Cowon's S9 with 3.3-inch AMOLED touch-screen kills with style
By Thomas Ricker 
posted Aug 25th 2008 2:57AM
posted Aug 25th 2008 2:57AM
Taste that? It's the sweet nectar of want for Cowon's new S9 Curve. This 3.3-inch media player features an AMOLED capacitive touch panel display that spreads 16 million colors across 480 x 272 pixels. Inside you'll find a 500MHz dual-core CPU, T-DMB digital television tuner, Bluetooth, FM radio, TV-out, and G-Sensor accelerometer. All that and nearly two days (40 hours) of music playback from a single charge. No price yet but we expect to hear more later this week as the big European IFA show kicks off in Berlin.
[Via CNET Asia]
[Via CNET Asia]
very nice lets hope it come with 32gb model. Shame it has no sd slot like the D2.
No it's not nice; it's not an iPhone.
Society really needs to become more thoughtful and progressive; the less money and time we spend trying to greedily compete with a superior product, the more money and time we have to spend on introspection and community-building.
On a more serious note, this looks AMAZING!
@Yay
Start off by throwing out your computer and living in the wild. Unless you're -selfish! oh no!
@yay
iPhones were the whole 'gimme gimme' last month
find a new piece of technology to worship
whoosh...
and the low rank? sure he might have gone a bit far with the sarcasm but he did finish with "on a serious (aka. non sarcastic) note"
ahh well...
but back on topic... that looks friggin cool...
i'd buy it if it had enough storage... but no doubt it'll be flash maxing at 32gb...
ahh well... soon we'll have more...
@Mark & Gordo
You fail at sarcasm interpretation
...but it has balls!
Does it come with balls?
heh.
he said BALLS.
It does, but they're proprietary, so don't get any ideas.
I have a feeling that the random spheres are meant to indicate colour varieties (i.e. chrome, metallic black, and a "brushed silver" kind of options)
That is stunning, though rather oddly designed for viewing in the 16:9 mode...
The one that shaped for wide screen viewing is the product, the balls are for artistic effect!
COWON without a doubt has always been my favorite pmp making company, I still happily sport their monochromatic 20 gig iAudio M5. They're notorious for their not-so-everyday designs and playing a wider variety of formats, and recognizing as a mass storage device, the two things I want in an MP3 player.
But the best part about COWON? They then to be easily hackable, minimal defenses, and prime targets for projects like Rockbox. I can't wait to see open source firmware on this. http://www.rockbox.org/
Rockbox on a touchscreen.... I wouldn't say that's very likely, they still don't have a version for the D2 and that one's been out for a few years now
Actually, there is a RockBox build in the works for the D2 - it may even have reached the early stages of audio playback I think.
But why would anyone want to run RockBox on something as gorgeous as this?
I dunno this or the Cowon 02 that could be a tough choice.
I can't tell what it is but it's making my pee pee feel funny
Waouwww they should have included a phone in this lol.
awesome! thank you engadget!
Oh, please please please don't have the ogg sound quality bug and the shitty interface of the iaudio7.
Are you having any other life threatening problems we immediately need to know about?
Actually, I have terminal cancer. Thanks for reminding me.
Then why are you so worried about the sound quality of an MP3 Player?
Surely you have some slightly more pressing issues?
I expect we will see something along these design lines for the next iPhone, with the screen appearing on the surface only when activated, otherwise, the front of the device will appear blank. At least, I would like to see that. Who knows? Other phones harness that design, and I think it makes it look amazing.
Is this made by Apple? Is it even a phone?
No?
Sod off!
Wow.
I hope that's reasonably priced, it looks sexy.
It's a Cowon... so... no it won't.
It was only a few years ago that people were saying that about LG and Samsung.
Oh lookie, T-DMB, no US then.
Q5 had DMB in it's initial Korean release, too, but made it here eventually. The same thing is happening with the P5, though I don't think we're sure it's coming over yet. We'll just have to wait longer, which makes sense since Cowon is a Korean company and they don't seem to have the resources to simultaneously release two different hardware versions.
Now why can't Nokia make something like this for their next Internet Tablet?
i want!!!!!!!
would totally make love to it.
I LOVE THE BATTERY LIFE!
Looks nice. A bit thick, not as robust as the iPod Touch. Why bother? The iPod Touch is sexier and can do much more than just play media.
But for some people like me that what is key. Like I want a device that can play ogg and flac as i have songs in that format. Not to mention it also has better video support, and audio quality than any ipod.
"why bother ?"
why not?
At least they are trying ,which is far more than can be said for you, with your effortless critique.
yes you say that the itouch can do much more and might be sexier in your opinion.
but in my book , this is much sexier than the itouch/iphone.
next off, this is meant for playing media, and is good at wat its for.
the itouch on the other hand was "meant" for playing media and maybe a contact list or so, but it SUCKS at playing media, and doing everything else even though it might have a bunch of "Fancy" features (well once u unlock it) but those features SUCK, and i much rather have two devices doing what they're meant than buy some craptastic iTouch/iPhone thats supposedly able to do more.
