Ilive Clock Radio for Iphone/ Ipod Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)The product worked great. It was super easy to set up and use. The sound was good for a clock radio. Unfortunately, when I turned off my lights at night, it looked like I had a street lamp in my room. There was no way to dim it, and I ended up covering it with a towel to sleep. It will be going back. Can't sleep when I'm blinded!

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DPI ICP211B Desktop Clock Radio ICP211B Clocks

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SONY ICF-C211-BLK AM/FM Clock Radio Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I've had my Sony Clock Radio for quite a while now. It's durable (I've dropped it several times down several flights of stairs, but it's still here and working) and performs as advertised. One minor complaint though. The radio doesn't go very loud without distortion. But who would want to crank an alarm clock radio up anyways??? Overall, this is a great product.

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This clock radio from Sony features a large highly readable display that can be seen form just about anywhere in the room, even at night. Wake to the sound of music from your favorite radio station or to the standard digital alarm sound.Large easy-to-see LED display is highly readable from a distance, even at night. AM/FM Tuner lets you choose from the wide variety of news, talk radio and music programming. AM Wide Band Reception allows reception of all AM radio stations in the new expanded AM band. Easy Operation with Single Function Keys makes it a simple matter to set time, select alarm preference (buzzer or radio), and all other functions in easy, convenient steps. Alarm-On Indicator tells you at a glance if alarm is set. Snooze Bar shuts off alarm temporarily to allow for a few extra minutes of snoozing before it turns on again. Sleep Timer shuts off radio automatically after a pre-set length of time. Full Power Memory Back-Up uses single 9V battery (optional) to maintain clock and alarm settings and operation in event of blackout or other power failure. Antennas include built-in ferrite bar antenna for AM, convenient wire antenna for FM.

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iLuv iHD171 HD Radio with iTunes Tagging for iPod, iPhone, and iPhone 3G/3G S Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Overall:
HD Radio: 1/5
iPod / iPhone integration: 3/5
Build: 2/5
Clock / Alarm: 0/5
Sound Quality: 2/5
I was drawn to this item because it has great features. HD Radio and iPhone dock in one package is a really good idea. Ever since I've discovered HD Radio (in my car), normal radio sounds inadequate. After researching online for a few weeks, I bought HD171 and received it yesterday. Let's look at various aspects of this device.
What's in the package
- Radio (HD 171)
- AM antenna
- FM antenna wire
- remote control
- 3 dock adapters for different ipods (or iphone)
- manual, warranty, etc.
HD Radio:
Since HD Radio was a big requirement for me, this is the first feature I tried out. After plugging everything in, I tuned into my favorite radio station. The sound was acceptable but I didn't see the HD logo come on. After waiting for 5 minutes I started moving the FM antenna wire around to get a better signal. I finally found a good position near the window. After 15 seconds of linking, I finally heard the HD goodness. But that didn't last very long. The signal kept losing. So I relocated the radio next to an open window. HD signal was much strong and I was able to listen to HD-2 channels too but the signal would always drop after a few minutes. There were just way too many drops and cuts for me to enjoy the music. It might perform better with an amplified antenna but given that I live in middle of a city, I expect the radio to work without add-ons (I had no issues with reception in my car).
iPod / iPhone Integration:
After being disappointed with the HD Radio, I tried the iPod dock with my iPhone. Everything worked well there. I was able to listen to the songs stored on the phone as well as those played by apps like Pandora and AOL Radio just fine. The iTunes tagging feature also works well but once you tag a song playing on radio it takes about 30-40 seconds for transferring it to iPhone.
Sound Quality:
I have been using Logitech Pure-Fi Anywhere with my iPhone and had been fairly happy with the sound considering the form factor. I expected more from HD171. The max sound level is 35 and it does get loud for a medium sized room but there isn't much clarity. It really does sound like low end radios rather than something $150-$200 range. The bass is lacking lows, and Highs and Mids are both off.
Clock / Alarm:
I liked the fact that this device can sync time with iPhone. I noticed that it did so the moment I docked my iPhone. After a few hours I noticed that the time was stuck and the display kept flashing the message "Time Sync". After removing the iPhone, the time started incrementing. By the night, the time showed as "38:04" (!). I'm not sure why it did so or what that means. Re-docking my iPhone corrected the time but it still wouldn't increment. Due to this, the alarm clock wouldn't function either. I was able to set the alarm but it never went off.
Build and Looks:
It is a bit heavy but that's probably due to the speakers. Mostly plastic construction and feels cheap in certain portions. Doesn't have the chic look that's associated with Apple products and related accessories. There are two knobs on the front, volume and tuning. They feel flimsy and I was worried they would wear quite fast. The LCD display is amply lit and the dimmer has 4 levels and a way to turn it off. Buttons on the top panel are a bit stiff and don't always register when pressed.
Remote Control:
It's nice to have a remote control. It is IR so it needs a line of sight and it didn't work beyond 7ft. It has buttons for: power, mute, source selection, presets, memory, sleep, play, next, prev, volume, snooze/dimmer.
Control Panel:
The controls on the radio have all the buttons you'd need. But there is a flaw. You cannot move between HD channels of the same station. The tuner jumps to the next frequency. The only way to achieve this is using the remote control (next/prev buttons).
Documentation:
The documentation is quite poor and does not even talk about HD Radio. The Troubleshooting section is dismal.
Final words:
I had great hopes from this device but considering all the issues, I'm sending it back to Amazon. I hope to see a better attempt in future at HD Radio and iPhone integration.

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The iHD171 provides crystal clear, digital stereo for AM/FM HD Radio and multicast stations. Receive HD radios signals to increase the clarity of your FM radio stations to CD-quality sound. Displays info such as station and song name, brand, frequency and more if avilable from the station. One touch iTunes Taggin, PLL tuning digital tuning technology and programmable presets for 30 radio stations. Enjoy rich sound from your iPhone & iPod, plays and charges both. Output your favorite videos to your TV if your iPod has video capability. Digital clock display w/dual alarm function, time sync function synchronizes time from your iPhone or iPod. Wake and sleep to your iPhone, iPod, AM/FM radio or buzzer.

