Cowon's S9 PMP delayed for US? (Updated: official date, price, pics)

We've received no official word either way on this, but all the signs are currently pointing to a delay for the US launch of Cowon's S9. The undoubtedly sexy PMP is still set to launch in South Korea this month, but unspecified "production problems" are reportedly responsible for pushing the Stateside shipment back. So, when can we Americans expect to have a US version in our palms? We figuring (and hoping) it'll hit sometime around January at the latest -- any longer than that and we might have to cash in these frequent flier miles for a round-trip jaunt to Seoul.

Update: Cowon just issued a press release with date, pricing, and more pictures of the UI and hardware. Starting December 16th, the S9 will be available in Korea in 4GB / 8GB / 16GB capacities for 219,000 won ($150), 259,000 won ($178), and 309,000 won ($212), respectively. Still no word on rest of world releases.

Gallery: Cowon S9

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[Via Anything but iPod, thanks Waroxy F.]

[Flashpoint @ Dec 7th 2008 11:09PM]

That picture is really unflattering.

when I first looked at it, I thought the entire gray area was part of the device.

When I realized the gray area was just a background, then i immediately thought: upside -down iphone.

[1234321 @ Dec 7th 2008 11:13PM]

whats the difference if its upside down?

[austin @ Dec 7th 2008 11:14PM]

enough with the iphone copy bullshit.
people were bound to make electronic devices that are black, have rounded edges, and have rectangular touch-screens taking up most of the device. apple just did it first.

[Chizzed @ Dec 7th 2008 11:15PM]

And best, so far?

[Forcewinder @ Dec 7th 2008 11:20PM]

austin,

Yes companies were bound to make similar devices...but almost every smart phone company releasing similar looking devices after seeing the iphone's success? I doubt that's mere coincidence.

[eggothewaffle @ Dec 7th 2008 11:20PM]

They weren't even the first though...For some irony, here's one released by Cowon more than a year after the iPhone was released:

http://www.engadget.com/2007/03/19/cowons-d2-pmp-hits-north-america/

I'm sure that's not even close to being one of the first "electronic devices that are black, have rounded edges, and have rectangular touch-screens taking up most of the device."

Note to Cowon:

1) Take this PMP
2) Add/improve upon the feature set of the N97
3) Throw some androiD's on it
4) !!!
5) PROFIT

[John H. @ Dec 7th 2008 11:44PM]

ur face is really unflattering

[ALCie @ Dec 8th 2008 12:16AM]

@ Forcewinder

Coincidence? Nope, its not. Its called free market. ECON101

[1234321 @ Dec 8th 2008 1:25AM]

how much of a first do you wanna call the iPhone, certainly companies like LG and Samsung are releasing subpar touch phones to buy into the popularity of the iPhone, but how much of a revolution was the iPhone than an evolution, its easy to say iPhone was the first you saw because of Apple's spotlight, but for example it does look a bit like a Dell PocketPC from 2004
http://www.pda-comparison.net/static/images/dell-axim-x51-416.jpg
not to mention an LG phone from 2006
http://blog.uasp.com/uploads/200706/06_002938_prada.jpg

what Apple did do was add capacitive touch to the phone (it could have been done before but WinMo didn't have the interface to use a figure the whole time), and a more modern OS (though not necessarily better for everyone), but that's not what's being questioned here

[Forcewinder @ Dec 8th 2008 2:35AM]

@ALCie

Thats exactly what i said dimwit.

[superhobo @ Dec 8th 2008 4:30AM]

If only this had a phone built in.
Beautiful

[Chizzed @ Dec 7th 2008 11:14PM]

I've got a friend who was born in Seoul...he got adopted by his parents here in the US...I wish he would've come with that :(

[Big Al @ Dec 8th 2008 1:42AM]

1) Find your friend's birth parents.
2) Arrange a tearful reunion in Korea.
3) Have your friend buy you the S9 in gratitude.

Problem solved.

[YpoCaramel @ Dec 8th 2008 12:38PM]

Come on, if you live in New York there's plenty of Koreans with lots of interesting businesses and interesting lives, including, if Ktown is any indication, gadget importing.

[who? @ Dec 7th 2008 11:27PM]

It could be the six cans of soda, the fact that I'm finally over half done with my essay on hydrogen, or the fact that I slept over twelve hours last night, but here's an unrelated shoutout to Engadget, you guys rock!

[El Taco @ Dec 7th 2008 11:34PM]

omg i had the same urge! i was just gonna do that then saw ur comment!

[ED @ Dec 7th 2008 11:49PM]

and by US you mean THEM :P

[Uchiha Sasuke @ Dec 8th 2008 12:13AM]

It might have to do with the buggy firmware that always plague Cowon devices on release. I own the IAudio5 and love the sound but the firmware was not stable until the 1.48 version was released. I've been reading the same about the recently release Cowon 02. Hardware is nice but I will wait to buy until a more stable firmware is out.

[Leroy Jenkems @ Dec 8th 2008 1:01AM]

Damn, I've been very interested in this device. I need something larger than my Cowon D2 to play videos. The Cowon O2 is interesting but it doesn't have the battery life I need.

[Big Al @ Dec 8th 2008 3:19AM]

Damn weakening Korean Won... it's made buying gadgets so much more tempting.

