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Alexa is about to hit more Bluetooth headphones and wearables
Alexa connectivity looks set to arrive on a new wave of Bluetooth headphones, smartwatches and other devices after Amazon opened up its Alexa Mobile Accessory Kit. The software development kit was announced in January, and companies including Bose, Jabra and iHome have already committed to using the SDK in their devices.
The best alarm clock
By Rachel Cericola This post was done in partnership with Wirecutter. When readers choose to buy Wirecutter's independently chosen editorial picks, it may earn affiliate commissions that support its work. Read the full article here. After spending more than 60 hours setting alarms, swatting snooze buttons, tuning radio stations, and talking to potential shoppers, we've decided that the RCA RCD30 is the best alarm clock for most people. This is the textbook definition of an alarm clock, delivering a reliable, hassle-free wake-up for people who don't want to rely on a smartphone.
The best plug-in smart outlet
By Rachel Cericola This post was done in partnership with Wirecutter, reviews for the real world. When readers choose to buy Wirecutter's independently chosen editorial picks, it may earn affiliate commissions that support its work. Read the full article here. After spending over 22 hours plugging in and unplugging lights and other small appliances and turning them on and off using various apps (and by barking orders at Siri and Alexa when we could), we found that the Belkin WeMo Mini is the best smart-switch outlet adapter for people who want to add smart control to their existing outlets. It packs most of the same features as our previous pick, the WeMo Insight, into a smaller size, and it's less expensive. It also plays nicely with both iOS and Android smartphones and tablets and integrates easily with popular smart-home protocols and devices. All you need to do is plug the Belkin WeMo Mini into an existing outlet and install the app to get started with home automation.
Wake up to a Lightning-equipped iHome iDL45 alarm/dock
Alarm clock radios have been around for decades, and when iPods and iPhones jumped onto the scene, we started to see a new accessory: the alarm dock. Basically, this was your standard clock radio with a trusty 30-pin Dock connector on top, and your iPhone could receive a charge while you slept and let you listen to your iTunes playlist if you didn't want to have the local FM station blasting you out of bed. iHome is now shipping the iDL45 Dual Charging Stereo FM Clock Radio with Lightning Dock and USB Charge/Play for iPad/iPhone/iPod (US$99.99), and it's perfect for your Lightning-equipped iPad, iPhone or iPod. That's a mouthful, so for the rest of this review I'll call it the iDL 45, OK? Design The iDL45 is an attractive-looking clock radio, featuring white numerals and control icons on a stark black background. Atop the unit is the Lightning dock, and there's a USB port on the side for charging your other devices -- basically anything that charges via USB. Since you can pop anything from an iPod touch to a full-sized iPad onto the Lightning connector, there's a "backrest" (for lack of a better word) to prop up the device and make sure it's not putting undue pressure onto the connector. The digital tuning FM stereo radio gives the iDL45 6 preset stations, perfect for those times when you want to scan stations for local news in between the ads and jock talk. The iDL45 has a battery backup, so you cannot use a power outage as an excuse as to why you overslept... %Gallery-192328% Like earlier iHome products, the iDL45 is designed to work with a companion application. The free app automatically syncs the clock to your iPhone's time, so there's no need to tap buttons to set the clock and it handles daylight savings time changes with ease. That app is also used to set up the dual alarms both of which can have full week, weekday and weekend settings. Functionality The fun part of reviewing the iDL45 was setting it up with bogus alarms for testing. Once you unpack the iDL45, place it on a nightstand, plug it in (there's a really nice long cord) and drop your iPhone onto the Lightning port, you'll be asked to install a couple of apps onto your device. One of them, Alarms, can be used to just set up alarms and give you stats on how long you're sleeping. It's ad-supported, but all of the ads seem to be iAd placeholders. I'm not sure of why anyone would use the Alarms app when the iHome Set app is much more useful. It provides