PocketDock AV is a tiny mobile iPod dock and adapter that syncs, charges, and connects your iPod to your stereo and TV (iPod video), all at a very affordable price. It also includes all of the cables you'll need to use it, cleverly combined into a single all-in-one mega-cable with USB, audio, composite video, and S-Video connectors. Plus, it has a 7 pin video connector you can attach to the video port of a 15 or 17-inch PowerBook to output its screen to any TV. While I wasn't able to test this feature (no PowerBook), I imagine it would be very useful for watching DVDs on a TV instead of your PowerBook display.

Another nice touch is that the dock connector has a built-in extension so you can plug it into an iPod contained in almost any iPod case without having to remove the iPod from the case. That's sweet and something I wish more iPod peripheral manufacturers would do.

Everything I could test worked as expected. Picture quality was pretty good using the composite video connector and really good via S-Video. Audio sounded just fine, too.

I suppose I could carp about the lack of a remote control but considering the low price I didn't really expect one. My only real gripe is that while it does come with a Velcro strap, a small drawstring carrying pouch would have been nice.

The Bottom Line

PocketDock AV is an elegant, reasonably priced alternative to a bag full of adapters, docks, and cables. If you want it all and you want it all-in-one, you'll love this product. It's earned a permanent place in my road warrior tool kit so it is with me wherever I go.