Breaking: Teasing Preview iRIVER PMP-140

[Suhit Gupta]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://pmw.sorobangeeks.com/revue_6.html' target='_blank'>http://pmw.sorobangeeks.com/revue_6.html</a><br /><br /></div><i>"For the past 4 days, I have been playing with a pre-release of the PMP-140 of iRIVER. This machine should reach store within 1 or 2 months. From a hardware point of view, the device I'm testing is 99% finalized, but the software is far from being finished. When a device is launched, the software is normally at it's 1.0 version, so when you know that the version of my device is 0.18, we can expect that some things are bound to be developped further to improve the stability and functionalities of the device."</i><br /><br /><img src="http://www.digitalmediathoughts.com/images/iriver140.jpg" /><br /><br />We have links to some exclusive pictures (lots and lots of them) of the upcoming iRiver PMP 140. And boy o' boy, it looks sweet. In fact, the screenshots compare it to an HP iPAQ 2215 and from it one can tell how compact this unit truly is.

[Gary Sheynkman]

I am planning on getting a PVP...now it is harder to chose...this, the archos, and the upcoming windows..... :evil: :lol:

[David Horn]

I thought about getting one - but what's the point? My iPAQ 1910 will play just about any video I throw at it, provided it's the right size. I'm watching Shrek 2 on it right now. Additionally, it works as an MP3 player, net browser, PIM, etc. Only issue is a slight lack of storage space, but I rarely run out with a 512MB SD card.

Oh yes, and I picked it up for £80 from eBay. You can't lose.

[Felix Torres]

Its the size of the old Rio Riot!
Yay!
Things are looking up for 05; first the creative and now theiRiver...
Both are about Riot-sized and both have *large* readable color screens.
Once the second-gen PMCs come out I'll be set.

Thing to consider about all the PMCs is that they'll play music, too.
Which in real-world terms means: mostly.
So if you think of them as color-screen jukeboxes that can *optionally* play video and photos (including MS Photoshow on the CE-based PMCs, which is very cool, btw) you can see its a fair trade-off; larger, more readable screen for a bit more bulk.

And for some of us, small size is a minus, not a plus.
Looks like I'll have plenty of options when the time comes to replace my Riot...

[Phoenix]

This iRiver device looks fantastic so far - the menu system (at least what is shown so far) looks very intuitive and easy to use, but among some other things, the three main things I wish this player had, are:

1) an internal free-to-air TV tuner
2) a CF II slot
3) an SD/MMC slot


I want to purchase a PVP/R, but so far no one has offered one with all of the features that I'm looking for.


My PMP/R (or whatever people want to call it) has to have:

1) at least a 3.5" Transflective screen
2) a 40GB HDD
3) USB 2.0 Hi-Speed and Firewire ports
4) a CF II slot (at the very least)
5) an SD/MMC slot
6) Stereo speakers (these won't be fantastic of course, but still...)
7) Built in Mic (of course I want it to record!)
8.) Internal FM tuner (not built into some dock - I want it in the device itself)
9) Internal TV tuner (free-to-air, and preferrably cable ready as well - not built into some dock)
10) Jacks for Headphone/Remote Control, Mic, AV out/Line in, and Cable in
11) External MUTE and Reset buttons
12) TV/HOLD/LCD switch
13) External Volume dial
14) D-pad with OK/Enter/Select center button
15) Play/Pause, Stop (I want the Stop button separate from anything else), Record, FF/Next, Rewind/Previous, and MENU buttons
16) Built in kickstand and built in anchor for a strap
17) Telescoping antenna for TV (a bit more compact is preferrable)
18.) Very high capacity Lithium Polymer battery (Detachable/Rechargeable)
19) Desktop battery charger
20) HDD and Charging indicator lights



This was a very detailed wish list and the iRiver comes very, very close to fulfilling it, but no cigar yet.


Based on my wish list, the iRiver is surely missing:

3) Firewire port
4) a CF II slot (at the very least)
5) an SD/MMC slot
9) Internal TV tuner (free-to-air, and preferrably cable ready as well - not built into a dock)
10) Cable-in jack (the iRiver, of course, wouldn't have this with no TV tuner)
11) External MUTE button (the iRiver doesn't have this, but this would be very nice, very convenient to have)
17) Telescoping antenna for TV (a bit more compact is preferrable)


And based on the same wish list, the iRiver needs to change or add the following, or it seems unsure whether the iRiver has:

1) Transflective screen (not sure what kind of screen the iRiver has)
6) Stereo speakers (the iRiver has only a Mono speaker)
13) External Volume dial (a dial is preferrable, but the D-pad on the iRiver probably controls this)
15) Separate Stop button (the iRiver combines this into the Play/Pause button, but I prefer a separate button for Stop - just makes things simpler)
19) Desktop battery charger (not sure if the iRiver has this, but it would make things nicer for being prepared with an extra battery)

Also, the power button on the iRiver is in a poor location. Power buttons should be near the top and out of the way.


Perhaps iRiver will come out with another version, or perhaps not. I hope somebody will.

Still waiting.

[Suhit Gupta]

I definitely agree with the fact that having no expansion slots if a minus when it comes to this device, but other than that it looks quite nice to me. BTW, does anyone else notice that the iRuver PMP 140 looks a lot like the TI-92 (Texas Instrument graphing calculator) ?

Suhit

[BugDude10]

I very much like iRiver products, but I think this thing needs two (2) headphone jacks and a dock for easy connection to your home system (like the new Archos devices appear to have). I'm not sure the missing CF slot is a deal-breaker for me, since I presume I can copy my digital camera directly to the PMP to copy files that way. (No question the built-in CF would be easier, but I trust iRiver's judgment on how to design these things to be stylish and comfortably-sized.)

Just my $0.02.

[jake080]

If you want that 2nd headphone jack, just buy a $2 splitter... And i think the AV Output jack, and TV setting is pretty easy :P maybe im wrong...
So what kind of price should be expected from a device of this royalty?