Haier's Ibiza Rhapsody PMP gets reviewed

It's been nearly a full year since we first heard about the Ibiza Rhapsody, Haier's Linux-based, WiFi-enabled PMP, and it looks like all that bake time paid off -- Crave got their hands on the $330 30GB model and found it to be well-implemented and quite versatile. The 2.5-inch PMP supports MPEG4, WMV, M4V, AVI, and H.264, and offers wireless access to Rhapsody's streaming Channels anywhere there's WiFi -- and allows users to save songs to the players' drive with one click. A2DP support, a wireless podcast directory, and support for AOL Wireless video complete the package and make for much more effective and interesting uses of integrated WiFi and Bluetooth than in some other media devices we've seen. Too bad that squarish touchpad controller still brings the ugly with a vengeance. No word on when Haier will be shipping these out in bulk, but interested parties can hit up Amazon for pre-orders.

[Thanks, KC Kim]

[Rob @ Nov 19th 2007 2:30PM]

This is one ugly looking thing. This is the type of thing that I'd buy, plug it into my car stereo, and throw in the glove compartment. Oh, and not tell anyone where the music files are coming from. Too embarrassed to show it to them.

All silliness aside, couldn't this company hire someone to come up with a better design. Aesthetics are important too.

[Satish @ Nov 19th 2007 2:36PM]

UGLY

[strider_mt2k @ Nov 19th 2007 3:23PM]

Seconded.

It looks like the back of the faceplate.

[BrianB @ Nov 19th 2007 2:46PM]

We have our review unit, and it's a dream gadget for an Internet Radio fan. I am a user of pandora and rhapsody on my work computer and have become addicted to them. I think this is a good one from Haier and AOL and reviewers should cease from comparing it to the iPod. Form factor is similar but this one plays Internet radio besides your regular stored music. Big difference. My unit's graphic interface keeps freezing. It worked fine yesterday but I think I overheated it last night, and since its a review unit I didn't take care to drain the device and full charge it overnight, although I'm thinking its probably the processor. I'm an amateur. Will come out with a decent video walk-through shorty, if we're lucky.

[telepheedian @ Nov 19th 2007 2:46PM]

If they put the firmware of this device onto the Zune, you would have the only PMP anybody would ever need. The interface looks like it would work well on the Zune pad, and this firmware would make the Zune's wifi useful.

[insertAlias @ Nov 19th 2007 2:49PM]

I'm one who would generally tell you I couldn't care less about the way my computer and it's accessories look. If it gets the job done and done well, who cares what it looks like, right?

This device changed my mind, at least about PMPs. They are too highly visible in your daily life, and there are too many attractive (and well speced) models out there to consider something like this. My pc can be a large, ugly black box for all I care, but my mp3 player should have at least a modicum of good design.

[insertAlias @ Nov 19th 2007 2:53PM]

And to make it worse, this thing has some really great features.

But sadly, that's like dating a really ugly girl. No mater how much you tell your friends that she has a really great personality, and no matter how much you love her for it, you're still a little embarrassed to be seen out with her in public. (Ok, I'm done being shallow and sexist)

[BrianB @ Nov 19th 2007 3:04PM]

On its look, it's just a little masculine. iPod Nano 3G looks gay.

[Big Sam @ Nov 19th 2007 2:53PM]

It may be ugly, but any mp3 player I buy from now on must have Bluetooth. Thankfully the (much prettier) Samsung P2 has made me quite happy.

[jakep_82 @ Nov 19th 2007 3:29PM]

I don't think it looks all that bad. And it's all about features for me which this has in spades. I've been waiting for a hard drive player (in other words more than 16GB) with bluetooth and wifi. I think this is the first one on the market. I love the idea of being able to sync my podcasts with wifi and then listen with my bluetooth headphones.

[Joe @ Nov 19th 2007 3:43PM]

does it have a little mini built-in fridge also?

[Constable Odo @ Nov 19th 2007 3:45PM]

Jeez! That company is willing to try build anything for sale. Build it cheap and they will come. First start with air-conditioners, refrigerators, TVs and now PMPs. It looks pretty good with decent specs. Can't knock it till you try it. China still has a way to go, but they'll get there in five or ten years and be fairly respectable.

[Deuz Augustine @ Nov 19th 2007 3:45PM]

It costs HOW much?

[bob e @ Nov 19th 2007 3:45PM]

$330 is too much for the average consumer to spend IMO on a device such as this. This is especially true when you can buy a 30GB Zune for $99 or less.

The square pad is unusual but why do they really need 4 control buttons?

[sam @ Nov 19th 2007 5:25PM]

you guys shoudl check out the link with shots from more angles. it actually doesn't look too bad. the black one actually looks good. (there aren't photos of the other colors close up)
i guess its bad PR on their part for releasing photos that make it look so fugly.

[Reader @ Nov 19th 2007 6:07PM]

Who the fuck said okay to that design??? A square with a D-pad and screen would have beat that out on looks.

I've been thinking lately of how amazing it would be if Google put out a version of Android for MP3 players. Could have an MP3 player that supported every format that ever exists or will come to.

[shaliron @ Nov 20th 2007 12:13AM]

True that this 'thing' is butt ugly. It looks like a cheap Chinese knock off of the iPod - with different controls of course.

[crow610 @ Nov 20th 2007 7:15PM]

This must be ugly electronic week
First the Kindle(Amazon e-book reader) then this.
Nowdays it's not enough to have a product that does what it's supposed to do, it should also look good.

[Magdiel @ Dec 26th 2007 10:48PM]

it's ugly, i'll give ppl that. but it looks like an amazing player. if ppl weren't so worried about how it looks and looked at the features, then ppl would c that is a really good player with good capacity, amazing wireless features and support. now its ugly but i think that in the near future, its second generation will be amazing.

[wootman @ Jan 28th 2008 1:40PM]

am i the only one who thinks the only ugly part is the buttons, which could be spray painted?

[Dave Clark @ Feb 5th 2008 8:42AM]

Re BrianB:

"We have our review unit, and it's a dream gadget for an Internet Radio fan. I am a user of pandora and rhapsody on my work computer and have become addicted to them."

What Internet Radio streams can this thing play? Just Rhapsody, or others?

[trevor @ Feb 5th 2008 10:05PM]

I received an Ibiza for Christmas and love it's looks, features and ease of use! I don't know if anyone commenting on here has actually seen it and is not just looking at the pictures, but it looks alot better live, very sleek and it has a great suede feel sleeve in different colors. I love the radio and video features and the fact that it's wireless, I can download music straight from the Rhapsody site without connecting to a PC or laptop. It has Bluetooth as well so I bought a bluetooth headset that works with my phone so I can listen to music and it mutes the Ibiza when I get a call. I won't ever use my Ipod again, Rhapsody is so much better and the Ibiza is a better product with better features, IMO. I've gotten nothing but positive compliments about the look and my friends love it even more when I show them what it can do!