The elegant iRiver H10 5GB plays up to 150 hours of digital music. It also features a vivid color display for simple navigation and viewing your digital photos, a rechargeable battery and a digital FM tuner.

Buy the iRiver H10

iRiver H10 Reviews

CNET Reviews reviews the iRiver H10 and gives it a ‘Very Good’ rating. They write – ‘As iRiver’s first 5GB entry, the H10 includes nearly every coveted feature, but navigating the player controls can frustrate some users. Sophisticated compact design with removable battery; solid sound quality and nice EQ options; excellent FM and voice recording; photo-friendly color screen; supports Windows Media DRM 10.0.’

PCWorld reviews the iRiver H10 and writes – ‘The highlight of the H10 is an attractive 1.5-inch display that, combined with an improved hardware-and-software interface, makes the player a joy to use. The touch-sensitive slider control makes navigating your music library a breeze, and IRiver has wisely abandoned the oversimplified folder structure that it used on previous hard-drive players. Now you can easily browse by artist, album, genre, or song title.

Music sounds good if you upgrade to a better set of headphones than the included earbuds. The player lets you add individual songs (but not albums or artists) to an on-the-go playlist called QuickList. I found that procedure a bit tedious in my tests; I imagine that most people will prefer to create playlists on their PCs and sync them to the device.’

Advancedmp3players reviews the iRiver H10 and writes – ‘The iriver H10 is the first player in its class to be equipped with a high contrast colour display with more than 260,000 colours. This not only makes intuitive navigation easier, it also lets you easily put together a slide show to show off your latest holiday pictures. Thanks to its compact dimensions and feather light weight of only 96 grams, this master of sound can be easily tucked into any handy pocket.’

iRiver H10 Press Release

The elegant iriver H10 5GB plays up to 150 hours of digital music. It also features a vivid color display for simple navigation and viewing your digital photos, a rechargeable battery and a digital FM tuner.

iRiver H10 Features

• Plays up to 150 hours of digital music
• 5GB of internal storage
• Vivid color display
• Ultra-intuitive interface with convenient touch strip
• Displays your digital photos
• Slim, lightweight design
• PlaysForSure enabled to play more of your music
• Rechargeable, removable battery lasts up to 12hrs.
• Built-in FM tuner and FM recorder
• Integrated voice recorder
• Ultra-fast USB 2.0 transfers
• Supports MP3, WMA, JPEG and TXT files
• Enhanced 3D audio (supports SRS WOW™)

Basic specs for iRiver H10

Weight– 3.4 oz
Battery technology– Lithium ion
Color– Trance red
Device type– Digital AV recorder
Key multimedia features– FM tuner, Voice recorder, Digital audio player, Digital photo viewer, Digital audio recorder
Hard drive– 5 GB
Display type– TFT 1.5 in – Color
Supported still images formats– JPEG
Supported audio formats– MP3, WMA, WMA DRM, MPEG 1 Audio, MPEG 2 Audio, MPEG 2.5 Audio
Radio– FM: 87.5 – 108 MHz
PC interfaces– USB
Battery– Internal – Rechargeable – Lithium ion -
Included accessories– USB cable, AC adapter, Carrying case, Stereo headphones
Dimensions (WxDxH)– 2.2 in x 0.6 in x 3.8 in
Battery– Lithium ion Rechargeable Internal

Compare Price on the iRiver H10

WHAT designs do the young and hip really want on their MP3 players? Most MP3 makers seem to have no idea.
At the recent Computex exhibition at Taipei, many MP3 players were clones of the Apple iPod series.
One wonders if these guys actually talk to their potential clients. Here in Singapore, Samsung has decided to leave the design to the consumers themselves. Samsung has organised Singapore’s first-ever MP3 Covers & Accessories Design Competition to promote creativity and innovation among youths and the industry. Mr Kim Jeong Wook, managing director of Samsung’s electronic business division, will be one of the judges – together with designer Mark Ong and Singapore idol Taufik Batisah.
WIN A TRIP TO IBIZA
Participants stand a chance to win up to $8,000 cash and a trip to Ibiza in Spain.
This design contest is open to entrants from three categories:
Full-time students (under 17 years old)
Full-time students (17 years old and above)
Open (professionals and public)
HOW TO ENTER
Download the blank design template for the Samsung YH-820 or the YP-F1 players at www.samsungmp3.net and let your creative juices pour onto the page! All entries must be submitted by 31 Aug, 6pm.
They will be judged based on: Originality and creativity (40 per cent), aesthetics (40 per cent), relating to the Samsung Theme of ‘Wear Your Music’ (20 per cent). Results of the top three winners of each category will be posted on the website by 30 Sep.

