Thanks to Airplay, Apple’s wireless streaming tech, you can now play the contents of  your iOS device on your TV or speakers without having to dock it.  However, a drawback to many Airplay compatible devices is that their location is fixed, which all but reflects the convenience of the tech.  Case in point, if you connect a set of speakers to an Airport Express, those speakers have to remain in a fixed location for them to work; they need to be plugged into a power source.  However, this isn’t the case for the iHome iW1.

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The iHome iW1 is rather unassuming device.  It’s an all black box, that boasts a mesh speaker grill and a set of touchscreen buttons on the top.  Changing the speakers volume is as simple as dragging your finger from left to right, where upon a set of LEDs will light up reflecting the selected amplitude – they also double as a battery status indicator by hitting the associated button on the rear of the device.   Surrounding the volume indicator is a set of media controls for pausing/playing and skipping trackings along with a source button for those of you that decide to plug into the device using the USB port.

To setup the iHome iW1′s Airplay you’ll first need to download their iHome iConnect app to our iOS device.  Next, it’s as simple as plugging in your iOS device into the USB port and following the on screen instructions.  There you’ll be asked to select your home’s WiFi network and punch in your router’s passcode.   While I was able to achieve a connection with my wireless network, it did take a few attempts as the application wouldn’t recognize that it was plugged into the iW1′s USB port.  Fortunately, once I added the iW1 to my home’s network I never had to do it again.  However, I should mention that the first iW1 I received from iHome wouldn’t stay connected to the network, constantly needed to be readded to my home’s network and would intermittently drop the Airplay single. After speaking to some iHome folks at CES, they said this was an Airplay firmware problem, though receiving a second loaner unit seemed to have resolved the majority of these issues, though I still experienced the occasional audio drop out during playback.

Once the iHome iW1 is connected to the network, anyone that has the privelege of leaching off your WiFi will be able to stream tunes from a compatible application.  Now, keep in mind that with Airplay you can stream tunes to the iW1, even when out of earshot since it’s transfered over your home’s WiFi network.  That said, what makes the iW1 so attractive is that you can take it any where you go in your home thanks to its built-in battery.  To charge it you just place it down on the included battery dock, which during my testing I left in my living room where I spend most of my time listening to music and NPR.

From a battery pespective, iHome says that a complete charge takes up to 10 hours, while playback time will vary depending on amplitude, though they spec the speaker at 3.5 hours at full volume and double that at 50% amplitude.  Unfortunately, my battery experience was less than stellar.  Leaving the iHome iW1 turned on, and undocked from the battery charger caused the battery to drain to empty in under 10 hours after less than 1 hour of use.  It would seem that the iW1 doesn’t enter into a standby mode on its own, but I’d expect as much after nonuse for a set amount of time.  So expect to get about 3 hours of use, at most, from the iW1′s battery.

Price aside ($299) the iW1 performs realtively well from a sonic perspective given its size and portability.  That said, the range of the speaker, as in the lows to highs, is rather lack luster and doesn’t boast the same gusto I’ve tested from similarly price docks of a similar feature set (Bluetooth, not Airplay).  Mids are a bit muddled and bass response is on the short end.  The iW1 is capable of achieving a loudness that can fill a small room, but fidelity is lost at higher volumes, which forced me to listen to it at no greater than 85% of max volume.  So suffice to say, this isn’t iHome’s best sounding dock, but again keep in mind the feature set, size and convenience.

Needless to say, the iHome iW1 stands apart from most speakers on the market.  The Airplay feature alone adds siginificant cache to the unassuming speaker, but that unfortunately doesn’t negate what I’d ultimately deem lack luster sound quality compared to other speakers of a similar price.  That said, there aren’t any other speakers on the market that offer this level of convenience, which is the ability to wirelessly stream audio from any iOS device as well as carry the speaker from room to room without the need to plug it in.  If iHome addresses the battery life concerns and improves the audio quality, they’ll have a homerun on their hands and in turn set the bar for Airplay speakers.

Editor’s Rating:

3 out of 5 stars

Good

Bottom line: iHome’s iW1 offers an unprecedented level of convenience thanks to the built-in battery and Airplay. Unfortunately, dismal battery life and lack luster sound don’t make it a top pick.

