iriver takes the leash off new black Hello Kitty PMP

iriver's newest dedicated PMP is something to behold. A shiny black (with gold accents!) version of its no doubt beloved Hello Kitty player, this newest addition is all about its looks. The little player comes in 2GB and 4GB storage varieties, comes with a USB cable, ear buds, and a cute little lanyard for attaching it to things like your beltloop. The cases they make for the Hello Kitty PMP -- such as the red devil horns -- essentially sell themselves. They're going on sale just in time for the holidays and the new year -- but this one's a Japan-only release for the time being. It'll run you ¥7,980 (about $90) to grab one. There's one more shot of this glorious product after the break!

[Slutty McNugget Posted Dec 7th 2009 7:33PM]

So what exactly is it that made Hello Kitty popular?

[xxxsam Posted Dec 7th 2009 7:47PM]

@Slutty McNugget Um... she's cute?

Nice character design + endless marketing = profit.

Incidentally this player looks really stylish - kind of a 'lacquer' theme going on there. I think a pink one remains more appropriate, though :)

[HardToBelieve Posted Dec 8th 2009 10:29AM]

@Slutty McNugget

The same thing that made the Jonas Brothers popular. All the men were like ".....Um, No." and that got them popular.

[amuro98 Posted Dec 8th 2009 12:03PM]

@Slutty McNugget

Hello Kitty is popular for one simple reason: CUTE.

Do not underestimate the marketing power of CUTE.

Even Japanese men cannot resist a product that's been cute-ified.

[jawxx Posted Dec 7th 2009 7:33PM]

I was going to ask "why the heck are you guys highlighting this" but then when I thought about it, it is about the coolest Hello Kitty thing I've ever seen.

[werty1432k Posted Dec 7th 2009 7:37PM]

Hello Kitty needs to say goodbye

[TomTom2010 Posted Dec 7th 2009 7:48PM]

You mean like: F.O. Kitty!!!

[va jj Posted Dec 7th 2009 7:37PM]

didnt know HELLO KITTY is black.

[New Reformation Posted Dec 7th 2009 7:38PM]

@va jj

She normally wears a LOT of makeup...

[SmoothMarx Posted Dec 9th 2009 7:22PM]

@New Reformation


Afro Kitty.

[rusty Posted Dec 7th 2009 7:39PM]

i like the headphones, not so much the mp3 player.

[Guybrush Threepwood Posted Dec 7th 2009 7:46PM]

Crapgadget?

[mikmik111 Posted Dec 7th 2009 7:47PM]

OH THE HUMANITY!

[Maeztro Posted Dec 7th 2009 7:49PM]

I'll be over here doing black guy stuff...

[yerand Posted Dec 7th 2009 8:42PM]

IHEARTHELLOKITTY

ok, seriously guys, please dont look up that song.

[technognu Posted Dec 8th 2009 8:17AM]

@yerand

damn i looked it up and now im convinced we have to implode the world, blood on the dance floor have doomed the human race, we must act now this is even bigger than the climate threat(www.cop15.net), the human race *will* get destroyed as soon as we make first contact because of this atrocity

[John Doe Posted Dec 7th 2009 8:43PM]

Looks like Hello Kitty Gimp Edition. *shudders*

[John Doe Posted Dec 7th 2009 8:44PM]

Looks like Hello Kitty Gimp Edition. *shudders*

[John Doe Posted Dec 7th 2009 8:46PM]

@John Doe Da fuck?!??! Great. New site. Same crap comment system.

[Akhen Posted Dec 7th 2009 8:47PM]

This is the perfect gadget for someone who has exhausted traditional avenues of badassery, and is approaching diminishing returns bordering on toolbagness. Attach it to a gold chain instead of lanyard, scrap the earphones and walk down the street. Now you're a mentally unstable badass!

[lfcobra Posted Dec 7th 2009 8:49PM]

@va jj

actually the makers of hello kitty do make a "black hello kitty" called Choco Cat.

[Samurai Jack Posted Dec 7th 2009 9:53PM]

This is cool, yes. But it is not the coolest Hello Kitty product ever. That award goes to this:

http://img267.imageshack.us/img267/6205/kittyrifleci5.jpg

[Greenlantern20x6 Posted Dec 7th 2009 11:51PM]

At first I thought: "What an atrocity" Then I thought: "Those headphones look better than the ones that came with my $400 Ipod Touch..."

[questionexclamation Posted Dec 8th 2009 12:33AM]

Hey engadget! There are actually asian people reading your blog so keep covering this stuff I think its awesome. I'd hecka buy that even if i'm a guy. It'll make a great gift. It might not perform like a zune or ipod touch but it looks nice.

[CoffeeCoffee Posted Dec 8th 2009 2:40AM]

That’s gotta be a KIRF!

[dystroglycan Posted Dec 8th 2009 3:22AM]

black hello kitty iriver + room full of asian girls = 'axe' situation, or just pointing and squealing...thats all they ever do

[3Bit Posted Dec 8th 2009 5:30AM]

The PMP is cute, but I would rather see a Chi's SweetHome player!!

[HardToBelieve Posted Dec 8th 2009 10:26AM]

Please keep this out of my beautiful United States of America.

[BrownSound Posted Jan 22nd 2010 12:52AM]

screw that I want one