HD Radio

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Eton E10 AM/FM Shortwave Radio

Very compact, full-featured digital shortwave radio
Bright, backlit LCD screen; independent fine-tuning control knob and calibrated signal meter
Tunes AM/FM and shortwave signals
Auto-scan function; 550 programmable station memories
Digital alarm clock with sleep timer

I was looking for a high quality portable that I could use at work and that was light enough that I could carry around with me while walking.

I have had the E10 for about two weeks and am very pleased with it thus far. FM reception is very good -it matches my Sangean ATS 818 easily. AM reception is also good (altough reception is compromised at workbut this is true of any radio). Shortwave is not quite to the same level as my Sangean but it still very good especially for the price and size. Sound is surprisingly good for the size of the speaker.

My biggest complaint with the radio is the small size of the buttons and controls. Even as small as the radio is, it is clear that they could have designed it with larger and more well spaced buttons.

The E10 comes with rechargeable NIMH batteries, the only drawback is that they only charge when the radio is OFF. The radio will work with standard AA batteries as well. An AC adaptor/charger is included. It also comes with ear buds (For FM Stereo) and a windup shortwave antenna. A carrying case is included (I use mine everyday).

If you like memory presets, you will love this radio. It has 500! (so far I have used only about 25 of them!).

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Hi , I'm Vince the radioman I've have a large collection of radios and I love to do compares and share my thoughts. The Eton E 10 ( along with the E1 and E100) is a vast improvement over to old Grundig line of radios. You can immediatly see and feel the difference in the quality of how the radio is made. It has a robust memory (500 presets) and complete functionality including wide/narrow band selection and an interference filter which seems to work well. The tuner sensativity and dynamic range are very good considering the price . It has an antenna trim feature which is a pleasure and not usually available on a radio of this price range.I enjoy AM DXing and have had good results, not quite as good as the SONY 7600 or the Sangean ATS909. The Sangean is priced way above the E 10 but the SONY 7600 is just a bit more but has SSB which the E 10 does not . The E 10s cosmetic design /sleekness is wonderful and as I've said earlier ...a well made radio!! The control buttons are a bit small and cause issues for those of us with large hands, but not a show stopper. My actual rating here is 4 and a half stars , I do really like this radio but its not a SONY , it does have some hiss and selectivity issues, but none the less a very good buy for the money .

Read Best Reviews of Eton E10 AM/FM Shortwave Radio Here

I've toted several radios to my work office, which thanks to thick concrete walls and all sorts of electronic gadgets, is a high-interference nightmare for all my AM/FM reception needs.

The Eton E10 is strong on all bands at home but in my office it gets weak FM. However, its saving grace is its strong AM, which performs even better than my big Grundig S350 and my Kaito 1103.

So I'm using my E10 as my sole AM receiver radio and my Grundig S350 for my FM needs.

For home use, the best PLL dual-conversion radio with presets is hands down the Kaito 1103, which has jaw-dropping FM sensitivity and beats the Eton E10 easily in the FM department. But for AM my E10 has been my strongest performer.

Update: I've just compared the E10 to the less modern looking Grundig G4000 and I must say the G4000 is a better perfomer and has a better speaker and is thirty dollars less retail, so go for the G4000.

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I have both the Sony SW7600GR and the Eton E10. The Sony has less noise through the headphone out compared to the Eton. You can verify this by turning the volume knob all the way down. There is considerably less background hiss with the Sony.

But once you turn the volume up, you can't really hear that much of a difference.

This is a bummer. And I also tested the Eton E100 as well. The same level of background hiss on both the E10 and the E100. Eton should really have used a cleaner headphone amp.

This Eton radio is the U.S. domestic version of the Chinese Tecsun PL-550 all-band pocket sized radio. The Chinese version is legended in the native language and utilitarian in appearance and less expensive. The Eton is, well, in English with slight curves. I have used and tested other Tecsun produced radios, including the PL-200 (Eton 10) and the Grundig eTraveller VII. This radio, like the other Tecsun models, has excellent frequency discrimination, as well as the ability to directly enter the frequency desired (if you know it), or scan through the AM, FM and many shortwave bands, find the stations you like and store their frequencies. Closely allied, for example, FM stations within 200 kHz (only the strongest will be heard on most commercial FM receivers) of each other, can be picked up with clarity, positioning the manuverable whip antenna. Very, very few radios, excepting expensive car radios, can boast such performance in the Unites States. Now on the market are other comparable radios, all made by Tecsun in China using the very same sophisicated reception circuitry regelated previously to expensive shortwave receivers. This model has other features as well: two preset wake-up times for programs from preselected stations, scanning of all bands for stations and an antenna trimmer which permits optimizing reception on weakly received broadcasts, some 500 station memories and special reception selectivity for shortwave stations whose frequencies are almost overlapping. For the price, this radio is simply an excellent value, but people wishing to receive shortwave broadcasts are warned: shortwave reception from this radio, and every other shortwave radio for that matter, of stations other than the powerful broadcasters, benefits enormously from the use of an external long wire antenna. Tecsun does provide a retractable wire antenna with the radio. Alas, as with almost all radios this size, there is no single side band (SSB) reception, an enhancement that, defying digital technology, actually requires listener intervention to optimize and has great potential, but has, for the present at least, been consigned to the province of the technical listener more interested in ascertaining distant reception than actual broadcast information. The Dalai Lama for all his 5,000 watts SSB from Tibet can not be heard on this radio. China Radio shortwave, at 150,000 watts conventiona AM shortwave, with Canadian relay stations, does just fine. Australian radio, at the same power, Radio Havana, Radio Serbia, Croatia, Russia, Netherlands, Sweden, India, Israel, etc., at lesser power, and some with and most without relay stations, are also heard clearly on the Eastern seaboard during their times of broadcast usually in the early evening EST.

