CES 2008: ibiza Rhapsody a 'celestial jukebox'

" A few select reviewers got an early hand on the Ibiza Rhapsody player from Haier, but CES was my first chance and I walked away quite impressed, and wondering again why Microsoft hadn't done this much--or more--with the 2nd generation Zune player.

But the big questions in my mind were (1) how easy is it to connect to a public Wi-Fi spot and (2) once connected, how easy is the process of streaming and downloading songs? At the CES booth, the Ibiza passed both tests quite well.

I also discovered that the underlying software was developed not by Haier, but by Varia Mobile, a Seattle-based company specializing in Linux-based mobile apps. Kudos to them and RealNetworks for coming up with a workable celestial jukebox." http://blogs.cnet.com/8301-13526_1-9843369-27.html

ibiza Rhapsody named to Yahoo! Top 10 Gadget list

"Ibiza Rhapsody: There's been a lot of buzz about Wi-Fi MP3 players this year, what with the new iPod Touch and the updated Zunes, but here's a no-name player that beats both those heavyweights at the wireless game. The Ibiza Rhapsody syncs with your Rhapsody music account over Wi-F, finds and updates your podcasts, plays MPEG-4, WMV, and H.264 video files, and even surfs the web-no PC syncing required."

http://tech.yahoo.com/blogs/patterson/9889;_ylt=A0LEVFTLaGhHEdoAEAOOL5A5

Wireless wall of sound

"You could buy a budget MP3 player with a 1,000-song capacity for about $80, and with some luck, your friends won't notice that it's not an iPod Nano. So why would you want to pay $230 for an Ibiza Rhapsody?
It's simple: To be ahead of the game. Or maybe just to stay on the bleeding edge. .

Nevertheless, I think the public will inevitably shift from collecting copies of individual songs to buying access to the whole catalog. That's because of devices like the Ibiza Rhapsody, which show what it means to be able to hear anything, anywhere, anytime."

http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/la-oew-healey26nov26,0,5939751.story?coll=la-opinion-center

cooler than the iPod classic, does a heck of a lot more than latest Zunes

"We're not crazy about the name, but ibiza Rhapsody certainly makes sense. That's because, just like the Mediterranean island that's known for its trance music, this Haier-made player is an island unto itself, enabling users to download and stream songs from the Rhapsody music service wirelessly--without a PC. You can also stream AOL videos over Wi-Fi and surf the Web, although the latter is hardly an iPod touch-like experience. Nevertheless, with its stereo Bluetooth support, FM radio, and wireless podcast downloads, the ibiza Rhapsody is a lot cooler than the iPod classic, and it does a heck of a lot more with its Wi-Fi connection than the latest Zunes."

http://laptopmag.com/Review/Haier-ibiza-Rhapsody.htm

"Listening Post hasn't seen devices from Haier America before -- probably because the company mostly focuses on dishwashers, washing machines, and wine refrigerators.

But according to my former colleague Jasmine France, the company's ibiza Rhapsody MP3 player works seamlessly with the Rhapsody music subscription service and Bluetooth A2DP."

http://blog.wired.com/music/2007/11/dark-horse-mp3.html

"Just find a hotspot and connect. The automatic podcast updating is very cool, particularly for someone who has numerous subscriptions. (I am not yet one such someone, though I am trying. There are only so many hours in the day.).

Sound interesting? Check out all the specs on Haier's website. I know we've already issued this year's holiday gift guide, but this merry little stocking stuffer deserves consideration."

http://www.electronichouse.com/article/rhapsody_on_the_go/C157/index.php/?cr=on

ibiza Review: a cutting-edge media player

"The bottom line: The Haier America ibiza Rhapsody is a cutting-edge media player that puts its wireless capabilities to good use while still retaining a user-friendly design and interface. If you're willing to shell out the dough for a massive feature list, give it consideration."

