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Showing posts with label alarm clock radio cd player. Show all posts

Sunrise SRS 260 Sun Simulator Alarm Clock MP3 Player

I bought one of these a few years ago. I liked the features on this but unfortunately the construction was not great. The lamp itself got very hot. I never got the radio or mp3 player to work. When I called the manufacturer they were very nice and replaced it but I experienced the same problems. I ended up buying another brand.

I have had the Sunrise System Dawn Simulator SRS 260 for about a month. It took a little while to figure out how to get just what I wanted from the settings but once I did, I thought I had finally found a way to kick my morning snooze buttom habit. But alas, after only about two weeks, I started having problems with the machine. The simulator completely freezes up when trying to use the MP3 player with the sunset setting. I have to unplug and replug the simulator to reset it but still cannot use the MP3 player with sunset. The simulator comes with a very soothing sea waves sleep sound with NO BIRDS that I really like. I should mention that the MP3 player uses SD cards only. There is no way to hook up an MP3 player to the simulator. So far, the MP3 player seems to work OK with the alarm/sunrise setting. The light comes on and gradually gets brighter and the wake up sound also comes on low volume and gradually gets louder as the light gets brighter. I am awaiting a reply from customer service and hope to get this issue resolved because I really like this machine and all the features it has.

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The product was not working correctly when it arrived (the volume controller seemed not to work and interfered with other controllers). I thought I would have to send it back and did not really enjoy that perspective. I finally looked at the product and found that one cable inside, the connector to the volume controller, was unplugged! Which means failure in quality control at manuacturing or that the plug did not survive the shipping...

It finally works but I guess another person with no screwdrivers and no talent for repair would have lost money and time in shipping back and forth...

Apart from that, the first experience in use is quite good... A lot of controls on sun rise and set, display intensity and color, sound from radio or mp3 makes it easy to fit to anybody's need.

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I read A LOT of reviews before choosing which dawn simulator to purchase. What I gathered from them all, is that none of them are very well constructed, and none of them get much cheaper than this, so you just have to deal with it if you want dawn to be simulated for you.

I chose this one in the end because it holds an SD card, so you can wake up to the music or sounds that you choose to put on it. This feature worked for a few days before stopping. I will be looking into contacting the company because it is not the only feature that doesn't seem to be working properly. When the SD card did work, it was very poor sound quality, but I also realized that before I received it.

The sleep feature also does not work properly, in that the light dims faster than it should. (E.g., if I set it to go off in 30 min, it might go off in 10 min.) I didn't think that I would be using the dimming feature, but I find that it actually does help me to feel sleepier at night and also helps me remember to turn off the laptop and close my eyes within the time I told myself I would.

I love all the features and think they are easy to set. You can control the backlight and its color, amount of wake up time separate from sleep time, one song to play over on a loop to wake you up or all the songs to play through in order, et cetera.

Yes, it helps me wake up in the morning! I have a sleep disorder similar to narcolepsy and I used to struggle to wake up in the morning. My sleep doctors told me this would not help me. They were wrong! I now take smaller doses of my sleep-disorder medications. I still have to take about an hour worth of alarms to wake up, but it used to take me longer than that to get out of bed. And now when I'm getting ready in the morning, I even find myself humming a little and in a much better mood than when I don't use the simulator regularly. Also note you really need to use it regularly even if you aren't on a regular sleep/work schedule. I'm a grad student so my schedule can be somewhat erratic, but I learned that using it everyday (even if I don't have to be up til 10am) helps my body and now I'm waking up earlier and more easily.

Here's the key with this guy: know before you receive it that the features probably aren't going to work great and it's poor construction. At least accepting that fact before it arrived helped me not mind as much. I know it's a lot of money, but over the long run I think it's entirely worth it.

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Don't buy this. Ours only lasted for a few months before it started malfunctioning. This included the light coming on at random times, and flashing. Quite annoying in the middle of the night. Way too pricey. I'm sure less expensive products would provide the same level (or better) of functioning.

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TEAC SR-LUXi Table Top FM Radio Room Lamp with iPod/iPhone Dock (White)

Dimmable LED Table-top Lamp
Function: iPod, FM, AUX
Wakeup Lighting (30min, 10min, 0min. prior to alarm time)
Large Digital Clock with 3-step Dimmer
Preset EQ (Flat, Pop, Talk, Classic, Jazz, Rock)

As an ipod dock/clock this is a great product. It looks nice on my bedside table and produces decent sound. The lamp feature, however, is pretty worthless. Even on the brightest setting, it barely illuminates anything. You definitely can't use it to read or do anything other than see things in a one foot radius.

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I purchase it for my 13 years old daughter, and I can tell you that she love it.

The red leds presenting the time looks gorgeous.

The lamp is perfect for wake up and for go to bed.

The Ipod control is just right, and the Ipod and FM sound is complete clear.

This nice white and black box it is a perfect decoration for her room.

The remote control it is a good idea, and it is attractive and unusual from the TV control.

In conclusion, you will receive something different that match perfect with the Ipod

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Good quality sound, easy to use

Lamp is very cool, but not really practical to use as reading light in bed.

