Hands-on with Samsung's YP-T7 flash MP3 player
By Peter Rojas 
posted Jan 25th 2005 1:53PM
posted Jan 25th 2005 1:53PM
Nah, we didn't actually get hands-on with this ourselves, but when reader by the name of "Bobbetta" offered to send in a few pics of the YP-T7, Samsung's new flash-based MP3 player which one of her relatives who works for the company brought home, we had to say yes. Like we said before, this one feels like it's going to be for Korea-only. Comes in 256MB, 512MB, and 1GB sizes, and sports a decently-sized color screen for looking at digital photos, a text file viewer, a battery life of about ten hours, and support for playback of Ogg, MP3, WMA, WAV, and ASF audio files. Click to see a couple more pics.
UPDATE: We just received confirmation from Samsung's PR rep that this will be sold here in the States. Should be out in about a month or so.
anyone else notice all her other stuff is Samsung too?
Gah... why does all the cool stuff only come out in Korea or Japan??? Do they really think something like this wouldnt sell like hotcakes in the US?? It would especially appeal to the nerds, with its OGG playback... daddy like!
I noticed
Something fishy about the picture with the hand. Kind of looks like it's been manipulated.
It's almost as big as a cell phone! boo!
Why bother when cell phones are coming with built in mp3 players and flash cards coming in up to 1gig. Then they can also do megapixel cameras. Sounds like a no brainer.
Almost as big as a cell phone? You do realize that the middle picture is the player next to an eraser and not a cell phone, right? If you want a usable device with a screen, you really can't go much smaller...
The photo wasn't manipulated, but I did raise the contrast a bit to sharpen it.
my hand!
yes every single item in my household is samsung
and the first picture isnt photoshopped lol
stop the monopoly.. it looks like an awesome player & way better than the ugly shuffle.
People be realistic!
I'd love to show one of these to by sheep friends that keep blathering about the shuffle.
This thing is so way cooler than the shuffle, and even no that much bigger. It has a full color screen for god's sake! If only it would come to America.
Yeah, that looks much better than the shuffle. Small, good capacity, great looking sharp screen.
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This is going to be relased in the US. Check out the products page on samsungusa.com. They have a blue version(256MB) and a silver one(1GB) listed.
How long before most phones come with at least 256 MB and kill the flash music player market?..
How long before flash is so cheap and there are phones with several gigabytes of storage?
Now who has the easiest: Samsung adding flash and a decent player interface to their phones, or Apple developing a phone, something they have never done and that isn't that easy?..
That's why Apple will (and already has... more than once) partner with Motorola. Turns out they know something about building cell phones (ya know... having invented them and all). Thanks for playing!
How long before phone batteries can last long enough to let you listen to mp3/wma/aac audio? Unless battery life increases, audio in phones won't kill the dedicated player. And this one is a cool one at that :)
Confirmed that it's currently listed on Samsung USA's website under Digital Audio Players. I asked Samsung via email a week ago whether they were planning to offer either YP-t6 or T7 in USA, and they mentioned the YP-MT6X would be offered as Sams Club soon, don't know about availability of T7, although the fact it's on the USA website is encouraging.
There is a story at cnet: http://www.cnet.com/4520-10602_1-5619676-1.html
for $199 for 1GB I would buy it over shuffle anytime
Interesting this thing "Partnership" ... is that something like what DirecTV and Tivo had right before DirecTV came up with their own "Tivo-like" box and told Tivo to beat it?
I'm sure Motorola would never do something like that to Apple. Because, as we all know, it's IMPOSSIBLE to build an MP3 player into a phone without Apple's help. ... or really, really not hard at all.
And remember, Tivo had the PVR market "locked-up" and was THE brand for a while. Now look at them. Fewer and fewer companies care about partnering with Tivo as everyone figure out the underlying tech is pretty simple (hard drive + software) in contrast to launching satellites/laying cable all over the country.
The parallels to Apple's partnership with Motorola should be ominous. Particularly with Apple's drive down-market and away from certain features that got them where they are, and their increasing focus on branding over innovation in the DAP market (i.e., the Shuffle).
Thanks for playing!
Ogg, MP3, WMA, WAV, and ASF?
Why doesn't anybody support AAC besides Apple? This thing won't play my decrypted (thanks Hymn!) iTunes files.