Samsung Exhibit 4G Android Phone, Black (T-Mobile)

I got this 3 weeks ago on contract from T-Mobile for $80 with rebate. I had looked at the other premium Android-powered smartphones they had (LG G2X, Samsung Galaxy/Vibrant 4G, HTC Sensation, My Touch 4G, Sidekick 4G), but their prices turned me away to the Exhibit 4G.

Here's the run-down on the Exhibit 4G...

This is my 3rd Samsung handset and like the others it is high-quality and loaded with features. It's compact for a smartphone just 4.6 in. tall, 2.2 in. wide, and .5 in. thick, and lightweight at 125 grams. It's made almost entirely of plastic, but that's not all bad because it has great heft, and is easy to hold thanks to a soft-touch coating on the battery cover and part of the front and sides.

Hardware-wise the Exhibit packs some features found on high-end devices. The 3.5 inch, 16 million color support 480x800 LCD capacitive touchscreen looks great and has very high pixel density. The resolution and color reproduction and saturation is very good for an LCD unit, I'd say on-par with the HTC Sensation's S-LCD display. Pictures, graphics, and videos look great. Granted, it can't go blow-for-blow with the Super AMOLED displays, but for the price you'd be hard-pressed to find a better one. It is also very sensitive and responsive to inputs.

The Exhibit has a 1 GHz ARM-A8 Cortex Hummingbird processor, 512mb of RAM, and 1 GB internal storage, expandable to 32GB by a MicroSD card. There's also b/g/n WiFi, multi-touch input, an accelerometer for UI autorotate, gyroscopic sensor, and compass, proximity sensor to lock the display, and an ambient-light sensor to adjust display brightness.

There are only three physical hardware buttons and they are responsive and sturdy. The up-down volume rocker on the left side, a power/lock/unlock button on the right, and a large home button on the front. Interestingly, unlike other Android phones there are just three capacitive Android keys for menu, back, and search under the screen. Another plus is that the memory and SIM card are both accessible through a spring-loaded slots. The SD card is on the left side, and the SIM is just under the battery cover, so you don't need to remove the battery to access them. Way to go Samsung!

The software feature set is also impressive for a sub-$100 smartphone. Thankfully, the Exhibit isn't loaded down with bloatware like some other handsets. You do get exclusive T-Mobile software like AppPack, T-Mobile Mall (to browse and buy T-Mobile apps), Highlight, Name ID (costs $3.99 a month), T-Mobile TV (to watch popular TV shows), and Quix Video Chat. You also get the preloaded Google Apps like Maps with Navigation, Places, Search, and other Apps like Slacker Radio, TeleNav GPS, navigation,The Exhibit is feature packed, almost bursting at the seams when it comes to software.

It runs "Gingerbread" Android 2.3.3 with Samsung's Touchwhiz interface, which is a good one. It's easy to use and I got the hang of it pretty quickly. It's well-laid out and arranged so all the functions, menus, and "Widgets" are easy to find and use. Thankfully Samsung didn't choke out and destroy the stock Android OS, so it's customizable as well.

The small-for-a-smartphone screen does make typing on the portrait keyboard a little difficult. I have ham hands and it took me a while to get used to it. the landscape keyboard is a different story though with large keys. You do get Swype input functionality though, which is useful. There is also voice text input which works pretty good!

I really like the organizer, plus you can sync your calendar and event notifications to other Android-powered phones and Gmail accounts as well as share media and files (you can't share ones you had to buy) through the AllShare app. As a plus, T-Mobile lets you allow the installation of virtually every 3rd party App on the Market.

One area you can tell Samsung cut corners to keep costs down is in the Exhibit's camera. You don't get a 5 or 8 MP camera, and you can't shoot 720P or 1080 HD video from the Exhibit. You're stuck with a 3.2 MP (2040x1536) camera and D1 (720x480) video recording, which isn't too bad. Pictures in daylight come out good. Colors are a bit soft and you don't get nearly as many details as with a 5+ MP unit, but they are good enough to print. Low light photos suffer from lots noise which destroys pretty much all fine detail, but thankfully the LED flash is very powerful, illuminating out to 10 feet, so you can take some servicable images. Thre's a front-facing camera for video calling or photos as well.

The flash is also a video light, so videos are also servicable, but only out to about 5 feet. Like all of the Samsung devices I've used, you get a good camera interface with 13 scene modes(candle light, WDR backlight, firework, text, sports, etc.), 3 shooting modes (single, panorama, burst), exposure metering, negative, monocolor, and sepia mode, image quality, adjustable color balance and saturation, exposure value, contrast, and sharpness. Most all of those are also found in the camcorder interface as well.

