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Showing posts with label car radio. Show all posts
Showing posts with label car radio. Show all posts
USE BULKD12 KODAK
Teac R-4INT Wall Mountable Internet Radio with iPod Dock
- Compatible with all iPod and iPhone models
- FM radio and Internet radio tuner
- Wi-Fi connection for Internet radio
- NXT BR (Balanced Radiator) stereo speaker system
- Digital clock with dual alarm, snooze and sleep timer
The setup was somewhat straightforward. The setup wizard located my home's wifi and connected to it without hassle. It detected the time and my current location straight from the network, which was great, although the daylight savings setting option was a bit vague and resulted in the time being set an hour earlier. This was quickly fixed through the main menu.
The remote control was not performing very well upon initial setup, but casting off the batteries that shipped with the product and replacing them with some new alkalines improved performance. I wouldn't even bother with the batteries that ship with it. If they are not DOA, they will be in short order.
The battery replacement did not completely eradicate the remote control's unreliability. I'm not exactly sure where the sensor is for the remote, but if you have the radio on a nightstand or a low table, trying to use the remote control from above the device doesn't work that well. It helps to move the remote in front of and on the plane of the radio.
Enough setup, onto the product features themselves.
iPod / iPhone dock: Works as advertised. There are many devices out there that incorporate a dock for an iPod or iPhone. It's basically table stakes to get in the game. It comes with little dock inserts for the various models of iPhones and iPods, just like everyone else. And I never use any of them because, just like all the others, they don't account for a cover on the device and so none of them really fit my device in its day-to-day state. Anyway, one feature that is nice is that if you insert your iPod/iPhone into the dock, a menu comes up on the front display that offers to take you directly to the iPod menu. No need to search for the iPod menu. But if you are just throwing the device on there to charge it and are already, say, listening to Pandora or a podcast through the internet radio, that menu disappears in a few seconds and doesn't interrupt what you are already listening to.
Pandora: Setup was easy. You log into your account and the device gives you a Pandora website to go to on your computer and a code to enter to sync the device with your account. It takes two minutes. Once done, all of my Pandora channels appear on the device. I can play my custom stations or dial up new ones. There are buttons on the remote to allow you to "like" or "dislike" a song. On the whole it works very well. The only thing I noticed is that I can't see if I have already "liked" as song on the display, and if I hit the "like" button on the remote for a song that has already been categorized that way I get no feedback. It only gives me feedback if a song is newly "liked" or "disliked". It's a minor annoyance, but given the slightly erratic performance of the remote, it always begs the question, "Did I already 'like' this song or is the remote just not picking it up?"
Internet Radio: Pretty impressive. The radio determines your location from the network and automatically gives you a "local stations" options that include any radio stations that stream. Personally, I listen to a lot of podcasts, and was able to search for my favorites with the remote and get a list of the latest available episodes. The catalog seems pretty expansive, too, as I don't consider the Mises Institute to be at the top everyone's podcast list, but I listen to it all the time and the radio found it without an issue.
Sound: I'm not an audiophile by any means, but this unit kicks out some nice sound in my opinion. I was impressed at the volume available and there is a selection of equalizer settings (including custom bass/treble settings) that let you tweak the sound to your liking.
Untested features: I have not tried the alarms (there are two), sleep, or music library functions. I am assuming the music library will detect available shared media from computers on your network and make them available to the device, similar to something a PS3 can do.
Glitches: Obviously, when your wireless network goes down, the internet radio goes down. The device can't be blamed for my/your wireless outages. The remote is also not quite intuitive in places. Instead of hitting the "menu" button when it seems like you would, you hit the left arrow button. Stuff like that.
Value: Current price on Amazon (less than half MSRP) makes it a consideration, I think. Value is subjective, of course, but I think most people will be happy with the product in the 160-range, but would feel like it was overpriced at MSRP.
Overall: Frankly, I was expecting less. We're only a few days in with the product, and we've had some dropouts that I am attributing to my flaky network. If you can get used to the navigation, most will be happy with the gadget. Solid sound and feature set. Could be the sole unit used in a small apartment if desired.
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I have had a lot of fun with this radio! I'm no audiophile, but to this casual listener, the sound is amazing. Out of the box, the audio is just big and round. I have an older BOSE alarm clock/CD player, and this radio sounds much better, if that means anything. There are the usual equalizer settings, so you can customize as you will.Set up was easy, if a bit tedious. The radio has an Ethernet port, but I easily added it to my hidden wireless network. You select letters and numbers using a wheel on the radio itself or using the arrows on the remote control. You use the same technique for anything you have to enter: search terms, passwords, logins, etc.
The remote control is the most functional one I've received with a radio/alarm clock. It's bigger than most radio remotes I've seen, but it's capable of doing anything you can do on the radio itself. So it's not just a power switch and channel and volume changer like some of the others I've used.
I've used Pandora, the Internet radio, and docked my iPhone 4, and all worked seamlessly. I've had the radio a little over a week, and I've used it several times. One time, I experienced silence for 20 or 30 seconds when it suddenly had to reconnect to my network.