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Sony Dash Personal Internet Viewer Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)UPDATED: Sony has released a software update that rolled out in the first week of June 2010. I've edited the review below to identify issues resolved in the software update. I have noticed some freeze-ups since the software update, but they've been relatively infrequent. If you buy the device new now, it will update itself as soon as it connects to the internet.The Sony Dash is marketed as a "personal internet viewer." In my opinion, it does not live up to that name. Others are more accurately calling it "glimpse internet" and "upgraded alarm clock." It's a 7-inch touch tablet designed with a weighted wedge style, meant to sit on a countertop or bedside table. Sony basically licensed or bought the Chumby OS and added its own internet video service as well as re-designing the UI a bit for the larger screen. I was attracted to this device because I liked the idea of a Chumby, but it seemed overly bulky and too small of a screen. The Dash takes all the good parts about a Chumby and adds a bigger screen and a better design.
I'm giving a lot more detail below, but to sum up: what you think of this device is largely going to depend on what you want from it. To me, this device's best tagline would have identified it as a "wake-up station"...telling you everything you need or want to know as you wake up to begin your day. My rating of this device is based on what I expected out of it: in short, a glorified alarm clock. If your alarm clock could:
* tell you weather and traffic at a glance
* have multiple alarms per day, each with their own sounds, configurable in any way you want...if you want to wake up at a different time each day, with a different tone each day, it can handle that. (Really, if you've ever used your cellphone as your alarm clock, consider everything your cellphone can do as an alarm clock...this can do all the same stuff, without ever having to worry about all the problems of cellphones as alarm clocks.)
* quickly show you a few e-mails, status updates, or photos
* let you go to sleep/snooze to a podcast or internet video
If you look at that list and think, "wow, that's exactly what I want in an alarm clock," then you're the target user for the Sony Dash. Sadly, they're not marketing it to you at all. Really, they're barely doing anything to sell this device. I've seen exactly zero ads. Were it not for Engadget, I wouldn't have even known it was available or what it was. And, stupidly, what Sony is doing is positioning this so it goes up against things like the iPad and Archos tablet. Sony should be positioning this as the best damn alarm clock in the world. That's their mistake and what will, IMO, make this device fail.
On that note, I've seen alot of reviewers poo-poo the Sony Dash by saying "oh, my cellphone could do this" or "oh, my iPad does this better". Well, your cellphone and iPad don't do what this does, because neither of those devices are meant to sit still on a bedside table. Your cellphone and likely your iPad get up and leave when you do, which makes them nearly useless as an alarm clock unless you are a single person living alone. Even if you are a single person (or if you are willing to have separate devices for each person), you'd need to buy several accessories to make a cellphone or iPad sit as nicely as this does on a surface. So, long story short, a cellphone and an iPad appeal to a broader audience, no doubt, but, this device hits a very necessary niche for which the iPad and cellphone are ill-designed.
PROS:
* Very fast and easy setup on the device -- you can use the device without going to the web, but there are quite a few apps that require configuration via the web, and the web config has issues (see Cons list)
* Design is sleek. It looks damn cool on your bedside table.
* Pleasing UI, simple to navigate
* AccuWeather weather (a plus over other weather services, IMO)
* Sits securely (can be rubbed by cat without falling over)
* Bright and colorful screen, videos look great
* Completely customizable alarms and alarm clock
* NEW IN 6/2010 UPDATE: Customizable snooze length - 1,2,3,4,5,10,15,20,25, or 30 minutes
* "night mode" that dims the screen and shows only the clock, when the next alarm is set for and the weather in black and white...though I did notice today that it's got a little "mom" that writes itself in in cursive, which is kind of a cool "surprise" bit of chrome
* Price is just about right, in my opinion. If Sony ripped out everything but the alarm clock and weather functions, shrank the screen, and got it to $99 or $79, that'd be a very nice product...would beat the heck out of the American Innovative Neverlate Executive Alarm Clock. At $199, it's less than a netbook, less than many cellphones, and far less than the Apple products that could fit this space.
* Usable touch keyboard, fine for posting to Twitter or Facebook, but I wouldn't use it to type a long e-mail
* Really good selection of default sounds loaded
* Was able to access my Amazon Video on Demand purchased videos and play them easily, and since I haven't bought anything else that does that yet (except my PCs, of course), that's a nice feature for me.
CONS:
Now for the bad news. There are three issues that, in my opinion, are near blocking issues, but the silver lining to the cloud is that all three are likely to be resolved by Sony soon, and my rating reflects my strong belief that these will be resolved soon. Still, were I Sony, I'd feel great shame to have shipped this device with these issues as they are:
* USB drives are not working yet. This is huge, because they promise this on the box, and it's the only way to access your own music from the box (no DLNA or other wireless transfer support). It says "coming soon" if you attempt to play music or view pictures from a USB drive. Were I not in love with this as my alarm clock, I'd return it based on this alone. - RESOLVED IN JUNE 2010 UPDATE - USB drives are now accessible! You still cannot set an MP3 as a wake-up alarm, however.
* The web setup is a mess. The site itself looks shoddy, like no one actually cared enough to make it look nice...and the configuration area is not easily accessible from Sony's main site. You have to go to Sony's "MyEssentials" site (a term/brand that is in no way associated with the Dash), and that site is not linked from the Sony Dash page on Sony's site, nor from Sony's main site. Logging in from Sony's main site and clicking on "my devices" takes forever to load, so I never found out if I could get to the Dash config site from there. To find the config site after the initial setup, I ended up going to [...], trying my Sony login, and then Chumby re-directed me to the MyEssentials site. Basically, the setup on the Dash itself is so simple, but as soon as you hit the point that you need to use the web to configure something, you're lost. For this reason alone, I can't recommend this for non-geeks...which sucks because if this were fixed, I could see this being a really nice gift for a number of non-geeks in my family. I mean, this is basic stuff that they blew off, and it speaks volumes to Sony's lack of commitment to this device. - IMPROVEMENT IN JUNE 2010 UPDATE - It is no longer necessary to use the MyEssentials site to configure the Dash. You can do most day-to-day aspects of configuration from the device itself, though the device will still prompt you to register on MyEssentials during initial setup. This is particularly good because it turns out that Sony STILL has not improved the MyEssentials site for the Dash, and they can't reset passwords for your registered account through the website. You have to call customer service. If you try to reset your account's password through the MyEssentials site, it sends you to the SonyStyle site, which uses a different database of usernames and thus will not work.
* No web browser...which I wouldn't care about if there were more apps or if this weren't being sold as a "personal internet viewer"...but to call yourself an internet viewer and not have a browser is just sad. Plus, this makes the apps themselves frustrating. Most of them are just ported iPhone apps, which means they assume you can click links to view more.
There are also quite a few minor issues which Sony/Chumby could resolve in the next few months via software updates:
* Not enough "apps" (really, they're widgets)...lots of popular news and info sites are not represented, and the apps themselves are not the greatest quality.
* The layout options are limited. There's only two layouts, and neither of them are satisfying. For example, there's no layout that has two app panes. You can't customize shortcuts in any of the layouts, either, so you can't (for example) make sure that the Amazon Video shortcut is the first (or only) one available. - IMPROVED IN JUNE 2010 UPDATE - 2 new layouts are available, and they definitely improved on the usability.
* Not easy to switch between "channels" (different views with different apps...for example, I have a productivity channel that has my Gmail and Gcal in it and a separate social networking channel that has all of my social networks and news feeds), takes 4 steps to switch plus a not-insignificant load time. Basically makes the channel feature useless because it's too annoying to switch channels. You're better off just loading all the apps you want into your default channel.
* No copy/paste functionality...a pain if you're wanting to post a status to multiple sites...Read more›

