To say that there are many iPod docks on the market today is a slight understatement. Some of them can be used as clock radios in different ways, but iLuv is taking the concept a step further. Calling the IMM190 iLuv an iPod Dock is not entirely correct. Sure it works as a speaker with most iPod models, but to use the gadget to its fullest potential you need an iPod Touch or iPhone. Then you can download a free app from the App store, which transforms your iPod or iPhone to a clock radio.

After the phone or iPod Touch is docked, the speaker may be positioned so that the screen seen in either portrait or landscape mode. You can then choose between four different ways to display the time as well as weather information and today’s date. It looks very neat, but you will have to remember to turn off the auto-lock feature on your device to avoid having to unlock it just to see the time.

The actual speaker is quite small and unobtrusive. There are only a few buttons including a snooze button for the alarm volume controls. Additionally, it has a line-in and a battery compartment that holds six AA batteries. The sound quality is decent, but it will fail to impress the real audiophile. It’s obviously not a large unit; there is some bass, midrange and treble but it doesn’t give off a lot of volume. It is still good considering the tiny speaker.

The IMM190′s Alarm feature lets you set up multiple alarms and select the days when you want it to run. Either you can wake up to music from your iTunes library or any of the thousands of Internet radio stations that can be accessed via the app. There are also a few regular alarm tones, but we don’t see anyone using them. When the alarm goes off there’s an easily accessible snooze button on the screen.

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