iriver Clix Gen 2 / Clix Rhapsody

Reviews: Multimedia

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Bradford Day
Kurtis
iriver
Jul. 23, 2007

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Introduction

Today I am a happy camper. It has been 6 long months since I had the chance to play with the iriver Clix 2 player at CES '07 and I've been waiting patiently to get my next fix ever since. The first generation Clix music/video player was one of my favorite media devices of last year. But when I saw the newer, sleeker version at iriver's hospitality suite, a new favorite was born.

I've been fortunate enough to review a few other iriver products in the past. Generally, I've been impressed with their quality and, more importantly, their ease of use and multitude of features. The Clix 2 is no exception when it comes to features. In fact, the convex little player I'm holding in my hand isn't just a Clix; it's a Clix Rhapsody. So, in addition to snagging a free Clix to play with, I get a complimentary subscription to the Rhapsody To Go music rental service. It's just one of the nearly half dozen perks afforded to members of TheTechLounge staff.

The Clix player is a 4 gigabyte model in line with other such players as the iPod nano, Sansa e200 series, and other flash memory-based portable media players. iriver may not have the market share of the aforementioned Apple product or the distinction of being the inventor of solid state memory (like Sandisk), but they always pull out great designs that match and even surpass the feature sets of the big name players. I'm hoping the Clix Rhapsody will keep giving them a run for their money and that it lives up to all my self-imagined hype.

First Looks

I've come to expect simple and straightforward products from iriver. In fact, their website is a fine example of simple and effective design. All the support links and product information are easy to find, and the site is sleek and attractive. The motif is continued with their product packaging. A simple white box houses the player itself, sealed in an easy-to-open plastic case. Inside this exercise in minimalism you will find...well, just enough stuff: USB connection cable, pair of earbuds, install CD, quick start guide, and warranty info. And, while a carrying case or lanyard might have been a nice addition, the little touches, such as a pre-installed scratch-resistant screen protector and cutesy little cable ties, finish off the simple, yet effective, theme.

But where most of the other PMPs I've tested bear more than a passing resemblance to the mother of all MP3 players: the iPod; the Clix is deceptively clever. The slightly beveled face hides a 2.2" AMOLED display that fires up with bright swatches of color and smartly animated menus. But where are all the buttons and wheels and such?

Those of you familiar with the Clix interface will know that the buttons are the screen and vice versa. The tilt-click face of the Clix is one big D-pad, while the normal pokey-up types of buttons have been relegated to the edges of the player. Two thin ones on a long edge control volume. Two other identical buttons do the on/off thing or return you to the main menu (or whatever it is programmed to do) with the mini USB input hiding on that side as well. And one equally-as-skinny slider switch halts all button action. With the large face of the player acting as one gigantor button, the hold switch is often needed when slipping the player into pockets. The headphone jack is located opposite the power button and programmable button. The display can be oriented in either landscape or portrait mode, which is why I refrained from using top or bottom to describe each edge.

In terms of design schemes, color options, or blouse-matching possibilities, the Clix Rhapsody has a bit of a one-track mind. Your basic black-on-black is the only option. No bother: everything goes with black. And, really, it gives the credit card-shaped player a sort of 2001: A Space Odyssey look. "What are you doing, Dave?" The gen2 Clix has gained just a touch of width on its older brother. The first generation Clix had a similarly clicking D-pad face, but incorporated a white bottom side. With the new revision, the Clix got a bit slimmer and sleeker with ever-so-slightly beveled edges that fit the user's hand oh-so-nicely. Like the iPod, the Clix Rhapsody feels very comfortable when held, despite its lack of a shiny steel bum. But, unfortunately, unlike the iPod, the Clix is only compatible with Windows XP and Vista.

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Page 1: Introduction & First Looks
Page 2: Testing
Page 3: Testing, Continued...
Page 4: Conclusion

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3 User Comments

1 - Posted by Skobbolop on July 23, 2007 - 10:55 am

Nice review... the best flash player around imo. btw. the 8 gb version should be released this august...

2 - Posted by handrail on July 23, 2007 - 1:46 pm

i agree, the clix is one of if not the best flash player. i love reviewing iriver's players.

good to know the 8gb is on the way too! thanks for your comments!

brad.

3 - Posted by chanderson on August 27, 2007 - 7:13 pm

Nice review, very thorough and non-biased. I would, however, like to point out something that wasn't mentioned. Since the Clix Gen2 plays .ogg music files and shows up as a separate "hard drive", this player is the ideal solution for us *nix users out there looking for a flash media player. I am partial to Ubuntu Linux and have had no issues with music as of yet. I have not attempted to put any videos on my Clix using Linux (I use a dual boot with XP Pro and Ubuntu 7.04 "Feisty Fawn") I will report back on my endeavors when the time comes.

Thanks again for the wonderfully informational review of one of the best flash PMP's on the market.

-Chad

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