Since you can load just about any music, videos or movies onto your iPod and sort them anyway you want, why not make your iPod really your own?

With the first few generations of iPods, the only color choice was white. But Apple soon changed that and current generations and models all have a small range of colors available.

But why stop there? Why be content with just a few colors when a whole world of colors, images and patterns is just waiting for you and your iPod?

There's also a practical side to skinning your iPod. The decal or skin is a protective layer which guards the case from the every-day wear and tear that can quickly leave your iPod covered with little scratches and dings. If you carry your 'Pod in a backpack, you know what I'm talking about. The decals also show fingerprints a lot less than the metal cases.

Called "decals" or "skins," these are coverings that resurface your iPod.  Most often they are a printed vinyl, very similar to those colorful images you see covering cars and buses, just a heck of a lot smaller.

Most of the decals on the market stick to the plastic case of the iPod without glue, which is what makes them so popular versus just using stickers.  The vinyl tends to stretch when you pull it off the iPod, so they aren't really reusable, but a lot of them out there are cheap enough that you can change the look of your iPod just about as often as you wish. 

Got a favorite color?  Favorite sports team?  Like to collect things that all have the same motif or design on them?  All this and more can be at your fingertips. 

• If you are really unsure or new at applying decals, order two of the same design so that if you mess one decal up, you have another to try again. They only cost a few bucks so why not?
• Clear off the surface where you are going to work and wipe away any dust or dirt from your work area.
• Wash your hands and dry them well before starting.
• Wipe off the iPod to remove any dirt, fingerprints and surface oils using a clean, soft cloth.
• Actually read over all the instructions carefully before you start. Some decals and skins should be applied in a specific way so that they fit properly. This is especially true for decals that are in multiple pieces. You also will want to know how to avoid bubbles or wrinkles before you get going.

Steampunk is all about gears and wheels, brass and wood, propellers and moving parts. Pretty much the opposite of what makes up a modern digital MP3 and video player. So why not go antique-retro and make your iPod look like a steampunk-built device?

Get headphones in black or rig your ear buds someplace totally retro. Like, how about inside an antique flyer's helmet? Or a steampunk pair of earmuffs? You might even build a steampunk headset and earphones by customizing your favorites using glue and things like gears, brass wires, leather, coils and whatever else you might fashion or find.

If you've got a bit of technical skills, or a good dose of nerve, and you REALLY want something original, you can venture into the world of iPod case mods.  There are folks out there who have opened up their iPods and put the works into other cases and containers.  Remember, if you decide to change your iPod that much, you are totally off-warranty and can't go crying to Apple if you wind up actually breaking or damaging your iPod.