It has the usual alarm clock functions. Each dual alarm can be set to go off once, daily, each weekday, or each weekend day. Ultimately, however, I was unable to use this as a bedside alarm clock. First of all, at one foot wide by eight inches deep, it's footprint is too big for my already-crowded nightstand. Also, my nightstand sits a little higher than my bed. The display (which is too small to read more than a few feet away) is set at about a 45 degree angle, midway between vertical and horizontal. I can't see it lying down. I do wish the display was larger and set more vertically.
Because of these issues, and because I already have most of the radio's functions available to me in my bedroom, I decided to put the radio in my kitchen where I enjoy it immensely while puttering around there. And when I unplugged the radio to move it from the nightstand to the kitchen, it saved all my settings. Because I didn't find a place for a backup battery, I was worried I would have to reconfigure everything. But it just reconnected to my network, reset the date and time, and was ready to go immediately. Bonus!
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I wanted to like this iPod dock with internet radio, but I really wasn't thrilled with it. The foot print of this device is rather large (about the size of a sheet of printer paper). Set up was a bit of a pain with the dial "keyboard". The dial is a bit on the stiff side and I just found it irritating to use. Once it was set up using Pandora with the dock was easy but it wasn't any easier than using it with an iPhone and a speaker only dock.Sound quality for this dock was good, but I didn't think it was anything spectacular. In fact, I think the sound quality on my cheap Skull Candy ipod pipe is better.
I'm absolutely not a fan of the "wall mountable" feature. To use this function, you would essentially have to put your iPod into the dock so that it is parallel with the floor. I couldn't imagine putting my iPhone into that dock with it in that position.
The dock works but I found the set up to be a pain and the size to be cumbersome. I suppose if space and money are no object it's an OK product but I wouldn't buy this if I were in the market for a new speaker dock for my iPhone.
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We use this in the office mainly for the function of Pandora. It has been great so far, very easy to sync with pandora account onlnine by adding and deleting stations, etc. The sound is very clear. You can even skip forward, and give a song a thumbs up or thumbs down on the device. We did a lot of research for a product that could do this and for the price this is great.--
I was really tempted to rate this radio with 5 stars, since it is one of the better internet radios I've encountered. It is not perfect, but it's definitely worth careful consideration.
The big selling point for me is that this radio will do internet radio AND it will charge many iPhones (3G, 3GS, 4) and iPods with the universal i-connector. If you don't have one of these devices and/or don't care if you can charge your device, you can still play music from ANY device with a standard 3.5 mm headphone jack. Compared to the competition, which appears to be one player from Grace (sold through Sharper Image), this unit deserves to be considered.
In addition, it's quite a good alarm clock: you can wake to any function (internet radio, regular radio, etc), there are two completely independent alarms that can be set to go on certain days but not others, you can specify the volume of each alarm, etc. None of this interferes with the sleep function that goes in 15 minute increments. I mention this because some older Sony models allowed either an alarm OR the sleep function... There is no battery back-up, but you can set the machine to automatically update the time after a power outage. The alarm works well. For those days when it really matters, you can always use the iPhone as a back-up.
Internet performance will depend on your router, but I had mine up and running (VERY reliably) from across the house in about 2 minutes. For other products (notably a certain wireless Brother monochrome printer) I've spent up to 2 hours messing around with this type of thing so I was impressed.
The interface on the radio is a little clunky, and the remote is required for certain operations. I quickly and easily started to use Pandora (the like/dislike buttons clearly an afterthought on the remote control, and not present on the radio), searched for and found a selection of internet radio stations. Interestingly, some BBC stations (but not the world service) appear to be blocked, presumably because I'm not paying a license fee. The thing which blew my mind was when I searched for podcasts of a particular NPR show. Within seconds, I had a choice of shows from the last ten days. Basically, that's free on-demand radio of my favorite broadcasts in seconds. I might buy another for my kitchen.
The one thing I did not check is how easy it would be to mount this thing on the wall and still charge an iPhone. I guess it would probably work since the connector is at an angle. I have it on my bedside table, where it's the size of two generous hardback books.
As I mentioned, there are some minor annoyances. The clickwheel is fiddly and the remote is only marginally better. My biggest annoyance is the display, which can only be dimmed with the remote, and that setting is not saved when the radio switches off. Huh? For such a great alarm clock, this seems like an oversight. Still, the features are amazing, the sound is really pretty good, and the unit looks quite attractive. For other rooms of the house, it would be perfect, but you probably wouldn't need the alarm or the iPhone charging feature, at which point there are cheaper options available. Still, I like it so much, I might buy another for my kitchen anyway.
Venturer KLV39082 8-Inch Undercabinet Kitchen LCD TV/DVD Combo
- 8-inch undercabinet LCD TV/DVD combo
- Flip-up screen flips around and up to save space and protect the screen
- DVD player ? compatible with DVDs, CDs and JPGs; Digital/analog ATSC/NTSC TV tuner
- AM/FM radio with digital tuning and station presets
- Includes magnetic remote control and under-cabinet mounting hardware
- 8-inch LCD display
- Flip-up screen flips around and up to save space and protect the screen; undercabinet LCD TV/DVD combo
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I purchased this unit and had it for over a week now.I really enjoy it very much, it has all the features I wanted.
The speakers are excellent quality and great sound. The TV has a great picture, and the controls are easy to understand and operate. It has a very nice appearance, does not look cheap, the color blends well with the kitchen cabinets. I am very pleased with this unit, can't say anything bad, meets my expectations.