Good choice Santa, ;)

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Love, love, love this ineresting player of music! I have had many people ask me what it is and where I got it.

HTC Touch Cruise (Eu, English, Gps)

On paper, this phone has superior hardware and technical specifications compared to most other phones. It also has a current price that's much more than the iPhone and many other phones or pocket PCs. Unfortunately, with this phone, the software provided doesn't come close to taking full advantage of the hardware.

The video and other processing performance is sub-par and worse than earlier models of HTC phones. Though they supplied the hardware, HTC didn't include the driver software necessary to take advantage of this phones high-end processor potential. Primary processing speed is slower than many other phones (even when compared to phones with slower and cheaper CPU's) because of the driver issues and the fact that the new iPhone type user interface (called TouchFlo), is first-generation-clunky. If you aren't particularly interested in watching a lot of video on your phone, the video driver problem is of no consequence. However, the slower TouchFlo interface may be an irritant (four taps on the icon to open a program instead of one). For such an expensive product with a relatively fast processor, it should outperform every other phone on the market . . . but it doesn't come close.

Initially, HTC wouldn't commit to providing updated software to solve the performance problems. Very recently an HTC executive noted that HTC had changed its mind and will eventually provide "video acceleration software," as an alternative to providing better video drivers, and software as an update for the Touch Cruise. Unfortunately, when I called, HTC would not provide an estimated release date for the updates.

I'm not a big Apple fan, but with the iPhone 3G due out in July of 2008,I think most that are interested in this phone should wait a little longer to spend so much money.

Excellent phone. I did a lot of research looking for a smart phone. I narrowed it down to the Moto Q, Samsung Blackjack, and the Cruise and am very happy with my choice. Before this, I had an HP 6515 my favorite features were the reset button and it's heft you could use it to settle a dispute or prevent a car from rolling down the hills of Portland.

** The Cruise has been a very stable phone. It fits in my pocket, I can turn the LCD sideways (soft key) to get a landscape view. A Resco keyboard makes data entry simple and straightforward (although a wee bit less accurate than a hard keyboard).

** My biggest concern was compatibility with my carrier (as this is an unlocked phone). I was amazed that it worked out of the box with T-Mobile. Phone service works fine. EDGE (T-Mobile) in US is ok. But, best of all, this phone works very well in both Japan and Korea where they have proprietary protocols (PHS, PDC, Docomo 3G, and CDMA) so this is truly a world phone.

** It gets better. Last week, I used Google map to walk around Shinjuku, Japan and Chaechon City, Korea. Got right to my location. Built-in TomTom GPS works great (one free city, others cost). I live in Portland and use this feature extensively. WiFi, Bluetooth (mono and stereo), FM radio, etc. all work just fine. Battery life is ok, but needs to be managed. The interface is a bit clunky, but can be programmed, so there are work arounds.

** Overall, I rate this phone very high it beats the iPhone, Moto Q, Blackjack, Blackberry and other smart phones by a mile (my personal opinion). I am very happy with this product.

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I bought this smartphone to replace a lot of devices I used to carry on my backpack, guess what... I did it.

I have everything in just one device, cell phone, contacts, emails, web browser, etc.

The sync works well so I can receive and reply emais even when out-of-office. The TouchFlo interface is amazing, very intuitive.

The cameras has great image and a lot of options and has a built-in GPS, believe me, that works.

Windows Mobile 6 was incredible improved.

Read Best Reviews of HTC Touch Cruise (Eu, English, Gps) Here

This devices graphics performance is terrible.

Scrolling through city maps displayed by GPS navigation software is very slow, but I wouldn't call in unusable.

Scrolling through web-pages is so slow that I don't consider web-browsing a usable feature. If you exclusively access websites that are optimized for handheld devices (i.e. don't require extensive scrolling) then it is bearable.

You can play video's, but at framerates that are so low that I can't imagine anyone actually watching a video with this device.

Playing 3D games is impossible.

According to the specifications I feel this device should be a lot faster. As it is I feel I've spent a lot of money on something only half usable. If I ever buy a HTC product again, I will take a lot closer look at it then I did this time.

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Simply . . . it's a full device for me. all what i can say . . . it's better than iPhone alot.

iHome iH27 Portable Alarm Clock for iPod (Black)

Compatibility: iPod mini; iPod nano 1G, 2G, 3G, 4G; iPod classic 4G, 5.5G, 6G; iPod touch 1G, 2G
Wake and sleep to your iPod music or buzzer, with gradual alarm
Four Reson8 speakers (2 passive and 2 active) for superior stereo sound
Auxiliary input for use with external devices; A/V output for connecting to TV/stereo
Runs on AC or four AA batteries; includes protective carrying case

I can't imagine what they were thinking when they designed this thing.

Here's the problem. If you have an ipod in the unit you cannot wake up to the buzzer, only the ipod. If you go to sleep with the ipod on, playing some mellow music at low volume, this is what you will hear for your morning alarm. It's not going to wake you. You cannot use the buzzer for an alarm unless you take the ipod out. What's the point of having it?

Mine is going back.

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When my iHome iH27 arrived, I was dismayed to find that it didn't work. No sound from the dock or from the Line-In, and no light on the panel. It also didn't seem to be charging my iPod, whether it was in the case or not in the case.

