IGN CES Coverage - More iRiver 2004 Product Pics

[Odie]

Enjoy:

http://gear.ign.com/articles/462/462051p1.html

- Odie

[Faustian Bargain]

It will begin shipping in about two weeks for $479.99.

well. there it is. i assume this is more-or-less reliable information...?

[Odie]

I guess so. It's a shame they didn't have any info about the iHP-300 though

- Odie

[coreman]

The real shame is last week they had the iHP-300 on display in Korea with color LCD and new nav buttons and this week at the largest show in the world, they display the iHP-140 which has identical outline as -120 and presumably the same lousy firmware.

Shows me the company may be schizophrenic or the -300 is a long way away from production, which further confuses me as to the purpose for displaying it in the first place. Normally Asian shows showcase products that are due to be released in the "near future", which usually means April (start of fiscal year for most companies) when the show is in January.

The -140 can easily be put on sale now simply by adding to it's product list but the -300 is the unit that they should be exhibiting at conventions like CES. The -140 adds nothing more than a larger hard drive so why are they showcasing it when they have the -300 model?

If I were shopping for a player, iRiver would be the last place I would go since it really appears they don't know which they want to go either.

[Trix]

$479.99 = £261.361

hmm does this mean that the 140 will be around £300 in the UK??..or do you reckon it wil still be the 311+vat as first suggested?

[Odie]

It really depends on how iRiver decide to market the ihp-140.

In the past, the general rule was that you take the average US price in dollars, remove the dollar sign, and stick a pound sign in front of it

EG, when the ihp-120 was released, I think a few retailers had it for $350 (although the recommended price from iRiver was higher), at that time the retail price in the UK was 350 pounds, not exactly fair, considering the only difference should be VAT (17.5%) and maybe import tax (3 or 4%)

The ihp-120's price was still hovering around the 345 GBP mark (before discounts) from most retailers. Amazon managed to bypass the local distribution channel to get their pricing, and it seems that only now have some other retailers been able to match it. (AdvancedMP3Players)

- Odie

[Zeni]

Originally Posted by coreman

The real shame is last week they had the iHP-300 on display in Korea with color LCD and new nav buttons and this week at the largest show in the world, they display the iHP-140 which has identical outline as -120 and presumably the same lousy firmware.

Shows me the company may be schizophrenic or the -300 is a long way away from production, which further confuses me as to the purpose for displaying it in the first place. Normally Asian shows showcase products that are due to be released in the "near future", which usually means April (start of fiscal year for most companies) when the show is in January.

The -140 can easily be put on sale now simply by adding to it's product list but the -300 is the unit that they should be exhibiting at conventions like CES. The -140 adds nothing more than a larger hard drive so why are they showcasing it when they have the -300 model?

If I were shopping for a player, iRiver would be the last place I would go since it really appears they don't know which they want to go either.

Well it was just generally outlined as "iRiver's 2004 Products" so it may not be out till 3rd or 4th Quarter, I've never once seen a company bring out products in Asia, and then have the exact same line, in it's entirety, at a North American convention.

[coreman]

Friendly wager, I'll bet the iHP-300 configuration (flat nav buttons, color LCD) goes on sale by April 1st (I think in Asia initially) and the iHP-140/120 (joystick configuration, but may still have monochrome display) is off the market by June 1st...

Are we on???

[SRGilbert]

$479 huh? Well, I'm certainly glad I didn't wait for it then. I'm perfectly happy with the $352 I paid for my 120.