Yeah good point, anonymously. Just like how creative realized how easy it is to build an mp3 player, and look! now they're obliterating apple! oh wait... no. no they aren't. Moto is smart enough to realize that they will quickly have 75% of the (soon-to-exist) cell phone/mp3 market IF AND ONLY IF they partner with apple. Otherwise, they'll be just another easy-to-build piece of hardware in an endless sea of such.
Just like creative, rio, samsung, toshiba, and everyone else who makes an mp3 player today... fighting hard for a DISTANT second place.
Thanks for being dumb and then pretending you aren't!
Careful Usman... all the nerdier-than-thous around here will get all over your ass for wanting to play AAC files... the iPod is an attractive and easy-to-use device... what kind of geek are you if you use one???
Available in the US?
Which part of "Samsung Portable Audio are not available in the United States" am I missing?
http://www.samsung.com/Products/PortableAudio/index.htm
OK great 1GB. Lets see some 2GB ones now. 1GB is very 2004'ish! :)
MORE MORE MORE!!!
I gotta say, that is damn impressive. Sort of blows a hole in Jobs' "a screen wouldn't work on such a small device" argument.
Personally, I'd still get the shuffle if I was going to choose (but lacking money, I'm not) because of the iTunes integration. I'm frequently amazed no one has written up-to-date device plugins for iTunes - it does support them, after all.
Well Microsoft Smartphones have had 1 gb + capacity for a year now and it hasn't hurt the mp3 player market.
"I'd love to show one of these to by sheep friends that keep blathering about the shuffle." by Markus
"stop the monopoly" by Xio
I hope neither of you are using Windows. If so, you are extremely hypocritical.
Shuffle Killer!
JK: It is easy to build an MP3 player into a cell phone...even the companies trailing Apple in the DAP market know how to do the tech stuff...it's just the brand, the marketing, and the interface...
Your prediction that Motorola will have 75% of the cell phone/MP3 combo market is rather humorous. You obviously don't know much about the cell phone industry. Once Apple starts playing in that arena, they are going up against the big boys, like Nokia instead of Creative. Plus, consumers choose cell phones on other features besides any built in music player. Most of those buying a cell phone with DAP will be buying a cell phone first, with the DAP thought of as the added feature, not the other way around.
I do think the cell phone will largely take over the DAP market in the future...it's just too easy of a convergence. In the end, all Apple will have is licensing iTunes compatibility to cell phone manufactures...
This is infinitely better than the lame shuffle...
Thought, the first well thought-out statement I've seen here in months.
*Obviously* it's easy to build an mp3 player into a cell phone. In fact, my treo has had one in it for going on 18 months now.
I agree with your fundamental point that the consumer's choice process becomes diluted when you add in a cell phone to the whole mess. Now, instead of worrying only about DAP capabilities, they also have to worry about cell phone capabilities too. So sure, if Moto builds a bad phone and Apple adds some fantastic iTunes features to it, there will be a big problem for Moto and Apple in that market.
BUT... as you noted, Apple IS good at branding, marketing, and interfaces. People buy this stuff. LOTS of it. If Moto comes out with a phone that works well (they've managed that before-- remember, most people don't care what bluetooth profiles are disabled by default-- most people don't know what a bluetooth profile is), and Apple puts serious R&D into integrating iTunes, then that phone is going to have a HUGE advantage in the emerging cellphone+DAP market, period.
Sure, the dorks who read engadget will turn up their noses, adjust their taped-together glasses, and say "but I can get a 4GB SD card and pocketTunes for my Treo, why do I want that hyped Apple crap that is just well-marketed junk?"... meanwhile, the rest of the market is going to see an iPod in a cell phone and shit their pants (and buy it). The momentum Apple has because so many are locked into AAC files is alone enough to carry serious weight in this market. I know I'll be heavily sweighed by the phone that can play AAC, since about half my collection is that now.
As for your last point: "In the end, all Apple will have is licensing iTunes compatibility to cell phone manufactures..."
That isn't a bad thing for Apple. I agree that it'd sure be nice to keep selling super-high-margin hardware. For a while, as phones are in the 1-10GB sizes, Apple will still be able to sell 40-100GB dedicated players. But even when the DAP is gone and we all just have that integrated in our cell phones, I think someone is going to be willing to pay a lot to Apple for that license.
