iHome iP39 Dual Kitchen Timer and Alarm Clock Radio Speaker System for iPhone/iPod

For me, one of the most important features of a great kitchen is lots and lots of counterspace. Unfortunately, my kitchen is not ideal. So when I’m looking for appliances and gadgets, I need something that is compact and full of features. So when I heard about the new iHome iP39, I was excited to find out more.

PRODUCT DESCRIPTION

“In the iP39, we’ve created a speaker solution that not only exudes the look and feel of a high-end kitchen appliance, but gives users added functionality in the kitchen like never before,” said Evan Stein, Vice President of Marketing, iHome. “Now users can prepare their favorite meals from the best cooking apps, all while listening to and charging their iPhone or iPod.”

OUR REVIEW

DH was thrilled when our iP39 arrived. He’s always been a big fan of iHome products because of their ingenuity and craftmanship. In fact, almost every single room in our home has at least one iHome item. This says a lot because believe me, he’s not easily impressed.

My first impression of the iP39 is how compact it is. I knew it was supposed to save countertop space but I wasn’t expecting it to be so small. It’s designed like a tower so that it’s taller than wider with the base taking up only a 4″ x 4″ square space. It comes with a tiny remote control that magnetically attaches to the side of the unit. Other items that are included are a universal voltage adaptor, inserts for the iPhone 3G, iPod Touch & iPod Nano, and batteries for the unit and remote.

The great thing about the iP39 is that it’s so easy to use. I was able to set everything up within minutes without having to read the manual. Gotta love that!

One of the features I found really useful is the way you initially set-up your clock. All I had to do was place my iPhone into the slide-out dock and press the time sync button on the back. Within seconds the unit showed the correct time & date. Of course, you could also do it manually which is pretty painless as well.

We all know that having a timer in the kitchen is invaluable and this unit has two! They run independant of each other and can be set in quick mode (1 minute steps) or normally (5 second increments). I liked that I had a choice on how to set my timer depending on the time frame I was looking at. When the timer goes off you can either press the OFF button or add on additional time.

In addition to these timers you also have access to an alarm clock. I used my alarm clock to remind me when I have to stop what I’m doing and get ready to pick the girls up at school. I don’t know how many times I’ve lost track of the hour because I was busy cooking dinner (or blogging).

However, for me the best feature of the iP39 is being able to play my iPhone/iPod. There’s a slide-out door on the bottom of the unit where you can snap in one of the docking inserts (included) to ensure a perfect fit. Just hit play on your iPod and the unit will start sharing your tunes or cooking applications. And since it’s a docking unit, your iPod will be charging at the same time. There’s also a USB charging port slot in the back where you can charge one of your other electronic devices. There’s also an FM radio if you prefer to listen to the latest news.  Talk about a multi-functioning gadget!

The iP39 is currently available at major retail outlets nationwide and on iHomeaudio.com for a suggested retail price of $99.

This post was written for iHome who provided the complimentary item in exchange for my honest review.