At first I would like to thank Eurotronics (iHome Distributor in Europe) for sending me a sample of the iP49Studio Series Portable Rechargeable Audio System with Clock Radio for iPhone & iPod.

About Eurotronics:

Eurotronics EOOD is a leading provider of supply chain solutions and distributor for consumer electronics, headquartered in the Free Trade Zone of Plovdiv Bulgaria.

We specialize for distribution and logistics on branded consumer electronics for Eastern Europe and the Balkans. Our services are offered with focus on following markets in: Bulgaria, Macedonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Serbia, Montenegro, Albania, Croatia, Turkey, Romania, Slovenia, Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Ukraine , Moldova, Uzbekistan and Georgia.

We offer:

* Wholesale Digital Cameras (Compact & SLR)

* Wholesale Video Camcorders

* Wholesale Mobile Phones

* Wholesale Audio Equipment

* Wholesale Lens Objectives

* Wholesale MP3 & MP4 Players

* Wholesale GPS

* Wholesale Personal Care Products

* Wholesale Television Products

* Wholesale Home & Garden Products

* Wholesale Gaming Products

* Wholesale Braun Accessories

Our Strength:

* Strategically Located in Bulgaria

* 24/7 access to our products and services through our website

* DHL, UPS, TNT, Cargo Partner, Fedex shipping network to serve entire Europe

* Professional and Multi-Lingual sales team

* Fresh inventory in the latest trend"

 

About iHome:

"iHome, a division of SDI Technologies, was launched in 2005...

...to market iPod Electronics. In just its first year, iHome became the #1 brand in the iPod Electronics market and its iPod Clock Radio became and continues to be the #1 selling iPod Speaker System in North America. iHome now offers full lines of alarm clocks, clock radios, portable speakers, home audio systems, headphones, earbuds, charging stations, and computer accessories for iPod, iPhone and, coming soon, iPad. iHome supports its brand and products with national television, print, online and outdoor advertising campaigns, and has garnered several industry awards for its unique products and advanced technologies. iHome's products can be found worldwide through virtually every distribution network in over 60 countries.

About SDI Technologies

Founded in 1956, SDI Technologies designs, manufactures, and markets a broad range of consumer electronics that are both innovative and high in quality. SDI's key product lines include alarm clocks, clock radios, portable speakers, home audio systems, headphones, charging stations, and computer accessories. SDI's key brands include iHome, Timex, New Balance, Bongiovi DPS, and Made for iPod/iPhone/iPad.

SDI's affiliate, KIDdesigns, manufactures and markets a broad range of toys, including electronic role play toys, electronic learning aids, and musical instruments under several national brands, including Barbie, Transformers, GI Joe, Littlest Pet Shop, My Little Pony, Nerf, Disney Cars, Disney Princess, and several others. KIDdesigns' products feature innovative technologies and interactive applications for role playing, learning, and entertainment for boys and girls of all ages.

SDI supports its products with national advertising campaigns on television, in print, online, outdoor, and through PR campaigns, and wins several industry awards for its innovative products, unique features, and custom designs. SDI has six offices and facilities throughout North America and Asia with over 400 employees. SDI designs and develops all of its products, packaging, and displays in-house and performs cross quality control checks in both the US and Asia, which is how it maintains one of the lowest return rates in the industry, in addition to its 99% on-time shipping record. SDI's products can be found worldwide through virtually every distribution network in over 60 countries."

Product Features

 

 

Specifications

Usage: Alarm Clock

Dimension: 6.7" W x 6.2" H x 3.4" D

Weight: 1.5 lb./0.68 kg

 

 

The iP41 Alarm Clock from iHome is shipped inside a medium-sized cardboard box, which shows on the front side a photo of the product in operation, along with it flipped to show its unique feature, and on the bottom, we are informed that the product is compatible with both Iphones and Ipods:

 

 

 

On one of the box sides, we are described some of the product features, in multiple languages:

 

 

 

On the back side, we get some more explanations regarding the product main highlights:

 

 

 

Inside the box, the product is further packed, along with the rest of its accessories:

 

 

 

 

All documentation is located inside a small transparent bag, along with the power adapter and its different plugs (so we can use it on different locations around the world), the inserts for different types of Ipod/Iphone models:

 

 

 

In the documentation, we can find out how to mount the devices, some troubleshooting information, the small backup battery, multiple User Manuals for different languages, and some spacers. On the manufacturer website, you may find out that this product should have a remote bundled, but my sample did not come with one:

 

 

 

In a small bag we can find the spacers, with a small rubber band; because we will use an Iphone 3GS, the manufacturer instructs us to use the smaller plastic spacer, without the rubber band attached. These spacers help when we sit the device horizontally, to watch videos:

 

 

 

 

In the User Manual, we are shown how to operate its device, from turning it on to troubleshooting information:

 

 

 

