Love it

This is the best iPod accessory that I own.

1. The form fitting, water resistant case holds the iPod securely.
2. The unit is very lightweight and the carrying strap makes it easy to haul around.
3. While the iPod is secure, the innovative zipper design makes it easy to open and access the iPod. Although most basic functions can be performed without opening the unit.
4. The battery life is fantastic! I've had mine for over two months and have not yet needed to replace the four AA batteries. Although I do sometimes run off AC.
5. When running off AC, it charges the iPod. Very handy alternative to plugging it into the computer.
6. It comes with straps to secure the unit to a pole or fence or whatever. I don't use that much, but I can see how it could be handy for some.

The only thing I don't care for is the bright, blue LED on the front. It's a bit too bright for my taste, as I often listen to music or audio books when I'm going to sleep. In a dark room, that thing is bright enough to use as a small flashlight. Eventually, I put a piece of electrical tape over it. But I'm kind of finicky about that sort of thing. I like to sleep in a really dark room. My kids actually like the light, as it works as a night light.

Overall, I've been thrilled with the unit. I'm very happy I bought it and would highly recommend it to others.

Rating:


Nice design, poor performance

The iHome has a nice case with a dock connector for 3rd generation and above iPods. Unfortunately the volume seems to have problems - as in it's really not loud enough even when turned all the way up. The headphone-style connector (for non-iPods) works very poorly. Overall the design is very nice, but the performance and sound quality are quite poor.

Rating:


Clumsy design and poor build quality

-
Here are some of the problems I had with mine:

1. The "Play" button was temperamental. It sometimes worked and sometimes didn't.

2. The elastic band that secures the iPod obstructs the iPod's scroll wheel and bottom edge of the screen. (Although there are some basic controls on the outside of the speaker unit, you still need to access the iPod itself to select songs.)

3. The AC adapter plug gets in the way of the velcro closure, so you can't close the flap when you're running the speakers off of AC power.

4. There is no natural base on the unit, so it sits awkwardly on a desk, shelf, or any other flat surface.

5. You need to open the unit every time you want to access the iPod or see the screen. This gets tedious after a while.

6. The sound quality is mediocre, even for a small portable system.

Overall, this product seems like an early prototype in need of further development. It should not have been released to the market in such a premature state. Needless to say, I returned mine for a refund.

Rating: