Engadget

Cowon Plenue Z2: US pricing, availability and hands-on impressions

Darren Murph — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 13:00:00 EST

Just mention the company's name, and a pair of things come to mind: world-beating sound quality, and above-average prices. Such is life when you're Cowon, which has informed us that its Plenue Z2 portable media player will be shipping to the US of A in May. Based on details shared to us from a Cowon spokesperson, "early May" is the targeted release window, which makes sense given the unit's FCC debut back in December of 2011. We've learned that it'll ship in 16GB (white only) and 32GB (black only) sizes, with prices set for $279.99 and $319.99 in order of mention. As for specs? Glad you asked. Rather than relying on one of Cowon's proprietary operating systems, the Z2 will ship with Android 2.3.5 (Gingerbread), while measuring 62.8- x 116.5- x 11.8-millimeters, weighing 116 grams and boasting a 3.7-inch (800 x 480) capacitive touchpanel.

On the audio side, you'll get a typical 20Hz to 20,000Hz frequency range, 29mW + 29mW maximum outlet and a 95dB signal-to-noise ratio. There's also an HDMI output, a microSD expansion slot, built-in FM radio tuner, 802.11b/g/n WiFi module, Bluetooth 2.1+EDR and an internal microphone. The outfit claims that this guy can last some 22 hours when playing back music alone, while video junkies will see 8.5 hours of their favorite Family Guy clips before needing a rejuvenation session. Not surprisingly, the Z2 also supports a smorgasbord of file formats, including AVI, WMV, ASF, MP4, MKV, MPG, DAT, 3GP -- tired yet? -- DivX, XviD, H.264, WMA, OGG, PMC and FLAC. We managed to grab hold of a unit prior to its launch here in the States; head on past the break to hear our take.

Gallery: Cowon Plenue Z2 hands-on and unboxing

Continue reading Cowon Plenue Z2: US pricing, availability and hands-on impressions

Cowon Plenue Z2: US pricing, availability and hands-on impressions originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 13 Apr 2012 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Cowon Plenue Z2 PMP scurries into the FCC's database, hides its face from the authorities

Darren Murph — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 16:10:00 EST

See that? That's the backside of a new portable media player from a company know best for its legendary sound quality. Unfortunately, there's no extra information to be gleaned from Cowon's Plenue Z2 FCC filing, but it certainly appears as if this will be one of the company's larger players. We're still waiting on pins and needles to hear if Android or its own OS will be running the show, but now that it's hopped this hurdle, we doubt it'll be too many more weeks before the whole thing is revealed all proper like. Head on past the break for a close-up of the label.

Continue reading Cowon Plenue Z2 PMP scurries into the FCC's database, hides its face from the authorities

Cowon Plenue Z2 PMP scurries into the FCC's database, hides its face from the authorities originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 22 Dec 2011 16:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Cowon announces CE-based R7 media tablet, earns a few perplexed stares

Terrence O'Brien — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 18:02:00 EST

Cowon makes some pretty slick looking Android PMPs, as well as some more underwhelming devices running Windows CE. The latest in the latter category is the R7 -- a 7-inch media player that's being billed as "full HD" (a claim that makes Cowon full of something else). Despite being the size of a small tablet the R7 display is only 800 x 480, though, it will output 1080p over HDMI. While the low-res screen and aging CE 6.0 OS are nothing to get excited about, there are some positives: epic battery life and support for an absurd number of formats and codecs. And, since the R7 comes packing up to 64GB of internal storage and sports a microSD slot, you'll have plenty room to keep you swimming in both audio and video. Sure, Android probably would have made more sense and a WiFi connection for browsing the web would be greatly appreciated but, you've got to admire Cowon's stubborn insistence on doing things its own way... right?

Cowon announces CE-based R7 media tablet, earns a few perplexed stares originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 05 Dec 2011 18:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Cowon shipping iAudio 10 PMP tomorrow: $160 and up

Darren Murph — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 18:03:00 EST

Remember that stunner of a PMP that Cowon teased us with back in September? Better brush up, 'cause she's shipping out in the US of A starting tomorrow. The iAudio 10 is -- for all intents and purposes -- a refreshed and re-imagined S9, boasting a curved 400 x 240 (3-inch) display, microphone input, TV output, FM radio and a document viewer. Unlike the D3 before it, the company looks to be eschewing Android on this one for its own homegrown operating system, and in typical Cowon fashion, it'll support practically every file format under the sun. The I10-16WH (16GB) will ship in white for $159.99, while the ebony I10-32BL (32GB) edition will go for $199.99. We're told that the Buy It Now link will be live tomorrow, and we'll update this post just as soon as it arrives in our hands.