http://reviews.cnet.com/mp3-players/ibiza-rhapsody-30gb-black/4505-6490_7-32751928.html

http://reviews.cnet.com/Ibiza_Rhapsody/4660-6490_7-6809836.html (video)

ibiza Shows You Can Differentiate in Portable Media Player Space

"But what if you could offer features that Apple doesn't offer and appeal to a different segment of the market? That's exactly what Haier has done with their new portable media player that they've brought to market in conjunction with REAL and AOL and it's called the ibiza Rhapsody."

http://weblogs.jupiterresearch.com/analysts/gartenberg/archives/2007/11/ibiza_rhapsody.html

Hands-on Review: very impressed by the Ibiza overall

"All your Rhapsody tunes, plus AOL Video, over the air. Watch out, Zune. Try this on for size: a Wi-Fi MP3 player that wirelessly hooks into your Rhapsody account and lets you download your favorite tracks, stream music channels, and listen to podcasts, all without ever syncing with a PC. Looks like the new Zune (and the iPod Classic, for that matter) may have some stiff competition. I'm very impressed by the Ibiza overall. No, it doesn't have the Zune's community features such as the slick Zune Social, and you can't share tracks from one player to another. But the Ibiza blows away the Zune and the iPod Classic with its ability to browse the Rhapsody catalog over the air (a feature still lacking in the Wi-Fi-enabled Zune), its extras (such as the web browser and AOL Video access), and the streaming music channels. Oh-and I have yet to sync the Ibiza with my PC. So far, I haven't really needed to."

http://tech.yahoo.com/blogs/patterson/8533/hands-on-review-ibiza-rhapsody-wi-fi-mp3-player

"If you are looking for a music player not called iPod, here's a new entry worth consideration. The recently introduced Ibiza is a very fine player but more important, it is a Wi-Fi-enabled device that taps into Rhapsody's constantly improving music service. Hence, there is no need to even attach the Ibiza to a Windows-based PC (no Macs, sorry) if you just want to use the Rhapsody subscription service. You simply turn on the Ibiza , connect to a Wi-Fi network, access Rhapsody and download as much music as you want. In my tests, it worked beautifully. I downloaded about a dozen albums into the Ibiza . It's available only on Amazon.com right now, and it's pricey at $299, but the Ibiza has great potential. It is an example of what you will be seeing in the future, a Wi-Fi enabled gadget that can be filled with music and video while you're on the go"

http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/chi-mon_tech_reviewsdec17,0,86561.story

Let the music play, wirelessly that is

"Yes, Haier - the outfit that makes those $88 air conditioners they sell at Wal-Mart.This Chinese appliance maker is going after the US consumer electronics market, and its new Ibiza Rhapsody is a pretty good start.

On the plus side, it boasts a built-in FM radio, like the Zune. It offers free movie clips from AOL Video, though image quality isn't nearly as good as on the iPod Touch. And like the Connect, it lets you stream vast amounts of music, with a paid subscription to Rhapsody, the music service run by RealNetworks Inc. For $14.95 a month, you can download all the songs your Ibiza will hold, and listen to live streams whenever you're in WiFi range. Ibiza owners who don't want to pay a subscription fee can still listen to a few Rhapsody channels at no charge."

http://www.boston.com/business/technology/articles/2007/12/14/let_the_music_play_wirelessly_that_is/?page=1

Haier AOL Reappears as Ibiza Rhapsody PMP

"Haier's iPod killer has finally shown up and besides having AOL Video on board, it also boasts Rhapsody internet radio integration. Perhaps the best feature of the Haier ibiza Rhapsody (official name does not capitalize "i" in Ibiza ) is it's wireless download and streaming of songs and videos. No PC is required from this WiFi-enabled PMP and you bet it supports podcasts. We have yet to see how good the integration of the Rhapsody-To-Go and the AOL video service. As we noted months ago, the Haier device is well-built with an attractive form factor. It is equipped with an FM tuner, USB 2.0 and Bluetooth 2.0 and supports various video (MPEG4, WMV, M4V, AVI, H.264, MPG) and music (MP3, WMA, WAV, AAC) files."