...
Guess what, I wouldn't be surprised at all if Apple release a plus version shuffle which does include a screen and is the same price as current one
That is the COOLEST MP3 player I have ever seen. I have like 5 MP3 players... and now I need an excuse to buy a 6th! I hope they don't screw it up with some stupid DRM or some mindless oversight in the User Interface.
As for Apple, who cares? Not even worth mentioning in the face of this coolness.
I'd love to show one of these to by sheep friends that keep blathering about the shuffle.
----
Hrm. That's funny.. Windows has an even bigger marketshare and you never hear anyone 'blathering' about it. I guess it got old back in 1991 huh?
Now all you hear are people cursing and crying about Windows.
Hey, yupkixtokki,
Could you try out the voice recording & let us know how it sounds? I'm curious as to...
1) Does it record voice directly to high-quality mp3 (vs lower quality low-bitrate wavs), and...
2) How is it recording normal speech from a distance of a few feet, as opposed to speaking directly into the unit? (This seems to be a failing of some units -- great up-close, poor from even small distances.)
"Why doesn't anybody support AAC besides Apple?"
sounds like you've locked yourself in to buying apple hardware whether you want to or not
JK: I agree that the Apple name carries with it some weight in the marketplace.
However, you also correctly write "If Moto comes out with a phone that works well..."...well, that is a big "if." Moto can surely do it, but they have also released their share of duds before.
When people look at phones they see the phone, not the software. If Apple gives Moto some help on the design, and the phone looks more like an Apple phone, then it will sell. However, if people see a Moto phone, with just some iTunes sticker on it or such, then it may not go over so well.
Ironically, Moto phones are typically not easy to use and have a poor user interface...the opposite of Apple.
I personally think Nokia would have been a better fit for Apple, from the standpoint of corporate design and philosophy.
You are correct in that Apple has built itself some momentum with iTunes and AAC. However, time will tell if that will translate into it becoming a long lasting standard. I remember at the height of Palm-mania many predicted that the Palm OS would be found integrated into every conceivable gadget, and would become the standard, but that certainly hasn't happened. In fact, Palm is hurting, the success of the Treo notwithstanding.
So market advantages can erode very quickly...
I have huge respect for what Apple has accomplished, but the question will be if it can transcend its trendy and lucrative market niche...
Interesting example about Palm... but Palm's perceived advantages were perceived by techno-dudes for techno-dudes (and techno-chicks). What I mean is... they had a huge portion of what was really a relatively small market. Furthermore, this market segment seems somewhat fickle, and perfectly willing to jump ship the instant something better comes along (does that mean windows CE/smartphone/mobile is better? shudder to think... anyway, off topic).
The DAP market, especially Apple's dominance in it, it driven by a relatively ignorant but massive public that just doesn't KNOW any better (and I think it's well documented here that I believe there isn't anything better to know. overall, the iPod *is* the best player out there, I'll contend. but that's rather irrelevant to this discussion). While trying to tell my brother what iPod accessories I wanted for xmas, I discovered that to him the word "iPod" meant "mp3 player" in the same way that "ziploc" means "sealable plastic bag." It is THAT pervasive amongst the unwashed masses.
Now, I couldn't agree more that it's going to take a lot more than a sticker that says "iTunes!" to make this thing work like I think it could. I'm not so sure I agree nokia would be a better fit. Yes, they make a more friendly interface than Moto, but by the same token I suspect they're more attached to that interface, which isn't very compatible with an Apple corp that, I suspect, is going to want a lot of control of its own. Furthermore, Nokia's past attempts at two-in-one functionality have been ... less than stellar (hello nGage).
I guess what I'm trying to claim is that IF Apple has a lot of say in the mechanical and software design, a Moto+iTunes phone would be a market killer. Yes, if they just stick an mp3 chip inside a leftover Timeport, it'll be a non-starter. I'm suspecting (and hoping) that Apple'll be smarter than that.
