Posted by: Dignan
The end of Rio
Posted by: robricc
Re: The end of Rio - 26/08/2005 12:55
Not a surprise, but a shame that the Rio name means almost nothing nowadays.
EDIT: By meaning nothing, I mean that most people won't notice or care that Rio is gone.
EDIT: By meaning nothing, I mean that most people won't notice or care that Rio is gone.
Posted by: eliceo
Re: The end of Rio - 26/08/2005 13:09
no chroma. bah.
Posted by: Ezekiel
Re: The end of Rio - 26/08/2005 13:23
I would say no Rio chroma may be a more accurate statement.
-Zeke
(Meaning that most likely SigmaTel will not abandon the IP entirely.)
-Zeke
(Meaning that most likely SigmaTel will not abandon the IP entirely.)
Posted by: Ladmo
Re: The end of Rio - 26/08/2005 14:23
What is Rio chroma? faceplate?
Posted by: Roger
Re: The end of Rio - 26/08/2005 14:51
Quote:
What is Rio chroma? faceplate?
Gizmodo has this: http://www.gizmodo.com/gadgets/portable-media/rio/index.php
Posted by: rob
Re: The end of Rio - 26/08/2005 19:33
It would be interesting to work out how many of the "coming soon" sneak previews at Amersfoort meets did actually come soon (or at all). I think that meet may be the kiss of death for Rio products 
Rob
Rob
Posted by: msaeger
Re: The end of Rio - 26/08/2005 20:26
When the empeg guys at sigmatel make a new player I hope we will hear what brand / model it is.
Posted by: FireFox31
Re: The end of Rio - 26/08/2005 22:59
So sad. I always admired Rio for their efforts with the PMP300 and keeping in step with the MP3 player market for decent amount of time.
Hm, firesale anyone??
How nice would it be if SigmaTel gave a little nod toward the Rio brand name some time in the future. Releasing a player "The SigmaTel R10" or something. (I know, the wouldn't use their own brand name, but you see what I mean).
Hm, firesale anyone??
How nice would it be if SigmaTel gave a little nod toward the Rio brand name some time in the future. Releasing a player "The SigmaTel R10" or something. (I know, the wouldn't use their own brand name, but you see what I mean).
Posted by: peter
Re: The end of Rio - 27/08/2005 08:49
Quote:
keeping in step with the MP3 player market for decent amount of time
Rio did no such thing. Roku, Sonos, Olive, maybe even Escient, would never have existed if Rio had had the first clue in 2001 what it was they actually had. Instead they were so risk-averse that they barely noticed they were riding on a commodity flash-player market headed nowhere but downwards. Since the S10 Rio never released or even developed anything but portables. Some were innovative in their way -- Karma was the world's first gapless portable (and still one of very few), and the world's first portable to play a lossless compressed format (and still one of very few to play an open lossless format) -- but it's hardly "keeping in step with the MP3 player market".
Peter
Posted by: Gleep
Re: The end of Rio - 27/08/2005 17:54
Quote:
Some were innovative in their way -- Karma was the world's first gapless portable (and still one of very few), and the world's first portable to play a lossless compressed format (and still one of very few to play an open lossless format) -- but it's hardly "keeping in step with the MP3 player market".
Peter
Can't let this slide. The PJB100 from Hango (licensed from Compaq) was the first gapless portable in fact the first harddrive portable (if you don't count the Empeg). Release in 1999, it should have sold better but was not marketed well like the ipod is. It got great reviews in the Mags, but when the ipod and other harddrive based players came out they got great reviews too instead of being criticized for lacking key features the PJB100 had like gapless playback and user replacable batteries. Like the Empeg team they had a prototype for a even better unit, but Compaq was bought by HP and they canned the project. I would have bought a Karma but they never came out with the 40gig model and nowadays it's possible to put an 80 or even 100gig drive in a PJB.
Kelly
Posted by: peter
Re: The end of Rio - 27/08/2005 18:05
Quote:
The PJB100 from Hango (licensed from Compaq) was the first gapless portable
With cue-sheet files only, though? Not file-to-file?
Peter
Posted by: Gleep
Re: The end of Rio - 27/08/2005 19:24
Quote:
With cue-sheet files only, though? Not file-to-file?
Peter
True, if you previously ripped an album to individual mp3 files, they did not play back gapless, but if you used their software (or EAC, Lame, using cue sheets) it would rip a CD directly to the player putting in Artist, Album, Title automatically obtain from freedb (used CDDB originally) and playback gapless and be able to directly play any individual track also with tag information (coming from their TOC (table of contents) not the ID3 tags. ID3 tags in files that contained them were read upon loading and put into the TOC). The end result was that it played back gapless. For proper playback of many albums this feature is ESSENTIAL and I can't understand how a person writing a review of an mp3 player who listens to albums (Pink Floyd - Dark Side Of The Moon for example) cannot know this and in good conscience not mention this serious design flaw in the player they are reviewing.
