Aluratek AIRMM01F Internet Radio Alarm Clock with built-in WiFi (Black)
by Aluratek
|
List Price: Our Price: $82.99 You Save: $67.00 (45%) Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours Category: Receiver or Amplifier See more product details |
|---|
Customers in the UK,
Buy this product at amazon.co.uk
for British Pounds
Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of Aluratek AIRMM01F Internet Radio Alarm Clock with built-in WiFi (Black)
Customer Review: Clever, and useful
Summary: 5 Stars
Think about the humble clock-radio. Everybody has one. They've scarcely changed in the last two decades. They have poor sound quality. Are usually in a bedroom where radio reception can be poor--and are usually given only a crummy wire antenna sticking out the back. With some, you can play a CD, just as CDs are being superseded by other digital music. Few can access the wealth of programming on satellite. Not a twenty-first century device.
This device brings the clock-radio into the 21st Century. It connects to your Wi-fi at home, and delivers almost any radio station you want from around the world.
NPR junkies can choose from a brace of stations, and the worldwide selection is superb--let me recommend Radio National and Directions in Groove from Australia, KQED and WNYC (the AM version; you'll get AM radio in hi-fi!), Deutsche Welle in English, Radio Netherlands, and of course, the BBC. Living in a non-English-speaking country, it's a real life-line for me.
It solves an issue that has vexed me with conventional clock radios I've owned. Reception problems. With an internet radio, the signal is as strong as your home wi-fi.
No need for an integrated CD. You can play music wirelessly from your computer or a USB stick.
And for a small speaker, the sound is remarkably good. You can plug it into your hi-fi if you wish, for even better sound.
It gets five stars, but not without a couple of glitches. The radio updates the station list automatically, but if a station changes its website in between software updates, you might miss out for a while. The menus are elaborate and can be a bit complex until you get used to them--and that includes the one you use simply to turn the alarm on. And the backlighted time displays ONLY when the radio is actually on; though I expect that glitch to be fixed in a software update.
Customer Review: Internet Wi-Fi Radio - Aluratek
Summary: 5 Stars
We've had our Aluratek now for several weeks. It was purchased specifically to listen to a morning radio show in a neighboring town which doesn't broadcast clear until later in the mornings. I'd been listening to it via my iPhone so just assumed they (the station) transmitted via the Internet like so many other radio stations. Here's the rub - do your homework and verify the broadcast is in a format which your Aluratek can receive. Fortunately our station does but there are some which do not. Example of those which work are broadcasting in MP3 or Wav file format. Adobe Flash won't work!
For those who can't figure out how to add favorites - you do it on the Internet site v-tuner for Aluratek NOT ON THE RADIO! Can understand how you'd get this mixed up but just log into the web site and like magic whatever you choose as a favorite will show up on you radio next time you turn her on. Very cool indeed! The web site is a bit rough and could use a bit better interface.
A word on customer service - the one station we desired didn't show up on the v-tuner station listing. Oh no! I wrote the station an e-mail which was answered in one day. The station was added per request and we're happy customers. Amount of variety is outstanding.
There have been a couple of instances when a station is dropped. This has been rare and wouldn't alter my decision to purchase this device. Even my wife can work it! Sorry ladies, she's not a techie type.
How does it sound? I'll say it sounds outstanding for an AM radio. Very deep and rich. Easy to listen to! Yes, I'd buy it again and recommend it highly. PS - don't forget to set up your favorites ON THE v-turner WEB SITE!
Thanks for a reasonably price product which does what it says and is supported by people who respond!
Customer Review: Just as promissed, great unit, so far...
Summary: 5 Stars
I was tired of always having to have the Pc on in order to listen to the internet radio, so I decided to spend the $[...] bucks on it.
I purchased this item from Amazon, in 3 days I received this item.
This is my first unit to listen to music on the Internet( besides the Pc)
I was expecting a large radio,but I was pleasantly surprised that was small.
At first I could not get it connected to my wireless network.
Luckily I read one review here at this site. You need to upgrade the firmware, otherwise you will get frustrated.
I found out that you will have to download the firmware from Aluratek website, to your pc, unzip file, then you can send it to the flash drive and place it in the radio USB port,then follow the instructions for Firmware update.
I purchased this unit for my wife to listen to European stations(the old country!)
I was amazed that under the small country we we're looking for, had more radio stations than we expected including all the little ones.
The remote control seems to work really good and the menus on the unit are very simple to operate.
The speaker is good to listen in large room, but you can add external ones and crank up the volume...
Upon turning on the unit, remembers the last station you were on and connects to it, its that easy
We are extremely happy with the unit.
I recommend this unit, specially for the price...
Customer Review: Very Easy To Use - Love it!
Summary: 5 Stars
I was curious about these new Internet radios and I am so glad that I bought this one first. It's so easy to set up and you will keep learning that this little unit is capable of many wonderful things!
Two examples: there's a thumb drive port right on the front so you can listen to music you have stored on a thumb. Or, if you use MS media player, you can play your entire music library over your wireless network - including your personal playlists.
I have mine set up as my alarm clock, but it is also hard-wired to my stereo system throughout my home. The wifi was simple to set up because it pretty much does all of the network set up for you. I can't stress enough how EASY this radio is to use.
Oh, and the remote is full-sized, like a TV remote which is also EASY to use.
This was my favorite electronics purchase in 2009 for sure. I love the alarm buzzer song too. It starts off low and slowly increases in volume - I only wish that I knew what song it was...
As far as Internet radio stations - if you can listen to a live stream of your favorite local radio station on your PC already, chances are you will find it on the ever-increasing massive worldwide list for this radio. And coolest thing is, if you can't find it, you can go to the Aluratek website and add it!
Very cool product - Five Stars easily... wish there were six.
Customer Review: I LOVE IT!
Summary: 5 Stars
I saw a video review of this product on CNET. So, I decided to give it a try. The thought of being able to access thousands of radio stations, and NOT have to pay for a monthly fee, was too tempting.
The product worked right out of the box. I turned it on and it started to look for access points that it can connect to. In about 20 seconds, it found my wireless AP. It connected to the AP with no problems.
The user interface was very self-explanatory. I was able to start listening to radio stations around the country and the world in no time.
I also found out that this product is able to connect to other computers on the network and play music from there. That is a pretty neat feature considering I have many many songs stored on my computer.
Now my entire family can pick their favorite radio stations by genre or by location. I have family members from other parts of the world. This is especially sentimental for them.
The quality of the music is fine. It does not replace the stereo system in your living room, of course. But it does have audio out, which could be connected to a better sound quality stereo/entertainment system.
Over all, I am very satisfied with the product.