Gallery: Cowon iAudio 10 portable media player (press shots)

Cowon shipping iAudio 10 PMP tomorrow: $160 and up originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 01 Nov 2011 18:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Cowon D3 firmware hits 3.5, gives your Gingerbread PMP a spit shine

Terrence O'Brien — Mon, 12 Sep 2011 08:48:00 EST

The Cowon D3, equal parts stunning and frustrating, got at least incrementally better in July when it finally scored a heavily skinned version of Gingerbread. Now, with version 3.55 of the media player's firmware, the D3 is getting even more streamlined. There's no huge new features to speak of -- and don't even get your hopes up for market support -- but overall the PMP should be more stable and run a bit smoother. Hit up the source link to check out the full list of bug fixes and to download the update now.

[Thanks, Greg]

Cowon D3 firmware hits 3.5, gives your Gingerbread PMP a spit shine originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 12 Sep 2011 08:48:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Cowon's iAudio 10 does "Color Therapy," won't charge you per hour

Brian Heater — Sun, 11 Sep 2011 00:59:00 EST

After a bit of teasing, Cowon's finally ready to show the world the iAudio 10. The skinny new portable media player offers up a three-inch 240 x 400 display, mic-in, TV out, an FM radio, support for a number of different file types, a document viewer and capacities running 4GB to 32GB. That's all well and good, but what's really got the company excited is the Color Therapy UI, which lets you switch between a number of background and text colors. At the very least, it's sure to be a lot cheaper than paying for a shrink.

Cowon's iAudio 10 does "Color Therapy," won't charge you per hour originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 11 Sep 2011 00:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Cowon D3 firmware update brings Android 2.3, now treats your fingers as well as your ears

Jesse Hicks — Wed, 13 Jul 2011 11:31:00 EST

Hey there, high roller. If you splurged on Cowon's beautiful, profoundly expensive D3 Plenue, you've probably wondered when you'd get an upgrade from Android 2.1. Well, that day is today, as the company's released an updated, Gingerbread-based firmware. The new code adds some miscellaneous new features - a sleep timer for the music app, some more music search options, and VoIP - and ought to improve system stability. It also promises better touch responsiveness, which we hope alleviates the sluggishness that made the little PMP so difficult to use. If similar frustration with your D3 rendered it an elegant paperweight, glide over to the source link to see if the update soothes your pain.

[Thanks, Stefan]

Cowon D3 firmware update brings Android 2.3, now treats your fingers as well as your ears originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 13 Jul 2011 11:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Cowon C2 portable media player review

Darren Murph — Sun, 26 Jun 2011 14:38:00 EST

And here you were assuming the tried-and-true PMP was dead. Au contraire. Cowon's not giving up on its dream quite yet, but after the D2 hung around at the company's low-end for the better part of four years, it's an alphabetic step backwards that's taking over as the successor. The diminutive C2 is about as simple as a PMP gets -- design wise, anyway -- but it's actually capable of supporting both music and video on its 2.6-inch resistive touchpanel. And then there's the purported 55 hours of battery life, included microSD card for expansion and the company's world-class audio quality. Still, $135 goes a long (long!) way in the portable music industry these days -- does the C2 pack enough punch to make your short list? Head on past the break to find out.

Gallery: Cowon C2 hands-on and unboxing

Continue reading Cowon C2 portable media player review

Cowon C2 portable media player review originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 26 Jun 2011 14:38:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Cowon's minuscule C2 PMP picks up where the D2 left off

Darren Murph — Fri, 08 Apr 2011 19:07:00 EST

At this point, Cowon's D2 (and to a lesser extent, the D2+) is getting a bit long in the tooth, and it looks as if the Korea-based outfit will be taking an alphabetical leap backwards in order to supplant it. The newly revealed C2 is slated to land at the end of April or early May in order to give barebones PMP users yet another alternative, boasting a 2.6-inch resistive touchpanel (320 x 240), a composite video output, microSD expansion slot, 4/8/16GB of internal flash storage, USB 2.0 connectivity, an internal microphone and a rechargeable battery that's good for up to ten hours of video playback (and a whopping 55 hours when listening strictly to audio). Per usual, Cowon's supporting every file format under the sun (and the moon, for good measure), and we're expecting nothing less than world-class aural performance based on the company's past. We're still waiting to hear back on a price, but you can use your limbo time wisely by deciding on white, black or gray.

Gallery: Cowon's C2 portable media player

Cowon's minuscule C2 PMP picks up where the D2 left off originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 08 Apr 2011 19:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Cowon D3 Plenue Android PMP review (video)

Darren Murph — Tue, 29 Mar 2011 12:00:00 EST

One thing's for sure: Cowon's D3 Plenue is vastly different (and superior) to the firm's AMOLED-equipped S9 from 2008, and it's also catering to a vastly different sect of consumers compared to its ultra-capacious X7. This beaut is one of the few pocketable Android-based PMPs available today, offering up a gorgeous 3.7-inch AMOLED capacitive touchpanel (800 x 480), dedicated media controls along the edges, Android 2.1, WiFi, 1080p video output, a built-in microphone and a battery good for up to 21 hours of use. As with every other Cowon player, this one also supports every file format ever conceived, including FLAC, APE and OGG -- three that the audiophiles in attendance will definitely recognize. The real question here is simple: does having Android on a non-connected (cellular, anyway) device really do you much good, and moreover, is it really worth the $357.99 asking price? We'll discuss these points and more in our full review just after the break. Join us, won't you?

