Griffin AirClick Remote Control for iPod Reviews

• Excellent product, does what it claims to do!

  
  By A356JAJSFPFB5P on 2006-06-20
  Ok! Here's the bottom-line first: (a) It's MEANT to be a remote-control for your PERSONAL use, not for placing the iPod connected to your $800 stereo-system and then trying to play music from another room. (b) It's handicapped by the availability of options of the iPod. What I mean is iPod gives you the options like pause/play/rew/fwd. Now, if someone is thinking why it doesn't allow (Alas - read such reviews); it will mean that GOING OVER what iPod allows. This means someone has to mysterically put the wires INSIDE iPod, reconfigure it to allow such options.
  Now - what I felt. Being in New York and travelling daily to office in subway and later a long walk; I needed the ipod to be safely tucked away in my backpack with my Shure (excellent product, isolates sound completely. The iPod earphones are essentially junk) providing me the music and this remote giving me the flexibility to jump songs/replay a song/increase the volume or a simple pause. That - it does immaculately. Perfect. Being in RF range, I CAN place the iPod in my backpack. The previous remote of mine forced me to have the iPod in line of the remote (IR they called it..;) .. rather stupid. NEVER ONCE did the remote miss a beat, did ANYTHING horrible. Best part, they have the hold switch too. That means I can safely chug it along and not fear the buttons getting "accidentally" depressed. Built: Very solid and sturdy.
  
  All in all - a good product. The main unit's connection points are gold-plated, so they are extremely reliable.
  
  

• Great Remote, with just a few shortcomings . . .

  
  By A1APBMCD0FMCTZ on 2005-08-09
  This remote is almost everything you could hope for. It looks PERFECT with the iPod - with similar finish and build - and it's a breeze to operate right out of the box.
  
  Just a few shortcomings keep me from thinking it TOTALLY perfect:
  
  1) Can't be used while in most cases. But this is a shortcoming of anything that has to be plugged into the top accessory port;
  
  2) *** most critically - if your iPod is docked at all through the docking port, the remote has ***NO*** volume control. You must get up and go over to the dock and raise/lower volume on the dock. Just like the click-wheel volume won't work when the iPod is docked, neither will the volume control on the remote work.
  
  I can overlook the case issue since it's a common issue with accessories. However, I would have liked it to have been made clear that I'd have no remote volume control when the iPod was docked. I guess I could have figured it out - but it didn't occur to me before I bought and used it.
  
  That all said, I still give it a 4 out of 5 rating. It's great if you use the iPod alone, without a case (running, biking, etc). If you want ANY kind of remote for your iPod, you should seriously consider this one.
  
  

• Great product, limited range

  
  By A1QC7S7UPJL7YX on 2005-06-30
  I've been looking for a way to listen to the iPod through my stereo but still be able to skip songs, pause, and change the volume. I tried using an FM transmitter but got frustrated with the interference and if you move the iPod you get static.
  
  I had been looking at more expensive remotes but couldn't justify spending nearly $50 on a remote. I have a Griffin PowerPod and like it, so I felt better about buying one of their products.
  
  The build quality is fair. The remote is kind of cheap including the lock switch on the side. When I first got it I didn't snap the receiver all the way down on the iPod and the remote didn't seem to be working. I thought the battery must be bad and unscrewed the back to change it out. The screw stays in place (good design), but the switch fell off when I opened the case (bad design). The buttons on the remote are not intuitive, placed in a zigzag and hard to make out in dim light. You learn to memorize them, but they could have come up with something better. The receiver seems pretty decent and snaps firmly into place on top of the iPod.
  
  The range, as others have said, is limited. It may go through walls as advertised but only if you are within a few feet of the receiver. So you might be able to stand outside of a closet and control an iPod inside. Fifteen feet seems to be the maximum range without obstructions which isn't enough to make it all the way across my living room, but is enough to reach from the sofa to the stereo which is what I want anyway.
  
  The fact that it is a RF remote opens up some nice possibilities. One is you can leave the iPod in your pocket and just use the remote. The iPod's wired remote always seemed so clumsy and left you with too much cord and the remote invariably in the wrong place. The remote has a clip and, though it looks kind of dorky, I can clip the remote to my watchband while walking my dogs and skip songs without fishing around for the iPod in my pocket or accidentally pushing buttons on it. Holding the remote is like having a 20 MB iPod Shuffle in your hand.
  
  It's also useful for the car. I can leave the iPod hooked up to my car stereo (and power if necessary) and then control it with the remote without fumbling for the iPod and worrying about those cords. There is a velcro strap and plastic base you can use to attach the remote to handle bars or whatever. They include two straps of different lengths and I found that if I introduced a half-twist behind the plastic base that I could attach the base to my steering wheel using the longer strap. Without the twist the velcro wouldn't stick right.
  
