I know there are a million FM transmitter/chargers for your iPod, but this Speck MobileTune actually looks good in your car as it's designed like a gearshift knob, complete with leather and gleaming metal.

The 5-inch-long device plugs into the car lighter adapter and a 26-inch cable attaches to an iPod dock connector. It's small enough that you're not going to try and shift with it (we hope) and their press says it passed a 70-foot transmission test (rivals are 40 or 50 feet), AND it charges your iPod faster than other chargers. Again, their claim, not mine.

The downside: no pre-sets, which is a huge deal for me as I can't be fiddling with it while I'm driving, talking on my cellphone and returning e-mails on my Blackberry.

The MobileTune will work with all dock connector iPods except the 3G iPod. Unfortunately, there is no audio line in, so you can't connect other audio devices (such as another MP3 player, a laptop, or a drum machine). But the lack of line in and presets shouldn't be a big deal to an iPod owner who wants an affordable and compact FM transmitter/charger.

Availalbe for $49.95 from the Speck Products website.