settings for things like the FM radio presets, brightness of the clock display, volume, and it lets you set the alarm times and sources as well. While I was fooling around with this app, I checked for a firmware update for the clock and was surprised to find one -- who knew that you could update your alarm clock with an iOS device? The sound on the iDL45 was surprisingly good. I mean, I don't expect much from a plastic alarm dock, but the sound had a good, rich quality to it. The software worked like a champ and the app was extremely easy to figure out, although I suggest setting up the iDL45 well before you go to sleep in case you run into any questions. Conclusion With the iHome iDL45, the old traditional clock radio has just had another nail hammered into its coffin. Not only does the iDL45 work seamlessly with the free apps from iHome, but it has a pleasing design and good sound quality. The best thing? It works with your Lightning-equipped iPhone 5, iPad mini, 4th-generation iPad, or 5th-generation iPod touch. Pros Works with free iHome apps to provide control of every function Clock time is auto-synced with the iPhone time Lightning connector support! Ability to charge devices that don't use Lightning connectors through a USB port White display is very readable, even when dimmed considerably Surprisingly good sound for a clock radio / dock Ability to upgrade the clock radio / dock firmware through the app Battery backup built in Cons No AM stations, so you can't listen to some sports broadcasts Choice of apps is confusing; iHome should just point users to the iHome Set app Who is it for? Perfect for the iPhone-wielding office or blue-collar worker or student who needs to awake on time. At $100, it's reasonably priced and would make a good gift. Giveaway And speaking of gifts, TUAW and iHome are giving away an iHome iDL45. Here are the rules for the giveaway: Open to legal US residents of the 50 United States, the District of Columbia and Canada (excluding Quebec) who are 18 and older. To enter, fill out the form below completely and click or tap the Submit button. The entry must be made before June 27, 2013 11:59PM Eastern Daylight Time. You may enter only once. One winner will be selected and will receive an iHome iDL45 alarm dock valued at $99.99 Click Here for complete Official Rules. Loading...
iHome offers a few Bluetooth solutions and a boombox at CES 2013
iHome is one of the biggest iOS accessory sellers out there, and they always have a huge presence at CES, with a big booth showing off all of the company's latest and greatest wares. Unfortunately, the product lines can often be hard to navigate -- lately, the company has insisted on using a numbering system for each of its products rather than individual names, instead relying on the popular "iHome" brand as an identifier. But there are some good products in there, among all of the relatively standard docks and connector cables that a lot of other CES vendors share. Like a lot of accessory makers, Lightning is probably the biggest story around iHome's booth, as it's just now releasing docks and connectors designed to work with Apple's new standard. So for all of the old docks out there previously, there's now a Lightning version available that will fit together with your iPhone 5, the latest iPad or the iPad mini. Bluetooth speakers are also a big deal for iHome lately, with one of the most popular being the IBT 97, a clock dock powered by a Bluetooth connection, with an extra USB port in the back for charging. The IBT 30 is very impressive as well: It's a Bluetooth speaker with a rechargeable base on it, so you can use the device as a speaker wherever you want, and simply return it to the base when it needs a charge. The iP4 is one of the company's most popular products this year: It's a retro boombox-style stereo system that's been seen out and about in famous performers' hands. There's a standard Lightning version now, along with a Bluetooth version, each available for about US$199 or so. And finally, the IBT 52 (ugh, these names) isn't the most iOS-specific device we saw, but it is handy. The IBT 52 is a little unit with a cord that leads off to a 3.5-inch plug, and it can be plugged into any speaker system in your house to make it Bluetooth-enabled, allowing you to send music from your iOS device to a stereo system that doesn't already have Bluetooth inside of it. It's a pretty handy little device, and it could be very useful for those of us with older stereo systems when it releases later on this year in May for $49.
