Name: HDMX-GO
What it is: Portable speakers/case for MP3 players
How it works: This jaunty little hard-sided case holds an iPod (or other MP3 player) and assorted cords in a zippered compartment. The two speakers on the outside of the case are powered by two AA batteries.
The good: I stumbled across this item in the checkout lanes at SportMart in Oak Lawn as I was preparing for a trip to Mexico. At less than $10, it looked like a durable iPod case to use for travel; the speakers would be a bonus. It worked out great. The case is sturdy and helps protect my iPod inside my overstuffed bag. It comes in a variety of fun colors — like the copper hue shown here — and there’s a clip for connecting it to a bag or belt. I was talking about music with people on the trip, and this was perfect for sharing the tunes.
The bad: I can’t really call the speaker quality bad. It’s certainly not high-quality audio, but for less than $10, this product was fabulous; a way to share music while traveling without risking (or carrying) expensive audio equipment.
Cost: $9.88 at walmart.com, among other places.
