What Sony?s Walkman started in PMPs (personal media players), Apple?s iPod took to the ultimate limits of popularity, so much so that it became a revolution of sorts. iPod?s popularity has dazzled the Queen of England with its charms. Even the Pope could not resist the temptation!

I will not be surprised to read in the newspapers one of these days that ?a priest while solemnising a marriage said ?I now pronounce you man and wife, please exchange your iPods?!?

The popularity of iPod inspired Louis Vuitton to design a few covers for it with a tag ?price on request?! (I am told that the case costs almost as much as the iPod itself if not more).

Perhaps taking a cue from this, when Bose launched its speaker system SoundDock specially designed around the iPod, I was a bit intrigued! But don?t too many cooks spoil the broth? What could Bose add to an already perfect and popular iPod?

What Bose did was to make a portable music system out of a PMP (personal music player). Just pop an (any) iPod to its retractable dock and the whole world will dance to its tunes. Yes, it?s that simple!

This SoundDock as I hold it in my hand weighs around 2.37 kg (with rechargeable lithium ion battery). Finished in glossy piano black plastic (it also comes in Apple white), it is little more than a foot (12.06?) in length, 6.75? in height and 6.94? depth.

The slight outward curve on both front and back surface gives it a boat like shape and stability. The front face of the speaker is fully masked with a large aluminum grill and trimming on the bottom, complimenting the iPod.

The spring-loaded retractable cradle for docking the iPod is in level with the trimming and works smoothly. On the right side of the dock are two volume control touch buttons (in case you misplace the remote control) with ?+? and ?-? marked on them. These buttons have to be pressed repeatedly to increase or decrease the volume. These are the only control buttons on the SoundDock, all other control buttons are provided on a very basic but slim remote. You can play/ stop/ FF/ skip/ increase or decrease the volume and switch the speaker on/off with the remote.

On the rear of the system is the lithium ion battery pack that can be removed with the help of a coin. The battery pack can power the SoundDock for almost three hours at full volume, but at a moderate listening level it has enough juice to entertain you for much longer periods. The power connector and an audio-in socket are also on the rear, adjacent to the battery.

It?s one of the most simple speaker systems to set up. Just push the cradle out and pop your iPod in the dock and press ?play? on the remote and enjoy the music. Another bonus, your iPod also gets charged while it?s in the dock!

On the performance front, it?s backed by the Bose waveguide technology and powerful neodymium speakers. To maximise space, the waveguide?s exit also serves as the system?s handle grip. Engineered for portability it delivers every thing expected of any product from the Bose stable.

The SoundDock sounded big and better than I expected. Bryan Adams? Summer of 69 filled my rather big living room with some real booming jazz drums and guitar sound. Vocals came out crystal clear. Yani?s keyboard and drums in Rain must fall sounded almost live but for the missing stereo effect. For that distinct left/right channel separation (stereo effect) one has to stay very close to the system, almost in front of it. And close to the source (speakers), the sound also became enhanced. The bass and fine treble definition hit the bar. The SoundDock will serve its purpose well in your living room or bedroom, or even in small office parties.

Though SoundDock is specially designed and priced (MRP Rs 24,638) for those who already own an iPod, you can always connect it to your PMP (MP3 player) or even laptop through the ?audio in? socket provided at the rear, using an appropriate cable.

A very useful and ?must have? addition for those who can afford it, rest of us can still use our good old ears to listen to some soul mollifying music.