iRiver B30 first look

[Dreamnine]

http://crave.cnet.co.uk/digitalmusic...9303170,00.htm

[BruceBanner]

this is available to buy in Australia right now, being the first mp3/pmp player with DAB+ capabilities why oh why has this not been reviewed properly a dozen times already?

[Dreamnine]

This might be a good player in Australia, Germany maybe, but not in the UK.

[samkirk]

Originally Posted by Dreamnine

This might be a good player in Australia, Germany maybe, but not in the UK.

Why not exactly?

[Dreamnine]

It has DMB and DAB+ which aren't supported in the UK.

[The DarkSide]

Originally Posted by Dreamnine

It has DMB and DAB+ which aren't supported in the UK.

From the article you linked to from cnet.co.uk:

[Quote]At least in our office, DAB radio reception was, to be brutally honest, an enormous pile of crap. But it can be good, so long as you get a good signal (and the B30 has a telescopic aerial to help).[Quote]

Seems that DAB is supported in the UK, just how well remains to be seen. DMB, well, that is useless.

[Dreamnine]

[quote=The DarkSide;391613]From the article you linked to from cnet.co.uk:

[Quote]At least in our office, DAB radio reception was, to be brutally honest, an enormous pile of crap. But it can be good, so long as you get a good signal (and the B30 has a telescopic aerial to help).

Seems that DAB is supported in the UK, just how well remains to be seen. DMB, well, that is useless.

DAB, yes, but not DAB+ so what's the point in it, really. You can buy a cheap DAB radio (not that it's any good).

It's basically got the same touch-pad as the Q2 also.

[samkirk]

DAB, yes, but not DAB+ so what's the point in it, really.

Whilst DMB is pointless outside of Korea and DAB+ is still trying to gain support in other countries in addition to the UK, there is still a lot to be said for a player that has DAB functionally imho. I was impressed with the DAB reception on the B30 and the functionality of the player itself overall, even if it does lack some of the finer aesthetics of the Spinn and P7.

[Dreamnine]

Originally Posted by samkirk

Whilst DMB is pointless outside of Korea and DAB+ is still trying to gain support in other countries in addition to the UK, there is still a lot to be said for a player that has DAB functionally imho. I was impressed with the DAB reception on the B30 and the functionality of the player itself overall, even if it does lack some of the finer aesthetics of the Spinn and P7.

I had a D2 with DAB, except I could never get it to work. I applaud iRiver for being innovative, but their products don't seem to catch on anymore.

[musichound]

The deal breaker for me is no gapless playback. If it had it, it would be far more enticeing

[samkirk]

Originally Posted by Dreamnine

I had a D2 with DAB, except I could never get it to work. I applaud iRiver for being innovative, but their products don't seem to catch on anymore.

Whats disappointing is recent products that were touted as potential 'Apple beaters' by the press could of been fantastic with a bit of tweaking but were disappoiting on release. The Spinn could of been brilliant with 16gb, expandable memory, DAB and a 16.8m screen but the cutting of corners just made it a little disappointing. This is the difference between iRiver & Cowon - Cowon simply put the tech in the box and charge more for it like they did with the S9.

Saying that though the B30 is overall a very good product. The screen is nice, sounds good, good build quality, nice and responsive interface (if a bit plain) good video playback. The only downsides seem to be the screen isnt 16:9 and the aerial is just waiting to break (much thinner than the B20 aerial).

[WalkGood]

I like the look for a pmp and if the touch-sensitive buttons are as good as the i7's, it might not be half bad

[goodclimate]

DMB already up and running in France with 33 radio channels available in Paris, sounds great, eats battery. Also in Norway, so it obviously was worth improtting to Europe, maybe just not the UK. Can always use it when on holiday.

[dfkt]

No buttons, no interest. That one's as silly as the Samsung Q2.