Pros:

• Airplay for wireless playback
• Built-in battery means you can take it any where you roam (in your home)
• USB input for non-Airplay device playback

The tablet computer has all but replaced the laptop for many, many people.  Solidifying this notion is iHome with the unveiling of the idM5 at this year’s CES.  What is it?  In short order, a full sized Bluetooth keyboard and speaker system in one.  If you take a closer look you’ll see there are a set of media controls for the iPad (or iPhone or iPod Touch) and a keyboard cover that doubles as a stand to hold your tablet at a comfortable viewing angle.  And last but not least is a USB port for charging up your device, though it won’t support connectivity, just powering up.

We had a chance to get a short hands on with the device.  The keyboard is comfortable and the speakers, which are built into the left and right side of the keyboard, are surprisingly loud.

iHome hasn’t given us a price or launch date, but we expect it to arrive after the start of Q3.

To a large degree iHome’s success has largely been built upon Apple’s iOS devices.  And it doesn’t look like the company is about to change their strategy any time soon since they just announced plans for a slew of new iPod and iPad ready devices.  Taking the cake, at least so far this year, is the iW4.

Much like the iW1, the iW4 includes Airplay connectivity to wirelessly stream your tunes from any Apple device over your home’s WiFi connection.  You’ll of course need to set it up using their Connect app, which isn’t exactly painless (we’re testing the iW1 right now), but is manageable nonetheless.  But unlike the iW1, the iW4 boasts a dock as well as a form factor that is bedside friendly.  In fact, the iW4 is a bedside companion to the max, boasting dual alarms with a weekday and weekend function. Heck, you can even wake to tunes on your iPad via Airplay, or if you’re a traditionalist you can opt for the swiveling dock which all but ensures that you can see your iOS device’s screen from just about any angle you lay, along with providing power and the best possible audio quality. And if for some reason you don’t want to hassle with adding the iW4 to your home’s network, iHome has included an Ethernet port, though that feature will serve little to no one, with the exception of those living in studio apartments.

Other features include iHome’s patented Reson8 speaker system, which adds more oomph to the audio, 6 FM presets, an adjustable EQ, programmable snooze time, gradual wake and sleep, a USB port for firmware updates, battery backup and an AUX input for all things not iOS.

No word on a release date, but it expect to cost just north of $250.

iW4
AirPlay Wireless Bedside Speaker
System for iPad/iPhone/iPod®

The iW4 is an amazing app-enhanced, AirPlay enabled wireless speaker system alarm clock radio for iPad, iPhone and iPod touch. Stream wireless digital audio via AirPlay through your WiFi network. Dual alarms let you wake to separate alarm sources at separate times. Impressive technology and an exceptional audio experi- ence.
FEATURES
• Wake or sleep to iPad, iPhone, iPod, app alarms, or iTunes via AirPlay Start or end your day just the way you want it to sound
• Works with AirPlay wireless audio
Send digital audio wirelessly to iW4 from your iTunes library or iPad, iPhone, iPod touch
• Reson8® speaker chambers
Specially designed sealed speaker enclosures deliver astounding clarity, depth and power
• Pivoting universal dock for iPad, iPod or iPhone charging and music playback
Enjoy your music while keeping your iPad, iPhone or iPod fully charged
• iOS App-enhanced device
Works with iHome Sleep alarm clock, iHome Radio internet radio, and iHome Connect network setup and iHome Set apps
• Dual Alarm with Weekday/weekend alarm settings
2 independent alarms let you wake to any combination of Airplay device,
docked iPhone, iPod, iPad, FM radio, alarm tones, iHome Sleep app or buzzer with alarm settings for full week, work week or weekend with separate wake times/ alarm sources
• Wi-Fi certified
Tested to ensure interoperability and the latest in Wi-Fi compatibility
• Ethernet connectivity
Connect to a local network
• Works with free iHome Connect app
Download the free iHome Connect app for easy network configuration
• FM radio with 6 presets
Tune in and memorize up to 6 favorite FM stations
• Adjustable EQ
Bass, mid range, treble, 3D sound and SRS TruBass sound processing controls let you customize your sound
• Programmable snooze time
Lets you sleep in a little or a lot with snooze time between 1 and 29 minutes
• Gradual Wake and Gradual Sleep
Gently increased/decreased alarm/sleep volume eases waking and sleep, duration can be programmed with the app
GENERAL INFORMATION
Product
Color(s): Black
Dimensions: WHD Inches: 10.80 4.41 7.17 mm: 274 112 182
Weight: 4.62 lbs
Power 100V-240V universal
voltage adapter
Batteries 1 CR2450 for clock backup (included)
Packaging
Type: Five-Color Gift Box
Dimensions: WHD Inches: 15.55 9.06 5.91 mm: 395 230 150
Cube: 0.48 cubic feet 0.014 cubic meters
Weight: 7.04lbs 3.20 kgs
Master Carton
confidential ∙ preliminary
ADDITIONAL FEATURES
• 100V-240V universal voltage AC adaptor • Remote control
• Aux-in jack
• USB port (firmware upgrade)
• Battery Backup
Package contents:
• iW4 System
• 100-240V universal voltage adapter
• Remote control
SDI Technologies Inc.
1299 Main Street
Rahway, NJ 07065 www.ihomeaudio.com
732 574-9000 · Fax 732 574-1631
iPad, iPhone and iPod are trademarks of Apple, Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries.
SRS TruBass is a registered trademark of SRS Labs, Inc. TruBass technology is incorporated under license from SRS Labs, Inc.
©2011 SDI Technologies® All rights reserved
IMPORTANT: All products and packaging include a toll free consumer hotline number (800-288-2792) to provide assistance, answer questions and minimize unnecessary customer returns.
Specifications subject to change without notice to incorporate improvements in design. Printed in USA.
Revised: 12/19/11
Quantity
Dimensions: Inches
mm:
Cube: Weight:
Shipping
Country
40 Ft. Cont. 20 Ft. Cont.
Harm. Code 2011 Duty
iW4 UPC
1
WHD 16.18 10.24 6.54 411 260 166
0.63 cubic feet 0.02 cubic meters
7.85 lbs. 3.57 kg
China
3,167 1,500
0%


