The iPod is (one of) the best sold portable music devices. Consumers are very glad about the easy to use interface, though music professionals are not. The iPods simply lacks recording features… Lacks? No lacked… Because this is now over due to Alesis’ ProTrack announcement.

The Alesis ProTrack is a “stereo handheld digital recorder for the iPod”. It securely mounts the iPod into and adds the benefit of having recording features. It can capture audio whereever you are and it records directly to the iPod.

It is equipped with two hq condenser microphones, but also provides XLR inputs. Four AAA batteries allow up to five hours of recording. It is planned to be available from audio dealers somewhere in Q3/2008. Prices have not been disclosed yet.

Update: the german technews Golem.de got a picture of that device (click here).