iHome iP47 Bluetooth Clock Radio for iPod/iPhone (Black)

iHome iP47 Bluetooth Clock Radio for iPod/iPhone (Black)

Price: $128.40
Manufacturer: iHome
Buy from amazon.com

iHome wireless Bluetooth enabled iPhone/iPod Alarm Clock Radio and speakerphone with presets

Information

  • Amazon Sales Rank: #11584 in Consumer Electronics
  • Color: Black
  • Brand: iHome
  • Model: iP47BR
  • Dimensions: 10.50" h x 6.00" w x 12.00" l, 6.95 pounds
  • CPU: AMD Athlon 1 GHz
  • Memory: 128000MB DRAM
  • Hard Disk: 1GB
  • Processors: 1
  • Native resolution: 640x480
  • Display size: 669.2913385827
  • Plays and charges iPod mini 1G; iPod nano 1G, 2G, 3G, 4G; iPod classic 4G, 5G, 5.5G, 6G; iPod touch 1G, 2G; iPhone 1G, 3G
  • Wirelessly stream music from your Bluetooth-enabled phone, PDA, or computer
  • Controls Bluetooth-enabled cell phones and other devices; supports the Handsfree, Headset, AVRCP, and A2DP Bluetooth Profiles
  • Wake and Sleep to your iPhone, iPod, Bluetooth enabled device, AM/FM radio
  • 4 speaker stereo (two active, two passive) with Reson8 technology for full, rich sound

Product Reviews


Look no further for a complete sound system for your iPhone or Bluetooth mobile phone. The iP47 is designed and engineered to shield and avoid annoying iPhone/mobile phone GSM noise so no airplane mode is required--which means that you'll never miss a call again when your phone is docked.

A complete sound system for your iPhone or Bluetooth mobile phone. Click to enlarge.

Use the rear auxiliary input to connect external audio devices. Click to enlarge.

Full-function remote control included. Click to enlarge.

The iP47 supports Bluetooth technology and allows you to wirelessly dial and receive calls through its speakerphone function and to see clearer caller ID on the large LCD. The dual alarm clock radio allows you to wake and sleep to your iPhone music, radio, or buzzer and to set separate alarm times. Stream your music wirelessly from your A2DP Bluetooth-enabled device through the Reson8 speaker chambers to enjoy beautifully enhanced audio sound. Also includes a full-function remote control.

Play and Charge Your iPod
The iP47 will play and charge most docking iPod models, so you can enjoy your music while your device charges. Get up and go with a full battery.

Bluetooth Support
Answer and place calls with Bluetooth-enabled cell phones using the built-in microphone. Dial a number using the remote or the iP47's keypad and enjoy a hands-free call.

You also can wirelessly stream music from your Bluetooth-enabled phone, PDA, or computer. The iP47 supports the Handsfree, Headset, AVRCP, and A2DP Bluetooth Profiles.

iPod, Radio, Bluetooth, or Buzzer Alarm
Wake to your docked iPod, the radio, a Bluetooth device, or--if you must--a classic buzzer alarm. A dual alarm lets you set separate wake times.

Battery backup means you'll still get up on time even in the event of a power outage. If the alarm is set to Bluetooth/iPod, and no device is present, the buzzer is substituted. So you'll always get up on time.

AM/FM Radio
Save your favorite AM and FM stations on the 12 user presets for quick access.

Rich Stereo Sound
The iP47 boasts two active and two passive speakers, along with Reson8 technology for full, rich sound.

Reson8 is iHome's through-body ported speaker chamber technology. Porting speakers gives better bass response characteristics, and helps the iP47 deliver sound beyond its size.

Auxiliary Input
Connect external devices like MP3 or CD players to the rear auxiliary input for your enjoyment.

Full-Function Remote Control
Enjoy convenient control from a distance with the included remote--control radio and iPod functions, hit snooze from a distance, and dial or answer phone calls when your Bluetooth phone is connected.

What's in the Box
iHome iP47 Bluetooth Clock Radio for iPod/iPhone (Black), Remote control, iPod inserts, AC adapter, AM loop antenna, FM wire antenna, User's manual


iHome iP47
Be warned, this product only has a 90 day warranty. After owning this product for only five months it began producing an overwhelmingly loud hissing noise that could not be remedied. Thinking I had a year warranty like most modern products, the iHome company quickly informed me of my expired 90 day policy. Now I have a defunct product not even six months old, complete waste of money.