There's no physical camera shutter button (like most Android phones, touch to focus and shoot), or digital zoom, and the shooting performance really needs improvement. It takes about 3-4 seconds to acquire focus and shap the picture, and I've noticed that shot-to-shot times are a bit slow, so don't count on it to get fast follow-up shots. But remember this cost $80.

The Touchwiz media player is very good and easy to use. There are 9 settings (one customizable) for equalizer, visualization, effects, and file management. Sound quality with media and calling were pretty good. It does what a phone is supposed to do and does it well with good voice quality and clarity. The earpiece and speakerphone could be more powerful though. I have to turn the volume up high to hear callers over the speaker even indoors. Although it's adequate, the media volume could also use some improvement as I had to turn up the volume when listening to a video or song. Plug in the headphones and it's a different story. I enjoyed the sound quality and loudness.

Web browsing is very good. The Exhibit supports both 3G and HSPA+ 4G connectivity which is a theoretical 21 mbps, but I only saw 6 down and 2 up using Speed Test app running on the network with good signal strength, and about the same on WiFi. It has full Flash support as well, but sometimes pages with lots of Flash content load slow and even stall. To avoid this, you can set the Flash setting to on demand.

Battery life is great. You get a 1500 mah. Li-ion battery that gave me about 3 days with moderate use before it beeped at me. Heavy calling, camera/camcorder flash use, Web browsing, and media player useage will quickly drain the battery, but you'll still get a day and a half out of it which is impressive.

So there's the major stuff.

Pros:

Ridiculously low on-contract price

Samsung's Touchwiz interface is customizable and easy to use

High quality construction and good feel

Impressive handware and software feature set

Camera flash/video light

Android 2.3

Adjustable camera settings

Good display

No need to remove battery to access MicroSD and SIM card

4G support

Competent Web browsing

Good call clarity

Good battery life

Front-facing camera

1 Ghz processor

Cons

Smallish screen makes using portrait keyboard difficult

3.2 MP camera and subpar D1 video

Poor shooting performance

No digital zoom

No AMOLED display

No physical shutter button

Web browsing could be better

Wished it had Dolby's DNse 5.1 audio enhancement feature

Speaker phone, earpiece, and media volume could be louder

I am being a little picky here, but for $80, you can't beat it. If you want a high-end phone but don't have or want to shell out $200 or more, take a look at the Exhibit. You will find most of the premium features for a very un-premium bottom shelf price. I was sold and after living with it for a few weeks, I am glad I chose the Exhibit.

I'm a tech lover, but didn't really need a smartphone yet. When I went to upgrade, I noticed this device and it's low price. I ended up getting it because it has many of the same specs as the Galaxy S, but cheaper. The screen is smaller than most smart phones, but I actually like it that way. The smaller screen makes the phone size more manageable for me and fits in my pocket better. If you want the latest and greatest phone, then this isn't for you. If on the other hand, you are looking for an introductory smart phone that can do most everything the "big boys" can then I would seriously recommend the Exhibit.

Buy Samsung Exhibit 4G Android Phone, Black (T-Mobile) Now

I just purchased my phone and I just have to say that I love it! I've been a Blackberry user for quite sometime, however my Blackberry was starting to fizzle out with me. My text messages were being deleted BEFORE I could read them and several other problems. This phone is just the right size for me. I'm still tinkering with it to get it to my specifications but I have time, no rush. As long as I can call out and hang up when necessary, I'm good. The web is pretty fast which is great asset. I'm not really big on tech speak but I recommend this phone for the look, the size and especially the price!

Read Best Reviews of Samsung Exhibit 4G Android Phone, Black (T-Mobile) Here

I'm old fashioned and the primary function of a phone for me is for making voice calls. Smart phone functions like having a calendar, calculator and camera are nice extras and being able to check email and do web searches and check weather updates is nice too. But it all has to start with good call quality and that's where the Exhibit really shines. Another plus is that the battery life is very good if your primary use is as a voice phone, just keep wifi turned off when you don't need it. I actually bought a used Exhibit on eBay to keep as an extra phone but the call quality was so much better than my HTC HD7 that I'm using it all the time. I have to say that I prefer the Windows Phone 7 os much better than Android, but Gingerbread is more stable and usable than earlier versions of Android. For a relatively inexpensive smart phone the Exhibit is a keeper.

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As a full-featured Android touch-screen smartphone, I was impressed with the features. Fast web browsing, good quality photos and videos, the ability to upload attachments at will, voice operated text, a million apps to choose from and all for a really low price with contract.

I wanted this to be everything, but it still falls short. I've had it about six months now, and it freezes fairly often, which is nothing short of frustrating. The battery has half the life it once did. (I suspect the tethering feature killed it don't forget to turn it off when you're finished using it!) The touch screen keyboard is annoying and awkward, but I suspect it's no worse than most other Android phones. The camera, I realize now, isn't THAT good it has no zoom capability, and captures low light/shadows terribly. More significantly, all the pictures have a subtle fish-eye lens tendency to them, which makes none of them actually accurate! (It also makes your face look too big!) That's probably the single most annoying characteristic of this phone, next to the system freezing of course.

So, judge for yourself I guess. I chose it as the best compromise between ratings, price, and radiation level. I'm sure you have different options now.