After a tech-support email finally made the rounds (turn-around time: 2 days) I was told to remove the little built-in back-up battery from the device, wait 30 seconds, and then put it back in and try again. I was happy to see that this worked.

The sound is decent, the alarm is OK, and the clock works like-well-a clock. I don't really need this to be much more than what it is, and I don't really care whether the alarm is from my iPod or the clock itself, as long as it goes off as scheduled. What I really cared about was having a charging dock that provided speakers, and didn't start up iTunes and go through the sync like my PC does when I dock my iPod (and yes, I know I can disable that, but I want it to be automatic when I need to sync, and so I leave it that way). In terms of being a charging speaker dock, this works well. The speakers are sufficiently loud, the charging works as advertised. No complaints here.

However, there's one glaring issue that has plagued all iHome devices I've used, and that's the use of different-sized plates in the dock to fit all the different iPods. It's completely unfriendly to those of us who use slim-fit cases on our iPods, and there are a lot of us, judging from the number of them available and being reviewed online. I'm not snapping open the case every time I want to use the official iPod touch dock plate on this device, and none of the other plates really fit all that well, either. I can go without a dock plate, but that leaves the iPod sitting there without support, and that's not a great option.

I'm looking over at the iPad dock I'm using for my iPod touch... Now THAT is an intelligent design. Instead of needing a specific plate to fit each iPod, they just built up a slanted wall behind the dock connector, which lets my iPod touch rest safely and securely. Why couldn't iHome do that? Why not make a universal connection that doesn't require different plates? At the very least, why not make plates that take into account the extra millimeter of material for the vast number of iPods being protected by a close-fitting case or skin?

As it is, I had to take a razor blade to a spare plate, and cut out a bigger slot for my iPod touch to fit into it, along with the slim case I prefer to keep on my device. I would gladly have purchased a plate if they made them in the right size, but a look at iHome's website shows no plates that even support the iPod touch 4th generation, let alone plates that will support an iPod touch 4G with a case on it.

I'll also note that there was no iPhone plate in the package at all. None. If you have an iPhone, you don't get one. Sorry. You'll have to cut the iPod classic plate open, I guess.

On the plus side, the iH27 comes with a nice carrying sleeve (see, iHome? EVEN YOUR DOCK HAS A CASE!) and folds to travel easily. The folding worries me a bit because it actually folds down over the AC adapter port, and if you accidentally fold it down without disconnecting AC power, you might just bend your AC adapter's connection... I doubt this will be an issue, but it's a curious design choice, nonetheless.

Another curious choice was to have the black alarm clock unit gain its power from a white AC cord. So you have this black device with a stark white cable coming out the back of it, and it looks a little tacky. You could always use batteries, but I can't imagine they'd be a good idea for long-term use. Fine for travel, sure, but if you plan to dock your iPod a lot, batteries will surely drain quickly.

iHome told me that this product is discontinued, and so my review-though on a new item-is a tad late to the game. I can report that it works with the 4th Gen iPod touch (as long as you carve out your own docking plate for a good fit), but as it is an older model, you may want to be sure before buying it... Newer iPods may not be compatible.

I'd give it one more star if only the docking plates were more user-friendly and varied.

Read Best Reviews of iHome iH27 Portable Alarm Clock for iPod (Black) Here

this is an excellant investment! i was a bit tired of using my head phones and needed an alternative. along came ihome and i am at home with my ipod! when i got it i wasnt expecting much because of the small size but boy was i suprised! the sounds are deep and the midranges and treble does not overpower it as i had expexted it to sound like a speaker in a soupcan or something. the sounds are clear and the fidelity is rich and almost like one of the more expensive docks. the base does not sound like the speaker is farting. it is all around an excelent investment and i am glad i got oneIH27B Port Alarm for IpodSdi IH27B Port Alarm For Ipod (SDI IH27B)!

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I bought this thing last week and it said it would charge my ipod 4th generation but it doesn't! Also, the sound is very weak. I have it in my office and sometimes I have to crank it up to 15 just to hear it! I'm honestly thinking of taking this thing back.

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I have enjoyed previous iHome products, but I am not happy about this one. I got this one because it was one of the only alarm clocks that had an aux/out port which is important for iPod touch users. The problem is that the alarm will use the iPod if it is plugged in and not the buzzer. The buzzer will go off if there is not iPod charging (good luck if you just wanted to charge your iPod overnight.) There is no way to tell it to always use the buzzer when you have an ipod on the charger. I will never buy a iHome product again because of this, I have wasted too much money on them.

JBL OnStage IV 30-Pin iPod/iPhone Speaker Dock

Dynamic JBL Weave design
Charges your iPod or iPhone
AC or battery operated (batteries not included)
Four JBL Odyssey transducers with computer-optimized equalization
IR remote control navigates iPod menus from 15 ft (4.6m) away

I was dubious of this petite system's power (it was soooo much smaller than I imagined!) But the depth of sound produced was truly impressive! What follows are the pros and cons of the JBL On Stage IV. I hope they help you in your decision-making process.

Pros:

1.) This diminutive dock consumes very little space. Extremely efficient!