Got it?
now stop talking about APPLE and their CRAPTASTIC products =)
Stupid apple fanboy.
How can you tell how well its built from a picture? If you actually wanted to think about it properly considering Cowon builds most of it's players to be solid as a rock I'd say that this more then likely will be much tougher then the iPod touch. It looks nicer, will probably be slightly smaller, have better sound quality and have better picture quality and will probably end up costing less then the iPod touch.
Well, for me, the problem is that the last product I owned was a Cowon. While I'm no audiophile, that really spoiled me. I bought an ipod and I just cannot believe that people listen to that crap. It just sounds so awful.
And, putting iTunes on my computer made me want to throw it out of a 50th story window.
hello? this thing also has a TV tuner and FM radio. neither of which the ipod touch has.
FM Radio. LOL
Well, a TV. How exciting. No browser or WiFi? No 3G, phone capability. So another device to lug around along with your smartphone. Not a very smart decision to buy this device.
There's only one way to find out how strong the touch is
Give me yours and I'll throw it off a cliff. What? Comparison with the Cowon?
Looks soooo cool. Makes me wanna sell my iPod Touch 32gb and buy this one.
I'll buy it, I'm in the market for a new mp3 player :P
It'll be cheap, right?
What the hell "T-DMB digital television tune" That means Korea. It'll be a year before we see this in US, just like the Q5
There are two types of DMB in Korea:
T-DMB = Terrestrial Digital Multimedia Broadcasting
S-DMB = Satellite Digital Multimedia Broadcasting
T-DMB has 10 TV channels for free. S-DMB charges $6 for 10 channels or $11/month for about 18 channels plus $3/month for some "adult" on-demand stuff.
Korean Link:
http://www.tu4u.com/meet/join/charge.jsp
Sadly for the adult entertainment fans out there, you have the get the basic $11/month package if you want to sign up to see it on your phone... but why on Earth would you want to see that stuff on small screen??
Psst, to take it with you when you "use the bathroom"
Sleek.
Am I the only who have noticed that it has a dual-core CPU! :0
No, but you're probably the only one to think that.
to me the biggest pro of this device is the AMOLED touch screen. Really wish apple had put a 4.3" in the new iphone, probably be a couple of years before that happens though.
It's only a 3.3 inch, but it should still be a fantastic screen, with the AMOLED
Am I the only one that is insanely impressed by the battery life on their products.... My A2 can play video for 10 HOURS STRAIGHT! I know cause I tested it on a flight. Forget all this fanboy, not fanboy BS... I want Cowon hardware, features, and battery life with apple GUIs and software then we got a killer product. I love my A2, and I'm def what you consider a power user, but even us power users appreciate a slick and flowing interface.
Will this work on Verizon? Because I want one.
Its not a phone.
It ain't a phone joe
Hmm I wonder... If this was a phone, which UI would suck more: Cowon's or the Verizon's?
Sweet merciful crap, my head just exploded. This thing is so sweet, it can't possibly be real. The fact that it is makes this existence just that much better. 8^D
"Sweet merciful crap, my head just exploded."
Crap is NOT merciful, nor is it sweet!
Tell that to someone who just cleared up their constipation.
If it has 40+ gigs of space I`m sold! My Cowon A3 is getting old...
Makes my breasts swell with anticipation.
Wow, that thing is sexy.
Thanks for your contributive comment. Please post more often.
Interesting but I think I'd prefer the extra inch of screen real-estate on iRiver and Archos' latest PMPs. But I use mine mainly for movie-watching.
Here's hoping it's not wince based like the Q5
Hmmm, am I the only one that would love this thing to be double the resolution? Otherwise, this will probably be my first PMP purchase...
shunn the non iphoner shunnnnnn, shunnnnn,
Granted this does look similar to a certain apple product, but if I am REALLY tiring of these endless comparisons to the iphone/itouch.
It has become way too predicable and has pretty much bored me to tears on engadget. It's clear that there is a huge fan base for apple products here, but you need to get over yourselves. Yes you're pretty iphone, but not everyone wants to sleep with you.
I don't know about that, Ben. Whenever someone brings up an Apple product in their comment, they're usually always low ranked.
If this thing were a mobile phone as well people would kill for it!
Just the looks itselft can be a threat to iphone. It has the BALLS to compete with iphone.
and i think that's what the balls represent in this picture. cojones. this PMP has balls.
I really want to see what they have in store for the D2 replacement if there is one.
Now if I had the iPod touch and the Samsung P2 and blend them together this would be their frankenbaby. I want one.
Don't feed the troll!
companies need to stop trying to copy the iphone and come out with something new and different.
Go fuck yourself. this is the successor to the Cowon D2, which came out in 2006, which was BEFORE the iphone!
