Creative Zen And Rio Karma Havn't Gotten Any Firmware Lately

[h0p3l355is4]

Rio Karma Version 1.68
Windows 98 SE, ME, 2000, and XP
Version: 1.68
Date: 4/8/2004
File Size: 3.95 MB

This is a new Firmware update for the Rio Karma. contains several updates and a new version of Rio Music Manager Lite. Please view the readme file for instructions on installation and release notes.


RioKarmaFlash_168.tx t

RioKarma_firmware_16 8.exe

Creative Zen Xtra and Rio Karma havn't gotten firmware updates since March/April. So why are we *****ing at iRiver about not releasing firmware. At least they are still supporting the player as claimed. Why is Austonia *****ing at iRiver when is precious Rio Karma doesn't even get any new updates nor info on up coming firmwares. I COULD BE WRONG SO IF I AM SORRY!

[TCK]

In other companies defence, they don't advertise their products as Firmware Upgradable.

Still, it's a fair point.

[OPP]

Karma-No Idea
Creative- I think theere focusing more on the zen touch right now its supposed to be about the what? 300th "iPod Killer"

[Big D]

The Karma to be fair is pretty much fully featured and the firmware is proven very stable. The only thing that Karma users are really still waiting for is UMS support.

[rd]

Rio implemented most of the features that people wanted from the beginning on the Karma. They even gave people stuff they had never seen before (Rio DJ). They've given plenty of updates on the firmware and are going an extra step to implement UMS even though most users are quite happy with the firmware. To suggest their firmware team is comprable to Iriver's is ridiculous.

[FlameGrilled]

Actually, the Rio DJ function didn't start on the Karma - it's precurser originally appeared on the Rio Riot HDD deck.

Otherwise, yes i agree that the firmware was pretty much solid in giving what people wanted and what has evolved in the firmware for the Karma is mostly fine-tuning and the odd bug fix.

Good software, some questionable design decisions (re hardware weakeness) and damn near a perfect size for the walkman/MD enthusiasts who dont want Sonyt/Awia/Sharp goods.

Someone else said it, and i still tend to agree with whoever it was, that it could have been a heaven made match if Rio & Reigncom had partnered in a formal manner rather than the OEM deal that spawned the iMP series in the form of RioVolt SP decks. If that same attention had been fuelling HDD decks, what we'd have is something between a Karma and an iHP (or even two distinct decks like the Zen and Nomad CL products), each with good qualities and build.. and firmware to die for.

*looks over the crowded cat basket.. wonders where all those incoming decks are gonna get housed...* :P

[h0p3l355is4]

So Rio is almost perfect the way it is. That's good. If only the design was better i'd get that instead of H120. I'm still happy with H120 but it needs all the missing features.

[sweetspot]

Yep yep...I say this all over the place. The Karma has fantastic FW/SW already, but they're still not sure if all the HD failures are related to the HD manufacturers own firmware, OR if it's the way the Karmas firmware communicates with the HD... And the reason I took the IHP over the Karma in the first place was:

Poor build quality (on karma of course)
Never ending HD failure threads
Need software to communicate
No remote AT ALL
No case

Add to that the features that the IHP has over the Karma and it was a no brainer. The only thing that made me think twice WAS, the gapless playback, but now that we're getting that ...I'm really REALLY happy I have one of the most stable and fantastic sounding players around.

[Fluidity]

Yep the karma's software is sorted and pretty sweet where as its hardware is less sturdy and there is no remote or case.

Iriver's hardware is soreted and pretty sweet where as its software, although bug free from the crash point of you, is not well implemented and lacking some important features for a lot of buyers.

Sounds to me that iriver and rio whould consider a merger, then they'd possibly have the best of both worlds and be able to kick some major ipod butt!

In the meantime however, we'll wait and see as Rio may manage it by themselves if they give the chroma a 40 gig flavour, use better build materials and give it UMS support like their new Carbon mini HD player.

Fluidity.