Gallery: Cowon D3 Plenue Android PMP hands-on

Continue reading Cowon D3 Plenue Android PMP review (video)

Cowon D3 Plenue Android PMP review (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 29 Mar 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Cowon D3 Plenue priced at $370, or $100 per inch of AMOLED

Vlad Savov — Tue, 01 Feb 2011 05:28:00 EST

Want yourself a "Prestige" portable media player to make even legit smartphones blush in envy? Then the D3 Plenue from Cowon might just be for you, what with its 1080p video playback, 32GB of storage, Android 2.1 OS, and 3.7-inch, 800 x 480 AMOLED display. It's just that today we're finding the Prestige label also extends to its price, which Amazon has set at a mighty $370. That's not terrible when contrasted against unsubsidized pricing for comparable smartphones, but then this isn't a smartphone. Availability of the D3 Plenue is limited to an undated pre-order for the moment, giving you at least a little more time to deliberate on the value this souped-up PMP represents.

Cowon D3 Plenue priced at $370, or $100 per inch of AMOLED originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 01 Feb 2011 05:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Cowon D3 Plenue PMP runs Android, looks like a phone, totally isn't

Tim Stevens — Tue, 28 Dec 2010 17:02:00 EST

Ever find yourself wanting a phone that, you know, couldn't make calls? Welcome to the Cowon D3 Plenue, an Android-having PMP that looks so good we want to press it to our cheeks and say "Hello." Sadly there'd be nobody there, nobody but up to 32GB of Britney, Katy, Mandy, and whoever else you'd like stored on microSD and played back over a 3.7-inch, 800 x 480 AMOLED. That display isn't capable of doing your 1080p files justice, but the PMP itself is, and with HDMI output it can send that footage to an external panel. There's also WiFi, a T-DMB tuner, Bluetooth, and even an accelerometer. In case you're wondering it's Android 2.1 hiding behind that skin and, while Cowon promises "Apps," we're a little doubtful they'll be of the Market variety.

Cowon D3 Plenue PMP runs Android, looks like a phone, totally isn't originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 28 Dec 2010 17:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Ask Engadget: best high-capacity (250GB or more) portable media player?

Darren Murph — Thu, 23 Dec 2010 22:32:00 EST

We know you've got questions, and if you're brave enough to ask the world for answers, here's the outlet to do so. This week's Ask Engadget question is coming to us from Dhruv, who needs to live about 20 years in the future, where all PMPs start at 160GB. If you're looking to send in an inquiry of your own, drop us a line at ask [at] engadget [dawt] com.

"So I'm a music lover of sorts and my (already compressed) iTunes library is nearing 150GB. I used to have an iPod Classic 160GB, but that doesn't allow for much growing room. Seeing as Apple has pretty much given up on the Classic's future, I was hoping there was another player out there that would have higher capacity drives in it. I know Toshiba makes a 240GB and 320GB 1.8" drive, but I see nothing using it.

Also, I would love for it to have physical buttons. And like the Classic, it should be portable. I saw the Archos 5 online and it's a mammoth. Basically, my ideal player is an iPod Classic with at least a 250GB HDD inside. Thanks!"

It's a shame that Cowon's gorgeous X7 tops out at 160GB, else that'd be a solid solution. Outside of the Archos 5, does anyone have any solid, high-capacity solutions? Looks like your best bet may be to snag a lower-end PMP that'll hold a 1.8-inch drive, and then hack a larger one in yourself.

Ask Engadget: best high-capacity (250GB or more) portable media player? originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 23 Dec 2010 22:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Cowon X7 PMP review

Darren Murph — Wed, 01 Dec 2010 12:45:00 EST

We figured Cowon's X7 wouldn't bother passing through the FCC's loose fingertips if it weren't planning on making a stateside debut at some point, and sure enough, the aforesaid media player is gearing up to ship here just two months after its South Korean reveal. Over the years, Cowon has managed to maintain a fairly decent cover in the US of A, but audio purists recognize the brand for its commitment to sound quality over all else. The X7 is a capacious (160GB) player with a fairly large display (4.3-inches) and a world-beating battery good for ten hours of video and up to 103 hours of audio. Yeah, a full long weekend's worth. As with anything in life, Cowon's made some sacrifices here as well; you won't find a WiFi module, but you will spot support for Bluetooth headsets. How's it all shake out? Join us after the break for our full review.

