iFM
Griffin Technology
Price: $49.99
Pros: Compact, good FM reception/recording, works as a remote.
Cons: It's compactness was sometimes a challenge for my near sighted eyes.
by Gary Miller
This product has answered a prayer for my iPod Photo, finally FM radio listening without lugging along a portable FM radio. And that's not all. It's a remote control, it records FM, and it's compact like you'd expect for your iPod.
When I first got my iPod a year ago, I loved it, started putting all my CD's into iTunes, and added audio books via Audible.com, but I still missed having FM radio. So Griffin Technology released Radio Shark, and I could have my iMac record FM radio shows like your VCR or Tivo, and transfer them to my iPod. But... for walks, I wanted the option of having an FM tuner attached to my iPod, and once again Griffin Technology was listening to my prayers in the ethers...
iFM is a very compact, cute, mini shaped iPod that connects via a white cord with a connection for your earbuds and yes, it's backlit for those long Alaska nights. I think Griffin must know our Alaskan wish list of features. Your earbuds act as an antennae too for better reception, good idea guys. On one side is a slider that turns it on, to FM mode, or remote mode. The other side has buttons that change functions depending if you're using it as a FM input or remote, volume up and down toggle, and another toggle for up/down to tune in stations. You can preset 6 stations easily too. It has a red button to push to record FM too, so when you're listening to a show on your iPod just click it, and it starts recording so when you next sync your iPod with iTunes, it automatically uploads it, it also has the ability to record voice memos easily with it's built in microphone, saving you from having to carry a mic adapter. If you need one, be sure and consider Griffin's iMic or Lapel Mic, both work great.
One of the many things I like about Griffin, is they still know that we like printed instructions, so the iFM's cardboard packaging has easy to read/use instructions, thank you! There's a clip on the back of it, so you can put your iPod away in your pocket, or on your bike, etc and still have active control over it's features with the remote features, works easily and accurately. It controls Play, pause, fast forward, rewind, next song, previous song, and volume. Radio ability features digital auto station scan, band switch between European, Japanese if you want. And in remote mode, you have equalization toggle, meaning you can toggle between your favorite EQ setting or none at all. I like that. A new model is on it's way with an included Dock Connector. The only negative is that it won't record FM on iPod mini's because it doesn't support that, there's a new iPod Nano model out...
Go for it, this awesome complement to your iPod will keep you smilin'.
System Requirements:
* iPod