While it competed in the same market as Apple Inc's iPod mini, it is considerably different as it plays from internal memory, SD card, or FM broadcast and runs on a single AAA battery.

A RioForge can play MP3, WMA, and Audible audio files, and can receive FM broadcast signals.

It is Microsoft Windows, Linux, and Macintosh compatible since it is usable as a USB mass storage device.

The Rio se510 is a 512MB Forge variant without an MMC/SD memory slot nor an FM tuner, with a light blue case.

Firmware revisions: RioForge units suffer from a design flaw where the case-mounted controls operate switches which are surface-mounted on the internal PCB.