The inserts are a total of 3, the same models that we could find with the iP49 model, previously reviewed:

 

 

 

To test the device, an Iphone 3GS will be used, so we will insert the one for Iphone 3G:

 

 

 

The backup battery is a CR2032, sealed in a small plastic bag, to avoid accidental discharges; this battery model is very known to be used on PC motherboards (to retain the CMOS info and clock), or PS3 systems, to remember the clock and date:

 

 

 

The power adapter is rated on output 10V, 1400mA:

 

 

 

 

Here is how the power adapter does look with the plug inserted:

 

 

 

The product itself has a very nice and clean look; on the left we can find the small speaker with the circular LCD display, and on the right there is the location where we can insert our Apple device:

 

 

 

On the right side of the speaker, we can find the location where we must insert the previously described spacer:

 

 

 

 

Near the dock connector, we can also find a small Sleep button, and a Snooze/Dimmer. The Sleep button enables the sleep mode, which can be set for 90, 60, 30 or 15 minutes; these are the number of minutes we can set to leave the device on till it will shut down automatically. The Snooze/Dimmer can be pressed when the alarm sounds; the alarm will be silenced and comes on again after 9 more minutes; the Dimmer function can be accessed when the alarm does not sound and with it we can adjust the brightness of the LCD backlight:

 

 

 

Here is a closer look on the dock, with the insert attached:

 

 

 

On top of the speaker, we can find more buttons:

 

-Alarm Button

-Hour Button

-Minute Button

-Alarm Reset/Power Button

-Play/Pause Button

-Volume – Button

-Volume + Button

 

 

 

On the back of the unit, some more buttons, switches and jacks can be found, along with the backup battery compartment:

 

-Clock Adjust Button

-DST Switch

-Expanded Bass Effect Switch

-Aux-in Jack

-DC Jack

 

 

 

 

The sticker on the back shows us the name of the product, its backup battery type and rating, the AC adaptor rating, along with some more info:

 

 

 

The device is surrounded with rubber bands to avoid scratching the surface it will stay on, but also will help it stay stable on the table:

 

 

 

The provided backup battery can be installed really easy; we only have to remove the protective cover, put the battery as instructed on the drawing and then install the cover back:

 

 

 

 

When the product is operating, the LCD display lights up, showing us the time:

 

 

 

If an Iphone/Ipod is also connected in the dock, a small pictogram will appear on the screen, to confirm that the connection was successful:

 

 

 

An interesting product feature is that we can flip the device, and the display will also rotate, to assure the clock will be easy read:

 

 

 

Along with the clock, the pictogram that shows the connected Iphone/Ipod will also change its orientation:

 

 

 

When the daylight saving setting is modified from the back of the device, a small sun will appear on the display:

 

 

 

Also, when sleep mode is activated, a nice “ZZZ” pictogram will appear on the display:

 

 

 

If we have an alarm activated, a small clock pictogram will appear on the display, which looks the same as on the iP49 unit, previously reviewed:

 

 

 

The iP41 Alarm Clock for Iphone & Ipod is another interesting product from iHome, with an unique feature: the ability to flip the device to watch videos or other content in landscape mode.

The device does not come with radio reception, and for using the alarm function it is not absolutely necessary to have an Iphone/Ipod docked, the device will use its internal buzzer to sound the alarm; also, if the iPhone/iPod cannot play for some reason or the playing sound level is too low, the device will also switch to the internal buzzer. Like the iP49, the iP41 has a “Sure Alarm” Function, which means that if a backup battery is installed, the buzzer alarm will still sound, in case of a power failure.

Compared to the iP49, it misses some functions (one of them I have mentioned earlier and it is the absence of radio), like the ability to set after how many minutes the alarm will sound again, if the Snooze button has been pressed (it is set from the factory at 9 minutes). Also, this device is mono compared to the stereo iP49; I have tried to listen to the same song on both units and liked the sound of the iP49 more, with its Bongiovi Acoustics DPS.

The LCD display on this unit is very easy to read and bigger, compared to the one on the iP49; the LCD brightness levels are the same number as on the iP49. The iP41 unit charges the iPhone/iPod when docked and does not have an internal battery, which means that it can only operate when plugged into a wall socket. One thing I did not like was that the body of the iP41 is shiny, which means that it is a dust and fingerprint magnet, like the fat version of the Playstation 3; it can be cleaned with a soft cloth, but scratches can be easily seen.

One other feature that I miss and was present on the iP49 is the automatic synchronization with the internal iPhone/iPod clock, with only a press of a button.

Regarding the product compatibility, the iP41 is listed to be working with the majority of the iPhone/iPod models; my sample did not come with the iPhone 4 insert, but they can be ordered separately from iHome.

The iP41 is fair priced, it can be found in shops for about 65 Euros, much less than the previously reviewed product from iHome.

 

I would like to thank again to Eurotronics for offering me a sample of this product for review!