Midland HH50 Pocket Weather Radio

Broadcasts all hazards alert weather brought to you by NOAA for around-the-clock severe weather information
Automatic alert system turns on in event of dangerous weather or civil emergencies
Test button confirms alert function is working properly at all times
Constructed to be water resistant, with a 6-inch telescoping antenna for crystal-clear reception
Runs on 3 AAA batteries, and is backed by a manufacturer's 3-year warranty
Receives NOAA broadcasts for around-the-clock severe weather information

I have a number of so-called weather alert radios. Without fail they all have a myrid of features that really dont have a lot to do with simply giving me a weather forecast for my area. This one does, in a simple, straight-forward manner, provide me with a weather forecast and alert if I so choose, and thats basically it. It doesn't fry eggs, give the weather for China, text message, or any other questionably related functions. It is lightweight, simple to use and does what they say it will do.

What will they think of next!

Buy Midland HH50 Pocket Weather Radio Now

I am absolutely delighted with this weather radio and have been recommending it to everyone I know! Having been frustrated by complicated radios that require code inputs depending on where you are, this one that you simply turn "on" is a huge relief. It automatically picks up the nearest NOAA signal. Last weekend it gave me, and several other campers huddled around it atop a mountain, the regional weather information (crystal clear reception) that we needed to make travel decisions. Last night, it gave me and colleagues critical information to plan commutes. When tornado watches have extended beyond bedtime, I simply click the lever up one more notch to "alert" knowing it will signal if severe weather happens overnight. This unit is a tremendous bargain. It's sleek, fits in a small purse. Anyone who lives east of the Rockies should have one of these nearby during tornado and hurricane season. I have two of these devices so that one will remain in my car and one will be in my purse.

Read Best Reviews of Midland HH50 Pocket Weather Radio Here

I have an old portable AM/FM radio with weather band, but I was looking for something really compact with a weather alert feature that could be carried in a pocket or fanny pack. This one fits the bill. A nice feature: of the seven channels, it automatically scans for the strongest signal in your area. You can also cycle through all available channels manually. Simple to use with the quality of Midland!

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Living in tornado country, you learn to pay attention to the weather.

Too many weather radios have tried to do too much, resulting in a product that's well-intended but baffling to operate. Or worse, one that underperforms in a critical area reception! It's no good if you can't pick up a NOAA station, and having to hold the radio this way, that way, higher or lower, is unacceptable. In an emergency, your attention needs to be focused, not distracted.

So the idea of a small radio that just handles "picking up weather without any work" sounds great on paper, but it fails in execution. This radio never gets past just plain 'good'.

In short, here's how I would review the unit I received, from best to worst, and why:

* very simple operation (on/off/alert, 5 out of 5)

* good reception (sometimes requires "playing antenna," 4 out of 5)

* fair audio (from an average speaker, 3 out of 5)

* does not lock onto strongest signal (instead, locks onto first one it finds, 3 out of 5)

* no feedback while scanning (no sound at all, no indication that it's working, 2 out of 5)

* no indication of power status (unless you look at the switch position, 1 out of 5)

* no indication of battery power left (0 out of 5)

The operation is simple. The reception and audio quality are average, which I found disappointing but not a showstopper. The lack of feedback during scanning is more irksome. The lack of feedback (knowing power is on or off, or low) is a product killer. If I can't tell that I left it on, or that my batteries are low, how can I be sure this will have power to work when I need it? This unit needs to be able to beep, or blink an LED, when power is low. Better would be a power plug so I can run it off an adapter, and a switch to choose my power source (batteries or AC). But all this adds to the cost. And, for not much more, there's a better option I'll point out below.

The scan does not seem to lock onto the strongest signal but the first one it deems receivable. In my area, I have a weaker broadcast on one NOAA channel, and a stronger local broadcast on another. The radio locks onto the weaker one first. If you are aware that these stations are in different areas, this can matter a LOT when an alert is sounded. The one you listen to will have different information.

Finally, you get ALL alerts or NONE. At first I was not bothered by this, but then I realized that it means I'm going to hear all kinds of alerts that will not pertain to me. I'm in Kansas... am I really going to be awakened to a tsunami warning? I have a more costly office weather radio by Reecom (I like a LOT, it's the best I've owned yet, but I still have not found "the best") that allows me to study lengthy charts and set up both the kinds of alerts I want to know about, and the counties where these alerts happen. I understand Midland wanted to keep it simple. But this isn't it.

I bought the Midland and an Eton FR160 at the same time, for different purposes. I have a relative who is challenged by multi-button, multi-function interfaces, so the simpler Midland sounded like a great solution. However, for only $12 more, the Eton FR160 outclasses and outperforms this one. And guess what? It's pretty simple to use, too! I will be buying a few more of the Eton's for their: better reception (no "playing antenna), rechargeable battery (via a dynamo winder, or solar panel), AM/FM, and built-in LED light. The Eton has a few additional features, but for my uses they are less useful.

So, is the Midland a good or bad radio? Depends on your needs, and how you intend to use it. If I were a hiker, where every ounce counts, I might use the Midland for weekend hikes or camping. There may be other times it fits other specific activities, too. But for me, I prefer the Eton. It's not much heavier, and it is somewhat bulkier, but it offers much more that I "DO" want, and less of what I "DON'T" want, an a weather radio.