newpaper.asia1.com.sg

AOL said on Thursday it would offer free music downloads through AOLMusic.com that would carry tunes from popular mainstream artists – without digital rights management. The songs would come in the traditional MP3 format without restrictions, meaning the user would be able to do with the track as they pleased. The selections will change each month, and AOL told BetaNews that 16 artists would be featured at launch. The number of tracks would vary, AOL said, based on agreements between the company and record labels. While other MP3-based music stores have surfaced in recent months, none have provided mainstream artists due to resistance from the record industry. AOL’s offering would be the first legal MP3-based download catalog. AOL previously offered downloadable tracks in WMA format, but those were restricted by DRM and could not be played on Apple’s ubiquitous iPod audio player.
Some of the first artists to be featured include Tommy Lee, Bright Eyes, The Veronicas, Interpol, Dwight Yokum, Hawthorne Heights, Tegan and Sara, The Shins, and Deep Dish.

AOLMusic.com receives about 25.9 million visitors per month.

betanews.com

The Sony NW-E105 Network Walkman – is a perfect Flash MP3 Player, available with 256MB, 512MB and 1GB of Flash storage. Sony gives you more time with up to 70 hours of battery life. The Backlit LCD Display provides easy viewing of song data, so you’ve got more control of your tunes.
In addition to the usual Sony support for ATRAC 3 and ATRAC 3 Plus, the players will support MP3 natively.

Buy the Sony NW-E105 Network Walkman

Sony NW-E105 Network Walkman Reviews

Advancedmp3players.co.uk reviews the Sony NW-E105 Network Walkman MP3 player and writes – ‘If it’s sharp looks and sporty design you’re after in an MP3 player, say hello to the NW-E100 series. The Sony NW-E105 features 512 MB capacity and can transfer up to 345 songs on to the internal memory thanks to ATRAC3plus compression technology

A round, ergonomic design delivers uncluttered and easy control, while an LCD window enables users to refer to song, artist, or album titles while listening to music. All models in the series also deliver 70 hours of Stamina battery life with just one AAA alkaline battery.’

CNET Reviews the Sony NW-E105 Network Walkman MP3 player and gives it a ‘Very good’ rating. They write – ‘Unsurprisingly, with native MP3 support and competitive pricing, Sony pits its player against the leaders of the pack.

The first thing that stands out about the NW-E105 is the fact that it’s priced to compete squarely with Apple’s iPod Shuffle. This is an uncharacteristic move for Sony–the company’s audio players are usually priced on the high side; for example, its 20GB NW-HD1 originally sported a $400 tag, but it’s now $300. Perhaps more surprising, however, is that the NW-E105 includes a decent sampling of features. You can browse through songs or through folders labeled by album, and there are several playback options from which to choose: repeat all, repeat single, shuffle all repeat, repeat group, and shuffle group repeat. Within the menu, you can select whether you want the track info or time elapsed shown on the LCD. You can also turn the alert on or off (this is a loud beep when you switch tracks; we recommend “off”), choose to have the backlight always off, set the date and time–which pops up on screen when you hold down the menu button–and activate AVLS. This last feature is Sony’s Automatic Volume Limiter System, which limits the max volume to prevent “auditory disturbance.” Normally, we would doubt the usefulness of such a feature, but when we turned the NW-E105 all the way up–or almost all the way–we understood; this thing gets loud.

Fantastic battery life; inexpensive; solid sound quality; gets really loud; innovative rocking faceplate controls.’

Sony NW-E105 Network Walkman Press Release

Sony NW-E105 Features

Ultra Compact Portable Design
Weighing in at less than one ounce, the player fits comfortably in the palm of your hand or can easily be carried in a pocket or purse.
• 512MB1 Built-In Memory
Stores up to 345 songs3 on the device.
• Up to 70 Hours1 Battery Life with one “AAA” Battery
Up to 70 hours of continuous playback on one “AAA” battery.
• Plays Back MP3/ATRAC3®/ATRAC3plus™ Audio Formats3
For the music connoisseur, use the included software and hardware to store and play back your collection of MP3s. For the digital music novice, Sony’s ATRAC® format provides higher sound quality with smaller sizes than many competing formats. This enables you to store more music and have longer listening times.
• Backlit LCD Display
Provides easy viewing of song data and much more.
• Supports WMA and WAV Audio Formats5
The Network Walkman player plays back ATRAC3®, ATRAC3plus™ format and MP3 files4, and supports WMA and WAV5.
• Easy Toggle Navigation
Navigate through tracks, albums and settings by using the large face of the product and “rock” it back and forth to make a selection.
• Transfer Personal Downloaded Music and CD Recordings
Between your CDs and your PC, create your own music mixes for on-the-go enjoyment.
• Compatible with the Connect™ Music Store
The Connect™ Music Store provides an easy method for downloading personal music. Connect™ Music Store offers access to an extensive online music library including many independent titles as well as featured artist and celebrity mixes. www.connect.com
• Music Management Software Supplied
Import, manage and easily transfer your digital music collections with the supplied music management software.
• Skip-Proof Design with No Moving Parts
For uninterrupted playback even while carrying the Network Walkman player during active uses.
• Connects to USB Port for High-Speed Data Transfer
After mixes have been created in the jukebox, they are easily transferred at high speed to the device.
• Multi Language Display
Displays encoded text that can include the artist name, disc name, and/or track name.

