Cowon S9 Connection Not Micro USB?

[EnzoTen]

Ok, i made a mistake on calling this cable a mini-b but it is not. Its not off the shelf USB its some sort of proprietary connection, but i cant figure out what it is. Take a look at this photo, it is a 20-pin cable with "I/F" on the end of it. Video out and audio in are handled from this connection. Cables are sold seperately for these features. Anyone have any idea what it is?

[iPoo]

I've seen it before, but I have to think...

It does look a lot like Micro-B though, why would they use their own type when it looks the same as micro-b

Could you take a picture of the cable itself.

[v-iso]

Or do you have a seperate micro-usb cable you could try? Would be the easiest way to find out.

They're calling it a usb device (and usb 2.0 etc.) alot in the manual, can they do that even through only one end could be an actual usb connector?

[sumx4182]

it almost looks like a smaller version of an HDMI connector...weird...

the shape of it, i mean...

[Nephersir7]

Cowon S9 cable

Standard micro-usb-b cable


Thats so sad ...

[elaine89]

that sucks.

[EnzoTen]

[EnzoTen]

I Just got a response from Cowon PR:

Sorry, I had to do a little research myself. The data transfer and charging cable is more commonly used for cell phones (LG, Samsung, Moto, Nokia, etc.), and is a standard, not proprietary plug. It's called a micro USB plug.

runs off to search phone cables...

[Nephersir7]

Wait a minute, could this be a hdmi-mini cable?
Hdmi-mini cable(at left):

[EnzoTen]

Originally Posted by Nephersir7

Wait a minute, could this be a hdmi-mini cable?
Hdmi-mini cable(at left):

The configuration is different, i dont think its mini-hdmi. that would be something though huh?

http://www.amazon.com/Cables-Unlimit...9735992&sr=8-2

[_Perfection_]

It's a micro usb cable as stated before and it is a pretty common cable. I know a few people who use them for their phones.

[EnzoTen]

Originally Posted by _Perfection_

It's a micro usb cable as stated before and it is a pretty common cable. I know a few people who use them for their phones.

Do you have any idea where they can be bought? Im looking at this and it doesnt look the same: http://gadgets.boingboing.net/2007/0...facturers.html

The question i have is what usb cable has 20 pins?

[EnzoTen]

OK, its not a Micro USB cable, but a relatively standard 20-pin data cable.

Cowon just emailed me this correction:

I double checked the information about the S9 connector, and actually, it is NOT a micro USB plug. Instead, it's commonly known as just a "20-pin data transfer and charging cable." It follows a industry standard more common in S. Korea where they are trying to standardize mobile device connections for CE such as cell phones, media players and other portables.

You will notice in the future more media players and cell phones from various companies (Samsung, LG, COWON, iriver and others) use this plug as a standard. Let me know if you have any questions.

[fabarati]

Could you check if the cable it uses is the same as the one on the lg viewty?

[Nephersir7]

Originally Posted by EnzoTen

OK, its not a Micro USB cable, but a relatively standard 20-pin data cable.

Cowon just emailed me this correction:

I just did a translated search with Google, and it looks like this information is true, but still think this is problematic because even though these cables are standard in Korea, they are as rare and pricey as proprietary cable everywhere else.

here are translated links i found about those cables:
http://translate.google.ca/translate...3Den%26tl%3Dko
This one is a very interesting find
it looks like a AV cable already exists
this article talks about the standard which is described as domestic

Here are some pics of the "standard" korean cable. Im 95% sure its the same as the s9: (from that article)

[kaotic_azn]

hm that cable really does look like the same one as the one for the iriver spinn i swear.

[The DarkSide]

Oh boy, will this be a problem? I really hope not.

[EnzoTen]

The bottom one looks like its the one, not the top samsung cable though since it only has one row. nice find!

[Nephersir7]

Originally Posted by EnzoTen

The bottom one looks like its the one, not the top samsung cable though since it only has one row. nice find!

Its from the same article. Maybe its the angle, but it is the same cable.
It looks like this cable is mostly known as the Samsung mini-20pin cable (at least it can be found under this name). it looks like those cables can be found on ebay and amazon.

[dcmtr]

The problem for UK peeps is that the official cable retails here for £15 (about 25 US dollars).

Anyway, anyone have an opinion on whether this one is likely to work?:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/..._ya_oh_product

I have ordered it anyway so will let you know.