Cowon's A3 PMP gets bumped to 80GB

If you've been holding off on getting an A3 for some strange reason, perhaps a bump in capacity will push you over the edge. That's right, Cowon's little performer just got more junk in the trunk -- 80GB of junk, to be exact. Sure, you'll have to drop €448 (or about $691) on this thing, but think of all the pics, music, and "movies" you'll be able to load up on it.

[Aguiluz @ May 18th 2008 8:12PM]

"movies" eh?

[Sime @ May 18th 2008 8:20PM]

mmmmm "movies"...wait what?

[Mario @ May 18th 2008 8:22PM]

Can it play doom?

[Aguiluz @ May 18th 2008 8:24PM]

Hmph! Doom? Pah!

Can you play doom? Because you make sure every device can! >_

[Mario @ May 18th 2008 8:31PM]

I don't support "movie" formats :(

[Aguiluz @ May 18th 2008 9:40PM]

Then put the "doom" to rest!

[Eric B. @ May 18th 2008 8:27PM]

Is there a PSP killer because that seems to be the best PMP IMO. Video Games (GTA), Movies, Music, Internet, Radio, Can play Nintendo games from firmware and other hacks, changeable faceplate, attachable camera, and I also hear there is Skype. Seriously, What can beat the PSP? You can even get 1-16GB and soon 32 GB.

[Kasi Viswanath @ May 18th 2008 8:51PM]

You are definitely right to a point but Cowon A3 deserves its own place. It can record directly from TV (absolutely no other docking stations required). It can play LOADS of other formats (no need to buy seperately). Sound clarity is very good. It's definitely rugged and solid than the PSP. It also has FM radio (which is a BIG plus for many). Battery lasts for (lot) more than double on the PSP.

For the PSP, videos are great and even its ability to play games. It also includes a crappy browser. Other than that?

I guess, you shouldn't compare both the devices. If gaming is your only priority, go for PSP. Anything else, you need to have a Cowon A3.

Disclaimer: I don't have A3 but have A2. I also have a PSP and love both of them.

[ratnikh @ May 18th 2008 9:45PM]

The PSP, while versatile for a game system, is a gimp as a dedicated PMP. It has horrible codec support, mediocre screen resolution, horrible navigation controls, and mediocre battery life. Furthermore, the steps required to make a video/movie watchable on the PSP are needlessly complex, requiring dedicated software for codec conversion, resizing and extreme compression to fit within the tiny confines of memory-stick limits. Even with "huge" memory sticks, the amount of space available is extremely limiting for storing multiple movies, or episodic television content. Add to that, the fact that with a PSP you can't create custom storage heirarchies, which makes finding content potentially cumbersome (assuming you have the room for more than a small handful of videos).

It adds up to a portable game unit that has the added benefit of a marginally useful media component, but hardly comparable to a dedicated PMP with multi-gig storage, hardware video I/O, and recording with time-shifting features.

[TheCow5 @ May 18th 2008 8:38PM]

A bit more info for anyone.

it has a 4-inch screen with 800 x 480 pixel resolution, Cowon A3 capable to play MP3, WMA, FLAC, OGG, AAC, AC3 audio files and DivX, Xvid, Mpeg4, WMV9/8/7, H.264 video files.
Cowon packs some TV watching option like HDTV out, DMB, 1-Seg andDVB-T. The A3 also has an FM tuner.Other features including PDF, Word and Excel file reader.

For Cowon A3 with 30GB storage capacity, Cowon give $385 price tag and $462 price tag for 60GB version.

did I mention I want one, so who will be the first to offer to buy me one.

[thequinox @ May 18th 2008 8:40PM]

Umm, well almost every PMP out there can beat it. If you are talking about versatility, then yes the PSP has an advantage, but as a media player it sucks. This A3 could run circles around a PSP, not to mention it's vast codec support.

[Jesse S @ May 18th 2008 8:55PM]

I doubt it's that much. The 60gig is only $370.

http://www.jetmall.net/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=423

It's probably only that much in Euroland.

[Ignatius @ May 18th 2008 9:05PM]

I wish I could get this... I've been wanting an A2 since they came out and I just can't justify paying $350+ for a media player.

