iHome iP16GVC Portable Alarm Clock Stereo Speaker System for iPod or iPhone
There are several companies that make alarm clock / speaker dock for iPod / iPhone lines at Apple. I have two of the XtremeMac Luna Voyager and this iP16GXC iHome. Both provide a docking port for iPod / iPhone on the top panel. Both then sync with your device to display the time. The XtremeMac, which is a few dollars cheaper than the iHome model, has a blue fluorescent display digits for the clock, while the iHome has a backlit LCD display. While the XtremeMac seems fresher, the iHome is actually far more readable and easier to read at a glance.
Both, at the touch of a button, start playback of music content from the iDevice. The iDevice is therefore inaccessible to change songs. The volume is adjusted by iHome. Both units have a capacity of alarm clock with iPod iPhone / used for musical accompaniment.
The big difference in the two units, as well as their appearance, is in sound quality. Both units are small, with speakers similarly small. The iHome, however, has dramatically improved stereo separation, and as a bass. When I heard the XtremeMac, I thought there was only one speaker. The iHome stereo reproduction is clearly superior. Vocals have more clarity with the iHome as well. The speakers are built into the XtremeMac, out of danger, and this is advantageous in a dusty environment or one in which young children may poke and prod at the unit. On the iHome, the structures of the speakers are in the open at the end of the unit. They can be easily damaged if poked. Obviously, one of the advantages of this solution is to improve the quality of sound, but there is a disadvantage as well as of potential damage.
The iHome has a watch-type battery to keep time, if the power goes out. It takes four AA batteries if portability is desired away from an AC line, while using the built-in speakers and amplifier.
My vote goes to iHome for the production of an amplifier highly portable, easy to read, and clear stereo sound for iThings. I tried with the original iPhone, the iPhone3GS and iPhone4 (ATT) and had no problems with any of these sources
This is a dock for iPod, iPod touch and iPhone. I use it with my touch genreation 2 and works well. It does not work as an alarm clock without an ipod / iphone product. You place the iPhone / iPod in the dock, there are adapters that come with it. Once the iPod / iPhone in the dock you can set the alarm on the pier or on the phone. You awaken a beep or your music. There is a nap. You can also use it as speakers and just listen. I use it at night to listen to the question of white noise that I have on my iPod Touch. It has a timer on and off with the set interval. The sound quality is not stereo, but it's ok to listen for general purposes.
Pro:
Adapters are provided Ipone / ipod products
Clock remains accurate, it's easy to set
Alarm is easy to install and easy to turn off in mornig
Small, takes 6-7 maybe 3-4 inches in length and width of the table
It has a battery back up
Cons:
Back to the light, even dim is set as a night light. (Can be turned completely off, but then you can see the time, if you wake up in the middle of the night.)
