Rating: Summary: Impressive Review: I was happily surprised by the features of this player. The volume is more than I expected, and adjustable bass boost is nice. A more robust player at this price you will not find. What I really like, which nobody else seems to mention, is the Napster compatability. After updating all of your software and firmware (links for how to do this can be found in windows media player or somewhere in the iRiver website, make sure to follow every step to the letter) you can take music you buy online and copy them right to the iRiver using Windows Media Player letting them play, DRM and all. If I had known this before I would have been much less hesitant to buy, since I have a fair number of tracks sitting idle inside of napster just waiting to find a player. Downsides: when you hold it in your hand it feels... unsubstantial. I fear it may be a tad fragile, but I don't think this will end in tragedy for those users who take care not to leave it on floors on on high edges, etc. From what I read there are few flash-based players without similar problems so if you want better durability you would be advised to pay more for something made to last. And yes, the battery door makes me a bit edgy. Overall this looks like the best player in this price-range, with features to match even more expensive players. For what it is and costs, this is near-flawless.
Rating: Summary: Size does not matter Review: This small mp3 player comes with great quality. 256mb is a lot. I can play aroung 3 hours of music on it. Sound quality is awesome. And the sound is really loud at max. You just need better headphones. Can't use the ones that come with it. Batter life is great. With one AA battery lasting for about 18-19 hours is really good. It has a good transfer rate for music download from your pc. Display is more then average, certainly not the best, but I dont have to look at the display all the time. Also, having voice recorder and fm player are add-ons. It is a small mp3 player, with good price, quality and features. Certainly for the those, who do not require huge space. I would certainly recommend it.
Rating: Summary: Avoid this like the plague! Review: If you want this because it's upgradeable in the firmware, avoid it like the plague!I tried to upgrade mine to the latest firmware from a download at the iRiver site. I followed all of the instructions which include first formatting the unit and now my player won't work no matter what I try to do. I'm out $150! The return policy and procedure at Amazon is vague. There is no phone number to contact Amazon to find out if my unit would be received. Trying to do anything through e-mail is like a turtle trying to win the Daytona 500! Man! What a bad experience! I don't believe I'll be buying anything else from Amazon...for one reason only: no phone number to their customer service dept.
Rating: Summary: Very neat and very good idea. Review: Just got this player in hand and like it immediately. After a while, I realize it can't delete files without a PC, which is the only down side I can find. It could be fixed by firmwares. I am not talking about sound since I didn't expect a Hi-Fi Receiver like sound anyway. The functions: voice recording and MP3 FM player are very tightly compacted.What would I expected? a digital camera also? I am not worried about USB speed and so on, the use of the small triangle is very easy. Bottom line: for this price and at this time, it is very nice piece.
Rating: Summary: Can I buy a armband of this product Review: I am not sure I can buy a armband or use a armband for this product. I only saw iFP-195T has this option. If anyone knows, please tell me. Appreciate!
Rating: Summary: Comment about the "REC" format. Review: Basically, "REC" format is the Real One Player's recording format. And as many know, the "REC" format is the "MP3" format. If you want to make a MP3 file from a REC file (Real.com), just change the extension 'REC' to 'mp3'. That's all. Easy enough. You don't have to change the recorded file to the wav and again change to the mp3 format. And one more tip. Winamp can directly play "REC" file. (If not, download the latest version of Winamp. 2.x version works well.) So you do NOT even have to change to MP3 format. :)
Rating: Summary: Hard decsion made even easier through peformance Review: Wow, I spent nearly a month researching MP3/Flash Player's that suited me the best... and finally settled on this one, despite heavy thought of purchasing iRiver iFP-180T or MPIO models. I orignally perferred MPIO over the 180T because of the memory expansion slot & MPIO package including arm band, and belt buckle. Twenty reviews later decided against MPIO, because of repeated reports of poor service But I put them to the test. I emailed both online support companies asking them a phoney question (after spending a half an hour, trying to find MPIOs' online contact info. due to there horrible website), and 48 hours later, iRiver had contacted me with a professional response, and I figure the MPIO Koreans are still trying to decypher my question, hense still no reply a week in a half later. I decided against 180T because I felt the memory wasn't enough for me, so here I am with a 190T, best $158 I have