Automotive Jiggery-Pokery

So it's all very well having a lovely 4th-gen iPod, but what if you never have an opportunity to listen to it? I hardly ever use public transport or walk anywhere (activities that are, traditionally, the preserve of the iPod owner) so I was beginning to think my purchase was a little rash...

I really wanted to be able to listen to it in the car, but there was a significant obstacle. There is no - standard at least - way of connecting an iPod to my car stereo. I had already experimented with using an FM transmitter a few months ago when I had my Creative Zen NX, but the quality was shocking, so that wasn't going to be an option.

Another possibility was to buy a whole new car stereo - Alpine have just brought out a head unit which has integrated iPod compatibility. There's a bit that stows away in the glove box which connects to the iPod itself, and then the head unit controls the Pod's functions. Excellent, except that it costs £275. A bit steep, even for me.

So I finally plumped for the option that required a bit of DIY, but was a good compromise of cost and functionality. I got myself one of these units that plugs into the CD-changer port on the back of the standard radio. I extracted the radio, connected up the new box of tricks, hid it away down the back of the centre console, and then routed a standard stereo RCA to 3.5mm jack cable through to the base of the dashboard. This way, I can pop the Pod in the cup holder, plug the cable into the headphone socket, and enjoy all my tunes in the car.

Job done. Lovely.

Pod

Just got myself a 20GB fourth-gen iPod.

Mmmm. Pretty shiny thing.

Hubba Hubba

An event this afternoon made me realise that I have truly embraced the Mac ownership experience. I realised that I had run out of USB ports on the back of the Mac Mini, so I went an unearthed a USB2.0 hub that I had previously used with my old PC. I hooked it up, and arranged it nicely on the desk, and it was then that I realised something was gravely wrong...

The hub was made of black plastic. Everything else on the desk (even the lamp and phone) was shiny and silver. IT DIDN'T MATCH!

So the hub has been relegated to a position underneath the desk where it is less aesthetically offensive. Still works just the same, but doesn't upset the gadget feng shui.

Here endeth the lesson.

Coming back to the fold...

Well here's a turn up for the books - I've been so preoccupied with my new gadgets, I've had no time to write about them!

Following on from the Mac Mini, I got myself a nice shiny silver LaCie external 250GB hard drive to back everything up on, and then - in order to use GarageBand, I got an M-Audio Fast Track, which is basically a breakout box which plugs into the Mac via USB and allows you to connect instruments and microphones so that you can record in real time.

It's been gadget overload (if there can be such a thing) over the past couple of weeks. I love it!

Out of the box

I finally got round to unpacking the Mac Mini earlier this evening (I've been giddy as a kipper about it all day, as I'm sure you can imagine). Having to wait over 24 hours before I could set it up has been killing me, but I didn't want to have to rush it. It's all about savouring the experience when you get a new gadget. Even taking it out of the packaging has to be done properly. Then you make sure everything is neat and tidy, and you work out where you going to put it all.

Then, finally, you can start hooking it all up.

Fortunately, it all worked seamlessly. I've been spending some time getting the software installed (Dreamweaver, Fireworks, iLife etc etc) and then it took me a while to get it syncing properly with my Pocket PC and phone over Bluetooth, but it's all sorted now. And it's lovely. I like it.

Early arrival

Much to my surprise, the Mac Mini has just been delivered! I was expecting it tomorrow, so this is a very pleasant surprise! The downside is that I won't have time to set it up this evening, so I'm going to have to be exceptionally strong-willed and leave it in its box until tomorrow.

I have taken it out of the packaging, just for a quick look. It's very pretty. And incredibly small!