So you just couldn’t resist running out and buying an iPod after reading our recent review of the nano and now you’re itching to run out and get some sort of cool accessory since you have all that extra money burning a hole in your pocket, right? There are hundreds of accessories for the various iPod models, ranging from carrying cases and arm bands to attachable FM tuners and boom-boxes (and that’s barely scratching the surface)! If you are one of the millions of consumers who’ve purchased an iPod and feel the urge to accessorize then you’ll want to read on for our review of the JBL On Time - it could be just what you’re looking for.
The JBL On Time acts as a docking station, charger, and speaker system for your iPod. It also functions as an alarm clock and a radio. As you can see, the JBL On Time combines a number of different features into one unique device, but how well does it perform these functions?
First Impressions
Although the On Time can be used with many different media players through the use of the auxiliary sound input, it’s immediately obvious that it was built from the ground up to be used in conjunction with Apple’s iPod. The physical design of the On Time complements the iPod very well. The white iPod nano I used during testing matches the color and texture of the On Time perfectly and owners of black iPods need not feel left out because it’s also available in black. The On Time comes with multiple docking adaptors, so it can be used with iPods of any generation. The On Time also comes with an AM antenna, an auxiliary audio cable, and of course an external power supply.
As you can see from pictures of the device, the On Time has a unique circular design. There are three speakers enclosed on the “halo” portion of the On Time that surround the iPod when it is docked. The two matching speakers that are on opposite sides reproduce the low to midrange frequencies, and the tweeter on top doubles as the snooze button. There are ten buttons in addition to the snooze button, all located at the foot of the unit hugging the sides of the display. The four to the left of the display are for volume, mode selection, and power. The four buttons directly to the right of the display are used to navigate the On Time menus, and the final two buttons to the far right are for the dual alarms. On the back of the On Time you will find connections for the power supply, AM antenna, auxiliary sound input, subwoofer out, and last but not least, the iPod USB connector so you can even synch your iPod to your PC while it’s docked in the On Time. Finally, flipping the On Time over will expose the cover for the three AAA batteries which can be used for battery backup in the case of a power failure.
While the display for the On Time is not overly large, it will be quite pleasing to anyone who’s a fan of bright blue LEDs. It provides a clear, albeit slightly small display which can be adjusted for contrast and brightness to the user’s liking. The buttons are all backlit in blue as well, and there is even a small blue LED on the underside of the speaker “halo” that shines down on the iPod when docked. The brightness of all these light sources can be tweaked through the On Time menu options. One of these options even includes an “auto” setting which makes use of a light sensor on the front of the unit which increases or decreases the brightness depending on how much ambient light is present in the room.
http://www.thetechlounge.com/article/277/JBL+On+Time+Time+Machine+Dock+for+iPod/
