Cowon Announces O2, S9 and L3
Cowon is back and I must say this is perhaps the most exciting new line of players this year, after disappointing new lines from both Creative and iriver. Cowon has just put up info on their site about three new players, the S9, O2 and L3 - all of which looks to be spectacular.
The three players will each be different sizes; 3.3", 4.3" and 7" respectively. All of them have touch screens and very few tactile buttons. Read on for the full details on the three players.
The S9 is the smallest of the three and can best be described as an iPod Touch Awesome Edition. It has a 3.3" 272x480 capacitive AMOLED touchscreen, Bluetooth, DMB-T tuner (which will probably be removed in any version outside Asia) and up to 40 hours of music playback along with the normal Cowon BBE sound effects and an FM radio. The S9 also has TV out, which hopefully will work better than it did on the D2. Last but not least it has a G sensor which will most likely function to auto rotate the screen depending on which way you hold it.
the O2 is most likely an upgrade to the A3, with its 4.3" screen and support for basically any video format you can find. Of course it has the DMB-T tuner will never see any of (or have any use for), BBE, dictionary and all the "basics" from Cowon. The interesting thing about the O2 is that it uses flash memory up to 32GB and supplementing this with a SD card slot (which most likely supports SDHC). This means the O2 will be half between the D2 and A3 which should prove a killer combo. If I understand the Korean info page correctly, it does 18 hours of audio and 8 hours of video, but until thats confirmed by someone who can read the info that's not set in stone. On top of all this the player will have a built in speaker and TV out.
Lastly we have the L3, which will give the Archos 7 a run for it's money. The 7" touch screen has a resolution of 800x480 and also comes with some "tactile" button system that Cowon is calling shadow touch. Whether it's flash or not I honestly cannot tell but it does have a SD card slot which might suggest this will also be a flash player and that Cowon has given up on hard drive based players (not counting models already on the market). The specs also list an internal SIRF III antenna which suggests GPS functionality out of the box (one of the pics also read "extreme navigation"). Other features include an FM transmitter, speaker, and included remote control.
Whenever i see a player listed with digital TV tuner there's always the possibility it will never see light outside Asia, however this announcement was meant for IFA this week in Germany which makes it at least half certain that these players will arrive in the US and Europe. The way I see it these players are (on paper) as close to perfect upgrades to the current line as they could be and I think other manufacturers will have a hard time keeping up. Of course Cowon's problem has always been distribution and getting known on the consumer market so they have a long way to go to take on brands such as Apple even though their players are technically superior.
[Cowon Press Release Page] (thanks Eredor)
Comments
Bob on August 25, 2008 4:25 AM
thats awesome!!! can' wait till it lauches in the u.s.
Da on August 25, 2008 4:52 AM
Yup I can confirm 8 hours for video and 18 for music.
These are some mighty impressive specs.
I don't see anything about GPS though. They do go over the L3's negation a bit though.
SirPsychoSubmarine on August 25, 2008 6:02 AM
Any sort of timescale for their release given?
Sweet on August 25, 2008 6:48 AM
I hope they stall the O2 release to implement 64gb storage. Oh wait, that is never gonna happen :(
AliL on August 25, 2008 7:08 AM
I've been holding off buying a PMP for 3 years now since my iPod died and I'm not going back down the apple route, could this be what I've been waiting for? I hope so. My laptop isn't exactly the ideal PMP.
nywytboy68 on August 25, 2008 7:27 AM
Bring on the S9!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thanks Enzo!!!!! You DID say to be patient for just a little longer!!!! These look SO SWEET!!!
nywytboy68 on August 25, 2008 7:29 AM
AND PS: Thanks CptnO!!!!
Phil on August 25, 2008 7:36 AM
So should we consider the S9 as the D2 upgrade? What hapened to the D3? Well I can say that it looks super-nice, but seen its design you won't be able to put it face down or you'll scratch it to death, just like the touch, I guess... 50-60 hour battery life? :)
beeman on August 25, 2008 8:38 AM
An "awesome" ipod touch! you've got to be joking. Wheres the web browser - or indeed any use of wifi. I'm very susprised that this is the best Cowon have to offer. Even Creative latests offering has wifi. Where's the web browser - the internet radio, the ability to stream video directly to the player. You may like the looks of this player, the great battery life and the decent sound quality - but please don't call it an ipod touch rival. COs it dosnt even come close.
Billy M on August 25, 2008 8:41 AM
does that reall say oled? could it finally be?
new change of pants please!
Skobbolop on August 25, 2008 8:59 AM
The S9 looks sweet. But it really depends on a nice GUI that can keep up with the iPod touch... If it can, i'm gonna buy one...
