Gearfuse

Let me be straight up now, so I don’t drag you along for the ride. This iPod dock is a limited-edition gadget so it costs around $340. If you’ve got the dough, great, but I just thought you’d like to know before you read further and soil yourself in excitement.

With only 100 made, the Music Label – Exile “Perfect Year” Convoy iPod Docking Bay includes a set of built-in speakers and is compatible with every iPod size except for the Shuffle. The coolest part is that Optimus transforms from a iPod dock / trailer thingy into his robot form. Not too bad of a disguise if you ask me.

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Well folks, our contest has come to an end and its time to announce the winners. I’d like to thank all of you for entering and sharing your favorite ’80s bands with us. Some people liked awful bands whilst others simply had great taste. Here’s the two winners we chose:

Kate really knows how to start a party:

• Hall & Oates
• Tears for Fears
• The Cure
• Genesis
• Journey

Rob plays power chords whilst reading bible verses:

• Metallica
• Def Leppard
• Quiet Riot
• Motley Crue
• STRYPER!

Now that’s rock and roll. Again, thanks for entering and keep an eye out for our next contest!

What is the deal with all these people ripping apart perfectly good video game consoles in favor of upgrading them with the latest technology? Sometimes retro is better!

That being said, this is a nice looking iPod dock. It’s a broken iPod clock/radio shoved inside an Atari 2600 shell. My guess is that this mod took no more than an hour. Drill a few holes for speakers, a little Gorilla Glue and voila, you’re finished.

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Just a quick reminder to our loyal readers that we’re currently running a contest. We have not one but TWO JBL On Stage Micro iPod docks to give away. For the full details on the contest and to enter, visit this page.

Several weeks ago, I received a JBL On Time 400 iHD iPod Dock (whew!) to review. In the past, I’ve really enjoyed JBL’s products. They make fair-priced, great-sounding iPod docks with rich bass and decent treble and mids. I unpacked the On Time, plugged it in and shoved my iPod Touch on top to start streaming music to the speakers. Unfortunately, the iPhone 3G doesn’t work with the On Time. This is a huge issue considering that a lot of iPod users have migrated to an iPhone, myself included since losing my iPod Touch in a drunken stupor.

But enough about drunken stupors. How easy is the On Time 400 iHD to use? It’s decent, but JBL hasn’t really upgraded its docking menu for years now. It’s still a two-color display reminiscent of an Apple II from the 1980s. It doesn’t give off a feeling of prestige and is really an eyesore to behold. Luckily, a remote is included with basic functionality, allowing you to avoid using the menu. Setting the clock and alarm is a breeze, ensuring you can replace your shitty alarm clock with the On Time.

Unfortunately, the sound on the On Time is less than desirable. I spent two hours playing various rock songs and dance music. Specifically, I threw on Metro Area’s Fabric 43 mix CD for an hour to get an overall feel for the system. Bass is muddy and distorted at high volumes. There is no “oomph” so to speak but instead a flat, dull pop from the kick drums. Highs were OK while mids seemed washed out. Listening to FM radio is easier on the ears considering how low-quality the audio is. But as I said, this is not a serious dock for listening to music. While it can do HD radio, the speakers the On Time is equipped with are merely lackluster at best.

The JBL On Time 400 iHD dock retails between $190 and $250. At that price, you are better off checking out some of JBL’s other products that have gotten better reviews or a Bose SoundDock. Better yet, pick up a small stereo system from Best Buy with iPod connectivity and you’re set. While the On Time is a great idea in concept, the product execution leaves much to be desired.

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