Photos: Creative TravelSound i80

The backside is wrapped in a brushed silver speaker grille made from anodized aluminum. Considering the size of the unit, it gets surprisingly loud, though music suffers from distortion at the highest levels.

Creative also includes a stand for propping up the speaker during use, as well as a USB power adapter and a simple black pouch for transport.

Clearly, the standout is the TravelSound i80's design. The bulk of the unit is composed of high-gloss white plastic. The front features an integrated iPod dock, and two clear, plastic rails serve to cradle the Nano in place.

Creative Labs' TravelSound i80 for iPod Nano is an ultracompact speaker that sells for $80 and gets surprisingly loud. It's only compatible with the third-generation iPod Nanos and it doesn't sound great. But it's cute and travel-friendly, so it's still a solid choice for frequent-fliers with an eye for design.

The entire thing is about the size of a Zen Vision:M, measuring 4 inches high by 2.5 inches wide by 1 inch deep.

Minimal controls consisting of a volume knob and power switch, as well as a standard mini USB port for charging, line the right edge of the speaker.