The iPod has made its way into every aspect of our lives. They can be found in the homes, backpacks, and pockets of people of all ages across the nation. Just saying the name iPod and you automatically think of music, videos, and television programs. We get a lot of use out of our little iPod's but are we taking care of them properly?

One common complaint is that the battery life of one doesn't exactly keep pace with your need for it. To help you out with that and more, here are a few pieces of advice to lengthen the life of your iPod and keep your music playing without any interruptions.

• To keep you iPod looking good and new, clean the and plastic shell. Before you do this, it is important that anything plugged into the iPod is disconnected. Lock up the controls by using the "hold" button. Wipe away dirt and marks on it by using a soft, lint-free cloth.

• Only use your iPod in normal temperature conditions like room temperature. If you left it out in your car overnight and it seems frozen, it is best not to use it until it warms up to the temperature around it. Actually, even just keeping your iPod in temperatures other than room temperature can permanently damage it.

• Are you aware that the cable connection ports hold a lot of delicate pins and pieces? They can bend or break very easily which is why you should only use gentle pressure with the controls and cable connection. When a cable will not slide into the connector with gentle pressure, it is either incorrectly aligned or the cable is not suitable for that connector.

• In order to get the from the life of its internal battery, Apple recommends fully charging it at all times. The charging process can be monitored right on the display screen. After the iPod is fully charged, it will display a battery with a plug icon.

• You know that "Do Not Disconnect" message? Well, do what it says. It is extremely important that you eject the iPod from your computer and iTunes before disconnecting the cable. This can simply be done with a few clicks of the mouse. By not doing so, you run the risk of permanently damaging the files of the iPod.

• If you are taking your iPod with you biking, jogging or anything else physical, make sure that it is securely fastened to you so that if won't fall and hot the ground. Also, be sure that any wires are not freely hanging out. You can run the risk of them becoming tangled up in something. Many companies sell wireless headphones and are not that expensive.

• You should charge your iPod's the battery every 14 to 18 days when you are not using it. It still requires power in a sleeping state and not in use.