Expert’s Rating
Pros
Cons
Our Verdict
FM wireless and iPod remote .
January ’s Macworld Expo brought just a unmarried iPod - connect ware proclamation from Apple — the first appearance of the company’siPod Radio Remote . This $ 49 gimmick adds an FM radio set ( and electrify iPod remote ) to afifth - generation iPodoriPod nano , giving users of raw iPod a feature many of themhave long requested .
Overview
The packaging for the Radio Remote is typical of Apple ’s other intersection — relatively thickset and very professionally done . Inside the box is the Radio Remote itself , a set of in - pinna earbuds with a curt - than - usual cord , two fuzzy cover version for the earpiece ’s headphone , the limited guarantee booklet , and a truly tiny ( 2.5 - by-4.5 - inch ) instructional booklet . The statement take only six pages , and one of those pages contains nothing more than a warning abouthearing lossand an admonition against drive while wearing headphones .
At first , I found it fairly odd that Apple determine to bundle a set of earbuds with the Radio Remote . Anyone purchase this product will already own an iPod , or will be encounter one at the same clock time , and all iPods already include earbuds . So the inclusion of another distich seems to do nothing more than increase the toll for the consumer , as I could n’t see anyone really using them . However , while looking for more information on the Radio Remote on Apple ’s internet site , I found theiPod Radio Remote Frequently Asked Questionspage ; it submit that the Radio Remote expend the earbuds as the antenna for the radio . So it seems the earbuds are bundled to check that every Radio Remote ships with an antenna .
There ’s one other reason you might find the included earbuds useful — for partake in your iPod with someone else . One semi - hidden feature of the Radio Remote is that it reserve you to secure two duo of earpiece into one iPod . With the Radio Remote connected to a full - sized iPod or nano , the iPod ’s headphone old salt is still accessible . Plug one readiness of headphones into the iPod itself , and the other into the Radio Remote , and both sets of headphones will be active at the same meter . If you buy a Radio Remote , you wo n’t need to buy a separate earphone splitter to apportion your music .
When I unpack the Radio Remote , the first thing that struck me was just how really tiny it is . It matter next to nothing , with the vast majority of that weight coming from the dock connector and the cable . Physically , it ’s quite little , as you’re able to see in the image here ( click the image for a larger version ) . Part of the reason for the small size of it is that there is no power source in the Radio Remote ; it draws all its power from the iPod . Obviously , that intend there ’s a hit for the iPod ’s barrage fire life when powering the Radio Remote . Apple include as much on the above - linked FAQ Sir Frederick Handley Page , which states , “ Because the iPod Radio Remote is power by the iPod itself — no extra assault and battery required — using the FM radio will subdue barrage life . ”
need some better data , I did my own drain test using a 4 GB iPod nano . Once the nano was full charge , I connected the wireless and earpiece , go under the volume to about one-half , tune up in a place , and then just sat back and waited . Almost precisely eight minute afterwards , the nano shut itself down . Real world usage may result in somewhat lower battery biography , as I did n’t change stations , adjust volume , or otherwise spark the backlight very often during the day — just a few time to ensure the radio was indeed still active . Still , eight hours of radio reception on one charge from a nano is fair telling ; the full - size iPods should produce even better times .
Using the Radio Remote
Using the Radio Remote really is a simple thing to do . Plug it into the dock connector on a compatible iPod , then pick out the new Radio button from the iPod ’s main bill of fare . ( You ’ll involve to haveiPod Software 1.1or later on . ) This will take you to the main radio receiver screen , which salute a somewhat retro FM dial ( hey , I remember those ! ) , as seen here .
From there , the click bicycle ( or the clit on the pumped up remote control ) are all you need to use . clack the center button to toggle the lower part of the presentation between the telephone dial view and the station identifier . With the telephone dial seeable , you could manually tune a post by spinning the cycle . you’re able to also press and hold the fast forrad or rewind buttons to rake for the next or previous place . Once you have a station tune in , press and keep back the centre clit to pit it as a favorite . Favorites are indicated by the small triangles you see below certain frequencies in the screenshot . To unmark a pet , first activate it , then press and hold the center button again . iron out the free rein / pause button to put the radio in standby modality — the radio will turn itself off . Another pat on the bid / pause button will waken it up again . If you do n’t wake the iPod within two minutes , it will close off .
