• Ipods have many benefits beyond playing your favorite music.Listen the music image by Christophe Schmid from Fotolia.com
  
  The iPod has come a long way since the first 5GB version was launched in 2001. The original iPod had a monochrome screen and held about a thousand songs. It was marketed as an MP3 player, and it didn't offer any benefits other than playing MP3s. Today the iPod is a versatile, multi-purpose tool with a litany of benefits for users.
  
  

Music

• The iPod's original benefit is still one of its strongest. An iPod allows you to carry your entire digital music library with you wherever you go. You can use an iPod as a personal music player and you can also use it to play music on a sound system or car stereo. You can arrange your songs into convenient playlists and import files from iTunes.
  
  

Video

• Your iPod can also act as a portable home theater. It is now possible to download music videos, TV shows and even full-length movies from the iTunes store. This means that you no longer need to be near a TV set to get your regular fill of entertainment.
  
  

Camera

• New iPods include a camera, allowing you to capture moments either as still photos or as movies.
  
  

Internet

• Internet access has become a huge benefit for the iPod, with users now being able to surf their favorite websites, upload videos to the Internet and send emails while on the go. The iPod's Wi-Fi connectivity enables you to access any of these features wherever wireless Internet is available. This means that the iPod is increasingly being used as an alternative to a PC or laptop for people to go online.
  
  

Applications

• Possibly the biggest benefit that the iPod now offers is access to Apple's exclusive app store. You can download a variety of applications, some free and some paid, that can perform a wide range of tasks. Applications include tools such as calculators and maps as well as games and entertainment.