Alarm clock audio speakers connect to iphones, Bluetooth
The new Tick Tock Dock from Edifier (www.edifier.ca/index.htm) is a digital take on an oldfashioned gadget.
What look like giant bells on the top of a classic alarm clock do not ring — they project a clean and dynamic sound from a docked iphone or other digital device.
There are two omni-directional seven-watt speakers hidden under those Mickey Mouse-ear protuberances. Unfortunately, attaching your iphone or ipod Touch also hides some of the clock’s better features — like the LCD screen on the front.
The docking connector itself is cleverly hidden. It’s like a secret door in the library, you push on one side and a door swings open.
Cool — but slip your idevice in and the screen gets covered up, so controls like setting the alarm or switching the input are obscured.
That’s not a game-changer, but it is a hassle last thing at night when you’re trying to set the alarm for the following morning.
Once the clock is set, it will wake you up at the appointed hour (or it will try to) by sounding a tone, or playing music from the dock, a Bluetooth con- nected device, or the built-in FM radio tuner (available in designated units).
Luckily, buttons to control playback are on the top of the unit.
There’s a five function button for navigating music tracks and for controlling the playback volume.
There’s an AUX mini input, and other designated units can play SD cards or USB devices, so there’s plenty of connectivity and listening source choices.
Edifier has development offices and facilities in Vancouver; it’s an international audio system company, founded in China.
Its range of high fidelity speakers and audio system peripherals (www.edifier.us.com) are well known and highly respected in acoustic circles.
Seems like they have a little ways to go with mobile devices and apps that drive them, however.
I was surprised to find out that the Tick Tock Dock does not have its own clock app for the IOS devices it connects to — you’ll be using the IOS clock app instead.
That’s unlike other docking speakers, including the iluv Vibro II (www.i-luv.com/index.asp), which has a Timesync app that talks directly to your iphone or ipod, highlighting the alarm setting and time. Can’t beat those ears, though.