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Alarm Clock w/ Lightning Connector

markg61326 said:
I just bought the iDL45 and the rounded hump was preventing my iPad Mini from charging when in a case so I just peeled off the hump. It's just a piece of rubber that's stuck on with some double sided tape. Works great now!
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Hi I just came across this thread and noticed you had removed the bumpers from the charging pin is your iHome still working ok?
 
techguy48 said:
Yep. I saw that yesterday and updated it and now my iHome works. Don't you wish that they had come out with that update before u sent it in? Or had you not sent it in yet?
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Unfortunately I had already sent it in.
I can't believe they didn't know an update was imminent when they told me I needed to send mine in for repair.
 
JD1984 said:
Hi I just came across this thread and noticed you had removed the bumpers from the charging pin is your iHome still working ok?
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Still working fine for me. Haven't tried the firmware update though. Anyone know what it fixes?
 
Is there anyway you could describe in detail how you removed the bumper on the alarm clock? Or take any pictures please? I am trying to figure this out when looking at one before I buy one from the store. Thanks. :)
 
JD1984 said:
Is there anyway you could describe in detail how you removed the bumper on the alarm clock? Or take any pictures please? I am trying to figure this out when looking at one before I buy one from the store. Thanks. :)
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It's very simple. The bumper is just a thin rubber strip with double-sided tape on the back. It just sticks to the top surface of the unit. It's not in a channel or anything. The top is flat.
 
Could you please post a picture as I don't see a difference from your picture your posted or the one I see in person. Thanks.

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And by removing this piece it will let you dock any case on it?
 
JD1984 said:
Could you please post a picture as I don't see a difference from your picture your posted or the one I see in person. Thanks.

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And by removing this piece it will let you dock any case on it?
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I wasn't the one who posted the pictures. Unfortunately my unit is still at iHome for repair and I don't have any pictures to post right now.

It definitely won't let ANY case dock on it. As long as the case isn't very thick and the opening at the bottom is large enough to accommodate the base part of the Lightning plug on the iHome it should work. I'm not really sure why the rubber strip is there in the first place. It appears to be decorative only. It would be pretty ease to put it back on if you wanted to. Maybe a little tricky to get it aligned properly but easy to stick back on.
 
So even after I remove the bumper on it I still won't be able to use my case on it?
 
JD1984 said:
So even after I remove the bumper on it I still won't be able to use my case on it?
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It depends on your case. I should have worded that differently. It won't let EVERY case dock on it but some will be able to.
 
I use a lot of the tpu cases they aren't to thick. So what does the bumper do to make it actually fit?
 
JD1984 said:
I use a lot of the tpu cases they aren't to thick. So what does the bumper do to make it actually fit?
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I'm not sure what you are asking. When you say "the bumper" you are referring to that thin, rounded rubber strip that is around the dock connector, right?
 
Yes I am trying to figure out if taking that off will actually give it more room?
 
I have a regular tpu case on it and it did not work with the iHome. I was just trying to understand if removing the bumper would actually give it more room to go down because it doesn't change the length of the lightning pin
 
I purchased both the Sony with big speakers ($99) and the ihome idl95 ($119). I like the ihome much better but doesn't come with a remote which is a huge disadvantage to me. The Sony comes with a remote but is much less classy then the ihome. Which one would you choose? I'm having a hard debate between the 2. Thank you!
 
I would prefer the iHome just because all my previous ones were iHomes I have had no issues with them when I had my iPhone 4.
But I don't understand why this new iHome won't work with cases. I could understand thicker cases etc
 
JD1984 said:
I would prefer the iHome just because all my previous ones were iHomes I have had no issues with them when I had my iPhone 4.
But I don't understand why this new iHome won't work with cases. I could understand thicker cases etc
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I know seriously with the cases issue, and no remote, really? I called and ihome told me they are doing away with the remotes. Not sure for what reason...
 
I have an iPhone 5 with the Otter Defender case.

I just purchased a Sony dock radio (as described in earlier posts) and can confirm that it DOES NOT work with my case. It will not make a connection and requires the case to be removed. I've decided to just go with a lightning extender cable and set the phone next to the dock.

Hope this helps someone else thinking about purchasing this unit.
 
blarwick said:
I have an iPhone 5 with the Otter Defender case.

I just purchased a Sony dock radio (as described in earlier posts) and can confirm that it DOES NOT work with my case. It will not make a connection and requires the case to be removed. I've decided to just go with a lightning extender cable and set the phone next to the dock.

Hope this helps someone else thinking about purchasing this unit.
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So besides that, your happy with this dock? I decided I'll probably return mine and keeps ihome idl95. The Sony clock display is terrible in my opinion. The ihome display is much classier IMO. The only thing Sony has above the ihome is the remote.
 
I received my "repaired" unit back from iHome last night. The paperwork just says they did a firmware update.
Seems to be working fine.

I wonder if Apple puts some kind of restriction on the Lightning connectors. They seem to be pretty short on these docks.
It appears that if your case does not have an opening at the bottom big enough to accommodate the plastic "base" that houses the Lightning connector the dock will not work. Not even a thin case.
Many cases have an opening at the bottom just slightly larger than the Lightning plug on most cables. So the plastic base on the dock hits the bottom of the case and the plug won't make good connection.

Examples:

Something like this won't work:
new-TPU-vans-case-for-iphone-5-bottom.jpg



Something like this should:
rosewood_iphone_5_case_bottom_ff.png



I just found those on Google images. I hope I'm not breaking any rules by linking to them.
 
tag for later. Hopefully sometime in the future iHome will get their act together and design a clock dock that can accommodate cases.
 
Just found this thread, though I've been keeping an eye on the docking alarm clocks for a while. I was also quite irritated when our local target got the the ihome alarm in and it wouldn't work with a thin bumper case from monoprice. That being said I did try the sony and it does work but I really do prefer the ihome clocks. I've had my ihome alarm with the dock connector since the iPhone 3G and it still works beautifully. I MIGHT try grabbing the iHome clock and removing the rubber piece. Maybe even see if I can do it in-store.

But the reason for this post was to say that I also emailed iHome regarding the lack of a case compatible alarm clock and asked if they had any plans to change this. I'll post back to the thread if they say anything worthwhile, but I'm not holding my breath.
 
Well this is how they responded. Pretty worthless.

"Hi Aaron,

The iDL48 will support the case but you will not have a radio/clock feature with this model.

Thanks,

iHome Support"
 
I got another response from them after I replied to the previous terrible response. Not that it's much better but at least they might be realizing their error...maybe. Below is the response after I asked if they had any plans to release a dock clock which could fit a case.

"Hello,

We are hoping they will because a lot of people are requesting one. As of now I don't have any information on a future in this style, I apologize.

Thanks,

iHome Support"
 
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