Kelly
Posted by: drakino
Re: The end of Rio - 28/08/2005 05:25
Quote:
Like the Empeg team they had a prototype for a even better unit, but Compaq was bought by HP and they canned the project.
I'm pretty sure the project got shutdown completly by Compaq. While the HP merger was announced late 2001, it didn't happen until almost the middle of 2002. And it still took a good year or two after that for the changes to trickle down internally. The PJB was one of many cool projects the R&D labs were working on before the big cost reduction movement in mid 2001.
Even if the project hadn't been cancelled, I can't imagine the successor to the PJB being successful. Compaq had no interest in actually selling the PJB, and that was likely to stay true for the next unit. Internally, people really didn't even know of the PJB, and that would have been the first group to share it with. Get the techies in Compaq talking about it, then get marketing going and so on.
Looking back, Apple launched the iPod in October of 2001. But really it didn't become popular till mid to late 2003, with it exploding around 2004. One thing stayed very consistant. iPod. Not Apple Music Player model 1a, then 6b then Kitty, then Aspen, then some other unrelated name, but always iPod. They have had the advantage of building up one name in marketing, even when the product has changed, expanded, and evolved. That I think is the important lesson any other company needs to learn if they intend on even scratching the iPod market share.
I just hope that with the empeg folks finally get to stretch a bit under Sigmatel. The talent they have is still amazing, and it is a shame the Chroma, among other things never saw the light of day. If anyone has a beta unit they would like to sell... :-)
Posted by: schofiel
Re: The end of Rio - 28/08/2005 20:05
Hugo, now they are dead, can't we see photos of the development models seen at Amersfoort 2005, even if it is only to kiss them goodbye?
Posted by: andym
Re: The end of Rio - 28/08/2005 20:45
I've just seen a PC World TV advert for a rio player too, first time I've ever seen one.
Posted by: gbeer
Re: The end of Rio - 29/08/2005 03:05
I was just using Froogle. They have that recent search list on their home page. After refreshing it several times I noticed Rio popping up quite frenquently.
Posted by: Dignan
Re: The end of Rio - 29/08/2005 16:34
I'm not sure how many of you saw this over the weekend.
Posted by: rob
Re: The end of Rio - 29/08/2005 18:21
..or several weekends ago as might have been the case for fifty or so empeg enthusiasts.
Rob
Rob
Posted by: SE_Sport_Driver
Re: The end of Rio - 29/08/2005 22:57
Just because Rio is closing shop doesn't mean those details could be released does it? Seems like the technology could have been sold to someone else who wanted to market it.
Posted by: JaBZ
Re: The end of Rio - 05/09/2005 01:53
So anyone else in Beta who knows what the hell happened to it? Site disappeared.. 
Posted by: msaeger
Re: The end of Rio - 05/09/2005 02:23
I was guessing at the end of the month when Scott was done they just shut it off.
Posted by: JaBZ
Re: The end of Rio - 05/09/2005 22:25
Nice way to treat loyal testers, not even informing them..
Posted by: pgrzelak
Re: The end of Rio - 06/09/2005 08:15
Well, there was one or two threads on this topic (and others) on the board before it went down. It was assumed that it would just go away at some point. After Scott's message, I had not returned, so I assume they just shut the box down.
What hurts most is that my next portable might have to be <shocked gasp> an iPod. Ick.
What hurts most is that my next portable might have to be <shocked gasp> an iPod. Ick.
Posted by: adavidw
Re: The end of Rio - 06/09/2005 08:27
Well, Scott did post a "so long and thanks for all the fish" type post on his last day that seemed to indicate that the site could go down anytime. Sure enough, I think it was down the next day.
So did you guys not get the severance package? You know, the one with finished versions of all of the new 2005 players, and about 40 pounds of selected older players, including 2 empegs and a Central? Was that just me, then?
Quote:
Nice way to treat loyal testers...
So did you guys not get the severance package? You know, the one with finished versions of all of the new 2005 players, and about 40 pounds of selected older players, including 2 empegs and a Central? Was that just me, then?
Posted by: BartDG
Re: The end of Rio - 06/09/2005 11:21
Quote:Quote:
Nice way to treat loyal testers...
So did you guys not get the severance package? You know, the one with finished versions of all of the new 2005 players, and about 40 pounds of selected older players, including 2 empegs and a Central? Was that just me, then?
Maybe mine's still underway...
Posted by: eliceo
Re: The end of Rio - 06/09/2005 12:20
Quote:
<shocked gasp> an iPod. Ick.
Exactly ! Or having to suggest the samething to others.
Posted by: pgrzelak
Re: The end of Rio - 06/09/2005 13:05
Sadly, I have already had to recommend the iPod to others multiple times. The writing has been on the wall for some time, and if it was a novice or remote user I would recommend the iPod because they could get more "peer group" support.