  If any of this sounds useful to you, I'd recommend the AirClick. If not, don't bother with it.
  
  

• Limited range, several issues

  
  By AHROSV6WJOEGY on 2006-02-24
  I paid about $12 + shipping for this at CompUSA. Net $18 or so. It's probably worth about $10 total.
  
  I get about an 8 foot line of sight range. The Griffin FAQ on this mentions two issues: RF interference with 433.92 MHz devices (common in home security systems and some phones) and battery issues. They suggest testing the range away from interference and then swapping battery.
  
  I tested away from interference and got the same results. Then I took it apart (it's not designed to be opened) and found the battery was cemented in.
  
  I called tech support and got a message they were in a meeting. I tried submitting an online message and got a 'server malfunction' error from their server.
  
  I'd recommend this device for use in automobiles and motorbikes. It would also work on a bike, but riding a bike with impaired hearing is illegal in some states (and should probably be illegal everywhere).
  
  

• Another winner for Griffin Technologies

  
  By A38AEJOCYSOE4A on 2005-05-03
  Macintosh users are familiar with the name Griffin. In their long history, they've made many peripherals and add-ons for those computers (and later, for PCs as well). Most have a massive cool factor (the PowerMate is a good example: it's just a dial and button, but it's perfectly suited to certain jobs; not only that, it's designed so well that you may be itching to get it for looks alone). The AirClick is no exception.
  
  Is your 3G iPod remote getting as frayed as mine? The cable at the iPod end pulled free of the insulation, the clip separated from the controls? Have you EVER been able to clip it to something thicker than a T-shirt? Guess what? For about the price of a new Apple remote, with that too-long wire that has to be curled up somewhere, you can get a wireless one that works seamlessly-- and with considerably more "wow" factor-- than the original. (And be honest. Isn't showing off one of the perks of having an iPod? Wouldn't you like to one-up the other people in your office who bought one after you did? And completely flabberghast those pitiful souls who remain iPodless? Sure you do.)
  
  Cool and timely as it is, that isn't the only reason to get one. The cord limits you. I know that I can only put my iPod in my breast pocket, because the remote has to clip to someplace where (a) it can be easily controlled and (b) where it won't get crushed. With the AirClick, you can carry your player anyplace-- in your backpack, in a belt pouch, under your hat, in that screwdriver pocket of carpenters' pants-- and not have to worry where to clip the remote. Because you can carry the remote anywhere else. The change pocket of jeans is a great place, or hey, how about the inside of your watchband? The clip on it is way better, too; I tried it on a winter coat and it stuck firmly to the thick wool lapel.
  
  (Oh, and if you lose the earbuds, you can make it so that no iPod material is visible to the outside world. No longer must you be mugger bait!)
  
  At home, one might set up a cheap pair of powered PC speakers near the dock, and plug them into the Airclick's headphone jack while the iPod charges. You can then control the music playback from a room or two away. (Do not expect this tiny device, one-half the size of a pack of gum, to control things from a block away. The range is sufficient for any reasonable person, though.) For use in the car or on a bike, it even comes with a handy hook-and-loop type band and a plastic holder to attach to the steering wheel, bicep, or handlebars.
  
  I'm kicking myself for getting the NaviPod, an infrared-based remote. The AirClick is $20 less and 20 times as good. It's one of the few products that has worked for me perfectly right out of the box-- literally! Griffin, you make computer fans happy. I hope you stay in business for a long time to come-- and I hope you continue to come up with products as brilliant, useful, and affordable as the AirClick.
  
  
• Another GREAT ipod toy!
  By A2YGWLJ9RVQ4QD on 2005-05-14
  This remote is exactly what I've been waiting for for the past 2yrs. RF signal works perfect for me. And for less than $30, what else can I ask for??? I've been using it in my car and works great. Now I can hide my ipod in the glove box and no cables all over the center console. The range is not great, but if used in a car, it works everywhere...including in the trunk!
  
  
• Not a great product for household use
  By ABMGIZB91P76H on 2005-05-02
  I purchased this remote / receiver combo yesterday at the Apple store. I really wanted to be able to control my iPod from another room, the deck, etc. I use my iPod mainly as a jukebox on my home stereo, and have speakers in rooms other than the one where the system is.
  
  The AirClick system sounded like a good idea. The advertising boasts "control your iPod from any room in the house!". Since it uses RF (instead of Infrared (line of sight)) control, it theoretically work through walls, cabinets, etc.
  
  Well, the unit does work pretty well if you're in the same room as the ipod / receiver. However, just 15' away in the next room, nothing. It just didn't work.
  
  Needless to say, I returned it.
  
  I do give it 2 stars, however, because it would probably be useful in the car or in an apartment / dorm room (somewhere small).
  