2.) Aesthetically speaking, it is surprisingly intriguing to the eye. The criss-cross pattern is quite appealing/entertaining ... and, though I am not tremendously fond of glossy plastic, it really does work in contrast to the alternating speakers (see the picture and you will understand what I mean). When a product looks this great, fingerprints wipe off:) A truly stellar example of form and function!

3.) The sound was genuinely surprising. The base was richer than I expected. Very lush, indeed!

4.) There is virtually no excess energy used. There is no LED screen. Basically, the area surrounding the iPod is illuminated in a soft, white light. That is the only indicator that the product is on. This may appeal to those focused on conserving resources/energy.

(Potential) Cons:

1.) The power button is located on the back of the device. And, it requires more pressure and depth to activate than normal. On three separate occasions, I went to use the dock ... and each time I failed to actually turn it on. One must press down firmly to make it work (it sharply "clicks" into place). This will not impact most buyers but could be problematic for those with arthritis or any type of physical disability.

2.) Other than the power and volume buttons, there are no other button on the device. If one loses the remote-control (or breaks it), the product becomes a little difficult to use. (Those with precocious children may want to consider that when purchasing this item). However, the absence of these buttons really does contribute to a "slick" appearance (which I very much enjoy!)

For most folks, this unit be ideal: it is beautiful and provides great sound. For some, those small detractions I mentioned may prove prohibitive.

Good luck in your search!

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The On Stage IV is a very simple product. There is no screen and the only ports are an input (headphone jack for inputting sound from non-iPod devices), USB (to pass through to a computer if you'd like to sync while it is playing), and power. The power cord can be ditched in lieu of batteries, which go discreetly in the bottom. While the device looks great and would be at home in a fancy hotel, it is also quite small and I had pretty low expectations. The sound is really great, though. I compared it to my much larger set with separate left, right, and bass speakers and found it completely superior. It has surprising range. Speakers this small tend to have empty bass, but somehow the sound is quite full. Turning it all the way up, the speakers showed no sign of strain. The one area it can't compete in is audio separation, since the speakers are so close together. However, the strange angling fills the room with sound and works well for what it is. I was so impressed with the sound that I think it would make great portable speakers for a laptop as well, and it even did well with action scenes.

If you want something small with an interesting modern look, I think you'll be very happy with this speaker dock.

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This ipod dock with speakers has a cool design and is very sleek in appearance. It's very user-friendly for non-tech heads like me. But most importantly, the sound is AMAZING, given the size of the speakers. The sound has the perfect balance of bass and upper register notes. With classical music, the whole spectrum of sound is reached and with vocal music, the voice is not overly echoed, but rather right in the center of the sound. I was very surprised at how this little device could fill my living room with a full, rich sound. Recommended!

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I purchased this item due to my experience with the JBL On Stage IIIP, an earlier model of the same brand. Upon recieving this product, I immediately took it to work and compared its sound quality to its IIIP predecessor.

The technical specs indicates that the newer On Stage IV has a higher frequency range, and after thorough testing, I can say that this claim is true. The sound is crystal clear at higher volumes, does not distort and maintains pleasant treble clarity where the older On Stage IIIP starts to waver. The bass has hardly any noticeable improvement, which is ok considering the bass is surprisingly exceptional for such a diminutive and portable device.

The aesthetic design serves as exquisite form, and surprisingly higher function. It does a better job at spreading sound around an entire room than its older version due to the strategically placed sound drivers.

I gave four stars due to one design aspect that I question: The indicator LED within the dock. It's very bright, and is cause for concern for those who wish to operate this speaker on a set of batteries. I feel that due to its brightness, it may drain batteries at a slightly faster rate compared to the JBL On Stage IIIP. Otherwise, if you have no intention on using this speaker sans a wall outlet, you have nothing to fear.

Overall, this is amazing sound coming from such a small device, and a lot of my friends first encounter with it is usually met with shock and positive feedback. If you are looking for a small, lightweight, portable solution, JBL On Stage IV delivers THE BEST sound, pound for pound.

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I bought this unit when I had the iPhone 3G, and it worked well with that. Now that I have the 4S, it works just as well with the new phone.

The sound quality is superb for such a small unit. It has a nice amount of bass and has good separation between lows, mids and highs. I use it at work, and it has more than enough volume for my needs. I don't usually blast it, but I've cranked it a couple of times just to see how it holds up at louder volumes, and it sounded great. It's not an audiophile's dream; but if you're an audiophile, you're going to be spending more than a hundred bucks on speakers, and you're not going to be spinning mp3's on an iPod/iPhone.

I only have two small complaints, and they're very minor--not worth bumping it down from five stars. 1) The light indicating that the unit is on doesn't show up well in bright light. 2) I wish it had a built-in rechargeable battery like the Logitech Pure-Fi Anywhere II (which I also own and use at home). If you're debating between the JBL and the Logitech--this unit has the edge in sound quality over the Logitech. I also thought I might use this unit as a travel piece, but it's a little bulky to pack in a carry-on. The Logitech comes with a case and packs pretty flat so it takes the edge in portability. So if you're debating between this and the Logitech, the JBL has the edge in sound quality, and the Logitech has the advantage in convenience/portability.