Gallery: Cowon X7 PMP unboxing and hands-on

Continue reading Cowon X7 PMP review

Cowon X7 PMP review originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 01 Dec 2010 12:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Cowon 3D is the 1080p-playing, 4.8-inch PMP that just jumps out at you

Vlad Savov — Tue, 30 Nov 2010 03:22:00 EST

As far as 3D goes, we can still take it or leave it, but what's really got us intrigued about Cowon's latest effort is the promise of full 1080p video playback. Ally that to a HDMI output and up to 64GB of flash storage and you've got yourself a pretty potent portable media station. The Cowon 3D PMP offers an 800 x 480 resolution on its own 4.8-inch display -- which is touted as the world's first 3D visualizer on a PMP that doesn't require glasses -- plus a battery rated to last for 10 hours of video, 45 hours of audio and up to 300 hours on standby. And, in an upgrade from the recent X7, this new device also has WiFi connectivity! Launch is scheduled for December 10th in Cowon's backyard of South Korea, with prices coming in at KRW499,000 ($431) for the 32GB-equipped 3D PMP and KRW589,000 ($509) for the 64GB version.

[Thanks, Kunal]

Cowon 3D is the 1080p-playing, 4.8-inch PMP that just jumps out at you originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 30 Nov 2010 03:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Cowon's capacious X7 media player gets the hands-on treatment, longs for WiFi

Darren Murph — Fri, 29 Oct 2010 08:10:00 EST

Cowon's X7 still hasn't made its stateside debut, but apparently it's out and about on the streets of France. This 4.3-inch, HDD-packin' portable media player was recently caught in the wild by Le Journal du Geek, with early impressions noting that the UI is pleasant to use, the weight a bit heavy and the build quality something to admire. For those who've forgotten, it manages a 480 x 272 screen resolution, Bluetooth, TV-out, an inbuilt microphone and compatibility with nearly every file format ever conceived. Still, the omission of WiFi is a touch troubling in today's world of converge-or-go-home, but it's tough to argue with 120GB (€299; $414) or 160GB (€329; $455) of storage space. Hit that source link for lots more eye candy.

Cowon's capacious X7 media player gets the hands-on treatment, longs for WiFi originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 29 Oct 2010 08:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Cowon X7 debuts in home market of Korea with 4.3-inch screen, American ambitions

Vlad Savov — Fri, 08 Oct 2010 04:57:00 EST

What was merely an indistinct outline in August is today a bona fide retail product. Cowon has made its X7 PMP official over in South Korea, letting us take a gander at the spec sheet if not necessarily buy one just yet. A 4.3-inch touchscreen takes center stage, backed by up to 160GB of hard drive storage and a battery rated to last for 103 hours of music or 10 hours of video playback. An FM radio tuner, built-in speaker, and Bluetooth chip fill out the "retro modern" body, while the software front reveals DivX-encoded video compatibility and a smattering of your usual note-taking and utility apps. The standard 160GB model is going on sale for 339,000 KRW ($304), or if you're a globetrotter and need a set of preinstalled dictionaries, it'll set you back 379,000 KRW ($340). There's no word on US availability just yet, but this thing didn't go through the chore of getting certified with the FCC for nothing.

Continue reading Cowon X7 debuts in home market of Korea with 4.3-inch screen, American ambitions

Cowon X7 debuts in home market of Korea with 4.3-inch screen, American ambitions originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 08 Oct 2010 04:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Cowon X7 materializes from the ether into a real life FCC applicant

Vlad Savov — Mon, 23 Aug 2010 07:09:00 EST

Alright, so this isn't quite like seeing Duke Nukem Forever popping up on Walmart shelves, but the Cowon X7 has been a long time in the making. Rumored since 2007, the Korean company's portable media player has now finally sauntered up to America's Communications Commission to dot some Is and cross some Ts. We're let into the knowledge that it'll come with a Bluetooth radio and a HDD of some kind, which GenerationMP3 speculates will be a 1.8-inch unit. Really now, a spinny thing in our PMP feels better suited to good old '07, but then if Cowon can combine some capacious storage with a large screen, it could still have a winner on its hands. Particularly if the rumblings of Android as the OS turn out to be true.

Cowon X7 materializes from the ether into a real life FCC applicant originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 23 Aug 2010 07:09:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Cowon's V5W PMP: a V5 with 100 percent more WiFi

Darren Murph — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 08:12:00 EST

What do you get when you marry a V5 with WiFi? Why, a V5W, of course! Cowon's sexy V5 portable media player -- a device we (mostly) loved on back in March -- has just gained the primary feature that we argued should've been included from the start. It looks as if all of the other specifications have remained the same, meaning that you're still looking at a 4.8-inch 800 x 480 touchscreen, Windows CE 6.0 underneath, 16/32/64GB of internal storage, USB 2.0 connectivity, HDMI / composite video output, a solid list of supported file formats and the best audio quality this side of the ~~Mississippi~~ Indian Ocean. Pricing remains a mystery for now, but we suspect it'll list for around the same as the original (which still needs a price drop, frankly).

