PVP

Iriver's pimped-out P7 PVP has a head-turning interface

With all the iPod imitators and wannabes out there, it's always a breath of fresh air when a company makes something that is actually different enough to garner a double take. In this case, the company is Iriver, and the product is the new P7 PVP. The interface on this device is so unique that I actually couldn't figure out how to use it at first--a rare occurrence for someone who's been in the game for more than five years. That's not to say the P7 is overly complex; in fact, it's quite intuitive once … Read more

Samsung unveils P3 touch-screen MP3 player

Samsung spilled the beans on the new P3 MP3 player at the company's CES 2009 press conference. As an update to Samsung's popular P2, the P3 shares many of its predecessor's features, including a 3-inch WQVGA touch screen, DNSe sound enhancement, audio and video playback, photo viewer, FM radio, voice recording, and Bluetooth capabilities such as phone pairing and stereo audio streaming.

Unlike the P2, the Samsung P3 uses a colorful new user interface dubbed "EmoTure" that emphasizes personalization. The body of the P3 is made from die-cast metal, available in black or silver, measuring … Read more

Review: Cowon O2 portable video player

Our official rated review for the Cowon O2 portable video player is now up on CNET Reviews, along with a full photo gallery and a First Look video.

We've been putting the O2 through its paces all week and it's held up remarkably well. It's still not the sexiest piece of tech we've laid eyes on, but it's got more muscle than any other portable video player in its price range.

Audio enthusiasts will also want to give the O2 a look, considering it supports desirable lossless music formats such as FLAC, Apple Lossless, and … Read more

Hands-on with the Cowon O2 PVP

It hasn't been a terribly exciting year for portable video players. Despite its relatively small screen, the iPod Touch is one of the few PVPs we've been giving an unqualified recommendation for in 2008. The Archos 5 is ambitious, but the battery life just isn't there; the Q5W is overpriced and bulky; and the A3 left us feeling kinda "meh." Thankfully, the Cowon O2 looks like it's going to close-out our year of PVP reviews on an upnote.

First off, let me mention the official U.S. MSRP for the O2, because I know there have been a few guesstimates floating around. The Cowon O2 will retail for $219 (8GB), $249 (16GB), and $299 (32GB), which you can pick up in either black or white. If 32GB isn't enough storage for you, keep in mind that the O2 includes a SDHC card slot for quickly swapping out content and increasing storage as you need it.

The second thing to notice about the O2 is its stupefying amount of file support. On the video end the O2 can play back AVI, WMV, ASF, MP4, MKV, OGM, DAT, MTV, DivX, XviD, MPEG-4, WMV 9/8/7, H.264, M-JPEG, and MPEG 1. The O2 is also agnostic when it comes to video resolution, accepting files all the way up to 1,280x720 at 30fps. For me, native format and resolution support is huge deal, because my home media collection is all over the place and few things test my patience more than re-encoding batches of video files.

Another huge deal for me is battery life, and Cowon is claiming that the O2 will get up to 8 hours of video playback (under "optimal" conditions) before surrendering. If Cowon's right, 8 hours of video playback would put the O2 far beyond the 4 hours of video life on the Archos 5, and ahead of the 6 hours of video on the iPod Touch and even the iPod Classic. Audio battery life isn't as impressive, with only 18 hours, but it's still ahead of the 12 hours of playback time on the Archos 5. Another thing to bear in mind is that all of the O2's competitors require a proprietary cable to recharge the battery, which can be a huge pain if you lose the cable while traveling. The O2 charges best when using the included AC adapter, but you can charge over its mini-USB connection, as well. … Read more

Iriver Spinn proves PVP innovation is expensive

In the ultracompetitive MP3 player marketplace, Korean DAP manufacturer Iriver can always be counted on for two things: innovative design and feature-packed devices. The Iriver Spinn is no exception with its Spinn System Toggle Wheel, touch-screen display, and laundry list of features. At $249.99 for the 4GB model and $289.99 for the 8GB, the Spinn is perhaps the priciest flash player on the market today (by comparison, the 8GB iPod Touch costs about $229), and it's not the simplest to use, but its slick, high-quality build and variety of features may appeal to those looking for a … Read more

Review: Archos 5 portable video player

If you want a portable video player that can browse the Web over Wi-Fi, but the iPod Touch is just too puny, then the Archos 5 is worth a serious look. You get a luxurious 4.8-inch, 800x600 touch-screen display, 802.11b/g Wi-Fi, Opera Web browser, Flash 9 video and game support, up to 250GB of storage, and loads of video, audio, and photo format compatibility.

It's not all gumdrops and unicorns, though. Buggy applications, measly battery life, limited accessories, and a smudge-loving design make the Archos 5 hard to love unconditionally.

Read our full review of the … Read more

Hands-on with the Archos 5 internet media tablet

The Archos 5 internet media tablet has arrived on my desk with uncanny timing. I've had only a few minutes to fool with the new touch screen beauty, but I do have photos to share.

So far, I feel comfortable saying that the Archos 5 looks, feels, and behaves like a luxury product. I have a few criticisms too, which you can read in the notes of our Archos 5 photo gallery.

Cowon goes haptic with P5 video player

Cowon has released photos and specs of a new portable video player dubbed the P5. As a successor to their Q5W mega-gadget released last year, the P5 adds a few new tricks to the Q5W's features and wraps it all up in a less intimidating design.

Offered in silver, red, and black, the Cowon P5 includes a 5-inch touch screen with a 800x480 resolution and a new haptic feedback feature. In the everything-but-the-kitchen-sink tradition of the Q5W, the Cowon P5 includes stereo Bluetooth, FM radio, TV-output (component, composite, and S-Video), stereo speakers, USB and USB-host ports. Noticeably missing from … Read more

MP3 Insider 91: On trusting user comments

This week, Donald and Jasmine discuss the relative merits of the MobiBlu T10, which becomes an example on when not to trust user comments. Also, some PVPs for movie marathoners and a handful of iPod Nano alternatives. Listen now: Download today's podcast EPISODE 91

Craptastic MobiBlu T10: http://reviews.cnet.com/portable-video-players-pvps/mobiblu-t10/4505-6499_7-32886414.html?tag=links;reviewSweet-ass m:Station Tower: http://reviews.cnet.com/digital-player-speaker-docks/mstation-2-1-tower/4505-12699_7-31959354.html?tag=links;reviewAcoustic Reaserch headphones: http://reviews.cnet.com/headphones/acoustic-research-awd510-wireless/4505-7877_7-32826682.html?tag=links;review & http://reviews.cnet.com/headphones/acoustic-research-are05-noise/4505-7877_7-32907609.html?tag=links;review … Read more