[Big Al @ Dec 8th 2008 3:33AM]

And LOL at Google Translator:

Korean:
고객님, 안녕하세요?
디지털프라이드 코원입니다.

Real Translation:
Hello, customer.
This is Digital Pride Cowon.

Google Translation:
Boss, how are you?
Digital kowonipnida pride.

[bot @ Dec 8th 2008 5:45AM]

After hearing that this player doesn't have an SD card slot, and the O2 has less than 20 hours of battery life I just went back to the 16GB D2 for $110. Humpf.

[pashko @ Dec 8th 2008 6:49AM]

hmm, i still don't get it...so 40 hours mp3 and 8 video, or 55 hours and 11 video?

[Imran @ Dec 8th 2008 7:58AM]

Om nom nom

[Digivate @ Dec 8th 2008 8:32AM]

I started getting exceited at the thought of getting a 32Gb version of thie Cowon S9 when they finally become available - it looks gorgeous - but then I remebered how crap Cowon are at user GUIs.

I've got a Cowon D2, and yes it sounds fantastic and supports a lot of codecs, but it took me weeks if not months of trawling around in forums trying to find fixes or work-arounds to the D2's numerous bugs.

... I've had to download numerous firmware versions before I found one that didn't completely screw up the ID3 database.

... I've had to rewrite all of the ID3 tags in my 40Gb music collection as most didn't work on the D2 despite working perfectly on my old Samsung player.

... I've had to rename all of my music files so that they have the track number at the beginning otherwise Ogg Vorbis files will be played in alphabetical rather than track order.

... I've also had to rename all my album artwork as it didn't original show on the D2.

... and the D2 still has plenty of issues unresolved. Next time I but a player I want soomething that works out of the box - not something that involves weeks of faffing around, and 18 months of firmware upgrades (which insultingly oftern appear to get worse in some respects rather than better).

I've heard reports that the Cowon O2 is just as bad if not worse.

Looking at the pictures of the Cowon S9's GUI it looks a hell of a lot better than they usually do, but I'm still going to hold back and wait until reports of a decent firmware appear (or more likely, don't appear). Otherwise, I'm heading towards a new Sony or Samsung player.

Cowon ... great hardware, awful firmware. Sort it out, you muppets!

[Radukk @ Dec 8th 2008 8:58AM]

3.3 inch AMOLED Display!!!!!!

[Samboini @ Dec 8th 2008 11:04AM]

I don't know what that means, but it sounds awesome!

[AmazingRobie @ Dec 8th 2008 10:17AM]

They can delay this indefintely for all anybody cares. Cowon products are garbage. Period. Plus, their customer support is garbage too. They're liars and cheats. I have the Q5W and it's a piece of junk as I'm sure this will be. So go ahead Cowon...delay, makes no difference, your products are still s##t.

[Brian @ Dec 8th 2008 1:33PM]

Yes, just because of their good build quality, great screens and amazing sound quality are all pluses they still suck!

Seriously, like apple products are any better. I agree on customer support, though.

[Jeff @ Dec 8th 2008 10:34AM]

At a $28 difference, why are companies even bothering to make 4GB PMP's anymore??

[Gnormie @ Dec 8th 2008 11:00AM]

Even adding in the usual $50-60 price hikes in the UK, this still ends up at around £180 for 16GB. Which is bloody fantastic, especcially for a AMOLED screen (with 16mil colours), I've had my D2 for a while now and it's been flawless and this sounds like the perfect player for me.

[SonicEarth @ Dec 8th 2008 11:27AM]

OMG WHAT AN APPLE RIP

Just kidding, it really doesn't resemble the iPod/Phone at all and people who think that are just not paying attention. First of all, I love the OLED idea. They draw much less power and the device will last much longer than my Touch. One thing I'd like to see is a calendar/web browser. From the looks of things, it doesn't seem that this device has those. I use the calendar function on my Touch extensively, although I am looking to get rid of it. I am sick of Apple's business practices and shoddy mobile OSes. The thing freezes constantly. But I digress. This device looks very promising.

[Gnormie @ Dec 8th 2008 11:58AM]

Although a web browser may be out of the question due to the lack of WiFi (though there was a rumour bouncing around a while ago that Cowon would change the DVB-T capability for WiFi outside of Korea - doubt it will happen though). There are a lot of possible options as to applications and such as it runs a full flash interface, and considering a lot of people already develop for the D2 which is only flash lite, the full flash capability,price tag and powerful hardware may manage to tempt a lot of developers.

[CJ @ Dec 8th 2008 1:46PM]

Dude, Darren man, while you're in Seoul, could you pick up some of those chicks that you keep teasing me with? I'll pay for the extra baggage fees when you get back
.

[Tim @ Dec 9th 2008 5:13PM]

So the post gets updated and "we figuring" still doesn't strike Darren as wrong?

[Shawn @ Dec 9th 2008 8:26PM]

I noticed from the demo on http://product.cowon.com/product/COWONS9/product_page_4.php that there is a flip "button" on the screen. Does that mean the sceen can be flipped? That sounds kinda convient depending on which pocket you put it in (couldn't thay use the acceloromator for this?) I also want to know what's in the utilities section. Hopefully someone in korea will record himself playing with one.

[SsDunk @ Dec 12th 2008 12:36AM]

I found that one of ebay seller starts to sell S9 curve as a pre-order.