  
• For me, the pros far outweigh the cons
  By AVX541G64A00C on 2005-06-24
  Based on reviews, mileage clearly differs on this device, but for my usage, it works quite well. I suspect that local interference with the RF signal affects some users who find they do not get good range.
  
  My setup: One of my iPods, on which resides my music collection, is connected to my stereo line input and power with a dock connector. This is the device that I want to control remotely, from my living room couch or nearby study.
  
  Out of the box: the remote and receiver module. The receiver module has a pass-through headphone jack. The remote control has a bracket and velcro straps for different kinds of mounting or wearing. The remote can control volume (read below for one caveat), start/stop, and skip forward and back. There is a hold slider switch with an orange dot similar to the iPod itself. Also, there is a brief instruction sheet. It comes with all batteries needed installed.
  
  In my experience, the RF control is good up to about 20 feet. This means it works quite well from any location in my living room where the stereo is, and from any point in the study next door. Indeed, as I sat at my desk writing this review, I cut my tunes off to make a phone call and then back on. It's just terrific in that respect, and accomplishes what I wanted.
  
  My bedroom is about 20 feet away, and the device will work from the bedroom doorway--but not all the way to my bed. Now, if I could pump out the jams right until pillow time and then turn it off from the horizontal, I would have given this a "5." It doesn't quite make it, but what it can do is still nice and useful, and beats running into the living room every time I want to turn my music on or off!
  
  A word about the volume--when the iPod is using the dock connector for the connection to the stereo, the volume is constant and cannot be controlled from the iPod's control wheel or the Airclick. That is a hardware feature of the iPod dock. If volume control is critical, use the Airclick's pass-through earphone jack for the stereo connection. Otherwise, you would use your stereo's volume control.
  
  All in all, in my experience, a very successful device if you are using your iPod as a music input device for your home stereo. A 4 rather than a 5 because the useful range is just a few feet less than I would like.
  
  
• Great Product
  By AXTJPZ6V16FIX on 2005-07-09
  I could not be happier with this product. My only question is how they can market it so cheaply. I use my iPod mini for studying Japanese (Pimsleur course), and I constantly stop and start the playback as I listen and repeat. This product allows me to do so hands-free, both in the car and walking around. (Well, I still have to hold the remote, but it's a lot easier than holding an iPod tethered to your ears.) The response is virtually immediate, and I've tested it up to 20 feet through walls. A very cool product.
  
  
• Short distance remote.
  By AVSEAVX705IX1 on 2006-03-10
  The remote works quite well and is easy to use. BUT, I'm getting a range of 8-9 feet with no barriers, less with physical barriers. I haven't used it much because of this.
  
  
• Great Remote
  By A148P6TKU9N6ZV on 2005-07-20
  This remote works great and is great design for both home and car use. It uses RF, so it can work up to about 20 or 30 feet away through walls and floors. Also, it has 2 different size straps to secure the remote to a steering wheel or other stationary object.
  
  Great product!
  
  
• It's a remote control..
  By A2JAZKDV2ZLEX8 on 2006-03-15
  It's just a remote control. It does what's supposed to do.
  The range is good enough as well.
  I'm happy with it.
  
  
• Griffin AirClick Remote Control for iPod
  By A1YS1G4Q1R9TU9 on 2007-01-12
  The Product works great. Instead of paying 300 to install an ipod controller in my car I used the DLO ipod car charger because it is small, with the iClick Leave it insidee the armrest between the front seats and the control is all I need or under 50 dollars. The only issue with the iclick I had is it arrived with a dead batttery. For some reason I had a spare in the house added it and it has worked great for 3 months no problems.
  
  
• Absolute garbage
  By A1MIYAXSJFSJ9I on 2005-08-16
  This thing worked fine - in a distance of 2 inches to the device. And if it wassn't ridiculous i'd say it needs a line of sight.
  
  The product design is very nice. It's a pitty that it simply does't work, even after I replaced the battery.
  
  
• Excellent Product
  By A2WZAQH2A3IB8F on 2005-08-23
  I bought the AirClick for when I'm in the car and other such circumstances. It works excellent in the car. I can hide the iPod and still control it from the steering wheel. The only drawback is that I can't see what song is next, but oh well. That's what playlists are for.
  
  
• Air click - as effective as air guitar.
  By A1HRECPV2Q79BG on 2006-01-22
  At anything over 7 feet or so, this thing will just not work, even with a direct line of sight. Sadly, I'm one of the unclucky ones who paid full price when this first came out. At the current price it's still a ripoff, but I reserve the right to feel worse than you, if you still choose to buy this thing. Especially since you have the benefit of other people's experience. Save your money, buy a long stick.
  
  
• A must for the Ipod
  By A1YH8ABMYFWOZI on 2006-02-24
  Wonderful for travelling, for the car, for skiing. Whatever. Really a must for the Ipod.
  
