It's been a tough week for lovers of retro technology. Following the impending death of Adobe Flash and the downgrading of MS Paint, Apple has "officially discontinued" the iPod Shuffle and iPod Nano. If you're an Apple fan who just wants an MP3 player, the only option left is the iPod Touch.

We've talked about adding an auxiliary jack to your car before, but DIYer Ivan took it a step further and put a full-blown MP3 player in his car. It's hidden inside the cassette deck where thieves can't see it.

After extended use your earbuds get pretty dirty — both on the microscopic and the visible "that came out of my ear?" level. This simple guide will help you defunk your earbuds to keep your eyes happy and the tunes clear.

Windows expert Ed Bott finds a useful feature in Windows 7: you can play an external audio device through your computer's speakers without any extra software using a simple configuration setting.

Since the birth of the iPod in 2001, Apple has released generation after generation of new iPods packed with exciting feature updates. The problem is that your not-so-old iPod probably feels like it's drifted into obsolescence. Sure they both still play music, but take a look at a first gen iPod next to an iPod touch and it's not hard to understand where I'm coming from. Rather than pony up for a shiny new MP3 player, consider installing the open-source MP3 player firmware Rockbox on your current player first. Rockbox just hit a new release, and it's never been easier to supercharge your MP3 player, from iPods and irivers to Archos and SanDisk players.

Windows/Mac/Linux: Open-source MP3 firmware Rockbox has released its first major update in three years, adding support and stability for more MP3 players and playback of more file types. Rockbox has long been the best tool to breath new life into an aging MP3 player, from first through 5.5 generation iPods to iRiver, Sandisk, and Archos players (see all the supported players here). Rockbox features include Last.fm support, album art, games, video playback, and tons more. Better yet, the new release comes with a streamlined installation tool called RockboxUtility that works on Windows, Mac, and Linux and makes installation simple. With the latest release, Rockbox easily earns its spot as one of the 20 best iPod utilities. If you're a Rockbox user, share your favourite features in the comments. Rockbox

Managing music between your iPod and your iTunes library can be cumbersome at times, if only because you can't actually do a lot of management on your actual iPod. To that end, a howto from DIY web site Instructables details how to automatically remove unwanted songs from your iPod using smart playlists and the star rating system built into your iPod and iTunes. The idea is simple enough, but if you find it difficult to remember songs you want to banish from your iPod once you're actually plugged into your computer, this setup will take care of those songs automatically. Got similar methods of your own? Let's hear about them in the comments. Automatically remove unwanted songs from your iPod

Web site Pediaphon turns any Wikipedia article into an MP3. The site plugs the article into a text-to-speech synthesis app, and while the synthesis isn't the best you've ever heard (what is this lif - eh - hacker, anyway?), it's very fast, meaning you could plug in an article and sync the MP3 to your MP3 player in about a minute before you head out the door. If you plan on putting Wikipedia to heavy use on your iPod, I'd recommend installing Wikipedia on your iPod or browsing iPodia on your iPod touch or iPhone.
Pediaphon

Got (or soon to be getting) a gadget that needs mounting in your car? ProClip offers clips for nearly any portable device you can throw at it, then matches a vehicle mount to the make and model of your car. With the right device clip for your gadget and mount for your car, you can ensure that your gear is securely fastened and conveniently located so hopefully you're not fumbling to switch songs or answer a phone call while driving. Prices vary but they aren't exactly cheap, so if you've had luck with other, cheaper mounts, let's hear about them in the comments.
ProClip

With a new generation of iPods on the market this holiday season, your reliable old iPod may not seem as shiny as it once did. But with the help of third party applications and utilities, you can unlock tonnes of useful functionality you never knew was there and revive that aging iPod so it doesn't look quite so bad next to its successors. Whether new or old, the following 20 iPod utilities can help you get the most from your iPod.

Windows only: USB thumb drives, memory cards and MP3 players are easy to take with you—and easy to misplace. Portable application iHound aims to make it easy to locate your items and report their theft if they've fallen into the wrong hands. The program places a small "MyPasswords" file that looks like a text document in a device's root folder, and if that file is opened, the iHound website can report the approximate location, IP address, computer name, and more and print a formatted police report. iHound is a free download and free to use after sign-up, although its maker says he may begin charging $1/month for each device starting in February.

iHound Software