ifp-7xx released but no UMS support?!?!?!? What a joke

[wealas]

I just noticed that iRiver America sells the ifp-7xx series on the site and according to the Q&A on the support page there is no UMS support.

"We plan to offer this ability (external drive) within the near future. Please stay tuned!"

Is that some kind of a joke??? What is that "near future", 10 years maybe???They managed to put a 2.0 USB transfer but cannot implement UMS ???? Also
"Due to copyright protection laws that apply towards our technology, media files (MP3 / WMA files) cannot be uploaded from an iFP player to a PC"
So what? Another pathetic idea? Sony practically killed their md series with that stupid limitation, is iRiver next? Is that the reason why there is no UMS support (although they implemented UMS for the 3xx series??) Why have a recording feature when the files are useless? (I know that you can rename files and thus transfer them on the computer but still...)

Anyway, I was planning on spending $300 for a 795 but I changed my mind. If some day they release the UMS support I'll be back but till then I will stick with something cheaper with UMS .

[jeff]

Gotta jump in here. Instead of being so negative so quickly wouldn't it be better to post and ask if anyone knows when they might be releasing firmware that will support UMS? I will contact iRiver and ask them if they can give an approx. date on UMS support. How's that sound?

[sweetspot]

Due to copyright protection laws that apply towards our technology, media files (MP3 / WMA files) cannot be uploaded from an iFP player to a PC"
So what? Another pathetic idea?

Jumping to conclusions never solved anything. At this very moment, I'm playing with my new iFP 790 (Thanks J. !) and this is not true. The iRiver Music Manager, is a very flexible, versatile program, which in fact DOES, let you move files back and forth from PC to iFP and visa versa.(just tried some Mp3's) In fact, the iRIver Music Manager would have been a great program for them to bundle with the IHP series, as people were often asking for such a thing.

It acts pretty much how Windows explorer does, with a few different qualities, and a few extra things which you can't do in Explorer. I really like it a lot. Granted, it's NOT Explorer, but for a program which is necessary to use ATM, it doesn't bother me that much at all. And believe me, I'm NOT just saying that. I don't back peddle, nor do I kiss ass. If I think that something is cruddy, you will hear it from my mouth first !

Why have a recording feature when the files are useless? (I know that you can rename files and thus transfer them on the computer but still...)

Dude...I understand what you must have been thinking when you read the specs and such, but you've misunderstood, or didn't get the facts straight, or just happened to read really bad documentation. (iRiver trait unfortunately). Thing is, it doesn't matter that they're named ".REC" because when you drag it from the iRIver Music Manager to wherever on your PC, the file is AUTOMATICALLY converted to an .Mp3 file. For some reason which I've yet to understand yet though, is why a duplicate file gets transferred in the process. It is a duplicate copy of the ".REC" file. They got me on that one.

Anyway, I will be doing a nice review on the iFP 790, and have already posted several pics in the gallery, which I've yet to see pop up in the main section. (I'll link it when I figure out how to bring my album to the main gallery section).

The sound on this thing is really freekin' phenomenal though. Very powerful indeed, much like the emperor has foreseen. (hu ? where'd that come from..? )

EDIT: I understand the file duplicate/conversion process. I just tried it again, and actually paid attention this time... When you drag a file over from the right window pane in the iRMM (right side represents folders/files on the iFP and left side is your PC) over to your PC (say desktop) the .rec file is then spotted by the iRMM converter (which is quite clever really) and you're asked which files you'd like to convert.

The conversion process is nothing but renaming the file to .mp3 ! So in essence, you do not even have to have the converter do it for you. I just manually changed the extension to .mp3 and it worked just dandy. The only downside to that, would be if you had a whole mess of files, they'd all have the same name. Better to let the manager do it, and then just delete the temp ".rec" files when done.

It's really all very simple, and not worth a fuss unless you truly enjoy elevating your blood pressure over these things.

So far the only thing I hate is that they didn't send me the one gigger ! I want more more MOOORE ! LOL... (can never have too much music on hand eh ?)

[wealas]

Good luck!!!!
Considering how long it took to post a tentative schedule for the ihp series players (about 3 months after the joke 1.40 firmware....) and how responsive and helpfull the customer service is if the issue concerns anything besides RMA numbers I would say that you can try.

Maybe being negative is what we need..After the release of the ihp series and all the positive reviews and congratulations iRiver just disappeared. It took a crappy firmware and a lot of people complaining for iRiver to make a single post on their own forum stating that they might actually listen this time. So I say we have to be negative, we have to stop buying and ask for something decent. Why should be happy with a job halfway done? It's our money and we should spend it for something good. Yes you will say that iRiver makes quality players, maybe better than everybody and I will agree. However, what is the point of a few good features when one bad one spoils the package? I would rather go and by a USB 1.1 device and wait for 20 minutes to load half a gig of music than by the iRiver and have to bring drivers with me in order to get a song copied from another computer.(and I actually did - IAudio4)

And please tell me that this stuff about not being able to copy mp3's from the player to the computer is not just another "great " feature of the ifp!!!!

[seadzz]

I just noticed that iRiver America sells the ifp-7xx series on the site and according to the Q&A on the support page there is no UMS support.

"We plan to offer this ability (external drive) within the near future. Please stay tuned!"

I truely have to believe that iRiver will implement this fix in short order. Simply because this a "low hanging fruit' type of fix since this feature currently exists in the ifp 1XX and 3XX.

Like SS, (aka Doug since he has been de-masked) if something tends to smell turdlike I will then usually deem it to be a turd.

In this case we have a "rush to market syndrom" without not all the "i's" dotted nor "T's" crossed.

This is not a undies in a bunch problem to get all worked up about.