Posted by: JBjorgen
Re: The end of Rio - 06/09/2005 14:12
Or if they were planning on using it in a vehicle, the complete lack of accessories for the Karma constrained me to recommend iPod's too.
Posted by: BartDG
Re: The end of Rio - 06/09/2005 14:55
Quote:
Or if they were planning on using it in a vehicle, the complete lack of accessories for the Karma constrained me to recommend iPod's too.
Exactly. THE reason why I will buy an iPod too. (my car is not Empeg compatible.
)
Posted by: pim
Re: The end of Rio - 06/09/2005 19:04
Quote:
my car is not Empeg compatible.
I would beg to differ.
Pim
Posted by: schofiel
Re: The end of Rio - 06/09/2005 19:06
I would most defintely concur with that statement! 
Posted by: JBjorgen
Re: The end of Rio - 06/09/2005 19:07
Heh...I was about to say the same thing. It all depends on how much you want to make it work . Every car of mine in the forseeable future will be empeg compatible, whether it likes it or not.
. Every car of mine in the forseeable future will be empeg compatible, whether it likes it or not.
Posted by: StigOE
Re: The end of Rio - 06/09/2005 22:36
Same as the Passat I've just ordered will find out when I get it...
Stig
Stig
Posted by: FireFox31
Re: The end of Rio - 07/09/2005 22:39
Certainly, any car with a glove box is empeg compatible. Now what about that remote display project.....
Posted by: pim
Re: The end of Rio - 07/09/2005 23:43
No need to hide the Empeg in the glove box in this car. The car in question (Alfa GT) can fit two din sized devices in the dashboard.
The real problem is letting go. You need to let go of the coffeecup holder, and you need to let go of the factory fitted amp and speakers.
Pim
The real problem is letting go. You need to let go of the coffeecup holder, and you need to let go of the factory fitted amp and speakers.
Pim
Posted by: sein
Re: The end of Rio - 08/09/2005 05:59
C'mon, you know you want to!
I'm not sure the specifics about that car (I don't actually know whos it is), but it looks as if the standard stereo is still there, so maybe the amps are too?
As for the coffee cup holder... just put some Skunk Anansie on the Empeg to wake you up instead
I'm not sure the specifics about that car (I don't actually know whos it is), but it looks as if the standard stereo is still there, so maybe the amps are too?
As for the coffee cup holder... just put some Skunk Anansie on the Empeg to wake you up instead
Posted by: Cas_O
Re: The end of Rio - 08/09/2005 06:11
Just curious, did you order your Passat with the Dynaudio sound package?
Posted by: StigOE
Re: The end of Rio - 08/09/2005 06:56
Hell, no... Why pay a lot extra and rip it out again..? I ordered it wit a lot of other stuff, but no Dynaudio. Just the regular stereo, which will end up in the attic reasonably soon after I get it... So I guess I'm in the market for a brushed aluminium fascia... And I would probably have make up my own adaptor to install it in. I haven't been able to find any premade.
Stig
And I would probably have make up my own adaptor to install it in. I haven't been able to find any premade.Stig
Posted by: BartDG
Re: The end of Rio - 08/09/2005 11:54
Quote:
C'mon, you know you want to!
No, I don't. Pim is right, the problem is letting go. More specifically the factory installed sub and speakers which I've paid extra for, and which sound satisfactory. I'm also not willing to start using a regular DIN sized HU again, and become vulnerable to thieves again. (standard HU are so very NOT interesting for thieves)
If only Alfa, or another manufacturer, would make a cd-interface-to-aux cable, all my problems would be solved. Unfortunately, this doesn't exist. Trust me, I've searched everywhere...
So no Empeg for me anymore... not in this car anyway. Unless one of those adapters would magically appear on the market all of a sudden. But I somehow doubt it...
Posted by: sein
Re: The end of Rio - 08/09/2005 11:57
Bummer dude.
Posted by: jimhogan
Re: The end of Rio - 10/09/2005 01:20
Quote:
I'm also not willing to start using a regular DIN sized HU again, and become vulnerable to thieves again.
Thieves? Man, you should call the police!
/Jim....ducks.... big time!
Posted by: pgrzelak
Re: The end of Rio - 10/09/2005 11:31
<choke> <gasp>
As Tony said in a different thread... Screen, meet Diet Coke. Diet Coke, meet Screen...
As Tony said in a different thread... Screen, meet Diet Coke. Diet Coke, meet Screen...
Posted by: BartDG
Re: The end of Rio - 10/09/2005 11:51
Quote:Quote:
I'm also not willing to start using a regular DIN sized HU again, and become vulnerable to thieves again.
Thieves? Man, you should call the police!
/Jim....ducks.... big time!
Why bother? They always show up when it's too late!
Posted by: pim
Re: The end of Rio - 12/09/2005 20:25
Posted by: petteri
Re: The end of Rio - 13/09/2005 08:46
That's nice, but how is he getting XM Radio in Italy? 