May 30 2007
DLO HomeDock Music Remote
Docks started out as a means of charging and syncing your iPod. As the iPod has evolved, so have its applications. Now that all our music is in one place, the focus has become getting that music all over.
So, its only natural to want to pump our tunes through our homes. And that’s what DLO’s HomeDock Music Remote is after.
The package includes the basic functions – syncing and charging – as well as interfaces for connecting your ‘pod to your stereo and (with the right cord) your television. Throw in an RF remote. This is nothing new.
The power of the Music Remote comes in the access to your music by playlist or artist. The bright and easy to read display lets you adjust various settings including EQ. From the remote you can queue up songs in juke box mode.
The remote is pretty slick – roughly the size of a nano. It’s rechargeable in the base and easy to read. Once loaded from your iPod, navigating your playlists is quick. You will miss your click-wheel, but considering Apple’s patent, DLO’s navigation is very workable and takes no time to learn.
The dock links to your stereo with a provided RCA composite cord. If you have an AV mini-jack to component, you can plug your video iPod into your television as well. The dock also sports a USB port for sync and a power jack.
As a package, the Music Dock is an elegant way to control your iPod’s music from all over the house – only useful if you can hear your stereo a reasonable distance from your dock. The RF remote provides an excellent range, enough for houses larger than mine.
The remote only lets you at your playlists and artists, and only provides limited control over videos. You also may have to invest some time in downloading your song lists to the remote for the initial setup. That, and it isn’t cheap.
When compared to other solutions, DLO’s remote is smaller, as cheap as any display remote and is the only one I’d like to be seen toting around a party.
I enjoyed the HomeDock Music Remote, and the idea of quick wireless control over my iTunes was very appealing. The on-screen text and menus are pretty slick too. All together, this is the home music solution for you – as long as you have the stereo to back it up.
Buy DLO’s HomeDock Music Remote from Amazon ($111 at press time)
Digital Lifestyle Outfitters has unveiled 
Digital Lifestyle Outfitters (DLO) today unveiled its latest