Okay, I've had this unit now for about 2 years, and the only thing working on it is the Radio. The first thing to go wrong with it was the CD player, just stopped working, then the TV gradually went dead, and does not work at all.
So now I'm out the money, and without a TV that I enjoyed very much.
They make these units to last for only about 2 years, it's too bad that the technology is not there for them to last longer.
So if your thinking of buying one of these TV's, think twice, you'll probably have to replace it very shortly. Not a happy camper, Pjay
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Our newest one (this one) is just over 1 year old and the volume has gone crazy we used to listen at 4 or 5 level, but then the other day it suddenly jumped, and now a 2 level is too load (like a 7 or 8 original), and a 1 level is too low (basically sound is off). This is our second unit and it lasted just over a year The previous one lasted just about 2 years. On the previous one the unit started loosing the channels, at first only once in a while when you turned the tv on, but then every time you turned it on. You then had to go through the 10 mins or so to auto-program the channels. That lasted a little bit (month or so), and then it started happening while you were watching (about 1/2 hour in). In that case the screen went to blue, and you either got some strange error signal lost, with a bunch of random characters (numbers, letters, symbols) all over the screen. Sometimes just the gobbled up characters. In those cases unplugging the unit was the only way to unfreeze it/turn it off. After a while (at least 5 mins), you could turn the TV on, but now you had to reset everything, not just the channels. At that point I figured we just got a lemon and unlucky the warranty ran out, but now this one barely made it a year (just past warranty). Looks like I might just have to muffle the speakers for now, but if it is like the first one, I expect it will be a steady downhill slide to uselessness in the coming weeks/months. Fool me once, shame on you, Fool me twice, shame on me :-(I will stick to my guns this time and keep searching for a reputable company to buy from next time, but from my quick search it appears only Venturer and Coby sell these types of under cabinet TVs, so it might be time to lose the kitchen TV (wife won't like that prospect, but we can't keep throwing $230 away once a year. Cannot recommend.
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We bought a flip down Venturer brand TV. It seemed great at first, but after using it for eight months, the TV screen no longer works. We called to inquire and were told there was only a 90 day warranty.Save 5% Off
I purchased one of these 2.5 years ago as a Christmas present for my wife. At first it was great with a good picture and nice features. After two years it developed a high pitched noise when you shut it off. Now at 2 1/2 years the screen is dead in it. I have seen similar comments elsewhere. Do yourself a huge favor and buy a different one.
iHome App-Enhanced Alarm Clock with Bluetooth and FM Radio for iPad, iPhone and iPod
- Compatible with iPad/iPhone/iPod models
- Universal dock charges & plays iPad , iPhone or iPod while docked
- Wake or sleep to iPad/iPhone/iPod or app alarms
- Bongiovi Digital Power Station technology
- Customizable with advanced iHome apps - free iHome+sleep app creates alarms, local weather, etc. & iHome+radio app accesses up to 10,000 Internet radio stations from around the globe
I recommend you refer to the following support threads on iHome's own support forums before considering this item:
[..]
Do a search for more on the iA100 topic and you'll find similar issues with similar concerns. You'll notice that these and other postings have almost zero responses from iHome support except for one (which was not specific or helpful in any way). Direct emails to their tech support (I've sent three over the past two months over the same issues posted) go ignored. I intend to call directly, however I read a customer's posting that the phone support lacks adequate knowledge about the product, software app or remedies, and were advised to post their question on the iHome support forums for better response. This tells me that they have a limited staff and relies solely on their support forums for communicating with customers.
Needless to say, I'm very disappointed with this purchase considering it's a pretty expensive, high-end alarm clock that is customized to work with your iPad / iPhone. People on the forums have complained that their iA100s are unreliable for daily use. I simply can't rely on mine either due to the problems noted in the forum postings. I'm assuming people are merely using the iA100 as a $ speaker system for now. I personally wouldn't mind the time needed to gradually improve their iHome App, but it would be appropriate (and for $200, they should be obligated) to respond to customers with some kind of confirmation, remedy, workaround, or timeline to the fixes posted on the iHome support forum.
I'll be happy to update this post when iHome promptly responds to these and other support postings regarding similar issues regarding the app.
In the meantime, purchase this at your own risk!
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**Revised 01-07-2011 after iHome+Sleep v2.1 releaseI've owned the iA100 for about a month, and have used it extensively. It is one of the sharpest looking iHome products on the market, and I purchased it after reading pre-release announcements and waiting for iHome to make it available for several months, while comparing the competition and deliberating whether or not it would be worth the asking price. An app-enhanced alarm clock is an incredible idea, especially since apps can be improved over time based on customer feedback. I experienced a lot of performance issues during the first few weeks while using v1 of the iHome+Sleep app, but iHome released v2.1 in late December 2010, and although there are still a few stability issues, many of the problems have been resolved. I've revised my original review 's consideration points with 0 to 10 ratings for the iA100 below:
iHOME CUSTOMER SERVICE (0 out of 10)
iHome experimentally created a user forum in November 2010, but abandoned it in December, so all of the customer posts made since then have gone unanswered by iHome employees. I've emailed them with questions about functional problems and never heard back. I've called their tech support number directly, and after waiting for 17 minutes to get a human, I was told that I called the 'computer support' number and that I should have called the 'audio support' number. Upon calling the second number they gave me, and waiting another 10 minutes for a human, I was told to call the number I originally called because they had no idea how to help me with my questions. Amazon sets the global bar for customer service, and all other companies should attempt to imitate them. Return shipping instructions are included with each order, RMA processing is automated online, and you can have them call you within seconds at the click of a button and they already know your issue. iHome has the worst customer service I've ever dealt with, but unfortunately, at this time, they are the only manufacturer of a bluetooth-ready, iPad docking, close-to-Bose-sounding alarm clock on the market.
