA-sized batteries and is capable of giving your iPod an extra 20 hours of playing time. There are four LED lights to indicate battery life. An excellent accessory for those travelling on long trips and don’t have a means to recharge their iPods.

4) iTrip FM transmitter from Griffin
Driving with a pair of earphones hooked up to the iPod isn’t exactly the safest way to enjoy music on the road. Griffin has come up with a great solution – just plug the iTrip to your iPod and you will be able to broadcast your songs via your car stereo. You just have to tune the iTrip to an empty FM channel (don’t worry, there are many) of your choice. The sound quality sometimes isn’t great as interference can happen – after all, it’s being “streamed” to your car stereo via radio waves, but it’s still a pretty neat alternative to listening via earphones.

5) Belkin media reader
Belkin’s media reader is capable of reading memory cards commonly found on digital cameras such as SD card, Compact Flash and Memory Stick. Backing up your photos onto your iPod is a cinch with this device. Just plug the media reader into the iPod’s FireWire port and you’re all set to transfer all the pictures from your memory card.

6) Protective cases
There are basically two types of casings: hard and soft. While a metal case offers better protection against impacts and scratches, it also adds weight to your iPod. A soft casing, made of leather or silicone, is lighter and less bulky. In terms of cost, metal cases are generally more expensive – sometimes twice the price of soft cases. I won’t mention any specific brands because there are just too many around.

Bottom Line
You don’t have to get all the gadgets I highlighted above in order to fully enjoy your iPod, just pick and choose the ones that you really need. If your budget is tight and you can afford to just get one thing, I’d say go for a protective casing for your iPod. That’s the single most important accessory because it helps to prevent unwanted damages againts the iPod.