Cowon D20

[Kizune]

(Originally posted by one of the members on iaudiophile.net)

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I found this on a Russian website (original source | translated):





Media Player Cowon D20, updated version of the D2 +, goes on sale

Korean company Cowon released in March, the updated model of media player D2 +, dubbed D20. This device has not only improved the processor, but also has a more powerful battery, which can play video 13 hours, and the music - 90 hours.

More Details:
COWON D20
Key Features:

Memory: up to 32 GB + SD / SDHC (up to 32GB)
Display: 2.5 "touchscreen TFT, QVGA
Formats: audio, video, graphics, text
Sound power: 29 mW + 29 mW

Device Settings:

Weight: 86 g
Dimensions: 78 x 55,4 x 16,6 mm
Power: Li-polymer battery
Opening hours: audio - up to 90 hours, video - up to 13 hours

[Marvin the Martian]

I'll stick with my X9.

[The DarkSide]

Dude, I'm hurtin after loosing my D2+,...and this goes to 32GB,...I'm getting this!!!

[XTR95]

My gawd this is quite the Performer! 32GB+32GB=64GB Max and 90 hours rated playback!

What's it gonna cost though?

[The DarkSide]

Most likely around $175-$200USD for my 32GB model,...

[lebellium]

The C2 UI... -_-
I thought I was clear enough in my C2 review that it is the worst UI I have ever seen on a MP3 player. I thought dfkt was clear enough too in his review.

Cowon should read reviews....

And a SDHC slot in 2013 while SDXC cards with SD v3.0 are coming?

Just die Cowon. Go bankrupt and stop annoying us.

[The DarkSide]

Just let me get this first,...I'll deal with the crappy UI. Then they can do whatever they want to do. I do admit, this is a major step backwards - but it replaces my lost player.

[Kizune]

Yeah, Cowon should definitely overhaul their UI guidelines.
This UI (and the C2's and X7's UI) was clearly designed by Lunar, who used to be a fantastic UCI creator for the S9 and J3. His UIs suddenly became crappy when he officially started working for Cowon...

[lebellium]

With the same design, I prefer my old 2005 Garmin Nuvi 300: it has a MP3 player but also a GPS chip

[El C]

How does Cowon stay in business with stuff like this? Their players must be extremely popular back at home.

On the other hand, I really want a J3 successor since I lost mine

[lebellium]

Originally Posted by El C

How does Cowon stay in business with stuff like this? Their players must be extremely popular back at home.

Not really anymore I guess. It's just that they are 100% state-subsidized

[FURR]

that image just could be a mock up but who knows

[kp-j3]

Originally Posted by El C

How does Cowon stay in business with stuff like this? Their players must be extremely popular back at home.

On the other hand, I really want a J3 successor since I lost mine

This....

Just give us 128gb internal and full sized sd slot with more reasonable file limits (or none at all).

[The DarkSide]

Originally Posted by kp-j3

This....

Just give us 128gb internal and full sized sd slot with more reasonable file limits (or none at all).

It'd be a miracle if we get 64gb, and a microSD card slot is more realistic for a J3/V2. But, as we all know, it ain't gonna happen.

As for why we keep getting these devices with outdated hardware/specs, it's because Cowon is trying to get the most $$$ before they totally bottom out. They're clearing out leftover stock in "new" devices,...or just buying all the scraps they can to grab all they can. There's no real logic left with them,...

But me, I just want a D2 form factor player with the sq & capacity minimum I need. This will suffice,...

[The DarkSide]

The Cowon D20 is up on eBay already: http://www.ebay.com/itm/GENUINE-Cowo...item4171451a3a

I don't want to import tho,...

[BruceBanner]

Originally Posted by lebellium

The C2 UI... -_-
I thought I was clear enough in my C2 review that it is the worst UI I have ever seen on a MP3 player. I thought dfkt was clear enough too in his review.

Cowon should read reviews....

And a SDHC slot in 2013 while SDXC cards with SD v3.0 are coming?

Just die Cowon. Go bankrupt and stop annoying us.

Originally Posted by The DarkSide

Just let me get this first,...I'll deal with the crappy UI. Then they can do whatever they want to do. I do admit, this is a major step backwards - but it replaces my lost player.

But the UI can be resolved with custom UI like i use for my C2 which i reviewed in quite some detail here.
The fact its using C2 UI is actually ironically perhaps for the better because paired with custom UI you will have a vast amount of choice for the orientation of the screen. For example, not only having the main menu in landscape mode and allowing for a 180 degree flip (upside down screen that is a stock option), with the vertical UI you can now choose to do the same but in portrait mode (and also flipping it). This is a great little advantage as depending on where the headphone jack is and where you prefer it to terminate you get that choice (as well as deciding where you like the physical buttons on the player to exist, if you prefer them to be on the left hand side of the player but they're annoying on the right, the custom UI + rotation will now come to the rescue and fix that).
The actual main menu of the C2 i don't find bad at all, and you get two stock themes to choose from as well. The problems start once you go one level deeper into the player, but there are plenty of custom UI's that fix this issue.

Yes its bizarre they're using the horrible C2 UI, but ironically the community development is already there to fix this. Better the devil you know is what I say.

So am i to understand this comes in 32gb internal storage, and when paired with a 64gb card total size will be 96gb and killer audio battery life in compact form?
Seems like a win to me and an actual Cowon new DAP that might actually sell.
Its still obvious to me they're using up old parts tho lol

[Marvin the Martian]

Originally Posted by BruceBanner

So am i to understand this comes in 32gb internal storage, and when paired with a 64gb card total size will be 96gb and killer audio battery life in compact form?
Seems like a win to me and an actual Cowon new DAP that might actually sell.
Its still obvious to me they're using up old parts tho lol

You'd probably run into file limitations if you put a 64GB card in it....unless you went "audiophile" and used FLAC....lol

[BruceBanner]

Hmm yeh, the old file limitation. They need to fix that.

So how does this differ from the C2?

Is it;
1) better battery life (55hrs vs 90hrs)
2) 32gb internal vs C2 16gb max?

that about it??

[lebellium]

And SD vs microSD. Youpi!

I love how websites and people differ in news and information processing:
-I titled my french article "Cowon D20...back to 2006" > http://www.generationmp3.com/index.p...etour-en-2006/
-A big french blog titled instead "Cowon D20 offers 90hrs battery life" > http://www.journaldugeek.com/2013/03/08/cowon-d20/
-Kizune tweeted "Finally a decent player" https://twitter.com/TheKizune/status/309785279617699842

So hilarious

[Kizune]

Yeah, as a music player the D20 is pretty nice IMO due to 90h battery life and BBE+. The screen resolution and screen size don't matter here because, again, it is a music player, and it should not be compared with smartphones or PMPs like the J3. Videos capabilities are a bonus feature.

Only concerns I have so far:
- SDHC instead of SDXC (32+32=64gb vs. 32+128=160gb max capacity)
- Bad UI (but at least the community will fix it for Cowon... as usual)
- Is the touch screen resistive or capacitive?

But all in all it might become my J3's successor when it breaks.