  
• Griffin I-Click
  By A15HSMMZQVHRMI on 2007-04-07
  This remote works great. I use it on my motorcycle. The other remote
  I had was very sporadic. This remote hasn't missed a click. Great
  product.
  
  
• Warning - Doesn't work with 5th generation iPod
  By A1Q7CW3ESAG6NI on 2007-06-26
  I'm pretty unhappy that there was no mention on this on the Amazon site since it will NOT work with my iPod Video (as clearly stated in the Griffin box cover).
  
  Besides that the product looks good and reasonably sturdy.
  
  
• Great product - no complaints
  By A1P5XRPX5W3HKT on 2005-07-09
  I can use it from any room in the house. I love it.
  
  
• Good product, if it fits your car's steering wheel
  By AKK5UMUSMHE0C on 2005-09-07
  This product allows you to control your iPod from the steering wheel of your car. A side benefit is that you can conceal your iPod in your armrest, etc., which reduces the likelihood that it will be stolen.
  
  It is compatible with my clear acrylic Agent 18 case for my clickwheel 20GB iPod.
  
  The only negative is that it is hard to find a mounting location in your car that (a) still provides easy access, but (b) avoids interfering with your driving. Its placement in my MDX is less than ideal; I am always knocking it off when I turn sharply. My wife does not have this problem, however.
  
  
  
  
  
  
• Not by a long shot...
  By A3JHBDK8SCRPX7 on 2005-12-01
  I really wanted the AirClick to work! I thought it was a great idea. I stream music to my stereo wirelessly with Airport Express and I didn't want to have to walk into my study everytime I want to switch tracks. My first and SECOND AirClicks didn't work more than about 15 yards from my Mac. It didn't work at all once there was a wall between me and my computer.
  
  Here is a solution that works great! I have a Bell+Howell PowerPresenter that I've used to switch slides in PowerPoint presentations that I used to give. It is NOT line of sight but works on a radio frequency and has a GREAT range. With a little help from Quickeys X3 I got it to work with iTunes. I remapped the PageDown and PageUp commands to the iTunes equivalent of Next Song and Previous Song. This took a little bit of trial and error but now I can switch tracks from anywhere in my home--about a 1300 square foot Condo!
  
  
• Use in my car
  By A1Y1OFA3IPE5K9 on 2005-12-06
  This is the 2nd remote I've bought for my Ipod and it works sooooo much better than the Dlo (which didn't work more than an inch away from the ipod). I don't know what the range is on the Griffin b/c I've only used it in the car so far. But I've very happy with my purchase since I only need something to control my ipod hidden in the armrest.
  
  Sorry, I really don't have anything new to add but I wanted to give my vote for the Griffin AirClick Remote.
  
  
• Griffin iPod AirCLick Remote
  By A3VD8I0LO3BB6G on 2006-03-10
  easy to use, goes thru walls unlike infrared
  
  sometimes when you press a button it does not register, does not fit onto iPod when protective case is on
  
  good product all in all
  
  
• Not Dependable
  By ADIASWNEG0CJ5 on 2006-11-10
  It worked great for a short time. I had only used it about a dozen times when it started to work sporadically then a couple of days later didn't work at all. It really is crap, you might need to spend a little extra for a better one but that's the best way to go.
  
  
• Excellent Remote!!
  By A1CEY9T2M135Y7 on 2007-05-10
  Bought this for my mini, attaches to my steering wheel and works excellent! Tried it in the shop and it works from about 30ft away-no problem! Highly recommended!!
  
  
• Great product!
  By A1YBMADXBM3HRG on 2007-05-26
  Complete freedom when using iPOD with my music system. Its been more than a month using this and i love it everytime I use it. Only one slight drawback is the range of the remote control works within a room only, although the technology used is capable to use it within anywhere in a house. But that's ok, I can live with that, and the price I paid for this, cant really complain.
  
  
• Works but could do better
  By AMPBI8XD2ET89 on 2005-08-03
  The remote does not control all functions, only play/pause, fwd, back, and stop it also can turn the ipod on and off and has a hold setting. You are unable to use it to switch out of albums so if you are using it in a car you need to create some playlists before hand so that you can just skip through songs. Other than that there are no real complaints it works fine, just know before hand what you want to use it for.
  
  
• Great Purchase
  By A3FS7TAXEOYL47 on 2005-10-03
  It has been great using this remote control with my Ipod. Now I can drive and change music with one touch botton. Also in a party is very usufull to carry on the remote with you and change of song from long distance. Hope you like it like me.
  
  
• Piece of Garbage
  By A2ZPM1OIULENXG on 2005-12-12
  It didnt work sitting on the couch 6 feet away, pointing directly at it. In fact it only worked at about 2 inches away, with luck.
  
  Quite the opposite from the box's claim of "rf signal technology that travel through walls"
  
  

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