I have an 8gb D2 with an 8gb SD-HC card, and the thing is rated at 52 hours for audio playback and 10 hours for video. I love it, and it makes investing in headphones worth it.
And oddly enough I commented on wanting to replace my X5L with the Archos 5 a few days ago. Still the Archos has wifi... Maybe I should just wait for the S9L and a four day battery life :-))
What makes me really happy is that there is no hint of the stupid connector dongle they used on the M3 and the X5 and the even stupider joystick on the X5 that broke and wont register a down press (which is really the only reason I need to replace mine). I hope they kept the USB-OTG support.
Zach, that maybe but I guess my point is that its a distraction from worthy discussions. It ends out becoming a rant back and forth.
Maybe people should be penalized a point for every gratuitous iphone comment... then 3 strikes you get blocked from making comments for a month!
I know it's not realistic but I am just throwing out an idea.
This look really nice... to bad that ugly COWAN logo is there in the front.
they need to change that into something that sounds better, like um ...something that's not COWAN.
Any one got any suggestions?
How about Cowon?
die in a fire?
LONG LIVE COWON!
That's the thing with Cowon that has always impressed me. They never have gotten stuck into the cycle of mass media marketing that many other portable media player companies have. The cycle that usually ends in devices having as many features as possible shoved into a single device which, thus, ruins the focused nature of their processing units and, therefore, butchers their sound quality and lowers their battery life.
Cowon is not a pretty name, no, but I'm sure the people who this company caters to are proud about having that name on their purchase when they use it.
To everyone whingeing "Why isn't it a (i)phone as well?"
Some of us actually WANT to keep our PMPs seperate from our phones!
Listening to it will obviously drain the battery, which is pretty stupid when you NEED to use is as a phone.
If a cell phone would have this look and interface and the samsung omnia specs I would sell my wife to buy it and I'm pretty sure all of you loosers would queue up to give me your coins.
this looks incredible, I can't find any stores in canada to buy Cowon products, does anyone know where you can?
I'm totally buying this!
The day it comes out.
Forget the htc pro.
But how do you get enough signal for a decent DTV picture? Hope this doesn't rely on the provided earbuds which won't go in my ears - as with my current D2 DAB.
no wifi? >.<
We dont have no dmb over here, couldnt they replace that module with wifi? id be sold XD
I wish girls looked this sexy. :'(
Why are apply fanboys always so compelled to show up on every forum and say "huh... uhh... it's not an iPhone... uhhh... must be bad then... uhhh". Then there's the fanboys showing up saying "uhh... uhh? it's not an Ipod Touch... uhhh no wireless uhhhh must suck then.... uhh??"
Allow me to set you straight a little. IPHONE AND IPOD TOUCH DEVICES ARE NOT CAPABLE OF REPRODUCING AUDIOPHILE QUALITY SOUND FROM A DIGITAL FILE, UNLIKE COWON DEVICES. There. I said it. That is a very big reason to buy Cowon and not buy Apple. If you know anything about Audio chips you would have known this. Cowon sports the highest end audio chips of all MP3 players, and the software that backs it up is in many ways superior to that of Apple's products.
This is not to downgrade Apple, as they make products for the average Joe. The average Joe only judges a device by the sum of its features, while a real fanatic of not a Brand (apple fanboys again) but of Technology and Quality itself, will judge a device by how well the given features complement what the device is set out to do.
Average Joe's with MP3 players sport theyr $10 Apple headphones and think "Oh, my tunes sound nice." People sporting say, a Cowon D2 with a Shure SE530 or an AKG K701 will never return to an IPod as the IPod's focus is not audio quality, but to create a very accessible package. I do not want accessible. I want audiophile bliss. Cowon makes this. Apple does not. Go Cowon. Go Sony. Go IRiver.
To bottom line is I couldn't give a flying **** if my MP3 player has 3G or WiFi. I want PERFECT AUDIO and I want it to LAST LONG (my d2 easily gives me 45 hours of audio playback and has a MUCH MORE POWERFUL AMPLIFIER THAN ANY APPLE). I want to line my setup with a $8000 tube amp/speaker config and hardly be able to tell the difference.
That is why we do not buy a phone that includes it all. Frankly, your Apple IPhone comments are BS. There are plenty of phones out there that sport 3.5" jacks, touch screens, 3G and Wi-Fi, they were even there before the IPhone came out.
With my Shure's I can even easily tell the difference in quality between my MacBook Pro (which sounds great really, much better than an IPod) and my D2 (which sounds a lot more out there).
Even if I had an IPhone I would buy a Cowon for my audio needs. End of story.
i really want a new mp3 player. i have a creative vision: M. I love it but it was made back in the year of the stupid Apple Mini. i want new technology. I love the looks of this player and i like the awesome features, so should i get it this year or wait?????? I am only 14 so i don't have too much mulla to spend on it. i draw the line at $250. I can't agree more with how the ipods sound, they suck at playing audio files!!!