Rio Riot
{{Short description|MP3 digital audio player by Diamond Multimedia}}
File:Rio-MP3-player-unfolded.jpg
The Rio Riot was a hard disk-based "jukebox" MP3 digital audio player produced by Diamond Multimedia as part of the Rio line. It shipped in March 2002, and was an early competitor to the Apple iPod, coming out some four months after its release.{{cite web| url=http://www.insanely-great.com/news.php?id=89 |title=iPod vs. Rio Riot: The winner is clear |date=March 2, 2002 |accessdate=July 6, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110927121309/http://www.insanely-great.com/news.php?id=89 |archive-date=September 27, 2011}}
Reception
Critical reviews of the Riot were mixed, with many describing it as a good device in its own right, but one that fell short of the iPod. Reviewers praised its generally strong hardware and large storage;{{cite web |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2002/01/16/rio-riot-preview |title=Rio Riot Review |last=Wiley |first=M |date=16 Jan 2002 |website=IGN |access-date=13 Jan 2025 |language=en }} however, they panned its large size {{cite web |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2002-03-27/rio-riot-big-music-for-big-pockets |title=Rio Riot: Big Music for Big Pockets |last=Captain |first=Sean |access-date=13 Jan 2025 |language=en }} and slow USB transfer rates,{{cite web |url=https://www.cnet.com/reviews/rio-riot-review/ |title=Rio Riot review: Rio Riot |last=Patterson |first=Ben |date=10 Apr 2002 |website=CNet |access-date=13 Jan 2025 |language=en }} especially relative to the iPod's FireWire connection.
Specifications
- 20 GB hard disk drive
- USB 1.1 {{cite web |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2002/03/29/rio-riot-review |title=Rio Riot Review |last=Wiley |first=M |date=29 Mar 2002 |website=IGN |access-date=13 Jan 2025 |language=en }}
- 240×160 backlit monochrome LCD
- FM tuner
- 10 hours per charge at 50% volume battery life
- iTunes support
- Supported formats: WMA, MP3, including ID3 and WMA tagging support
- *Note*: Lacked ability to retrieve data off HD.
Preserved specimens
One Rio Riot is held by the Computer History Museum in Mountain View, California.{{cite web |url=https://www.computerhistory.org/collections/catalog/102745636 |title=Artifact Details: Rio Riot MP3 Player |website=Computer History Museum |access-date=13 Jan 2025 |language=en |quote=Catalog Number: 102745636 }}
References
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- [http://www.rioaudio.com/support/rio/downloads/rioriot/rioriot_guide_001.pdf Manual]
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