At work the JBL is always within arm's reach, so I rarely use the remote. When I have used it, it's worked fine. A few reviewers have had a complaint about the volume button on the back. It would be nice to have it on the front, but it's not hard for me to reach around on the back and press the ON button. And it's not THAT hard to turn on. I'm perfectly capable of exerting enough pressure with my index finger to push the power button in. In fact, my three year old can do it too. So don't let the button scare you away from a really good piece of equipment. Highly recommended!

Philips AJ1000B/37 Mirror-finish Clock Radio, Black

Wake up to your favorite radio tune or a buzzer
FM tuner for radio enjoyment
Dual alarm to wake you and your partner at different times
Gentle wake for a pleasant wake up experience
Sleep timer lets you fall asleep to your favorite music

I was looking for a nice, small and modern alarm clock that wouldn't hog too much space on my nightstand. This product fits the bill. My only complaints are that the radio tuner is manual, making it hard to change stations, and that when using the alarm sound instead of the radio the volume doesn't gradually increase.

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I love that this clock is so unobtrusive, both in light and style. It has a dim lighting option, and the red color makes it so it doesn't light up the area surrounding the clock on the bedside table. For someone who does not like extra light in the bedroom at night, this clock is the best! The style is subtle, and goes well with any decor. The radio (FM only) seems to receive signal quite well, and has a line antenna to help out with the reception. Very well made.

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I like the clean look of this alarm clock. All the button are hidden well but still accessible. My only complaint is that the snooze button is tiny relative to the "radio on" button. When I'm have asleep and I try to hit the snooze button, I end up hitting the "radio on" button half the time. ...maybe that's a feature?

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I bought this to provide a low level lighted time source at night in the bedroom. It is a five-star for that. The only thing that is a personal thing with me is that it's not the most attractive piece of bedroom furniture. Don't get me wrong this clock is great and I would buy it again.

This clock has no battery back-up. A clock with no battery backup is practically useless! I have always liked Philips products but this one must be their lowest rated. Radio tuner is cheap, you go from the first station to the last station of the spectrum in only one dial turn so it is tough to fine tune a station.

Jensen JIMS-210-BK Docking Digital Music System/Alarm Clock with CD for iPod (Black)

Output: 2 x 2W RMS
AM/FM Stereo Receiver with Digital Frequency Display
Stereo Headphone Jack
Card Size Remote Control
S-Video Line Out for Playing iPod with video and iPod with Color Display on your television

I just purchased this last week and received today. I needed something compact in size to fit my nightstand. With that being mentioned, I wanted it all in the same unit, meaning I needed radio with alarm clock, a cd player and now something not only to play my iPod thru but that can charge it at the same time AND let me choose to wake to my selection of tunes vs. being awaken by rude alarm buzzers or chatty DJ's. In addition, there's an jack for Aux IN. It's great. I chose this unit in black only because my previous system was dark in color. This docking system also has a remote control for powering on and controling cd/iPod operation. Remote control came with it's own battery already in compartment. I really like this music system. Doesn't cost mega bucks, sounds decent not tinny and operates the features that I wanted in a system. Thank you Jensen company for thinking this through. There are so many devices out there similar to this but lack either a cd player or a built in charging iPod dock.

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I purchased this product, opened it up, and was impressed by this cool little unit. It has everything I hoped for..clock radio, cd player, ipod, and mp3 inputs. Unfortunately, the cd player would not recognize the lid as being closed. I ordered a replacement unit and the lid on this unit closed, but it wouldn't read any of my commercially made cd's. The unit looks good. The sound from the radio and the mp3 input is clear and loud enough for a bedroom. I was just a little disappointed with the cd player (twice). I haven't heard it play a cd yet.

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I have been really satisfied with this system. It isn't too expensive and one of the few models that has an iPod dock *and* a CD player. I haven't had any problems with playing CDs (store-bought/burned). The clock is kind of hard to read from a distance (but I didn't really buy it for the clock). The sound is also pretty good (loud and clear). Remote works.

There isn't a dock/adapter provided for the 80gb Vid iPod but I just connect it directly to the model. If you leave the iPod in-it doesn't charge as fast as it would otherwise but I've found its always charged when I take it to the gym. Quite nice!

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I have had this system for over a year. It has the worst remote I have ever seen. A remote that can't change the volume! You can't charge your iPod while listening to the radio. It slowly loses time. Not just a couple of minutes,In three months it has lost 15 mins!!! I can't use it a a alarm clock without having to reset the clock!! I would highly recommend stay away from this one!!!

I was very excited to receive this as a gift since it would replace three different electronics on my night table. After using it for a few days I have to say that I am disappointed with several features and what I consider to be serious design/quality control flaws.

The positive thing about this product is it has very good sound, both using the speakers and headphones. But what I found wrong with it really kills the good sound.