32 gb would be nice too in the S9.. but i'll probalby max out at 16
peter on August 25, 2008 9:04 AM
But watch out for zero support in UK
Andreas Ødegård on August 25, 2008 9:13 AM
@ beeman: neither the xfi or the touch uses wifi to its full potential and a web browser really doesnt have much to do on a audio player until they start offering stuff that actually works. the S9 is a touch screen player with physical specs along the lines of the ipod touch with (i imagine) much better sound quality and codec support, no itunes dependancy and SD expansion slot. If that doesnt make it a better audio player, i dont know what does.If you think playing super monkey ball and surfing porn is more important, the touch is already there for you, but this site is about audio players and im not gonna go out and say a player is lacking something that doesnt really belong on a DAP in the first place.
MisterK on August 25, 2008 9:20 AM
@Andreas Ødegård
Whilst I hope you are right Andreas, I've yet to see any evidence that the S9 has a SD slot...Goddamn I hope it does.
MFG on August 25, 2008 9:23 AM
S9 design looks definitely impressive. I understand the screen technology is multi-touch-capable (like iPhone) but we still don't know if Cowon is taking advantage of this feature.
In size, S9 is a little bit smaller than an iPod Touch. There are no official specs about memory capacity, supported formats (my guess is the same as D2) and SD/SDHC slot. Very portable and extremely nice looking device!
Some people claims this one might kill the iPod Nano 3G (to be released soon).
O2's specs are more likely D2's upgrade. Bigger screen, faster processor, same formats, SDHC Slot, and now with built-in speaker. 4.68 x 2.87 x 0.7 inches. Still portable. 8/16/32GB is more than acceptable. However, I feel disappointed by the power capacity (only 18hr???!!!).
L3 is, IMHO, out of the "portable" definition, so I just don't see it as an option for me.
Any clues about pricing?
Kev on August 25, 2008 9:54 AM
Nice!
Andreas Ødegård on August 25, 2008 10:03 AM
Ah yes MisterK youre right, i was confusing it with the O2. Thats too bad if it doesnt have SD, maybe they are trying to differensiate it from the O2. That would also eprhaps mean crappy video codec support like on the D2
jamesey on August 25, 2008 10:43 AM
The S9 looks classy. will it have wi-fi and internet browsing?
Larry Harrison on August 25, 2008 11:01 AM
I have been considering a Cowon D2 to supplement my SanDisk e280. These may cause me to wait. But, at the risk of sounding like an old fogie, it still bugs me--why no user-replaceable batteries? (Then again, the D2 has outstanding battery life.) I also am not sure how I would do with only a touch-screen as I do tend to work my player by "feel" as I'm walking etc. But for occasions where I'm not at home but not moving around, something like the D2 or one of these could be just the ticket--I do love the touch screen on my Palm Treo after all (the reason I got it instead of Blackberry).
Elvis on August 25, 2008 11:08 AM
Larry, the D2 has external buttons along the top of the player, which can be used for basic functions like changing tracks, adjusting volume and pausing the player, so you can still use it by feel. It seems like at least the S9 from this line-up may have a similar set-up, as there are external buttons visible in the photos.
Jason on August 25, 2008 11:19 AM
I don't know what to think about these releases to be honest. From what I've read the S9 doesn't have an SD slot which really makes it a no go for me. Plus I don't really like the design of it as much as my D2. I do however really like the fact that it says Full Flash UI and G sensor on the Korean site.
Now the O2 to me looks like it takes design cues from the D2 and improves on it. Unless Cowon is coming out with something else I'd say the O2 is the successor to the D2. Also nice to see 32GB support AND a SD slot. Negative point for me is it is a bit to big for me to consider for a portable like the D2. Don't get me wrong it is compact for the screen size, I just don't need that much screen and would prefer something smaller for portability. I don't have any need for cheap internal speaker as well (if it cuts down size remove it). And the two things I like about the S9 (flash UI and G sensor) don't seem to be listed in the O2 specs. Battery life specs seem a bit low compared to what I'm use to seeing from Cowon. Another positive though is check out one of the pictures on the Korean site that has a LONG list of file format support at the bottom. Seems to me like they listened to complaints about video format support.
I guess what I'd like to see is a smaller O2 (maybe a 3.5" screen) with a 32GB model, G sensor, full flash UI, drop the internal speaker (really no point), keep the excellent format support, and close to the same battery life as my D2.
And I agree, leave internet browser and wifi junk out if it isn't going to be implemented for any functional purpose. I needs a PMP and not a mini laptop. I rather have them dedicate time to stuff I would use. I know plenty of people with an itouch and none use these features. The ONLY reason I'd be interested in some type of wireless support is for file transfer, but even than I'd probably use a wired connection for speed.
Relyt on August 25, 2008 12:15 PM
Creative and iriver have dipped recently; hopefully they will come back. At lease Cowon is back - these look like some awesome players!
James Forelo on August 25, 2008 12:24 PM
Looks like it worth the wait for me as opposed to picking up a D2 right now.
