There are so many hundreds of iPod accessories out there, that I've made a conscious decision not to try to report on every new one that comes down the pike.

This one is pretty cool though. Griffin's new SmartDeck offers the usual iPod-to-Cassette-Deck interface necessary to use the iPod in many vehicles (which by the way sounds far better than any FM transmitter). However, this one is smart enough to let you use the cassette deck's forward, rewind, and pause controls to control the iPod.

The geek in me says this is pretty nifty.

However, I must ask myself: would I use it? And I'm afraid the answer is "probably not", because quite simply, my iPod is far easier to use than my car's cassette controls. I've owned my car for about 4 years, and I still have to hunt around for the controls because the design is not intuitive to me. (For the record, it's a '98 Chrysler with a stock audio system.) However, I can control my iPod (which I keep in an accessible cup holder) with my eyes closed. Literally. And this, despite the fact that I've owned an iPod with a click wheel for a mere two months.

The SmartDeck is probably a good option for owners of cars that have cassette controls in their steering wheel, but whose cars lack the ability to connect the iPod directly with a line-in jack; or for those who use a cassette adapter but would like to store the iPod in an out of reach location.