Come on, Cowon, let's see some new flash devices @ CeBit06!!! [Archive]

View Full Version : Come on, Cowon, let's see some new flash devices @ CeBit06!!!

608zz

02-21-2006, 23:50

With all of Cowon's marketing resources at CES being put into the i6, I'm wondering when their next flash device will debut. The most recent ones were the U3 and F1, so I think it's time that we get a new one that runs on AA battery - Essentially an updated version of the G3. The G3 is still a great device, but I see room for improvement. I would like to see the following upgrades:
• As much flash-memory as possible for a sub-$200 USD device.
• A more advanced CPU.
• An external mic jack with built-in pre-amp, so that any non-powered external mic can be used with it.
• Recording level meter.
• Hardware-based OGG support.
• Native OGG encoding in addition to mp3 encoding up to 192kbps.
• A high-contrast OLED screen (like what the F1 has).

How about you, Iaudio_god, surely you can pass these requests onto the honchos at Cowon. ;)

turbonegro

02-22-2006, 03:24

I'd like to see an evil Zen Vision:M killer with huuuuuge hd space (60+ gb), ogg, flac, mp3 gapless playback, still drag'n'drop compatible. Hell if they throw in an espresso coffee output I'd queue up right now!

Iaudio_God

02-24-2006, 16:33

nwbrown

02-24-2006, 23:20

im sure Cowon has something up the sleeve. alot of surprises will come this year.

Could that include a working x5 firmware upgrade? Because that sure would count as a surprise...

Or maybe (I'm probably dreaming here) a response to one of the questions I have submitted to the customer service department?

608zz

02-25-2006, 06:02

As long as those "surprises" don't waver from what I'm looking for, I sit in anticipation :)

dfkt

02-25-2006, 06:52

Could that include a working x5 firmware upgrade? Because that sure would count as a surprise...

Or maybe (I'm probably dreaming here) a response to one of the questions I have submitted to the customer service department?

What do you mean with "working firmware"? I'm using 2.10b5 and it's working fine.

MGS2392

02-25-2006, 08:44

I think he means a non-beta X5 firmware.

LFC_SL

02-25-2006, 10:31

If anything a HD player would be better than a already over-saturated flash presence from Cowon. Imo of course

nwbrown

02-25-2006, 15:40

What do you mean with "working firmware"? I'm using 2.10b5 and it's working fine.

First, reading comprehension 101. I said "working firmware upgrade", not "working firmware". 2.10b5 came out back in September (and really had nothing more than bug fixes).

Second, since you have obviously been living in cave for the past 5 months, let me fill you in. 2.10b7, the firmware update that finally contained some support for DRM (which, along with an ID3 database was supposed to be available last fall, and please don't try to say you can do everything an ID3 db can do with a properly organized file structure, because thats just not true) came out in Novemeber. Since then, nothing has been released, despite the fact that b7 is full of bugs (I have to reformat and reinstall every few weeks).

dfkt

02-25-2006, 19:03

Welcome to my ignore list.

608zz

02-25-2006, 23:39

If anything a HD player would be better than a already over-saturated flash presence from Cowon. Imo of course
All of Cowon's flash devices other than the U3 suffer from the 650file/50folder disease. They need to overhaul them with a CPU upgrade to cure this. Might as well give them one with hardware support for OGG and improve the recording amenity while they're at it, in order to head off the impending onslaught of improved flash devices from other companies.

If there is a new HD device to make up for the so-called "over-saturated flash presence", then it will have to be powered by standard removeable batteries, because that's the only aspect that differentiates several of the flash devices. If you consider just the devices that charge over USB, there are actually more HD devices than there are flash devices.

LFC_SL

02-26-2006, 06:07

nwbrown

02-26-2006, 11:02

Welcome to my ignore list.

Oh, I hope it is true.

What on earth possessed you to think that I wanted to hear from your egomancial self in the first place? All you ever do is whine whenever someone disagrees for you or has different needs than you that they must be part of some grand Apple-led conspiracy. You bring as much to this discussion as Michael Moore would bring to a discussion on how to eat right and exercise daily.

nwbrown

02-26-2006, 11:23

Hmmm...ok fair enough

I've put myself off changing my LAME MP3s to anything else due to either HD size or other formats = less batt life. Sorry, but it seems ogg does that to DAPs

I doubt a new HD DAP would have removable batts. It'd be nice, but I doubt it, simply by reasoning that if Apple do something, the casual public will accept it. Even if it means no gapless playback :nutty:

You probably meant this to start with, but just to make sure, when you said "changing (your) LAME MP3s to anything else", you did mean taking your CD collection (or some other lossless source) and re-ripping them all into a new format, right? Because if you literally do change your mp3s into anything else, you will end up with crap. You will get the losses from one codec combined with the losses from the other.

As far as HD size/battery life, you can easily make an ogg vorbis file as small as your mp3s. The thing that determines file size is the bitrate, not the file format, and since you can generally get better sound for a given bitrate in ogg vorbis, you actually may be able to save space by using ogg vorbis instead of mp3s. Back in college when I had a tiny (by today's standards) hard drive, I was able to fit my entire CD collection on my computer by using .oggs ripped at 64 kbps, and they sounded just as good as mp3s ripped at 128.
I've heard differing reports of battery life with different codecs, in fact I have heard some say they get better battery life with .oggs. Has anyone ever done a reliable test for this (I can't, as I have a x5L which will take forever to run out of juice)?