ever spent. After spending 15minutes trying to get it out of the package, and another 20minutes reading the manual and getting everything installed I was ready to listen to some music. I suggest you download UMS Firmware (www.iriveramerica.com/support/ums.asp?190), and install it to the player, so you can you use the 'drag and drop' feature, which makes it sooo much more user friendly. I use it as a flash drive to transport files from my PC to my schools' PC, and even listen to music in class with little noticability, due to its small size. :-P I also reccomend a battery recharger, its nearly a must, because in the long run, if you use the player as much as I do, the recharger will easily pay for its self... but if you're rich, and have no problem buying countless batteries go for it. Even though you're stuck with just a necklace in packaging, you can still order the armband from iRivers Estore, which I plan to do in the next hour. Now some of the bad features... like someone said before... the USB 1.1 is a bit slow, but who really cares... and something I havn't experenced yet is the destruction of the buttons... I hope with a later model like mine, they've made the buttons much better, but I wont find out for another month, or hopefully longer. And of coarse the ugly gold look, I hate it, believe it or not, it was the original factor not to go with the 190T, and go with the 180T, but I figured no one else was going to see it in case, and it would be our hidious little secret. The FM reception is a bit choppy, but I'm out in the sticks in Wisconsin, so dont worry about having bad reception if you're in the city. Other than that, this player is great! The extra 128MB was only 40 sum dollars, if you compare to the 180T. The green backlight is sexy :-p ... the earphones actually fit my ears :-) It was everything I'd hope it would be, and as long as it doesnt self destruct in 4 Monthes, it will continue to be awesome, and the thought if it does break, the nice people at iRiver can always fix it for me. Amazons free shipping made it the cheapest price all around on the net, excluding used, UPS even got it to me four days early :)) ... any questions I'll be happy to answer them, email me at crazy187sin@hotmail.com.
Rating: Summary: There is now a 500-series too Review: I wrote a previous review with the title, "Great player, but the 300-series is even better." Prospective buyers should know that there is now a 500-series, but it seems to be available only on the iRiver web site for now. It is a different shape (more rectangular), has a non-removable lithium-ion battery (instead of AA) that recharges either through an AC adaptor or while connected to a USB port, and it includes optical out and the ability to record with an external microphone (not included). It's at least as small and light as the earlier series. (A one gigabyte version is also avaiable, the iFP-599.) The slightly different design seems to make the "lock" needed less often as one is less likely to push a button accidentally. More information available on the INTERNATIONAL iRiver web site. I would give the 500-series 5 stars.
Rating: Summary: makes you want to give up on technology all together! Review: Horrible, Horrible, Horrible...a crying 10-year-old and several friends with technology-related backgrounds to help and still no satisfaction. This gift was the "Grinch that stole Christmas" that comes with a bold insert disclaimer that says " STOP Before you return it...call this number..." That says it all. The Manual was written by people trying to save money on paper and printing (the only explanation for what should get the Technical Writers worse Written Award). The folks on the other end of the number were polite...but not encouraging or helpful (although they did admit to the manual's flaws) CAN'T download from LEGAL websites (this you find out after you purchase a membership online...and then Call the enclosed phone # and wait 37 minutes for a LIVE voice.) Get ready Amazon...ours is coming back!
Rating: Summary: Good Quality/ Best Customer Service Review: I got my IFP-190T almost 6 month ago from Korea. I brought it to the States, but battery cover was broken. I contacted to the iRiver service center in Korea, then they suggested me to contact to iRiver America. So I sent an email with description of the problem to them. Just an hour later, thet replied my email in a same day with the return instruction. I sent my 'broken' mp3 player body. A week later, they send me the "BRAND NEW" iriver with no charge, FREE~!! Awesome~ I did not assumed that I could get the new player, even it is still under factory warranty. They did not asked anything but the purchasing day. The iRiver company trust the customer, at least I think, and they are doing their best on service. I like the spirit of iRiver company. They make the best mp3 players and also they are doing the best customer service in the world. I think I should let you know iRiver's service to you all. This is the most important thing to all customer. I strongly recommend to get the iRiver product. It does not matter what model you want, do not hesitate. Just get it..You won't regret to get iRiver product forver.
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