Wake up and doze off to your iPod
First, the iPod was something we took with us as we walked out the door. Then it crept its way into the home with the help of related docking stations and speaker systems. Now, with the arrival of the iPod Alarm Clock Radio, the music player has found its way into the bedroom, too.
Hammacher Schlemmer just started selling the long-anticpated bedside alarm clock with no mention of its manufacturer. However the clock looks a lot like one previously announced (somewhat cryptically) by iHome, a division of SDI technologies.
Hammacher Schlemmer sells the clock for $99.95, and boasts its clear strontium-ferrite stereo speaker system. The clock houses and charges the iPod and accomodates all iPod models. Other MP3 devices can be used with a special jack and patch cord. The clock allows you to wake up to an iPod song, a built-in AM/FM radio, or a buzzer. It also includes a snooze feature.
So far, it has reeceived mostly rave reviews. Matt, a reviewer at The Unofficial Apple Web Log (TUAW) who bought the clock at Best Buy, said the "its got incredible sound."
"The interface is perfect, and it's even got a sleep feature that gradually gets quieter as you get closer to your sleep timer," he wrote.
TUAW reader Andrew Kaufmann said his only concern is real estate. "Between my cell phone, TV remote, lights/fan remote, stereo remote, lamp, and junk I empty out of my pockets at night, my nightstand is a crowded place. How big is this sucker?"
It's 2 3/4 inches high, 9 1/4 inches wide and 5 1/2 inches deep.