During the 80s the Boombox was one of the hippest audio devices on the market.  That and the Sony Walkman.  It was composed of an FM/AM radio, tape deck and a set of over sized speakers that produced enough sonic boom to hopefully set off a dance party.  It was also a portable audio system thanks to the built-in handle, though more often than not break dancers and those alike would just sling the system over their shoulder and strut their swagger down the street.

The 80s might be well and gone, but the boombox is here to stay, that is if iHome has anything to say about it.  The iP4 replaces the cassette player with, what else, a 30-pin dock for your iPod or iPhone.  To keep with the retro feel they’ve added 5 adjustable EQ sliders with an LCD graphic equalizer.  In the sonic department there are 4″ carbon composite woofers and 1″ ferro fluid cooled tweeters backed by a class D amplifier.  The iP4 can be powered off the wall or 6 D batteries.  However, note that the latter power option is ultra 80s.  For those of you without an iPod or iPhone, iHome has included an AUX input, though you probably won’t even begin to consider this device if the case is such.  iHome is also tossing in a remote that magnetically sticks to the player, which hopefully means you won’t lose it when you travel from location to location on the Venice boardwalk in your roller skates.

The iHome iP4 is available now for $199.99

4 out of 5 stars

iHome’s iA63 is a stereo speakered alarm clock with a 30-pin dock.  It’s compatible with the iPhone and iPod Touch (it is not compatible with the iPad), and includes a motorized dock that rotates from portrait to landscape mode at the touch of a button.  It sports a dedicated alarm, clock, the ability to sync with your iPhone’s time, an FM radio and stereo speakers.  Installing iHome’s compatible alarm clock ($0) app brings a few more alarms and the ability to tweak settings such as the snooze and sleep timer.

FEATURES

Like any good alarm clock, the top of the device includes a dedicated snooze button.  It also doubles as a dimmer switch for the clock and the iPhone’s display, that is assuming you’ve got the app installed and running.  We’ve looked at the app in a previous review, so head there to get the deets.  However, I will note that the app’s feature set is slightly increased in portrait mode.  Why?  I don’t know, but you can access more alarms and tweak more features.

On the rear of the iA63 is a switch to sync it with the iPhone’s time.  Handy, since setting any clock after a power outage is a nuisance.  There is also a rope antenna for the FM radio, an AUX input for adding a computer or another portable player, and a credit card sized remote.

The remote works just dandy.  They’ve included a battery, which is always nice to see, and I’d imagine that it will probably last a good chunk of time.  However, it is one of those pesky watch batteries, so replacing it will take a bit more effort. What I particularly liked was that it features a snooze button.  That means you can setup up the second alarm for your mate, who is presumably out of arm’s reach, and they too can snooze without depending on you to move, or hopefully wake up.

The built-in radio can function on its own without an iPhone or iPod Touch docked.  However, downloading the $1.99 iHome Radio app will slightly enhance this feature.  I didn’t feel like plunking down $2, so I didn’t test this aspect of the device.