BUILT IN DEVICE ALARMS VERSUS CUSTOM APP ALARMS (8 out of 10 improved with iHome+Sleep v2.1)
The iA100 clock itself has 2 device alarms that can be set to Tone, iPod, FM, or AUX. You can set the device alarms using small buttons hidden on the back of the clock, but it's obvious that iHome intended for customers to use their iDevice to configure the alarms. Device and Custom Alarms have improved and are easy to set using the app, but v2.1 did not correct the issue from v1 where there is no way to change the tone used by the two iA100 device alarms. With custom app alarms, there are many stereo tones to choose from, but the two device alarms are stuck using the xylophone tone. iHome also added gradual sleep and wake functionality to custom app alarms, so users have the ability to specify how many minutes the volume decreases or increases per alarm. However, this functionality is not offered for the two device alarms, and the `wake volume' slider in each of their settings is hard to adjust to a desirable volume, since the alarm blares on at that setting. It took me several tries to find the perfect wake volume using the slider. I personally prefer to use device alarms as opposed to custom app alarms, because app alarms don't go off unless the app is running and in the foreground all night. The app has a brightness setting to dim the iDevice once the `bedtime' slider has been activated, but even turned all the way down, it is still too bright for me to sleep, and sometimes the custom alarms don't go off when the app is active but the iDevice is asleep.
iHOME+SLEEP APP STABILITY (8 out of 10)
Version 1 of the app was extremely buggy. However, iHome has fixed most of the stability issues in v2.1. The app used to lose connectivity to the iA100 upon multitasking away and coming back, either while docked or connected through Bluetooth. This problem has been fixed, and the app reliably reloads the device settings every time it is made active. The only functional issues remaining are that the Overnight News integration to Twitter and Facebook never works, and sometimes the app crashes as soon as I slide the `Wake Up' slider when a custom alarm goes off. If these two issues are addressed in the next app release, the device alarms are made as functional as custom app alarms, and the reliability improves for custom alarms to go off while the iDevice is asleep, I will rate the app a 10.
BLUETOOTH (10 out of 10)
The iA100's Bluetooth features are awesome. There is a button on the back that puts the clock into pairing mode, at which point you can discover it on your iDevice, PC, or Mac in seconds. Once paired, you can wirelessly stream audio from music or video at up to 33 feet away. I carried my iPad into the living room, at least 30 feet away and through two walls, and the clock was still blaring without a hiccup. When paired to my iPhone, the iA100 rang loudly when I received a phone call, and the built in mic worked flawlessly from across the room without having to raise my voice. I also used the clock to stream music from iTunes on my MacBook Pro and as a Bluetooth speakerphone for Skype. There is a 'Sync Time' feature that syncs the clock to the AT&T time on your iPhone, and it works great over bluetooth (or when docked).
SOUND (9 out of 10)
Although the iA100 doesn't sound as big and full as a Bose system, what does?? The Bongiovi sound engine is awesome. There is a button on the clock and a feature in the app to disable it, but I don't know why anyone would. The volume ranges from 0-40, and it is loud enough at 25-30 to fill my 20x25' master bedroom with full, bassy sound. I can't tell any difference in the sound quality between docked and bluetooth wireless streaming audio they both sound great.
UPDATE POTENTIAL (10 out of 10 as proved by v2.1 of iHome+Sleep app)
iHome already corrected most of the functionality issues in the app with their latest release, v2.1. There are still a few issues, and I am personally hopeful that they will make enhancements to the device alarms, but v2.1 of the app verified my initial willingness to pay two hundred dollars for an app enhanced clock. As more customers provide feedback, iHome should continue to improve user experience. The iA100 also has the ability to download and install firmware updates directly through the iHome+Sleep app when the iDevice is docked and connected to either 3G or WIFI, so there are limitless possibilities to functionality upgrades of the physical clock itself in addition to the app.
OVERALL RATING (9 out of 10 improved substantially with v2.1 of app)
Despite it's few flaws and iHome's blatant lack of customer service, I love the clock even more after v2.1 was released, and recommend it. Although it is one of the most expensive iDevice docking clocks on the market, it has features that you won't find in the competition. At the time of this review, it's the only app-enhanced alarm clock with an iPad dock (although iHome added in-app support for their upcoming iD85, which will also support iPad docking). The bluetooth speakerphone, wireless control, and streaming audio features are awesome (the iA100 also includes a remote control, but you don't really need it if paired through Bluetooth). It looks great, keeps all of my iDevices charged, and I didn't need to buy universal docks to support any of them. There is a rubber insert that can be removed to support some of the larger iPad cases on the market, but I can comfortably dock my iPhone 4 with Apple Bumper Case or iPad with iLuv Silicone Sleeve on the iA100 without removing either, and the iPad feels sturdily fixed in place against the metal support bar.I had been holding off on getting an alarm clock that will also charge my iphone and play music off my iphone because of all the negative reviews. I took a chance on this product and regret it.