Cowon's V5W PMP: a V5 with 100 percent more WiFi originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 09 Jul 2010 08:12:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Cowon adds 32GB model to J3 media player lineup

Joseph L. Flatley — Fri, 11 Jun 2010 17:13:00 EST

Our one hang-up regarding that ultra-slim, ultra-sexy Cowon PMP? Not enough of it! Up until now, that is. The company's just announced that it will be making a 32GB model available in Japan for ¥29,800 (roughly $325). That is, of course, in addition to the 8GB and 16GB models already on the streets. If that weren't enough, a company called JetMall has the thing listed as "in stock" for $299, available in either white or black. Hit the source link to see for yourself.

Cowon adds 32GB model to J3 media player lineup originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 11 Jun 2010 17:13:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Cowon J3 ships to America, we go hands-on

Darren Murph — Tue, 11 May 2010 16:25:00 EST

Nary two full months after we first caught wind of Cowon's dainty (albeit super sexy) J3 portable media player, the award-winning device has both gone on sale and arrived on our doorstep (along with a few others, according to a few jovial tipsters). As of today, prospective consumers in the US can order one for $199.99 (8GB) or $239.99 (16GB), both of which have microSD slots for capacity expansion. Per usual, Cowon's packaging here was nothing short of delightful, and the 3.3-inch AMOLED display struck us just as the S9 did oh-so-many months ago. Unlike the larger V5 we reviewed back in March, we greatly appreciated the capacitive nature of this touch panel, and finger presses were accurately and immediately recognized. The user interface was also far more streamlined, and whizzing about from area to area was no issue.

As with every other Cowon player we've ever laid ears on, the audio quality out of this one was second to none; if you're a self-proclaimed audiophile, yet can't exactly accommodate your Marantz KI Pearl on the subway, this is about as good as it gets. The video player was similarly impressive, loading up clips with minimal fuss, and showing no lag whatsoever during playback. Unfortunately, for all the things this gorgeous unit does right, the only spec that matters to some is wrong: pricing. We hate to point out the obvious, but an 8GB iPod touch is also just $199, and unlike the J3, Apple's alternative can surf the web over WiFi and bring you face to face with 100,000 (or so) apps. From a value proposition standpoint, there's simply no comparison. 'Course, the J3 may still stand out if you're all about audio quality (and nothing else), but we've yet to actually meet someone who didn't care at least a smidgen about the extras. Vote with your wallet, as they say.

Gallery: Cowon J3 PMP unboxing

Cowon J3 ships to America, we go hands-on originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 11 May 2010 16:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Cowon's award-winning J3 PMP spotted in the wilds of France, available there next month

Joseph L. Flatley — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 17:21:00 EST

The gang at Le Journal du Geek have got their hands (or someone's hands) on that Red Dot design award-winning Cowon J3 PMP, and we must say that the 3.3-inch AMOLED wonder looks pretty, pretty good. And with its TV output, Bluetooth audio support, and support for any number of standards (from the typical MP3, WMA, and WAV to the less-than-typical, but much-appreciated OGG, FLAC, APE, Div-X and Xvid) we're sure that the iAudio 9 is mighty proud of his big brother. Journal reports that this will see the light of day in France next month, look to spend about €249 (about $335) for the 16GB version.

Cowon's award-winning J3 PMP spotted in the wilds of France, available there next month originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 20 Apr 2010 17:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Cowon's all-metal J3 PMP gets official

Donald Melanson — Mon, 29 Mar 2010 15:09:00 EST

We'd already gotten a early look at Cowon's new all-metal J3 PMP earlier this month courtesy of the red dot design awards, but the company has just now gotten fully official with it, and detailed its complete specs. As expected, this one packs a 3.3-inch AMOLED touchscreen, along with 4GB, 8GB or 16GB of storage, a microSD card slot for further expansion, a built-in DMB TV tuner and FM radio, Bluetooth support, a built-in speaker and, of course, that brushed metal case -- not to mention a few familiar UI elements. Unfortunately, there's still no indication of a price, nor is there any word of a release over here.

Update: At least one website has listed prices of between 189,000 and 359,000 South Korean won, or roughly $166 to $316.

