iHome's iH69 computer / iPod speakers

We've seen a number of iPod speakers with pass-through dock connectors, but we've never really understood the point -- why would we listen to music on our iPod when we're already sitting at the computer, which has better speakers? iHome's latest rig, the iH69, tries to bring it all together, though, with an iPod dock integrated directly into a set of upright computer speakers. We're not sold on the idea until we actually hear 'em -- or we get a sub in the deal -- but those of you looking to save on some cable clutter should look for these bad boys to drop sometime in June.

Update: iHome pinged to let us know that this thing is still in concept / prototype phase, and isn't a final design or even assured to be produced (so you can bet that the iH69 name isn't solid either).

[Mark @ Mar 26th 2008 5:26PM]

crank em up and blow away your ipod!

[phanbouy @ Mar 26th 2008 5:28PM]

GSM buzz shielding?

[chris @ Mar 27th 2008 2:31AM]

@phanbouy
iHome announced two models, this one for the iPod and another one called iP70 labeled "Works with iPhone". This will be shielded but you have to pay 50 bucks additional.
Here: http://www.ifun.de/content/view/4298/2/

[Andrew @ Mar 26th 2008 5:30PM]

wouldn't your ipod/iphone block part of the speaker and disrupt sound?

[Fred @ Mar 26th 2008 5:31PM]

Exactly my first thought.

[phanbouy @ Mar 26th 2008 5:33PM]

ok ok so it blocks the sound and they look like glorified bundled generic knockoff of already low end Labtec speakers, but they're model 69! yeah baby YEAH!

[Anonymoose @ Mar 26th 2008 5:41PM]

FRED, WHAT WAS YOUR SECOND THOUGHT????

*hopes fred doesn't try to flip this comment around to say something sarcastic about me*

[Fred @ Mar 26th 2008 6:33PM]

I don't know, man. I got nothing.

[Shan @ Mar 26th 2008 6:58PM]

I was thinking what Fred was thinking .. how weird is that?

[Lars @ Mar 26th 2008 7:04PM]

That was my second thought. My first thought was about i69, "Apple-related porn product?" Imagine my dissapointment.

[computer.dude.28 @ Mar 26th 2008 7:56PM]

I would expect that the driver is mounted above where the iPod goes but that would still be a poor design to say the least.

[Ellianth @ Mar 26th 2008 5:41PM]

Ugh. that thing looks terrible. I feel sorry for the poor iPhone. All the other gadgets in the house are gonna be like "we saw you hanging out and taking photos with that fat ugly chick last night."

[Anonymoose @ Mar 26th 2008 5:45PM]

those other gadgets shouldn't be talking about your mother like that

[Ellianth @ Mar 26th 2008 5:47PM]

lol, nice. But mama jokes are sooo 12 years ago.

[Anonymoose @ Mar 26th 2008 5:48PM]

oh come on, that joke killed. all the kids at recess thought so.

[Ellianth @ Mar 26th 2008 5:50PM]

Well I did say it was nicely done :p.



p.s. I had to say the last part to save face.

[Anonymoose @ Mar 26th 2008 5:54PM]

yes you did, but only because i so totally pwned you. now give me your lunch money and don't fight me too hard when i give you a swirlie. j/k, you're a good sport.

[Bb @ Mar 26th 2008 5:49PM]

iHome was much more compelling back-in-the-day:
http://theappleblog.com/2005/04/01/apple-to-release-home-media-center-ihome/

[STIEN @ Mar 26th 2008 5:52PM]

why has it been that they are improving ipods after i get mine taken away?

i had an ipod touch but my parents took it away because they thought i would look at porn. that is a 100% false accusation. i almost cried. now i have a zune which is getting fixed right now. go figure...

[andres @ Mar 26th 2008 5:57PM]

because apple hates you?

[PhilxBefore @ Mar 26th 2008 5:58PM]

Uh, are your parents the Flinstones? You can watch porn on your Zune too.

[STIEN @ Mar 26th 2008 6:01PM]

i kno. but the ipod has internet

[mymaclife @ Mar 26th 2008 6:33PM]

Get them back and film you Dad doing your Mum, then post it on the internet.

PS: If your mum is fit I'll help out.

[pinchies @ Mar 26th 2008 11:06PM]

Wait for the 2.0 update -> parental settings. At least you can use it then.

[STIEN @ Mar 27th 2008 11:39AM]

i know i saw that. i just figured that if i wait another year until my verizin plan expires, ill get an iphone

[Anonymoose @ Mar 26th 2008 5:57PM]

haha...he used the touch to see porn to touch himself. that's awesome. ok, so it's not that awesome. shutup.

[Tim @ Mar 26th 2008 6:30PM]

No, You were right, its awesome.

And funny because its not me.

[Fred @ Mar 26th 2008 6:38PM]

Hey, let me know when your done making sexual references about a teenage boy. There's a guy that would like you to have a seat right over here, some Chris Hansen or something.

[PhilxBefore @ Mar 26th 2008 5:59PM]

It doesn't look like you can adjust the volume very quickly.

Knobs FTW.

[Josh L @ Mar 26th 2008 6:22PM]

To clarify, are you talking about volume adjusters or the sorts of people that would buy this product?

[PhilxBefore @ Mar 27th 2008 12:12PM]

lol..

Shit, this IS engadget. So BOTH!

[Sicarius Barritus @ Mar 26th 2008 6:30PM]

Um...why would you need to listen to your iPod at a computer...when all your music is on the computer in the first place?

[Ubuntu 7.10 WindowsXP @ Mar 26th 2008 6:34PM]

Wow, more iPod crap that no one can find a practical use for. And before the Apple people try to hang me, seriously you used a computer to upload the music to the iPod, why not just listen to it on your computer while you are at home? And for the laptop users out there.....I think you are pretty much trying to avoid this kind stuff from the point of buying the laptop on, right?

[jamie @ Mar 26th 2008 6:40PM]

Erm hello the ipod is INFRONT of the speaker, wouldnt that disrupt some of the sound coming out of it?

[Do I look indie yet @ Mar 26th 2008 8:29PM]

Hi!

[J @ Mar 26th 2008 11:15PM]

I dunno. I think I would rather have my music playing off of the Ipod. I have a decent computer, but I'm usually running a few memory intensive programs. That much less to let the computer do what its supposed to be doing.

[denden @ May 12th 2008 10:21PM]

Uhm, wouldn't it make so much more sense to use your "computer" speakers to play music through an app on your "computer"? Not an an ipod stuck in a dock that looks like it was slapped on as an after-thought. Just my humble opinion.

[Bobs @ Mar 27th 2008 4:45AM]

Engadget should sue you for unpaid advertising, $20 for every pageview since 7:00PM.

[Marceyb @ Mar 27th 2008 7:39AM]

Can you imagine plugging in your iPhone... listening to music and getting a text message. You'd hear that awful interference noise. Why would you want your phone so close to the speaker?

[AndrewHuff @ Apr 29th 2008 7:23AM]

Hi

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[AndrewHuff @ Apr 29th 2008 7:26AM]

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