When I opened the box and was testing it out the first thing I noticed was that the door to the CD compartment would stick and not open all the way. I re-boxed it and took it back to the store, they did not have any in stock so I drove across town to their other store to get another. Took this home, same problem, so I'm led to believe this is not an isolated problem but a design or quality control flaw. I figured I would keep it and just deal with the sticking door because I liked the sound. I did write to customer service and basically recieved a response that told me I could open the door by pressing on the lid and sliding forward 1. this does not work, the lid is just too smooth and slippery, and 2. I pointed out to them, the manual says nothing about doing this; it clearly states, "...press the Push Open [arrow icon] located on the CD Cover to open the compartment." Again, I figured I can live with this feature. I did not appreciate a customer service response however that tried to tell me I was not following the instructions, which I was, and basically made up a procedure.

The other feature that is a bummer is, if you have headphones plugged in not only does it kill the sound but also the alarm. So, if you're like me and like to listen to a CD or your iPOD while falling asleep, you can't use the alarm this way, you won't hear it when your headphones fall off. I think this is a major flaw. So, I'm back to having an alarm clock on my night table as well as this product.

The other design feature has to do with the radio tuning. There is no digital tuning, you do it with a turning dial that is laid out pretty even with the cabinet that you basically turn with the tips of your fingers, it's not a full knob. The dial does not turn easily nor is it calibrated well to the display. This coupled with having to grasp the CD door to open I think would be a real problem if you have anything wrong in your hands like arthritis. Don't snear you people that don't have to deal with this.

The radio reception I find to be not very adequate. You have to turn the cabinet and adjust the FM antenna far to much for my liking. When my cat climbed up on the bed near the unit he interfered with the reception, when the heating unit turned on, static.

Something that is not a major flaw, but you need to consider whether it will bother you is the light in the LED Display even on its dim setting is pretty bright. If you are sensitive to light you need to turn this off which means you can't see the display at night. But this is more of a personal preference.

I really wish I could give this a better rating, but because of the design/manufacturing flaws I can only really give it a two. The response from customer service makes me really question what kind of honest response I'm going to receive from them. The person who contacted me directly from the company was actually pretty good and helpful, it was the person who responded to her whose email she forwarded to me that I found somewhat insulting. But I'm sorry, it just rubs my fur the wrong way when a company response is to try and pass the fault off on to the customer.

Sharp SPC309C LCD Backlight Alarm Clock (Silver)

0.9-inch LCD display
Silver and titanium-colored case with lighted display
Features alarm, snooze, temperature and day/date displays
4.75 x 1.5 x 2.75 inches (W x D x H)
Two year limited warranty

This clock looks good and has a nice feature set, but while it may make a nice travel clock (if your cell phone won't do) it's really not suitable for regular use.

* While the time is displayed in nice large numbers, the contrast is low and the display is hard to read in all but the brightest light. The display is set comparatively deep within the bezel and tends to chop off the right side of the last seconds digit, unless you view it fairly straight on. The date and temp are small, and can only be read from fairly close up.

* As others have noted, you can't read the display if you are looking up at it, as when it's on your bed's headboard. You have to sit up a bit, or twist the clock.

* The clock is smaller than it may look from the picture, and the base is narrow. It's much too easy to knock it over when pushing the backlight/snooze button.

* Unlike many alarm clocks, there's no button to push to turn off the alarm and leave it armed for tomorrow: You have to fiddle with a small slide switch each and every night and each every morning.

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I was a little disappointed after opening it and finding out it was more of a travel alarm clock for keeping appointments and such, rather than one you might keep in a bedroom to wake up to. It is battery operated and the lighted display does not stay lit. You push the snooze button to turn it on and it only stays lit for a couple seconds before turning off. And when the alarm goes off it is kind of quite for an alarm clock and it turns the alarm off after a minute or two. It is not for a heavy sleeper. But on the up side it is small and takes up little space and the display is relatively large. Also there's a switch on the back for setting time, date, and alarm but it also includes a lock position so the setting won't easily be changed accidentally. Overall I would not recommend this to someone who needs an alarm click to wake up to.

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In our family, we prefer battery-powered alarm clocks. We have 3 of these, used by our teenager, my husband and me. None of us experience the viewing problems others have mentioned. In addition, any battery-powered alarm clock we have every owned had a short "lighted" time to save battery power. It is a little annoying that if you need to change the "set" time, and you're doing so in the dark, you must let go of the LIGHT button. However, since we're used to that, from years of using battery-powered clocks, we find it's an easy issue to work around. Further, for $9.99 we have found this model to be very accurate at time and temperature.

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I bought this clock to go in the bathroom and it serves the purpose well. I love that it tells you the temperature. If you are using this as an alarm clock for the nightstand, you might find the display a little small. Great for the price though.

I have own this clock for four years. I have put only two sets of batteries in it. The tempurature gauge is nice. I use it in the Bering Sea to tell me how comfortable I am. The clock has done a lot of traveling. It started in China. Did some time in the Gulf of Mexico. I have taken on some of the road trip. The clock flew to Chile and sailed back to Charleston SC. Then back to Seattle Wa. The clock has fallen from my bed many times. Would I buy another clock, YES! Thank you for reading this.