[Thanks, David K]

Cowon's all-metal J3 PMP gets official originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 29 Mar 2010 15:09:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Cowon J3 PMP looks cool in its brushed metal case

Tim Stevens — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 08:44:00 EST

Hot on the heels of giving our opinion on Cowon's (relatively) big-screened V5 media player we have some news on the next player in line from the company. It's called the J3 and, while Cowon has officially acknowledged its existence, its specifications have only been unveiled thanks to what looks to be an internationally coordinated effort on behalf of gadget lovers everywhere. The J3 is said to have a 3.3-inch AMOLED touchscreen with a resolution of 480 x 272, pulling content from 4, 8, or 16GB of internal storage -- content that can also be routed to a TV. There'll be Bluetooth to pump tunes wirelessly and a new metal case that's said to improve the quality feel of the player. That, of course, we won't know about until we can feel one of the things, and according to the company some folks will be able to do just that before the month is through.

Cowon J3 PMP looks cool in its brushed metal case originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 16 Mar 2010 08:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Cowon V5 review

Darren Murph — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 12:34:00 EST

Cowon's V5 has been out and about in South Korea for just over two months now, but thankfully for the Yanks who are downright flustered with the existing PMP options here in the States, the company has decided to bring this beaut stateside. Boasting a 4.8-inch resistive touchscreen (800 x 480 resolution), a Windows CE 6.0 underlying OS, HDMI / USB sockets (via adapters from a proprietary socket), a voice recorder, integrated speaker, 3.5mm headphone jack, 8/16/32GB of internal storage, an SDHC expansion slot, a battery good for 45 hours of music playback (or 10 hours with video) and a format support list that would drive you batty to read, there's a lot (lot!) to love about this thing on paper. We were fortunate enough to get our hands on one of the first units to ship to America, so hop on past the break for our two pennies.

Gallery: Cowon V5 unboxing and hands-on

Continue reading Cowon V5 review

Cowon V5 review originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 15 Mar 2010 12:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Cowon W2 shown in its natural tradeshow habitat, running Windows 7

Paul Miller — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 11:31:00 EST

Werefore art thou, UMPC? Oh look, Cowon found you. The Cowon W2 MID / UMPC / tablet / something has been spotted in the wild, running Windows 7 and thwarting typical efficient interaction methods. The Atom-powered device was caught by AVING running in both portrait and landscape modes, and even paired up with a pint-sized USB QWERTY keyboard. It does look a little chunky under those harsh tradeshow lights, but there's a certain charm to the device's OS optimism. Hopefully we'll be able to play with one soon, but there's still no word on a US launch.

Filed under: Handhelds, Tablet PCs

Cowon W2 shown in its natural tradeshow habitat, running Windows 7 originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 26 Jan 2010 11:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Cowon V5 HD gets extensive UI video demo

Vlad Savov — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 05:44:00 EST

There's little point in trying to disguise our interest any time a 4.8-inch multifunctional device is mentioned, so let's get straight to the good stuff here. Cowon's V5 HD already got a little teaser video and a full spec dish ahead of its Korean launch, but for the vast majority of us non-Korean folk, this PMP remains a distant and unfortunately mysterious object of desire. Sure, we know it can pump out 720p and has HDMI and Composite outputs, but what's it like to use? The video after the break does a pretty thorough job of going through the UI, and though it alarmed us with its extensive stylus use, we were eventually soothed by some buttery smooth video playback. Go check it out.

[Thanks, x3v]

Continue reading Cowon V5 HD gets extensive UI video demo

Cowon V5 HD gets extensive UI video demo originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 25 Jan 2010 05:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Cowon W2 spec'd, priced, and dated for Korean consumers

Ross Miller — Sun, 17 Jan 2010 06:48:00 EST

That lovable little Windows 7-powered Cowon W2 MID has gotten two steps closer to reality this week with a price tag and release date. In order, 599,000 to 739,000KRW (equivalent to $533 and $658 in US, respectively) and Monday, January 25th. Unfortunately, those only apply to Korea only, but if you are thinking of importing, how about we take a look at the full specs list: 4.8-inc WSVGA screen, 1.3GHz Intel Atom Z520, 1GB RAM, 60GB or 80GB HDD, Bluetooth 2.0, 802.11b/g WiFi, two USB one miniUSB ports, and a battery promising 10 hours idle / 7 hours video playback. Yeah, we're not sure about that netbook-caliber processor either, but surely that MID form factor makes up for something... right?