I was specifically looking for an alarm clock that could be dimmed all the way to black and had 2 alarms that could be set: one for weekdays and one for weekneds. This one does that, however, my weekend alarm never goes off even though it's set to ON. You HAVE to set the alarm using your phone, which is a pain in the neck. Also, it's not easy to tell if the alarm is set by looking at the clock itself. It is hard to determine what the volume of the alarm will be when it actually goes off in the morning too. Then, to top it all off, this thing is bluetooth ennabled, but any time I take my phone out of the bedroom, and return, I have to make it forget the device and re-pair the stupid thing. What a pain.
On the good side, it sounds great when playing music through it.
I'm packing the stupid thing up and sending it back. When you pay $200 for something, you don't expect to have this many issues with it. My trusty old alarm clock will be returned to service at my bedside.
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If you are looking for an alarm clock that integrates well with your iOS device, stay away from this one. There are a few big issues with device:1. As an alarm clock, 2 of the most important buttons are on the back side of the clock: the ones to set/adjust Alarm 1 and Alarm 2. The Nap button is also back there, but that is simply frustrating rather than annoying.
2. The dimmest setting on the clock is still extremely bright, making it difficult to go to sleep. Though you can turn the light off, see the next point.
3. The clock based button for changing the brightness of the display does not work when an iOS device is plugged in. This makes it completely useless. The only way to control the brightness with an iOS device in the dock is through the iHome App, and the controller is way to small to access from bed. This alone is enough to make the clock useless.
4. The software for iOS is buggy at best. It will often fail to show the built in Alarms of the clock or fail to show other clock specific features. The Firmware update process is a mystery. No matter how many times I try to update the Firmware, it always shows there is an Update and that the Update installed.
5. Customer support is non-existent.
Overall, a total thumbs down.
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I've read some of the negative reviews regarding this radio so naturally I was a little hesitant on buying it especially given its hefty price tag. After doing a few hours of research about this radio and investigating others as well I learned that iHome updated its iHome Sleep App just recently, addressing many concerns that some reviewers have been commenting on so I decided to give the ia100 a shot.First off I must admit after opening the box and playing with the iHome app I was very disappointed with the app and its reliability of waking me up in the morning. I ran a few tests using all aspects of the software to see how the alarms performed and originally they did not function properly. The sleep timer worked as it should however when it came time for the alarm to go off... nothing! This was concerning and quickly a deal breaker for me obviously because if this thing can't wake me up in the morning I have no use for it. So I tried reinstalling the app and still the same issue. There really isn't that much documentation from iHome for their devices so your left with learning this device on your own for the most part. After some more trial and error I was getting frustrated and was just about to repack the clock to return it when I thought to restart my iPhone 4. What do you know that did the trick! Now the iHome app functions perfectly.
So now that I've got the most important feature figured out and working properly, I must say I really enjoy having this thing next to my bed. I get to fall asleep to either my ipod or internet radio (which is a separate app that they force you to buy which is $1.99 but hey I what's 2 bucks after paying for this radio but it does add a lot of extra listening variety) and then wake up to a completely different station or playlist. So at night I listen to ambient type music and in the morning either dance music or sports talk radio. Cool.
I think one of the reasons this radio gets some bad reviews is because it is so complicated to use and as I said before the documentation from iHome leaves a lot to be desired. The app has some limitations. It has to be left open and your iPhone unlocked for it to function properly. iHome states that this is due to the way IOS5 now functions by putting all programs in the background when the phone is locked. But this is no biggie because you can set the screen brightness to near zero so that when putting the app in bedtime mode not much ambient light is added to the room.
A few more positives:
1. Sound clarity for the size of this unit the sound is quite good and produces a balanced mix of bass, mid-tones, and treble. Plus it has an EQ if you want to refine the sound even further to suit your listening needs.
2. Bluetooth this feature made me go wow. I like the idea that I can answer phone calls with my iPhone disconnected from the iHome and also be able to listen to music wireslessly as well as control volume etc. This is a nice added feature that adds much convenience.
3. Build quality The ia100 is built solidly and the buttons are good quality. Overall you can see that this radio is built to last. I also have no problems with some of the buttons be put in the rear of the device because basically anything you need can be controlled by the software and those buttons would overcrowd the top of the device.
4. Remote nice size remote included which is good if the iHome is far from where you sleep.
5. Ability to sync iHome Radio stations into the iHome Sleep app so you can fall asleep or wake up to any of the hundreds of internet radio stations available in the app.
A few negatives:
1. Text messages are inaudible when the iPhone is docked. I tried changing the alert type and we'll see but so far that one big negative. If I'm half asleep and I get a text the phone only vibrates thus unlikely to wake me up. I hope they figure a workaround for this (maybe having the option to use the iHome's speakers to alert you)
Overall I really like my iHome ia100 and hopefully they continue to improve the iHome Sleep app. I would like to give it a 4.5 stars because of the text message issue and the dearth of instructions and support for the device, but once you figure it out the iHome ia100 delivers a solid bedside clock radio.