Tangentially, I suppose it's even possible that this could go backwards from what we've all assumed... Apple *could* license a cell phone design or two from Moto, and glom on some iTunes love. Hmm... stranger things have happened.
what are you guys talking about the shuffle is cool
what are you guys talking about the shuffle is cool
The shuffle IS cool. It's not the perfect mp3 player, but it's going to do what it's meant to do well. No screen? It's only an inch across and 1/3 inch deep. A screen would have to go lengthways to show anything useful and that'd look too obscene to mention.
Back OnTopic.
I thought this was meant to be about the Samsung DAP, not about the phone/mobile integration..
The player does look very nice and the screen will be good for seeing what you are listening too. I'm not sure how useful people will find these photo/mp3 players. I couldn't really imagine bringing photos around with me on my music player. I guess it's just a strange link someone made at some point and we're going to either love it or just not use it..
OffTopic again..
I would agree that Nokia would be a far better choice for a mobile phone/DAP venture as the Nokia phones:
1) Already have a big share of the mobile market (in europe at least)
2) Have good user interfaces
3) Are stylish enough to appeal to the iPod market (maybe just personal taste there). I admit that for every 10 phones Nokia make, at least half of them are/look virtually the same lol..
B - "Available in the US?
Which part of "Samsung Portable Audio are not available in the United States" am I missing?"
B, try this page that clearly says Samsung USA:
http://product.samsung.com/cgi-bin/nabc/product/b2c_product_detail.jsp?prod_id=YP-T7Z%252fXAA
NICE!!
I want one!!
I really like the looks of this player. Any word on the ease of replacing the battery? Also, can anyone tell me why mp3 players rarely include AM radio? And please don't tell me it's because AM sucks as lots of sports and news programs just don't make it to FM. Thanks.
Also, if you go here:
http://product.samsung.com/cgi-bin/nabc/product/b2c_product_detail.jsp?prod_id=YP-T7Z%252fXAA
and then click on "Download Center" > "Manuals" you can download the 10MB! manual with lots of juicy info!!!
10MB Manual:
http://product.samsung.com/cgi-bin/nabc/support/b2c_downloadcenter_detail.jsp?eUser=&mobile=N&oid=73978&cntType=UM&cntId=237576〈=EN
I just read bits of teh manual and... Wow! This player is amazing, it does ripping straight from CDs to MP3 (with line input), so you could also use an external Mic for recording straight to MP3. It's miles ahead of the competition in terms of features and a la par with iFamily in looks.
I can't get to get one!
All I can say - iPod Killer :)
"Why doesn't anybody support AAC besides Apple? This thing won't play my decrypted (thanks Hymn!) iTunes files."
Nokia supports AAC. They were part of the consortium, along with Dolby, who developed it. You can playback unprotected AAC files on some of their phones and communicators.
OK, who's the asshat that is posting as me? The first post by leetlefeesh is mine, the next retarded double post is not.
I wish they finally fixed the problems with the sound quality of their Mp3 player line.
Once I bought a Samsung YP-T5. The consequences are described here...
http://maksee.narod.ru/sound/t5/t5snd_e.htm
"The momentum Apple has because so many are locked into AAC files is alone enough to carry serious weight in this market."
JK, you're an ass. This comment alone would seem to be all the justification one would need to steer clear of iPods.
I'm so very tired of iPod fanatics who try and turn every discussion into a Microsoft vs Apple contest. This isn't about Microsoft, or about operating systems, this is about mp3 players, and people having enough common sense to make intelligent and informed decisions, not fanatical cult-like ones. Stick with your precious white plastic if you want, just stop denigrating those who weigh the options and choose another path.
You don't realize how foolish you look to the rest of us. A marketers dream.
Wasn't Microsoft brought up in reponse to a Sheep comment about ipod 'fanatics'? JK seems to be discussing DA players as far as i can see, discussing a product or company he obviously likes, not denigrating and throwing around the hate like some uh other people. It might be an article about Samsung's player, but people keep bringing up the ipods and the shuffle as comparison, so its fair game for discussion no?
As for me I think this is a cool tiny player, I wouldnt mind owning one. But for right now, I prefer the shuffle just because I like to run and play sports and if i were to drop or fall on a DAplayer (Ok i'm a clutz, so what!) i'd rather it be the shuffle. I'm no tech geek guy or whatever, jus seems like it would be less to damage like the pretty color screen n shiny case and all. Although I'm not sure, but the Shuffle seems smaller and lighter, which is a definite plus as well.