Cowon W2 spec'd, priced, and dated for Korean consumers originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 17 Jan 2010 06:48:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Cowon's Atom-powered W2 MID gets teased, gets Windows 7

Tim Stevens — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 09:51:00 EST

When Cowon's latest leaked back at the beginning of November we knew just about everything we really needed to know except for one crucial bit of intel: what it looked like. Now the company has thoughtfully taken care of that, throwing up a teaser page for the product that shows off a simple, sophisticated brushed metal exterior punctuated only by a pair of buttons on either side and three LED status lights. It's perhaps a bit chunky, with a wide bezel and a little more depth than we'd like, but it should be reasonably comfortable to use whenever it releases. The 4.8-inch, 1024 x 600 touchscreen LCD is confirmed, backed by a 1.3GHz Intel Atom processor that is probably going to struggle a little bit to keep up with Windows 7, which the company has chosen to bless this device's (unannounced) storage with. That's all we know for now.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Cowon's Atom-powered W2 MID gets teased, gets Windows 7 originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 08 Jan 2010 09:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Motorola Droid and Dell Adamo latest to get Gorilla glass

Darren Murph — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 03:22:00 EST

Corning's darn-near-impenetrable Gorilla glass certainly isn't new -- in fact, we spied it in a few of Motion Computing's tablets just a few months ago -- but it's still not commonplace on mainstream gizmos. Yet. SmartPlanet sat down with Dr. Donnell Walton, senior applications engineer at Corning, in order to discuss the merits of the display technology as well as its importance in the gadget space. The discussion also mentioned that both Motorola's Droid and Dell's Adamo (not to mention Cowon's S9 PMP) are sporting the glass, which acts to make displays "damage-resistant." Not surprisingly, the company is seeing huge demand in the smartphone arena, where touchscreen-centric phones are being shoved into pockets at random and then costing manufacturers big bucks as return rates creep up. It's a pretty interesting read if you're into that type of thing, and yes, we did just give you permission to try and split your Droid display wide open in a moment of frustration. Just don't count on Motorola to accept that as a valid excuse for your RMA.

[Thanks, Jeff]

Motorola Droid and Dell Adamo latest to get Gorilla glass originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 23 Dec 2009 03:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Cowon V5 HD set for South Korea debut on January 1

Vlad Savov — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 05:25:00 EST

Cowon has finally made its latest and greatest PMP official, and the spec sheet does not disappoint. Mixing appealing curves with a 4.8-inch display, the V5 HD offers 720p video playback that can be channeled out via HDMI or Composite outputs. On the software front, there's the usual litany of wide-ranging file compatibility and basic apps -- cortesy of Windows CE 6.0 -- as well as a world clock, RSS reader, Flash games, voice recorder, and an optional T-DMB tuner. We still don't know what's doing the dirty work under the hood, but you won't be wanting for storage, with integrated memory options up to 32GB being augmented by SDHC expandability. Battery life is rated at 10 hours of video or 45 hours of music, and the Korean landing date is January 1 with prices starting at 299,000 KRW ($256). Until then, you can check out more pictures after the break.

[Thanks, The DarkSide]

Continue reading Cowon V5 HD set for South Korea debut on January 1

Cowon V5 HD set for South Korea debut on January 1 originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 21 Dec 2009 05:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Cowon V5 HD PMP turns up in ad ahead of launch

Donald Melanson — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 16:34:00 EST

We're not quite sure if this is an actual teaser ad or one that just slipped out ahead of the proper launch, but it looks like the brief commercial after the break is the first anyone has seen of Cowon's new V5 HD PMP. Unfortunately, the ad doesn't offer much in the way of actual details, although it does appear that the PMP boasts a reasonably large touchscreen, which may or may not actually be HD. Head on past the break to check all 18 seconds of it for yourself.

Continue reading Cowon V5 HD PMP turns up in ad ahead of launch

Cowon V5 HD PMP turns up in ad ahead of launch originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 07 Dec 2009 16:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Cowon iAudio 9 and iAudio E2 media players make the scene stateside

Joseph L. Flatley — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 12:37:00 EST

Cowon-heads of the world, you are in for a treat today. It looks like not one but two of the company's snack-sized media players are finally hitting the big time. First off, the iAudio 9 PMP is due to hit the states within a week. Available in 8GB and 16GB denominations, for some reason the domestic version will be available only in black. Aside from supporting the usual compliment of media files (MP3, FLAC, Ogg, WAV, APE, WME, XviD, and WMV videos) this guy sports composite video out. Get your hands on the 8GB version for $129, or go wild with 16GB for $169. If video isn't your bag, the enigmatic iAudio E2 (all 2.5-inches of it) is also available. Sporting a bevy of EQ presets, 4GB of storage and a not entirely terrible 11.5 hours of battery life, this is the keychain you've always wanted -- but never wanted to pay $65 for. Additional glamor shots after the break.

Continue reading Cowon iAudio 9 and iAudio E2 media players make the scene stateside

Filed under: Portable Audio, Portable Video

Cowon iAudio 9 and iAudio E2 media players make the scene stateside originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 04 Nov 2009 12:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Cowon iAudio 9 ships soon for €180, gets pictured a few times over

Darren Murph — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 02:59:00 EST

We had reason to believe that iAudio 9 would be making itself official sooner rather than later, and while Cowon has still yet to say anything publicly, we'd say this gallery of hands-on shots is more than enough to consider it a done deal. Across the pond, the iAudio 9 has been outed as having a 2-inch LCD display, integrated FM tuner, a microphone, TV output, broad format support (MP3, WAV, OGG, WAV, FLAC, APE, AVI, WMX and XviD, to name a few), 16GB of internal memory and bundled earbuds that you'll probably be happy to discard. We're told that it'll go on sale (at least somewhere in Europe) for around €180 ($265) here in a few weeks, and you can dive into the read link if you're hankering for some images.

