The device includes WiFi, integration with Real's Rhapsody music service for online streaming and downloads, streaming AOL video, Bluetooth for remote speakers, FM radio with RDS data and a 30GB hard drive (not flash).
Though packed with features, Haier and this device face immense challenges entering the US PMP market. With Apple firmly in the lead, Microsoft willing to spend what it takes to catch up, and companies like Creative, iRiver and SanDisk just scraping by, it's going to be a tough fight for Haier.
Haier also has not done itself any favors in the US market with difficult to pronounce and spell brand and product names. So it was a shrewd move for Haier to align itself with one of the top US music services, and to incorporate the service's well known and respected brand - Rhapsody- into the product name.
For Rhapsody, the Ibiza Rhapsody adds another element to its growing music service platform. I really like the steps Rhapsody has taken to enable subscribers to stream and download music from platforms like Tivo, Sandisk and now the Haier Ibiza Rhapsody. As a Dish subscriber, I would love to see Rhapsody available on my networked VIP622 receiver as well, and I'm sure Rhapsody/DirecTV subscribers feel the same way.
Of course, this is all just scratching the surface. What will really make a connected handheld device with an integrated music service like the Ibiza Rhapsody take off is ubiquitous high speed wireless, aka WiMax. Equiped with a WiMax-enabled device and unbounded by home networks and hot spots, consumers will be free to access any music any time any where. Say goodbye to terrestrial radio (and satellite radio as well)!
When I worked at AOL, I had some exposure to the development of a previous version of the Haier device. We had some exciting plans to take full advantage of the power of our subscription music service - millions of tracks accessible from anywhere, with social music discovery, real-time play tracking and sharing (i.e., a pulse or news feed of members' just played tracks) and published member playlists.
I'm looking forward to checking out the Haier Ibiza Rhapsody in person. This looks like a promising first step, and I hope that as technologies like WiMax make their way into our lives (fingers x'd), Haier and Rhapsody can jointly evolve the device and service to turn some of the exciting possibilities into reality.
No comments:
Post a Comment