Even with multiple generations of iPods now available for sale, it can be more difficult to decide on a docking station than the actual portable music player. Some simply keep the iPod in place for basic maintenance, while others are impressive enough to use the parts for other social events.
Main iPod Docking Stations
In the old days (2003), Apple packed everything the average user would need to operate the iPod, including a simple hard plastic dock that allowed the owner to charge the internal iPod battery and manage games using Apple’s iTunes software. Except for the iPhone, iPods these days don’t come with their own docks, so Apple offers a Universal Dock (Suggested Price (SRP): $49.00) that helps with these basic functions and also includes a port to connect to a stereo system or sem.
The Maxell 191203 Universal Docking Station (SRP: $24.99) is an inexpensive, multi-purpose dock that offers both USB and Firewire connections. Out of the two, this is my iPod station of choice. FYE carries this dock, but it appears slowly from its inventory.
iPod Docking stations double as Terror Clocks
SDI Technologies makes a sleek and stylish iHome Dual Alarm Clock Radio (Model iH6WR), which comes in several colors. This unit charges your iPod and streams music through its speakers. The iHome (SRP: $99.00) also gives you the option to play radio, music from your iPod, or listen to the real annoying whisper. It is available at retailers such as FYE and Target.
Radio Shack offers a dock station (model AMA – 200) that actually looks like an awesome clock. The company has designed these for the last few months, so you can find them for less than $20.00.
iPod Docking Stations for the Serious Music Lover
A leading manufacturer of iPod accessories, Griffin Technology has released the Evolution (SRP: $299.00), an impressive, cutting-edge piece of technology that costs about the same as a 160GB iPod. Wireless speakers develop features with their power supply, which can be placed just about anywhere you can think of. Griffin Technology products are available for purchase through the Apple website (www.store.apple.com).
Bose, makers of the most famous radios, also makes a simple but effective teaching station (SRP: $399.00) that looks as good as it sounds. It is available at such online retailers as the best Buy and online at Crutchfield (www.crutchfield.com).
Things to Consider Before Purchasing Docking
The first two generations of iPods do not have a docking port, users had to synch their music and battery using a firewire port on the player located This means that the available docking stations work especially well with late model iPods that contain a docking connector on the bottom. Most docking stations also come with adapters for various iPod models.
