Go Big Screen with the DLO HomeDock Deluxe

The forthcoming Apple TV might be Cupertino's solution to digital video, but DLO is betting people will still want to hook their iPods up to their living room gear.

Digital Lifestyle Outfitters—a.k.a. DLO—have announced their HomeDock Deluxe for iPod, the second generation of their A/V dock for Apple’s portable media players designed to let users pump their iPod audio and video to their home music and televisions systems.

“Instead of linking back to your computer, HomeDock Deluxe accesses the files stored right on your iPod—so you can easily take it with you and reconnect to any TV or stereo system,” said DLO Creative Director Andrew Green.

The HomeDock Deluxe can be used to connect any click wheel-equipped iPod to home television or stereo systems. The unit features stereo analog audio output along with composite and S-Video output to connecting to TVs or AV receivers; in addition to an iPod dock, an aux line input enables users to connect other media players or audio sources. The system is compatible with a wide range of iPods, including iPod minis, 4G iPods with click wheels, 5G iPods, and iPod nanos (older iPods and iPod shuffles aren’t supported). An 18-function remote control enables users to control iPod-based media from the coach or across the room.

The HomeDock Deluxe also features a revamped onscreen interface with twelve customizable themes and screen savers, plus support for Spanish and Chinese. The HomeDock Deluxe even supports album art included in users music libraries, so playing music off the iPod displays album art and track information on a television screen. A “My JukeBox” features enables users to built playlists on the fly without having to define them first via Apple’s iTunes software.

“Music fans are going to love having the cover art right there on the big screen,” Green said. “It’s just one more way that DLO is making the iPod a complete lifestyle experience.”

The DLO HomeDock Deluxe should be available in March 2007 at a suggested retail price of $149.99; pre-orders are available now.