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Your favorite parts of the Internet customized the way you choose, available in a dash. Over 1,000 free apps can be displayed at the touch of a finger. Choose from your favorite information and entertainment content including weather, traffic, social networking, movies, music and more--pushed right to your kitchen, bedroom, or office. The Dash Personal Internet Viewer connects quickly and easily to your existing wireless network and features a vibrant 7-inch LCD touchscreen for accessing a variety of video services for online music and viral videos, full-length feature movies and TV shows. You can also listen to MP3s and Internet radio via the built-in stereo speakers, or by using the headphone jack (headphones not included).

Streamline Your Life with Free Apps The 1500-plus apps available for the Dash Personal Internet Viewer deliver the information and entertainment you want--weather, traffic, social networking, movies, music, and more--right to your kitchen, bedroom, or office.
Listen to What You Want The Dash Personal Internet Viewer is a compact audio multi-tool: listen to MP3s and Internet Radio out loud with the built-in stereo speakers, or privately by using the headphone jack (headphones not included).
Customization Customizing the Dash home screen to fit your own personal needs and style is easy. Simply choose your favorite apps and theme that you want displayed.
Access to Sony Content Get access to the best Sony has to offer: movie trailers, minisodes, music videos, game trailers, and the latest deals from SonyStyle.com.
7-Inch LCD Touchscreen The WVGA 800x480 LCD touchscreen displays crystal clear photos and video from a wide viewing angle, and automatically adjusts the display for an upright or horizontal orientation.
Simple Setup Connect quickly and easily to your existing wireless network.
Elegant and Space Saving Design The compact size maximizes counter, bedside, and desktop spaces, and the timeless design blends in with any décor.
Easy-to-Use Clock and Alarms When you enter your zip code the device automatically sets the time for you. Set up custom alarms, either one-time or recurring, with the option of waking to Internet radio stations, built-in alarm sounds, or your favorite app.5
Multi-Source Video Content Access a variety of video services for online music and viral videos, full-length feature movies and TV shows you can watch and control on the brilliant LCD.
Convenience Stream the web content you specify through Internet apps, without the distraction of a PC. It's always on, always fresh, always available at a glance without the delay of booting up your PC.
Online Photo Access and Sharing For a great photo viewing experience the Dash Personal Internet Viewer conveniently loads and displays your photos from online services such as Photobucket, or you can simply view your photos directly via USB. The touchscreen user interface allows you to set effects, rotate photos, zoom, and play or pause photo slide shows.
USB 2.0 Interface Access audio, video or photo content stored on mass storage USB devices by connecting to the USB port.
What's in the Box Sony Dash Personal Internet Viewer and user's manual.

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JVC NXPN7 Portable Audio System with Dual iPod Dock Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)First let me say that the dual dock is awesome. I use this unit with my 3g iPhone and iPod Color. This unit has great sound, and good functionality. for instance, from standby, pressing the play button once, not only wakes up the unit, but also starts playing the last song played on the iPod, nice and easy!
However here are two critical flaws that no one else has mentioned.
1. There is no "Snooze" function! What kind of clock radio has no snooze????
2. Even worse, to use the wake up timer, you have to and I quote the users manual, " Turn off the unit (on standby)". On Standby the unit displays nothing but a blueish glow, THE TIME DOESN'T DISPLAY and can't display if you have a wake up time set. What???????
So just to make sure that you understand, when setting a wake up timer, (which this unit has 3 of) you cannot have the ability to display the time and have a wake up setting active. So rolling over in the middle of the night to glance at the time is not an option with this thing. How lame!!
Other than these 2 (in my opinion) huge functional missteps, this would be the perfect dual ipod AM/FM clock radio.