I'll just have to see how things turn out, but looks like everything beat the snot out of Archos.
Probably going to go for the S9, unless the L3 has impressive battery life. O2, probably not, due to battery life.
Chepe Centro on August 25, 2008 2:20 PM
Jason is right. S9 wouldn't make sense if it doesn't have an SD Slot. And O2 has too short battery life (compared to D2) and is a little big (almost 5") to fit in my pocket as comfortably as the D2 would.
.
Is it possible that the good old D2 will still be better?
.
Seems (so far) like Cowon is taking all that was good about the L2 and split it into different models.
.
If that was the case, would a D2 price drop?
alf on August 25, 2008 3:15 PM
Iriver dipped.... hmm... theyre stronger than ever. The new spinn and the bigger screens coming up. looks kickass.
I like the o2, it looks super sweet. Still have my A2, and still not giving it up untill it dies. been lasting alsmot 2 years of super goodness.
alf on August 25, 2008 3:18 PM
Iriver dipped.... hmm... theyre stronger than ever. The new spinn and the bigger screens coming up. looks kickass.
I like the o2, it looks super sweet. Still have my A2, and still not giving it up untill it dies. been lasting alsmot 2 years of super goodness.
Jay on August 25, 2008 3:24 PM
Which one is the successor of the D2? S9 seems like a completely new line of products while the O2 seems to be the newer version of D2 (because of shape).
I will wait for the reviews to be out so get to it ABI!!!
O and comparison with ipod touch and s9 is stupid. While the s9 is probably better in audio quality, it will not surpass the ipod touch in features. Safari browsing and all the webapps available make it a minicomputer almost instead of a PMP.
Jay on August 25, 2008 3:25 PM
Which one is the successor of the D2? S9 seems like a completely new line of products while the O2 seems to be the newer version of D2 (because of shape).
I will wait for the reviews to be out so get to it ABI!!!
O and comparison with ipod touch and s9 is stupid. While the s9 is probably better in audio quality, it will not surpass the ipod touch in features. Safari browsing and all the webapps available make it a minicomputer almost instead of a PMP.
Monkey Tamer on August 25, 2008 4:31 PM
I am surprised no one had mentioned this by now, but if you look at the Cowon Korean site with the letters linking to the respective new product, the initialism spells: SOL (or as we may interpret, "Shit out of Luck"). How choice is that combination of letters, especially when considering the bit of disappointment I feel representative of the comments below this article? ;P
.
The new products look interesting, but I personally feel that when it comes to one PMP that fits the bill as the ideal model, we really are SOL in this department, at least for now. With no signs of a revision to the D2, and with neither of these products equipped with the battery lifespan, the form factor, and overall versatility of the D2 in its price range, we can only hope that Cowon discovers the irony of their choice and combination of the letters that characterize their new products.
Joseph on August 25, 2008 5:08 PM
Please don't knock the inclusion of an internal speaker; it's something that ought to be standard equipment. Including a voice recorder on a unit without a speaker never made sense, yet so many players are like that. The speaker serves the purpose of enabling one to share audio or video content, or to enable use at any time when headphones are inconvenient or unavailable.
I don't share the pessimism that Monkey Tamer notes. These new Cowons, along with the new Archos announcements, look like some of the most exciting (and POWERFUL) handheld multimedia devices to come along in quite some time.
Chepe Centro on August 25, 2008 8:30 PM
What I do mind about newer Cowons and Archos, is that they are making slim but large devices.
They are forgetting the concept of PORTABLE!
sprockkets on August 25, 2008 8:57 PM
Oh well, so much for a 7 replacement. I'm getting a D2 today since I saw what Cowon is coming out with, only because it is smaller than anything here and doesn't have the ogg vorbis bug anymore. Plus, the 256kbps recording rate for the radio and quick switching of the rate is exactly what I need. Besides, these are at least 3 months off from being here in the US, perhaps even more. An open box 8GB D2 for $145 is about what I paid for the 4GB U3 only a year ago.
They all look nice though, and the S9 has some physical buttons on it at the top. AMOLED is nice, but any player so far to use them seems to have less battery life, but I'm sure progress has been made. M4b support would be nice but not a deal breaker.
Tony on August 26, 2008 9:32 AM
Great!!
I had a Cowon X5 that I had to return because the screen size was too small. I loved everything else about the thing. Went with the Zen Vision M: instead. This time around I might go the Cowon route again.
Question?
Why the reluctance to release a unit with a DVB-T tuner in the US? In feb 09 all analog will stop in the US. It just seems strange that every time there a nice unit with DVB-T Tuner. The unit always gets stripped of that feature or the unit doesn't make it to the U.S all. Why is that?