[Alex M @ May 18th 2008 9:15PM]

I'm gunna stick with my Archos 504 40gb. I get the removable battery, a bit bigger a screen, and better(IMO) navigation. When I get the money, I might go for a 605 wifi.

[Jesse S @ May 18th 2008 9:17PM]

Not to mention next to no codec support, lower resolution (in the 504), and really shitty sound quality.

[Alex M @ May 18th 2008 9:54PM]

@Jesse:
I paid 100$ for it. It does enough of my codecs for vids, I don't use it for music(being what my Sony A728 or Cowon D2 are for), and the screen looks damn good to me :D
I owned a ZVM and ZVW before which were also good but I got a great deal on the recording dock for this Archos.

[d0n0van @ May 18th 2008 10:06PM]

I like my Creative Zen W for $200 at CC. Sure, it might not have a huge HD or great codecs support but the screen is great and I get to keep my other $491 USD.

[Alex @ May 18th 2008 10:11PM]

I like the iPhone.

It's got a phone! And it can play some movies! And music! And take pictures! And browse the web! And get directions! And a good battery for what you get! And it's got iTunes! And it's on ATT!

Did I mention it's a phone?

[jskrdude @ May 19th 2008 12:23AM]

Gosh,
no need to vote him down
He was being sarcastic.

(oh...I think the iPhone is pretty cool. I'd just rather spend the money on other things)

Ummm.. the Cowon A3 looks pretty sexy... maybe someday I'll get it.

[Alex @ May 19th 2008 6:24AM]

OMG.

HOW COULD YOU VOTE ME DOWN!?!?!?!

.....for the love of god, recognize sarcasm. All you tech people are so opinionated....it's killing me....

[akstylish @ May 19th 2008 7:53AM]

Sarcastic or not, it deserved low rank :p

[Big Sam @ May 18th 2008 10:17PM]

I love my A2. I keep looking for a reason to upgrade to the A3 but haven't found it just yet.

[Alex @ May 18th 2008 10:23PM]

I think this is just a really cool portable DVR. Neat, but expensive. And I could live without it.

[Valgas @ May 19th 2008 12:28AM]

Do you own a BMW? If so, then what kind of well off guy are you? The A3 is worth every cent.

[Alex @ May 19th 2008 6:20AM]

I own a 530i.

And what's your point here?

[twist_serv @ May 19th 2008 1:33AM]

The only con is the lack of complete support for H264 MP or HP at a decent resolution (800x450 or just trow a 852x480video and left A3 do the resize). Apart from that is still the best of the best on tje PMP world.

I bought mine (60GB) for 700bucks, I live in Peru --> hate local store taxes ¬_¬.

[klew @ May 19th 2008 1:48AM]

One of the big selling points of the A3 is USB host support - I can download travel photos from my digital camera directly to the A3 hard drive, no laptop needed.

[beemanreturns @ May 19th 2008 8:19AM]

it only has a 10 hour battery life! How can this be the best mp3/pmp player? Cowon should've improved this rather then swopping in a bigger drive (that anyone can really do themselves).

[Mega Math @ May 19th 2008 11:11AM]

There is the archos 605 wi-fi with touchscreen and 160gb harddrive for 400$ cad and a dvr statiion for 100$ forget that stupid pmp!

[Valgas @ May 19th 2008 11:59AM]

Forget the Cowon ? You rich fancy man.

[Jesse S @ May 19th 2008 12:18PM]

This thing actually has decent battery life, codec support, and sound quality.

[MBS @ May 19th 2008 11:53AM]

I just with cowon would make an A3-like player with a touch screen.

[GETYOID @ Jun 20th 2008 9:11AM]

$691?!? Screw that. Thats about 172 gallons of gas where I hail from. Thats about 18 months of Internet service. Thats about 170 gallons of milk (or 85 gallons of gas AND 85 gallons of milk). Thats ..... so not worth it these days.

There are more important things to purchase.

[Blasteas @ Jul 18th 2008 8:51PM]

So I know the Archos A3-SL can do USB Hosting, which is exactly what I am looking for.. so lets say that I wanted to use it to transfer PSP game ISOs from an external hard drive onto the PMP and then to my PSP from there, would that work? The goal is to avoid a laptop. Anyone try this sort of thing?