AR ARIR200 Tabletop Wi-Fi Internet Radio with Alarm (Black)
- Wi-Fi internet and AM/FM radio with built-in Wi-Fi and Ethernet connectivity
- Simple online setup and activation; free accounts with Slacker Personal Radio, Personal Portal and WeatherBug
- Clock radio and alarm functions to wake to your personal favorites
- Record up to 10-hours of internet radio or AM/FM radio
- USB connection for playing content from your flash drive or mp3 player
RCA Infinite Radio RIR200 Internet Radio with Wifi Connectivity and Slacker Personal Radio
In case the link does not work, put this number (a product number) into the search box: B0016OK5O0 (cut and paste because those are both O's and zeros). You can also look at the reviews for the RIR205 which is the same unit but it also includes a basic router for those who want a simple way to hook up their unit to the internet. Search for B0016OI1BY to get info on the RIR205
Some of the issues brought up in those reviews are still valid (e.g. the odd ergonomics of the controls, too bright illumination, etc.) and some issues have been fixed by firmware updates. Unfortunately, sometimes when they fix one issue in the firmware they seem to also "break" another.
I give AR/RCA credit that they are at least supporting the product with firmware updates (as of 3/2009 they have released a version during 12/2008 and 3/2009). Right now, in my experience the product is a bit buggy with the current version of the firmware and I have been experiencing some random crashes where it either locks up or reboots itself. This is a real pain because it loses the security key for the WiFi when this happens and thus it has to be reentered. There is also a base level of white noise through the speakers, even after turning the radio off, that I find annoying (hint: after going standby, turn the volume dial all the way down and it will disappear with a pffft then spin the volume back up to the normal position so that you have volume the next time you turn the radio portion on). This unit is better than the iLuv unit I reviewed elsewhere and could be quite good if they ever get a good version of the firmware going.
One of the best resources for information on these radios is the message archives at the following group at Google groups: Acoustic Research ARIRC200 Internet Radio . Just do a search at Google Groups and you should find the group (I don't think Amazon will let me include the link, but here goes: http://groups.google.com/group/acoustic-research-arirc200-internet-radio?hl=en )
Buy AR ARIR200 Tabletop Wi-Fi Internet Radio with Alarm (Black) Now
My wife bought me this for my birthday. She probably wishes she didn't. I keep her up at night as I go through all the internet stations each evening. I guess you could say this is the "world's worst alarm clock". I lose at least an hour's sleep each night, playing with the RIR200. It may soon replace my XM radio as my favorite radio. Seriously, the RIR200 is just awesome. Setup is fairly simple. You setup an account online (free), which takes about 5 minutes. You can customize some favorite options if you like. You use your Slacker password if you have one, and the radio will automatically log into Slacker. A free 4 year subscription to WeatherBug is included for instant weather and alerts. After you setup online, you turn on the RIR200 and follow the quick setup guide. Connecting to my WEP wireless network was no problem, and I had the radio up and running in a few minutes. All in all, I just love the RIR200. It performs well. The sound is very good, but by no means Hi-fidelity. If I had to say a negative thing about it, the AM and FM performance is nothing special. No big deal because I'll probably never ever listen to them on this radio anyway. Also, I wish the lowest volume setting wasn't as loud as it is. It's a little loud when trying to fall asleep. The radio isn't perfect , and does have its bugs. None of which I consider major. I haven't had any major issues. The firmware is updated in occasion. The most recent update added access to MP3Tunes, and fixed many of the previous bugs. It also introduced a few more, but they're working on fixing them too. If they get all the bugs out, I'd easily give it 5 stars.Read Best Reviews of AR ARIR200 Tabletop Wi-Fi Internet Radio with Alarm (Black) Here
I bought this as a second internet radio, mostly because it is pretty inexpensive compared to other radios. (My other is a Squeezebox Boom, which cost ~ $250.) At $90-$100, the AR Infinite Radio is a steal. It's kind of small, and has smallish speakers. There's no remote, either. But, the device works as advertised, and it's hard to remember why other companies charge twice as much for an internet radio device. It was very easy to get it on my WPK2-protected wifi network, search for my favorite stations, and away we go. This radio is great for my office.Want AR ARIR200 Tabletop Wi-Fi Internet Radio with Alarm (Black) Discount?
BUYER BEWARE: IMPORTANT CONSIDERATIONS BELOW!Having owned both the AIR200 and AIR205 models for almost two years, I've had plenty of time to evaluate them. The AIR205 is the same as the AIR200, except the former includes a wireless router, which is useful for those who don't already have a wireless router or don't know how to connect to their existing router.
Firstly, these units are NOT made by Audiovox. This is a classic case of an American company going to a Chinese manufacturer and stamping their logo on an existing product. The EXACT same unit can be found under the RCA brand name. Hopefully RCA had higher quality standards than Audiovox!
I originally purchased the AIR200 as a gift for my non-technical mother. Big mistake! She was totally lost and gave up on it quickly. I have a computer degree, so I didn't mind fiddling around with the unit. At first, I overlooked the flaws because it was such a great thrill to dial into thousands of stations around the world. Classic rock, retro 80s, you name it. I even rushed out and bought an AR205 for myself. That's when I started paying attention to how badly designed these things really were.
The built-in software has the most bugs I've ever seen in any commercial product. It appears they released this with absolutely NO bug testing or usability testing WHATSOEVER! There are so many issues, I don't know where to begin.
