Six iPod Gifts Under $25

Everyone loves more music and an iTunes gift card is one of the best ways to provide it. Available in $15 and $25 denominations (and more, but we’re just looking at the sub-$25 variety), these cards will provide the recipient with at least one album’s worth of music - maybe more. They’re easy to use and can be put towards everything the iTunes Store has to offer – from music to movies, games to programs – making them a versatile and always-appreciated gift.

Using the iTunes Store Season Pass feature, you can buy an entire season’s worth of a new TV show for the big fans in your life. Every week after a new show airs, the latest episode will be automatically downloaded to the recipient’s computer, ready for viewing or syncing to an iPod or iPhone. Though not every TV show has an entire season for under $25, many do and it’s a fun way to keep your friends and family up to date on their favorite shows them needing to be on the couch at an exact day and time.

The new iPhone App Store, which offers third-party programs that run on the iPhone, iPhone 3G, and iPod touch, has been a huge hit. It makes sense: being able to add games, productivity tools, and silly add-ons to your phone is a natural. Even better? Most apps are under $10, with many even under $5. Though the intricacies of the iTunes account and how iPhones get synced, and that there’s not yet a gifting option for apps, will prevent you from directly buying an app for someone else, you can pay for their purchases in a number of ways.

There's nothing worse than getting a shiny, pristine new iPod or iPhone and loving its looks — until you drop it or scratch it. While this may only cause a cosmetic problem, if you scratch or crack the screen, it could interfere with using the device. Why not save your friends and family from that possibility with an iPod or iPhone case? Most cases cost under $25 and provide protection for all aspects of the device, including the clickwheel and screen. Anyone on your list will be thanking you all year for keeping their coveted music player safe and looking great.
iPod Case Reviews | iPhone Case Reviews

One shortcoming of most iPhone cases is that, while they protect the exterior of the phone, they leave the all-important screen open to damage. This is because the screen is the phone’s main interface and most screen coverings would reduce the screen’s sensitivity to touch, making it useless. But a screen with a giant scratch in it is kind of useless, too. Solve this problem for the iPhone owners on your list with a package of iPhone screen protectors. These thin plastic overlays will not only protect the iPhone’s screen from harm but will also preserve crucial touchscreen functionality.

Our music players and phones get dirty because we carry them in pockets and bags and the bottoms of backpacks, which are not exactly places known for being pristine. The iPhone is a particular culprit here since its screen picks up oil and streaking from our faces and fingers during its regular use. Help keep your friends’ and family’s iPods and iPhones looking great with cleaning kits. These kits, which combine a spray cleaner and a soft wipe, will restore to shine, remove oil, and generally improve the appearance of any iPod or iPhone.