Quick, grab some eye protection, it’s the world’s most expensive MP3 player, and it’s encrusted with more than 400 diamonds (over 4 carats). Over the last couple years, Thomas Heyerdahl, a Norwegian jeweler, has produced a handful of these glitzy gadgets, some of which have been auctioned for charity. When it comes to MP3 players, this golden Apple accessory is a bit out of budget for most: $40,000+!

Heyerdahl also likes to put the Midas touch on cell phones. He received some attention last year for his similarly blinged-out Nokia 8800 cell phone.

You know, if you can’t afford the $40K iDiamond MP3 player, perhaps you could spring for the diamond earbuds to go with your Nano? Comparitively speaking, they’re a bargain, and available separately, for just over $6,000. Here’s the iDiamond video.

Apparently, gaming chairs have come a long way since the glorified beanbags of a few years back. Although they used to be just an ergonomically convenient place play video games and sit close to the TV, now some gaming chairs are no-holds-barred wireless playgrounds for gadget lovers. And, they’re not just for video games…many of them will work with MP3 players and DVD players in addition to video game consoles.

The gaming chair above, the Pyramat PM450WR, is a wireless and rechargeable sound rocking chair. With a 50-Watt, 5-inch subwoofer, the Pyramat chair is equipped with enough sound capabilities to send the vibrations of your game or movie right through you. There’s also a headphone jack, RCA multi-player audio outputs, RCA inputs, and bass control. The wireless sound is transmitted from up to 20 feet away.

The Pyramat gaming chair is compatible with Playstation, X-Box, GameCube, PSP, all iPods, most DVD players, computers, TVs, and stereo systems. I found it at Boy’s Stuff, a British e-store, for the equivalent of $389.

With gas at $4 a gallon,is it really possible to get an MP3 player for less than $20? I went on a search for the lowest priced, most affordable MP3 players around, and here’s what I found:

The Nextar MA 323 (shown above) is a 1-inch cube that you can put in your pocket or wear around your neck. For a mere $14.99, the Nextar MP3 player, available at J&R, includes 128 MB of storage space and an FM radio receiver. In case your wondering, 128 MB of storage equates to about 2 hours of MP3 playback.

Next up in my search for MP3 players under $20, we have the Hydra MP3 made by Ultra. With this one, you get 1 GB of memory, and it’s splash resistant. The Ultra Hydra supports WMA file format, and there’s a built-in FM receiver and voice-recording option. The Hydra MP3 player is listed for $16.99 at Tiger Direct.

And, finally on my list of MP3 players under $20, we have the refurbished Sansa Express 1 GB MP3 player. Also available at Tiger Direct, the Sansa Express is a flash based MP3 player. It supports WAV, MP3, and WMA files, and even includes a micro SD slot for expansion- all for $16.99.

What’s with these gadget gurus who try to push their MP3 players and cell phones to the brink of death? Today I was searching for information on how to save a water damaged cell phone, and I ended up finding iPod Touch and iPhone videos with footage of people seriously abusing their electronics.  In fact, there are so many of these videos out there, you would think that iPhones were made for SCUBA divers. 

Check out this video of a guy who decides to drop his iPhone in a bucket of water. Do you suppose he just couldn’t help himself?  I think it survived, but I still wouldn’t recommend trying this at home.

Here’s another one of a guy trying to drown an iPod Touch.  Can you say voided warranty?

All this iPod and iPhone abuse is especially shocking when you consider this little blurb about a man who credits his survival after a fall into a frozen pond to the fact that his iPhone survived the ordeal and he was able to call for help.  The moral here is- drown your iPhone today and you just might be sorry tomorrow.

I just love iPod accessories, and it seems there is simply no end in sight to the number of new gadgets that are available for iPods and other MP3 players.

Check out these CTA Sportpod Digital Headphones with built-in iPod holders. One side of the iPod headphones is a holder for 1st generation iPods, and the other side works with the iPod Nano. What a great idea for getting those cords out of the way. I think this would be ideal for any fitness walker, or running enthusiast.

The iPod holder headphones feature padded ear pieces, an adjustable headband, and a cord in case you ever want to plug into your iPod or other MP3 player the old-fashioned way. Happy (cordless) listening!