Wireless Rhapsody

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I have a new column today on the Opinion Manufacturing Division’s website about yet another entry in the WiFi-enabled MP3 player derby. This one, the Ibiza Rhapsody by Haier, is my favorite by far, despite a really quirky touchpad. It’s also the most solid MP3 player I’ve ever hefted (and hefted is the operative word here), reflecting its manufacturer’s history as a maker of refrigerators and other heavy appliances. Anyway, the device marks another step toward a truly anywhere, anytime environment for on-demand music, which IMHO spells trouble for over-the-air broadcasters.