If you own an iRiver MP3 player, you should know that iRiver has released firmware v2.11. This latest update does not add Ogg Vorbis support, but it adds a few new features and fixes some bugs -- one of which may be the random MP3 audio glitches.

If you own the North American version of the iMP-350 SlimX, for example, and want to see the list of changes, you'd visit this page for the details.

Just thought I'd let you guys know.

http://www.iriver.com/download/index.asp

I'm going to download the new 2.11 for my IMP-250, which also produced the mentioned glitches occasionally. I'm gonna test it and hope it is fixed.
Please note that IRiver marks 2.11 as a beta version on the download page.

From my experience, the firmware downloads offered on the official iRiver.com web site are much more reliable than the ones offered at the iRiverAmerica.com web site. Using the iMP-350 v2.11 firmware downloaded from iRiverAmerica (dated 11/22/02), I experienced some serious problems. Using the iMP-350 v2.11 firmware from the main iRiver web site (dated 11/25/02), I haven't run into any problems... at least not yet!

mmm....no real need for this firmware yet.
I'll flash when they support MPC.....or another changes, but serious...
Until that, I'll have to stick to CDaudio (consumption is too high here, damn it!) and, in all case...........MP3@320 CD.

You think the new update is unnecessary, huh? Well, if you like listening to random audio glitches in the middle of your MP3's, then feel free to stick with the older firmware. It's your call.

As for MPC support from iRiver, don't hold your breath. They haven't made any indication that they will ever support it, despite user requests.

Didn't you say that some guys are working on a unofficial firmware?
Probably we shall also wait for the MPC open-source thing -and also the subband patents problem-, so it will stop OGG zealots from saying that "freedom" and blah blah blah then bashing MPC petitions.

And for the 90dB SNR of the iRiver players, they don't need anything above it, 90dB is the maximum that a CD audio with its 16-bit resolution can hold.

I personally would find useful also adding replaygaining support to protect from clipping. The extra processing wouldn't be much more consumption.

Ehem.....I downloaded the firmware....rockz.....damn snake tail!! I always end up eatin' myself

I updated my firmware and I like the new features. The track progress bar is more useful to me than the level indicator. The snake game is a cool addition too.

This new firmware seems to load slower CDAs than before. Probably because of a don't-waste-energy addition on this last firm. At least they could add a loading..... message with a little fast-filling bar . It would be cool.
But hey! where is MPC when we need 'em?...

Forget MPC... I really hope iRiver blesses us with a working OGG firmware

I don't think a CD-based player would benefit from MPC-compatibility, specially since the high quality at average bitrates that MPC offers can't be fully enjoyed with the default headphones that most people use with the iRiver

Personally, I prefer the higher quality per bitrate ratio that offers a codec like OGG, that would let me store more songs per CD and keep great quality for portable use (specially since I use my iRiver 250 most when walking around the city

Snake rocks, but I would like Tetris again! : o)

Best wishes from València (by the Mediterranean Sea in Spain / España)...

I never had' em. My package was without headphones, so I had to buy some cheap but functional Sony TwinTurbo earbuds.
As bass ain't too strong, me used heavy metal equalizer cos it makes big bass out with my headphones.

With better-than-the-default headphones you'll notice y'rself hearin' artifacts....you just go and buy some decent ones then enjoy pre-echo.



Man, what are y' sayin? Instead of implementing a functional new transparent quality codec -which is the purpose of a multi-codec player, ain't it?- , waste the player for old nosense game console functions? Are you kidding??

this sux, ogg implementation is taking AGES, i dont want to even think about ow much would it take to implement aac (if ever) or also DRM only Ill just buy a phllips expanium exp503 and forget a bout that crap for a while...