Filed under: Gadget Reviews, Holidays on the Road, Holidays on the Road, Space Saving, Uncategorized

Patti’s Saga of a Former RV Rookie :Give a Mother’s Day gift she’ll really like: an iPad docking station.

You know those moments: “Oh…how nice,” her glazed eyes shifting from side to side because she loves you and loves your gift efforts, but still…really…what were you thinking?
If some of your gifts haven’t been hits and your wife/mom/mom-in-law has an iPhone, iPod, or iPad (known from here on as “iGadgets”), the iHome Docking Station iD9 may redeem you for any past busts.

My sweetheart, Renato, completely surprised me with an iHome Docking Station iD9 for my birthday this past April, and it’s changed my life. OK, it’s probably more accurate just to say I love it …and I do. If the women in your life (or you) have any iGadgets, a docking station will change the way they use them, especially the iPads with their stinky volume.

The only complaint I have about my iPad2 is the never-quite-high-enough-to-hear-the-actors-on-the-movies weak volume. However, the iHome rechargeable speaker system has more than taken care of that. Now, I can watch a movie or listen to a podcast or my favorite (free) audio Bible apps on my iPad, and crank that sucker up! The sound quality is terrific for its price range, which is $99.00 (or less if you check out Amazon). Note: there are other docking stations for iPads, many of which offer more features, but I love my iHome iD9. I’m not a “bells and whistles” kind of girl; just give me the basics.

The sound clarity of the iHome is quite high, and the bass is good (I personally would be fine with no bass, but I guess you’re supposed to have some; guys seem to like it). The iHome does lack separate controls for treble and bass, if that’s a deal breaker for you. I find the simplicity of the unit is a huge part of its charm; it only has a volume up/down and a lighted battery status indicator on the front. It’s old school, as in easy to deal with. I hate complicated technology and appreciate the iHome’s sleek, silver, simple, and elegant design.

iHome’s rechargeable speaker system is very lightweight, but quite sturdy. This means it’s incredibly easy to move around from place to place but is tough enough to handle the constant relocation. The iHome is perfect to set outside your RV, whether you want to listen to music or millions of free audio programs, or an audio book, or watch a movie.

Another nice feature is the iHome’s rubberized base design. Someone was using his head; there is zero slippage. When you set it down it’s not going to scratch surfaces and it is going to stay put. Not to say that if you jam those RV brakes, the iHome wouldn’t fly off a counter (it would), but otherwise, the iHome stays where you tell it.

The iHome’s rechargeable battery and play your music or movies anywhere without plugging it in; the charge lasts several hours. The iHome works great with all of my iGadgets (I have three); there’s also a line-in jack on the back for CD players, MP3 players, etc.

The only downside to the iHome is you’re stuck with the portrait orientation when your iPad is docked. Obviously, a landscape orientation works better for movies, but it’s so great having the iPad standing up on something other than my stomach that it’s worth it.

Oh…and I’ve read dozens of comments saying the iPad2 does not work with the iHome and can’t be used. Ridiculous! It’s a perfect fit. You have to slip your iPad into the iHome naked (without a protective case), and use the little adapter that comes with the iHome, but it works slick! No question!

The unit also works with remote control devices( which don’t come with it), and someone whose name shall not be mentioned didn’t get me one. Hmmm…isn’t the Fourth of July coming up? Shouldn’t I get a present for our wonderful Nation’s birthday?

If your darling has an iPad or any iGadget, consider getting her a docking station. It’s a great place to keep the new Woodall’s RV Camping & CoPilot app standing up front and center in her iPad and the Woodall’s app is free!

Let me know what you think about docking stations, life, or if you have questions. And no, I don’t get any kickback from iHome!

Happy Mother’s Day and Happy Tales,
Patti

Last 5 posts by Patti F.

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Tagged: Mother's Day in the RV, Patti's Mother's Day gift ideas, Patti's Saga of a Former RV Rookie, RV gift ideas, Woodall's gift ideas, Woodall's Mother's Day