iriver Spinn

(3 out of 5)

MSRP: $249

Iriver’s pricey but innovative Spinn portable media player sports a cool new user interface and offers stereo Bluetooth for rocking out wirelessly.

With a penchant for creating intriguing interfaces, iriver’s Spinn branches out from the Clix’ now-familiar clickable faceplate. Combining a roomy 3.3-inch touchscreen LCD with a spinning clickable cylinder, the Spinn has more to offer than most PMPs, though it’s not quite at the level of an iPod touch or even Archos 5. This player’s closest competitor—and comrade in Bluetooth support—is the sexier-looking and slightly more versatile Samsung P2, though we prefer the Spinn in some ways. Design The Spinn comes in a metallic silver finish and a white backing and measures 3.9 x 2.0 x 0.4 inches. The 3.3-inch, 480 x 272-pixel touchscreen takes up nearly the entire front of the player, with volume and power buttons on the left, as well as a back button and hold switch on top next to the integrated mic. The main controller, aside from the touchscreen, is a cylindrical wheel that gives you tactile feedback as you turn it to scroll and push to select. A small flap on the bottom of the Spinn hides the proprietary sync/charge connector.

Read Full Review @ LaptopMag.com by Mike Kobrin