Video Feature: The iRiver U10, future plans

With iRiver catching an increasing amount of attention for their U10, we took a few to shoot some footage of the device and discuss iRiver's future. Apparently its long-standing H10 series is on its way out, and they'll be heavily promoting the U10 and a line of players with a like design (such as the G10, for one -- though not in America for that specific device), some of which may also include a 1.8-inch drive based device, a larger screen, and PlaysForSure support. Stay tuned for some big announcements from iRiver "very soon."

Format
QT MPEG4, 7:03, 26.8 MB

[Download Here]

[JR @ Jan 13th 2006 12:05PM]

Along the same lines...(iRiver developments). For the T series and the U 10, they have an incredible firmware update (firmware 1.60) that has a very significant positive impact on the sound quality of these units...particularly iRiver's own upgrading SRS WOW to SRS WOW version 2.0. The SRS sound quality is a quantum leap over the previous version because of iRiver's upgrade to the software. I suggest owners take their time to customize the settings in SRS after downloading the free upgrade from the iRiver world site. I never knew that a firmware upgrade on an existing unit could make such a major difference in audio quality.

[John Kavanagh @ Jan 13th 2006 12:43PM]

iRiver caught my attention with the H3xx models.

[K2 @ Jan 13th 2006 2:22PM]

I really wish they had a 2 or 4 gig version of the U10, I'd get one in a heartbeat. As it is now, 1 gig is too little... I have a 1 gig Sony E-507 right now, and although it's the best sounding player I've ever had (not to mention having a 30 hr+ battery life), I constantly have to delete songs off of it from the lack of space.

[GGamble @ Jan 13th 2006 2:29PM]

I have the 1 gig U10. I love it, absolutely love it. My only complaint is the customization of the folders before you sync your music. Other than That...this little guy is hot!

[Doug Kaplan @ Jan 13th 2006 2:41PM]

I have to say, I saw this thing at CES and its literally a very tiny model of an old fashion television. Its super small and the looks of it are amazing. If they can put 4GB in there, I would buy it in a heartbeat because aside from being an audio/video player, you can leave it out as a piece of art!

[Jim Torso @ Jan 13th 2006 2:57PM]

Yeah, if they increase the capacity to 2 or 4 GB and up the video framerate to 30 fps, it'll be the perfect player for me. I'll def get one.

[Doug Kaplan @ Jan 13th 2006 3:05PM]

for the record, i was talking about http://www.engadget.com/2005/06/20/the-iriver-u10/ this one that looks like a television

[JCollum @ Jan 13th 2006 3:15PM]

Agreed, 4GB would make this the best player on the market. It's got a slick UI and great screen. I'd even sell off my Phillips to get one...

[earlmale @ Jan 13th 2006 4:31PM]

doug, that's the u10 in its optional dock- which costs ~$60-80. it comes with a wireless remote and has speakers built in as well as a snooze button for the remote control function.



the u10 by itself is a little rectangle, as shown in the post.

[earlmale @ Jan 13th 2006 4:51PM]

BTW, GREAT JOB WITH THE VIDEO! it's much improved over the previous videos threads- the masses want to see the gadget, not the face of the interviewer/interviewee. well, unless the interviewee is a really hot woman. and naked.



btw, did anyone else notice that the person playing with the u10 kept on fumbling with it? it looks like in 1 handed operation, it'd be really easy to drop the thing. does anyone own one? drop it much?

[Shane @ Jan 13th 2006 5:25PM]

I think that this is a great new device for many reasons, one being the new interface. I think something that many are overlooking is that this baby runs flash. Just think of all the non-game dev that could happen with this. I have been working on apps for this and even looking at replacing the entire os with a flash app. Just think of all the product demos and portfolios that could run off this. Now only if it had a bit more navigation, 4 buttons is pretty hard to get a robust application out off...even games.



iRiver is really coming at the market from a new angle with many of their products and I for one hope they keep it up.