I also woulndt really need to be checkin out whats playing. Kinda like the radio, i just listen to whatever is on, if i don't like it i change the station. I just need a simple player that i dont really need to think about while i'm running or whatever.
But the screen does seem useful for those other things the samsung has on it. I don't see why I can't have both! One for certain occasions and the other for, well, other less rumble and tumble occasions. Yea
Also, no one is really locked into AAC files are they? Can't you convert them to another file format such as mp3 or wav or aiff or whatever? I guess there would be some loss of sound quality and a hassle too.
Doesn't the shuffle seem like the perfect stocking stuffer for Xmas or Bday tho? Kinda far off, but hey makes a nice gift, who wouldnt be stoked to get one? good for them school kiddies as a jump drive thing for schoolwork files ay?
But I guess i'd be stoked to get the samsung as a gift as well. hrm. maybe not as much
Anyways,
don't be a player hater -lol! life's too short
for such petty things
Is that a mock-up? I notice the screen never changes... be nice to see what else it shows.
i just bought one of these new samsung's at best buy today. $199. didn't go intending to buy it - was there for something else but it caught my eye and they only had 2 left. incredibly tiny. i haven't even opened it - just got home and came on the boards to see if i coudl find any reviews.
i guess it'll be up to me to come back and post some tomorrow. i have to let it charge up first (but then the battery lasts 10 hours!)
yes, i have a treo and can play mp3 songs over it, but what i LOVE about this samsung is its tiny size - will be great for exercising with.
Just got one at best buy today as well. I was there to get an iriver 795 for my wife but this thing has double the capacity, color screen (which looks excellent) and a built in rechargeable battery (which you can charge over usb) for the same price!
I'm really impressed by it, the volume and sound quality is way better than I expected and it's a cinch to use.
I just recorded some tracks from Rhapsody using the line-in and they sound great too.
The only small complaints I would make are these:
1. The belt clip is really tight, you have to be careful sliding it on and make sure both sides are on top of the chrome ridge or you will scratch the side, I did.
2. There is a rectangular hook at the top for the neckband which is loose so it can collapse into the player. If you are not using it it rattles around a bit.
3. It's so nice I am regretting giving it to my wife and want to go buy another one for me.
One more thing, I also bought Best Buy's "upgrade plan" for $20 which allows you to return the player at any time within 2 years and apply the full purchase price to any other item in the store. So hopefully when there is a 2gb version out in a few months I can trade up and only have to pay the difference. Yay!
just curious...what colors did you guys buy? i want it sooooo baddd!!
aaaaaaaargh!!!since i first saw a posting about this last month, ive sooo wanted one!!!v dissapointed that the red one is 256 tho. anyway, ive spent hours trying to find a site thatll ship to the uk, to no avail, infact ive only found one site thats ships within the states. anyone know anywhere thatll ship over the pond, id be happy with the 512, but happier with the 1!anyway im v jealous of those who have one!ggggrrr!thanks! :o)
Yay! I finally got my silver 1GB yp-t7 and it is even Tinier then i thought!!! this thing and anyother samsung product i feel outdos any Apple ipod or mini on any level!! i just had an ipod mini at the time it was all the craze, and now think it looks ugly as hell. But good thing my cousin wanted it so i gave it to her and finally have my yp-t7!!!! ill update on pros and cons later..for now let me go play with my yp-t7 ooOoOooOoo im in gadget heaven!!!!!!!!!!
Yay! I finally got my silver 1GB yp-t7 and it is even Tinier then i thought!!! this thing and anyother samsung product i feel outdos any Apple ipod or mini on any level!! i just had an ipod mini at the time it was all the craze, and now think it looks ugly as hell. But good thing my cousin wanted it so i gave it to her and finally have my yp-t7!!!! ill update on pros and cons later..for now let me go play with my yp-t7 ooOoOooOoo im in gadget heaven!!!!!!!!!!
I just bought mine yesterday with the warranty Best Buy offerred.
The only bad thing would be it doesnt come with a carrying case like the iRiver 990 I had planned on buying online. Also, the headphones are superlong. If you don't turn it off properly, the mp3 player freezes. It's really weird.
Minse is the 512 MB and it's only in blue. I wanted the lime green one.
