iPod-Docking HD Radios Ready To Roll
By Joseph Palenchar -- TWICE, 4/21/2008
NEW YORK — New HD-Radio products are on the way from two companies that will enter the market with iPod-docking tabletop models.
iLive of St Louis plans June shipments of the $149 IS808B with fold-out iPod dock, iTunes Tagging, composite- and S-video outputs and Apple authentication chip to enable all new iPods to transport video to a TV when docked.
Other features include line input, dual alarms, a full-function remote to control the iPod and the system, gradual wake to iPod or radio, digital tuning of analog broadcasts, metadata display, multicasting, multiline display, EQ presets, subwoofer output, 3.5mm headphone output and line-in jack.
For its part, the first two HD-Radio products from iLuv of Port Washington, N.Y., consist of one model with an iPod dock and one without.
iLuv's i168, priced recently to a lower suggested $89.99, is a one-piece clock radio with FM multicasting, metadata display, 20 FM and 10 AM presets, digital analog tuning, dual alarms, 2x3-watt amplification, negative LCD display, and 3.5mm aux input. It lacks remote. The company claims it will be the lowest-priced home HD Radio on the market.
iLuv's step-up i169, priced recently to a lower suggested $169, adds a dock on top, remote control of iPod functions, and wake/sleep to iPod music, radio or buzzer. It also features five EQ presets, 20 FM and 10 AM presets, five EQ presets, 2x2.5 watts RMS power, digital analog tuning, dual alarms, headphone jack and auxiliary input.
The i168 will be available this month and i169 is due in early May.
The iLive and iLuv products are not designated as "Compatible with iPhone" or "Works with iPhone," so iPhones must be manually placed in airplane mode to prevent possible interference with radio playback.
