It was an apple, it is believed, that led to the creation of man. Non-believers may debate the veracity of such claims but there can be no arguing the fact that Apple, the company, has created a whole universe of little devices which have made life a little easier, or shall we say better, for many.

Among the recent to figure on that long list are ipods — those ubiquitous devices which can store and play your favourite music for hours on end. But if in-ear playing is not your cup of tea, at least at home, then you can do better than simply connecting your pod to a pair of speakers. Those tuned in to the latest would know that the cool thing to do is to dock your pods in style — in docks, which can cost more than the ipod itself and are armed with a plethora of functions. They do not just snuggle and charge your ipod, but also play the stored music on sharp speakers. When the ipod needs a rest, the docks can be put to other uses — connected to the computer, the television or a DVD player for that ultimate audio experience. Some even come with radio tuners and alarm clocks. So, wake up to the choices and play on!