Heck as long as it has lyrics support it is "good to go"

All kidding aside this is not a big problem and will be fixed in short order....quote me!

sdz

[farbror_Melker]

Post deleted after reading above responses.

[sweetspot]

Originally Posted by wealas

Maybe being negative is what we need..After the release of the ihp series and all the positive reviews and congratulations iRiver just disappeared. It took a crappy firmware and a lot of people complaining for iRiver to make a single post on their own forum stating that they might actually listen this time. So I say we have to be negative, we have to stop buying and ask for something decent.

Believe me, it wasn't negativity that got us what we wanted. It MAY have been persistence, but certainly NOT negativity. There's a big difference between the two, and most intellingent business men know this, and respond accordingly as such. I read in a recent thread somewhere on the "zoo", an e mail response from Iriver to a forum member, concerning implamentation of a lossless codec. It basically said, that they might actually persue implamenting something if it gets enough requests. They used Ogg specifically as an example to this. I almost wanted to start a petition after that in order to get FLAC support, but to tell the truth, I'm fine with lossy stuff which is encoded well. I'd still support it if someone else took up the cause though.

Originally Posted by wealas

And please tell me that this stuff about not being able to copy mp3's from the player to the computer is not just another "great " feature of the ifp!!!!

Um..did you even read my post, or did you skim through it ? Heloooooooo ooooo. YOU CAN !!

Originally Posted by seadzz

Like SS, (aka Doug since he has been de-masked) if something tends to smell turdlike I will then usually deem it to be a turd.

I've never hidden my name. In fact, I often sign my name to a footer if I feel the subject is appropriate...so NYEA ! And um....did you just accuse me of smelling turdlike, and having the qualities of a turd ?

[jeff]

Let me also clarify something for everyone. All of iRiver's firmware development takes place in Korea. None of it happens in the U.S. There also happens to be a few ex RIO folks on board at iRiver so I wouldn't give up the ship too quick.

[Big D]

seadzz wrote:

Like SS, (aka Doug since he has been de-masked) if something tends to smell turdlike I will then usually deem it to be a turd.

Sweetspot wrote:

I've never hidden my name. In fact, I often sign my name to a footer if I feel the subject is appropriate...so NYEA ! And um....did you just accuse me of smelling turdlike, and having the qualities of a turd ?

Maybe he just meant you were soft and squidgy?!

[seadzz]

did you just accuse me of smelling turdlike, and having the qualities of a turd ?

Well not really or I hope not. What I was meaning to say is that if you are walking in Central Park barefoot and step on a small brown object that squishes between your toes AND said object smells turdlike they you would generally assume same to be a turd. No real need to do a closeup feel or taste test. I am that way myself....not tasting a turd to be 100% sure that it is infact a turd.

In the case of the teething pain in the ifp-700 and 800 there is no real turdlike symptoms here. Just getting the product out the door with minor issues that will be corrected with running changes.

I hope this clears the turd or not to be turd problem up.

sorry for any unimplied compairson.

sdz

[wealas]

sweet spot wrote:

Um..did you even read my post, or did you skim through it ? Heloooooooo ooooo. YOU CAN !!

Actually, I was writing my response when your post appearead so I didn't see it. Sorry!

However, the fact that they have a firmware with UMS for the ifp-3xx and they didn't finish and implement it in the 7xx/8xx series is baffling at the least.

[Vic20]

Well, Since people want some bugs and other stuff fixed on the h series. they might be busy. And All(i think) iFP come with manager firmware anyways. Plus the new series havent even been out for 1 week yet.. well the 800 did but yea...=P give iRiver some time.

[JohnnyTest]

Did I miss understand something, but the new manager for the 700 series allows mp3 to be transfered back and forth from IFP to PC. If so, can we use this manager on the 300 series.

[wealas]

Here is some news from Iriver about UMS support:

The link was proper, it just didn't have a title

I don't know how legit is this user, but I would think it is true. After all if Iriver wanted to put UMS support on their new players they would at least modify the firmware from the 300 series and have something.

That's it for the near future. Ha ha ha ha....

[jeff]

I know that iRiver is planning a firmware upgrade for the 1000 series to enable UMS support so I would imagine they will follow suit with the 700/800 series as well

[Vic20]

Well i read its UMS ready right out of the package...(700&8 00 or just 800)

[sweetspot]

TIs not unfortunately. This much I know.

[riggits]

Originally Posted by wealas

sweet spot wrote:

Actually, I was writing my response when your post appearead so I didn't see it. Sorry!

However, the fact that they have a firmware with UMS for the ifp-3xx and they didn't finish and implement it in the 7xx/8xx series is baffling at the least.

Personally, I'm more baffled that people can use newer units without even suspecting that iRiver had to use TOTALLY DIFFERENT hardware from the iFP-3xx series. You'd be a complete idiot to miss it, since USB 2.0 support (requires new chipset) is listed quite plainly on the product information pages, and the battery life (also dependent on hardware) is increased drastically. It's not magic, kids.

Note for the clueless: different hardware requires different firmware!

[Sp00k]

Yes, patience is definitely needed and lots of it... We 3&500-series owners have been waiting (some not quite so patiently), since last year for a promised "future" de-crippled version of the UMS firmware, one in which the recording bit-rate is not restricted.

Yes, patience is definitely needed when waiting for iRiver. You might do well to learn from our dismal experience of announced iRiver "future" firmware upgrades!

Perhaps Jeff, you may care to mention this when contacting them?

In case anyone is in any doubt, I have very negative feelings towards iRiver, my patience is exhausted and I shall eventually replace my current DAP with one from another company, a company that isn't meekly subservient to the demands of Micro$oft, the DRM proponents and others of their ilk, a company that puts customer requirements first, not those of the music industry.

[wealas]