Hey, are you peeved at Apple for yanking that external drive thingy from your iPhone that you came to love on your iPod? Wishing you could just some way — an easy way — gain access to your 4, 8, or 16 GB of storage on your device? Whelp, we took a look at a software application that does that just that and we think you’re going to like it.

Ecamm’s iPhoneDrive lets you grab files of any sort on and off your iPhone and iPod touch with drag and drop ease. It also throws in some nice extras like being able to play music right off the device on your Mac. Makes nice for playing music at work if your IT dude doesn’t want you putting iTunes on your Mac, huh?

iPhoneDrive doesn’t just stop there, either, you can now backup your SMS and Phone Log and even edit your notes with a stinking real keyboard for once! If you’re sensing we liked this, then have sense enough to read the full review and see why we did.

Well known Apple accessory designer, Power Support has announced the latest in protective accessories to keep your music safe. The revolutionary Black Crystal Jacket Set is customized to keep the damage to your iPod Touch at a minimum. Power Supports Black Crystal Jacket Set for the iPod Touch is just what you need to compliment the aesthetics of the iPod touch, without impeded use of the touch screen.

• Rotating stand allows either vertical or horizontal viewing of the screen
• The crystal jacket allows for protection from dust, scratches, and impacts
• The slim style of the Crystal Jacket won’t add bulk to your iPod.

Apple has always been well known for its commitment to education since its start over thirty years ago. Through that, many other companies have blossomed in the very arena Apple became a staple in. Today, a new company based on the East Coast is jumping into that arena but doing so more in the fashion of a Mötley Crüe concert where former drummer Tommy Lee performs his drum solo hanging over the crowd. Yes, Raybook is coming out in style.

Mark Williams, founder and CEO of Modality (parent of Raybook), sat down with me at Macworld over lunch to tell me a little about Raybook. Through the course of the conversation, I really found myself enjoying our lunch. Mark just seems to have that easy going feeling that rubs off on you like you’ve known him for ever. He told me of the company’s start and how he, as a professor in the medical sciences, found studying anything in the medical field difficult with the study aids available at that time. CD-ROMs and DVDs just weren’t a good stepping stone from the classic index style flash cards. Those flash cards themselves were large and bulky and made studying on the go nearly impossible. There had to be a better way and when he saw the iPod, he knew he had found that way.

He took a complex study, the brain, and made some amazing slides of it and wrapped it up with text book quality teaching to produce one excellent learning tool…all on an iPod. He distributed it to his students and it wasn’t too long before they were thanking him for this superb learning tool. “Students would come up to me and tell me, ‘I learned three new brain terms while standing in line for a latte’”, Mark told me with excitement in his voice. “Now,” he continued, “we have people asking us, ‘What iPod should I get for this?’” For students, Raybook is new jumping stone for an iPod.

After the incredible success of the medical “books”, Mark knew he had to take it further and bring his tool to a broader market. With the recent addition of the Brain Quest series for K-12 learners, Raybook is actively becoming a hallmark for great study. Other material includes my high school favorite, Mr. Notes, a.k.a. Cliffs Notes, Mosby, Netter, Stedman, BRS, as well as illustrated guides for medical students. While the Cliff and Brain Quest will be more familiar to most, the depth of knowledge here is incredible for such a young company. Mark wants to have hundreds of books online for immediate download by years end.

From public schools, to home schools, to colleges, Raybook is going to be boon for any student. With so many iPods lying around ones home now after years of upgrades, that old dusty iPod in your drawer now has a new use! Since each Raybook is pretty darn small, the density size of your iPod won’t even matter. In fact, the iPod nano is one of the supported models for Raybook. (If you’re wondering where the iPhone/iPod touch version is, it is being worked on via Apple’s SDK. Be patient.)

So how does this all work, you ask? Straight from Raybook’s page, “Raybooks combine text, images, and even audio and video, into a single package you can use on your iPod.” The web page goes on to say, “Study medical terminology with visual flash cards and audio pronunciations. Learn valuable skills by reading step-by-step instructions, then watching a video. Read about an out-of-the-way bistro in Paris, then pinpoint it on a map!”

Getting it onto your iPod is as easy as purchasing the book, downloading it, syncing it via the Raybook Manager, and — ta da! — using it. Once on your iPod, now you can study on the train, between classes, and yes, even while in line while waiting for a latte.

Tekkeon unveils the first dock with on-TV navigation to support the iPod nano 3G and iPod classic. NavDock™ Home Media Center with On-TV Navigation for iPod navigates the iPod through on-TV menus to play videos, photos and music on a connected television. NavDock includes a 16-button wide angle infrared remote that is housed in the dock. The remote provides a five-way navigation pad and quick keys that jump directly to the Videos, Photos, Music or Settings menus. Buttons for volume control, mute, shuffle, repeat or skip songs, and fast forward or rewind through music or videos are also included on the remote.

