Training with tiny tunes

Shape, June, 2004 by Jody Buffalo

If you rely on music to pump up your workouts, get your hands on the stylish new iPod mini--it's just 3.6 ounces but holds an impressive 1,000 songs. The mini takes mere seconds to download your favorite tracks from your computer via a FireWire or a USB 2.0 cable (included for Mac and PC)--whether they're digital music files or cuts from your CD collection or the Apple iTunes Music Store (buy iTunes online for 99 cents each at apple.com/itunes).

The stain- and scratch-resistant player and its sleek earphones easily fit into a pocket. Then again, you might want to show off its pretty metallic shades (the anodized-aluminum shell comes in pink, silver, blue, green or gold): Clip it to your clothing or wear it on your arm with the optional armband. The mini is fully loaded with a clock and alarm, a notepad, a datebook and an address book that you can sync with your computer ($249; 800-MY-APPLE, apple.com).