iHome iDL100G Lightning Dock hands-on
iHome didn't waste any time getting word out about its suite of CES-ready wares last week and here at CES Unveiled 2013, we're getting our first look at the stars of its lineup. Hailed as a first for the company's product line, the iDL100G and the iDL45 are two docks that support Apple's new Lightning port, making them attractive options for owners of the iPhone 5 or refreshed iPad and iPod. The triple-charging dock -- iHome's highest-end model -- retails for $150 and is fairly attractive, though it doesn't match the luxury of the Jony Ive-crafted hardware it's made to service. Up top, there are two Lightning ports to accommodate compatible devices (one dedicated as iPad charging station) and an array of buttons for alarm settings, snooze as well as bedtime, which works with a free iHome+Sleep iOS app. The 3Wx2 speakers aren't the most robust -- we noticed distortion when volume was approaching max -- but it seems serviceable as a Bluetooth-enabled FM tuner or iTunes playlist outpost. It's not currently available, but you can look for it and the lower-end iDL45 dual charging dock to hit retail shelves later this March. Follow all the latest CES 2013 news at our event hub. Sarah Silbert contributed to this report.
iHome promises Lightning docks, more at CES 2013
iHome, one of many companies that puts together third-party products for Apple devices, has just revealed its CES lineup, and the most exciting thing about them is that they are, finally, Lightning-equipped. Yes, the company has quite a few docks and boomboxes available for sale, from $100 to $200 or so, and while the specifics aren't all that exciting (they all play music, of course, and have various options available for FM or Bluetooth connections), the biggest deal here is the Lightning connection. I have a feeling (though it's pretty obvious, given the timing here) that Lightning will be a big trend at CES next week. TUAW will be at CES as well, looking through all of the various iPhone and iPad accessories getting announced to show up in 2013, and I wouldn't be surprised if nearly every new device we see was either built for both the 30-pin connector and the Lightning hookup, or just the Lightning. Apple's clearly moved on, and CES seems like the perfect time for third-party accessory makers to do the same. So stay tuned. As I said, TUAW will be out and about all week at CES 2013 in Las Vegas starting next Sunday, and odds are that we'll see plenty of these docks, as well as chargers and lots of other fun accessories, built specifically for Apple's Lightning standard. If you've been waiting to find some good accessories for your brand-new iPhone or iPad, you're in luck.
iHome unveils CES 2013 lineup, outs Lightning port-compatible docks and others
Joining the fray of other companies ready to jump the pre-CES gun, iHome's announcing its full product suite just prior to its official Vegas showcase. Billed as a first for the audio solutions outfit, the iDL100 and iDL45 -- set to retail for $150 and $100, respectively -- are both charging stereo FM clock radio docks that feature Lightning port connectors (two in the case of the former model) to link up with Apple's latest batch of iOS products, in addition to a sole USB port and auxiliary in jack. The company's also releasing a slew of Bluetooth-enabled, USB-charging products, the most notable of which are a new $200 "retro boom box," dubbed the iBT44, that allows for wireless music streaming from any compatible iOS or Android device and the iB85, foldable headphones that incorporate an inbuilt mic and on-ear remote for $100. There's a bit more to the company's lineup than just those headliners, so head on past the break for the full rundown of what iHome has to offer next week in Vegas.
iHome's iP76 3-foot tall LED Color Changing Speaker Tower dock now available
All music should be accompanied by a light show. And, if said light show comes in the form of a three-foot tall self-contained iPod dock, all the better. iHome's iP76 LED Color Changing Speaker Tower is not just a catchy name any more, it's now a product you can actually purchase for $199. The unnecessarily tall iDevice dock is loaded with color changing LEDs that pulse, fade and blink in coordination with your tunes and you can even connect other media sources via Bluetooth. You can pick up the GlowTunes dock now direct from iHome or at unnamed "retailers nationwide." Check out the PR and video after the break.
iHome iP76 LED color-changing speaker indulges your love for pretty colors
Music just isn't the same without a host of flashing colors to go with it, right? iHome, at least, seems to think so. Its first Glowtunes speaker tower, the new iP76, comes packed with LEDs in seven different hues that can fade, pulse or strobe as your playlist requires. The three-foot iP76 sports a dock for your iPhone or iPod and packs four speakers with Reson8 technology. There's also Bluetooth for streaming from other devices. The iP76 will go on sale for $200 in July. Already dreaming about all the sonic light shows you'll host? Jump past the break for some press info to tide you over.