DreamGear i.Sound Dreamtime Speaker System and Alarm Clock Radio for iPod (Black)

Compatibility: all iPod models
Built in AM/FM digital radio
Choose to wake up to iPod, radio, or alarm
Back up battery feature saves your settings when the power fails
Dock connector allows for iPod charging

I've had this speaker/radio for my Ipod Nano for about six months. I got it for around $50 at JC Penney on sale. My problem with it is that every time I touch it, the plug-in wire in the back of the radio comes unplugged, so I lose my time on the clock and it's very tiresome. I'm going to use it in a spot that I don't need a clock and then buy a replacement after I've done a little research. I though $50 was a good deal for this but knowing what I now know, it was too much because I hate resetting the clock so much. All other functions work well.

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The sound is average; not bad to use for an alarm clock but not great for quality listening. Also, the cord easily disconnects from the back. Had to tape the cord to the back so that it would not come off. Bad design. All in all, decent product for the price.

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This product touts on its box that it works with ALL iPods. It does not work with the iPod touch unless you use the non-iPod line-in jack that it comes with or live with the static that comes when using the plug-in connector. It does NOT charge the iPod touch. If you have even a slim-fit case on your iPod it has to come off each time you plug it in.

The sound is tinny and the volume flucuates up and down.

All-in-all I would say it's a pretty poor product.

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this product works great , but the plug for the power do not you may have to tape it to make sure that it stays.

This alarm clock is perfect, the sound is great and it's very easy to program.

Westclox Banshee Digital Alarm Clock 47547

This alarm clock has several features that I really like, but unfortunately it's also got one big drawback that drags its overall value down considerably: it doesn't always go off. This has only happened three times in the year that I've been using it, but that's three times that I've been late for, or entirely missed, important appointments. The alarm will be properly set (each time I've checked afterward to make sure I hadn't made an AM/PM mistake or anything), but then not make a sound at the appointed time. And it will STILL be set and turned on when I finally awake, so I know it isn't a matter of me accidentally turning it off in my sleep. It's also not just an issue with this one particular clock, as I own two of the exact same model, and the other has done the same thing.

However, there are things I like about the clock, if only it would just do what it's principally intended to do. I'll just offer a brief rundown on positive and negative features...

POSITIVES:

+ When it does go off, it's plenty loud, and never fails to wake me up (the product name "Banshee" is quite appropriate in fact, this could be a negative aspect if you prefer a less shrill alarm). There are two volume settings available "loud" and "soft" and the softer setting is all I've ever had to use.

+ The numbers are large and very easy to read, even from across the room.

+ The buttons are also sufficiently large that setting the alarm/time is easy, even in the dark.

+ This clock is cordless (the product description here says it runs on three AAA batteries, though mine, which is exactly the same by all other appearances, requires one AAA and one 9-volt battery) so it can be placed anywhere, or be taken along on trips, without having to worry about a place to plug it in.

+ I also happen to like the appearance of this clock. It's very simple and unobtrusive.

NEGATIVES:

First and foremost is the fact that it occasionally fails to go off, as I mentioned at the beginning of this review.

The snooze function only gives you an additional 4 minutes, which hardly seems worth it. I myself tend to like a clock with a snooze time of between 8 and 10 minutes. But this is largely a matter of personal preference.

The display is not constantly backlit, and you must hold down the snooze button if you wish to have a light by which to read the clock in the dark. This can be irritating, especially if you're not entirely sure just where your alarm clock IS as the moment. On the other hand, however, this feature may be beneficial to those who require absolute darkness in order to sleep.

I have owned this item 10 years, it works great. BUT, it will somtimes not go off if the 9 volt battery is wearing down. I thought my clock was going bad, as it did not wake me a few times, then I discovered it was simply a case of the battery getting worn out. It has worked perfectly for several more years, still going strong, with a new 9 volt battery. Love this alarm clock.

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Great little battery operated alarm clock for heavy sleepers. Alarm gets louder and changes frequency the longer it rings. Snooze is only 4 minutes long instead of 10 minutes. Works great for getting up teenagers.

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My husband has had one of these for years--uses it on hunting trips, et. Can be used at home and also for travel. After trying numerous travel alarms not loud enough to wake me up, I bought this one. Little larger than most travel clocks, but is loud enough to wake me up. Controls easy to set. Now my favorite alarm for home and travel.

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I had 3 alarm clocks that I couldn't hear without my hearing aids. This one screams louder than Jamie Curtis :-) and I get up when I need to. Not late to work anymore. By the way, It arrived quickly and I am pleased with the good service.

Motorola Speaker HD Dock for MOTOROLA XOOM (Motorola Retail Packaging)

Listen Up Hear everything loud and clear with side-firing speakers.
See it All in its Glory Relax and watch your favorite HD videos on a larger HD screen without a hitch with a HDMI Micro Connector cable.
Up Close and Personal Chats Video chat with friends face-to-face and enjoy the benefits of going hands-free in speakerphone mode.
Fits Just Right Use the included adapter plate for a perfect fit with your Motorola compatible Protective Gel Case
In the Box: Speaker HD Dock, Additional adapter plate compatible with Motorola Protective Gel Case*, 30W Wall Charger, Quick Start Guide

It's a dock for your Xoom, it looks cool enough and has built in speakers that are an upgrade over the Xoom's built in speakers.

Setup: Very easy, just un-box it, plug it in and you're ready to go.

