iriver's black 4GB Clix ventures beyond the mythic

We're still a bit in the dark as to when exactly iriver is going to bust this thing out in retail, or for how much, but they've at least confirmed a 4GB refresh for their imminently lovable iriver Clix player, along with a stylish black version to make hanging out with those smarmy iPod kids a bit less of a struggle.

[Thanks, Owen]

[z @ Oct 20th 2006 11:42AM]

This might not be the iPod killer, but, even if not competing in the same capacity, could be a zune killer... It looks good, seems to boast good functionality, nice screen, decent capacity, ... probably less expensive.

[disciple83 @ Oct 20th 2006 11:45AM]

I am fairly certain I have only ever seen the word "smarmy" on this website, and it has been used in 11 different posts thus far. I would say 'smug' would suffice, but I suppose it really doesn't, does it? Thank you for expanding my vocabulary, Engadget, my percentage of four-letter words is diminishing and I very much appreciate it.

[LittleJoe @ Oct 20th 2006 12:02PM]

While we're at it:

smarmy
Pronunciation: 'sm�r-mE'
Function: adjective
Inflected Form(s): smarm�i�er; -est
Etymology: smarm to gush, slobber
1 : revealing or marked by a smug, ingratiating, or false earnestness
2 : of low sleazy taste or quality
- smarm�i�ly - adverb
- smarm�i�ness - noun

_______
The only way any of these "iPod killers" could truly be an iPod killer is if it were both: a) good looking and b) cheaper than the iPod. Now Im no iPod fan boy but I have yet to see a device that meets those "iPod killer" standards.

[Mrfreezie @ Oct 20th 2006 12:17PM]

That's true, I have yet to see a TRUE iPod killer. If a company really wanted to do it, I would think they might be able to do it. But they would have to make it cheaper, better features, better looking, good press, and a good iTunes like service.

By the way, isn't it "iRiver"? Note the capital R.

[Jason @ Oct 20th 2006 12:36PM]

I saw the white clix recently and was really impressed. The FM radio and video {although 15fps} are great features, and I prefer drag and drop to iTunes sync.

if only it had a microSD slot and bluetooth stereo audio...

[Yami @ Oct 20th 2006 12:37PM]

iriver changed their name/logo around a year or two back. I stil love my 20GB H10, but this looks mighty fine.

[akijikan @ Oct 20th 2006 12:37PM]

they are rather swarmy, aren't they?

[Rod @ Oct 20th 2006 12:49PM]

smarm�y (sm�r�m"), adj., smarm�i�er, smarm�i�est.
excessively or unctuously flattering, ingratiating, servile, etc.: the emcee with the smarmy welcome.
[1905�10; smarm, var. of dial. smalm to smear, make slick (< ?) + -Y1]
�smarm�i�ly, adv.

[rod @ Oct 20th 2006 12:54PM]

Smarmy, a. (and n.)
colloq.

A. adj. a. Smooth and sleek. b. Ingratiating, obsequious; smug, unctuous.
1909 C. Hamilton Plain Brown i. 4 A tall, slight, smarmy-headed man. 1924 �L. Brock� Deductions Col. Gore iv. 51 Don't you be taken in by that smarmy swine. 1928 K. Clark Gothic Revival ix. 236 If he [sc. Gilbert Scott] saved a few cathedrals from ruins, we must, I suppose, look more kindly on their smalmy surfaces. 1929 St. J. Ervine First Mrs. Fraser ii. 49 Janet. But, Ninian dear, you shouldn't have said anything. Ninian. He was looking so smarmy and self-satisfied that I had to. 1930 London Mercury Aug. 380 Our forefathers rejected �smarmy� overtures with �Fair words butter no parsnips�. 1955 H. Spring These Lovers fled Away 133 Uriah Heep's sort of smarmy humbleness. 1962 S. Raven Close of Play i. vi. 77 He's a smarmy, ingratiating swine. 1976 J. B. Hilton Gamekeeper's Gallows viii. 66 She used to+tell her how grateful she was. Not smarmy, like; genuine. 1979 R. Jaffe Class Reunion i. ix. 98 He always treated her as if she were a little bit better than he was; an attitude that was smarmy in other men.

B. absol. as n. A smarmy person. rare.
1957 T. Gunn Sense of Movement 22 You understand+the speculative man or passionate You know the smarmies, but side-step the grease.

Hence "smarmily adv.; "smarminess.
1934 H. Nicolson Let. 17 Nov. (1966) 189 There is something about the smarminess of Americans which makes me see red. 1958 �A. Bridge� Portuguese Escape 184 The art of making himself agreeable in his current surroundings, whatever they were; but+he rather over~did it+�smarminess� described his conversation with painful accuracy. 1968 J. Porter Dover goes to Pott i. 15 Dover, sycophant and snob that he was, smarmily agreed. 1974 �D. Kyle� Raft of Swords ii. xii. 129 With deliberate smarminess, Gawthorpe thanked him. 1982 Sunday Express 30 May 6/8 It is smarmily hypocritical.

[Chuin @ Oct 20th 2006 1:00PM]

I love my 2gb Clix. Sound is amazing, easy to use and fits in the palm of your hand. Highly recommended!

[A B L @ Oct 20th 2006 1:54PM]

while we are on the subject of words, "imminently" means "very soon" while the word you were looking for is "eminently", which means "very".

Jus' nitpickin'.

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/imminently
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/eminently

[PT Cruiser @ Oct 20th 2006 4:20PM]

I really like this thing, having tried it out for a while at Best Buy. The interface is intuitive, and comes as close to competing with the iPod interface as anything else has come. If they would up the capacity big time (30GB+) in order to compete with the iPod, I'd be absolutely interested in buying one. And that straight black model is extremely sexy.

[tekdroid @ Oct 20th 2006 4:22PM]

Mrfreezie @ Oct 20th 2006 12:17PM

That's true, I have yet to see a TRUE iPod killer. If a company really wanted to do it, I would think they might be able to do it. But they would have to make it cheaper, better features, better looking, good press, and a good iTunes like service.
-------
There are better, cheaper players. Some with native drag-n-drop and not tied to iTunes that can actually play music (in better codecs) that has been natively drag-n-dropped in the OS on virtually any computer (and upload tracks to any computer, which Apple doesn't let you do without third-party software).

But if you like to be tied to software having to be installed on each machine to get your music on your device, there is nothing comparable, really ;)

As for looks...well, they are subjective.

Regarding this iRiver, how long will it take to put a standard SD slot on these things? All I can think of is royalties (? but I'm not sure SD even commands royalties) and slightly higher costs for a physical slot preventing manufacturers from doing this. But it would:

1) simplify inventories
2) cancel the need for redesigned internals
3) let customers take advantage of the latest price drops for flash (and choose the capacity they can afford).
4) allow easy swaps with other cards for new music without erasing stuff
5) use SD cards from other devices

I must be missing something...

[Cristobal Negrete @ Oct 24th 2006 1:23PM]

So when is iRiver going to release a 20gb+ version of these things? They got the size/shape/interface right with the first release of this thing, it's about time they step up to fight it out with big players.

[Justin Winters @ Nov 11th 2006 3:47PM]

From what i have heard this player is going to be shipped Nov. 20th and retailing for $199... I am going to be snatching a few of these up for this holiday season.