iHome's iW1 airplay speaker is freaking amaaazing!

[iSingandiDance]

From Facebook

iHome
Wow! Due to overwhelming interest and demand in iW1, today's initial offering has already sold out. To those who still wish to pick up this new flagship iHome model, the product will be available at retail in the U.S. on or around Sep 26 at Apple Store, as well as online at BestBuy.com and Crutchfield & at Best Buy stores in Oct.

Just got this email from iHome.

To Our Loyal Fans,

The wait is over! We're excited to announce that the iW1 AirPlay wireless speaker system will be available for purchase Wednesday, August 31 at 2PM EST at ihomeaudio.com/iW1BC.

To thank you for your patience and support we'll be offering a free gift to loyal customers who purchase an iW1 during the launch period. Please be sure to use promo code "iW1gift" at checkout.

Due to your overwhelming response on the mailing list we expect our initial supply to sell out within the first day. Please note we will be replenishing our stock as quickly as possible and will send you notice when more become available for purchase. Please rest assured that our free gift offer will remain in effect until October 31, 2011 or while supplies last. Note that the free gift is limited to one per household.

With the iW1 and the freedom to stream audio using AirPlay from your iPad, iPhone, iPod touch and iTunes, you will be rocking out in every room of your house like never before.

The iW1 with AirPlay. Your music. Any room. Wirelessly.

 

[almeallin]

could not agree more... when will it ever be released!

 

[bmat]

I know, this is ridiculous. I wanted some because they are advertised to link to multiple speakers at once, which bluetooth won't do. But I'm kinda tired of waiting.

 

[spaceballl]

I'm getting really annoyed waiting for these. I know there are a couple other options, but they look tacky. Even the Zeppelin has that silly iPod dock there - I don't want the dock. I just want the speaker. I want the iW1! Grrr...

 

[zebrab]

Seriously... why put all the effort into becoming a launching partner for such a technology with apple and then letting it go to waste by taking a year or more to get your product to the market...

as you said: RIDICULOUS

If it didn't seem so cool I'd simply say: screw them... ;-)

 

[arizona654]

One word....

SONOS.

Sonos does the same thing and then some. They use a different network than your 802.11g/n so no chance of interference so your units will play perfectly in sync. Plus they have a hook into Airplay.

I have been waiting for the iW1 since they announced Airplay (before CES.) At this point, Sonos is a better move.

Lots of companies say "X Coming Soon" at CES, and then finally release it a year later at the next CES (see Vizio and Hulu Plus).

 

[zebrab]

Just had to send out my disappointment about their lame product launch timeframe to IHome and got a pretty quick response...

The content of the response is not that quick, thought...

September
Im as ready as you


Sent from my iPhone

On May 31, 2011, at 5:10 PM, xx wrote:

> Department: Press and Media Inquiries
>
> Country: Germany
> Name: xx
> Email: xx
>
> Hello,
>
> I have been interested in the iW1 since you first advertised it on your site and through the media... Seems to me that it was at least a year ago.
>
> A little checking with google tells me it was October of last year... still a pretty long time considering you were the first to announce such a system and have since been beaten en route to the market by many competitors.
>
> So just out of curiosity... will you ever release it?
>
> Best regards,
> xx

 

[iSingandiDance]

According to their facebook page, it says "by the end of this summer"

I really hope it releases before August. My BestBuy Reward points expire in July.

At the moment, it's looking like a pipe dream.

 

[zebrab]

I really hope it releases before August.

As I said, the guy from the iHome press desk says September... but good luck for a July-release... I highly doubt it.
Why would they state a release date after a complaint that is too far out in the future?

 

[iSingandiDance]

Honestly, I didn't know what "September" meant since there was no kind of formal formatting in that response. Can't really blame him though. Bet he's been getting that same email ad nauseum.

Time to use up those reward points.

 

[spaceballl]

Wow - i can't believe now it's september.

This stuff isn't rocket science. It's just a speaker w/ some wireless tech - everyone else has already released theirs. Also, iHome is pretty good at releasing products all the time, as they have so freaking many - hopefully they can get their act together! I'd buy an alternative, but this one looks so classy....

 

[Sodner]

Not in my lifetime.

I have been wondering this very same thing myself. I have practically given up on it ever being released though. I do remember and check the site about once a month, and always nothing.

If I get something it will probably be the Sonos just to spite these iHome folks for taking so long.

 

[iSingandiDance]

The iHome site has been updated with a .pdf of the Quick Start Guide: http://www.ihomeaudio.com/iW1BC/

Everything seems fairly streamlined.

It's becoming more real.

 

[Mr.C]

The iHome site has been updated with a .pdf of the Quick Start Guide: http://www.ihomeaudio.com/iW1BC/

Everything seems fairly streamlined.

It's becoming more real.

That page does not exist.

 

[spaceballl]

That page does not exist.

yes it does.

 

[Azzin]

yes it does.

404 for me....

 

[radiogoober]

Too expensive. I'd rather GenevaLab for that price!

 

[Mr.C]

yes it does.

No it doesn't. 404 error for me too.

 

[iSingandiDance]

No it doesn't. 404 error for me too.

That's odd.

I've attached screenshots of the webpage and the .pdf file.

 

[iSingandiDance]

Now it's shown up on B&H Photo's product page.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/808854-REG/iHome_IW1BC_iW1_AirPlay_Wireless_Audio.html

SOON.

 

[PecanEater]

I hope the sound is good. In principle, I really want one of these. I love the idea of being able to pick it up and move it around the house.

 

[spaceballl]

I really hope this thing turns out to be worth the wait....

 

[iSingandiDance]

New video: http://justin.tv/lividlobster/b/288633610

My only gripe is the inability to link to more than one speaker per iOS device. Hopefully it's addressed in the near future.

 

[spaceballl]

My only gripe is the inability to link to more than one speaker per iOS device. Hopefully it's addressed in the near future.

Seriously? After all this time, that's true? That may be a deal breaker. I was hoping to put one in the kitchen, living room, and bedroom.... and have my iPhone stream to all 3 in sync...

 

[zebrab]

My only gripe is the inability to link to more than one speaker per iOS device. Hopefully it's addressed in the near future.

This is false!

I have an airplay device in my kitchen and one in my living room. I can stream from my mac (using remote app and I am pretty sure IOS Itunes app as well) to either one AND both devices! That was an issue early on but had been fixed a while ago.

[Update]
Sorry, must've gotten it wrong. It doesn't work from the IOS' Itunes app to more than one device... I unsually only use my mac for streaming to the devices and control it with the remote app as my music library plus email plus apps won't fit into my IPhone's lousy 32GB.