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

We hadn't heard about this one, but just noticed that Amazon is selling a new Philips clock radio, the AJL308, that doubles as a photo frame and bedside MP3 player.

[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.