After Hours

Photos: Care to dock that iPod?

By // August 8, 2006, 8:39 PM PST // billdetwiler

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  • At the San Francisco International Gift Fair, held Aug. 5-8, some vendors hocked inexpensive tech gifts for iPod enthusiasts amid the aisles of kitchen kitsch, candles, purses and heaping trays of jewelry.

    Atech Flash Technology offered the KB-Reader keyboard, which comes with an iPod dock (left), and universal card reader. Available through the company's Web site for a retail price of $39.95, the KB-Reader is compatible with Windows 98 SE/2000/ME/XP or later and Mac OS 9.0 or later.

    Erica Ogg/CNET News.com

  • The MegaBass MP3 Mini Speakers fan open and lock closed for easy portability in a purse or pocket, according to Feldstein Associates, which sells the speakers that are compatible with any MP3 player. For $19.99, the AAA battery-powered speakers measure 7.25 inches by 2 inches by 1.5 inches when open and have a black rubberized finish.

  • Also from Feldstein Associates, the lightweight AquaDock plays any MP3 player in a waterproof case, which comes in silver or white for $32. Measuring approximately 9 inches by 5.75 inches by 2.25 inches, the AquaDock also has an AM/FM stereo radio and an LCD clock. The unit comes with a button cell battery, but you'll have to supply your own AAs.

    Erica Ogg/CNET News.com

  • Getting the prize for the oddest way to listen to music is the iCarta, an iPod dock that doubles as a toilet paper holder, as CNET News.com reported in June. The iCarta plays and charges any iPod through four speakers. is selling it for $99.95, and it comes with an AC adapter and wall-mounting kit. If at any point you decide you'd rather not listen to music in the bathroom, the bath tissue bar can be removed and the front speakers folded in.

    Erica Ogg/CNET News.com

At the San Francisco International Gift Fair, held Aug. 5-8, some vendors hocked inexpensive tech gifts for iPod enthusiasts amid the aisles of kitchen kitsch, candles, purses and heaping trays of jewelry.

Atech Flash Technology offered the KB-Reader keyboard, which comes with an iPod dock (left), and universal card reader. Available through the company's Web site for a retail price of $39.95, the KB-Reader is compatible with Windows 98 SE/2000/ME/XP or later and Mac OS 9.0 or later.

Erica Ogg/CNET News.com

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By Bill Detwiler

Bill Detwiler is Managing Editor of TechRepublic and Tech Pro Research and the host of Cracking Open, CNET and TechRepublic's popular online show. Prior to joining TechRepublic in 2000, Bill was an IT manager, database administrator, and desktop supp...