Gizmodo: w10

Problem: Waterproof Rugged Cameras Are Too Easy to Lose!

Brian Lam — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 23:01:52 EDT

Rugged and waterproof cameras are great, but they've got a lot of improving to do in general design before they'll be good in the outdoors. I mean, someone just keep me from losing these things.

The first waterproof camera I used was a Pentax W10 in 2006, one of the first simple cams that didn't need a case. It was only guaranteed to a depth of 5 feet, but it shot video, and that's all I needed for some snorkeling on a Kauai's north shore. I still have shorts of fish and turtles I took then. A year later, I used the same camera and lost it off some reef near a friend's house in Oahu. The current was strong and I was not, and when I swam to a safe spot the camera's lanyard had slipped off my wrist. The shiny little Pentax wasn't so shiny below the waves.

The second rugged, water resistant camera I used was a pistol gripped Sanyo E1. It was a lot more powerful of a camera, shooting DVD quality vids and 6 megapixel shots, but a lot bulkier than the Pentax. I called it in to use for the winter, during the snowboarding season. I couldn't use it but on the first day I used it, I noticed I couldn't toggle the buttons without removing my gloves, and mounting it on my strap as I rode wouldn't be a great idea anyhow. I lost it after not zipping a pocket after taking some shots and making a blistering run.

I'd chalk up these loses to my own user error to some extent, but if these cameras are waterproof and rugged enough to withstand the elements, shouldn't they also be fitted with accessories that assume the worst? Straps that can be fitted to gloves, neck lanyards, neoprene arm bands, or even orange buoys that can keep the cams from sinking during water adventures. I don't know. I just think that there has to be a better solution to keeping these cameras secured in the outdoors than the simple lanyards you find on your average point and shoot.

iriver WiFi Media Player Looks Fake - We'll Find Out Soon

Noah Robischon — Mon, 08 Jan 2007 02:00:53 EST

These photos look like concept art. But Rhapsody assures me that people will be downloading songs directly to this un-named WiFi player in the next six months (and it should materialize here at CES any day now). It will be available in 2GB and 4GB capacities, has a touch-sensitive QVGA display that uses a flash-based UI and supports VOIP.

The Clix2 audio player...

is looking slim and lovely. It comes with Rhapsody, has an FM tuner, voice recording and supports video playback. It also comes in 2GB and 4GB capacities, and iriver is boasting 25 hour battery life. –Noah Robischon

iRiver Clix 2, W10 Try to Steal CES DAP Spotlight

Gizloco — Thu, 04 Jan 2007 12:52:47 EST

Reigncom tries to makes its iRiver line of digital audio players as "cool" and "with it" as the iPod, but none of them have gotten it quite right yet. At CES iRiver is giving it another go with two svelte-looking models, the Clix 2 (left) and the W10. The Clix 2 looks to be gunning for the iPod Shuffle and will come in 2GB, 4GB and 6GB sizes. It makes use of an AMOLED screen, a new technology that should put LCD to shame. Meanwhile, the W10 now features Wi-Fi and will have built-in maps, with optional VoIP. Enough to knock the iPod off its high horse? Only time—and copious fondling at CES—will tell. – Nicholas Deleon

iRiver to unveil Clix 2 MP3 player with AMOLED [TelecomsKorea]

iRiver Displays W10 Supporting Discover Cities [TelecomsKorea via CrunchGear]

iRiver Enters UMPC Arena, Brings WiMax & WiBro

Jason Chen — Tue, 18 Apr 2006 08:16:34 EDT

How big will the market be for Ultra Mobile PCs? Will it be larger than Tablet PCs (on the high end) or PDAs (on the low end), or will it just be a small, niche market? No one knows, but iRiver is hedging its bets and releasing the W10, its first UMPC. Coming in iPod-white, this handheld is more like a PC and less like its siblings, the PDA-like Disciple D10 and D20.

One noticeable difference between this UMPC and the competition is the inclusion of WiMax and the South Korean native WiBro. However, until the US deploys any type of WiMax, it's doubtful we'll see this device in its current form.

iRiver preps WiMAX UMPC [Reg Hardware]