Setting the device’s alarm is intuitive; you just hold down the alarm button and use the “+/-” keys to increase or decrease the time.  Unlike other alarm clocks, the iHome iA63 will slow down at the half past and hour marks, which is a nice touch and prevents you from flying by the typical wake times.  Though, at times it made it a bit frustrating to set the alarm.  There is no AM/PM function, so you’ll need to cycle every 12 hours to cycle between the night or day setting.

The motorized rotating dock is without a doubt a neat feature.  Necessary?  No.  The chances of you using your iPhone to watch a movie, or interact beyond setting the alarm is pretty slim.  Also, accessing the touchscreen when the iPhone is docked is a bit difficult since you can’t grasp it.  I tested the iA63 with an iPhone 3Gs and it fit snuggly in the dock.  I’d expect the same for the iPhone 4 since it doesn’t require any inserts.  However, placing my iPhone into the dock proved a bit challenging, especially when I was tired.

SOUND QUALITY

As found in all of iHome’s products is their patented Reson8 speaker chamber system.  But unlike some of iHome’s other products, the iA63 isn’t quite up to snuff.  Don’t get me wrong, it’s loud for a bedside alarm clock, it’s just lacks the oomph that I’ve come to expect from iHome.  Fidelity wise, it does leave something to be desired, but given its rather small size and intended purpose, it suffices.

The volume level ranges from 0-40.  While most will see this as a moot feature I did not.  It’s nice to have such a large gray area when it comes to volume control, especially when you’re waking up to it.  The sweet spot for me was around 18, which is almost 50% of the iA63′s amplitude.  It’s worth noting that the iA63′s alarm has a gradual volume increase, which is a more natural and comfortable way to wake up.

SIZE

The footprint of the iA63, you know, the amount of space it takes up, is about on par with most alarm clocks.  It’s a consideration worth making, especially since my bedside table is rather limited in size.  To put it in perspective, it doesn’t take up any more space than your average sized picture frame.

CONCLUSION

$100 for a bedside alarm clock is pushing the top end of the category.  But not too many of them, regardless of price, can output stereo tunes and includes a motorized rotating dock.  And let’s not over look iHome’s alarm app which provides additional features and tweaking.  Don’t expect amazing sound to pump from the speakers, but considering its diminutive size, and all things relative, it’s on par with some of the other speaker systems in a comparable category.  I could have done without the motorized rotating dock, which is just one more thing to break and probably bumps up the price.  On the other hand it is fun, albeit gimmicky feature.

Pros:

• Full featured alarm clock
• 30-pin dock for iPhone and iPod Touch
• Remote control with snooze and sleep features

Cons:

• Expensive for an alarm clock; $100
• Motorized dock is gimmicky
• Removing and inserting the iPhone takes some effort

Retro is in.  Always has been and always well be.  Take for instance classic cars.  A 60s Mustang will forever hold its value.  And lets not forget about the music.  It will forever have a place in everyone’s hearts, old or young.  And as it turns out, the fine folks that make those iHome Devices, SDI technologies, have their roots in an era when things were built to last.

The company has now reissued their SD63 Retro-Style Hi-Fi Stereo Headphones.  Aesthetically they’re all 60s, but on the inside is today’s tech, although speaker technology hasn’t snadvanced all that much in the last 40 years; as far as we know it’s still a coil and magnet setup to a large degree.  iHome says these phones boast rich hi-fi sound, plush air cushioned ear pads, an adjustable headband and a rotary volume knob on the headphone for added convenience.  And guess what?  You can buy them today for $49.99.

iHome, which is no stranger to CES, says they’ve got a handful of new products set for demo at this year’s conference.  Most notable of the bunch is the iDM70.  It’s a protective sleeve that incorporates a NXT flat-panel speaker and a rechargeable battery.  The case is made from faux leather and has an inner silicone inner sleeve that provides access to the headphone jack, 30-pin dock, mute and power switch and volume controls.  iHome says it will be available sometime in 2011 for a yet to be disclosed price.

Convenient, Smart Solutions for the Device that Goes Everywhere
2011 International CES
North Hall, #N245

RAHWAY, N.J.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Providing several pioneering speaker options that address the iPad’s on-the-go portability, iHome today introduced an entirely new line of iPad audio solutions. Following the award-winning lineage of the iA100, the company’s first iPad-specific product, iHome is featuring several iPad products at CES 2011 that emphasize the company’s hallmark design, quality and sound.

