I've written before about external extended batteries for the iPod, but they're somewhat bulky and unwieldy so I haven't yet bought one. Belkin's new TunePower, made specifically for the iPod with video, is slim and attaches with a protective sleeve so there are no additional parts to dangle when powered up with the external battery. There are separate sleeves for the 30 GB and 60 GB models for a perfect fit. Belkin claims "up to six hours" additional video playback time, which in the real-world, probably means about 3 1/2 to 4 hours- not bad, when you add it to the approximately 80-90 minutes you get with the built-in iPod battery. The TunePower is rechargeable and the AC adapter can charge up while you play the iPod. No details on the weight, but it looks significantly smaller and slimmer than other long-life batteries which tend to be at least the size of the iPod itself.

The TunePower should be out by the end of March for about $80. However...CNN reports that the 60 GB 5G iPod is "at risk" for being discontinued and replaced by a touchscreen/widescreen, Bluetooth model as early as June.