Is Polk planning to make an Ipod docking station?

trubluluc

I see Bose and Klipsch are in the game, as well as many others.
The 'lil Lady is an Ipodaholic and I would like to get her a docking station for her office,
and of course I'd like to support Polk if possible.

Seems like a huge, up and coming market.

-Luc

**Suggestion

Hey Josh....One thing I like about the Klipsch design is the removeable speakers. It allows you to space
them out so as to provide better stereo imaging (the anti-clock radio design),
and gives you more options for placement on your desktop.
I'm looking forward to what the POLKmeister design team comes up with.

Shizelbs

Its a little late for up and coming. Its here man.

Maybe its me, but I just don't know that many people with an ipod. I mean, I never even have time to use one. Does everyone else out there have one?

brettw22

I have one......though the better alternative is to just get an RCA Y cable into an 1/8" jack and plug it into an aux jack. True you have to get a power cable still to charge it, but unless it's drained cuz it hasn't been charged in days/weeks you won't need the power cable.

Demiurge

There are 4 iPods in this house alone, and half of my family has them. They're out there big time. I use mine daily. Working out, if I take a walk at lunch, etc. It makes boring activities fun and I always have a huge selection of music to choose from.

Beekyman

I have an iPod in my system and use the suppplied docking station with a good quality RCA Y to 1/8" stereo cable and I'm very happy with the results!
There are several aftermarket remotes that work with the iPod as well and that makes the setup even nicer. If you really want to get fancy, get the Apple Airport Express to wirelessly stream music from your PC or Mac to your system!

[Deleted User]

trubluluc wrote:

I see Bose and Klipsch are in the game, as well as many others.
The 'lil Lady is an Ipodaholic and I would like to get her a docking station for her office,
and of course I'd like to support Polk if possible.

Seems like a huge, up and coming market.

-Luc

Yes...no details yet. Ideas are welcome.

Holydoc

Josh wrote:

Yes...no details yet. Ideas are welcome.

Josh,

As far as ideas go for Polk, most people have their IPods protected in cases. The largest flaw in docking stations out there is that the stations do not fit the IPOD in its case. Creating a docking option that allows you to place the IPOD in while it is still protected (e.g., spring loaded retaining clips, adjustable retaining IPOD seat, etc.) would attract a lot of attention.

Currently my IPOD sits in an Apple Universal Dock (Large enough to fit my cased 60gp IPOD) where it is connected to my receiver via S-video (video) and RCA cables (sound). This allows me to listen to the IPOD via my HT system while watching slide shows.

I also have a car docking port, a docking port at work, and a nice pair of headphones. My IPOD travels with me everywhere I go including my one to two flights I take each month on business. Nothing like taking my 250+ CDs, Podcasts, 30 audiobooks, and 25 DVDs with me wherever I go.

Shizel,

It is harder to find those who do not have an IPOD than it is to find those that do.

I-SIG

ipods are ****.

Wes

audiobliss

As for ideas...I'd love to see a docking station with a remote. Apple has one, but it will only do play/pause, volume, and forward/back. It'd be awesome to be able to navigate the iPod's menu via remote. Just think, it'd be a lot of work, but if that could be done, you'd have the only remote that would do that, and I bet that'd guarentee a lot of sales right there.

It'd also be awesome if you could use a click wheel of sorts on a remote like is on the actual iPod.

phipiper10

I-SIG wrote:

ipods are ****.

Wes

For less money,better sound (see the specs) longer battery life and more compatibility get a Creative Labs player (They also make Dell's players). I know I've already given up on sound quality with an mp3 file but still get more for less. Plus No digital rights management hassles with some other sights - emusic.com and compatibility with so many more sites. I don't actually download that much music but if you do this would be a bonus.

While the itunes interface is cool .. it's only cool if you play by Apples rules.


For most people this is probably fine. I want maximum flexibility without the feeling I'm trapped.

I've have a 40gb Zen Touch which I've had for about a year and a half with no problems. The only drawback is fewer accessories are offered for the player but hey I don't need a leopard print case that glows in the dark for my player.