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Portable Audio System with Dual iPod Dock

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Sony ICF-C773 Dream Machine AM/FM Clock Radio With Fifteen Station Presets Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)When it comes to consumer electronics, I expect a certain amount of embellishment in the product portrayal, but with the ICF-C773, Sony has come precariously close to the realm of blatant false advertising. From the misleading description to the blatantly false picture, nothing about this clock delivers what it promises.
Based on the description, I *thought* that the clock would gradually ease me out of sleep, with a warm soothing light and soft music. The Amazon product description talks about a "calming effect" and adjustable illumination. Sounds nice, doesn't it? Instead, when this thing goes off it is like the apocalypse has finally arrived. The harsh, alien, LED lights will blink on and off, and if you combine that with the godawful alarm tones, you will find yourself leaping out of bed and looking for a weapon of some sort. Infuriatingly, you have NO control over this blinking feature, other than to turn off the light completely.
Right now, I bet you are thinking to yourself: "Well, at least it looks cool..." Alas, no. It seems that Sony could give Maxim magazine some tips on airbrushing. The clock looks NOTHING like the picture. The sides of this thing are pure, bright white, from top to bottom. But what really stung me is the LCD display. In Sony's artistic rendering, the display is pure black and the numbers are pure white. This grossly misleading picture caused me to assume that the clock would just light up the numbers, like older clock radios do. This method produces easy to read numbers during both day AND night while producing a minimal amount of extra light at night. In reality, the entire display glows blue-white and the numbers are a slightly lighter shade. During the day you can barely see the numbers and at night you can read a book by the light this thing puts out. Thankfully, Sony included a low setting for the screen, which is OK for night, but makes the clock completely unreadable during the day.
Then there are the buttons, buttons, buttons. This thing is covered with buttons, and in what I am sure is some fiendish attempt to drive me to insanity, the buttons you will use the most are located on the back of the unit, where you cannot see them. Prepare yourself for countless moments of frustration as you fumble around the back of this thing pressing buttons until you get the right one. And while doing so, be careful not to bump the analog (not digital!) wheels that control the radio volume and light brightness.
This clock is a huge disappointment, not just because of the reasons above, and not just because of the grossly inflated price, but because it teases you with cool features that just don't deliver. Avoid this clock at all costs.

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The Sony ICF-C773 AM/FM Clock Radio makes it a lot more pleasant to wake up in the morning. The illuminated sides act as mood lighting, creating a more relaxed atmosphere. The new design and backlit LCD display let you enjoy your favorite AM or FM radio station in style. 15 station presetsNap timer Extendable snoozeLCD brightness control

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Philips PSS110 GoGear ShoqBox 256 MB Personal MP3 Sound System Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I got this little guy hoping it could be a good alarm clock replacement, but I've found that it doesn't work so well in that regard. That is not to say that it is a bad music player though, it's just not meant to be an alarm clock.
It looks like it would be perfect as a portable speaker set for an iPod or something, due to it's size and rechargeable battery. Or if you didn't have a computer at work and wanted something you could bring in to play music files on. It's very portable.
The good:
1. sound - puts out some pretty decent sound considering the size.
2. size - smaller than I thought it would be. not pocket-sized, but not prohibitively big or heavy either.
3. looks - very polished design.
4. accessories - comes with cord antenna, line-in cord & carry case, all good add-ons that complete the function of the unit.
5. firmware upgradeable, so more (or more improved) features may be yet to come.
The bad:
1. clock displays in 24hr format all the time. I'm guessing Europe is the primary market for this thing.
2. When plugged in and turned off, the LCD backlight is on all the time. Might bother some people who are light sleepers. and when you have the unit on, the backlight has a 5 sec timeout? it would seem to make more sense the other way around to me.
3. alarm snooze is only 10 minutes, and automatic. I prefer it to only go into snooze when you hit a "snooze" button, so I can leave the radio running while I get dressed and stuff in the morning. as it is now, you have to turn it off after the alarm goes off, then turn it back on again, or else it will automatically go into snooze mode after 10 minutes.
4. you have to use musicmatch jukebox to upload music to it. well, you can upload music manually, like it was a flash drive, but the device uses a SQLite database, which needs to be updated or else it won't see any new music in the music folder. there are some third party apps for updating this db for you, but they are flaky at best. I just hate having to use an app to do something as simple as moving files.
The good news about most of these bad things is that because the unit is firmware upgradeable, Philips could release fixes for them eventually, if they are on the ball.
So, I will still say I like this thing, even if I do have to still stick with my older, uglier alarm clock for now.
UPDATE: the latest firmware for this has fixed two issues:
1) it now does 12 hour time display as well as 24 hour.
2) the backlight will dim after a short timeout period when it is plugged in.
Just an FYI.

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Philips, Personal Sound System MP3/WMA/DRM, 256mb, FM radio, clock/alarm, AC/DC, unique styling