Let me put it this way: worst case, I forget to turn off both units and the power drains to zero (neither one has a low battery warning, after all). But when an emergency comes, which one can I still use? The Eton. I can turn the crank and get light, radio, and weather. With the Midland, I'm still in the dark, looking for 3 more AAA batteries.

I rest my case.

Save 43% Off

I bought this radio hoping it would be OK and I would not have to ship it back. I was pleasantly suprised at what a good job this little (it is very small) radio does. It has had no problems receiving broadcasts and delivers clear crisp sound that is easily controlled for volume. It automatically searches for the strongest signal and is a no brainer to operate. I highly recommend it to campers and hikers and anyone that has a need for a small easily carried weather radio. It can also be set for alert mode whereby it will automatically come on if it receives an alert signal from NOAA. It has both a belt clip and a wrist strap. Well worth the small price.

iHome iH5 Clock Radio and Speaker System for iPod (Black)

Sleep or wake to iPod, AM/FM radio, or buzzer; auto-setting time and date even self-adjusts for Daylight Savings
Sleep or wake to iPod, AM/FM radio, or buzzer
Gradual Wake and Gradual Sleep gently increase (alarm) and decrease (sleep) the system volume
Clean, contemporary design complements your iPod; stereo speaker drivers in special chambers offer surprisingly good sound
Compatibility: iPod nano (1G only), iPod mini, 3G iPod, 4G iPod with click wheel, iPod Color, iPod Video

I've been long needing a new alarm clock/radio for my bedroom now and luck has it that SDI Tech just put out on the market something that I was looking for. The iHome is essentially an alarm clock radio with a docking station for the iPod. The unit is no bigger than a regular clock radio, measuring 9.2 in [234mm] width, 2.7in [69mm] height and 5.5in [141mm] depth so it can comfortably fit even on a small nightstand. Packaging contains the unit itself, instructions manual, removable docking station to fit the different kinds of iPods, back-up batteries for when power goes out [we all hate to see the flashing 12:00 when this happens], power adapter and an external radio antenna. No remote control though! You have to purchase it separately and it comes free if you buy one of their hard iPod cases for around $40 if I remember right. A smart marketing move, but deplorable. Just include the remote!

Sound quality is what to be expected of speakers of that size. SDI claims to be using an innovative "tunnel sound" system called Reason8 [resonate, how cool :/]. They're pretty loud at full blast but I was hoping they would offer a deeper, stronger sounding bass. I have a similar sized pair of computer desktop speakers that came with one of my old Hewlett Packard computers that offer better sounding bass. For those that don't listen to a lot of techno, I suppose it's no biggie. Reason8 does sound better than most other competitors out there tough, but doesn't quite touch Bose or Altec Lansing.

The iHome has some very cool features. Even without a docked iPod it can still offer quite good functionality: alarm clock, radio. On the back of the unit there is aline in on the back so you can connect pretty much any audio device and listen through the speakers. The Snooze button also adjusts the display brightness, offering 3 different settings. Also found on the back of the unit there is a small button for daylight savings time, sleep volume adjustment and clock set-up.

Dock an iPod and things get interesting. While charging it, you can listen to music directly through it, you can set it so it automatically shuts off at intervals ranging from 120 minutes to 60 to 30 to 15. As the timer approaches zero, volume slowly and subtly turns itself down.

You can set it so when it's time to wake up, you will be awaken to the sound of music coming from your little mp3 player.

Gripes:

Remote control not included. What gives? Smart marketing move, as I've mentioned above, but it would have been nice to have it included, given the unit's price.

Even on the lowest brightness setting I still find the unit too bright for my taste. The blue hue lights up my whole room. I sent an e-mail to SDI tech support inquiring about ways to make it dimmer, no response yet. If this is to be an alarm clock radio, why didn't they offer more than just 3 brightness settings? If nothing else, I think I'll find some translucent duct tape and put it over the front display, trying my best to make it blend with the design.

Buttons on the top have a different color than the front display. The front is a warm blue, the buttons are orange. I personally think from a design standpoint the unit would have looked more ballanced if it was in a single color.

Speaking of buttons, they seem rigid to the touch, giving off a loud click when pressed. The round turn buttons for volume and settings are a bit tricky to use. It may be just my unit but I found both to be sometimes unresponsive and when they finally do work, they are too touchy. I think it would have been a very nice feature if, for the price claimed on such a unit, the buttons would have been replaced with tactile wheels, just like the iPod.

Radio antenna cable has a plug that's actually in the middle of the cable itself. It would have been nice if the thing actually plugged in the very back of the unit, so if it wasn't needed [like in my case], one wouldn't have to worry about ducking away 3 inches of useless tangle.

Another nice feature would be the ability to select exactly what song on the iPod to wake up to. Presently, the thing just picks up where it left off playing the night before.

My Samsung cellphone is at fault for the following gripe, having spoiled me rotten. My phone has 3 settings for alarms: daily, Monday through Friday or Saturday and Sunday. Would be nice if the iHome had a similar feature, so if you go to bed late on a Friday and forget to turn off the alarm, you won't be awaken Saturday morning.