Sony NW-E105 Specifications

Inputs and Outputs:
• Outputs: Headphone (Stereo Mini Jack)
• Input: USB

Power:

• Power Requirements: “AAA” Alkaline Battery (not included)
• Battery Life (Approximately): Up to 70 Hours1 of continuous playback with one “AAA” Battery (not included)

Supplied Accessories:

• SonicStage® Software
• Headphones (MDR-E808)
• USB Cable

Colors:

• Harmony Blue and Electric White

Weights and Measurements:

• Weight: .92 oz (26g)
• Dimensions: 2.21” x 2.21” x .76″ (56.2 x 56.2 x 19.2mm)

Compare Price on the Sony NW-E105 Network Walkman

Satellite radio service XM announced on Tuesday that it would partner with Samsung to introduce MP3 players with satellite radio capability by year’s end. The players would use XM’s Connect-and-Play technology and come with a home accessory kit to allow access to the satellite radio.

“XM’s award-winning programming and technology provide us with a unique opportunity to offer products that empower consumers and fundamentally change the way people listen to music,” D.J. Oh, President and CEO of Samsung Electronics of America, said in a statement.

The devices would also allow the user to record XM radio content when it is connected to a home or car accessory kit. Unconnected, it would act as a normal MP3 player, but would also allow playback of recorded content, as well as MP3 or WMA files.

The only other device to allow recording of XM content is Delphi’s MyFi, however it does not have MP3 capability. XM’s terms of service state that recording of service content is prohibited unless through an approved device.

With the Samsung players, users would be able to select certain songs to download after hearing them on an XM radio channel.

betanews.com

Interesting Column from cooltechzone.com written by Gundeep Hora:

Seriously, I think we’ve all heard enough about Apple’s iPod! It was somewhat revolutionary back when it first launched, but there are far more competent MP3 players that deserve our attention nowadays. For the Apple fans reading this, let me clarify that I am not against Apple or its products. Apparently, as I have found after publishing previous articles, a number of you can’t take it when someone gives Apple a hard time. Now that we are clear on that, I must say that the iPod is more or less an epidemic these days. I can understand why it’s a fashion accessory for teenagers, but when an entire business model, a plethora of similar product designs and ridiculous number of accessories are made for the iPod exclusively, I believe it’s crossing the fine line of supporting a particular product and insanity.

It’s all Hype, Anyway:
As the subheading reads, Apple’s iPod isn’t what it used to be; it’s completely surviving on its past reputation and the fact that every teenager seems to want one, all thanks to his/her equally “tech savvy” group of friends. Back when Apple first introduced it, it was something special that generated a lot of well-deserved buzz. Not anymore, though. From a technical standpoint and from the looks of the player, it’s pretty decent but there are far better alternatives out there than the iPod. Whenever Apple makes an announcement related to the iPod, the media is all over the story, as if Apple is the soothsayer of all portable audio players. But how come the same media doesn’t give well-deserved attention to the likes of Samsung, Rio, iRiver or Creative. After all, these companies have produced products that can literally kill the iPod family of MP3 players from a technical and features standpoint. The only thing saving the iPod is its clientele of teenagers and the once innovative appearance. Read more

Rio, the erstwhile giant of the portable MP3 player market, is to become little more than a name after current owner D&M Holdings admitted yesterday its has sold the loss-making division’s intellectual property, and technology and engineering resources to MP3 chip maker SigmaTel.

The financial terms underpinning the deal were not disclosed, but D&M described it as an “attractive offer” which will, in part, yield an exeptional item of $7m to D&M’s Q2 FY2005 results.

D&M – which is best known for its Denon and Marantz hi-fi brands – has been trying to reduce the money its Rio division was losing for some time. The deal allows it to focus its product development efforts on the user-level elements, relying on SigmaTel to handle the core technologies. Because of its size and focus, SigmaTel is better able to deal with the cost of developing those technologies than Rio is.