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JBL On Time 200P Loudspeaker iPod Dock and Clock Radio for iPhone (Black) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
A week ago, my trustworthy old clock/radio/CD player finally died after over 10 years of faithful service. When I started looking for a replacement clock/radio, I realized that I didn't care about having a CD player any more, but it would be really useful if I could use it as a docking station/speaker to play music on my iPod or iPhone.
For me, the most frustrating obstacle that I ran into as I searched through various products and reviews was a lack of comprehensive and accurate information regarding compatibility with different iPod/iPhone models! I have a 3rd generation iPod nano and an iPhone 4, and I wanted a dock that would be compatible with either device. For several docking stations, I found that Amazon, the Apple store and the manufacturer's own website had 3 different versions of which iPods/iPhones the dock was supposedly compatible with - so which should I believe?
In the end, I was debating between the iHome iP90 and the JBL On Time 200P, and the compatibility issue ended up being the deciding factor. Several reviewers commented that the iHome iP90 only came with docking inserts for a few iPod/iPhone models (not including the iPhone 4), so they had to visit the iHome website to purchase an additional insert to fit the iPhone 4 that cost an extra $5.99 plus shipping. If I'm already paying for a pricy docking station, I want it to be compatible with my devices out of the box; I don't want to mess around with ordering and paying for extra inserts. Since the JBL On Time 200P was advertised on several websites as being compatible with all docking versions of iPod/iPhone, I decided to see for myself... And it was!
**PROS**
1. Compatibility!! Box contains multiple inserts/adaptors that make it compatible with ALL current docking versions of iPod/iPhone. I was able to plug in both my iPod nano 3rd gen and my iPhone 4 with no problems, and listen to music while they charged at the same time!
2. Great overall sound quality (see CONS section for exceptions).
3. Very sleek and stylish design.
4. Bright blue display makes the time clearly visible from across the room. (That said, I put my JBL On Time 200P in the kitchen - but if you want to use this device in the bedroom as an alarm clock, I'm not sure whether the display would be too bright...)
5. Simple and clear instruction manual - easy to program/use.
6. You can receive incoming calls while the iPhone is plugged into the docking station. Whatever you're listening to gets automatically muted, and the iPhone rings just like normal!
**CONS**
1. The lowest volume setting is not as quiet as I would like - I can still hear it clearly in the next room.
2. The sound quality gets a bit distorted if you turn the volume all the way up.
Overall conclusion: I'm very satisfied with the JBL On Time 200P and would definitely recommend it, especially if you've got multiple different iPod/iPhone models and want a device that's compatible with all of them.

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THE JBL ON TIME 200P loudspeaker dock and clock radio is a revolution in time travel for the iPod and iPhone. Imagine waking up to your favorite song; no more buzzer or bad radio reception. The JBL On Time 200P system is a compact, high-performance time machine and sound center. Connected to your new-generation iPod, iPhone 3G, iPhone, MP3 player or other music source, the JBL On Time 200P system produces clean, powerful sound while providing time-keeping, alarm and radio features.

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Philips AJ3600 Time Projection Clock Radio Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I just received this clock yesterday and have already fallen in love!
To avoid hitting the snooze or reset button(s) and never waking up, I keep my alarm clock across the room from my bed. This way I wake up enough to get out of bed and walk across the room before I hit any buttons. As my eyes are getting older it has become increasingly more difficult to focus on the clock when I wake up in the middle of the night.
When I decided that a projection clock would solve my problem of focusing on the clock in the middle of the night, I started to look around for one and I was not pleased with what was out there. I did not need nature sounds, nor did I need a light to turn on as part of the alarm. I do not have an MP3 player to dock into my clock, and I do not need a complete weather report when I open my eyes (LOL, I will find that out soon enough when I shlep out of bed and let the dogs outside!). I do not need to know what time the alarm is set (I just like to be reassured that it is on), and I am perfectly capable of pressing a few buttons to set the time all by myslef.
This little guy projects the time and whether or not the alarm is on...the two things that I am most interested in when I open my eyes in the middle of the night. The projection can be moved 180 degrees and the further away you project the time, the larger it is. It has an adjustable backlight on the face so it is not too bright. It has an AM/FM radio with ten station presets, and when the alarm is set to chime instead of the radio, it starts gentle so as not to jar you awake. It does have two alarms, but instead of having a choice of alarm types (chime or radio) Alarm 1 uses the radio and Alarm 2 uses the chime. The chime is a little bit quieter than I am used to, but it woke me up just fine this morning.
So far (after one night) I love this clock, it's a great price, and I would defiantly recommend it!


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Philips Clock Radio with Time Projection that beams the time on any surface - just wake up, open your eyes, and you'll see the time!

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ETON Traveler II Digital G8 AM/FM/LW/Shortwave Radio with Auto Tuning Storage Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I wanted a shortwave radio small enough to carry around and not too expensive--somewhere in between the $20 toys and the $100+ serious boys. Well, this is it. It's not perfect, but it's reasonably powerful, has useful features, is fun to use, looks and feels good (with a matte black soft rubber finish), and comes with a handy pouch and earphones. Just what I wanted.
The display is excellent, with an orange backlit screen that's the best I've seen on any radio of this size. One click lights it up for a few seconds and a longer one keeps it on; it switches itself on briefly with a change of frequency. The information in the display is configurable and can include the following: frequency, battery strength, signal strength (in dBmicron and dB S/N), time, alarm, temperature (!), shortwave band, memory locations, and timer.
FM, SW, and AM/LW all sound good to me and are reasonably sensitive. FM pulls in a lot of stations, including the one I wanted most: KING-FM 98.1 in Seattle, which the more expensive Grundig Aviator A6 couldn't get from where I live on Vancouver Island. Ditto KOMO 1000 on AM. SW reception is good, too. Auto search only catches the strongest ones, but manual tuning gets scores more. I've heard Australia, Cuba, Venezuela, North Korea, Tokyo, Beijing, Moscow, Zagreb, etc. in the short time I've had it. It all depends on time and the atmosphere. At 6.30 a.m. the 31m band is packed with stations. And there's continuous coverage from 3150-21950 kHz, not just the selections that come on many shortwave radios. If only there was a setting to filter out the religious stations that come in so loud and clear. Scanning is by thumbwheel in 1 or 5 kHz steps, or by band, or by auto scanning in 5 kHz steps. Both the tuning and volume knobs move by detents.
One particularly nice touch is that the radio remembers the last station you were listening to in each waveband when you switch off. Another nice touch is that radio is silent during auto scanning. A lot of thought has gone into the user-friendliness of this little portable. Short and long button presses for different functions can be annoying, but on this radio they are sensible and intuitive.
Hidden under a front panel are buttons for setting memory locations, time, and alarm, with a recessed button for resetting the radio. There is also a large dial to set the radio to any of the world's time zones, which apparently gives the radio its name. This looks impressive, as does the world map inside the panel, but unless you're constantly changing time zones it's really just a marketing frill. I'd have preferred a direct entry keypad here instead.
The only sour note is the feeble manual, which covers the basics but has no technical information about the radio or more advanced help (such as explaining dBmicron and dB S/N). You shouldn't have to Google things like this. Some parts of the manual are poorly explained or just plain wrong, like telling you to have the radio off or on to set up a function when it means the exact opposite. I've noticed the same thing with other Grundig/Eton manuals, even on their "serious" radios like the S350DL. They really should put more effort in here.
Despite the poor manual, this is a very competent portable that is easy to use and sounds good. A larger speaker might help and there is no tone control, though neither of these noticeably compromised sound quality on the stronger stations. With these slight reservations, this radio earns 4.5 stars from me, but since that's not possible, I'm happy to give it 5.

