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iHome iA100ZC iPad/iPhone Alarm Clock Docking Station Review
Good sound and will charge any dockable Apple device
Nov 18 2010, 1:41pm CST | by Shane McGlaun
Today I am looking at the new iHome iA100ZC iPad/iPhone alarm clock dock. The iHome iA100ZC is a docking station that will dock any Apple dockable device. It has a cool docking connector that works without needing those trays that can get so annoying. Read on for all of the details on the iHome iA100ZC.
Specifications
The iHome iA100ZC supports the iPhone, iPad, and iPod models with the standard Apple docking connector. The dock has Bluetooth 2.1 EDR, an integrated speakerphone, multiple alarms, a line in jack, and more. The iHome iA100ZC sells for $199.
In Use
The iHome iA100ZC is a nice looking little dock with an attractive design and a clock face and backlit buttons that are dimmable. The docking connector that the iHome iA100ZC uses is interesting. It is sprint loaded and when you dock your device, it presses the device against a rubber support on the back of the dock. That keeps your device from flopping around where the docking connector might get damaged.
If you are like me and have multiple Apple devices around the house it is fantastic to be able to walk up to this clock with my iPad, iPhone, or iPod touch and dock and charge them without having to pull those irritating trays out to change docked devices. The iHome iA100ZC comes with a wireless remote control and it is sized to fit on most nightstands at the bedside.
All of the buttons are backlit so you can see them at night without hitting them all hoping to find the right one. The clock will wake you to an alarm, FM radio, or your docked device. It has a line in jack so it can be hooked to any MP3 player or other device with a 3.5mm headphone jack.
The real story here is the sound. The iHome iA100ZC has small speakers with special Bongiovi tech inside that provides crisp and clear sound. The sound quality is great and the volume you can get out of this thing will make you forget you are listening to an alarm clock. The vocals are clear and crisp mids, highs are sharp, and the iHome iA100ZC has nice bass. The bass is impressively deep for a clock radio without overwhelming the other parts of the track you are listening too.
The wireless remote control will let you control the volume and track from across the room. One of the coolest features of the iHome iA100ZC is that it has Bluetooth connectivity so you can use it to make and receive phone calls. This might be the perfect speaker dock for you to use at your desk in the office. You can take a call without having to stop working and keep your iPhone charged up and working. This is my favorite speaker dock yet; the iHome iA100ZC is well worth the $199 asking price for users with lots of different Apple devices in the home.
Verdict
Pros
- Great sound
- Docks any Apple device
- Speakerphone built-in
Cons
- Expensive
Conclusion
This is a fantastic speaker dock with great sound and it will work with any dockable Apple device including the iPad.
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Shane McGlaun
Leading our review center, Shane knows technology inside out. His
extensive experience in testing computer hardware and consumer
electronics enable him to effectively qualify new products and trends. If you want us review your product, please contact Shane.
Shane can be contacted directly at shane@i4u.com.
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