iHome iA63 app enhanced iPhone+iPod rotating stereo alarm

The iA63 is one of the app enhanced stereo alarm products which iHome debuted back at CES this past January, and has now begun shipping. The idea behind app enhancement is to take the dockable stereo alarm clock motif for iPhone an iPod which iHome is known for and combine it with an app or two which allows for more detailed control over the hardware than could otherwise be provided. The iA63 in particular adds another wrinkle to the equation by offering a built-in rotating dock which allows an iPhone or iPod touch to be used in portrait or landscape mode. There are a few implications for such a feature, but video might be the most intriguing.

Unlike most iHome stereo alarms. the iA63 is taller than wide. The rotating docking station is spherical, with a clock display and a dozen hard control buttons beneath for alarm and FM radio controls, presets, volume, and of course the rotation button. There�s also a remote control included, and of course the ability to fine tune the alarm experience through the free iHome+Sleep app. On paper the iA63 starts to look like a real value proposition for $99, and in one sense it is. The weak link, interestingly enough, is the audio output, which is good but not great.

Don�t get me wrong. The audio of the iA63 is a big step forward from the comparatively mediocre audio of its $99 app enhanced predecessor, the iA5. But I suspect that most users will prefer the same-priced iA91, which also debuted at CES this year but isn�t shipping yet; it�s a more traditional iHome alarm clock which will eventually become the $99 flagship model.

So who is the iA63 for, then? The rotating dock suggests it�s best for those who like watching video on their iPhone or iPod touch and want a quality audio experience along with it. In that sense, the small-ish footprint is a big plus, because you�ll want the it on your desk (or nightstand, if you�re using it as an alarm) and it�ll save valuable space in that sense. The iA63 feels like a niche product, but it�s well done and earns its price tag � so long as you actually put the rotating dock to good use.

Beatweek