The Griffin iTrip Nano is a simple device that arrived for review this week and had us fighting to take it home. Unlike previous iTrips griffin have had to think of a new way to attach the FM transmitter to the Nano without either a bulky pack and trailing cables or one of those hideous iPod docks. The answer is the Nano sled a kind of second skin for your Nano which is styled to stay in keeping with your Nano and also to add the minimum depth and weight possible.

To achieve this aim the iTrip takes a rather different approach to the traditional FM transmitter by ditching it's own screen in favour of using the iPods own excellent screen to display details like the tuned frequency and volume. They say the best ideas are the obvious ones but this one is a corker and allows the iTrip to be wafer thin measuring just 40mm x 101mm x 14.3mm which rough doubles the thickness of the Nano when attached. We know this sounds like bad news but all other FM systems do far worse than this and the iTrip looks good too. To get the iTrip info on the screen you just push the little button on the unit and the iPods screen will switch to the iTrip screen and then back again.

Your Nano is held in place with micro grip, which is basically a cladding material used inside the iTrip sled that holds onto your docked Nano and seems to do a good job too. Once docked the iTrip runs off the Nano's battery and can also charge it using the inbuilt USB connector when paired with a 12 volt USB lead. You can easily tune the iTrip's output to a quiet band in the FM spectrum and then tune in your car radio to the same frequency and bingo your Nano is now on the radio!

It works well, although in central London finding a quiet bit of FM is like looking for a needle in a haystack and you will get some cut through from strong FM stations. The overall result however is a good sound and you do have the choice of switching from Stereo mode to Mono to increase the signal strength for your radio to pick up.

Use of the iTrip Nano is like all FM transmitters technically illegal in the UK and all stores will sell them to you for European use, however there are moves to make them legal in the UK and the chances of getting caught are very very slim as the range is under 25ft. So just keep an eye out for the DTI in your rear view mirror and enjoy the stylish looks and great sound of the iTrip Nano for the fantastic price of just £20, a bargain Nano owners should not resist.

Published - 03/09/2006

More iPod Accessory Reviews-

[ Up ] [ Logic3 iStation ] [ TDK Outloud CD wallet with integrated speakers ] [ Creative Travelsound ] [ inMotion iMmini ] [ JBL On Stage ] [ inMotion IM3 Review ] [ Moshi iPouch ] [ Monitor Audio i ] [ Podgear Pocket Party ] [ Podgear Houseparty ] [ TruePower iPod Battery ] [ Zen Micro Traveldock ] [ Logitech MM28 Review ] [ Belkin Tunecast ] [ Griffin iTrip Auto Review ] [ Belkin Tunebase ] [ Logitech Z-10 Speakers ] [ DLO Homedock Deluxe Review ] [ Oregon Scientific iBall Review ] [ iTrip Nano Review ] [ Altec Lansing IM5 Review ] [ iPod Radio Remote ] [ Apple iPod HiFi Review ] [ Intempo IDS-01 Speakers ] [ Inmotion IM4 Speakers ] [ Griffin IFM ] [ inMotion IM7 Review ] [ Bose SoundDock Review ] [ Stripy iPod Speakers ] [ Tivoli iPal ]