Final Thoughts:

I purchased this unit primarily because I wanted a system that allowed me to listen to my tunes as I read a book before going to sleep. I also needed a new, functional alarm clock. The SDI iHome paired these two needs into one nice option. I had $100 worth of gift certificates at Best Buy so I figured why not. If it wasn't for my abovementioned "overdue" needs, I probably would have waited. Wait and see what the competition comes out with. Wait for the price to go down a bit because as it stands right now, it's a bit high. If you end up purchasing it, rest assured that it's a nice gadget that will surely serve you well. Nice features, good sound quality, best suited to be used in a bedroom.

Buy iHome iH5 Clock Radio and Speaker System for iPod (Black) Now

I bought the iHome after recieving a Black Video iPod for Christmas, thinking it would be the perfect companion to my new toy. I have had a number of alarm clocks in the past including many CD alarm clocks, and the important thing for me was (1) that I could choose the song to wake to, and (2) absolute reliability of the alarm. On those two counts, the iHome is a champ. Simply cue up your iPod to the song you want to wake up to, hit pause, and it will start right in when the alarm hits. And if power should be lost, the iPod unseated, or if you forget to plug in the iPod, no problem. It switches to a "beep" alarm which is loud enough to wake you, but not so obnoxious that you wind up in a bad mood all day. Sound quality is SUPERIOR. And the controls are pretty obvious, and nicely lit with a gentle red glow for night useage.

However, there are a few gotchas with this product that probably will mean I will be going back to my old CD alarm clock. First, the LCD display has no "lights off" feature. For some, this will be nice as it means the display is visible even in pitch blackness. But I have a sensitivity to light that sometimes makes it hard to sleep if there is too much of it. Even the lowest light setting (there are three) is sometimes too much for me. Second, there is not a whole lot of iPod integration as far as controls go. You can turn on the iPod, wake to it, and turn it off. That's it. If you want to change the song, you will want to pick it up OUT of the iHome, change the settings on the wheel, and then plug it back in. Not a bigee, but a step down from the integration that most iPod accessories have. Third, this is NOT a "portable" solution. If you travel, this unit will be too big and bulky to bring along.

Overall, a good product which I recommend if the gotchas do not worry you. But neither of these are mentioned anywhere on the packaging or any of the reviews I have read. Buyer beware... and then enjoy!

Read Best Reviews of iHome iH5 Clock Radio and Speaker System for iPod (Black) Here

First off

this is the best integration I've seen of a speaker/alarm/iPod trio!

The iPod plugs in real easily, and it is charged while in cradle ---from there, the music, for the most part, sounds great, and all the functions are very easy to use

I was also impressed that it came with batteries, so if the power goes out, the batteries will serve as a backup

and of course, the alarm is loud as heck!

The reason I purchased the iHome though is because of its 'gentle wake' feature, which plays music at a low volume, and slowly increases to wake the person up

Phillips was the first to introduce this feature into their alarm clocks, and I loved it! --I hate waking up to a jarring sound, first thing in the morning

however, the gentle wake functions on this alarm are not as solid ----don't get me wrong, the music does start out at its lowest setting and gradually increases

the music, even at its low setting, starts out too loud, and then gradually increases way too quickly

compared to regular alarms though, this is a HUGE difference, and I don't find the iHome's alarm to be 'jarring' in any way, but it can definitely be improved upon

for the most part though, I'm pretty happy --its great waking up to one's favorite iPod songs and playing them while getting ready in the morning ---in addition, every alarm, on this clock, automatically uses Gentle Wake, in comparison to the Phillips, which had to be set manually within this feature

if the 'gentle-wake' feature is more important though, then I suggest going with Phillips

otherwise, if you're looking for a great alarm/stereo package, then look no further!

HAPPY BUYING!!!!!

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I spoke to someone at SDI this morning, manufacturer of the IHome iPod alarm clock about the problem of the alarm volume being too high. He said that they have made a running production change to the product which fixes the problem. In the current shipping model, the lowest alarm volume is "20". It can be raised higher than that, but that is the lowest. In the revised model, the lowest alarm volume is "10" and it can be raised from there.

The only way to determine if it is the new model is to look at the box. Next to the bar code is a date code embossed into the cardboard. If the next-to-the-last character is an "R" you have the new revised version. If it is not an "R" you have the original version. It sounds like the change was just made in the last week, so there is still lots of original inventory in the channel.

iHome iD28 App-enhanced, Rechargeable Portable Speaker System with FM Stereo Clock Radio, for iPad,

Wake and sleep to your iPad, iPhone, iPod, custom playlist, FM radio, or buzzer; Charges iPad, iPhone or iPod with AC adaptor (included)
App enhanced to work flawlessly with free iHome Sleep app and paid iHome Radio app
Rechargeable internal lithium-ion battery for music anywhere for up to 10 hours
Reson8 speakers (2 passive and 4 active) for superior stereo sound; and SRS TruBass expands the size of the audio image to create a deep, rich bass response
FM radio with 6 station memory presets; Aux/MP3 line-in jack; Retractable dock for travel; Remote control

I bot this product 3 months after reading review online but i love this one. It is very slim, Sounds gr8, Holds iPod, iPhone n iPad very well.The legs seem very thin, will come to know about the quality in long run. The Tray is little slow to pop out.

