Lookout For iRiver

[Suhit Gupta]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.iriver.com/product/' target='_blank'>http://www.iriver.com/product/</a><br /><br /></div>I am sure you have all heard about me rant and rave about my iRiver iHP 140 (pictured below). :)<br /><br /><img src="http://www.digitalmediathoughts.com/images/iriver.jpg" /><br /><br />But I think it would be worth it to point out that the rest of the incredible and ever expanding line of products from iRiver rocks too. Their flagship products appear to be their audio players but appear to be set to jump into the PVP market as well. Among products expected this year is a portable CD player which will play MP3s and has a video-out port for watching DivX video files on a TV (the iMP 1000). "Additional products include -<br />- The iFP-1000, a Flash-based MP3 player with a built-in digital camera and a 1.2-inch color screen. <br />- The medallion-style iFP-1100. <br />- The iHP-300, which has a 2-inch color screen. <br />- The PMC-100 personal video player, which has a 3.5-inch screen and runs on Microsoft’s Portable Media Center software.<br />- The PMP-100, another personal video player with a 3.5-inch screen that can play games as well as movies and music."<br /><br />In my opinion, iRiver is one of the few manufacturers out there that is doing a great job with the design as well as the UI of the devices it puts on the market, which is why I have been supporting them so strongly.

[Gary Sheynkman]

iRiver rules! I still dont understand why people would be iPods over the iHPs :?

yeah iRiver!!

[Janak Parekh]

iRiver rules! I still dont understand why people would be iPods over the iHPs :?
Because no one in the mass market knows of the iRiver units?

It's also not a "strict superiority". iPod has a better software bundle, a better UI (in my opinion), smaller size, both FW and USB support, cross-platform support, etc. But we hashed this already in previous conversations.

--janak

[Raven]

yup! I second that.

Been playing with my new iHP-140 for the past three days. Coupled with the Sony MDR EX-71LP, its like listening to the band sitting right inside the recording studio. :P

The thing came bundled with truckloads of accessories on top of that. Just wish somebody comes up with a case better than the bundled one.

The "dark" side really is more powerful this time around. :twisted:

[Suhit Gupta]

It's also not a "strict superiority". iPod has a better software bundle, a better UI (in my opinion), smaller size, both FW and USB support, cross-platform support, etc. But we hashed this already in previous conversations.
FW support - yes. Better UI - perhaps. However I have to argue with the rest.

I would have to argue that, due to the now patented dial on the iPod, which of course no one else can now use, the iPod has the edge in terms of scrolling, however the software for the iRiver is no less superior. I find that the button placement and functionality is actually quite good and don't forget that the iRiver has a fantastic little backlit remote. The smaller size is only in terms of depth and that too by 4 mm. Cross platform supports exists for the iRiver as well. And the iRiver has an FM tuner, a hugely better battery life, OGG and ASF support, external microphone with real time MP3 encoding and Optical input and output. So the iRiver is ahead in terms of features.

The sleek black design is just as good as the iPod IMO. It is just that the iRiver does not have the same market reach as Apple, but given time, I harp again, the iRiver will do very well.

Suhit

[Gary Sheynkman]

Go Suhit! :D

To be honest with you, I want iRiver to stay small and not grow into a $ hungry company that will churn out devices like no other but will not provide us with hardware worth waiting for.

[Raven]

The iriver hard drive based players have their own share of faults, just like any other out there. Its just that the features outweigh most of them. In fact, some of the problems (like the design of remote) just take some getting used to.

One of the problems iriver users have been facing is the lack of regular firmware updates. The support is lacking when it comes to listening to user feedbacks and requests for features. The Rio Karma doesn't face this problem (it has other more critical ones though) :wink:

As regards to the UI, it boils down to whether you use the DB function or the Windows like file tree system. For a person who owns full albums and stores them in folders under artist or genre, it becomes a no-brainer to use the file tree mode. No need to bother with ID tags for each of your songs. The album and artist names are picked up from the folder name.

As regards to market reach, very few stores in the US carry the unit in stores (much less a demo model to play with). The Rio Karma is getting much more exposure through this medium. It has developed an almost cult like following. 8O

[Janak Parekh]

however the software for the iRiver is no less superior.
I'm not talking the software on the device, I'm talking about the associated desktop software bundle. Put simply, iTunes blows WMP away when it comes to portable device management. ;)

I don't debate the iRiver has a lot of awesome features, and note I asserted "my opinion" on the UI.

