iHome iW4 AirPlay stereo alarm: Beatweek 2012 Best of Show at CES

iHome iW4

by Bill Palmer

As the stereo market still attempts to figure out whether iPhone and iPad users want to dock their devices or hang onto them while streaming their music to their stereo, iHome’s iW4 splits the difference. The company, which is best known for offering the top docking stereo alarm clocks on the market, branched out into AirPlay wireless streaming last year with its iW1, iW2, and iW3, each of which is a portable speaker brick which cuts the cord. But this year’s new iW4 is a dockable stereo alarm which also has AirPlay built in.

What this means is that you can use the iW4 as a standard stereo docking alarm overnight, allowing you to charge up your device and wake to its music. But during the day, when you’re more likely to have your iPhone in your pocket or your iPad in your hands, you can use it to play your music from across the room via AirPlay. This leads to the question of whether you’ll want to put the iW4 in your bedroom or in your living room. But either way, this product combines two iHome product lines which were already both tops in their field and offers users the best of both worlds.

About Bill Palmer

Bill Palmer is Editor in Chief of Beatweek Magazine. His editorial contributions include interviews with musicians and iPhone industry coverage.