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AM/FM/LW/Shortwave Radio with ATS (Auto Tuning Storage)

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Philips AJ260 Weather Station Clock Radio Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)After reading all the other reviews I wasn't too sure. But reading between the lines I decided to take a chance. I bit the bullet and bought it and so far I am happy I did. I did find one thing I would like changed, one thing I would like enhanced.
The negative and needing changed is that the dual alarms will both sound by the same method. Either both by buzzer or both by radio. I personally like to use one alarm by radio, one by buzzer. That gives me a gentle wake up and then a reminder alert a little later.
To make the clock better, it would be nice if you could dim the weather LED. It is bright, no doubt about it. You can set it so that it only comes on for 10 seconds when you press a button, but I'd still like to see it dimmable.
As far as the other complaints... almost all the bad reviews could be corrected and attributed to user error. If people would RTFM before moaning, life would be easier.
Time resets to central but you live in the west, well read the manual. Not getting the auto time update, RTFM. Weather indicator light stays lit and keeps you up at night, read the manual. Outside temperature sensor giving inaccurate readings, read the flipping manual and mount the sensor in an appropriate place. As far as the sensor only measuring barometric pressure indoors and not outside, well unless you live in a submarine or a minute-man missile silo and use the airlock, the pressure inside and outside your house are the same. Humidity might be different, but pressure is the same, and that is what gives the clock its rudimentary weather predictions. Yes, it is really basic weather predictions, but what do you expect. It's a clock radio, not a meteorologist. Turn on the radio if you want more details.
I'd buy one again, but I would prefer separate buzz/radio selections for each alarm.


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Philips Personal Weather Forecast Clock Radio with wireless outdoor temperature sensor. Start your day right - every day! The compact AJ260 features an atomic clock and graphical weather forecast icons with multi-color light indicators. Your trusty weather forecaster always keeps you punctual. Stylish design with all the functions you need, weather forecast display with graphical animations. Multi-color light weather indicator which displays indoor-outdoor temperature has abuilt-in hygrometer display of the indoor humidity. Convenient digital tuning presets to start the day your way. Dual alarm time, wake up to your favorite radio tune or a buzzer for gentle wake with increasing alarm volume.Digital radio-controlled clock for accurate time settings with large backlit LCD display (bightness controlled) for easier viewing in low light

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Oregon Scientific Rm313pa Exactset Fixed Projection Alarm Clock Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Most of my life I've had early shifts for my occupation (i.e. being into work at 6:00 am or earlier). I used to have a clock that didn't have a battery backup nor did it keep the correct time. I saw this model clock that had both plus the time projection on the ceiling so my wife didn't have to try to roll me over to see the clock, so I decided to give it a try. The clock looks a bit futuristic, but that is its function. The exact time feature is great. I set the houses clocks to it whenever the power goes out, which is regularly (where in a rural town). The battery backup is another great feature that I've never had prior to this. The only drawbacks that I have with the clock is that in order to project the time on the ceiling so that you can read it on a decent angle, is to turn the clock so that you can't the time on its face. You either get to see the one on the ceiling or you get the face of the clock, not both. Another drawback is the buttons on the clock don't make much sense when you need to program the alarm. Once you know the buttons to push, its easy, but they aren't marked well. Hope this review is helpful for you.

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The RM313PNA Blue ExactSet Fixed Projection Alarm Clock with Indoor Temperature makes going to bed or waking up fun!This cool member of the ExactSet family has all the amazing attributes of our other ExactSet clocks: it sets itself automatically, self-corrects for daylight saving time, projects the time in soft glowing red numbers on the wall or ceiling and now provides you with the indoor temperature! This cool and curvaceous clock not only looks good, but is easy to use and operate.The radio tower icon on the LCD screen lets you know your ExactSet projection clock is tuned in and receiving the super-accurate Atomic Clock time.Colorful design and split-second accuracy -- a combination of style and technology that is unquestionable!

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Oregon Scientific RMR382-B Wireless Indoor/Outdoor Thermometer with Atomic Clock, Black Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)So far the device has entirely lived up to expectations. Atomic Clock feature works fine and the range and accuracy on the remote sensor seems fair enough -- there is often about a 1-2 degree difference between the sensor and main unit if set right next to each other, but this is minor for the uses we get out of it (a quick look at outside temps during the winter).
The only issue we ran into that was "problematic" was the Ice Alarm feature. This feature sets off the devices alarm anytime the temperature drops between 32 and 27 degrees or so to alert you to possible icy conditions. The problem is that in cold climates the temperature hovers in that range all winter long...so the alarm goes off continually every 40 seconds or so.
We just happened upon a solution that has worked perfectly. The ice alarm only works on Channel 1. So, if you set the outside sensor to Channel 2 or 3 the ice alarm is disabled and is no longer triggered. Obviously, they should have an ability to shut it off, but this is it...and even this isn't listed in the instructions.

