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stars
"Lots of features, but a few bugs" on by jakep_82
Pros: Bluetooth, Wifi, Rhapsody integration, Podcast integration
Cons: Only 30GB, battery life, a few bugs, price
Summary: First I want to say don't review a product you don't own. I've only had this for a couple days but I do actually own one.
First this device is heavy on features. Bluetooth and wifi with Rhapsody integration is really nice. You get access to the full Rhapsody library right on the device, no computer necessary. You can also subscribe to audio podcasts and download them right on the device. And bluetooth playback is awesome! I also love the interface. It's quite attractive and completely themeable with airskins.
On the negative side the device still has a few bugs in the software. When downloading the device slows down noticeably. It also seems that the DRM on Rhapsody tracks affects performance. The gap between Rhapsody tracks can be as long as 5 seconds. Playing my own DRM free MP3's, the gap between tracks is only a few tenths of a second.
There's also a few missing features like bookmarking (absolutely necessary when listening to long podcasts)and video podcasts. Fortunately the developers are actively seeking input from users and have indicated that those features should be added in a future firmware. Some people have also complained about the lack of an EQ. I think it sounds quite nice without, but that may be a necessity for others.
Overall I think this is a good device with the potential to be better with a few firmware updates. If they fix a couple of the bugs and add a few more features, I wouldn't hesitate to give it a 9. As it is right now I think it's a solid 7.Updated
I've now had the ibiza for 4 months and I'm happy to say it's better now than when I bought it. Several firmware updates have been released that have improved the player signficantly.
First for those that require it, they've added equalizer presets. It's not a full blown parametric EQ, but it does offer 8 presets in addition to off.
Second they've improved performance dramatically. The gap between tracks has been shortened to well under 1 second. It's still not gapless, but it's dramatically better than it was. They've also shortened the boot time of the device from 45 seconds down to about 20.
Third they've added Audible support. It's currently only available in the beta firmware, but it will be publicly available by mid April. The one drawback right now is that Audible books don't sound good when listened to with Bluetooth headphones. They do however sound great with regular headphones.
And finally they might be adding Flickr integration. It's currently in the beta release but it might not be included in the final release. I hope it is because it works quite well. Currently you can view all of the photos in your account, search all public photos and download any picture to the device for offline viewing.
I would now say with all the bug fixes and additional feature the ibiza is a solid 9. The only drawback now is lackluster video support. Fortunately they've said that's the next big feature improvement in the queue. I can't wait to see what they come up with!!
- 1 reply to this review
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We depend on users to offer feedback on long-term use of a product, since we don't get to use a product very much after the initial review has been completed. Thanks for updating your review with further experiences! <img border="0" src="http://www.cnet.com/i/mb/emoticons/happy.gif" alt=":)">
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