Although it ’s quite simple to mark and unmark pet , there ’s no mode to produce a subset of “ extra favorite ” Stations of the Cross . If you live in an expanse with tons of FM stations , for instance , you may want to punctuate many of them as favorites . But you may have only two or three that you listen to regularly . There ’s no style to just tag those specific stations , so you ’ll terminate up using the click rack a mint to skip across the stations you do n’t often hear to .
The Radio Remote also affirm something known as theRadio Data System , orRDSfor little . RDS reserve tolerate radio station to broadcast small streams of digital data along with the music they play . An RDS - equipped station will typically transport its post identifier along with the name of the creative person and Sung presently being play . When tuned to an RDS - equipped station , the Radio Remote will exhibit this information on the bottom share of the iPod ’s display . On the iPod nano , which has a rather pocket-sized exhibit , you do n’t get to see as much information at once — the Radio Remote cycles through each bloodline of the data . On a full - size iPod , the upshot should be much better , although I did n’t have one usable to test with .
The wired outback replicates all of the iPod Click Wheel ’s dominance functions , except for spin the ringlet roulette wheel to tune a station . The remote also works for music store on your iPod , with only a couple of limit . First , the Radio Remote must be directly connect to the iPod ; it wo n’t work when connected through a wharf , for instance . secondly , if you use iTunes to adjust the volume of a given track , you wo n’t get word those volume adjustments if you plug away your earpiece into the Radio Remote . Instead , you ’ll have to plug the earpiece into the iPod itself . This has some implications for the earphone sharing hint given above . If you expend a lot of customized volume levels for your songs , then the person listen to the iPod itself will see the medicine at a unlike level than the person using the Radio Remote ’s headphone jackstones .
Sound quality and reception
To my untrained ears , the sound quality of the Radio Remote was fine — what you ’d expect from FM radio . While clearly not up to the horizontal surface of a well - encoded rip from a CD , I did n’t hear anything out of sorts with either music or voices . Both were reproduced with salutary pellucidity , and the music itself was free of distortion , at least at anything resemble a normal mass grade . I listened with a sort of headphone , include the provided earbuds , a set of Bose Triports , and theBose Quiet Comfort 2 — each one sounded just hunky-dory to me .
Perhaps more relevant , I did n’t have any reception emergence with any of the headphones , so there ’s apparently nothing special about the included feeler earbuds . During a walk around both the theater and the immediate neighborhood , I experienced only the mildest of dropouts , and only then for brief periods of time . I even essay using the Radio Remote with the Bose Triports plugged into the iPod directly , and nothing connected to the Remote . This should theoretically have resulted in nothing but inactive ( no antenna attach ) , but it did n’t . Instead , I find a usable sign on all my pronounced stations .
Overall , I was quite impressed with the reception , though I live in an area with relatively strong FM signals . I was n’t able to screen the Radio Remote in an urban environment , which would submit it to more multipath encumbrance . I also have a bun in the oven that the headphones - direct - to - iPod trick would not act nearly as well within a urban center .
Durability
While it ’s too early to make any judgments as to how well the Radio Remote will stand up during farseeing - term usage , it ’s held up well for me so far . I ’ve used it trot to my smash , flip generally in a pocket , and snip to a shirt .
Jason ’s experience led him and I to take for an interactive iChat video chat for a little CSI - character science lab workplace . By press and prodding at the equipment , we reckon out exactly how to easily remove the back dialog box . Before you try this , earn that if you break your Radio Remote , it ’s your fault , not ours . This worked for us , but you ’re responsible for your own natural process !
That ’s all it claim ; you should hear a couple gentle snaps as the press - in tabs are released , but nothing has broken on mine yet , and I ’ve now done this a lot of times . apply how well the pieces add up asunder and go back together again without damage , I suspect that this is a design - in feature to prevent ruinous damage to a Radio Remote — from a snagged headphone or iPod cable , for instance . However , the objet d’art almost seem to get aside a bit too easy , as Jason ’s accident demonstrated .
The Lowdown
There are other FM radio receiver available for other iPods , including DLO’smini fm(for the miniskirt only ) and Griffin Technology’siFM(models available for all dockable iPods ) . The Apple product , though , is the first to directly incorporate the receiving set ’s control into the iPod ’s user interface . The final stage consequence is an FM tuner that function very well , and yet adds almost no bulk to the howling denseness of today ’s iPods .
