iRiver's E10 gets an early look

We won't deny that we're a little jealous CNET Asia got their chance to fool around with iRiver's 6GB E10, which we've been eyeing with lustful eyes for a little while now. Sounds like interfacing with the clicky buttons wasn't always expeditious in navigating the UI, so iRiver added some programmable shortcut keys; the 32 hour battery life and Flash Lite video support are also niceties. Unmentioned was codec support, PlaysForSure compatibility, etc., but what they weren't too fond of was the proprietary connector (so what else is new?), the non-user-programmable 182 TV brand IR remote function (which if you ask us kind of seems like a haphazard feature thrown in from the concept device heap), as well as the fact that while it does also support MPEG-4 video, that's about all it supports. Yeah, no device is perfect, but we're not about to give up on this thing yet, no sir.

[Eggroll303 @ May 3rd 2006 8:41AM]

Wow that's really nice, looks like its gonna give the ipod a run for its money.

[me @ May 3rd 2006 9:13AM]

it look cheap!!! Plastic, it's fantastic

[Shane @ May 3rd 2006 9:33AM]

I am excited because this, like the U10, has Flash lite as the interface. But unlike the U10 this has a few more buttons so making interactive apps is much more possible. I like the idea of being able to customize the UI on a device I use.

I have to admit that iRiver makes some very powerful and feature filled devices that should move the market more but they are still very niche, which is good but they have failed to really break into the simple integrated solutions that others have been able to rollout.

[Todd @ May 3rd 2006 9:54AM]

Cool! I love my U10 and I think its way more useful and "open" than any iPod. I will buy this new one as soon as it comes out.

T

P.S. I notice that any comment comparing the iRiver to the iPod generates a fury of insults and personal attacks from rabid iPod fanboys and Mac zealots...

...but thats OK, rather than simply taking a comment at its face value ( one person's opinion ) when you read an iRiver/iPod comparison, go ahead and get your blood pressure up and write some nasty remark about my mother if you feel the need. :)

[Tom @ May 3rd 2006 10:11AM]

I hate it!! Just joking, I love it! I think. No actually I hate it! iRiver give up and make something else.

Says me "a windows user with an iPod" not a Mac fanboy, but I have to admit I am getting curious!

[V8v @ May 3rd 2006 1:37PM]

HAHAHAHAHA- "ipod run for it's money"???? ROTFL!!! You idiot anything-but-apple fan-chicks are exactly like that; chicks. You get so caught up in your unreasonable emotionalism, you're exactly like "women scorned."
Well, at least you can listen to your kickass iriver while your waiting in drs.' office for yer gender change operation ;)

[Pumi @ May 3rd 2006 2:34PM]

Here is an interesting observation for all the arguing zealots of both camps

The original intention of the designers of any DAP device is that it plays music.

IPOD plays music just fine
IRiver plays music just fine as well

What are we arguing about? All these arguments on extra features styling etc..... that is all relative to the purchaser. IRiver is not a bad product (or insert any other non apple DAP here) neither is IPOD. Lets focus our energy on something more important like the crazy price of gas, or our troops in Iraq etc.

Thanks,

Pumi

[KorruptioN @ May 3rd 2006 10:16PM]

I think I like my H10 better... but that's just in terms of the physical look.

[chevron @ May 6th 2006 5:03PM]

what about the craptastic fact that the h10 i bought six months ago still hasnt received an update to make it shuffle properly???? will this pos actually funtion like an mp3 player!?

[hana @ Nov 4th 2006 10:24PM]

im using e10. its nice but inconvenient to search the whole long list for a certain song. anybody know any shorter way to do that? thks