Pros: It feels sturdy and holds the Xoom well, you can easily type on the Xoom and the viewing angle is very natural. It has an hdmi output, power connector on the back, on the front there's a cut out so you can still speak and the Xoom's mic will pick up on your voice.

Cons: No USB out, no included HDMI cable.

It's not a bad dock if you want to put it next to a TV and use the HDMI feature, or maybe on a coffee table or in the kitchen to use the built in speakers to play out some Pandora or other music.

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Overall, I am happy with the Motorola Speaker Dock for the Xoom. It fits the Xoom great, with or without the protective gel cover on the back.

It did take me a couple attempts to learn how to place the Xoom on the dock. I can see how it could damage the dock if you have it at the wrong angle and press down too hard. Once you learn the correct angle to use, it slides onto the dock very easily.

I was a little disappointed to see that the HDMI output on the back of the dock is not a fullsize HDMI slot. It is the same mini HDMI as on the Xoom itself, meaning you will still need to have a cable that goes from the smaller form factor the the normal. It seems to me like it would have been easy enough for the dock to include a regular size HDMI output. A USB output would have also been nice.

The speaker is decent sound quality. It's not great but it's better than the built in Xoom speakers. A headphone jack on the front of the dock would have been nice too.

What I do like about the dock, is that it holds the Xoom at a good angle, and charges the unit while you're using it. It pairs well with the bluetooth keyboard. I'm using both right now as I write this review.

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The dock is well made. Sturdy and gives good support to the Xoom whilst it's docked. It comes with a power supply that connects to the base and also two 'face plate' that you can use for either with or without a silcone cover.

The three biggest let down and hence the 2 stars rating is that:

a) as a sound "HD" accessory,.. the sounds component is awful! very tin-ny with the low frequency (bass) being a real let down. Even with the 'bass boost' which is just a hole cut out on the back does not help. I wasn't expecting anything like the Bose Sounddock that you can get for the ipad/pods, but come-on Motorola, this is a disgrace after doing such a wonderful job on the Xoom. For the amount of money i paid for this, i expected something that's much better sounding.

b) docking the Xoom is very difficult. There are two sockets plus sprung loaded pins that protrude making it really hard to locate and mate properly. There is the dot on the front bottom center of the Xoom and docking station, but all it does is it gets you roughly in the right place. You still have to wiggle the Xoom around a bit until it falls in. I'm very afraid that if you are too rough, you will eventually damage the fragile feeling sockets on the Xoom. Just looking closely at the Xoom sockets, I can see that it's worn away alot only after about 1 months' use.

c) the power supply buzzes... i use the Xoom as an alarm clock and so it's on my beside table docked. Once i turn the lights out and your hearing becomes more sensitive, you can hear the power supply's high pitch buzzing which can be very irritating if you are trying to fall asleep. It's got to a stage where I disconnect the power supply at night.

Other thoughts: I haven't used the mini-hdmi, but as others have said, there's plenty of real-estate, so they could have put in a full sized HDMI socket.... it's just another bit of cable you must have if you ever want to connect it to a TV, etc.

In summary, I'd steer clear of this if you want some good sounds. It's not cheap and the sound quality is worse than an average cheap computer speaker you can get at your local computer store.

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When used with the wireless keyboard, it's good for using as a laptop replacement for light duty work like typing up notes and emails. Speakers are OK, much better than the ones built-in to the Xoom.

Pros: Holds Xoom at a good viewing angle, OK sound, easy to dismount, overall it seems like good quality. Doc uses mini HDMI, same as the Xoom, so only have to travel with one HDMI cable.

Cons:

--a bit finiky when docking due to the mini HDMI and USB connectors. Not very sturdy, either... could easily bend if the Xoom is pulled toward the front.

--AC power connector for dock is different than for Xoom, so have to travel with two AC adapters. Both should use mini USB for charging... what the heck were they thinking?

--speakers only work when AC is connected to the dock.

--no USB or audio connections feed-thru connections like most laptop docks have.

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I was given this as a gift after incessant research on dock solution for a home full of Xooms. This is a great product. The sound is full and rich. It charges the device. I see no problems.

To answer the complaints about damaging your Xoom, I'll admit this isn't as easy as an iPod dock. But the instructions are clear. Align dots. A child could dock and undock this if only they read the instructions.

Creative Zen Mozaic EZ 300 EZ300 8GB MP3 Player, Voice Recorder, FM Radio, BULK PACKAGED

1.8-inch TFT color display, Supports multiple music formats, including MP3, WMA, and AUDIBLE 4
Impressive 8GB storage capacity
More than 32 hours battery life based on 128 kbps MP3.
Features FM radio with 32 presets, clock with alarm, calendar, personal information management (PIM) tasks, and contacts display, Speaker and Voice Recorder
BRAND NEW ITEM, Bulk packaged (Non Retail Package), SAVE MONEY, SAVE THE ENVIRONMENT.

Simple, perfect for what it does, getting a hold of a Zen Mozaic is kind of a pain but these fellows did a fine job. It came exactly as they said it would and functions flawlessly. Not a ding or scratch anywhere to be seen. 105% happy.

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This is the 3rd ZEN I have had, and am always pleased with them. The product came on time and in good condition. I would buy from here again.

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