Amazon.com Product Review
The remarkable 1 GB iRiver U10 features an eye-catching, direct-click interface that makes it easy to fly through your media collection and find the right song, video, photo, or game. The U10 has a vivid 2.2-inch LCD screen for watching videos and playing Flash-based games. It supports MP3s, WMAs, ASF, OGG, JPG, and Flash Lite 1.1 files as well as MPEG-4 SP video at 320 x 240 pixels (QVGA). Plus, the iRiver U10 supports Microsoft Windows Media Player 10 and is compatible with a variety of online music stores and subscription services. It also features an FM tuner with recording and alarm functions.
Measuring just 2.7 by 1.8 by 0.6 inches and weighing a mere 2.5 ounces, the U10 is about the size of a business card. The U10 plays MPEG-4 Simple Profile (SP) files up to 320 x 240 pixels in size (encoded at a maximum of 384kbps and 15 frames per second, with audio encoded in MP3 up to 128kbps). Video can be converted with a free, downloadable utility called iRiverter.
It's so small, you can literally fit the U10 in the palm of your hand. |
The centerpiece of the U10 is its brilliant 2.2-inch color display, which also doubles up as the control interface. Unlike the touchscreens normally used on PDAs, the U10's "direct click" feature responds to gentle pressure from the fingertip, eliminating the need for pens and control keys.
A built-in microphone also makes the iRiver U10 an ultracompact dictation machine. Recording quality is freely selectable and is controlled automatically. A built-in FM tuner, complete with real-time clock and timer-controlled recording function, delivers perfect radio sound on the move. It also includes six Macromedia Flash Lite games, including Launch Fighters (a Space Invaders remake), Log Jam, Barn Baron flying game, and Sudoku.
Files are transferred via super-fast USB 2.0, and the U10 is compatible with Windows XP SP1 operating systems. It offers 10 EQ settings along with a user-defined EQ setting, and it offers SRS WOW virtual surround sound for a 3-D soundscape and superior bass. The internal, rechargeable lithium-polymer battery provides up to 28 hours of playback battery life, and it is recharged when connected to a PC via the included USB cable.
Optional Cradle With the U10's optional cradle, even more possibilities open up as the U10 combines with the FM tuner to provide a full-fledged multimedia alarm clock. It even includes a traditional snooze button for five minutes of extra sleep. When the U10 is sitting in its cradle, the line-in can hook up to other audio sources. Music from the stereo system, for example, can be MP3-encoded in real time and stored on the player. The cradle also includes a remote control.
What's in the Box iRiver U10 1 GB media player, stereo earphones, USB 2.0 cable, printed operating instructions, CD-ROM with installation software, preloaded music tracks from eMusic, and preloaded Macromedia Flash Lite games.
Customer Reviews
Average Customer Review
(27 customer reviews) 79 of 81 people found the following review helpful
The BEST Gadget in the World's history - the New King.,
April 6, 2006 David Shin - See all my reviews
This review is from: iriver U10 1 GB Music & Video Player (Electronics)
Before I start, let me tell you this:
The iPod brand was COPIED from iRiver!!!
Good! And remember that. Anyway, after receiving a U10 for review from iriver, I have written a big review about it: enjoy Very Happy
There's an interesting story behind the U10. Apparently, the head honcho at iRiver got together the whole design and engineering team back at base in Korea and told them to that they needed to change their thinking. He told them to go back to the drawing board and come up with something new - to make a complete U-turn with their thinking. U-Turn - U10, geddit.
It was a sensible idea. iRiver's range of largely me-too MP3 players were dull but worthy but there was no chance that these types of products were ever going to make any inroads on Apple's market share. Having said that, last year's N10, was one of the most stylish players ever, so there were previous signs that iRiver could come up with special products..
And if...Read more
23 of 23 people found the following review helpful
Wow!,
February 11, 2006 K. Bourgoin (Medford, MA) - See all my reviews
This review is from: iriver U10 1 GB Music & Video Player (Electronics)
This thing is great! Seriously, I just got mine a few days ago, and it is wonderful. The sound is pretty good, and the interface is very usable. It has many many more features than other players I was considering, and the video isn't as bad as others make it out to be. I mean, the screen is 2 inches, how high quality do you need! To make the video usable, you're going to need to download a tool called iriverter which is free and very easy to use.
The only drawback is the storage size, but I'm just too impatient to wait until they come out with something bigger. This is really great even with only 1GB, and so tiny! I'd say this is much much better than a nano.
18 of 18 people found the following review helpful
Fantastic little device,
January 14, 2006 Buckwheat (usa) - See all my reviews
This review is from: iriver U10 1 GB Music & Video Player (Electronics)
The first thing I noticed about it is it's size. I have fairly big hands and can almost totally enclose it in one hand - can definitely palm it.
Next is the operation, the D-click system is very easy and kind of fun. Fingerprints are an issue but not a serious one unless you are a slob and/or like handeling your electronic stuff w/grubby/greasey hands.
The screen is very bright and visually appealing.
There is one multi-pin cable that attaches the unit to your computer via usb2 (wouldn't want to lose or break it). You can charge or do your information transfers or both via the cable. The unit offers an option for charging only or charge and transfer.
Since I hate WMP I drag and drop my mp3's via windows explorer -which works fine. It takes a little more work if you want to create playlists, but that's a fair trade off to me to avoid WMP.It does of course have that great iRiver sound quality.
The games are OK, but not my...Read more
