Onkyo Corp. on Friday introduced a remote interactive (RI) iPod dock that interfaces with the company’s line of receivers and audio-video systems. It recharges the MP3 player in addition to offering a remote control for piping the iPod’s music through the audio system — Onkyo noted that “the dock also offers additional operability,” but did not elaborate on specifics, saying that such information “will be announced in due course.” Pricing was also not announced and a product page is not yet available on the company’s Web site, but Onkyo did say that it will ship the RI iPod dock in the U.S., Europe, Asia and Japan in mid-2005.
Most of the company’s products sold during the past decade feature built-in RI ability, which integrates the start-up of separate components through one remote control. The RI Direct Change feature automatically switches input to the receiver or audio system’s amplifier during playback. Compatible Onkyo audio-video systems require both an RI remote control and an external input, such as a tape terminal.