It often takes two or more tries to connect to its own router. I have to unplug it and then plug it back in again to get it to connect. If I leave it plugged in, it often turns itself on randomly during the night, even if the alarm isn't set on the clock radio. Sometime it turns on to the previous radio station; other times it turns on to no station at all -I just wake up to light static/buzzing from the speaker being powered on.
The menu was very poorly thought out. Let's say you want to listen to KROQ in Los Angeles. The way to get there via the menu is as follows: choose Internet->By Region->North America->By Country->United States->By State->California->By City->Los Angeles->KROQ
That means you might have to click on TEN menu items to get to the station you want!!! Plus, you have to click the "down" button through each item in each menu to get to the one you want. Some menus have up to 50 to 100 items, so you'll be click-click-clicking quite a bit. I'm not sure how long these buttons will last. They should have used the volume dial to scroll through the menu. That would be much faster. In fact, voice commands or a search mechanism would have made more sense.
OK, so let's say you're back listening to KROQ. If you want to go to another station in Los Angeles, you'll have to go through the menu all over again because the "back" button usually forgets where you were. The preset buttons and favorites are helpful ways to create shortcuts, but they sometimes get confused and fail to connect too.
It appears to be impossible to remove a dead station from your favorites list because the remove option is only available [after] the station connects successfully, which it won't if the station no longer exists. And here's the kicker:
IF YOU LIVE OUTSIDE THE USA, MANY STATIONS WILL NO LONGER BE ACCESSIBLE DUE TO CBS'S NEW GEO-BLOCKING POLICY.
When I first bought this radio, I was able to access thousands of US stations, which made all the flaws worth overlooking. However, CBS (who handles the streaming for most US stations) has since blocked access to non-US IP addresses. While there are still thousands of world-wide stations available, over half the US stations are now off-limits to many customers. Unfortunately, this means most of the best stations, in my opinion. This isn't Audiovox's fault, but it is a shame.
I don't have a problem with the sound quality. It's fairly clear for a small clock radio. Even a low-quality 48kbps stream sounds pretty darn good. It's a shame they did such a poor job on the software because the radio feels solid and sturdy.
In closing, I couldn't possibly recommend this to a non-technical user. Despite several firmware upgrades, none of the aforementioned bugs have been fixed, and I doubt they ever will be. I also think this has lost a lot of value for non-US residents due to the blocked stations. I'd probably begrudgingly buy this radio again because it's still nice to listen to internet radio without having a laptop or desktop computer in the room, but there are probably better products out there.
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I've had this radio for over a year. It was a great purchase. It entertains me every day and wakes me up every morning. Yes, it looks a little funky-but don't we all? You'll grow to like it's looks, I promise. Yes at times it can be a bit hard to program-and the buttons could be laid out a bit better. But again you get used to its quirks. Right now it's like an old friend, not perfect, but a good companion to have around. By the way-the radio's internal circuitry produces FAR better sound then the speakers can reproduce. There's a headphone/audio output jack on the back. Connect this to your stereo with a $5.00 patch cord from Radio Shack and you'll be amazed!
Eveready Gold Alkaline Batteries AA, 4-Count
Alkaline batteries have been the way to go for some time now, and Eveready has been doing it longer than anyone. Amazon makes a great product a great deal.Save 53% Off
Midland WR11 AM/FM Clock Radio with NOAA All Hazard Weather Alert
- Receives NOAA Weather Broadcasts
- AM/FM Clock Radio with Snooze
- Auto Override switches from Radio to Alerts
- Over 60 Emergency Alerts
- Battery Back up during Power Outage
The weather alert feature is a good one to have included, especially if you happen to live in an area prone to tornadoes, flash floods, or any other weather emergency that can erupt suddenly. But it is also useful if you happen to be the type to not pay much attention to the weather until it starts to get really interesting, or scary. Setting the alert feature to on gives you the option of either an alarm, voice, or light display only. Unless you enjoy being possibly awakened in the middle of the night by an alarm that will definitely leave your heart pounding, I would suggest the voice alert that is far more subtle. (Or the light only display if you happen to be that light a sleeper to take notice of it). Keep in mind also that this radio receives all weather, as well as a whole range of civil defense/Amber alert bulletins as well. (An Amber alert issued in Massachusetts just last week at the time of this writing was heard on this radio, as well as my others set to alert). Its a solid little radio with a generous display that is nicely back lit without being too intrusive, and the buttons and dials are easy to reach and use.
