ibiza Rhapsody at end of product line

[eurotwelve]

Hello all,

I am very sorry to be the bearer of bad news: the current 4GB, 8GB, and 30GB ibiza Rhapsody players will be the last players in the ibiza Rhapsody line, as built and designed by Varia Mobile. We are unable to speak for Haier and any potential plans they may have for follow-on products. You’ll find that you can still enjoy the Rhapsody service on your current device, and can continue to do so for a long time. However, the current products will not receive any further software updates.

This sad decision is opening up opportunities for exciting new developments in the coming year. Expect to find wireless access to the Rhapsody service appearing on a growing number of common mobile devices in the near future.

This forum is expected to remain active through the end of the year. We cannot speak for Haier's own customer support and product information pages. Thanks for your understanding.

[diteach]

I can't say that I am exactly surprised, since I was wondering why it was taking so long for any new updates or products to appear. But I am disappointed to read this announcement. My thanks to those of you who took the time to respond to my questions when I was a new owner. I wish everyone on the Varia staff who was involved in this project good fortune in your future endevours.

[k12s]

Earlier this year (Jan 15?), Haier announced the new line of Rhapsody players with the Mini and the Touch (see http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-10141848-1.html). I haven't heard any updates about these new devices since then. I wonder if the Ibiza end-of-product line announcement mean the new Mini and Touch will never be released. Bummer if that's the case.

[Nordburgh]

Bummer. Are you guys going to still be working on Rhapsody related technology?

[Wriiight]

Very sorry to hear it, and especially to those of you have been laid off as a consequence. It was an excellent device but in an impossibly competitive market where unfortunately the brand names have dominated, and now the phones are starting to take over.

I hope you all find success in your future endeavors.

[eurotwelve]

Thanks for the kind words towards us at the Varia team (or formerly at the Varia team.) It is my understanding and belief that the Mini and the Touch versions will never be released. We're certainly not working on them any longer.

It's very likely that we'll continue to work with Rhapsody in arrangements that I probably can't go into, other than to fully agree with the statements that this area is dominated by big players, and is moving towards cell phones.

[stevec5375]

Glad to hear that it's going to be cell phone related. I am hoping for something on a phone support Google Android OS. If I hear the word iPhone one more time, I'm going to scream.

[trevtnyc]

That sucks, although when I noticed all the products were off he Haier website except for the players I had a feeling this was coming. Oh well, I'll keep loving what I have instead of wishing for what I don't have. Glad I bought the accessories when they came out!

You guys have been nothing but great, thanks for all you've done. Glad to hear about the cell phone apps, hope you're doing one for my G1!

[loquiter]

Too bad, b/c the Ibiza Rhapsody is clearly the best player - by the time I bought mine I was tired of getting ripped off by 2 different "disposable" flash players that each lasted less than a year they were so cheaply made. As to the move to cell phones, what a waste, they all have severe battery life problems. The hard disk was the way to go.

[eurotwelve]

What is this "Android" you people speak of? Never heard of it.

On a completely unrelated note, anyone on here who'd be interested in beta testing Rhapsody software on Android, please let me know and maybe we'll be in touch later this year. Not saying anything official, mind.

[jakep_82]

Your software running on the Creative Zii EGG seem like a match made in heaven. Just sayin....

[soowom9211]

what are you going to do about the video..!T_T
I had never used the AOL Video on this device and now i can never use it!!!
You are not going to replace it with something else, right...???????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????
If not, Im so gonna cry....T_T

[eurotwelve]

Sorry to make you cry, but YouTube wasn't really interested in letting us use their service (ok that's an oversimplification, but anyway) so we never got to release it, and time is up on the product line.

[MadVillain]

Wow. That's pretty sad that a whole feature of the player is completely thrown out the window. I hadn't realized the line was so near the end when I made my purchase, I just saw the nifty little box in store and read all it could do, and was pretty excited. To find out the whole AOL video feature was just gone was a disappointment, and to hear it won't be replaced with anything, and that the Ibiza itself is at the end of the line is pretty sad. I really dig mine. Damn you Youtube!

[mslilyb]

I'm not surprised at all, but still deeply frustrated. Rhapsody endorses a product, I drop a large chunk of change to purchase it because I've been waiting for a reliable, large capacity player that I can use with wireless, and then when I get the product it a) freezes all the time b) eats battery c) is a huge waste of money.

Rhapsody should be much more cautious before endorsing a product again. My frustration with Haier has now rubbed off on Rhapsody.