The 2 iHome apps are cool, dont have to buy the paid one though. It plays the pandora n other iphone apps too.

This is by far better than bulky products i have seen in market for $150-$199.

Pros Look, feel n Sound

ConsLegs and tray

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I've had this product for over a year now and my phone still charges every time i plug it in. Any dock product might occasionally tell you charging is not supported when you plug it in, but all you have to do is unplug it and plug it back in. The only possible explanation i can see is if they were pulling the iphone forward while it's docked and stressing the dock connector. Even if this did ever end up happening I'm sure iHome would be happy to replace it.

Now onto my review of the product. I'm what some might consider an audiophile, and I love this ihome. The sound coming from this little box is superb. Crisp highs and a very tight definitive bass. The alarm app is also a huge pleasure, allowing you to set different songs/playlists to fall asleep to and to wake up to. You can also control sleep and wake volumes. It has been through heavy use (I'm a college student) and is still like new. Could've paid a fraction of the price for a cheap speaker system and just had crap sound and have to buy a new one every few months. This is definitely a better investment.

To put shortly, this is one of the things in life that is worth spending the money on.

Read Best Reviews of iHome iD28 App-enhanced, Rechargeable Portable Speaker System with FM Stereo Clock Radio, for iPad, Here

I have had this dock for just over two months. I had the same problems as a couple of the other reviewers with the intermittent charging. After a while, there was no angle or jiggling that I could do to get it to charge at all. Worse yet, I couldn't return it because it was past the 30 day window. All in all, no matter how many great features this product has, if it doesn't charge my gadgets, it's essentially a very expensive and heavy alarm clock. Buyer beware!

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I wanted something that I could listen to my music on while at home. The features like the radio and recharging were not main factors for me. The sound is decent for one decent size room and it's nice as a good night light. A common problem seems to be the difficulty of fitting the Ipad onto the charging station, especially if you use some kind of cover. It is a big MUST to get a connecting cord, so you don't have to put your IPad directly on the unit. Sound is good, you're charging the unit, and it's handy to use.

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So the iHome iD28 is "app-enhanced." Annoying to keep getting reminded to download the app....talk about pressure. Remind me once and I'm okay....but since this is something you are buying, you should not be pressured into downloading the app! With that said, the iD28 is a very versatile, portable, alarm clock, radio, docking station, speaker system! A little extra space in your suitcase and it easily travels with you. The sound is enough to easily fill a room, though you won't be "rocking the house," with it. Sound is crisp and clear and relatively clean. If you are looking for audiophile sound, keep looking, as you won't find it here. However, if you are looking for exceptional sound for an alarm clock, you've come to the right place! As for ipod/pad sound, it is better than I expected. You might think this is pricey for an alarm clock, and I would normally agree with you, but it really has a lot going for it. I like the fact that that it is rechargeable. I love taking it away with us when we go away, even just for the weekend. Setting it is easy and intuitive and can be done without looking at the directions. The remote is great and has good distance. It is very thin and light, but not cheap feeling.....I like that.....you could keep it in your pocket and forget it's there. The unit, like the remote, is sleek and attractive. The supports on the back of the unit seem sturdy and well made and do not feel like they would be damaged with normal use. The FM antenae is great, and I get good reception. You have an option to swith the radio from mono to stereo. Why you would do this is beyond me, but it's there. Lastly, I love the display. It is bright, clear and easily read. I will update if this product starts to have issues. Nice job, iHome. :-)

NEW Extra Loud LED Alarm Clock Blk (Indoor & Outdoor Living)

Extra Loud LED Alarm Clock (Black)

Bought this clock because I need a LOUD alarm---mistake.The buttons are not well placed and not precise. It is hard to turn off alarm in the dark,so I hit "snooze" get up, turn on a light,turn off the alarm. The alarm "reset" button is useless too, as sometimes I awaken on my own just before the alarm time. This thing is headed for the Garage Sale[Yeah I destroyed the blister pack when I got it, so didn't send it back.]Learn from my mistake.

Pyle Home PHST94IPCW 600 Watt Digital 2.1 Channel Home Theater Tower with Docking Station for iPod/i

iPod/iPhone/iPad/MP3 AUX Input - Real 2.1 Channel Output - Touch Key Control System - Mid Range Driver: dual 3.5 Inch - Wood Construction w/ Beautiful Exterior
S-Video Output - Full Function Remote Control - LCD Display - Tweeter: Dual 1.0 inch - Dimensions: 43'' x 20.3'' x 11''
Built-In FM Radio with Memory - Independent Control of Each Channel - Output Power 600 Watts - Subwoofer: 8 inch - Weight: 41.9 Lbs
Alarm Clock Control and Time - iPod/iPhone/iPad can be Controlled Through Remote - L (150W x 1) R (150W x 1) Subwoofer (300Wx 1) - S/N: 85dB
2.1 Channel Amplifier - iPod/iPhone/iPad Charged Automatically - Frequency: L,R 150Hz - 20kHz Subwoofer 50Hz - 280Hz - THD: 0.1%

I bought this because it had great size and good specifications. I was looking for a great stereo for my house that would fit in a small area and still have great sound and good bass. This is truly the one. It was easy... open the box, plug it in, and works great!! The bass is super clean and responsive. My neighbors have even told me to turn it down. The display was pretty easy and simple to figure out. I have set it to where I want it, and haven't really changed anything since. I use the remote mostly for turning on/off and volume and tracks. I have to say, I would recommend to anyone!! My house is so much sweeter with good sounding music. In fact, I'm enjoying it right now!

