OTHER TECH

AirClick iPod remote / naviPro eX iPod remote A lot of people would look at these two similarly priced iPod remotes and think, "They've got to be pretty much the same, right?" Wrong. Both use a small receiver that plugs into the top of your iPod and includes a pass-through headphone jack for patching the player into your system - but that's where the similarity ends. The biggest difference between the Griffin Technology AirClick ($40) and the Ten Technology naviPro eX ($50) is control. Both remotes can handle play/pause, next/fast forward, previous/rewind, and volume, but the naviPro goes a step further, providing access to the player's playlist, album, chapter, shuffle, and repeat functions. Then there's compatibility.

Both work with fourth-gen iPods and the iPod photo, but the AirClick can handle third-gen models as well. (Ten Technology's $50 naviPod can also handle third-gen models but is limited to the same basic functions as the AirClick.) Another difference: the AirClick's RF remote can send signals through walls, while the naviPro's IR remote can only handle line-of-sight commands. (Both remotes are also available in iPod mini versions, tapered to match the mini's body.) Keeping track of which model has which features can be a pain, but it can also lead to an iPod remote that's a perfect fit for your - or your recipient's - needs. - Michael Gaughn griffintechnology.com tentechnology.com

Back to Intro Audio (Music/Sound) | Video (TV/DVD/Camera) | Gaming iPod | Phones | Remote Controls Storage/Gear | Stocking Stuffers CDs, DVDs, Video Games