Take 1: iRiver Clix 2

A year (or so) ago, iRiver released what I would consider a decent digital audio player, by the name of Clix.

The original iRiver Clix was described as “looking like a television,” in a CNet review. It featured a disappointing two gigabytes of storage, but the navigation system made up for it. In order to move up, down, left, or right, you would simply touch your finger to the respective side of its black frame; the Clix would then move, with a “clicking” noise (hence the name). It featured then-rare video capabilities, but with such storage limitations, what, and how much would you be able to store?

Source: http://blogs.pcworld.com/digitalworld/archives/iriver-clix.jpg

The 2nd generation of the Clix features a rounder, smoother-looking body, and also two-gigabytes or four-gigabytes of storage, with eight-gigabytes of storage to be made available soon. It’s still featuring the nice little clicking navigation system as well. It is, to say the least, very aesthetically pleasing; much more so than its predecessor.

Source: http://regmedia.co.uk/2007/04/16/iriver_clix_2_1.jpg

But what makes me think it will be more commercially-successful than the first generation of the Clix? Well, to be honest, I don’t. I mean, sure, it has a lot of things going for it, but so did the Clix. I think if more people knew about it, then perhaps they would consider investing in one; this would require a much more aggressive marketing campaign on iRiver’s part. I do hope that iRiver quickly releases an eight-gigabyte variant, because even with four gigabytes, storage is not going to be considered a major selling point.

I will admit that I think I saw a Clix commercial, but it did not really create the impact that the dominating Apple iPod did with their silhouettes dancing and singing in various colourful backgrounds. I mean, the iPod advertisements practically created a new type of ad (now known as iPod ads, my communications technology class created a few). I think iRiver should try for quantity though, as it just needs to get it’s product publicity, not revolutionize the digital audio player game.

Not a single person that I know uses an iRiver Clix; although that could be due to my lack of friends (just kidding…right?), it could also be because no one knows about it. I do think I’ve seen one in Future Shop, but then again, my memory’s a bit fuzzy. iRiver should make its products, especially lovely products like the Clix, more available to the public, by supplying the major retailers of the tech game (The Source, Best Buy, Future Shop) with more products for cheaper prices. I do realize this will result in a smaller profit, but it will result in more purchases! And publicity, and referrals, and then more purchases, if everything goes according to plan.I realize that this marketing scheme is much easier said than done, but iRiver really has to do something about it! I just hope that iRiver’s much more successful with the Clix elsewhere around the world than it is in Toronto (I think I know a few people with other iRiver products though).

With such a plan, this should layout a stronger foundation for iRiver purchasers. With successful marketing, I don’t honestly see a reason why this product could not succeed (except for the storage issue).