There's no doubt that Apple iPods are among the hottest items of this holiday season for New York gift givers. It seems like everyone wants one or knows someone who wants one.

Sandy McMurray, who writes the Apple industry insider column for Corante, offers his take on why Apple's marketing campaign has been so successful: "The genius of the current iPod ad campaign is its emphasis on the white wires... There are many better earphones than the white buds that ship with every new iPod. Nevertheless, the white buds have become part of the brand. They're fashionable, and they're everywhere, even on non-Apple players. The clever ad campaign that focuses on those white wires makes people see iPods everywhere, even when they're not there."

(photo credit: theonceler)