“The new products we are debuting at CES are the perfect complement to the advanced capabilities and ‘go anywhere’ portability of the iPad, and we believe consumers will appreciate the convenience, sound fidelity and overall quality of each.”

iHome is displaying the following iPad audio solutions in its booth located in the North Hall, #N245:

* iDM12 Rechargeable Portable Bluetooth Speaker System for iPad/iPhone/iPod: a micro sound bar for the media watcher on the go, the iDM12′s protective magnetic casing easily detaches to serve as a stand for either portrait or landscape orientation. Need to leave the room but don’t want the music to stop? Bring it with you and stream the tunes via the Bluetooth connection.
* iDM15 Rechargeable Portable Stereo Bluetooth Speakers with Speakerphone: 2011 CES Innovations Honoree, the iDM15 provides all the power you need in the palm of your hand and on the go. Big features and big sound are packed into two little speakers, all wrapped up in a handy protective travel case that transforms into an iPad, iPhone, or netbook stand when speakers are in use. These mini-speakers are equipped with the latest in Bluetooth technology, giving owners wireless connectivity for audio streaming and speakerphone capability from any Bluetooth enabled device.
* iDM70 Protective ‘Sound Sleeve’ Case and Stand for iPad with Built-in Rechargeable Stereo Speakers: a premium iPad case, protective silicone sleeve and six-position stand at its core, the iDM70 doesn’t rest on protection and looks alone. With built-in rechargeable flat NXT™ stereo speakers, users can pump up the volume wherever they go, while maintaining a low profile and eliminating the need to carry any additional hardware.

“The iPad is a phenomenal product whose popularity continues to soar,” said Evan Stein, Vice President of Marketing, iHome. “The new products we are debuting at CES are the perfect complement to the advanced capabilities and ‘go anywhere’ portability of the iPad, and we believe consumers will appreciate the convenience, sound fidelity and overall quality of each.”

iHome’s new iPad audio solutions, as well as new products such as iD9, iD28 and iD85 will be available later this year. For further information, please visit www.ihomeaudio.com.

3 out of 5 stars

Pros:

• Works with the iPad
• iHome+Sleep app provides enhanced features
• Quick and easy setup

Cons:

• Docked iPhone interferes with radio reception
• Just so-so sound quality for $200
• Plagued with a few bugs

UPDATED.  iHome bills their iA100 as their flagship bedside solution, and given the feature set I’d have to agree. They’ve done justice by those who don’t own just an iPod or iPhone, but for those who made the investment in an iPad by including a universal docking system that requires no special adapters – just a simple, removable rubber strip for those who prefer a case around the Apple tablet.

In the features department were looking at 4 speakers with Bongiovi Acoustics DSP, Bluetooth with handsfree and stereo (A2DP) profiles, FM radio with 6 presets, clock, 2 alarms (more can be set with the iHome+Sleep app) with snooze and wake function and of course the quintessential 30-pin dock.
From an aesthetics standpoint the iA100 is a rather unremarkable device. At the end of the day it’s just a black box with silver accents and a set of removable speaker grills on either side. A segmented LED clock with additional readouts (radio station, alarm on/off) sits front and center, and the top of the device is outfitted with a number of buttons that include: call answer/end, mode, volume up/down, play/pause, fwd/bkw track (double as radio tuner), bedtime, wake, snooze/dimmer and an illuminating power button. On the rear of the device, hidden away from the eye, are the controls for the clock, eq (bass/treble) and Bluetooth pairing as well as an AUX input for those that bring a non-Apple device to the party.

Situating the iA100 takes just a few minutes and thanks to two AA battery slots the time can be set without the need to plug it in, though the device’s other functions will be useless until you do so.

iHome has developed a companion app (iPhone/iPod and iPad versions available) for their bedside docking system called iHome+Sleep. It’s free to all, while their other app, iHome+Radio costs $1.99 – I didn’t check that one out and for good reason (I’m cheap). iHome+Sleep allows you to administer a wide variety of controls, but most importantly lets you to set the iA100′s two different alarms, that if you so choose, will wake you to the musical contents of your iPod player. On the converse you can sleep to music as well as control snooze times, sync the time between the two devices, control the music playing and view the weather conditions. There are a few other features available in the app, but for the sake of this review, which focuses on the hardware, we’ll skip over them. It is worth noting, though, that the iPad provides a much larger display over the built-in one and thanks to the iHome+Sleep app can be dimmed to a sleep tolerable brightness.