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Keep informed of current temperatures with this wireless indoor/outdoor thermometer. From Oregon Scientific, the thermometer allows users to plan appropriately for weather conditions while monitoring the indoor climate for maximum comfort. The thermometer's clock also self-sets via radio communication with the US atomic clock for precise time.
The sleek black thermometer is designed to stand upright on a tabletop or shelf. On the easy-to-read LCD screen, the thermometer displays the time, time zone, date, radio signal, indoor and outdoor temperatures, and temperature trends icons. A green LED ice alert light blinks when the outdoor temperature dips below 37 degrees F. Equipped with five language settings (English, Spanish, French, Italian, and German), the thermometer also provides an alarm clock function with an 8 minute snooze. The thermometer comes with one THN132N wireless temperature sensor to monitor outdoor temperatures, conveying data to the base unit from up to 100 feet away at a 433 MHz frequency. For more accurate readings, shelter the sensor from direct rain and sun exposure. The thermometer measures indoor temperatures ranging from 23 to 122 degrees F, and outdoor temperatures from –4 to 140 degrees F. Celsius display is also available. For thorough weather data, the thermometer accommodates up to three remote sensors, and records minimum and maximum temperatures. Low battery indicators for the base unit and the sensor appear on the display screen. The thermometer requires the separate purchase of two AAA batteries and one AA battery. To disable ice alert, visit the Oregon Scientific web page. A limited one-year guarantee covers this item. The base unit measures 3-3/4 inches wide by 2 inches deep by 4-3/5 inches high.
Manufacturer's note: Must press reset button on both sensor and thermometer unit after inserting batteries.

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Equity by La Crosse SkyScan 86709 Atomic Wall Clock Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I received a similar (but not identical) SkyScan clock from Sams Club about 1.5 years ago. It's worked great up until last week. The outside temperature sensor stopped working. I replaced the batteries and that didn't seem to help. After contacting Eddie at Impact Merchandising (the distributor of SkyScan products) he emailed me with a fix. What you have to do is take out the batteries from both the clock and the temp sensor. Leave them out for AT LEAST 15 minutes. Then make sure you place new fresh batteries in the temp unit first. Then place new batteries in the clock. (DO NOT TRY TO SET THE TIME OR PRESS ANY BUTTONS ON THE CLOCK). Place the two units 3-5 feet apart. You should get a signal within 15 minutes. If not repeat the process once. If that doesn't fix the clock you can purchase a new temp sensor for $5 directly from them. Their contact info is :
Equity Time
6262 Patterson Pass Rd. Suite C
Livermore Ca 94550
(925) 373-9700

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Effective and informative, this SkyScan atomic wall clock from Equity by La Crosse keeps users abreast of the precise time. The clock's built-in antenna receives radio signals from the United States Atomic Clock in Fort Collins, Colorado and automatically resets the time according to these transmissions. Accurate to 1/100 of a second, the clock adjusts automatically for daylight savings time. The wall clock also relays the date, day of the week, and the indoor temperature.
The clock features a simple, silver rectangular frame that is equipped for both wall hanging and tabletop placement. On its 2-1/5-inch-high LCD screen, the clock conveys time by the hour, minute, and second in jumbo-sized digits for easy readability, great for those with limited eyesight. An AM/PM notification informs of morning or evening hours. To express the date, the clock displays the month and day in the lower left corner of the screen, while the abbreviation of the day of the week is posted in the lower center. The lower right corner reports the indoor temperature to the tenth of a degree; the user selects between Celsius and Fahrenheit readings. For operation, the clock requires two AA alkaline batteries. A limited one-year warranty covers this item. The clock measures 8-3/5 inches wide by 1 inch deep by 9-1/5 inches high. The clock weighs 2 pounds upon shipping.

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Sangean PR-D5 Portable Radio with Digital Tuning and RDS Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Half the price of my Tivoli Songbook, the PR-D5 has superior AM/FM reception, dual stereo speakers, and easy-to-use ergonomics, making it even better than the Sangean single-speaker Sonido. As a bedside radio, it has even better FM reception than my Sangean WR-2 but it lacks the WR-2's depth and heaviness, qualities I like in a bedside radio. For a lighter, portable radio with no remote, go for the PR-D5. If you want more luxury in your radio (remote, numerical volume indicator, heavier feel) and don't mind a slight compromise in FM reception, you might want to check out the Sangean WR-2, which is compatible with an upgraded FM antenna attachment.
One question many will have is why the PR-D5 goes for about 15 dollars less than the Sonido. The answer most likely is that the 2.5-inch stereo speakers on the PR-D5 don't have the richness nor the depth of the Sonido's 3-inch monoaural speaker.
Update: Ironically, I don't like listening to talk radio on dual speakers. This is not a technological issue, but psychological. The voices don't seem as focused as they do on the Sangean WR-2's monoaural speaker. So if you're a heavy AM talk radio listener, you might want to opt for the WR-2.
Second Update: To really test the FM on the PR-D5, I tried to pull in the weak college station 88.9. The PR-D5 pulled in the station with clarity, even better than my Eton S350. The verdict: My PR-D5 is my best performing AM/FM radio, even better than the Eton/Grundig S350. That says quite a lot. Even more astounding, the PR-D5 is 15 dollars cheaper.
Third Update: I brought my PR-D5 to my work office and like all the digital radios I've tried it suffered compromised reception. I succeeded more with my Tivoli Model Three (same as the Model One with the additional clock). So for your office, if it's full of computer interference, you might want to go with an upscale analog radio like the aforementioned Tivoli Model One or Three.

