“While Apple continues to plug the iPod Hi-Fi speaker system on its web site and under the ‘Accessories’ portion of its scrolling iTunes/iPod navigation bar, the Hi-Fi itself has been axed from the online store, true to Think Secret sources who previously said the product was reaching the end of its life,” Think Secret reports.
Full article here.
Jonny Evans reports for Macworld UK, “Speaking under conditions of strict anonymity, UK resellers confirmed the news [of iPod Hi-Fi’s “End Of Life”]… It’s not clear at if the company intends releasing a revised version of the system, but the iPod HiFi is no longer available for purchase from the company’s UK online Apple store.”
Full article here.
What we need now is an “iPod Hi-Fi Wi-Fi.” Or would it be “iPod Wi-Fi Hi-Fi?” Aw, screw it: maybe we just need some more iPod Socks?
The iPod HI-FI was an example of Apple sucking.
” width=”19″ height=”19″ alt=”grin” style=”border:0;” /> I love their other products (have many Macs and iPods and the iPhone) but their iPod HI-FI really sucked. It was ugly and it sounded terrible.
What Apple needs is an update to the AppleTV for the holidays.
agreed the Hi Fi was an eyesore.
OK, so the iPod touch and iPhone both have WiFi built-in, now. Could Apple implement a “lite” iTunes client that could send tunes from your iPod/iPhone to an Airport Express or AppleTV? THAT would kick ass. “Computerless” music playback. Over at a friends’ house… Hey, listen to this new tune…
SC
I saw the Bosespeaker. That one was impressive
I meant:
Bose speaker
Sorry about the typo!
The iPod Hi-Fi was really out of Apple’s strengths. There really wasn’t a need for a “better” speaker system for the iPod line, and plenty of other options were available. Not like with iPhone and iPod or Macs, Apple really couldn’t make a significantly better and easier to use speaker system. Frankly, they’re just too simple of a product.
Looks are one thing. I’ve got one, my parents got one. We have been nothing but impressed.
We tried out the Bose – it did not sound as good, i’m sorry. Not even the Klipch sounded as good.
I own an iPod Hi-Fi, and honestly it is awesome. It has way more horsepower than the Bose system (and I like Bose), runs on batteries, and has an optical/analog input. My wife uses it in her massage therapy studio and I take it on vacation to the beach. It sounds great and fills our whole beach house with sound. A lot of people don’t like the way the iPod sits on top, but after watching many other systems with “fancier” iPod placements that inevitably break, i think the Hi-Fi does a great job. I would not say that it would replace a proper stereo system, but as a travel/extra speaker system, it rocks. MDN magic word “volume”.
Amen AG. The Hi-Fi is something you really have to hear in your environment to appreciate. If they dump the price, get one, you won’t be disappointed.
iPod Hi-Fi now sells for $199 in your local Apple Retail Store.
ya know, I own one of these.
( I didn’t pay for it, one of my vendors shipped it to me as a free gift, so that was cool )
And I must say, I really really enjoy it. When I go up north to the cabin it comes with me – it sounds great, and the remote works really slick. I think it’s a quality item, and looks great, too.
Just my 2¢.
I disagree with the opinions hear regarding the sound. This little thing sounds great! I purchased it right after its announcement and have use it everyday since. I hope it doesn’t go away. I’d like to see built in networking so you can access your iTunes library and a built in hard drive for storage. Think watered down tv with a speaker system while still being able to dock your iPod to it.
isuck, you havnt obviously heard one
If you are complaining about the sound of the Hi-Fi I’d guess you didn’t listen to one. They sound great…of course everyone hears differently I suppose.
The same goes for the look. I love the minimalist modern type look. Some people like the flashing light spaceship look.
I will admit that I think this was priced way too high. I luckily found mine on sale for $89 at Target last year. It’s wonderful for that price. I wouldn’t pay $359 for one though.
Yeah the Apple Hi-Fi didn’t sell well at our store, but we only got a couple of returns though.
+++++++
+++++
Returned mine, NO TWEETER. There is no equal on raw power though, tried them all, returned them all. Waiting for some to have a clue. All this unit needed was a tweeter. That’s it. Mid range speakers can only do so much. It is a shame it was 1 or 2 speakers away from greatness. Too muddy as is.
+++++++++
+++++
I agree with steve. The lack of a real tweeter is the reason I won’t get one for that kind of money. What were they thinking. There is no such thing as “Hi-Fi” without some 1″ dome tweeters. Same thing with the Bose. The Altec iM7 is much more usable for the price since it sounds about as good and runs on batteries too.
It has clean, simple lines, it’s shape is appropriate to it’s function. It sounds great. If you want something smaller and prettier, or more trendy looking, then to me that is simply vanity. At the end of the day aesthetics are an individuals opinion, but if you value the appearance of an audio system over and above the quality of the actual audio – to my mind that just doesn’t seem very clever; that says more about you than about the product.
@ Davio:
or more trendy looking, then to me that is simply vanity
Here is one of the few times you’ll hear that from an Apple fan.
How does the Hi-Fi sound with Classical music? All they play at the Apple store is all that modern junk.
” width=”19″ height=”19″ alt=”tongue laugh” style=”border:0;” /> Any classical listeners here that have a Hi-Fi?
Live long and prosper.
My son has an iPod Hi-Fi. The kids at parties love it. Many young musicians/bands are at these gatherings. Great sound from a small device.
@ Spock,
Classical music sounds brilliant…that goes for western and eastern classical.
I have some Indian, Chinese and Japanese classical music that sounds unbelievable.
Not sure how Vulcan classical would sound…Spock is Vulcan right? I hope I haven’t screwed up my sci-fi characters…
” width=”19″ height=”19″ alt=”wink” style=”border:0;” />
I’m more of a footy geezer than sci-fi.
But what about the fantastic, insanely great, revolutionary leather bag they introduced at the same time as the iPod Hi-Fi? Don’t tell me they’re discontinuing that, too!!
Those of you who criticize the iPod Hi-Fi sound have clearly not listened to one. Apple did their homework and designed the acoustics well. I love it and it’s the only stereo system I’ve got or need in the house. Its portability has also been also highly useful. Yet it’s true enough that Bose and others offer competitive products that could beat the iPod Hi-Fi on price and nearly match or in some cases surpass it acoustically. So as it is it just doesn’t stand out compared to other competing products, which is unusual for an Apple product.
One thing Apple should have done was to build in Wi-Fi so you could stream music from your computer to the iPod Hi-Fi, which would have clearly differentiated it from its competitors. You can do this by attaching an AirPort Express to the unit but that AirPort Express has to be connected to my cable modem. With this setup I have to stream cable modem data over Wi-Fi to my iMac – not my preferred solution as it just seem the wrong way around.
Apple could save the iPod Hi-Fi but they’d have to fix this and really up the anti to set this product apart.