jsaunt's Full Review: SDI iHome Battery Charger, Docking Station, Speake...
Who could have foreseen the popularity of the iPod? Certainly, not me! I didn't even want one. I have to admit that I like my iPod more than I thought I would. (I do love my npr podcasts.) The convenience of having one's music collection so portable is hard to debate. (I do dislike the fact that it seems that one version is nearly obsolete, if not outdated, the moment one buys it...I swear the video version came out 5 minutes after I got mine.)
When it was time to replace my clock radio (which played CDs) it seemed like a good idea to get one that was compatible with my iPod (no longer necessitating changing the CD). There are regular clock radios that allow connection with the iPod, and I did look around a bit to see if it was worth the almost $100 that the iHome costs. Most reviews of the iHome that I read noted a few negatives, but they didn't seem to be big issues, so I dove in and bought the iHome, mistakenly believing that I wasn't that picky. Guess I am. You live....you learn.
What I like about you...
There are some features that are nice. Don't get me wrong:
1. The iHome might be the only system that makes the iPod compatible with the clock radio features. [And if it weren't too late to return the iHome, I would investigate the accuracy of that statement further but since I missed my window of opportunity, why would I?] Enough of my whining.... the iHome is set up to have the typical features of a clock radio:
• an alarm that can be set to wake you with a buzzer, the radio, or your iPod
• sleep feature that allows you to choose if you want the music to turn off after 120, 90, 60 30, or 15 minutes (but those are your only options)
• a clock with various brightnesses of read-outs
• a snooze button
2. The sound quality is fairly good, especially when you consider that the speakers aren't any fancy brand name. For a docking station with decent (but not audiophile-level) [Reson8 brand] speakers, the price for the iHome is significantly less, for example, than the Bose docking station.
3. The iHome fits various styles of iPods. I only have one, so I am just going by what the instructions say and the fact that I know others who were duped into....I mean, others who also bought iHomes who have different models of iPods than mine.
4. The iPod recharges when it is docked in the iHome. (Come to think of it, I'm not positive that's a plus or if it is better for the battery to only be charged when fully run down.)
Esthetics
This device looks to me as if it was designed to match the iPod, as it is available in white and black (but none of the other cutesy colors that iPod has).
I wish somebody had thought this through
When I see a product that comes out to be compatible with a new fad... and it is not as well-designed as the new fad item... it does make me think someone is trying to capitalize on it. That is how the iHome strikes me. There are more than a couple of issues that make me wish the company had asked my opinion when they designed it. The ones that I have noticed:
1. In order to put your iPod on the iHome, for the type of skin I have, I have to take off the skin for it to fit. I realize that there are many different cases and skins, but the one that I have (an iSkin) is similar to many. It is the rubber kind that wraps all around the iPod (to protect from scratches and drops). Since the rubber skins are tight, and you have to take it off to put it in the iHome, I find that I tend to leave it docked on the iHome and take it with me less often.
2. The iHome has only one alarm. Despite the fact that many alarm clocks now have dual alarms, this one is behind the times in that respect. Whether you prefer dual alarms because 2 people use an alarm clock, or you like the option of toggling back and forth between a default wake-up time and one that you can adjust ...you don't have that option with this device.
3. The plastic knob for the volume control is smooth and slick. It looks like it was designed to match the iPod, but it is actually not well-designed like the iPod wheel (which is easy to turn/scroll). [If anyone from the iHome company is reading this, the volume wheel should be a matt finish or have a finger indentation to make using the control knob easier...and the tuning wheel should be the same.]
4. There are no pre-set radio stations. Not even a second choice. I have liked that feature in other clock radios so that I can easily switch between favorite stations. Also, if you want to listen to one radio station as you fall asleep, but you wish you could wake up to your favorite morning radio show on a different station, you can't without turning the dial when you wake up. (I tend to choose to listen to the iPod instead, and I should mention that the iHome does let you wake up to the radio in that instance.)
5. The wake up radio volume is not adjustable. Its one preset volume that starts out quietly and quickly becomes too loud. The first thing I have to do every morning it wakes me is to reach over and turn it down. A non-iHome user suggested adjusting the volume on the iPod, but I have tried it and the volume on the iHome overrides the iPod, so it makes no difference. Also, if you wake up before your alarm, you have to turn the radio off and back on again...or just be sure you are ready when the alarm sounds or you might wake up the neighbors.
6. The quietest setting on the "sleep" feature is pretty loud (when you are trying to fall asleep). Some songs are louder than others, but the issue is that it is only adjustable to a certain level. I have had alarm clocks that had much quieter settings. And, as I said previously, there are only certain periods of time you can set it to. (120, 90, 60, 30 and 15 minutes)
7. When you are deciding what you want to listen to from your iPod (to play through the iHome) you have to have the iPod docked. If you choose it and then dock it, your selection doesn't "stick". (Considering that it's a clock radio, when you're lying in bed, it would be easier if you could choose a song and then place it in the docking station.)
8. The alarm on the iHome overrides the alarm on the iPod. (Yes, I tried to see if that would solve some of my problems and even though the alarm on the iPod turns it on, unless the iHome is on, the iPod doesn't play through the speakers.)
9. While the remote control apparently comes with the new iHomes, when I bought mine it would have been a separate purchase of $19. (I know it sounds lazy to have a remote for a clock radio, but when you are across the room when you remember that you never turned it off and that volume starts to climb you'll wish you had one.)
Don't You Do It!
For the amount of money that you are spending (about $100), the features should be at least as good as a typical clock radio. If I had it to do over again I would get a clock radio with a place to plug in an audio device (for about 1/5th the price). I am actually surprised that this device has been on the market for as long as it has without any significant improvements in features.
My advice to you...
The real bottom line is that if I hear someone considering the iHome, I try to let them know that they might want to consider other options, and that is what I say to anyone reading this. I wouldn't buy one if I had it to do over again.... unless, of course, the manufacturer would first consider how iD design the iHome.
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