IHome Brings Alexa to Clock Radios; No Plans Yet for Google Assistant

IHome, whose iPhone-inspired clock radios are still seen in hotel rooms after Apple converted from the 30-pin connector to Lightning, showed an Alexa-compatible clock radio at CEDIA Expo. The 10-watt iAVS16 ($149) integrates Alexa functionality and can control lights and appliances via voice after users set up devices using the iHome app, Gary Schultz, director-product and business development, told us. Users can control the snooze feature by voice or with a button so they don’t disturb others in the room. Smart buttons on top of the radio can control a light or coffee pot connected to an iHome smart plug, Schultz said. The radio supports Spotify, Pandora, iHeart Radio and Amazon Music, and users can set presets for music streaming services. A USB port on the back provides 2.1-Amp charging for a smartphone. IHome's smaller, 6-watt iAVS1 ($69), with a 1-Amp USB charging port, offers Alexa compatibility via the Echo Dot. The radio has a round cutout in the top to house and charge the Dot. The company doesn't have plans to introduce a clock radio to support Google Assistant, but "we're always looking at different things," Schultz said.