Sony's dark-side: the ICF-C1IP alarm clock and ZS-S2IP boombox iPod docks

What started as a begrudging trickle of iPod accessories from Sony has turned a steady flow. Meet the new ICF-C1IP iPod Dock Clock Radio and ZS-S2IP iPod Dock Boombox. The radio (available in black or white) brings a wireless remote for control of the iPod, radio, and volume functions with a dual-alarm function and adjustable brightness control. Oh, and that giant square in the center which apparently serves no purpose? That's an overengineered "adjustable backstop mechanism" meant to ensure a snug fit of the iPod when docked. The Boombox features a retractable dock tray when going iPod-less with a digital AM/FM tuner and CD player supporting CD-R/RW media. Wireless remote and battery power? Yup, that too. Both rigs are priced at $100 beans and ready for retail sometime in August. Read-on for a glimpse of the boombox in repose.

[BananaBoat @ Jul 18th 2007 4:00AM]

Here lies the walkman. It is survived by it's one son; The Ipod. May the Ipod now spring forth accessories for which it's functionality might increase.

[Smiley @ Jul 18th 2007 4:22AM]

Erm, Sony has a bright side ?

[Michael @ Jul 18th 2007 5:07AM]

thats nice to see them working together... Apple stores (well in Regent Street, London) use a Sony Bravia LCD in their shop windows.

[r. @ Jul 18th 2007 8:24AM]

When will we see a Sony branded video dock for the new PSP?

[Natedog @ Jul 18th 2007 8:27AM]

Does this mean Sony doesn't make mp3 players anymore, or are they just stupid? Of course, they can probably make a bigger profit off of these iPod accessories than they did with their own line of players...

[Gordy @ Jul 18th 2007 8:41AM]

Typical Sony. No wonder they failed in the iPod era. Could that thing HAVE any more buttons? I still like the Xtremac Luna. Clean, simple, and powerful, just like the iPod.

[andi @ Jul 18th 2007 9:21AM]

Oh, buttons! OMG need braincells to use buttons...

you're a proud member of the iPod generation... why have more function and quality when i can have a simple device that can blare out trendy, funky tunes in glorious lo-fi?...

and by the way... Sony's players are better than Apple's... they are just very greedy and are trying to squeeze money out of everything

[Gordy @ Jul 18th 2007 9:32AM]

A plethora of buttons usually highlights design flaws. Considering the Luna has more features with far fewer physical buttons, I'd say that point is proven here.

[Grant @ Jul 18th 2007 9:35AM]

please, buttons?
everyone knows sony likes to dig it's own grave by using its own proprietary everything.
not being able to load it via mass storage, crappy software, having to CONVERT EVERY FILE TO ATRAC before it was loaded on the player(that could take easily over 2 hours for like 2GB)

sure, everyone likes the ipod because its easy to use, but itunes is the other half of the winning combo, and Sony never actually figured that out and was too busy making CDs with rootkits on them.
Good job Sony!

[andi @ Jul 18th 2007 10:07AM]

After a piece-by-piece count, the Luna has MORE buttons than this, and with a serious margin... they're just located on the remote and not on the device itself

[tekdroid @ Jul 18th 2007 11:17AM]

Grant @ Jul 18th 2007 9:35AM sez:
not being able to load it via mass storage, crappy software, having to CONVERT EVERY FILE TO ATRAC before it was loaded on the player(that could take easily over 2 hours for like 2GB)
------------
not being able to load it (MUSIC, i assume) via mass storage:
Apple & Sony. Data can be done fine.

Proprietary software:
Apple & Sony

Crappy software:
I think both are, but it would be safe to say Sony's is crappier on the usability.

Every file to ATRAC:
plain and simply wrong there. Tho software is required to get music on Sony Walkman devices (just like iPod), but nothing is converted to Atrac if the device itself can natively play the format (MP3, AAC, etc). Sony devices released in the last few years can do it no problem. It's just that they are wrapped up in SonicStage much the same way that iTunes does.


sure, everyone likes the ipod because its easy to use...
-----------
I find them hideous to use. I much prefer native drag-n-drop, mass-storage mode for music. Which neither Apple nor Sony do (nor Zune, etc). Cowon, Meizu and many others do, tho.


On topic:
It always amuses me to see competitors cashing in on docks for the iPod. There's no clearer sign of defeat, yet combined with the practical need to make money :) Half sad (for someone with the heritage of Sony, in particular) and half funny.

[Chuckles McGee @ Jul 18th 2007 9:20AM]

Oh wow, CD playback. I wonder what those are.

[tekdroid @ Jul 18th 2007 11:23AM]

discs invented in the 80s that still give you better sound quality than your AAC and MP3.
;)

[Jeremy @ Jul 18th 2007 11:09AM]

I read theses things weekly and can say most of you people are fucking lame.

Blah blah, talk shit. whatever. iPods are fucking lame. A round wheel to scroll down?? Who thought that would be ergonomic.

The only reason iPod sells is because its hyped so much. You CANNOT make the iPod connect via MASS STORAGE so your argument there is flawed.

Sometimes I think you geeks are still living in your moms basement and never see the light of day...Total idiots here.

[Ignacio @ Jul 18th 2007 11:53AM]

http://pdb.finkproject.org/pdb/package.php/fusepod

[Jeremy @ Jul 18th 2007 12:04PM]

Thanks for the link. Btw, any developer could do this with most hardware, happens the ipod is popular enough to have this third party interest.

Native support for this is not available and not supported by Apple. That was my point.

[Jibby @ Jul 18th 2007 11:46AM]

i believe sony can also make more enhanced products than iPod; but late

[Teve Torbes @ Jul 20th 2007 1:50AM]

Looks nicer than much of the iHome and other accessory maker's speaker docks.

[Chuchi @ Jul 20th 2007 9:52AM]

It's funny that everyone keeps docking Sony for pushing it's proprietary hardware on us. Meanwhile, Apple is doing the very same thing and nobody cares because they just look so bubbly and cute. I'm sick of M4P's and their damn DRM. Most of all, I can't tell you how sick I am of iPod docks. It's proprietary crap. If Apple would have made the move to bluetooth A2DP, most of the radios (home, car, and otherwise) today could have the ability to receive bluetooth hifi audio without any damn docks, cables, or cradles. Plus, other manufacturers could add bluetooth to their MP3 players and they'd be universally compatible with any car or home stereo. Of course, why would Apple want to do that when they have dozens of companies making their proprietary crap JUST for THEIR players? They've cleverly cornered the market and pulled the wool over everyone's eyes.

But they seem so cute and bubbly.....

[zerosozha @ Jul 18th 2007 4:22PM]

Couldn't agree more.