iRiver E150, E200 to go aluminium and lose speakers
Tags: iriver, model, kids, lcd
We've just had some top-secret, hot-off-the-press exclusive news about iRiver. You know the E100 we just reviewed? It's going to be getting a serious overhaul for the next version, to be known as the E150 or the E200.
iRiver's getting rid of the plastic chassis, replacing it with an iPod nano-esque aluminium casing. Also, the E100's LCD screen -- which didn't impress us one bit -- is being refreshed, with the promise of being much brighter in the new model.
Sadly for all the teenagers on the 77 to Waterloo -- you know who you are -- the two mini speakers in the back of the E100 are getting scrapped. This is possibly the best news of all, since even 20 minutes on a bus hearing kids playing 50 Pence or Justin Timberlame is enough to make us want to rip off their heads and jam some headphones down their neck cavities. Or something a little less violent that gets them to shut up. Maybe asking them or something. We don't know.
The E150/E200 will be available from AdvancedMP3Players and other good stockists later in the summer -- expect more news when we have it. This revision is likely to put the new model a few points higher in our reviews section than the E100. Good news for all concerned. -Nate Lanxon
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AnonymousThu 1 May, 2008 5:22am
Sorry to hear they are getting rid of the speakers.
I love the idea of speakers to listen to audio books and podcasts as I fall asleep.
The idea of showing home videos to people at work and having speakers so everyone could here the audio that goes along with the video was also a good idea.
I can't imagine anyone would expect anything other than voice through those little speakers though so maybe iRiver customers are mainly music listeners.
Having the speakers on the back was never a good idea either.
So there are still very few options for a tiny podcast/audiobook mp3 with built in speaker player.