IPod Hi-Fi
Encyclopedia
iPod Hi-Fi is a speaker system developed and manufactured by Apple Inc. that was released on February 28, 2006, for use with any iPod
digital music player. The iPod Hi-Fi retailed at the Apple Store
for US$
349 until its discontinuation on September 5, 2007.
on February 28, 2006, alongside the first Intel-based Mac mini
. Many Apple users and bloggers were expecting to see other new products, such as a tablet PC
or an iPod dedicated to video.
Engadget
received an official statement from Apple:
IPod
iPod is a line of portable media players created and marketed by Apple Inc. The product line-up currently consists of the hard drive-based iPod Classic, the touchscreen iPod Touch, the compact iPod Nano, and the ultra-compact iPod Shuffle...
digital music player. The iPod Hi-Fi retailed at the Apple Store
Apple Store (online)
The Apple Store is the online store of Apple Inc.. All of Apple's product lines are carried as well as select brands of accessories for its products. It is owned and operated by Apple in Cupertino, California...
for US$
United States dollar
The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies....
349 until its discontinuation on September 5, 2007.
At launch
The iPod Hi-Fi was announced by Steve JobsSteve Jobs
Steven Paul Jobs was an American businessman and inventor widely recognized as a charismatic pioneer of the personal computer revolution. He was co-founder, chairman, and chief executive officer of Apple Inc...
on February 28, 2006, alongside the first Intel-based Mac mini
Mac Mini
The Mac Mini is a small form factor desktop computer manufactured by Apple Inc. Like earlier mini-ITX PC designs, it is uncommonly small for a desktop computer: 7.7 inches square and 1.4 inches tall. It weighs 2.7 pounds...
. Many Apple users and bloggers were expecting to see other new products, such as a tablet PC
Tablet computer
A tablet computer, or simply tablet, is a complete mobile computer, larger than a mobile phone or personal digital assistant, integrated into a flat touch screen and primarily operated by touching the screen...
or an iPod dedicated to video.
Criticism
- High price, more expensive than other similar products such as the iBoom and Bose's SoundDockBose SoundDock Digital Music SystemBose has 3 main digital music categories: Computer speakers, the SoundDock and the SoundLink.-Computer speakers:Starting in 1994 Bose has released a variety of computer speakers...
. - Lack of an AM/FM radioRadioRadio is the transmission of signals through free space by modulation of electromagnetic waves with frequencies below those of visible light. Electromagnetic radiation travels by means of oscillating electromagnetic fields that pass through the air and the vacuum of space...
. - 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 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 (20 GB, 40 GB, U2 special edition), fourth generation (20 GB, 30 GB, 40 GB, 60 GB) and fifth generation (30 GB, 60 GB, 80 GB) iPods, and the first and second generations of the iPod nano. The iPod shuffleIPod shuffleThe iPod Shuffle is a digital audio player designed and marketed by Apple Inc. It is the smallest model in Apple's iPod family, and was the first to use flash memory...
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 shuffleIPod shuffleThe iPod Shuffle is a digital audio player designed and marketed by Apple Inc. It is the smallest model in Apple's iPod family, and was the first to use flash memory...
, the iPod Hi-Fi can be used only with iPods that do not feature Firewire charging. - An adapter must be used to charge newer iPod models (except for iPod classicIPod classicThe iPod Classic is a portable media player marketed by Apple Inc...
) and the iPhone 3G, 3GS and 4 because they require a lower voltage: the iPod Hi-Fi supplies 12VDC (FireWire) while the newer devices expect 5VDC (USB).
Discontinuation
On September 5, 2007, the iPod Hi-Fi was discontinued by Apple, and disappeared from Apple's online store. While no reason was given, one can presume it was due to poor sales, contributed to by the relatively high price, tepid consumer reaction to the device upon its introduction, and the myriad competing "speaker dock" systems on the market.Engadget
Engadget
Engadget is a multilingual technology blog network with daily coverage of gadgets and consumer electronics. Though on appearance Engadget functions much like a blog and may be defined as such, much of its editorial content takes the form of an online magazine...
received an official statement from Apple: