IPod Hi-Fi

Reaction

At launch

Criticism

• High price, more expensive than other similar products such as the iBoom and Bose's SoundDock.
• Lack of an AM/FM radio.
• Placement of the iPod itself in a vulnerable location compared to other similar devices such as the Bose SoundDock. This is due to the iPod device sitting atop the unit, with no other method of securing the player to the dock besides the 30-pin dock connector.
• The supplied remote control has limited functionality. The remote can only control the volume and skip between tracks within the selected playlist. The menu button switches between the dock and the audio-in port; it cannot assume the function of the menu button on the docked iPod itself.
• iPod compatibility: Only some iPod models can use the iPod Hi-Fi dock. The stereo comes with adapters for third generation, fourth generation and fifth generation iPods, and the first and second generations of the iPod nano. The iPod Shuffle does not have a dock connector, and so can only connect to the audio-in port and cannot be recharged by the stereo. So, with the exception of the iPod Shuffle, the iPod Hi-Fi can be used with all iPods with a dock connector, however will only charge iPods that support Firewire charging.
• An adapter must be used to charge newer iPod models and the iPhone 3G, 3GS, 4 and 4S because they require a lower voltage: the iPod Hi-Fi supplies 12VDC while the newer devices accept 5VDC.

  Discontinuation