I don't use it at home but everyday at work and in the car I have it hooked up to an RCA into the auxilliary of the Alpine.

I can't say enough good things about it. Exceeded my expectations. Very few products do that these days.

Now lets get back to transports, dacs and powerful amps! say it with me transports, dacs and powerful amps! transports, dacs and powerful amps!

Toxis

here we go with the iPod sucks comments. Yeah they do suck. They suck so bad, they own 85% of the mp3 player market. Damn they must be horrible.

BTW, I have an older iPod and have another one coming in thanks to freeipods.com. Love them and can't see myself going anywhere else.

VR3

Bose owns 90% of the HA market. I know by my standards they are fairly horrible.

I cant stand IPods on alot of stand points - all of which have nothing to do with the actual product but what it represents as a whole in the audio world.

kingkip

Vr3MxStyler2k3 wrote:

Bose owns 90% of the HA market. I know by my standards they are fairly horrible.

I cant stand IPods on alot of stand points - all of which have nothing to do with the actual product but what it represents as a whole in the audio world.

True Sid, true. I don't own an Ipod, rather a sony MD (I know I am some kind of freak) the cool thing about MD is you can choose weather to compress or not, and still pack a ton of tunes in a disk. Down side, disks.

Remember though Sid, that IPods are really really really convenient. I have a hard time dragging my 2ch rig with me through the airport or working out. I don't think it represents anything in th audio world other than that. I agree that it appears that compressed music is degrading the quality of audio as a whole, but I don't think it to be true.

Besides what are you, like 18? Careful, you're starting to sound like a bitter old man.:D

I-SIG

Toxis wrote:

here we go with the iPod sucks comments. Yeah they do suck. They suck so bad, they own 85% of the mp3 player market. Damn they must be horrible.

BTW, I have an older iPod and have another one coming in thanks to freeipods.com. Love them and can't see myself going anywhere else.

Well, to be fair, all the MP3 portable crap sucks.

Also, Sid the kid has a point: Massive market share does not equal a superior product.

Wes

Demiurge

It is a superior product.

DarqueKnight

I-SIG wrote:

Sid the kid has a point: Massive market share does not equal a superior product.

Yeah, Microsoft's products are a prime example.

bobman1235

I-SIG wrote:

Also, Sid the kid has a point: Massive market share does not equal a superior product.

It doesn't necessarily mean that it is a superior product, but it doesn't mean it ISN'T either. The iPod is the best out there. Most intuitive and uncluttered interface, reliable, plenty of accessories...

It's not an audiophile tool of course, but there are no portable MP3 players that are. It's replacing a walkman, not a home theater.

Demiurge

It's also why Polk is making an iPod docking station, not an *insert mp3 player name here*. Although it would be nice if you could make one universal.

Airplay355

I find it just as easy to burn CD's with Mp3's on them. I'm not a fan of the iTunes program or using an iPod in my system, or my car. It's just not appealing to me.

I do know a lot of people who love them though, so there must be something good about them.

I have one of the Sony MD walkmans. I'm not really a fan of that either. It's a cool technology, but I have one of the older ones which only allows you to record music to it in real-time. That means to put a 5 minute song on a disc, you have to wait 5 minutes. I don't have time for that crap. It also means any noise your computer happens to make while you are recording will be on the disc.

I'd rather have an iPod then a MD player, but even if I had both I probably wouldn't use either one.

I-SIG

I'm just sticking up for Jesse: the SOURCE is the key.

What's the line from "Tommy Boy" about a guaranteed piece of crap...? Well, that's what the whole mp3 thing is if you use it as source. Crap in = Crap out regardless of how well the interface is or whatever else.

Also, threads like this one beg me to ask another question: Why do y'all have to be entertained every second?

Wes

I-SIG

Demiurge wrote:

It is a superior product.

If it so superior then why can't it even get a glance from me?

Wes

bobman1235

I-SIG wrote:

If it so superior then why can't it even get a glance from me?