Buy Pyle Home PHST94IPCW 600 Watt Digital 2.1 Channel Home Theater Tower with Docking Station for iPod/i Now

First off, I want to give Amazon a big thumbs up. They run a tight ship and never disappoint. The package arrived in good condition and was packed extremely well. I really like how easy this was to set up. It is a true plug and play system. Also I like how it looks. The picture is a little different that how it actually appears. I ordered the system with the cherry wood finish and it is much darker (thankfully) than the picture shows. Also it is not as bulky as it looks in the picture. It is light and easy to move. It looks very attractive in the corner of my living room. I would rate fit and finish a 9 on a scale of 1-10. The battery in my remote was dead right out of the box so I cannot review the remote control. The dock for the iPod is exceptional. The iPod fits perfectly and securely. No need to worry about the iPod falling. I like the clever backrest that slides up to hold my iPod securely.

Now...for the gripes. I was not impressed with the quality of the FM radio. I was a technician on very complicated electronics (sonar systems) in the navy for many years and I have a passion for audio and quality electronic equipment. Also, I am a radio enthusiast. I would rate the built-in FM radio a 2 on a scale of 1-10. It just doesn't have good reception. I did a side by side test with my favorite small radio (a cheap Sangean) and a very expensive portable world band receiver next to this system and both radios smoked it on reception and clarity. I played around with the antenna wire (on the back)...still no difference. The other gripe is the power. I have a 220 watt bass guitar amp and I sometimes run my iPod through that. In that configuration you can drive people out the door with volume. So I figured if this was 600 watts as the specs suggest, it would blow me away. Sadly, it does not. The lower frequencies are a bit muddy and undefined. The mid and high freqs are not as clear and crisp as I expected either. I boosted the bass in my iPod's EQ setting and cranked the volume...that helped a bit but it is still not impressive as 600 watts should be. Now don't get me wrong, it is certainly not terrible. In fact, if you use it at normal volume settings in a smaller room, it would exceed most people's expectations. I like low volume classical music playing in the background and this is very good for that purpose. Also, it would be good on the deck during a small party or a BBQ with a few friends. Just don't expect to rock the block with this system. Overall, I would rate it a 6.5 out of 10. If Pyle can develop a better radio receiver and improve speaker quality and cabinet tuning, this thing would seriously kick butt.

Read Best Reviews of Pyle Home PHST94IPCW 600 Watt Digital 2.1 Channel Home Theater Tower with Docking Station for iPod/i Here

I purchased this product from Galactic on October 3rd and, surprisingly, it was delivered today, October 5th, by standard shipping. Most importantly, I give it an A as far as the sound goes. The sound is very clear and crisp. I have the bass set at 0db and it's booming -no need to add any of the additional 10db. I haven't messed with the treble and don't plan to.

I give it an Aas far as the "look" goes. I have the matted black version and the only reason why I didn't give it a full A is because the top of the unit has a cheap shiny plastic (picture a black flat screen tv material), instead of being wholly made of the matted black wood "as suggested," if not "as advertised." That being said, it matches my black-brown bedroom furniture very well.

I would give the display/interface a Bat most. I don't know where the thing was made (my guess is China), but I don't think it was designed with an American consumer in mind. Most notably, the clock displays in the 24-hour format only (it's only an issue to me because the clock displays so prominently). If the thing didn't have a remote that at least allowed you to control the "source" function easily through the input button, I would give the interface an F. Reading the description online, I was left with the distinct impression that the LCD was touchscreen, not the completely counterintuitive four buttons below the screen. Had I known that it wasn't touchscreen, I would instead have ordered the slimmer 97076509M unit, which has a smaller, and presumably dimmer, LCD. That being said, once you have it set on the IPOD source setting, it's easy to control it through the play, rewind/reverse and fastforward/skip ahead buttons. There are ten preset buttons on the remote, which work easily enough once you're on the tuner source setting. I'd also note that, unlike the buttons on the remote for my old iHome iPod dock alarm clock, the buttons are very responsive and you don't have to break your fingers to press them. Overall, I'd give the unit 4 stars.

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I don't usually write reviews for the items I've purchased, but this system is worth my doing so. the sound output is clear, crisp... booming bass if you so desire as well. I don't understand the negative reviews. I echo the other positive reviews left for this sound system. It is fantastic! The ability to equalize the sound output is there to the listeners' pleasure. My unit has become the highlight of our newly added home bar and game area. Don't pay any attention to the negative feedback left here, this unit rocks big time and the sound is amazing, clear, and house filling! Get it... everyone who sees and hears it will be in awe. We absolutely love our!

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The tower kicks a lot of power to the listner.

built in radio, alarm clock dock, built in chanel amplifier, and video out fed is awesome, touch screen control and remote (full function) so it works all.

600 wt good power

great sound, great inclosed speakers.

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