Awful product, awful support -- DO NOT BUY
This is probably one of the worse products I ever owned. I purchased it thinking it would be a great speakerphone and alarm clock for my iPhone. First I used it primarily as a speakerphone. I could hear the person/people at the other end well enough, but they couldn't hear me unless I was literally speaking right into the unit.

After becoming frustrated with that, I decided to bring it home from the office and just use it as my alarm clock. Surely it was more functional than my Sony radio alarm clock that is 20 years old. I loved the idea of waking up to music on my iPod or iPhone.

Well, unfortunately, it is not functional with my iPod touch or my iPhone. EVEN THOUGH THE WEBSITE SAYS YOU CAN USE YOUR IPHONE OR IPOD TOUCH AS A SOURCE FOR MUSIC FOR YOUR ALARM IT WILL NOT WORK. I, do, however happen to have an old iPod Photo that was collecting dust, and that works wonderfully. But that means that the lifespan of it is limited to old iPods that are either no longer being produced (like the Photo) or on their way out (like the Classic). Great.

So I contact support. I email them and a week later I get a response. It was a fairly cryptic "we know this doesn't work but we're coming out with an update soon. Do you want to wait?". I responded back as to what "soon" mean. Another week passes. I got a response with no specific date. I emailed back asking more specifics. Another week passes. I get another response that is just as cryptic and vague as the one before it. I write back asking for more clarification. And now... three weeks after that... STILL NO RESPONSE.

You have got to be kidding me. Not only is iHome falsely advertising, but they don't seem to care to make things right.

I will NEVER buy an iHome product again and STRONGLY encourage anyone looking to look elsewhere.

Doesn't live up to what it advertises
So I bought the iHome IP47 model so that I could charge my iPhone while listening to music at night. I was also looking at something that would wake me up in the morning--this model boasted 2 alarms. And what edged me to buying the IP47 rather than the IP9 or IP99 was that this allowed you answer your phone while still docked. As I don't have a landline, I liked this idea, even if it cost me some extra bucks.

So... getting this home and setting it all up, I was mighty disappointed that the sleep function didn't really work. Yeah, after 15-30-60-120 minutes the sound tapered into silence BUT my iPod portion was STILL going! Ha! All it did was turn the sound off!

Secondly, I could never get the one alarm that is supposed to trigger the iPod to work. It always defaulted to the buzzer. I was also disappointed to find that the other alarm was set to trigger only the radio--I couldn't choose iPod for that one too.

Thirdly, the nice bonus of a remote to adjust your volume, advance to the next song, etc. was a nice idea, but not an actuality. The advance to the next song feature worked directly after first docking the iPhone with the iPod already playing, but the feature stopped working after a minute or two. Volume still worked, as did the ability to pause or switch to radio.

Fourthly, the Bluetooth to connect my iPhone so that you can use the phone function part of the iHome IP47 only worked some of the time. Even when docked, it sometimes would lose the signal.

And lastly, the thing that bugged me the most and decided me against even exchanging the IP47 for either a IP9 or IP99--which were basically the same thing but without the Bluetooth phone feature--was the docking station. It was very precarious setup and, as I had to touch the iPhone screen sometimes since my remote wouldn't work, pushing buttons also pushed the whole phone, making me wonder how long it would take to ruin my iPhone.

So I returned the iHome -- period... no exchange. The people at Apple didn't even ask *why* I was returning it. (I wonder if that's telling.)

In the end, I bought a Sony Speaker Dock and Alarm Clock Radio that works with the iPhone. (I'd give it 4 1/2 stars)
* Sleep function that really works (turns your iPod off)... check
* Remote that actually works... check
* Remote that allows you to move OUT of the playlist and into another... double-check! (iHome doesn't do this at all!)
* 2 Alarms where both allow you decide what you want to wake to... check
* Dock that has a backstop to hold your phone securely (and recharges your phone too)... check!
* Able to answer phone while docked... well, no, but not missing it
* Sound quality... check--about the same as the iHome
* Right price... check--about the same as the iHome IP9.

Bottom line: I recommend AGAINST the IP47--not worth the money--even if it was half the price. Think twice about the other iHomes, as well, considering the docking strategy Apple uses for them.


1 comments:

Pawnbroker said...

Price: $128.40. Manufacturer: iHome. Buy from amazon.com iHome wireless Bluetooth enabled iPhone/iPod Alarm Clock Radio and ... hclockradio.blogspot.com

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