With NavDock, users have complete control over the content that appears on the TV screen. The language for the menu items (English, Spanish and Japanese), menu color scheme, screensaver, and navigation speed can be customized to suit a user’s tastes. Direct access is provided to the iPod equalizer settings, and lyrics and full-size album art can be displayed at the touch of a button. The iPod docks into NavDock via a universal dock adapter, three of which are included with the product. While docked, the iPod is charged whether or not NavDock is turned on.

“With NavDock, we wanted users to have virtually complete on-TV control of their iPods,” says Jerry Yang, president of Tekkeon, Inc. “Rather than just provide minimal access to some of the iPod menus, NavDock enables users to take advantage of commonly used features, like lyrics and equalizer, all with
the NavDock remote.”

With an MSRP of $129.95, NavDock comes with an infrared remote, standard AV output cable (6 feet), universal dock adapters (3), power adapter (100-240 VAC) and user guide. Tekkeon products are available through retail and major on-line stores, and from the Tekkeon store at www.tekkeon.com. NavDock comes with a one-year limited warranty.

Peripheral Electronics®, AAMP of America’s innovative OEM Integration division, announced today it is has added new Toyota and Scion vehicles to its growing number of applications for the PXAMG Automotive Media Gateway. With these additions, Peripheral enters the 2008 International CES with nearly 150 total applications for the PXAMG now shipping—including existing late-model Ford, Lincoln and Mercury vehicles.

The new applications cover select 2007-08 Toyota and Scion vehicles. These include the Scion tC, xA, xB, xD as well as the Toyota Avalon, Camry, FJ Cruiser, Sequoia and Tundra—among other models.

Recipient of a 2008 CES Innovations Award, the PXAMG is the first interface ever to bring the iPod™, HD Radio™ broadcasting, and many other portable media products into the vehicle. It:

• Keeps the Factory Radio Intact – Plug-and-play interface eliminates the need to replace the factory radio, maintaining the vehicle’s original look and feel.
• Saves Time and Money – Cutting-edge technology and compact size provide huge advantages over buying and installing a new stereo with similar capabilities.
• Retains Original Vehicle Features – Advanced capabilities retain OEM satellite radio, rear-seat entertainment or controls, and all safety and convenience features tied to the factory system.
• Provides Multiple Entertainment Options – Additional auxiliary input connects MP3 players, satellite radio tuners, DVD players, navigation systems and other portable media to the vehicle.
• Delivers Digital-Quality Audio – Direct connection to the factory radio ensures static-free, crystal-clear sound from the iPod and many other portable media devices.
• Enables All iPod Features and Functions from the iPod and the Radio – iPod Interface displays information and provides iPod control from both the iPod and the radio.
• Works with Multiple Applications – USB connection allows the PXAMG to be continually updated with downloadable firmware to work with the latest applications.

The PXAMG also brings the power of HD Radio broadcasting with the help of the Peripheral Electronics HD Radio Tuner (HDRT). Available separately, the HDRT gives users more channels, more content, in exciting new formats—all with no subscription fees.

Ron Freeman, CEO of AAMP of America, said the additional Toyota and Scion applications reflects Peripheral’s commitment to making the PXAMG available to more drivers.

“People are looking for something that expands their factory radio to include all the new technologies and portable media out there,” said Ron Freeman, CEO of AAMP of America. “The PXAMG gives you access to HD Radio and almost any portable device you can think of, without losing any features or functions. It’s one solution for thousands of vehicles—and millions of people.”

Newer Technology, Inc. (NewerTech) announced its new NewerTech iPhone Accessory Line consisting of six products that add iPhone functionality and user convenience. The NewerTech iPhone Accessory Line will be debuted at Macworld, held January 15-18, 2008 in San Francisco.

The NewerTech iPhone Accessory Line includes:

• NewerTech iPhone Speaker Dock & Hands-Free Mic – speaker phone.
• NewerTech Hands-Free Mic & Earbud – hands-free communication while driving.
• NewerTech iPhone Mic Extender Cable – mic extender for hands-free use.
• NewerTech Bass Response Earbuds – noise reduction and sound quality enhancer.
• NewerTech iPhone Headphone Jack Adapter – links to headphone connectors.
• NewerTech iPhone and iPod Auto Charger - charges an iPhone or iPod while driving.

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Ever since I had my first iPod four years ago, I’ve been looking for that perfect stereo for my vehicle that would give me all the great features and control of my digital music player right from the radios controls. With a few bumps in the road, I think I may have found something pretty close.

The Alpine iAD-X001 is one of the best iPod controller units for your car that I’ve come across. After you read the review, I think you’ll probably agree.