iRiver launches compact Flash video player

Get ready to squint

By Tony Smith • Get more from this author

Posted in Mobile, 7th July 2005 12:04 GMT

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iRiver will begin shipping its Flash-based personal video player, the U10, in the UK next month, the company said today.

iRiver U10 in docking station The iPod-white U10 sports either 512MB or 1GB of Flash memory for songs and video files. The latter are presented on the unit's 320 x 240 2.2in LCD. The whole unit measures a 6.9 x 4.7 x 1.6cm.

The screen is mounted above a navigation switch, allowing it to operate in a touch-sensitive fashion without actually being touch-sensitive.

In addition to the usual MP3, WMA 10 DRM and Ogg audio support, the U10 will also show JPEG photos and MPEG 4 video files. It also handles Flash animations, and can display text files.

There's a built-in microphone for voice recording, and an FM radio which can be used in conjunction with the U10's clock to operate as a alarm and to make scheduled recordings. iRiver is offering a separate original iMac-like docking unit and remote control that incorporates a pair of speakers, the better to enable this clock-radio functionality. There's even a snooze button. The cradle also allows the U10 to encode MP3 audio directly.

Both versions of U10 will be ship in the middle of August for £179 (1GB) and £159 (512MB). The optional docking station will be distributed via selected online shops at a price of £49. ®