*Our iHome iA100 would not play music from a docked iPad despite being able to stream tunes over Bluetooth. It worked fine with an iPhone 3Gs*

Pairing the Bluetooth to the iPhone is not a complicated affair and requires you to push the ‘pairing’ button found at the back of the device. Assuming your iProduct’s Bluetooth is enabled it will pair with no passcode necessary. Once paired, and the ‘mode’ of the iA100 is set to Bluetooth, you can play music sans wire (or dock in this case) from your iPhone or iPad as well as take calls directly on the bedside alarm clock. An answer/end button allows you to start and finish calls on the device and a hidden mic picks up the voice. I tested the call quality with a few friends, and while they said they could hear me, it was a typical Bluetooth affair with such remarks that referred to me as standing in a cave or sounding far away, despite hanging my head directly over or in front of the iA100. Streaming music to the iA100 over Bluetooth absolutely suffices, but as any audio snob knows won’t live up to the sound quality of a direct connection, though for most the difference won’t be discernible.

The overall sounds quality, while great for a bedside alarm clock, isn’t earth shattering. iHome uses some digital audio processing called Bongiovi Acoustics, but if you ask me it’s just a sales pitch. Without it enabled the sound is hollow and rather meaningless. In fact it’s a useless feature since you’ll leave it on 100% of the time, though perhaps during phone calls one might opt to turn it off to achieve a more flat sound, which makes understanding a voice much easier. Useless features aside, the iA100′s sound is lacking a bit in the mids and is relatively devoid of deep bass. But given its small footprint I’m not outright disappointed, I just expected more from a $200 device.

Since the radio is a big part of some people’s wake up routine, we ran the iA100′s through the hurdles. On its own, at least in my apartment, the iA100 couldn’t pick up an FM reception to save its life. But as soon as I extended the built-in included rope antenna I was picking up the usual Los Angeles stations, though many were still filled with some static (to be fair, other radios struggle in my abode, this one more than others, though). To add insult to injury, the radio’s reception was made worse whenever an iPhone was docked. Performing actions, such as opening an app, or tapping through the iHome+Sleep app’s features caused the static to subside, but with no action performed the static would reappear. Was the iPhone drawing in static to the radio when idle? I downloaded a firmware update for the device thinking that might solve the problem, but nothing changed. To make matters even worse, the iA100′s 6 FM radio preset numbers, at random times, wouldn’t display on the iA100′s screen with an iPhone in place. This might have something to do with the ability to access the radio presets as well as the tuner in the iHome+Sleep app, but doesn’t seem like an intentional option on the behalf of iHome. Most will perceive the radio as an ancillary music source – especially with the option for an iPhone, iPad or iPod – thus trivializing the issue.  But nonetheless it’s an odd set of bugs that, and if anything, lends itself to questioning the overall build quality of the iA100.

The iHome iA100 is outfitted with a sleep function that allows you to doze off to the tunes of your choosing. Setting it up is a sorted affair. Despite it being a significant part of the device’s feature set, the setting for the sleep function, which is activated by the device’s ‘bedtime’ button, are hidden deep within the iHome+Sleep app. You’ll need to tap the settings icon (represented as a gear cog), scroll down to “app enabled devices”, click on the appropriate device (in this case the iA100), scroll down to the portion of the menu that reads “sleep” and then select the sleep duration. And breath. If reaching this menu wasn’t confusing enough, I found it frustrating that iHome choose to call the button ‘bedtime’ and the menu item ‘sleep’; it would have been logical to name them the same thing for simplicity’s sake. So yes, after trial and error I got it, but navigating to the appropriate menu took time and mental effort, the last thing I wanna do before heading off into slumber land. Ideally the home screen of the app would have featured a sleep clock function with the standard iOS scroll wheel.

The iA100 while practical and feature heavy when compared to the average bedside alarm clock is quickly overshadowed by its buggy operation. Hopefully a future firmware update will fix the radio/iPhone debacle and the app, while a great compliment to the iA100 could use some reconfiguring to make accessing its menus and features more streamlined.

You can purchase the iHome iA100 from Amazon for $199.99.

UPDATE: After installing iOS 4.2, the iPad’s iPod now plays while docked.

At Wednesday’s press event, Apple unveiled lots of music-related goodness, including their new AirPlay technology. AirPlay is an attempt to make wireless iTunes music streaming painless by integrating the technology into third-party speakers and sound systems. Already, iHome has teased an upcoming portable speaker that will use the technology. A page on their website has only an image of the speaker, a December release date, and a boast of a rechargeable battery, so you can literally bring the music wherever you go (as long as the iTunes host is in range). It seems like a really cool technology. We’ll let you know when more details arrive.

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Update: Check out our iHome iA100 Review.

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