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Hands down one of the best performing portable radios you will find today.With its whoppingly large 200mm ferrite antenna, its dual 2.5" speakers, and the RDS text function you would be hard pressed to find another portable radio that offers so much for so little.This lite and powerful radio is capable of being powered by the included AC adapter, 6 x 'C' batteries, and optional DC power you have the flexibility a portable should have.We could talk all day about its features and performance, but think that you are the best judge. Listen and learn what good radio is. Features:* PLL Synthesized tuning system.* 200mm Ferrite AM antenna - provides unmatched AM reception* 10 Memory Presets (5 AM, 5 FM).* Rotary Volume Control* Rotary Tuning Control* Auto Seek Station* Stereo/Mono Selector Switch* Headphone Socket* 3.5mm Aux-in Socket.* DC Jack (Adapter not included)* Backlite LCD.* Sleep Timer* Radio Data System (RDS) function with radio text, station name and auto clock time.* Alarm with Humane Wake System (HWS).* Battery Life Indicator.* AC Power Adapter (Included)* Dimensions ( W x D X H): 10 3/4" X 5 1/3" x 2 2/3"* Weight: 2 lbs.* Batteries: 6 x 'C'

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RCA RP5600 SmartSnooze Dual Wake Digital AM/FM CD Clock Radio Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I just bought this alarm, so I will be updating on it's functionality soon, but here are my initial thoughts:
FEATURES - This alarm has a decent amount of features for the price. One of the complaints I read in other reviews is that you cannot choose the CD track on the alarm function, it would just wake to the first track of the CD. This alarm allows you to set the track, wake to the radio, or to a buzzer. It also has two wake settings, adjustable "snooze/nap" time and gradual wake alarm (starts soft and increases over 30 seconds). It also has "sleep" mode which allows you to listen to the radio or CD with an automatic off so that you can still wake to the alarm in the morning. It has a back-up battery which allows it to run off the battery in the event of a power failure. The display has a bright (which is blue and clear enough to read from a distance) and dim (which is nice and muted and doesn't light the whole room). It was more compact in size than the Sony model that had similar features (and a bit cheaper too).
**Now one of the main complaints on this model is sound. I think people have an unrealistic idea of what a $25 cd alarm sound should sound like. For a cheap cd alarm radio, the sound is actually pretty good. The radio reception is good, and yes you can hear the CD spinning especially during track change, but let's face it... You are not spending the $100+ that great sound systems like BOSE cost. If you are looking for exceptional sound quality you are going to need to fork out the extra money to buy a higher end model. Even RCA makes a higher end model that I'm sure has improved quality of sound.**
My only wish on this alarm is that it have the smart-set technology which automatically sets your alarm after it has been unplugged or loses power. Other than that, this is a great alarm for the money!

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Clock Radio CD Player

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iHome iH41 Pivoting Alarm Clock for iPod (Black) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I've been looking around for a very long time for an iHome that would allow me to listen to music and watch my movies.
Since the Touch has you watch your movies horizontally, this dock is probably the best dock out there. Having it pivot to lay on it's side is most innovative idea I've seen so far. Who would have thought something that simple could make your Touch worth so much more! Having said that, the clock will also change when you pivot it on it's side as well, which is a very nice touch. Also, this WILL charge your Ipod.
There are 3 light settings for the clock. Bright, medium, and low. I usually set mine to low at night so that it doesn't keep my room dimly lit while I'm sleeping. One thing to realize is that the clock display isn't very big, so if you have a night stand right next to your bed, it probably won't bother you too much. I'm about 5 feet away from the clock, and I need to wear contacts or my glasses to see it. It's not an issue for me, however.
Of course, there's no radio on this dock, which wasn't a feature I was wanting anyway. For some it might be a big deal, but I just wanted this thing to play my songs and watch my movies, so I'm still satisfied with it.
Next up is the alarm. I've heard/read about the alarms on these going from very soft to annoyingly loud, but for this one, it doesn't get so loud to the point where you want to throw something at it. If your Ipod isn't plugged into it correctly, the dock will ring it's default alarm ringing. Unfortunately, the dock only has one alarm setting, whereas some of the others have two. Again, no big deal to me. The sleep and snooze button are separate, but are in a good spot where you don't have to look for it.
As for the sound, I was actually quite surprised at how good it was, even when blasted up. Even though it has the bass boost, you're not going to get a very big boom out of it. It's good enough to have it being played in a small room. Hearing your movies being played on this thing is very good as well. It still maintains everything in your movie the way you first heard it on your dvd player.
One aspect to take note of: I do have my Touch in the DLO jamjact, which requires some careful maneuvering to get it to dock correctly. Plus, it won't stand straight when it's in the jamjacket either. Of course, I just take it out when I need to, if I want it to fit exactly on the dock. Either way, it doesn't bother me.
The remote works very well, although I've found that I have to point it at directly in order for me to switch songs. I'm still not sure what the menu button does, however. I thought it would take you back to the main screen, but nothing happens.
In all, I'm very satisfied with this product. It charges your ipod (my Touch anyways--Haven't tested what else fits on it), plays your music/movies, it pivots so you can watch your movies, it's got 3 light settings for your clock, and it doesn't getting obnoxiously loud when it wakes you up in the morning. Look no further if you're wanting to have the best of both worlds for your Ipod Touch!
**UPDATE** 9/26/09
After having this guy for several months now, the alarm no longer works. Technically, it still does, but to elaborate, when I set the alarm to a certain time, it doesn't go off anymore. Instead, it goes off at random times now, which is really disappointing. Thankfully, it still charges and plays from my iPod touch, but seeing it lose it's alarm system forces me to give it a 3 star rating instead of a 5.

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Rotating Alarm Clock for iPod Touch.Wake and sleep to your iPod music or movies.Change orientation to watch videos.EXB - Expanded Bass and Reson8 - speaker technology for great sound.Charges iPod.Stylish space-saving design fits any decor.Battery backup maintains time/alarm settings during power failures.Aux/MP3 line-in jack for non-docking iPod models MP3/CD players and other audio devices.Snooze bar.Remote Control Included.

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