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iRiver Preps Linux-based Media Player

Posted by michael on from the holds-thousands-of-baby-pictures dept.

Mr_Silver writes "Infosync is reporting that iRiver is soon to release the Linux based PMP-120 media player which through its colour screen can support MP3, ASF, Ogg Vorbis, JPEG, BMP, AVI, MP4, DivX 3.x, 4.x, 5.x, XviD, MPEG4 SP, Advanced SP and MPEG1. Technically very cool (even more so if it is hackable), but really really ugly. iRiver really should learn how to design nice looking hardware from the experts."

12 of 353 comments (clear)

  1. Enough already! by jargoone · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I'm so fucking sick and tired of people saying that things are ugly compared to the iPod. Yes, the iPod looks pretty decent, but who cares? I don't look, I listen! If you want to talk about size and ease-of-use, those are factors, but so are features and price. Not everyone needs a "good looking" mp3 player to validate themselves.

    Not to mention the fact that this unit isn't even ugly. I think it looks pretty damn nice, and probably will cost about as much as an iPod with FAR fewer features.

    1. Re:Enough already! by wooby · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Absolutely dead on. Function is beauty when it comes to something that feature filled. The only problem I can see with the unit, that is related to aesthetics, is the usability factor. I can't tell from the pictures how intuitive its interface will be. Even slight interface problems can really be annoying with devices that have few human inputs.

    2. Re:Enough already! by L4ck_0f_54n17y · · Score: 5, Funny

      I agree that the ipod is very sexy, but do you really want to pay hundreds more and/or sacrifice features, just for a few ounces of molded plastic?

      I have a simple solution to those who find the PMP-120 ugly: print out a picture of the ipod, and tape it on the back, and voila! You have an awesome multimedia device AND it looks like an ipod!

    3. Re:Enough already! by Jugalator · · Score: 5, Insightful

      I actually don't like Apple's designs, but it seems like people like me are in minority... :-P

      Sure, I found Apple's anonymous white boxes being cool for to their innovative minimalism but now I'm so fed up with this design in everything Apple makes.

      Same goes for Aqua btw. It's about as exciting as Windows XP's Luna is to me now. Of course not as candy-like and colorful, but still just as overexposed. Still just as boring and dull. Get rid of the fucking jelly buttons already! Oh well, I guess I just like new things every now and then and Apple don't. Probably to preserve their brand...

      I personally think that iRiver thing is perfectly fine for use amongst people without getting ashamed of it. And then the visual requirements are satisfied for me, and I proceed to look at the features. *gasp*

      --
      Beware: In C++, your friends can see your privates!
  2. Ugly? you're wrong! by Quebec · · Score: 5, Insightful

    You find the iRiver ugly???
    I'm sorry not to agree with you, cheap plastic design "A La Apple" is definitivly not the norm in my book, actually the iRiver looks nicer than anything that was made by Apple. (Did my french head got the right "than" this time?).

    P.S.: can't wait to be able to buy one myself!

  3. PIMP-120 by TubeSteak · · Score: 5, Funny

    Did anyone else originally read the subject as the iRiver PIMP-120?

    --
    [Fuck Beta]
    o0t!
    1. Re:PIMP-120 by chiller2 · · Score: 5, Funny

      Did anyone else originally read the subject as the iRiver PIMP-120?

      Well, it is a player ;)

      Ok, ok I'll get my coat!

      --
      --- Commission free trading & free stock up to $500 - use http://share.robinhood.com/kelvinp6 :)
  4. The last time i-River tried to do that... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Informative

    Apple threatened to sue them. i-River had wanted to use a the rounded scroll navigation wheel with their ihp-120, Apple told them they would legal action to protect their intellectual property rights.

    1. Re:The last time i-River tried to do that... by manWorkSucks · · Score: 5, Insightful

      definitely apple's idea too. nothing like a jog/shuttle dial on VCR.

      --
      NERDS!!!!
  5. Not for me by Jahf · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Sorry, but I don't see a reason to carry around a portable video player unless I can see stuff from my TiVo and/or a DVD on it without having to take a few hours prep'ing/converting the files.

    I realize that is a long way off, I'm not expecting it tomorrow. I'm just trying to figure out the mass market applications for this other than to have a box that does a ton of things (that it often isn't used for) while listening to my music.

    Part of the reason I use a portable player (Neuros, not iPod) is to have a device that is small enough to be convenient (ok, the Neuros isn't as good an example of that as the iPod) -and- is fairly rugged. As in doesn't have a screen that I am worried about cracking or scratching.

    Now if it plugged in to a DVD reader of some sort, even if over a network share to my PC, and allowed me to rip content to it for travel ... HELL yes, I would go for it. But not the current generations of machines.

    --
    It is more productive to voice thoughtful opinions (reply) than to judge (moderate) others.
  6. I think we all know what this is for by chaotixx · · Score: 5, Funny
    Judging from the demo pictures on the unit (from the article link), it looks like iRiver is thinking what I'm thinking.

    Pr0n to go!

  7. *Munch munch* by Lord+Graga · · Score: 5, Funny

    Well, that's cool, but can we install windows on it?