IRL: Verizon Jetpack MiFi 4620, iHome iC50 and Epson's EH-TW9000 3D projector
Welcome to IRL, an ongoing feature where we talk about the gadgets, apps and toys we're using in real life and take a second look at products that already got the formal review treatment. Just call this week's column the something borrowed edition. Rather than do a formal review -- the sort of cookie-cutter project that can be over and done with in a week, frankly -- we asked three staffers to not just test new products, but to live with them. For starters, our very own jet-setting Darren Murph used Verizon Wireless' new Jetpack MiFi 4620L to get work done on the go, while our new editor Jon Fingas traded in his Sony clock radio for an iHome dock that promised to play nice with his non-Apple device. Rounding things out, Sharif took a $4,000 3D projector for a weeks-long spin because, well, why not?
iHome intros iDM5 Executive workstation for tablets / smartphones, priced at $130
We've seen iHome launch a multitude of sleek and useful peripherals aimed at the army of slabs out there, and its newest creation isn't an exception. Dubbed the iDM5 Executive, this workstation's designed to make typing on one of those iPads or Tabs a whole lot easier by giving you access to a full set of physical QWERTY keys. Aside from the keyboard, the iDM5's also packing Bluetooth capabilities alongside a 3.5mm audio jack, so despite the "i" shining from the outfit's name, the add-on isn't exclusive to iOS devices. Furthermore, iHome added two USB ports, allowing you to keep the juice flowing on your smartphone / tablet while getting some "work" done. The iDM5 is priced at a hefty $129.99 and you can snatch it up from the iHome site linked below.
iHome's iW2 AirPlay speaker to begin shipping this April, for $200
It's been a while since we've heard about iHome's iW2 AirPlay speaker, but that all changed Wednesday, when the company announced that its wireless system will begin shipping on April 1st. Standing at a little under six inches tall, this setup is about 25 percent smaller than its predecessor, the iW1. It's also a bit cheaper, at about $200, though it won't come with a built-in rechargeable battery. For more details and insight, check out the PR after the break.
iHome intros three new iOS docks, plans to blast you out of those Zzz's in return for your G's
That iPhone 4S just not cutting the mustard when it comes to wake up calls? Need something a little iHome-ier? Well, you're in luck because the company behind the iW1 AirPlay has a slew of refreshed docks just waiting to step and repeat at next week's CES. On deck are the $270 iW4, an AirPlay for your bedside table, the $70 iP18 with its selection of four distinct flashing LED colors to rouse you from rest and the$170 iD50, a Bluetooth alarm dock that's equal parts clock radio and speakerphone. Sadly, it's going to be all show and no buy for a while, as these iOS-friendly devices won't be released until later this year. Think you can sit tight? Good, then check out the PR after the break while you wait.
iHome goes retro futurist with new iP4 boombox speaker dock
We've seen a number of companies put a modern spin on the venerable boombox, but nothing quite like this new iP4 speaker dock from iHome. While it's unmistakingly a boombox, it looks more like a circa-1980s attempt to create a futuristic boombox than simply a modern boombox -- an unused prop from Back to the Future II, perhaps. It is decidedly modern when it comes to features, however, including a dock for your iPhone or iPod, an auxiliary input for your other devices, and a tiny remote. True to its boombox lineage, it can also be operated on six D cell batteries, and it even backs a five band graphic equalizer (updated slightly with an LCD display). Did we mention it's also available in pink? Look for this one to set you back $200.
iHome iW1 AirPlay wireless audio system finally available now, again, sort of
Remember back to September 26th when iHome's iW1 AirPlay speaker was supposed to be available? Curiously, the company's website continually listed the $300 system as "coming soon" (at least the times we checked), leaving iOS and iTunes users yearning for this cable-free audio ware in the proverbial dust. Now, a full month later, iHome has again announced the release of this flagship wireless speaker, even though it's still out of stock itself. According to the company, a quick trip to an Apple Store, Best Buy or Crutchfield should let you snag one, although, the latter's site won't have any until November 3rd. Here's to hunting -- and waiting for the smaller iW2 and iW3 units to get proper release dates. Full details in the press release after the break.