One last item as to the alert feature. This radio does not have SAME technology. That is, it is not able to distinquish between alerts issued in your specific zip code, as opposed to county or regional alerts. In other words, if you have the alert feature set to on, you will recieve all alerts in your general area whether they specifically apply to your locale or not. If it is a soild, table top weather radio with alert model you are looking for that can be programmed as to your own specific area, may I suggest the Midland WR300. It is a little more expensive, and more designed for the weather enthusiast than the casual user, but it is a top of the line model that does possess the SAME technology. I have enclosed a link to it at the end of this review. On the other hand, the Midland WR11 is a fine model if what you are interested in is a small well designed dependable radio for your bedroom, or any other place such a clock radio model will suit you. In my opinion a fine little unit... MIDLAND WR300 Weather Radio
Buy Midland WR11 AM/FM Clock Radio with NOAA All Hazard Weather Alert Now
Radio is just what I wanted. It was smaller than I had expected but that has proven to be a benefit as I don't have much room on my nightstand. This unit replaces a older clock weather radio which was having trouble with drift or staying on the station. This unit has all the weather bands preprogrammed so there is no drift. The sound it good and there are different alert modes for weather bulletins. Believe me the "siren" mode can wake even the heaviest sleeper! Fortunately, there are other, quieter modes (voice, LED light) to alert you when severe weather threatens your area.Read Best Reviews of Midland WR11 AM/FM Clock Radio with NOAA All Hazard Weather Alert Here
Nice compact size, good audio and signal reception, but one glaring design flaw: There is no instruction in the user's manual about how to disable the clock radio alarm feature without also disbling the weather alert feature and no amount of fiddling with the settings is able to remedy this problem. If you want one mainly for the weather alert feature, keep looking. Also, this unit only receives weather alerts, not others like Amber Alerts.Want Midland WR11 AM/FM Clock Radio with NOAA All Hazard Weather Alert Discount?
I bought this radio about 4 months because our neighborhood has had a few too many close calls with tornados. The radio performs well. It announces EVERY weather and flood alert in the ENTIRE area covered by St Louis NOAA. That is a huge area. After being awaken 6 times last night by thunderstorm alerts a half a state away I ordered the WR300. Unlike the WR11, the WR300 has S.A.M.E. tech which allows filter out warnings that do not apply to the area you are actually in and you can also filter out all alerts but the ones about life-threatening situations. Hopefully in a week I will no longer be awoken by an alert about the threat of a thunderstorm 100 miles away. I wish I had spent the extra $15 a few months ago.Save 32% Off
I goofed when purchasing the WR-11. It does not have Specific Area Message Encoding (S.A.M.E., which narrows down the alerts to only the counties you specify). Choose the WR-300 for a clock radio with weather and S.A.M.E.Otherwise the radio performs beautifully. Great reception of the three weather channels in my area. Good reception of radio stations (as good as my car stereo). Alas, because it lacks S.A.M.E. it does not replace my WR-100. But if you don't care about S.A.M.E., this radio functions beautifully.
Screaming Meanie 110 Alarm Timer TZ-120 - Assorted Red or Blue
- PACIFIC CORNETTA Screaming Meanie(TM) 110 Alarm Timer - Assorted Colors TZ-120
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I see this in my husband's hand in the morning, as he stands several yards from the bed...He pushes some buttons and like action-packed movie he throws it as if it were a grenade onto the bed before bolting (hands over his ears)...Then I can't cover my ears whilst turning it off...no it takes both hands! It is seriously the best thing for those of you who can't wake up because you're a very deep sleeper...It is a frightening product! Yes, it really works...notice how I am usually awake when my husband actually uses it, screaming NO! It is set on low volume...I'm not ready to know what the loudest setting sounds like!Read Best Reviews of Screaming Meanie 110 Alarm Timer TZ-120 - Assorted Red or Blue Here
My husband and I have used these for many years now. And over the years this has become the most requested christmas gift from our children and grandchildren. They are durable and realible. I will be adding 2 more grandchildren to the screamer fan club this year. i would recoment this to anyone.Want Screaming Meanie 110 Alarm Timer TZ-120 - Assorted Red or Blue Discount?
The Screaming Meanie is by far the loudest alarm I have ever heard. I purchased it for my elderly mother who is hearing-impaired and could not hear her medication reminder alarm. She is able to hear the Screaming Meanie on the low setting. The high (loudest) setting could be heard from a distant position in a large house and through walls in an apartment building. On the high setting, it would make a perfect personal panic alarm, since that requires one button to activate, and even outdoors, this sound would surely carry some distance. I have not given it 5 stars because the ease of use and functions could be better. It requires two hands and 3 buttons held at once to shut off the alarm, and you cannot program in a frequently used time interval. That does not detract from its usefulness if the primary criteria is loud volume. It appears sturdy and well made. Also, the directions are very clear and set up like a quick-reference. Good purchase for the money.
Bose Wave - Audio System - Radio / Cd - Graphite Gray
- Ideal for home or office listening
- CD player, FM/AM tuner, headphone jack, alarm clock
- Convincing sound and impressive lows, especially for its size
- Contemporary design with all controls on convenient remote
Buy Bose Wave - Audio System - Radio / Cd - Graphite Gray Now
Amazing Radio. Crystal clear highs and lows in a compact unit that will leave any music lover satisfied. This radio fills a room up like units that costs hundreds of dollars more. I use the alarm clock every day and my favorite feature is plugging my ipod/dvd player/cpu into it and hearing this little radio really rock!Simply amazing.
Read Best Reviews of Bose Wave - Audio System - Radio / Cd - Graphite Gray Here
I am really happy with my radio/cd player, it has great sound, and I am not having to go into my daughter's room to use our stereo, which is right below my neighbors' bedroom, the sound quality is perfect, and I definetely have liked everything that I have purchased from Amazon over the years.Want Bose Wave - Audio System - Radio / Cd - Graphite Gray Discount?
I recently had an electric power surge issue in my home that blew out my old bose radio that I loved. I wanted one just like it for a replacement. This one is perfect; just as promised it is in mint condition and it arrived in 3 days! I could not be more pleased.