Philips Fidelio Docking Speaker iPod, iPhone and iPad, DS3510 Review

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(More customer reviews)When this product arrived, I tossed the manual aside and figured it should be simple enough to setup:
1. I pulled the unit out of the box and plugged it in
2. I plugged my phone into the connector on the unit
3. My iPhone indicated that I needed a new App to be able to use the unit. The nice part here was that it asked me if I wanted to go get it and took me right to the App in the App Store. I downloaded the (free) Fidelio app, launched it, and began playing music from my iTunes library with a single tap.
One thing that struck me as odd is that the power, volume, and bluetooth lights on the unit are all amber. In my experience, that color means 'standby,' and I would expect green lights. Maybe that's just my experience, but I still keep turning the thing off by mistake.
For the record, the unit does work with other applications on the iPhone -- I used Last.FM, Pandora and the built-in iPod app without any problems -- the Fidelio app has a bass booster and various equalizers that can be selected. The Fidelio app also integrates with Twitter and Facebook (I guess it can tell your friends what you're listening to?), but I don't think people care that about the details of my life to that degree, so I didn't try that. There is a clock with a 5-day forecast display and I assume it can be used as a clock-radio replacement. I've already got one of those, so, not my use case.
The unit will charge your docked iPhone/iPad/iPod while playing music, and it comes with a USB cable to attach it to your computer and allow synchronization of the iPhone/iPad/iPod while docked as well. It can be used as a speaker for any device that has the standard 3.5mm headphone-style jack by using the enclosed male/male headphone cable. The nicest feature, IMO, is the bluetooth streaming. I can push music to the unit from my iPhone without connecting any cables -- simply discover/pair the unit like any bluetooth headset and select it as the audio output from your music player app. The Fidelio app will automatically select the DS3510 as its target if it finds one connected.
All that without reading the manual. I'd say that is pretty intuitive. It turns out that the manual is a big poster with pictures indicating how to set the thing up, so there is an expectation that it will be simple. Thumbs up.
For portability, 4 x AA batteries can be put into the dock and it supposedly lasts around 8 hours on a fresh set.

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Go wireless with Bluetooth streaming and get more out of your music, gaming and video experience now. Connect and sync your iPod/iPhone/iPad with your computer via USB. Plug in for power, or use batteries.

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