SigmaTel was already supplying device controller chips to Rio. It provides similar products to other companies, such as Samsung and Creative, and so they too will be able to benefit from the technology SigmaTel has acquired. But since D&M has been granted a “no-fee, grant-back” licence, presumably they will pay more for products containing Rio-derived technology than D&M will – provided it continues to buy SigmaTel chips, of course. Read more

The latest ultra-thin compact player from Rio, the ce2100 is perfect for the average music collection. 2.5GB of memory stores up to 40 hours of MP3 or 80 hours of WMA music. With storage for up to 625 songs, the ce2100 has just the right amount of room for your collection and room to grow – whether you purchase CDs or online music. Up to 20 hours of battery life also gives you plenty of listening enjoyment between charges.

Buy the Rio ce2100

Rio ce2100 Reviews

CNET Reviews reviews the Rio ce2100 and gives it a ‘Very Good’ rating. They write – ‘Is 1GB of memory too little and 5GB too much? The Rio ce2100 could be just the middle ground you’re searching for. Gorgeous ultraslim design; supports DRM subscription downloads; plays Audible content; excellent battery life; great sound. Anyone seeking an attractive, Windows Media-friendly audio player. If you’re looking for a beautiful, versatile, long-lasting audio player, you should definitely consider the Rio–but not necessarily this Rio.’

Compshopper reviews the Rio ce2100 and writes – ‘The ce2100 is a top-notch player that’s easy to use and has great sound, but the price could be a drawback. At ?120 it’s expensive for a 2.5GB player and not much less than a 4GB iPod mini. That said, there’s a lot to like about this player, and you won’t be disappointed with the results.’

Rio ce2100 Press Release

From the Manufacturer

The sleek and compact 40 GB Rio ce2100 digital music player holds up to 1,200 hours of your favorite songs. Plus, you can transfer and store digital pictures and view them on the vivid color display. It also features a rechargeable battery that lasts up to 16 hours, enhanced 3D sound, ultra-fast USB 2.0 file transfers, and simple navigation. It’s one of the first players to be fully compliant with Microsoft’s Windows Media Player 10 secure music format that is used by such online music services as Napster. The iRiver 300 series also includes the H320 model, which has a 20 GB hard drive.

Rio ce2100 Features

Product type– Microdrive
PC interface(s) supported– Hi-Speed USB
Digital storage– Built-in 2.5 GB Hard disk drive
Digital player supported digital audio standards– MP3, WMA, Audible
Weight– 3.2 oz
Mfr estimated battery life– 20 hour(s)
Included accessories– Carrying case
Software type– Rio Music Manager, Drivers & Utilities
Remote control– None
Headphones type– Binaural Ear-bud
Cable(s) included– USB cable -
Battery– 1 x Rechargeable Player battery
Rio Carbon ce2100 Dimensions: 2.5″ W x 3.3″ H x 0.6″ D

Box Contents:
Rio Carbon ce2100 2.5 GB Player, Carry Case, High Quality Earbuds, Power Adapter, USB Cable, Installation Disk, Quick Start Guide, Warranty Card

Compare Price on the Rio ce2100

Having declared its intention to become the leader of the global MP3 player industry by 2007, Koreas largest electronics maker Samsung Electronics appears to have sold more MP3 players than the current Korean leader Reigncom in the first half of the year.
Industry sources said Sunday that during the first half of the year, Samsung produced a monthly average of 270,000-280,000 units, slightly more than Reigncom with 250,000 units. This puts Samsung on a par with Reigncom, Singapores Creative and Rio of the United States in the competition for second place in the world market.

Last year, Samsung supplied 1.7 million MP3 players to the world market, including 390,000 units for the domestic market, while Reigncom sold 2.8 million units.

Apple is currently dominating the MP3 market with its hit model iPod, with several companies trailing it with 7~8 percent market shares. A Samsung official said it hasn’t confirmed whether the company had overtaken Reigncom, but it was true that the gap had greatly narrowed.

chosun.com

The question seller get asked more than any other about Portable MP3 Player is ‘How do I choose the right mp3 player?’ There are so many mp3 players currently on the market with more being introduced weekly – how does one make the decision of which mp3 player to choose? The MP3 player market covers a range of shapes, sizes, features, storage capacities, file formats, and download services.

‘First, there’s the question of design. A player can have every feature in the world, but if the design doesn’t match your lifestyle or if the interface is impenetrable, you still won’t enjoy it. You’ll want to look closely at performance; sound quality and battery life can make or break a player, especially if you travel a lot or have the so-called golden ears of an audiophile.

Before you start checking out specific models, you should have a basic understanding of the types of MP3 players available. Note: All types of player mentioned below can play other formats besides MP3, such as WMA, ATRAC3, OGG, or AAC, but we still refer to them as MP3 players.’

Universal MP3 player buying guide on Reviews.cnet.com will help you pick the perfect player. Read more…