I just got mine today at Best Buy. I got the 1GB version and it works great for all of my OGG files. Even Linux pushes files to it extremely fast. A 2GB model would be cooler but with 64kbs OGG files it can hold over 24 hours of audio.
The picture of the hand has not been doctored. I purchased thi8s amazing little machine today and that is the screen protector that you peel off before use and it reminds you to fully charge the battery before you start using it. Its a great little gadget if you want my opinion :)
Hope y'all having better luck than I , Mine keeps freezing up, After 10 minutes on hold with Customer Service, "Sorry you call has been disconnected - Please call the 1-800 number again... UHGGG
I just bought the 512 MB Samsung YP-T6 at a Sam's Club in Cary, NC (near Raleigh) for $117. It's tiny, well-built, sounds fantastic, and the interface is easy to master for such a powerful little device. Compare that to the highly-unavailable and feature-short iPod Shuffle for only $17 more, and this thing is a STEAL. Go buy it. NOW!
FREEZES!
Like Tim, I too am having freezes. Seems to occur once every 4 to 8 hours and requires the reset button to be pressed.
I returned it and got another which did the exact same thing. Returned that one and still freezes.
Now I'm looking for a different brand.
I've read that this thing freezes during playback if you fully load up the memory with songs. You have to keep it under 512MB to avoid freezing.
For anyone just now stumbling onto this, I have written an extensive review of the Samsung YP-T7Z on my blog. Check it out if you're interested.
http://shadow1019.blogspot.com/2005/03/samsung-yp-t7z-mp3-player-review.html
Scott,
Thanks for the review and especially the explanation of the freeze up problem. I will probably be purchasing one soon.
John,
No problem, I'm happy it helped. For further clarification, the problem I described is not a "freeze up" but rather a problem where the device shuts itself down when trying to play particular songs. This usually happens when I've tranferred three or more songs onto the device.
To fix it, you simply use the device's own file manager (I don't think it works if you delete them from your computer) and delete the duplicates. For example, if I uploaded a song titled "Sample.mp3" it would show up on the device with a duplicate titled ".Sample.mp3" So, all you have to do is go into Settings --> Delete File and then delete any duplicate files that have a "." before the name. As a side note, I am using a Mac so I don't know if that may be causing this problem.
I did experience the "freeze up" problem discussed but only once during the first time I used it after the initial charge. The device froze up and none of the buttons worked, including the power off button. This was cured by pressing the reset button and has not happened since (almost one month of use).
Samsung released a firmware update on March 3 2005
http://product.samsung.com/cgi-bin/nabc/support/b2c_downloadcenter_detail.jsp?eUser=&mobile=N&oid=73977&cntType=FM&cntId=246653&lang=ST
I have the same freeze problem. I did change it for a new one but still freesing! I am dessepareted about this. Is anyone have found a solution? Even keeping it half empty doesn't work. "Hold" screen everytime.
thanks
I have the same freeze up problem: I reload the firmware (ver. 5.03.15EU from samsung site) but the problem remains. Suggestions ?
About freeze problem YP-T7Z player :
i think it's related to the variable bit-rate mp3 files, i mean if i turn off player while it plays VBR mp3, next time when i turn it on it just freeze and don't reacts on any button. And the same after reboot (that's really bad!)- it shows splash screen while system is loading, and freezeon the same song!
The ONLY way i found to make it works after freeze is connect it to computer again and erase that song that was shown on the screen while it freezes. Even rename does not work.
Do you have any other solutions? Firmware update to version 20050829145011796_YPT7_0704EU didn't help eather...
I have the freeze up problem a too and i have the newest firmware 5.07 or something
Do you have the resume feature ON?
how come i cant view my picture on it. DO i need a software to enable it or something
Help how do i charge the yp-t6 batteries please help.thank you
you guys are all losers, get a life you tools!! its just the mp3 player market, instead of sitting infront of your computer for endless hours each day go and do something other than thinking about the impact of an new mp3 on the north american markets. ipod is over advertised and over-used, its just another big name that people buy into for no reason other than the brand name.
dont be a conformist and buy and ipod, be original and be yourself, and buy something else, something that will actually show people who you are.
now i'm going to get of this dam computer and do something productive, you should all try doing the same