http://www.pmptoday.com/2007/11/13/haier-aol-reappears-as-ibiza-rhapsody-pmp/

Ibiza Rhapsody: A high-capacity MP3 player that does it all

"You really had to be here to appreciate my groan of skepticism when I found out that the company specializes in home appliances. I mean, really: what could a team that makes microwaves and refrigerators possibly know about making MP3 players? I'm not ashamed to admit that I'm eating those words right now. Once I got the device into my hands, I was pleasantly surprised--shocked, even--by how well-implemented it is."

http://crave.cnet.com/8301-1_105-9819680-1.html

ibiza Rhapsody: give this player a try

"The Ibiza uses Wi-Fi to connect to the Rhapsody online music service to stream or grab your Rhapsody music. The device also has a 30GB hard drive, so it can be used as a traditional portable media player. (You do need to connect to your computer to load non-Rhapsody files on the player.) Oh, and it plays video (there's an AOL video tie-in, too) and displays photos on a screen identical in size to the iPod's. On top of that, there's FM radio, a Web browser, Bluetooth functionality, and an awesome navigation pad (virtually identical to the one in the new Zune players). Pretty impressive. It's not all good, however: The interface can be slow at times, and if you're streaming music (versus playing a download), the tracks can take some time to cue. Nor is the Ibiza likely to win any beauty contests. But if you want access to your Rhapsody account on the go, you should give this player a try."

http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2704,2219198,00.asp

ibiza Rhapsody quick look

"The UI is quite striking - a mix of iPod and Zune without infringing on either one. Then you have the service. This device is almost completely standalone. You pick out music, download it, and play it all from Rhapsody over the air. You can connect to your PC running Rhapsody, but it's almost overkill. Will I trust an MP3 player that is made by the same people who wash my underwear? If I were a Rhapsody user, I definitely would. For everyone else this one is a wait-and-see."

http://www.crunchgear.com/2007/11/19/ibiza-rhapsody-quick-look/

Haier ibiza music player gets wi-fi rhapsody store

"The new Ibiza media player from Haier starts off with many of the same features you'd find in a iPod or Zune. But the big difference with the Ibiza is that it comes with a built in live download integration with Rhapsody's subscription service."

http://technabob.com/blog/2007/10/31/haier-ibiza-music-player-gets-wi-fi-rhapsody-store/

bottom line: the ibiza is definitely a player to consider

"I really like the ibiza, but it is not for everyone. To get the full benefit of the ibiza Rhapsody you must subscribe to Rhapsody. If you do not, it is just another player with the inability to use half of the features. If you are considering purchasing this player, plan on paying the $15 or so per month for Rhapsody, for which you will receive a huge all-you-can-download selection of music along with cool dynamic playlist features and artist bios. For the cost of a CD per month, I personally think it is worth it. .. The bottom line is if you are an all-you-can- download subscription music junkie or are a Rhapsody fan, the ibiza is definitely a player to consider."

http://www.anythingbutipod.com/archives/2007/11/ibiza-rhapsody-review.php

Linux-based PMP targets Rhapsody

"Early reviewers have admired the Ibiza Rhapsody's interface, and especially its integrated Web browser designed to explore Rhapsody's catalog."

http://www.linuxdevices.com/news/NS7977633156.html

Haier brings ibiza Rhapsody Wi-Fi PMP to US

"Normally known for its home appliances in the US , Haier today entered the American market with the ibiza Rhapsody, its first portable media player in the country and one of the few to take direct advantage of built-in Wi-Fi. Partnering with RealNetworks, Haier provides access to the former's Rhapsody unlimited subscription service to provide downloads of new tracks anywhere the ibiza can connect to the Internet; an existing subscriber can fill the player with music without touching a computer, Haier says. The device can also browse AOL Video clips for free and even subscribe to podcasts directly from the device."

http://www.macnn.com/articles/07/11/20/haier.ibiza.rhapsody/