iLuv kicks out Bluetooth-enabled i277BLK / i199BLK iPod stereo clocks
By Darren Murph 
posted January 4th 2007 6:20PM
posted January 4th 2007 6:20PM
It may not be iHome, but iLuv's done a thing or two with DAP-docking alarm clocks that other firms just have to respect, and the company's latest duo even includes Bluetooth for that cordless approach we so adore. The i277BLK (pictured after the break) features an LCD display, docking cradle for your dock-connecting iPod, built-in track / volume controls, AM / FM tuners, digital clock with dual-function alarms, wireless remote, AV output, dock adapters, twin three-watt jAura speakers, and an A2DP-compliant BluePin audio transmitter / receiver to receive tunes from any BT-enabled device or listen in with your Bluetooth headphones. The i199BLK ups the ante by including a CD / MP3 disc player, USB port for thumb drive input, ID3 tag support, and a larger, more descriptive LCD panel. Both options should be available this March, and while the i277BLK will set you back $149.99, the more featured i199BLK will demand a cool $229.99.Read - iLuv i277BLK
Read - iLuv i199BLK
More featured and way more aesthetically pleasing too!
IMO, $80 is a bit much for the four extra features you get. I think they would have been better off setting the prices at $149 and $199. The name (i199BLK) would also be synonymous with the price that way. Unless CD playback or a USB drive is essential to you, I can't see any reason to go for the i199, except maybe for looks. I wouldn't need ID3 tag support either, since I can usually tell the song by listening to it, and the iPod is right there if I need to know the name, anyway.
Hrmm, this looks pretty hip. Can't wait to read the reviews of this; I had tried the original iHome, and actually liked it for the most part, but the radio reception wasn't very good, so I couldn't use it to replace my old Timex clock radio. The new XtremeMac Luna stuff looks good to me but the reviews have also said the radio performance isn't very good. These iLuv clock radios sound pretty nice, and I'd probably even be willing to pay the premium if they are good quality. The idea of using these with bluetooth headphones is kind of cool to me too.
When I first saw this I thought- "oh, wireless bluetooth sync to iTunes" but then I realized how painfully slow that would be over bluetooth.
I don't see a real good use for streaming music in to the unit via bluetooth- all of my music is already on my iPod so I could just play the songs from ity -But A2DP headphone support is kinda nice.
I'll be buying the XtremeMac Luna, this thing looks huge! That's a full size iPod on the i199BLK? Geesh! No place for that on my nightstand.