Iriver iFP-890 UMS firmware

If you value a workweek's worth of listening from a single AA

battery, then iRiver's iFP-890 (256MB) should definitely be on your

short list. This flash-based player has excellent audio quality, a

laundry list of features, and an amazing 40-hour battery life.

However, if listening to FM radio, recording memos, or moving files

between random systems are important to you, then you should

probably keep shopping.

While the iFP-890 is hardly massive at 3.48 by 1.4 by 1.07 inches,

it's still on the bulky side for a wearable flash player. And

wearable it must be: Stuffed inside the iFP-890's blister we found

a neck cord, a silver plastic snap-on cover that acts as a belt

loop (for very narrow belts), and a bulky, black clip-on Sport

Band. We found the Sport Band terribly unsporty when we strapped it

on; the combination puts the weight of the MP3 player out far

enough from your arm that it flaps with every movement. You're

better off sliding the iFP-890 onto a belt or into a pocket.