iHome iW1 AirPlay wireless audio system review
/ Believe it or not, it was way back at CES that we first caught an in-person glimpse of iHome's flagship AirPlay-enabled audio system -- a guy dubbed iW1. We've seen a steady trickle of AirPlay devices announced in the time since, but the iW1's been one of the earliest to splash down for the fall season. Priced at a moderate $300, it's a potential option for A) those who aren't keen on smacking down at least double the Benjamins for systems like the B&W Zeppelin Air or Libratone's Live or B) an alternative to other wireless systems like the similarly priced Sonos Play:3. Despite the iW1's low(ish) cost of adoption, though, it's packed with a bevy of tantalizing features (including app support, capacitive controls and a rechargeable battery), and a classy appearance, to boot. We put this modern-age boom box through its sound-reproducing paces for the past few weeks (much to our neighbors dismay). So, if you want to find out whether or not the iHome iW1 will pack a bang for your buck, hit that "read more" link below for our full review. %Gallery-134652%
iHome's AirPlay iW1 wireless speaker system available on September 26th, for $300
It's been a while since we first got our hands on the iW1 AirPlay, but it won't be too much longer before iHome's wireless speaker system hits the market. Yesterday, the company announced that the iW1 will be available on September 26th, for $300. For that price, you'll be able to stream music from your iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch, using the system's two three-inch woofers and duo of one-inch tweeters with Bongiovi processing. The six-pound iW1 also boasts a rechargeable lithium ion battery, allowing you to easily tote it to your next house party, and can be wirelessly connected using iHome's Home Connect app, available for free on iTunes. Blast past the break for the full press release, or hit up the source link for more detailed information.
iHome's SD63 headphones will satisfy your vague sense of nostalgia
Okay, so iHome's SD63 headphones may not be quite as "retro" as their name suggests, but there are certainly some design elements that harken back to a simpler time of beanbag chairs, black lights, and physical media -- a fact helped along by the inclusion of the old Soundesign brand. The SD63 Retro-Style Hi-Fi Stereo Headphones pack 40mm neodymium drivers, a volume knob on on the outside of an ear cup, and a coiled six-foot cord. They're available now for $50, which totally would have bought you a lot of Jethro Tull records, back in the day.
Apple AirPlay devices set to explode in 2011
Although DLNA may have had a significant head start, the streaming media standard available on more than 9,000 devices is about to be challenged in a very big way by Apple's upstart AirPlay technology. At least it will be if Jordan Watters, BridgeCo's VP of Sales and Marketing, is to be believed. BridgeCo as you'll recall, is the company that makes the silicon for AirPlay devices -- currently an exclusive arrangement we're told. While Apple may have thrust BridgeCo into the consumer spotlight, this ten year old company has a long history of quietly providing networked media processors and connectivity software to a who's who of audio companies. Here at CES we've already seen three speakers from iHome, the Zeppelin Air from B&W, and a trio of speakers from the previously unannounced AirPlay partner Klipsch rolled out. And this is just the beginning. According to Jordan Watters, AirPlay devices could ultimately dwarf "made for iPod" audio docks by 2x to 4x. Part of the reason for Jordan's optimism is the fact that so many iOS devices have already been sold and that many audio devices already on the market using BridgeCo chips can add AirPlay functionality via a software update, including the nine receivers just announced from Denon and Marantz. "The ecosystem is already there," he said smiling. And unlike iPod docks which are usually sold at a rate of one per iOS device, Watters sees consumers purchasing multiple AirPlay devices for every iOS device sold in order to enable whole-home distributed audio. In fact, growth could come as a "step function ramp sucking into the market," Jordan enthused. In other words, he expects AirPlay growth to be explosive. We'd chalk up the hyperbolic talk to Jordan's marketing role if it weren't for the abundance of anecdotal evidence supporting his claims here at CES. To start with, the company's modest meeting room was packed with interested manufacturers poking around BridgeCo's AirPlay offering. Jordan's also booked back-to-back-to-back with meetings until the show ends (and into the coming weeks we suspect). But what really convinced us was an all-in-one speaker prototype from a major consumer electronics company that was quickly whisked away before meeting the sensor beneath our D300's lens. If they're involved, well, we expect the rest will follow.
