Do you really need an alarm clock that tweets?

iHome’s new iA5 is billed as an “app-enhanced” alarm clock. In plain English, that means you can augment this standalone clock and speaker dock by downloading the free iHome+Sleep app for your iPhone or iPod touch to unlock additional functionality.

As iPod-compatible alarm clocks go, the iA5 works just fine. A large-ish display on the left shows the time in easy-to-read numbers, and the dock charges your device overnight--which is crucial, as anyone with an aging iPhone (meaning, more than six months old) knows. The hardware features basic controls and an embedded alarm that will go off even if there’s no iPhone or iPod touch docked. You can also use the iA5 as a speaker for your iPod--the sound quality is fine for casual listening, and the flexible sleep settings can let you drift off to your favorite tunes.

Which brings us to the real star of the show--the software. The companion app can perform all sorts of feats: updating your Twitter or Facebook status when you wake up or go to sleep, tracking how much time you’re spending sleeping, and logging your favorite tracks to wake up to. Personally, I can’t imagine a better way to piss off my Twitter and Facebook friends than pinging them every time I go to bed, but the option’s there if you want it.

You can also build custom alarms, which iHome calls “Sleep Cards.” A Sleep Card can either be programmed for a specific alarm schedule (every weekday at 6:15 a.m., for example) or for Naps, which are essentially alarms set for a predetermined number of minutes after you activate them. The only catch is that in order to use your Sleep Cards, your iPhone has to be docked in the iA5. Leave your phone in the living room when you go to bed Sunday night, and you’re going to be late for work on Monday. In our tests, the app-based alarms worked fine, but the app itself was slightly buggy and occasionally froze--which can be frustrating when you’re trying to quickly check your alarms before turning in for the night.

The iA5 adds some new twists to the venerable alarm clock. We like the customizable alarms offered by the companion app, and the sleep-stats tracking is a great reminder that we should strive for more shut-eye. Twitter and Facebook integration works, but we really have to wonder if anyone cares.

iA5
COMPANY: iHome
CONTACT: www.ihomeaudio.com
PRICE: $99.99
REQUIREMENTS: iPod or iPhone with Dock Connector
Supports multiple, highly customizable alarms. Nap settings are more convenient than setting and resetting your regular alarm. Tracks sleep habits. Integrates with social networks.
There’s only a single on-board alarm for times when your iPhone isn’t present. Companion app was occasionally buggy and prone to freezing. Snooze and On/Off button placement is weird, especially with an iPhone docked. Your Twitter followers don’t care that you just woke up.