Cowon intros upgraded iAUDIO 7, D2 players

We heard rumors of a beefed-up D2 way back in July, but Cowon has just now made that upgrade a reality, and it's giving its iAUDIO 7 player a storage boost for good measure as well. Both upgrades will apparently only be available on the red versions of the players, with the D2 now topping out at 8GB and the iAUDIO 7 pushing things all the way to 16GB. Otherwise, both players appear to be the same as before, with the former boasting a 2.5-inch LCD, an FM radio, and a promised 52 hours of playing time, and the latter packing a 1.3-inch LCD and an even longer 60 hours of purported battery life. According to Cowon, both should be available any day now (if they aren't already), with the new top-end D2 running $250, and the upgraded iAUDIO 7 setting you back $300.

[Cakes @ Oct 1st 2007 8:32PM]

I saw that the 8GB D2 was available as of (at least) yesterday through jetmall.net While the 8GB was a pleasant surprise, I was actually hoping for a price drop on the 4GB to around $150. That would be more logical as direct competition to the Nano.

Go Phillies!

[Javi0084 @ Oct 1st 2007 8:40PM]

I'm thinking about getting an I7, I just wish the D2 had 16GB built in.

[Javi0084 @ Oct 1st 2007 8:41PM]

I meant to say 7 not I7 :(

[David @ Oct 1st 2007 8:48PM]

isn't $300 a lot to pay for an Etch-a-Sketch?

[JohnTitor @ Oct 1st 2007 8:51PM]

does your Etch-a-Sketch play videos?

[404error @ Oct 1st 2007 9:08PM]

Mine sort of does if I sketch fast enough.

[derek @ Oct 1st 2007 8:51PM]

that thing looks like a brick...

[JohnTitor @ Oct 1st 2007 8:52PM]

Cowon's have great audio quality but these will phail to the Sansa View

[GumbyX84 @ Oct 1st 2007 9:11PM]

Price-wise: Yes
Quality-wise: ????

Cowon has some of the best audio and build quality in the business, not to mention battery life. None of us have even gotten our grubby little hands on a View yet, so why don't we wait till we start making assumptions, ok?

[Natedog @ Oct 1st 2007 9:33PM]

Unless the quality control (and just quality) has improved greatly since my last e280, no. I say "my last e280" because my first two just broke before I gave up and got a D2.

Is the extra 4GB on the D2 really worth the extra $60 (assuming you can still get the 4GB for $190 on Newegg)? With an SDHC slot and 16GB cards around the corner/kinda here, I'm not sure.

[GumbyX84 @ Oct 1st 2007 9:50PM]

I have to agree Natedog. Jetmail has the 4GB version with a leather case for $200. I personally don't really need an extra 4 GB now (just getting into listening to music again after years of the radio, so my collection is small), so its not something I would need right now.

Personally, I am looking at the View 8GB due to the price difference. It won't have the nice touchscreen and UI thats the D2 has, but its more within my price-range. The iAudio 7 looks nice, but I am not a fan of the interface (love the battery life though). My e250 has worked nicely for me; its just too small for my needs now. If the audio and build quality of the View is (and better be) the same or better then my current e250, I will be a happy SanDisk customer.

[Ethyriel @ Oct 1st 2007 9:50PM]

I was really hoping for a different color on the 16GB iAudio 7, that red and black just doesn't do it for me. I was thinking a nice all black version would be nice, or maybe black and dark silver.

[Motts Priest @ Oct 7th 2007 6:55PM]

My thoughts exactly!

[Balam Herrera @ Oct 1st 2007 10:29PM]

I just wish Cowon would make a version of jetaudio for us, mac users. Using only the file transfer option really sucks.

And, by the way, i love ipods a lot more than cowon players. But these have such great quality and so many functions!

[carnifex2005 @ Oct 1st 2007 11:56PM]

That pic is of the 8 GB model. On the Cowon site, the 16 GB is black with silver trim.

[Ethyriel @ Oct 2nd 2007 1:25AM]

Where do you see that? At jetmall the 16GB model is listed as red, which coincides with Engadget's claims here. Not that I'd be complaining, I'd much prefer black and silver. Actually, I had forgotten that the 4GB model is black and silver, so I think it's pretty unlikely that the 16GB would be the same color.

[Julian Bond @ Oct 2nd 2007 3:37AM]

Where's the 160Gb iPod Classic competitor?

[PenaltyKillah @ Oct 2nd 2007 7:20PM]

... ... why does everyone wants EVERYTHING from everyone? Cowon has long ditched the iAudio X5 (but the X7 may be that iPod classic competitor, coming soon).

[Logboy @ Oct 2nd 2007 5:04AM]

Sorry what's the point of the update if the D2 has an SDHC slot. The D2 works on paper and i'm glad if you're happy with it, but I was disapointed. Though I wish my iPod touch had 48 hours of battery life!
Cowon has some great stuff coming out. X7, A3 and Q5, and they want to dink around with this tired crap? I think they should "focus power!" and concentrate on other things. Like firing their entire Cowon-USA organization and hire some people who give a crap. Take a lesson from Oppo digital...google them.

[grunter @ Oct 2nd 2007 9:42AM]

they are available now in Oz. and both are black and silver. but i too wish that the D2 had 16GB. my 4GB D2 is not bad and there is a lot of new features now with the new firmware. We have had a $50 price drop since i bought mine.