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(More customer reviews)I bought the iHome iA63 (also called the iHome iA63BZ; I'm not sure if there's a distinction or not) for my 11-year old son. I was looking for an alarm clock for him that was on the small side, had a remote control, decent sound, could charge his iPod, one that would allow him to watch his iPod hands-free horizontally, and one that would wake him up. I didn't know those were my requirements for a clock for him until I'd bought him a different iPod charging alarm clock from another company at Christmas. That one had no remote, it was bulky and ugly, and there was no way to view movies on it. I returned that one and told him we'd wait until something came along that was a better fit for him. It was a lot to ask for, but I'm glad we waited.
In the box, you get the alarm clock, AC adapter, a button cell battery for the alarm clock to keep your settings in case of a power outage, and the tiny remote. I think the remote already had its own battery in it, but if not, it came with one.
This is not a "pretty" alarm clock when an iPod/iPhone isn't attached. It looks kind of like a weird speaker or a miniature black bandshell, with a big circular gap taking up 80% of its face. But, when the iPod is attached, and especially when it's attached and you have the iHome+Sleep app on your screen (or a movie), I think it looks techie-sexy (but still appropriate for an 11 year old).APPS FOR THE iHOME ALARM CLOCK:
iHOME+SLEEP (free, pretty darn necessary)
You're going to need the iHome+Sleep app to take full advantage of the alarm clock's functions. This is probably a no-brainer to previous iHome users, but we're new to this so I was surprised we had to download something to properly use a clock. The iHome+Sleep app is available for FREE through iTunes. It's a little complicated to use, but has unlimited sorts of alarm set-ups, and it is SO much nicer being able to pull out the iPod and change/add alarms, as opposed to doing it on an alarm clock for once.
iHOME+RADIO ($2, cool but not necessary)
You can also purchase the iHome+Radio app to listen to internet radio. According to iTunes:
"The new iHome+Radio app connects you to over 30,000 internet music, talk, sports and news stations from around the world. Sync with iHome+Sleep and wake to your favorite internet radio stations. Use with any app-enhanced iHome product for a new radio experience."
I think the iHome+Radio app currently costs 2 bucks. Very cool, but my son is way more excited about waking up to his iPod tunes. The iHome also has regular FM radio stations that come in loud and clear. You can set up the alarms to wake you up to your iPod music, the FM radio, internet radio if you have that app, and buzzer sounds as well. The iHome+Sleep will even update your Facebook and Twitter accounts when you wake up and go to sleep, if you're the type that needs to update the world to your literal every waking move. Yeah, we're not doing that.FUNCTIONALITY
The iHome iA63 accommodates iPods/iPhones of varied widths by way of a little bumper that rests to the left vertically against the vertical iPod. When you're in horizontal mode, your iPod/iPhone rests on the bumper like a small ledge. You adjust that bumper the first time you put your iPod in, and then it's set. This is important, because if you have a narrower iPod than the bumper is set up for, when you turn it horizontally, the iPod's going to sit at a weird angle. This was one of those things I hadn't considered when buying the alarm clock, but when I saw it had it, I said, "Hey! That makes sense!" I really like when a product seems like there was some actual thought put into it, don't you? Oh yeah, and the other great feature is setting up the time. Just plug in your iPod/iPhone, and press the 'Sync' button on the back of the clock and the time is updated. Voila!
There is a tiny button on the alarm clock, as well as a button on the remote that allow you to change the orientation of the iPod from vertical to horizontal. I'm fascinated by it like I was fascinated by pressing a button to make a CD drawer go out and in on computers many moons ago. My son thinks it's cool but in no way gets excited by it like I do. Kids these days don't appreciate the little things!