[mazy]

this is availability according to czech distributor:

iFP-700
128, 256, 512, 1024 MB
march

iFP-800
128, 256, 512, 1024 MB
march

iFP-900
256, 512, 1024 MB
march

iFP-1000
128, 256, 512 MB
march

iFP-1100
128, 256, 512 MB
may

iMP-450
-
january

iMP-700
-
january

iMP-900
-
march

iMP-1000
-
april

iMP-1100
-
april

iHP-140
40 GB
january

iGP-100
1,5 GB
january

iHP-300
20, 40 GB
april

PMC-100
20, 40 GB
june

PMP-100
20, 40 GB
april

[Tang]

Exclusive info:
/!\ 4 new models dimensions /!\

• iFP-800: 88.3 x 36.1 x 27.3 mm; LCD (usual): 32.6 x 19.6 mm
• iMP-1100: 145 x 133 x 25 mm; LCD: 45.2 x 37.4 mm
• iHP-300: 103.1 x 62 x 22 mm; LCD: 46.6 x 38.6 mm
• PMP-100: 139 x 84 x 33.3 mm ; LCD: 81 x 62 mm

Sources:
>>>This iRiver Korea page<<<
Upload theZIP files teht contains the "technic design pics" by clicking on the "DOWN" blue buttons:


Some notices:
The PMP was told that is thickness was 13.3 mm but it's an error.. According to the scale 33.3 mm is more to be true....
The pics shows that the PMP have a mic..

About the iHP300 i've noticed the remote prot seems a lot to our iHP 1xx one so therewill very probably be a remote with LCD display...

Bye

[jeff]

I've posted a couple of the pics from the korea site on the front page of the website MISTICRIVER

Two shots of the iHP-300 and two of the PMP-100

The iHP-300 looks sweet and not much bigger than the iHP-140!

[Odie]

I agree, it looks really nice.

I'm still slightly concerned as to why iRiver have suddenly made the change away from the LCD remotes, I'm pretty sure it's not just a cost issue. It seems a lot more people have been mentioning/noticing the ticking issue lately.

I find it really surprising how my 4 year old MiniDisc remote doesn't have this problem.

- Odie

[Tang]

Originally Posted by Odie

I agree, it looks really nice.

I'm still slightly concerned as to why iRiver have suddenly made the change away from the LCD remotes, I'm pretty sure it's not just a cost issue. It seems a lot more people have been mentioning/noticing the ticking issue lately.

I find it really surprising how my 4 year old MiniDisc remote doesn't have this problem.

- Odie

Hi Odie (and Jeff),
The ticking issue only concern the HD players... Not only iHP: the Archos JBM20 is also affected...
This matter seems not have solution... I think thatt's why other Brand are delaying before releasing their LCD remote: Rio with the Karma, ISM/H&B with the HD X-Key 500. (these twice model have a remote port identicall to other player which remote has LCD as i've read)

iRiver seems to solve the matter by releasing two version of their pHD player: normal one with LCD and type "D" with a non LCD remote...
Just look the Korean website: the iHP120 and the iHP120D are sold at the SAME price...

So it's not a matter of cost but only a customer policy... (audiophile can choose iHP-1xxD and others would prefer iHP1xx with LCD on remote althought this generate ticking)...

[Tang]

Originally Posted by jeff

I've posted a couple of the pics from the korea site on the front page of the website MISTICRIVER

Two shots of the iHP-300 and two of the PMP-100

The iHP-300 looks sweet and not much bigger than the iHP-140!

Hi Jeff,
too kind to quote my name in your news...
Regards,

Tang

[Odie]

Tang, it was my understanding that iRiver released the ihp-120 'D' without an LCD remote or bundled headphones to reduce the price, at least that's what they said in their press release on the Korean site.

Either way, I would be happy if they offered to replace my remote with a non-LCD one, but I have a feeling that I'm going to have to pay (and wait for it's release as an official accessory release) for it

Also, they have not really publicly addressed the issue, saying that it is a problem, and that they can't fix it.

- Odie

[Tang]

Originally Posted by Odie

Tang, it was my understanding that iRiver released the ihp-120 'D' without an LCD remote or bundled headphones to reduce the price, at least that's what they said in their press release on the Korean site.

Either way, I would be happy if they offered to replace my remote with a non-LCD one, but I have a feeling that I'm going to have to pay (and wait for it's release as an official accessory release) for it

Also, they have not really publicly addressed the issue, saying that it is a problem, and that they can't fix it.

- Odie

very starnge for the iHP120D cost since i've read on iRiver Korea that the iHP120D and standard has the same price...
I'll try to retrieve my source...
Bye.