Apple iPod Hi-Fi Photos, First Looks

[EricNau]

I guess you don't realize that it's possible for a charger to detect when it's fully charged and stop. This technology has been around a while. I leave my iBook plugged in most of the time and never had any issues with the battery getting fried.

Your right. I totally forgot about that. Still, I don't believe that having a battery plugged in constantly is good for it. (As the battery will slowly drain over time, and keep charging itself back up, therefore going through unneeded charge cycles, right)?

 

[Azmordean]

Your right. I totally forgot about that. Still, I don't believe that having a battery plugged in constantly is good for it. (As the battery will slowly drain over time, and keep charging itself back up, therefore going through unneeded charge cycles, right)?

Actually, I believe most chargers go into a "trickle charge mode," where the battery is kept "topped off." As far as I am aware there is no harm to the battery. That said, I don't think the D-cell option is a bad one. For one thing, it saves cost (a lithium battery capable of powering the hi-fi wouldn't be cheap). For another, the *primary* use the hi-fi is plugged in. Thus, there is little reason to have the extra weight, etc, of a battery when you don't need it 95% of the time. To me, rechargable batteries are ideal for products that are *frequently* used on battery power. The hi-fi is not such a product. It is likely used in a portable situation so infrequently that the cost of the D-cells isn't going to be much of an issue. Further, the D-cells have one advantage - if they die at your picnic you can replace them. With a rechargable, the hi-fi would be out of commission until you could get to a plug. I think Apple probably thought of this. You aren't going to take the hi-fi running - if you take it anywhere it will be somewhere like a day at the beach or camping. All of these are places where plugs tend to not be readily available. In this sense, the D-cells are a preferable approach.

 

[Demon Hunter]

but it's so ugly!

I like the concept and I'm sure that the sound quality is fantastic, but I wish they'd contracted Bang & Olufsen to design the things.

For those touting the iHome... you can say the iPod Hi-Fi is ugly, compared to this thing? With a straight face?

It does make you wonder, who exactly contributed to this audio engineering. Apple certainly has some experience with speakers; enough to integrate mini speakers, and in years past, stand-alone types. But maybe there's more to this than meets the eye, eh?

 

[texasmafia]

For those who are saying this new product is ugly, I'm not sure if you are a fan of Apple's design team because it fits in with all of the other white, simplistic designs they have been coming out with over the last few years. Obviously they believe in the "less is more" philosophy.

This stereo system, while not the tablet some were hoping for, looks exactly how I would have imagined an Apple designed stereo would look.

The problem here isn't that Apple just put out a bad product. The problem is how high you got your expectations. When Apple wants to release something huge they will. If you wanna cry every time they don't come out with a life changing product, go ahead! You will be crying a lot.

Just sit back, enjoy the show and when they do come out with that life changing product you have been wanting, you can go on and on about how they are the greatest company in the world and forget about all the times you whined about them.

All in all I like the Hi/fi and I'll consider getting one. I love letting others listen to my tunes and I think its a great way to do it.

One more thing. If I have to listen to someone talking about the greatness of the iHome again I will throw up. My girlfriend got one for Christmas and she and I have been really disappointed. Its a glorified alarm clock with sub-par audio quality and a bad design.

 

[iMeowbot]

but it's so ugly!

Jonathan Ive Out Of Ideas at CARS

 

[hh83917]

I'm betting on Steve's words, that they are "very very good" and I think I am getting one soon too. I like that optical in connector on the iPod Hi-Fi. I might be replacing my PowerMac G5 speakers with one of these hooking into the G5's optical out.
BTW, I think the Mac mini went well with the announcement of iPod Hi-Fi making your TV a home entertainment system.

 

[Demon]

So So product..

it's no longer news that the HiFi looks all right expected to sound decent. i'm just a bit disappointed by the price. it's expensive, plain and simple. i could buy a new iPod for that money.
secondly, i'll have to use my airport express to make it WiFi compatible. apple should have included WiFi, FM Tuner etc in their expensive music brick! cheap skates.

 

[Shamus]

i was kinda dissapointed with the new products, but looking in hind-sight, it was simply a small event, and i think it was blown way out of proportion. Also, i reckon the Hi-fi is pretty cool, and it sounds like it has alot of power. It will be interesting to find more about the sound QUALITY which is all that matters. It would probably make a worthwhile investment for me if it wasnt so EXPENSIVE!

 

[Deepdale]

Anyone who's ever raved about the Bose Sound dock but complained that this puppy was too large, take it from Peter North: big output never comes in a small package!

It is not everyday that a porn star is mentioned within a message about an audio product. Peter would likely be flattered ... if he worked behind a register in a store, his signature line would be, "Thank you and come again."

 

[JoeG4]

At first I thought it was dumb, now that I think about it, it actually seems kinda neat.

Not $399 neat, mind you, but a lot of people said the same thing when the iPod came out.

