iHome iP28 Portable Travel Alarm Clock for iPod and iPhone (Black)

iHome iP28 Portable Travel Alarm Clock for iPod and iPhone
  • Compatibility: iPod mini; iPod nano 1G, 2G, 3G, 4G, 5G; iPod classic 4G, 5G, 5.5G, 6G; iPod touch 1G, 2G; iPhone, iPhone 3G, iPhone 3GS
  • Wake and sleep to your music from docked iPhone/iPod devices, with gradual alarm and sleep fade-in/-out
  • Four-chambered Reson8 speakers and EXB bass-enhancement circuit provide superior stereo sound
  • Power with four AA batteries, and use included carrying case for serious portability
  • Includes auxiliary input for external audio devices such as MP3 or CD players

GOOD/GOOD TO KNOW: Alarm has a gradual wake-up feature -sound starts soft, and then gradually increases to the full volume over about 30 seconds.

When unfolded, the unit is about the size of a hardback book (see my additional user photos).

You have to set the volume you want on the unit before triggering the alarm. I set it to 37 because I heard a little distortion at the max (level 40).

The sound quality is very good.

AC adapter works overseas (w/the appropriate country converter, not included).

Unit charges the ipod when the AC adapter is plugged in. It does not charge when it's operating on battery power (4 AAs).

Snooze lasts for 9 minutes.

Included lithium cell battery for the clock face is secured in a separate chamber within one of the AA battery chambers (pretty well-hidden -good if you have small children who may try to eat the battery).

ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT: The blinking "low backup battery" signal on the bottom left of the unit is rather annoying.

The max volume isn't very loud, even with the EXB boost feature on.

You can't change songs on the ipod through the unit, you can only play, pause, and adjust volume.

Buy iHome iP28 Portable Travel Alarm Clock for iPod and iPhone (Black) Now

We wanted an iPod dock that would work as an alarm clock and charge the iPod, so we selected the Altec Lansing Octiv Mini Speaker System for iPhone and iPod (Black). However, that did not meet our needs at all and we were very disappointed. What made this unit stand out for us is the fact that you can use the alarm/clock without the iPod being docked. It even has an optional snooze like many alarm clocks. It is set for 9 minutes and cannot be altered. As I've had alarm clock radios with a set snooze before, this didn't bother me.

Pros

1) ALARM works independently of the ipod. Wake to music from a docked iPod, or a buzzer.

2) SOUND QUALITY is very good for this type of item; much better than the Altec unit we tried. I would use this at parties to provide music.

3) VOLUME control from the dock, and not just the iPod.

4) ADAPTERS, Comes with three to hold several generations of iPods/iPhones.

5) PORTABLE. The unit folds in half and has a padded sleeve to carry it in. We won't travel with it, but it's a nice option.

6) BACK-UP battery like most alarm clocks for possible power outage. Or, can be powered by AA batteries if you travel with no outlet available.

7) TIMER to turn off music after a set time.

8) SLEEK design, classic black color.

Cons

1) DISPLAY for clock is way too bright. Four settings: high, medium, low and off. It's backlit so the low setting is still very bright. But, when it's off you cannot read the clock display at night. We have a beacon of blue on our ceiling; I'm worried aliens have come to carry me away!

2) NO headphone jack.

3) SIZE is significantly larger than a regular alarm clock so it takes up a lot of space on a nightstand.

4) Like another reviewer, we also noticed the "battery low" indicator is always on even though the back-up battery is brand new.

Overall, though this is a bit pricey, it's worth the cost to us. The pros far outweigh the cons, and the most important features we wanted are well done. Highly recommended.

Read Best Reviews of iHome iP28 Portable Travel Alarm Clock for iPod and iPhone (Black) Here

I wanted to love the iP28. But I've been using it for 24 hours and have been both impressed and confused / disappointed.

PROS

+ Very compact and lightweight.

+ Sound surprisingly full.

+ Easy to set up.

+ Packaging was truly frustration free and minimalistic, little extra waste.

CONS

+ Doesn't integrate with the iHome app. I expected them to work together.

+ Because it won't work the the app, the alarm is only a buzzer instead of playing my music.

+ Using the iPhone 4, none of the dock inserts work. It still docks, MOST of the time.

+ Most of the time, it doesn't, but occasionally the incompatibility message pops up (with the iPhone 4)

When it works, it's great. It you are using another product (iPhone 3G, 3GS, ipod nano or older touch...) it may work better for you.

Want iHome iP28 Portable Travel Alarm Clock for iPod and iPhone (Black) Discount?

I have now owned this item for about 4 months and use it for my iPod 4. The docking is okay. But, then again docking iPods to anything, even with the right adapter can be tricky.

The clock loses about a minute a month. No big deal, it is just an annoyance. The biggest drawback is the only way you can forward to the next song is to use the iPod. This is a real pain and for fear of bending the pins, I use two hands.

It does charge the iPod, but only wakes you up if you have the iPod plugged into it. And, you are not going to put it in your overnight bag to travel.

Bottom line is that if the sound was not as good as it is, this would be a big disappointment.

Save 23% Off

This is a fantastic addition, in my opinion, to a small room or apartment. I live in the latter, and there just isn't much space for larger sized docks. The iHome iP28 is marked as a "travel" model, but all that means is it is small, well-built, durable, and convenient. It provides ample amount of sound at max volume (level 40) for a small room. You won't be blown away, but it is better than some of the earlier iHome models.

One trick you can do to increase perceived volume is to turn the speakers toward a wall (with glass or metal works best); this will cause sound to bounce off the wall and into your room. It won't be as loud right next to the device, but the sound will be spread more evenly across the room.

The only downside to this device is that it doesn't have radio. Otherwise, it interfaces well with my iPhone (which does have radio), so I don't have much to complain about. Great product!

0 comments:

Post a Comment