Cowon S9 VS iRiver Spinn

[Jessipoo]

BTW for the prices, apparently the Spinn is available for purchase (probably Europe) and is selling for 299 for 8 gig so the price point of 300 for 16 gig for the S9 makes a lot of sense, and it'll probably be higher! even though it SHOULDN't be. The Archos tablets are running high like 350euro for the archos 5 but the screen is bigger, the capacity is bigger, there are more features etc.

Anyways so these are 2 players I've had my eye on, I've been keeping a lookout for the spinn since it was announced in CES 2008. I put everything down on paper and so far looks like the S9 wins.

The S9 is actually slightly bigger (in every dimension) but let's not forget the curve adds some extra depth, still it looks sleeker than the spinn IMO

The only big difference (other than the UIs, one being ultra simple the other having full flash capabilities) is that the Spinn is haptic, which I was hoping for for the new Cowon players, while the Cowon has G-sensor which the iRiver does not.

Anyways that's about it, anybody else have thoughts of the 2 players? I'm sure you guys are all rooting for Cowon VS iRiver since this is the Cowon section..

[CrowdAds]

[eswa]

The UI's are both fully flash, right?
So the only thing the Spinn winns on is the vibration.
Cowon winns on screencolours, batterylife, 32gb, probably soundquality, anything else?
I'm curious too, I'm gonna buy one of the two, but I'm not sure yet which one.

[WalkGood]

Originally Posted by eswa

The UI's are both fully flash, right?
So the only thing the Spinn winns on is the vibration.
Cowon winns on screencolours, batterylife, 32gb, probably soundquality, anything else?
I'm curious too, I'm gonna buy one of the two, but I'm not sure yet which one.

Just on sound quality, I'd go cowon. Did you read the spinn review http://www.anythingbutipod.com/archi...inn-review.php

[Jessipoo]

spinn = disappointment

that simple UI usually gets to me but in this time of age..seems rather outdated for its (spinn) category

[2+2=5]

Originally Posted by Jessipoo

BTW for the prices, apparently the Spinn is available for purchase (probably Europe) and is selling for 299 for 8 gig so the price point of 300 for 16 gig for the S9 makes a lot of sense, and it'll probably be higher! even though it SHOULDN't be.

Do you mean euros? Cos the 8gig Spinn is selling at 199 euros right now;
http://www.digimania.be/en/prod_det.asp?ProductID=1006
Which is a bit less than 270 dollars.

[Jessipoo]

whoops I messed up my prices, anyways I know it's more expensive than all the other players like ipod (which has the resources and market share to reduce the price)

so nobody expect prices as low as apple, impossible! it's quality over.. ipod so. you get what you pay for!

[The DarkSide]

Thanks to info in another post from Dvinge: http://www.technikdirekt.de/main/en/...&path=275247_2

[prejudice]

For my opinion, s9 is better than spinn in some senses. (actually, i'm a iriver's fan, hehe).
Most functions that spinn can do, s9 can do also. Moreover, s9 has a better screen (more colour), dual-core cpu (what's the most interest for me).

However, this time I think no one can see s9 in action yet, right? Hope s9 does not reduce its spec like SPINN did I think this player can be the most top player in this year like clix2 can did few years ago.

ps. I think COWON and iRiver do not place themselves in the same market as Apple. They mainly focus on Korea, so they dont reduce their products' price to fight with Apple's products.

[Coolvibes]

Originally Posted by Jessipoo

spinn = disappointment

really that simple UI usually gets to me but in the time of age..seems rather outdated for its (spinn) category

I must agree Spinn is disapointment and Iriver discontinuing Clix 2gen is even more Iriver ship is realy going down

S9 defently

[assimilator]

I've looked at the Spinn videos on you tube (I'm sure that's where I saw it) and the UI and whole functionality is indeed very archaic. It reminds me of those old radios that you had to manually turn the dial to move between frequencies. Without seeing the S9 interface, the Spinn is just hedious. As soon a product is released, I always log onto you tube, as many reputable tech review websites always upload some good informative full length feature reviews. We'll have to wait a bit longer, or a whole lot longer the way things are going.

[kaotic_azn]

to all those complaing about the Spinn's UI maybe you should actually get one because the fact that it utilises flash within the UI is great and it actually brings it up another level. the same can be said for the Cowon D2 the music playing screen was a bit standard but with flash it was incredible.

[Jessipoo]

I agree assimilator, its UI is archaic, and I find that it's simple UI jumbled with its somewhat more complicated use (spin wheel AND touchscreen but only on certain things) mixed with its (subjective!) slightly-too-big-to-navigate-comfortably-in-one-hand and slightly-too-big-to-look-good-with-its-current-design, doesn't work, it's mixing opposites.

The simple UI functioned when the player was simpler.. and smaller. But now it's bigger, more complicated, has more features, and their UI is still simple. Simple is good, it's clean, it's intuitive, it's clear, but there are other ways of still making it exciting. I think the spinn was close, but not quite there yet. I feel if the player was slightly smaller and not competing in that tough "in-between" market it could've done better.

[assimilator]

[quote=Jessipoo;300829]I agree assimilator, its UI is archaic, and I find that it's simple UI jumbled with its somewhat more complicated use (spin wheel AND touchscreen but only on certain things) mixed with its (subjective!) slightly-too-big-to-navigate-comfortably-in-one-hand and slightly-too-big-to-look-good-with-its-current-design, doesn't work, it's mixing opposites.

Absolutely. Fair play to them for trying something different. In fact I remember a very good sony mp3 player that had a twisting wheel function - the model escapes me, but that was good. All in all, it's all subjective and the spec sheet is impressive, but it just lacks that va va voom factor. Hopefully the S9 will deliver on all fronts and not just functionality and ergonomics.

[Jessipoo]

I'm hoping it has that "je ne sais quoi" factor..

[Olley]

I've now got both an S9 and a SPINN. They can swap cables, as I just used the SPINN's cable to charge and put music on my S9. The S9's UI is easier to use. You pretty much have to use the SPINNdle to get around the SPINN's UI. The Photo app on the SPINN sucks. The S9's at least has zoom that works. I'm liking the S9 much more than the SPINN right now.

[Jessipoo]

I can't wait for CES 2009 to see the new walkman touch in action, I was slightly disappointed with the s9 after I read the reviews... and I feel the walkman touch may be able to offer the same thing, and more. so we shall see!

[Yega]

whats a UI?

[a_tumiwa]

wow you raised 1 year thread
u can go to http://www.anythingbutipod.com/forum...hread.php?t=87