iRiver W7 MP3 player hankers for directions
(Credit:
iRiver)
Now here's something you don't see everyday: an MP3 player with GPS capabilities. The new iRiver W7, one of a slew of devices the company has on display at CES 2008, doesn't come with a built-in GPS antenna. Rather, you have the option to buy a car mount cradle that adds the functionality. The fact that the antenna is part of the cradle and not the player is actually quite compelling: it means the player can stay relatively compact and impressively thin for pocketability during "on-the-go" use, while still offering a handy navigational feature for the car. Sure, more than a handful of cell phones offer built-in GPS features, but the W7's 3-inch touch screen puts most phones' screens to shame.
iRiver doesn't skimp out on the multimedia features, either. The W7 supports music, video, photos, text, and Flash games. There's also an FM tuner (not that you'd need that in the car), an E-Dictionary, and a microSD card slot for adding more memory. The player will come in two flash memory options: 4GB and 8GB.
The W7 is due out in the U.S. at the end of Q1 or the beginning of Q2, and pricing has yet to be determined for the States. Let's just hope the European price tag of 175 Euros for the 4GB and 215 Euros for the 8GB isn't something to go by, because that's going to make it one pricey player--current conversions put that at $257 and $315, respectively.
For more than five years, Jasmine France has covered a variety of tech products for CNET--from scanners to keyboards to GPS devices--but she's happiest where she is now: sitting atop a pile of MP3 players, "testing" every music service known to man, and jamming a variety of earbuds in every shape and color into her absurdly small ears. E-mail Jasmine.
View complete CES 2008 coverage from CNET.

Oh no... *rotate 90 degress clockwise, make black/shiny*
OMG IRIVER!
The Best of CES awards are meant to recognize new products announced at CES. The Clix, 605, Zen, etc., are great products, but they weren't announced at CES 2008. Wondering why the 705, A3, Q5W, and W7 haven't included on the CNET Top PVP list? We haven't reviewed them yet.
Also, the easiest job in the world: being a hater.
I'd like to apologize, once again, for the tirade I've caused in my nearly-fanatical email a few days ago. It certainly is disappointing, this year's DAP/PMP turnout at CES (I mean, iriver was, like, that event's Apple!), and I hope you'll point that out during your next podcast. I'm sure there's a whole load of peeps like me who are confused, or even frustrated, on the iriver W7 being selected as the Best of CES, and they want to know why. And I'm sorry for listing other better players as I didn't know they weren't presented on that event. So thanks for explaining how the Best of CES awards were selected, and thanks to Don for giving an efforted explanation on his Editor's Top Players list. I do hope you'd change it, including those obselette players, once the reviews on the newer players are done.
Q = quarter
as in yearly quarter.
duh...
You can also read the Q5W at http://gadgetaholic.com
Anyway, I reluctantly stand by the choice... Looking back at the past 'Best of CES' winners, including three Creative players that weren't exactly the best of their class (Zen Portable Media Center, 1st Microsoft PMC, ZEN MicroPhoto, ZEN Vision:M), though I'm from Singapore so woohoo, and a Sansa with its overhyped online radio/channels... turns out it wasn't that much of a trend.
So you can't really pick the winner of that award as the best of the previous year, but more like a "Best Example of a Potential Pioneer for Upcoming Players". I'd pick the Zen PMC, since it was the 1st PMC, and one of those pre-iPod video PMPs.
Anyway, I reluctantly stand by the choice... Looking back at the past 'Best of CES' winners, including three Creative players that weren't exactly the best of their class (Zen Portable Media Center, 1st Microsoft PMC, ZEN MicroPhoto, ZEN Vision:M), though I'm from Singapore so woohoo, and a Sansa with its overhyped online radio/channels... turns out it wasn't that much of a trend.
So you can't really pick the winner of that award as the best of the previous year, but more like a "Best Example of a Potential Pioneer for Upcoming Players". But the only real 'pioneer' is the Zen PMC, since it was the 1st PMC, and one of those pre-iPod video PMPs.
Donald noted that they can't rank some because they haven't reviewed them yet. People turn to this site for your "expert" advise. It seems that they will find what they best MP3 player was 4 months ago. We all know how quickly the DAP arena changes and evolves, making the info here out-of-date. I know Jasmine may not be able to review DAPs the day they come out, but the lag is to long. There are so many great DAPs that need reviewed!
If you really want up-to-date opinions on current DAPs go to Head-fi.org. If you want to know what will be released 3 quarters from now, then come to cnet.
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by francisc0121
February 25, 2008 3:50 PM PST
- i have a question... for the people that have used this (hopefully someone from Cnet)
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by francisc0121
February 25, 2008 5:27 PM PST
- oh another thing that's been bothering me about the W7,
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(23 Comments)i am getting this MP3 from south korea in less than a month, and i'm wondering if the GPS works in north america.
also on iriver korea's site it does not say if the 8 GB version comes on violet or white (while the 4 GB lets you pick) im wondering if the 8 GB comes in violet colour
third, does the W7 have an option that lets you change the language to english? and does E-dictionary come in english?
and my last question is, does the W7's touch screen let you touch anything? and control anything? if so, what's the joystick for??
thx for reading... if you read
PS - im pretty sure that there's a mini SD card slot, not a micro SD (source: iriver korea website)
lots of people say how iriver ripped off the P2 (which i am getting now, a little too quick to change but i was influenced by my brother to get that instead of the W7) made by samsung, and yes we know, but its not what you think.
infact they did not COPY they TOOK their design, and with permission.
if you look at iriver korea's website, there is a picture.
the picture is a silhouette of the P2, and the W7 rotating out of it.
so i hope no one says that they stole their design or anything because iriver IS aware of it.