Still doesn't mean I'll buy one

 

[BlueRevolution]

For those touting the iHome... you can say the iPod Hi-Fi is ugly, compared to this thing? With a straight face?

to be honest, I have yet to see an iPod dock/speaker setup I like. The units themselves look fine, it's when there's an iPod perched on top that they become laughable. seeing how big this looks with even an iPod Video in the dock, imagine it with a Shuffle.

I'm a minimalist. I don't want a massive box sitting on my bookshelf. I'd much prefer using flat wall-mount speakers for my stereo needs.

 

[Eagon]

to be honest, I have yet to see an iPod dock/speaker setup I like. The units themselves look fine, it's when there's an iPod perched on top that they become laughable. seeing how big this looks with even an iPod Video in the dock, imagine it with a Shuffle.

I don't think you can dock the shuffle, just pug it into the input socket on the back.

 

[BlueRevolution]

I don't think you can dock the shuffle, just pug it into the input socket on the back.

ah, you're right.

Compatible with iPod shuffle and iPod models without a dock connector through the audio input port (audio cable sold separately)

ok, then imagine it with a Nano. there's not much size difference between the two anyway.

 

[DannyBoye]

Are they serious? I know it's apple and all, but for real! $349.00! I guess I just don't see the $349.00 worth of speakers, amps, whatever. It's $349.00 JEZUZ! It's not a bose, no new tech that goes into, I heard it at the apple store today, NOTHING that's worth the price. I'd much rather buy an all in lil stero at Best Buy for $200.00. Cuz my little AIWA that I paid $249.00 woops the *$%^ outta this thing. I'm an apple fan hardcore, got an Ibook, Imac, Ipod, everything I have is apple. But for real guys come on it's THREE speakers! Okay I could rant for hours, I'm not impressed that's the point. Coming from apple I would have expected ALOT more!

 

[Platform]

I like this more and more, just a bit pricey, but you get what you pay for...

 

[weg]

I agree completly.

It's exactly Apple - nothing more than whats required to do exactly what it needs to do.

Z

I've seen beer crates looking better than the iPod Hi Fi
The iPod Hi Fi supposedly sounds better, though...

 

[rockthecasbah]

i don't think it looks THAT bad, just the big brick of white plastic could have been done better, maybe in black perhaps . But if you have seen the pictures of the Hi Fi's on bookshelves, they look rather nice. Im sure after the shock wears off they will end up seeming pretty attractive.

 

[ScottB]

Looks good, but I won't get one. Not at that price anyway. If a picture was leaked, I would have said fake.

 

[Sceadufax]

but it's so ugly!

I like the concept and I'm sure that the sound quality is fantastic, but I wish they'd contracted Bang & Olufsen to design the things.

yeah....cause B&0 made such a good job of that new Serene mobile phone, didn't they

 

[Sceadufax]

hmmmm....

http://www.xtrememac.com/audio/speakers/tango.php

 

[Zmmyt]

I've seen beer crates looking better than the iPod Hi Fi
The iPod Hi Fi supposedly sounds better, though...

That crate looks like a Formula 1 race car.

 

[NicP]

I would much prefer 2 seperate speakers, where the ipod docks on the top of one of them. Oh and it would look nicer in black

 

[Arnaud]

Hi-Fi with iPod ?

Honestly, I'm having a hard time with the concept of a "Hi-Fi" stereo connected to an iPod.

I mean, I really like my iPod, got all my CD's on it, carry it everywhere etc... But it is still MP3 or AAAC encoded, i.e. destructive compression, so that it doesn't sound quite like the original 44KHz track.

I know some people will say "come on, it's really good, whatyatalkingabout", but I do hear the differences, especially in the clarity of the high part. True, it does not matter when I'm walking in the street or driving in my car, but it does matter when I'm in the quietness of my house. I do like my music to be perfect

I just keep the concept of "Hi-Fi" to situations where all elements of the chain are Hi-Fi: good output but good source too, a CD for example, not a compressed song, so that you can truly enjoy the quality of the song. A "Hi-Fi stereo for an iPod" sounds like a marketing trap to me, just like selling an HD plasma screen to connect to a VHS VCR (ok, I'm pushing a little here).

My conclusion: it might be a nice gizmo if you agree with the price for the design etc. But does it really need to be called "Hi-Fi" ?

Arnaud.

(PS: If you don't agree, set a CD in your iTunes and compare a song on the CD and in the library; you may note a difference, or not, depending on the CD (old re-recordings of Jimmi Hendricks or digital recording of Black Eyed Peas), your equipment and your own interests; you can also set higher rates of compression, but it is still compression).

 

[KC9AIC]

I mean, I really like my iPod, got all my CD's on it, carry it everywhere etc... But it is still MP3 or AAAC encoded, i.e. destructive compression, so that it doesn't sound quite like the original 44KHz track.

A lot of people would agree with you about the inadequacy of lossy compression. For these people, there is the Apple Lossless format. I use it for the songs I actually care about.

 

[c-Row]

Compared to the other 'boxes, it doesn't look as big as it does on the PR shots. And since I don't got a stereo and don't need an FM tuner at all, I might consider getting one.