iRiver Launches ‘Premium’ MP3 Players for Holidays

We’ve heard of these units before, but this seems to be the official announcement that they’re now on the market for the US audience.

Available immediately from the iRiver eStore (and soon other locations), the N10 and iFP-900 series players are the latest iRiver models to grace our shores. Each is fairly unique to the lineup.

The iFP-900 series units expand iRiver’s flash units into the color-LCD market, with a 260K color backlit LCD, enabling high quality GUI for navigating and playing music (see the screenshot!), as well as the ability to view digital photo files directly on the device. The units pack a rechargeable Li-Ion battery pack that can deliver up to 40 hours of playback. Not back for only 63g (Battery included) and a small 64 x 51 x 19.1 mm frame.

The iFP-900 units come with the full wealth of standard features, such as a digital FM tuner, wide format support (MPEG 1/2/2.5 Layer 3, WMA, OGG, ASF), voice recorder, FM recording, and line-in direct recording. It also features 3D enhanced sound playback, and fast USB2.0 connections for data transfer. The 900 series all come with player, earphones, armband and case, neck strap, preloaded eMusic tracks, USB2 and line-in cables, and an AC adapter.

MSRP starts at $199.99 for the 256MB model, which while somewhat more expensive than comparable units, encompasses the wealth of features, great battery, color LCD, and advanced functions.

The N10 is one of the ‘pendant’ players we don’t get to see much in the US. Weighing in at a mere 29g with battery, and 28 x 63 x 14 mm in size, the N10 is designed to hang around your neck all day long.

Like most iRiver players, the N10 may be small on size, but not on features. The N10 packs in the usual wide format support (MPEG 1/2/2.5 Layer 3, WMA, ASF, no Ogg listed at the moment), 3D sound, FM tuner with presets, voice recorder, and USB-port-rechargeable Li-Polymer battery that offers up to 11 hours of battery life under optimal conditions. And as a flash player, you can carry any other data around as well.

Much like the iFP-990 is the first unit to venture into color LCD display tech, the N10 is the first iRiver unit to feature an OLED screen, with 16 gray levels for better visuals, but without nearly the battery draw of similar screens. The only downside to the N10 is that it is a USB1.1 device – but with smaller sizes, and USB-charging, we can overlook that for the moment.

MSRP for the N10 models start as $149.99 for 128MB (Amazon is a bit cheaper) – maybe pricey, but not given the size and packed-in feature set. In addition to the player, you get a neck-strap made to comfortably carry the unit all day long, with integrated earphones, an adapter for connecting ‘normal’ earphones, and a USB adapter.

Read on for the full press release. Otherwise, click through to Amazon and pick up your newest player – and don’t forget to grab an while you’re at it!