Samsung YP-Q1 and YP-U4 get an infuriating hands-on

In a stunning attempt at making us afraid to pick up another Samsung DAP ever again, Samsung's set-up for its new YP-Q1 and YP-U4 players was in the ass end of the huge Samsung hall at IFA, with lights enough to cook a chicken and some technical errors to boot. For starters, the Q1 (pictured) is just a pain to use, with capacitive touch controls that only work through tapping in the four directions (or center for select), instead of a more natural scrolling motion. The screen is nothing special, and the interface seems a step back from Samsung's other full-featured DAPs. If we were to say anything positive, the Q1 does feel nice and solid in the hand, but it's nowhere near as thin or sexy as it could / should be. The U4 we tested wasn't charged, and had rather infuriating surface and side controls that made us a little happy it wasn't. It's nowhere near as sexy in person as it was in those press shots, and could really do to lose a few millimeters here and there. Wake us when you're ready to start trying, Sammy.

Gallery: Samsung YP-Q1 and YP-U4 get an infuriating hands-on

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

[Arthur Jaworski @ Aug 29th 2008 11:46AM]

Looks annoying

[lt.milo @ Aug 29th 2008 11:55AM]

It might be just me, but it seems that engadget's writing style has severely dropped in quality. I used to expect at least a college level of writing, but this story feels like reading a 4th grader's essay on his field trip. ugh.

[konshuss @ Aug 29th 2008 12:01PM]

it's a report from a field trip to a big building full of adults going gaga over toys. please go watch masterpiece theatre if you're expecting theses from road scholars.

[OneLove @ Aug 29th 2008 12:09PM]

wow, professor.

[Chris Ziegler @ Aug 29th 2008 12:29PM]

You do realize that Paul -- a brilliant writer, may I add -- has been with Engadget since its early days, right?

You do also realize that he's reporting live from the floor of a trade show, right?

[phanbouy @ Aug 29th 2008 1:36PM]

@Konshuss

Roads scholar = Jack Kerouac
Rhodes scholar = Bill Clinton.

just sayin'

[konshuss @ Aug 29th 2008 2:39PM]

that's because i get my education from anytown, usa :)

[Steven Jobs @ Aug 29th 2008 7:36PM]

It's really simple, he's a Mac user.

[OneLove @ Aug 30th 2008 3:53PM]

I used a imac recently for the first time and I've got to say wow! I wish vista have some of those sweet gui features out of the box, and the screen is so bright and clear. (I still prefer a PC tho)

[konshuss @ Aug 29th 2008 11:56AM]

the display model wasn't even charged? i think samsung needed a strong presentation to get anyone to think twice about this thing. it just looks like a creative zen with a goofy space-trapping button configuration that doesn't fit with anything else. what does samsung have to do with diamonds? even a big goofy "S" with buttons at each curve would have been better than this.

ho-hum.

[Big Sam @ Aug 29th 2008 11:56AM]

I'll stick with my P2.

[Mobile Phone Diva @ Aug 29th 2008 5:32PM]

I'm going to test one for myself(if it gets released here in the US) before deciding whether this "review" is right or wrong. Samsung makes excellent players from my experience. Not only in appearance but also in sound quality. I have the P2 and S3, both very nice.

[jupiterthunder @ Aug 29th 2008 11:22PM]

I'm a big fan of the scroll wheels and similar implementations in DAPs. I use the cosmos theme on my P2. I'm just wondering when it became more "natural" to scroll for up and down than to push up for up an down for down. Imagine that the input method for a tv, elevator, power windows. It's great for sure, but it doesn't seem more natural to me.