So you just bought an iPod touch or iPhone and want to stock it with movies from your DVD library. There are countless commercial utilities that promise to rip DVDs, but I recommend trying HandBrake. This open-source (read: free) utility for Windows (download), Mac (download), and Linux converts your DVDs for viewing on iPods, iPhones, Sony PSPs, and other portable media players. It's by no means new, but I just had to share my newfound appreciation for it.

As we creep slowly into 2008, I can't seem to shake the sinking feeling that this year isn't going to have much to offer in the realm of MP3 players. Truly, it's going to be hard to follow 2007. The year ushered in a growing selection of devices with wireless capabilities, touch screens, and high capacity flash memory at increasingly lower prices--not to mention the slow death of hard drive-based portable media players. In fact, many of my top selections from the past year comprise at least one of these features, along with many other desirable traits. True, they are not all necessarily the highest scorers of the year, but each one gave 2007 a little piece of its MP3 player identity.

I suspect that videos will look a little grainy and washed-out on the iFlip's 480x234-pixel screen, but it's probably better than squinting at your iPod's tiny LCD. Plus, it saves you having to hold the iPod at a comfortable viewing angle for hours at a time. I wouldn't pay $200 for one of these, but $60? I'm giving it serious thought.

The iPhone once again comes in two capacities: 8GB for $399 and now 16GB for $499. Apple sold 8GB and 4GB varieties on iPhone Day, but it discontinued the 4GB model after it cut the price of the 8GB model to $399. Something like 90 percent of all early iPhone buyers opted for the 8GB version.

As rumors continue to swirl about Shaq retiring, we've got an idea for his post-NBA career: as a pitchman for these giant earphone speakers. He's one of the few living giants who could probably fit them in his ears.

A couple of months ago we talked about the X-mini capsule speaker, a tiny accordion-like gadget that produced sound volume you won't have expected from its diminutive form. Now here's another product that could rival it: the Dancing Cube portable mini-speaker, distributed by Singapore-based Alpha Wireless Systems.

First, Apple must be doing something right, more than three-quarters of the folks who responded own more than one iPod. Families seem to accumulate little armies of iPods--they pass from spouse to spouse to the kids--and from adult children back to their parents. So the average number was probably three 'Pods per family. Some people have actually lost count and don't know for sure how many they've owned. One guy proudly announced he has 26 iPods. And sure, I heard from more than few souls happy to remain iPod-less. Zune owners are the most vocal about their avoidance of all things Apple.

The EZ17-B speaker is designed to fit snugly into the clear plastic box that comes with certain versions of the Nano and Shuffle, without the need for a power source. And if you've already tossed the box, don't worry: You can also use it with an empty water bottle. Considering that the company is asking us to use our own materials, $40 seems like way too much to charge for something that looks like a grade-school science experiment.

Apple Downloads lists the updates for Windows XP and Vista as well as Mac OS X 10.3.9 and higher. Mac users also can access the download via Apple's Software Update.

That's what Bird-Electron has created with its EZ-18 speaker stand made of black steel, which gives it kind of a futuristic Vader-esque look. The stand includes a built-in 60mm speaker, though sound quality will undoubtedly be sacrificed for the sake of wireless portability.