TonyJazz on August 26, 2008 12:07 PM
Actually, outside of all the features that all of us want (internet browsing, etc...), I am also excited about the future possibility of digital television. These little devices should have capability (especially in cities) to receive over-the-air signals and probably have a decent battery life, too!
sprockkets on August 26, 2008 4:16 PM
Tony, DVB only works overseas. We use different standards for HDTV and for digital radio here in the US. No sense it us having those features that would never work :)
Chepe Centro on August 26, 2008 5:48 PM
Ha ha
I am in Costa Rica
It will work for me!
Sorry gringos!
Johan Krüger-Haglert on August 27, 2008 11:26 PM
Since iRiver Spinn turned out to be the crap it become as all iRiver products have been lately this seems very nice. The S9 is beautiful I just hope it takes SD for a longer life so to speak. Weird how that one is the only one mentioning processor speed (dual core 500MHz.)
L3 will be to large and expensive for me, white O2 looked like shit but black version may work. Not as beautiful and probably bigger than the S9 but still rather small, takes SD, lots of codec supports (it can play all those formats? Not just convert from them?) and decent size LCD.
S9 or O2 it is, time will tell.
Mauricio on August 28, 2008 8:43 PM
These players seem awesome!
Does anybody know if DMB is compliant with DVB-T??
sprockkets on August 28, 2008 9:46 PM
One is for radio and one is for video
Mauricio on August 29, 2008 10:22 AM
ok, but, M is for multimedia audio and video so?
can i use my dmb cowon to view tv on my dvb-t network?
lsycor13 on August 30, 2008 7:12 AM
it's making me crazy!!
i was confused
1. ipod touch
2. Cowon d2
but no more
The DREAM COMES TRUE
THE PERFECT!
now in Korea it's the real hot
news!
Anonymous on August 30, 2008 10:47 AM
Cowon Germany says it'll be available (in Europe at least) in late October.
http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&langpair=de|en&u=http://cowon-germany.com/%3Fpage%3Dproduct%26id%3D7%26tab%3Dtechdata
joe on August 30, 2008 11:52 PM
Maybe in time. South Korea uses it; others are trying it. DVB-T is for terrestrial broadcasts; DMB is for handhelds. While it is radio, yes, it can do other stuff.
In any case, the amount of different standards is a complete mess. We have one in the US, one also now for handhelds, just as it is overseas, except the US alwasys goes the stupid proprietary trade secret route (see MediaFLO and HD Radio).
joe on August 30, 2008 11:55 PM
I'm willing to bet the D2 will be out for some time to come. It fills a need, and it came out in 16GB capacity only in May of this year.
joe on August 31, 2008 12:17 AM
Thanks for the above link. I clicked on the O2 link and then the specs (can't seem to directly link to it).
The O2 has a 480x272 AMOLED screen, but at least it allows playback of max 1280x720 res in MKV and OGM containers and multiple audio codecs. No mention of FM recording. But, the MIC recorder says it uses FLAC.
It's about time, cause I've used TCPMP on Palm and WM OSes for awhile and for years it could play OGM containers with Xvid video and Vorbis audio. The current D2 can use only up to MP3128kbps, and that stinks compared to using Vorbis at 80kbps.
lulu on September 3, 2008 8:36 PM
Joe, are you sure that the O2's screen is only 480x272? I visited the site and couldn't find anything specifying the screen resolution. If the resolution really is 480x272, it would probably be a deal breaker for me, as 480x272 on a 4.3'' wouldn't really justify ditching my Zen Vision W for it. Heck, even the A3 that the O2 is supposedly replacing has a 800x480 screen.
Brent on September 26, 2008 6:35 PM
Built in FM transmitter would be SWEET. Wish it was on the O2 in addition to the L3.
Jan on October 19, 2008 3:01 PM
Probably I'm wrong with that, but for me it seems like this: when I want to watch a video podcast (vodcast) on the S9, I have to convert it before (as is the case when using the D2), since the resolution is fixed for the S9. Usually the podcasts are encoded as HC.264/AVC with audio codec AAC (iPod compatible). I do really like the podcastready solution with the mypodder SW. It works perfect: plug in the D2, mypodder starts automatically, browsing through the newest podcasts of my list, choose the ones I'm interested in, download and it's done. The workflow supports the video podcasts of course but I can't play the files on the D2 (due to video codec and AAC audio codec). I think the S9 also does not support AAC, so another reason why a conversion is needed (besides fixed resolution). Conversion is really annoying! Now, only O2 seems to support the usual video podcast format (has the right codecs for video as well as audio). But for me the O2 is just too big.
mjw2005 on October 21, 2008 3:02 PM
The O2 looks great except for the fact that it does not do line in recording like my dependible little D2...I have used the line in feature a few times and I love it
I love the D2...My ultimate PMP would be a D2 with a 3" screen and handles SD Video and outputs Standard Def Video...