Filed under: Cellphones

Cowon iAudio 9 ships soon for €180, gets pictured a few times over originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 03 Nov 2009 02:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Atom-powered Cowon W2 leaked, could be crowding in on imaginary tablet territory

Paul Miller — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 09:38:00 EST

If there's one thing we like more than a flesh and blood slate tablet PC, it's one with zero launch specifics or imagery, and hopefully a dearth of specs. Cowon's delivering the former in spades, with the leak of the Atom-powered W2 MID on a Bluetooth.org certification page. Of course, calling it an internet tablet might be reading in a bit much, but it seems a good fit for Cowon's sensibilities and background up against that Atom processor under the hood. We suppose we'll just have to wait around to learn more, but this could be the start of a beautiful rumoring relationship.

Filed under: Tablet PCs

Atom-powered Cowon W2 leaked, could be crowding in on imaginary tablet territory originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 01 Nov 2009 09:38:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Cowon teases iAudio 9 portable media player, waits for a reaction

Darren Murph — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 07:27:00 EST

It seems that the above pictured splash page has since been removed from Cowon's website, but given the outfit's long, long history of teasing products before they're actually introduced, we'll give 'em the benefit of the doubt here. Reportedly, the decidedly ho hum looking media player will ship with a 2-inch LCD, built-in FM tuner, a microphone, TV output, internal speaker and support for plenty of formats. As of now, storage capacities and pricing remains a mystery, but we're certain Cowon will be clearing that up in short order. Ahem.

[Via AnythingButiPod]

Filed under: Portable Audio, Portable Video

Cowon teases iAudio 9 portable media player, waits for a reaction originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 02 Oct 2009 07:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Cowon's UM1 thumb drive for lovers, stalkers

Joseph L. Flatley — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 06:03:00 EST

If you thought Cowon's iAudio E2 had reduced the digital audio player to its stylish, diminutive core, think again: With the UM1 the company takes things even one step further by eliminating the "audio player" from the DAP altogether, leaving us with an elegant USB thumb drive that stores up to 16GB (75,900 Korean Won, or about $64). Featuring a little loophole at the top for a chain and the inscription "Don't Forget Me," this is practically begging to be presented as a gift, packed full of specially picked MP3s for your sweetheart / object of obsessive stalking. Just keep in mind that he or she will then need something to listen to the tunes on.

[Via DAP Review]

Filed under: Storage

Cowon's UM1 thumb drive for lovers, stalkers originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 01 Oct 2009 06:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Cowon teases keychain-esque iAudio E2 DAP

Darren Murph — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 08:21:00 EST

Typically, it's iriver who does the teasing, but you won't catch us griping about Cowon pulling a similar trick with its elusive new iAudio E2. The image above is all we have to go on for the moment, which shows a digital audio player that's capable of doubling as both a USB storage device (maybe) and a keyring (definitely). Make of those funky icons what you will, but as we learned with Lost, you're probably just wasting your time reading betwixt the lines.

[Via DAP Review]

Filed under: Portable Audio

Cowon teases keychain-esque iAudio E2 DAP originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 31 Jul 2009 08:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Cowon S9 pales in white

Thomas Ricker — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 03:50:00 EST

It's hard to beat the chrome and titanium black versions of the Cowon S9 players in terms of aesthetic design. And black is always the best choice to frame its high-contrasting, 3.3-inch AMOLED if you're the type who likes to see the display fade into the device during particularly dark video sequences. Still, choice is good, and white DAPs are trending (again) so why not ceramic white? It's not like the S9's viewable display actually stretches end-to-end like you might assume.

Gallery: Cowon S9 pales in white

[Via Pocketables]

Filed under: Portable Audio, Portable Video

Cowon S9 pales in white originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 14 Jul 2009 03:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Cowon S9 gets pulled apart, put back together again

Joseph L. Flatley — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 14:16:00 EST

It was bound to happen sooner or later -- this poor Cowon S9 got the vivisection treatment and the startling pics have been posted in the Anything But iPod forums. And guess what? It's choc full of tiny components, a little bit of "wax paper or something," and let's not forget that world renowned AMOLED touch screen. This endeavor hasn't been undertaken in vain, however -- the good doctor has included tons of pics and step-by-step instructions in case you ever have to conduct the operation yourself. You know, in the name of science.

Filed under: Portable Audio, Portable Video

Cowon S9 gets pulled apart, put back together again originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 05 Jun 2009 14:16:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments