iLuv iMM289
A nice little dock, this iLuv. It's circular and design to be flipped through 90° when your iPod or iPhone is in place to enable video viewing a Cover Flow. There's a pad behind the iDevice to keep snug, and an adjustable flip-out support to ensure it doesn't drop from the dock connector when rotated. There's no alarm facility per se, but the app iLuv created for its iMM190 dock can be download and used here - but it'll only play pre-loaded alarm sounds, not tracks from your iTunes library. The sound's a tad boxy up close, but expands somewhat when you step away. And it's not half bad for a forty-quid speaker.
Reg Rating 75%
Price £40
More Info iLuv
Memorex Mini Alarm Clock Radio
This is the classic alarm clock FM radio update with iPod support. The Memorex's side-facing speakers won't fill a room - too much distortion at high volumes - but they'll do for a quick blast of tunes or the Today programme to get you up in the morning. Simplicity is the name of the game here, with a straightforward, upward-facing control layout - the iPod sits almost flat, supported by a twist-up pad - and just one alarm. The device can sync its clock with the iPod's, but you'll have to set the alarm directly. Not at all bad if you want something basic and cheap.
Reg Rating 65%
Price £50
More Info Memorex
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COMMENTS
How can there be ten essential bedside docks?
Surely you only need one, but if they're essential that implies you need them all.
i suppose the english language can suffer the pollution and loss of just one more word...
i'm confused
I did have a whole diatribe written up about And Clover's post but I've realised that I can't be Arsed so i'll summarise my thoughts as follows; this is a round up of iPod alarm clock things. given that iPod is the dominant force in the mp3 player market companies make accessories for it. if there were some other equally successful device then manufacturers would make a broad range of accessories to suit that as well or instead.
oh but wait... there is no competitor close.
good thing I don't have an android phone... try finding me an alarm clock that will dock with any android phone... or a windows phone 7 for that matter....
You say closed and expensive.... i say standardised, integrated, reliable, dependable.
say for argument's sake I splurged £300 on one of those alarm clock radio dock things....I could say that there's a fair chance that I might well have it ten years if not longer (given that I've had my current alarm clock twenty years it's highly feasible. At least I can say that i am 90% confident that the next iphone or ipod i buy is going to be able to dock with it... and the one after, and the one after that.
For non-iPod users
How about some alternatives for those of us who prefer not to buy in to Apple's closed and expensive MP3 player ecosystem?
For example, can the Sony device play audio from SD/MS as well as video, and can it do it on a wake-up timer?
This device works well as an MP3-playing alarm clock for me (from USB memory stick): http://www.amazon.co.uk/Naf-Clock-MP3-Stereo-Radio/dp/B0028YGY1K
Ten Essential... bedside iPod docks???
Essential? All ten of them?? Good grief... So glad I don't own an iPod!
How bright?
I have an iPod dock / clock / radio that looked & sounded great in the shop... but the LCD display goes from 'light up the room' blue when switched on, to 'dim' at night which is still bright enough to read by.
Setting alarms and time is also pretty easy, but still largely made more difficult because they use buttons & a limited LCD display. Its stupid to manually have to adjust the dock time after say daylight saving kicks in or when the power has gone out, when the iPod docked to it has already has the correct time; and can offer a far nicer UI for setting stations, alarm times etc.
In the end, I use the dock (with a book over the display so I can sleep at night) as a charger & to play music at times, but use the cellphone or iPod for an alarm.
Would like to see reviews that mention this sort of detail.
Makes me wonder of course, if any of the product designers actually use the things beside the bed as intended?
