The Xbox 360 is fully iPod compatible with correct download from Xbox Live. Unless you’ve been downloading your MP3s from iTunes without stripping them of Apple’s DRM, FairPlay. A FairPlay MP3 won't play through Xbox 360. Apple and Microsoft are incompatible, go figure.

Here is exactly how to go from this:

 Xbox 360 with iPod connected to one of its two available front USB ports. 

To THIS:

 Mind blowing psychedelic music listening bliss with a high definition laser show pumping to your own playlist.

First stop is Xbox Live. This is the online service that may just be the online shopping wave of the future.  Here we have my account on Live ready to login to the Marketplace. This is the shopping mall according to Microsoft. Don’t laugh, shopping by remote control from your couch is going to seem very normal very soon.

Once inside Live you can navigate your way to all kinds of free goodies. Many of the downloads cost Microsoft points which are purchased with your credit card. But there are enough freebies to make it interesting for the cheap among us. Including this little gem.

Here’s an handy app developed by a third party Nellymoser that allows XBox 360 to play with your iPod. It’s a free download from Xbox Live, costing no points just download and install on your 360’s hard drive. You did get the one with the hard drive didn’t you?

Here’s a look at what Nellymoser does to your Xbox 360's Media Blade, a new music playback device at the bottom. Except you'd see YOUR iPod (not mine).  

 Sitting back in front of your telly you get to all these swell controls over the iPod.  Look, I'm browsing 20Gigs of musical bliss. 

Play a song and hey look, you get a visualization just like using Windows Media Player or a Winamp plug-in. Okay, call me a hippie but the full screen visualization has provided me with hours of entertainment while I listen to music.

And yes, my mind is fully blown now. Sorry all you competitive gamers there are no Achievements to be had for wasting time listening to music with the visualization on. There should be, but only if you have taste.  Rocking your vis to Nelly or Jessica Simpson doesn’t’ count. There you have it.  Full screen that baby with the letter X and away you go!  It's the 60's all over again, only cooler.