iRiver S10

[Chris Gohlke]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.dailytech.com/article.aspx?newsid=4148' target='_blank'>http://www.dailytech.com/article.aspx?newsid=4148</a><br /><br /></div><i>"While everyone was focused on the launch of Apple's new iPod, iPod Nano and iPod Shuffle, iriver slipped a new portable audio player under the radar screen. iriver's tiny new S10 measures just 1.65" x 1.18" x 0.43" and weighs in at a feathery 0.62 ounces. For comparison, the newly announced second generation iPod Shuffle measures 1.07" x 1.62" x 0.41" and weighs 0.55 ounces. The iriver S10 is available in capacities of 1GB and 2GB and is rated at 8 hours of playback (compared to 12 hours for the iPod Shuffle). Where the S10 trumps the Shuffle, however, is with its 1.5" color OLED screen, SRS WOW technology and support for MP3, WMA, ASF and OGG. And for good measure, iRiver has also tossed in an FM tuner."</i><br /><br /><img src="http://www.digitalmediathoughts.com/images/2471_S10_2.jpg" /><br /><br />Hot on the heels of the new super small Shuffle, iRiver has their own ultra small player. If they can bring this in around the same price as the new Shuffle, this should be a winner. Of course, I've been saying that about most iRiver products for a while now and it never seems to come true. :?

[Vincent Ferrari]

I'd be utterly stunned if I see one person on the train with this thing.

Look, iRiver makes nice players. As does Sandisk.

HOWEVER,

It's not just about the hardware with the iPod. I wish manufacturers would realize that. It's not just "Oh look, here's a music player that plays video, music, fm, voice records, records from your tv, plays back your photos, and is only the size of a postage stamp."

That's definitely part of it, I guess.

But what Apple has done that, so far, no one has mastered is create a seamless user experience with very unrestrictive DRM (or none, but let's be realistic) that offers a large variety of songs and other content in a store for a price people would pay.

If hardware were the only consideration, Apple's iPod would be an also-ran. However, since it's not, they have to compete on every front:

1. The hardware.
2. The UI of the player.
3. The accompanying software.

Apple may be behind as far as features on item 1, but they're light years ahead on 3 and probably a tie with some of the others on 2.

[Tim Williamson]

1. The hardware.
2. The UI of the player.
3. The accompanying software.

Apple may be behind as far as features on item 1, but they're light years ahead on 3 and probably a tie with some of the others on 2.

I'd say #3 still needs a little work...what about the ability to monitor your music directories and automatically add them to your iTunes library? That's my main gripe with iTunes.

In addition to what you've mentioned, I think owning an iPod is still very trendy...who doesn't want to "fit in"? ;)

[Vincent Ferrari]

I manage my library with iTunes, so there's no time when things aren't automatically added to my library. I'm sure most people who use iTunes do, because they've become accustomed to it. There's proably a percentage of people who use iTunes solely to move music onto their iPod, but that's really not what it's made for so "adding folders" is probably not a necessary feature in Apple's eyes.

Trendiness used to be the case, but part of trendiness is exclusivity. There's nothing exclusive about anything owned by 75% of the market for a product. You're definitely right that it's cooler to own an iPod at this point (anyone arguing the point is nuts) but I have to say that factor is vanishing little by little as the guy standing on a street corner looks next to him and sees his iPod in someone else's hands...

[jeffd]

vince, unrestrictive drm? itunes? since when? Last I checked, non ipods still cant play itunes stuff. ^^ I think that tiny player looks hot, saddly I doubt it will beable to power my 280pro's :(

[Vincent Ferrari]

The iTunes DRM is almost totally transparent and is very liberal. As many players as you want on up to 5 authorized computers, all with burning rights.

Windows Media stores, on the other hand, restrict what can be subscribed to (if the store does subscriptions), and restrict whether or not you can burn the file at all.

Big difference.

Non-iPods can't play iTunes music because iTunes wasn't designed for non-iPods. Just like iPods can't play WM DRM music. It's just the way of the world. You have a widely supported standard that nobody wants versus a standard supported by one manufacturer that everyone wants, so I doubt that Apple is crying over the fact that you can't play their songs on a Creative Muvo S. nano mini super solid gold version 2 W.

[sundown]

Features and style aside, the first thing I thought when I saw that pic is "geez, that's too small". It seems like everyone is racing to build the smallest devices but at some point usability goes down. I don't want a brick but I also don't want a postage stamp. Maybe if they only were to cost $20 so I could replace it everytime I accidentally send it through the washer in my pants or it falls out of my pocket when I lean over (I'm NOT wearing it around my neck).

