Is Philips clock radio/digital photo frame a potential sleeper hit?

The Philips AJL308 has quietly slipped onto the market.

(Credit: Amazon)

Around this time each year I start trolling the Web, looking for potentially interesting products that we should review for the holiday buying season. So, there I was, scanning Amazon for new Philips digital photo frames, and lo and behold I came across this $130 Philips AJL308 7-Inch Digital Picture Frame, Alarm Clock, Radio and MP3 player. For some reason, I hadn't seen it before.

The Amazon product description reads as follows:

"This is the perfect item for your bedside, as it functions as a clock radio, alarm clock, and digital picture frame. This beautifully styled dual alarm clock radio will wake you with your favorite FM radio station or your personalized MP3 music. Comes preloaded with music or easily download your favorite music with USB connection from your PC or memory stick. Also has SD/MMC slot, so it's easy to upload picture files and enjoy your favorite photos while listening to the music of your choice. You can even upload video clips from the USB or SD card slot. The built-in FM radio has 20 presets and a dual-alarm function with gentle wake mode, which gradually increases the music volume. The 7-inch display screen can also display a large time readout and calendar functions. All of this makes the AJL308 multifunction frame the perfect item for your bedside table."

The Philips PR rep (from the company's outside agency) I spoke with to request a review sample seemed kind of surprised the product was available, even though Amazon's site says it's been selling the AJL308 for a few months. "That's not supposed to be out yet," he said.

Anybody intrigued? Would you consider buying one for yourself or doling one out as a gift?

[MadLyb]

Already in Target

This product is already on the shelves at Target. Some slick features, but rough on the edges.

[shmody]

would be a great gift for mom/dad...

I'd preload it with family pics and give it them. they'd love it and would definitely use the radio feature.

[Ben Lawson]

Needs to be jailbreaked!

Given the flash storage and firmware updatability, maybe this interesting but
flawed gadget is a good target for re-engineering...

[qprize]

Great product - Outrageous price

My price point for a good clock radio is 20 bucks. For a spectacular clock radio
you might get me to spend up to 50. But $130?! I don't think so.

[DOm3N]

yeah, I would buy it ;D

I'd buy this....but I'd keep it for myseld /evil grin

[Gigatexel]

Try a Chumby

Carnoy is going to have to try harder than this for a sleeper hit. Like MADLYB
I saw this product a two months ago at Target. This product reminds me of a
stripped down, bastardized, mainstream ripoff of a Chumby.
(http://www.chumby.com) The Chumby has all the features of this Philips as
well as being internet enabled through wifi and includes more interface
options with a gyro and a touch screen. They are priced rather closely, 130
for the philips vs. 180 for the chumby. Although it is more expensive, I think
the open source nature of the chumby and its larger featureset definitely
makes it the true sleeper hit.

[zarrik]

great potential but poor execution

I actually have this clock radio! I picked it up a few months back. It's definitely a cool design. Here's the problems... First, you cannot wake to MP3s. You can however fall asleep listening to them. Second, the screen is way too bright even on the dimmest setting. It's hard to sleep with the light. Third, the screen is low quality. It looks fine from a distance, but up close you can tell it's low res.

[Alec Saunders]

Avoid this product

Based on this piece, and the one on enGadget, I picked one of these up on eBay. It's a cool idea, but a rotten implementation.

More details here: http://saunderslog.com/2007/11/14/philips-ajl308-wait-for-version-2/

[jeffoo7]

NO AM radio. Won't play slideshow while radio playing.
No connect to USBs with drivers such as cruser.
Low res photo display.
Good radio sound, and good display of station # and time.
Presets easy to use. Cost $90 at Circuit City. I took it back.

[danieldmcneil]

My biggest complaint is that slideshow is not available in clock mode. What is the point of having a picture next to the clock, but not being able to have it change automatically? Makes no sense at all. If the firmware is upgradeable then they should be able to fix this.