Wes

From the way you're speaking you don't NEED one, so why WOULD you be interested? If you're looking for a JetSki, I don't think the iPod is going to turn your head. For someone who wants a portable audio player, if you weigh all of the options out there, t hey're all pretty close, and the iPod usually wins out with features and ease of use. Not for EVERYONE obviously, but the majority.

Plus you seem to be predisposed to not wanting it just because it's popular, which doesn't help.

I-SIG

bobman1235 wrote:

From the way you're speaking you don't NEED one, so why WOULD you be interested? If you're looking for a JetSki, I don't think the iPod is going to turn your head. For someone who wants a portable audio player, if you weigh all of the options out there, t hey're all pretty close, and the iPod usually wins out with features and ease of use. Not for EVERYONE obviously, but the majority.

Plus you seem to be predisposed to not wanting it just because it's popular, which doesn't help.

I'm into audio, but it, or any of them, still doesn't get my attention, hence my question.

Wes

Demiurge

Put it this way..

If you're into hiking, biking, jogging, walking...whatever. It's a great thing to have. I use my iPod all the time because I always like having music with me. I don't sit at home and listen to my iPod unless I am on the stationary or something.

I don't know why you won't take a look at it. Maybe you don't like MP3 players in general. That's what it sounds like.

In the MP3 player department it is the best there is. I can see why for cost reasons people might go elsewhere, but with iPod you get the best bang for your buck.

Holydoc

I-SIG wrote:

I'm into audio, but it, or any of them, still doesn't get my attention, hence my question.

Wes

So do you take trips? Do you fly on airplanes? Are you into videos? Are you into music in your car? Are you into the news?

Seriously, the IPOD offers all of this with the nicest interface around. Entertainment whereever you go with the size of a small wallet.

I-SIG wrote:

If it so superior then why can't it even get a glance from me?

Maybe you do not have the finances? Maybe you do not have the knowledge of the product? Maybe you do not enjoy entertainment? Strange question to ask...

I-SIG wrote:

Also, threads like this one beg me to ask another question: Why do y'all have to be entertained every second?

Sig, you ask some strange questions. Why not be entertained every second? Why not enjoy life to its fullest?

***************************

To get back on subject the whole point of this thread is that the IPOD has taken the portable music world by storm (notice I did not say MP3. I do not use MP3. With the IPOD you can use better and more realistic transfers of music than MP3). Polk wants to capture some of that market and build a docking station that will appeal to people who want to hook up their portable music system to their home theatre system. I, for one, applaud them for that effort.

Please make constructive comments towards that goal instead of trying to attack a media that you not only are not involved in but have no idea about its impact on the world around you.

Sorry... guess always reading how people try to derail threads on subjects they have no clue about bothered me. Did not mean to offend if I did.

I-SIG

Holydoc wrote:

So do you take trips? Do you fly on airplanes? Are you into videos? Are you into music in your car? Are you into the news?

Seriously, the IPOD offers all of this with the nicest interface around. Entertainment whereever you go with the size of a small wallet.



Maybe you do not have the finances? Maybe you do not have the knowledge of the product? Maybe you do not enjoy entertainment? Strange question to ask...



Sig, you ask some strange questions. Why not be entertained every second? Why not enjoy life to its fullest?

***************************

To get back on subject the whole point of this thread is that the IPOD has taken the portable music world by storm (notice I did not say MP3. I do not use MP3. With the IPOD you can use better and more realistic transfers of music than MP3). Polk wants to capture some of that market and build a docking station that will appeal to people who want to hook up their portable music system to their home theatre system. I, for one, applaud them for that effort.

Please make constructive comments towards that goal instead of trying to attack a media that you not only are not involved in but have no idea about its impact on the world around you.

Sorry... guess always reading how people try to derail threads on subjects they have no clue about bothered me. Did not mean to offend if I did.

First of all, I'm a historian of technology by degree, so I'm well aware of the impacts of portable electronics on society. Just because I'm not involved in the latest craze or what have you, doesn't mean I'm unaware of the ramifications. I'm not a Communist/Socialist/Democrat, but I'm well aware of the things that those crazes have wrought upon the world.