[Jason Eaton]

Artistically the headphone jack should be in the center so that the device hangs more like a pendant. Then they could have colored backgrounds the user chooses and such to match the outfit.

I am surprised no one has made a model that fits behind the ear like the Jabarra headsets. So one side has the player tucked behind the ear and the other side gets a thin wire to the other headphone.

[jeffd]

vince, and that, my friend, is why apple sucks and should die in a fire. I dont want an ipod.. there are imo better players.. and because apple dosnt want to play with everyone else, they can suck it.

[Vincent Ferrari]

Dude... If you don't like iPods, here's a novel idea...

Ready?

Here comes... Write it down...

Don't.

Buy.

One.

If you need me to explain what that means, let me know.

Ya know, not for nothing, but I could make the exact same argument in reverse. I don't like Windows Media DRM because it doesn't work with my iPod. Considering I'm like 76% of the MP3 player owners in this country, shouldn't Microsoft bend to fit my player choice?

Obviously not. And it's a stupid argument no matter how you make it.

If you like iTunes, buy an iPod.

If you don't, buy a CD or a windows DRM player. I hear Creative has a muvo+ extreme w edition special gold version 3 coming out soon.

[ale_ers]

Windows Media stores, on the other hand, restrict what can be subscribed to (if the store does subscriptions), and restrict whether or not you can burn the file at all.

Big difference.


Actually there is very little difference. You are not comparing apples to apples (sorry for the pun). If you buy a song on a plays for sure store, you can do the same things with it as an itunes song. The subscription model is completely different. This is a feature that itunes doesn't offer, and has many benefits (unlimited downloads) and a lot of restrictions. But you can't compare the two.

I used itunes before, and it worked very well. But I think everyone who puts down Windows Media Player and it's stores need to take another look. The features and ease of use of Urge and WMP 11 Beta 2 are just as good and maybe even better than what itunes offers (speaking musically I know they lack movies).

Both itunes and WMP have their advantages, and both work well. When people talk about itunes being so much better, I think that means they just haven't tried anything new in a while.

[Damion Chaplin]

The iTunes DRM is almost totally transparent and is very liberal. As many players as you want on up to 5 authorized computers, all with burning rights.

You mean to say as many iPods as you want on up to 5 authorized computers.

The fact that the DRM is restricted to one type of proprietary player means that it is not, in fact, 'very liberal' at all...

[SteveHoward999]

Of course all this bickering on whether an iPod is grea ot not, whether iTunes is the devil or not etc is quite different if you never use DRM music.

I bought one of the first 10Gb iPods, which came with MusicMatch, not iTunes. I ripped all my CDs and filled my iPod, and I was happy.

Then my music collection grew, and I married my wife so it grew again. So now I have a 30 Gb iPod 4. I sill only have my (ehem, OUR) music collection on it. I have no DRM issues because I don't want to be ripped off at a dollar per song to then have restrictions on what device I can listen to my music on.

So my wife now has a MobiBlu Cube http://store.mobibluamerica.com/damp3pl1.html , which is tiny, cute and has decent battery life. She can take any of our existing mp3 files and play them on the cube without ever caring about DRM. Or listen to the radio. Or Podasts. Or whatever.

Down with DRM, I say.

And long live mp3 players of ANY brand. Because really it's about the music.

[Tim Williamson]

Of course all this bickering on whether an iPod is grea ot not, whether iTunes is the devil or not etc is quite different if you never use DRM music.

I bought one of the first 10Gb iPods, which came with MusicMatch, not iTunes. I ripped all my CDs and filled my iPod, and I was happy.

Then my music collection grew, and I married my wife so it grew again. So now I have a 30 Gb iPod 4. I sill only have my (ehem, OUR) music collection on it. I have no DRM issues because I don't want to be ripped off at a dollar per song to then have restrictions on what device I can listen to my music on.

So my wife now has a MobiBlu Cube http://store.mobibluamerica.com/damp3pl1.html , which is tiny, cute and has decent battery life. She can take any of our existing mp3 files and play them on the cube without ever caring about DRM. Or listen to the radio. Or Podasts. Or whatever.

Down with DRM, I say.

And long live mp3 players of ANY brand. Because really it's about the music.

I'm with you there. I rip my own MP3's so I don't ever have to deal with DRM.