--janak

[Suhit Gupta]

The iriver hard drive based players have their own share of faults, just like any other out there. Its just that the features outweigh most of them. In fact, some of the problems (like the design of remote) just take some getting used to.
Huh? The remote, I thought, was quite intuitive. In fact I ended up learning to use the remote almost before using the actual buttons on the device. Maybe I am missing your point. And could you point out the other faults of the device? (Note that I am not, by any stretch of the imagination, suggesting that the iRiver is perfect; however it would be nice to know which ones you are thinking of).
One of the problems iriver users have been facing is the lack of regular firmware updates. The support is lacking when it comes to listening to user feedbacks and requests for features. The Rio Karma doesn't face this problem (it has other more critical ones though) :wink:
I agree that there have not been many firmware updates, none yet for the iHP 140, however, updates are released usually to fix stuff. Other than the fact that the software can scan and create a list automatically out of all the mp3 files only on the device, I don't find much to fix.
As regards to the UI, it boils down to whether you use the DB function or the Windows like file tree system. For a person who owns full albums and stores them in folders under artist or genre, it becomes a no-brainer to use the file tree mode. No need to bother with ID tags for each of your songs. The album and artist names are picked up from the folder name.
Good call. Although, the iRiver is capable of doing both. It stores files in the Windows file system format, although you can convert them to a db view quite trivially. The only problem, like I pointed above, is that this can be currently done only with mp3 files. Apparently this will be fixed in the next software update.
As regards to market reach, very few stores in the US carry the unit in stores (much less a demo model to play with). The Rio Karma is getting much more exposure through this medium. It has developed an almost cult like following. 8O
Completely valid point.

Suhit

[Suhit Gupta]

I'm not talking the software on the device, I'm talking about the associated desktop software bundle. Put simply, iTunes blows WMP away when it comes to portable device management. ;)
Yeah, but iRiver is not manufacturing both the hardware as well as the software. iTunes is designed extremely well, however the amazing coupling between the iPod and iTunes is no accident. They are almost meant to co-exist.

Suhit

[Janak Parekh]

They are almost meant to co-exist.
Take out the "almost". :P My point was that this is a value proposition for the iPod, just like Ogg support is for iRiver devices.

--janak

[Tim Williamson]

We've recently started using the iRiver iFP-380T to record our Bible classes at church, and eventually we plan on hosting the MP3s on our web site so people can download or stream the classes if they miss one or want to listen to one again.

The guy who bought these tried out multiple MP3 recorders, and these have the best audio quality and pickup of any of the ones he tried, plus they're easy to use and fit in your pocket.

How much does the iHP-140 go for?

[Suhit Gupta]

I bought mine about three+ months ago for about $500. But it seems to have fallen by about $50-$70 in the mean time.

Suhit

[Raven]

Where are my manners?? :oops: First of all, a big thanks to the Media Thoughts team for providing such excellent forums to cater to our digital desires. I have been frequenting PPCT for the past two years and run through 4 pocketpcs during that period. I’ve learnt a lot thanks to you folks and its one of my most visited sites. :werenotworthy:

Ok, back on topic:

The iRiver remote is by far one of the adorable miniature devices I’ve seen (and this from a person who listens to a lot of death metal). :twisted: The amount of info the tiny screen crams in….its beautiful. And to top that off, there’s nothing you can’t do with the remote that you can on the main unit. I just wish iPaqs had jog dials like those. Suhit, what I was referring to was the physical design here:

1. Both the wires come out from the same side. Not a very streamlined design if you know what I mean.
2. The hole for the headphone plug is a bit too deep. Some headphones might have to use the extension provided as an accessory. Thankfully mine don’t.
3. The clip on the back is in the wrong direction for most users. A few people have managed to pry it open and stick it back reversed using superglue. Personal preference here.
4. I tried using the remote on my commute to work today. Frankly, too many wires for my preference. I’ll stick with just the main unit for now. As long as the cold weather requires jackets with many pockets.

I’m in love with hard drive based players now. Doesn’t matter what kind you get, but your music listening experience will surely change once you fill it up with your whole collection. Now you can take your entire music from home to car to office to gym and then back home. Awesome…

Plus, there are lots of big names making MP3 players to ensure good competition in the future. Apple, Creative, Rio, iRiver, Samsung….

I picked my iRiver iHP-140 up from Amazon when they had the $50 rebate going on. Came to a sweet 370 smackers. I was eyeing the 20 GB version for quite some time, but missed the $60 rebate deals on those in February. 40GB is even better. Now I can use 15-20GB for my music and the rest to transport pictures and home videos, and backup my C:/ images.

More to come….