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by Kevin (Kilmo) Kang, Korea

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iRiver will launch Clix Plus soon in Korea

Dec 2, 2007 22:56

iRiver is planning to launch Clix Plus with its new MP3 called W7 (minor version of W10) soon in Korea. Clix Plus is just a minor upgrade version of current iRiver Clix which includes DMB/DAB feature.

Since Clix Plus has DMB/DAB feature, it will be available in Korean market only. However, I assume iRiver is also developing Clix Plus with DVB-T (EU Standard) and 1Seg (Japan Standard) as well. Same happened with the Cowon D2 as well (DMB and 1Seg).

iRiver Korea is targeting its Christmas sales with Clix Plus and W10. Those international versions will be announced at CES 2008 in Las Vegas, I guess. It's exactly a year back that W7 was introduced earlier. Don't know what makes them hold onto the W10 until today and to launch it as the W7 without including Wi-Fi. There are not many changes from what I see of their specifications for the W7 compared with the W10, just fewer features than the W10.

Also, W7 and Clix Plus have nearly similar concepts on both models: Only the screen size and whether it has touchscreen or not. (You can say DMB, too.) Maybe it is differentiating the customer who prefers to have a bigger screen and touch interface, but this isn't a good decision.

I think this plan is very similar to what Cowon is doing right now through its recent PMP models called Q5W and A3. Both models also have very much similar concepts and customer targets, in my opinion. If I try to separate the models, only one goes for pure PMP (A3) and for high-end and advanced users (Q5W). I don't think both models have exactly identified themselves. This just separates the actual potential consumers in two ways. It will be much better if the company had developed one model that includes both features, like the Q5W's looks and touchscreen with the A3's powerful features.

Cowon Q5W is a WinCE-based PMP with Alchemy chipset to perform functions that lie between a UMPC and PDA, but doesn't have its identity. WinCE MIPs core makes it limited to the application capability and codec supports. Also, Microsoft OS cannot be modified for certain usage, which makes it develop whatever it wants over the WinCE platform. This makes it tough as well as the OS license fee. However, the capability of Wi-Fi and Bluetooth is a great move for Cowon.

Cowon A3 is a pure PMP and movie player based on the powerful TI Davinci chipset. A3 was introduced at CES 2007, it took a year to be released in the market and looks like the company did a real good job on codec supports, if you've seen them. I haven't seen a player which supports that many codec for movies and music. Just a minor point is why it has the same outlook as the A2.

I know all manufacturers are likely to take a advantage of using a previous successful model to shape the upcoming model, but this doesn't mean the same design will extent their sales or let them play on a better position in the market. The iPod is the only successor which uses similar designs in its upcoming models, but it has also very much changed compared with the older generations.

I hope Korean MP3 manufacturers are also focusing on designs in their next-generation models and not just repeating what they have done in the past with very little modification. It can be confusing, but we need to show another look and brand identity. Just adding many features or codecs isn't good enough to survive in this competitive world.

We (consumers) are not that easy to deal with!!!

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About Kevin (Kilmo) Kang

Kevin (Kilmo) Kang is a self-professed IT-savvy guy who's been having the time of his life making tech deals with new business partners in the Asia-Pacific areas. Like every Korean, he's gadget-crazy and is glad he lives in a country with one of the fastest-growing tech markets in the world. His taste for international work, however, arose from a nine-year stay in New Zealand where he fortunately made more friends than there are sheep.