If your warranty has expired – or, worse, if the coverage doesn’t include mishandling – you’re forced to buy a replacement player. This is far more expensive and time-consuming than buying, and using, some of the most common MP3 player accessories on the market.

There are several different ways to safeguard your player. Here’s a quick rundown of the most common types so that you’ll be sure to pick the one that’s best for your lifestyle.

The Belt Clip
Clipping your MP3 player to your belt or waistband keeps the device within easy reach. Depending on the quality of the clip, you probably won’t have to worry about a malfunction. Most clips work well even if you jog or run, so knocking your player loose isn’t much of a concern.

If you’re in a crowded area – such as a train or bus – a thief could disconnect your headphone jack and grab the player before you can react. Another problem with belt clips is that, if you bang your hip into something, you can break the clip and send the device right to the asphalt.

The Armband
Armbands are great for people who wear low-riding pants or any other type of clothing that doesn’t work well with a belt clip. You can run, jog, walk or even play non-contact sports without worrying about your player.

Armbands often utilize your belt clip. Be sure to pick a durable clip so that you won’t lose the player when you’re running to class.

The Lanyard
Hanging the player around your neck is a great option for many people. The lanyard keeps the player near your body, which makes it easy to operate and hard for thieves to grab. You can also run as fast as you want without the player working its way off of your waistband.

The Backpack/Purse
Storing the player in your bag while you’re out and about keeps the device reasonably safe even if you drop your bag on the sidewalk. The bag’s padding absorbs some of the shock, as do the softer things riding inside.

Some backpacks come with reinforced holes for your headphone cord. This leaves you free to close your bag without worrying about what will happen to the cord when the zipper moves.

If that’s not an option, consider finding an alternative means of storing your player. The zipper destroys the headphone cord before you know what’s happened, leaving you devoid of music until you can buy a replacement.

Also: if somebody grabs your bag, the MP3 player goes with it. Be sure that you keep a steady grip on your bag to prevent theft.

The Front Pocket
Many people end up sticking their MP3 players into a front pocket. This is convenient, but the player picks up lint and dirt from your pocket.

If you have change, car keys or any other such items in your pocket, they’ll scratch your display screen. If you want to use your pocket for MP3-player storage, buy a protective cover or case to prevent damage.

There are a few other ways to carry your player around: some people, for example, choose to just keep the players in their hands while they walk around. You should go with whatever option is the safest and most convenient for your habits and lifestyle. Whatever method you choose, be sure to select a high-quality product. Saving ten dollars by buying a cheaply-made case might end up costing you a lot of money should the case not work as well as it should.

For eighteen to twenty-five dollars, you get a long, black remote that operates on two AAA batteries. Fortunately, you also get a decently-written instruction manual. You will need this guide to program the remote, so be sure that you don’t accidentally destroy it when you open the blister pack.

The package also includes the numerical codes that you will need to program the remote. These codes, sorted by component then brand, are fairly comprehensive. Unless you own a very-rare brand or model, you should find exactly what you need in this leaflet.

Pros:
Long and slender – this remote will probably poke out of the top of most “remote caddies,” but you don’t have to worry too much about misplacing this product.

Ten programmable keys – use these to store your favorite channels. The package also includes logo stickers for most television channels. Stick one next to the appropriate button to give yourself a pictorial guide to your favorites.

Five remotes in one – control your TV, VCR, DVD, cable box and satellite receiver with one remote.

Trainable – use your old remote control to “train” this one. Your Philips Universal’s “learn” button helps you teach it what you want it to do when you push a certain button.

Auto-shutoff mode – if you accidentally trap the remote between the couch cushions, it will turn off after a brief period of time. This prevents you from draining the batteries or inadvertently changing channels.

Large buttons – these are not the largest on the market, but most users won’t have problems.

Cons
Made in China – if you’re opposed to this, then you’ll want to skip the Universal.

Learning curve – this remote is not set up like the ones that came with your various components. You’ll have to spend a bit of time re-teaching yourself about button placement.

Lightweight – the remote is not very heavy, which gives it a “flimsy” feel. This product might not be as resilient as, for example, Dish Network’s receiver remote.

Overall, the Philips Universal is worth the small investment. Eighteen to twenty-five dollars is not a steep price to pay for an item that makes your home-entertainment life a bit easier and more convenient.

For more information about this remote, visit the manufacturer’s Web site at philips.com.

The Blackberry Curve

No matter how you measure it, the Curve is set to be a big winner in todays cutthroat smartphone/PIM world.

Remember the sounds of those old fax machines hard at work trying to accept a small amount of data through incredibly loud speakers! Well obviously the internet has all but destroyed the physical fax market.

Well you might think email is a justified replacement but I bet you haven’t heard of internet fax. It’s setup similarly to the old fax, as in you still get a number – which can be used for advertising, business cards etc. Only everything comes through direct to your email, this will save you a lot on toner and paper for sure.

Keep you’re eyes open for this one!

There are so many online sites these days that help you save money with your online purchases. You will find a lot that have too many adverts and popups to make the experience an enjoyable one.

I found a nice site called Keep Cash (.com) which have great tech deals and savings all in one place. There is a resource of coupon codes as well which is like a directory to help you find great online deals.

It’s the simplicity of the site that I really like and I think would be a great addition to any serious online shopper!