Belkin SportCommand - A Giant Remote for Your iPod

The Belkin SportCommand is a neat addition to the already impressive
range of accessories developed around the iPod. It is a simple yet
necessary invention - basically a remote to operate your iPod in
conditions where you’d feel better with the iPod safe inside your
backpack or jacket pocket rather than in your hands. Thus, the gadget
nicely fills the niche for a device that could enable the sporty types
to listen to their iPod while cycling, rappelling, mountain climbing or
trekking.

The gadget is essentially a remote control inside a weatherproof and
water resistant fabric armband which allows you to manipulate the iPod
via a small transmitter that can be attached to the iPod’s dock
connector. The receiver dongle carrying the transmitter is a flexible
piece which does not take much space once plugged into the iPod. Sturdy
Velcro ensures that the SportCommand for iPod stays fastened to your arm
while the oversized buttons are hard to miss thus ensuring easy control
of volume, playlist, etc. The layout of the buttons is such that they
can be used without having to see them. No worries even if you’re
wearing gloves, you can nicely manage the remote.

The Belkin SportCommand kit comes with the remote and its battery, a
dongle to be plugged into the dock port of the iPod, a carabiner to
attach the gadget to a loop on the backpack, and extra Velcro straps. 30
seconds of inactivity turns off the SportCommand thereby saving battery.

The device costs $79.99 if purchased from the Belkin website. It is
compatible with iPods from the the 4th generation onwards; this includes
the Nano.