Second, I have a 6 disc changer in my truck, plus AM/FM. Why do I need yet another electronic device for music in there?

Third, while out jogging, hiking, walking, etc. is it better to blissfully unaware of the car or rapist or bear or rattlesnake sneaking up on you or to be entertained for those extra minutes in a day?

Finally, and most apparently, no one seems to see that my asking these questions and making these comments leads to the painfully obvious question for Polk, Apple, or whoever: How can we get this guy to buy our product(s)? Duh. I don't do any marketing and my liberal arts-degree self figured that one out!

Wes

Demiurge

Sounds like you need to worry about your own needs and wants rather than everyone elses. Never thought talking about iPods would be so controversial....

I'm done.

Willow

I love my Nano. I bought my wife a sandisk 256 a whileback, it did the trick. Then Out of the blue I picked up a nano. I can't put the darn thing down. It's on me everywhere I go. My wife played with it and with in 5 mins we were out buying her one. I do admit that their software is not the best.
It makes my 20 mins bus rides to and from work fly by. At lunch I take walks and that puppy is on.

As far as a polk docking system...yes make sure external cases fit and that it charges the device as well.
I think something powered by electricity and possibly batteries would be nice. ( say you want to bring it to the beach)

I have yet to see one with a tweet and a mid driver.

Holydoc

Isig,

You are indeed welcome to your opinion of IPODs. However this thread is not asking your likes and dislikes about IPods. It is asking if Polk has plans to develop a docking station and what features would be nice.

Here is a link in this forum where Historians like yourself can tell the world the woes of Ipods:

http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?t=14729&highlight=ipod

Sorry if I appear rude, but you can understand how frustrating it would be if you made a topic and someone decided to derail it for their own agenda, right?

Trublu and Josh, I apologize for being a party in "egging" this on. Promise I will just discuss on topic in this thread for now on.

P.S. I welcome you, ISIG, to send me any PM's on this topic, and I would be happy to let you vent on me or talk about the Pros and Cons of portable music media without causing any other derailment of this thread.

VR3

IPods are "cool" - they work well and meet their desired function by the 10 fold.

Heres the thing though...

IPods are the 5 in 1 speaker, satelitte speaker, and smaller enclosure of the audio world. Whats the connection?

Have you ever looked at the speakers from the 80's and the speakers of today? Well if you havnt, Ill go ahead and tell you that the ones of today are 1/3 the size. Im not saying they sound better or worse, but I do know that in general a properly designed large speaker sounds better than a small one. Most 50,000 + dollar speakers are insanely large.

The market shifted to small speakers, therefore we have that.

This led to satelitte speakers.

That led to 5 speakers in 1 speakers.

That led to alarm clocks.

What does IPod lead to? Who knows - I know its not leading to better quality music or electronics. Im going to go out on a limb and say that the average IPod user is a Teen - most of which wouldnt know compressed from uncompressed if it hit them in the nose.

Like I said, its a great concept, gizmo, excellent device and does what it was designed to do and does it well.

Fact is, its doing what every other audio based advance has done before, altered the market without looking at future advances aside from money.

Polk dosnt make SDAs because the market dosnt want speakers that large in their price range. Polk practically MADE their market, they designed their market - the size, the technology. If Polk hadnt done it, they could be making 5,000-10,000 dollar speakers that rival the 50-90,000 dollar speakers.

Its all my opinion, none of it is really fact...Im just rambling due to the lack of sleep. That and I like arguing.

PS: For the easilly offended, the "Surround Bar", "I-Sonic", "Future IPod Docking Station", "RM Series And Associated" are great products, but I dont like them. This goes the same for similar products by other brands. But I also associate Polk with innovation, to me they are the ones that define their market.

danger boy

trubluluc wrote:

I see Bose and Klipsch are in the game, as well as many others.
The 'lil Lady is an Ipodaholic and I would like to get her a docking station for her office,
and of course I'd like to support Polk if possible.

Seems like a huge, up and coming market.

-Luc

Lets hope not.. there are about 23938574637389576.1 docking stations already out on the market for I-Pods. We don't need anymore.