[diulei @ Jan 13th 2006 6:40PM]

If this thing had at least 5GB I'd sell my PSP and iPod for this, considering I only use my PSP for video these days.

[Slaven @ Jan 13th 2006 7:37PM]

U10 was one of the few MP3 players that impressed me at CES; I would say this is the first time that someone really rose to challenge iPods with innovative design and features, not just rehashing "but we have an FM radio". Up the capacity and I'm sold! :)

[Justin @ Jan 13th 2006 10:03PM]

By the way the guy that in the video had it set for horizontal mode. The screen can go vertical, which would probably make it easier to navigate and less awkward handling.

[Matt @ Jan 14th 2006 1:36AM]

Does it have a touchscreen??? how expensive is it?

[Chad @ Jan 14th 2006 10:38AM]

I don't like the buttons (or the lack thereof). I would prefer a tight 4 button arrangement. It sure did look lik e he was fumbling a lot with the edge "buttons". I love the screen and speed of it though.

[Jeff @ Jan 14th 2006 10:55AM]

I would buy one with an .85" HD in it



that would prolly be small enough to keep close to the same dimentions



that and a price drop to match the nano would make it a serious contender on the DAP market

[golf7 @ Jan 15th 2006 4:28PM]

iRiver has always been on top of the mp3 game, however they are falling behind apple right now, cause the H3XX series was by far the best player for about 1-2 years, but now that ipod has introduced a smaller player with 30 fps, iriver gonna have to step their game up, and release the perfect ipod killer. ANything small with the same features as h3XX and with 30 fps with same video support as creative, would kill the mp3 player market.

[Jim @ Jan 16th 2006 6:00AM]

IF audio quality was the determining factor, the newest iRiver units with firmware 1.60 which includes a new iRiver significantly improved SRS WOW version 2 would be the clear dominating MP3 force. The new updated firmware makes that much of a difference (esp. SRS setting). Many new units do not come with 1.60 previosly installed as it is only a few weeks old. It must be downloaded (free of course) from the iRiver site.

[Joey Geraci @ Jan 16th 2006 1:15PM]

This looks very promising. The only thing is it is very slow. In demoing it at Circuit City and even your video, it seems very slow to go between menu items. That would infuriate me to no end.

[HGILBERT @ Jan 31st 2006 3:48AM]

I AM LOOKING FOR A DEVICE THAT WILL ALLOW ME TO TRANSFER ABOUT 250 3 MINUTE MOVIES FROM A VCR TYPE UNIT TO A HARD DRIVE SO THAT I CAN GET TO THEM WITH A 250 SLOT TITLE LIST.
I WANT TO INSTALL THEM INTO THE DEVICE WITH AUDIO/VIDEO RCA CABLES AND THEN HOOK THE DEVICE BACK INTO A TV AND STEREO SOUND SYSTEM SO THAT I CAN PLAY THE MOVIES BACK.

DO YOU HAVE SUCH A DEVICE?

THANK YOU HAROLD GILBERT

[HGILBERT @ Jan 31st 2006 3:48AM]

I AM LOOKING FOR A DEVICE THAT WILL ALLOW ME TO TRANSFER ABOUT 250 3 MINUTE MOVIES FROM A VCR TYPE UNIT TO A HARD DRIVE SO THAT I CAN GET TO THEM WITH A 250 SLOT TITLE LIST.
I WANT TO INSTALL THEM INTO THE DEVICE WITH AUDIO/VIDEO RCA CABLES AND THEN HOOK THE DEVICE BACK INTO A TV AND STEREO SOUND SYSTEM SO THAT I CAN PLAY THE MOVIES BACK.

DO YOU HAVE SUCH A DEVICE?

THANK YOU HAROLD GILBERT

[Ludrick @ Jan 15th 2007 3:48PM]

i have a problem with my U10! when i am converting viseo files to the requirements needed they still are not being played on the U10! can someone pls help!!

10q