iRiver X20: Nano Killer?
iRiver doesn’t exactly have an impeccable track record, consistently churning out mediocre devices with equally mediocre feature sets. While the new X20 is not revolutionary by any means, it does signal a bright spot in the company’s quest for greater market dominance. Clearly aimed at the Nano-carrying set, the X20 comes in 2, 4, and 8 GB flavors. Each model features a bright 2.2 inch QVGA color screen. With support for MP3, WMA, and OGG file types, the mini-River certainly trumps the iPod in file compatibility. Other specs include an SD expansion slot, FM tuner, and support for video playback from WMV and MP4 files. Currently set to be released in Japan next week, there’s no word on stateside availability or pricing, but if iRiver does decide to bring this one our way, it might prove an interesting and appealing alternative.
[Via mobilemag]
I’m sorry, I must have missed it. Why is this an iPod alternative?
Just in case the blogosphere hasn’t been paying attention, the reason nothing competes with iPod has nothing to do with hardware. iPods WORK. They don’t have massive problems downloading songs, or have all the music delete itself because you forgot to plug your device into your computer for 3 weeks. There are software malignancies that come from nowhere, nowhere being the deep chasm of MS “POSForSure” DRM idea. Even MS has given up on POS4Sure.
So I”m sorry, why would 80% of the market think an iRiver is a challenger? Did iRiver just come out with a $6 per month mobile subscription service that actually WORKS?
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Is this the same Ipod that has bad sound, dies unexpectedly and locks you into their DRM infested service and software? No thanks, I will pass on it. Open your eyes people, its just a clickwheel.
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I think that the iPod just holds the market by being revolutionary in the first place. It doesn’t matter how feature packed something is it won’t beat the iPod for along time because the iPod was the first of its kind, it is recognized as a reliable product by one of the world’s leaders in technology.
It is a big shame that Apple doesn’t push the technology on their iPod’s. The iPod video is nowhere near as good as the Creative Zen Vision:M, the iPod Nano is nowhere near as good as Creative Zen V Plus, Sansa e200, iRiver X20, and the iPod Shuffle is nowhere near as good as any of the flash based players at the low end of the market.
Technology experts know that iPod’s don’t reach the same expectations as other products on the market but consumers don’t. I think another problem is that the other manufactures don’t advertise their products as well as Apple do and I don’t think anything will change until we start seeing some recognizable advertising similar to the iPod.
In conclusion, I disagree with the term iPod Killer because iPod’s market share is so vast that it would take a few years & a miracle to knock them off the top spot.
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wow..itz so cool..tis gadget reali luks cool on any1..u rockz!
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i m so gonna get one..
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i got one of these and they are really cool. plays divx video files too.
had no problems with it and would highly recommend it.
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