You can listen to music or do whatever else your iPod/iPhone does when it's connected to the alarm clock, although as it's connected to the alarm clock, doing most tasks would probably be most cumbersome. However, you can easily watch your iPod movies as well as Netflix, if you're a subscriber. As the sound comes out of the speakers when it's attached, THAT is a very useful feature. As our home can occasionally turn into a busy madhouse, I'm very ok with him watching the very occasional, mom-approved movie in his room. For those that aren't aware, although you can't block certain movie ratings from being viewed through Netflix, you CAN see the complete list of ALL movies that have been watched through your account. You just need to log into your Netflix account online, then go to Account > See All Instant Watching Activity. It's a little bit of Big Brother that I am not unhappy about at all. CONTACTING CUSTOMER SERVICE
I had been holding off on writing a review until we'd used the clock for a few months. Something happened yesterday that made me change my mind. It's been just under a month, and it's still working. However, yesterday I noticed the actual clock time display was blank, like the clock was unplugged. When the iPod is in the clock and the iHome+Sleep app is open, the time still shows up on the iPod, and all of the clock's other features are still working, but I still don't want parts of this clock dying on us. I got a little upset, and pressed just about every button on the remote and clock to see if we'd somehow turned off the display. Nope. Ugh. I was already thinking about how I'd probably be returning it, when I gave calling iHome a shot. (Customer Service: 800-288-2792 · 8am-4pm EST, M-F)
After two rings, I was connected to an actual English speaking person. At first thought I'd dialed incorrectly. I explained the problem and asked to be connected to someone that could help me. She said SHE could help me! She said the plug may have been bumped or the AC connection may have been pulled out, and if the battery in the iHome was dead, that may have caused the clock to blank out. I doubt any of these scenarios were the case, but there were a lot of kids in and out of the bedroom this past weekend, so you never know. She just said to unplug the radio and pull out the battery for a minute. (Why I hadn't tried this on my own is beyond me, as I'm often telling people to do that very thing if a gadget they have acts up). As the minute was passing, we joked about how the clock is kind of ugly, but really cool. She was great. Normal, not irritated or bored or uncaring or distracted as seems to often be the case if you call Customer Service at any company. After a minute, she had me plug it back in, and sure enough, the clock was back online. I put the battery back in, because I'm pretty sure it isn't dead. With the iPod in place I pressed the "Sync" button on the back of the clock, and once again the time was immediately fixed.
I'm not sure why the clock display 'disappeared', but it came back and is still fine, so I'm not worried about it. Especially when I know I can actually get help with it if I need it. That lady I spoke with was my push to write this review now instead of later. Had that conversation turned out differently, I would NOT have given this product 5 stars, but great customer service, when needed, is so important in my opinion, that at this point I still think the alarm clock deserves it.
This iHome iA63 alarm clock, and the iHome+Sleep app for that matter, have a lot of functions, which makes both somewhat complicated. Most fairly technologically comfortable folks will be fine with using them, but if you're a person that still freaks when Daylight Savings Time ends because it means your microwave clock will be off by an hour for the next 6 months, you may want to steer clear of this clock. Or, at least get help setting this up.PROS
- Small squarish size - about the size of one of those taller/wider paperback books
- Remote control
- Charges iPod/iPhone
- You can leave some types of sleeves on the iPod/iPhone when it's attached (my son's silicone Skullcandy sleeve fits fine when it's on the iHome charger)
- Ability to view iPod/iPhone in vertical or horizontal orientation (horizontal allows you to watch movies)
- Vertical AND horizontal orientation keeps the iPod/iPhone stable
- Horizontal viewing ability means you can watch movies on your iPod
- Button-pressing vertical/horizontal orientation change has "Oooh!" factor for people like me
- FM Radio, unlimited alarms (when using the free iHome+Sleep app), Internet Radio (if you buy the iHome+Radio app)
- Decent, loud-ish speakers
- "Sync" button on back immediately programs the clock time to the time on your iPod/iPhone
- Unlimited number of alarms and alarm settings
- The alarm clock wakes up my "sleeps like the dead" son without fail
- GREAT customer service help!
CONS
- Kind of ugly when an iPod/iHome isn't attached
- No AM Radio
- Possible intermittent problem where clock numbers disappear (has only happened once; unplugging/replugging fixed problem)
- With multiple radio presets and multiple ways to set up alarms, the clock and the iHome+Sleep app may be complicated for some users
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iHome iA63 App-Enhanced Alarm Clock FM Radio Stereo Speaker System with Motorized Rotating Dock for iPhone and iPod (Black)
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