It’s safe to say that the iRiver U10 looks unlike any other digital media player.

In addition to audio (in MP3 and WMA formats) it can handle video in MPEG-4 format and play Flash games.

The main talking point is the design, however. Thicker, shorter and heavier than an iPod Nano, the iRiver U10's pure white back is strikingly partnered by a black front panel in which the 2.2in screen is mounted.

There are no buttons on the front ­to navigate. Instead you tap a side of the screen; ­the top for up, bottom for down, and so on.

This system works well (although not quite as well as the iPod’s navigation system), and gives the player a clean, modern look.

There’s a button on the side to switch the screen between portrait and landscape mode, with the volume controls on another side.

Both sound and video quality were good, and we found the player easy to use. The U10 comes with some Flash games installed, while others can be downloaded.

The only drawback with the player is its price. An extra £40 will buy you the 2Gb version. For the more style-conscious, however, it may be a price worth paying.

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Verdict: A work of undeniable beauty but expensive compared with other portable players
Rating: 4/5
Price: £139