I'm not even sure if it is possible to use standard AA batteries in a hard drive player without having it weigh a ton, but having a standardized removable lithium ion battery would certainly be useful. Something where I could run to Radio Shack and purcahse a replacement when my current battery dies, and not have to send it in for repairs.

608zz

02-26-2006, 12:33

Hardware-based OGG support results in OGG requiring no more power than mp3. Although if one uses rechargeable AAs, battery life is really a non-issue anyway. The problem is handled on both fronts with my requested device.

Nwbrown is correct about OGG using less space than equivelent mp3. Switching to equivelent OGG results in additional space for more music. It works wonders for flash devices.

afruff23

02-26-2006, 21:21

First, reading comprehension 101. I said "working firmware upgrade", not "working firmware". 2.10b5 came out back in September (and really had nothing more than bug fixes).

Second, since you have obviously been living in cave for the past 5 months, let me fill you in. 2.10b7, the firmware update that finally contained some support for DRM (which, along with an ID3 database was supposed to be available last fall, and please don't try to say you can do everything an ID3 db can do with a properly organized file structure, because thats just not true) came out in Novemeber. Since then, nothing has been released, despite the fact that b7 is full of bugs (I have to reformat and reinstall every few weeks).

He just prefers not to use that firmware, like I(beta4) do since I do not have DRM music. dfkt is a very prominent member here(over 600 posts). Did I misunderstand you, or did you say that beta7 has an ID3 database because it doesn't. I just don't understand the problem with the firmware. They said they MIGHT make the firmware. The firmwares are beta for a reason. This issue could be resolved simply by not buying DRM music. It's just another way big business tries to control you. I wish Cowon would stop focsuing on DRM and focus on ID3 database. I don't need the ID3 database, but I sure could use it to sort by genre instead of making smart playlists in foobar2k.

slag[]

02-27-2006, 15:19

I've owned the iAudio U2 and currently own the iAudio X5L. I returned the U2 and I'm planning on selling the X5L. Both players won me over as a fan of iAudio, but I'm still waiting for the right surprise to fulfill my needs.

I hope that CeBit 2006 brings a player with these features:
-flash memory
-replaceable battery (AA or AAA)
-OLED screen

There isn't a single player on the market with those 3 features that also functions as a USB mass storage device. I'm crossing my fingers for iAudio to enrapture me.

vinnie97

02-27-2006, 15:40

Add betta' record options (LAME Codec as opposed to fHG and WAV) as well as a memory card slot, then you're talking.

I was able to fit my entire CD collection on my computer by using .oggs ripped at 64 kbps, and they sounded just as good as mp3s ripped at 128.
Can you verify this with a double-blind listening test? ;) LAME 128 kbps mp3 versus Vorbis 80 kbps are close but LAME has a small lead on the quality; 64 versus 128 is definitely noticeable, IMO, with modern versions of LAME trumping those of Vorbis.

I still use Vorbis at 80 kbps because the quality is so astonishingly good at 80 kbps. I'm using a Nano 4GB with Rockbox firmware for this purpose now...sorry, Cowon. ;)

nwbrown

02-27-2006, 18:14

He just prefers not to use that firmware, like I(beta4) do since I do not have DRM music.
Great, have fun with your older firmware if you are satisfied with it. I don't know how hard this is for you and dfkt to understand, but there other people in the world who want different things than you. Just because you think something is perfect doesn't mean everyone else has to agree. Thus if you have no opinion on the DRM support issue, please do us all a favor and stop wasting everyone's time with posts saying how much you love the current firmware. Leave this discussion to those of us who do have an interest in it.

I mean this is like me butting into a discussion regarding the rebuilding of New Orleans saying "what are you all complaining about, everything is fine up here in North Carolina".

dfkt is a very prominent member here(over 600 posts).
Yeah, and 99% of them are crap where she claims anyone who disagrees with her must be a member of a vast conspiracy led by Apple. Whats your point? That I should just agree with anyone who has no life and enough on time on their hands to post 600 times here in a few months?

Did I misunderstand you, or did you say that beta7 has an ID3 database because it doesn't.
I guess you did misunderstand me, because I did not say that.

nwbrown

02-27-2006, 18:20

Add betta' record options (LAME Codec as opposed to fHG and WAV) as well as a memory card slot, then you're talking.

Can you verify this with a double-blind listening test? ;) LAME 128 kbps mp3 versus Vorbis 80 kbps are close but LAME has a small lead on the quality; 64 versus 128 is definitely noticeable, IMO, with modern versions of LAME trumping those of Vorbis.

I still use Vorbis at 80 kbps because the quality is so astonishingly good at 80 kbps. I'm using a Nano 4GB with Rockbox firmware for this purpose now...sorry, Cowon. ;)

Well considering I was using a pair of old computer speakers (I was a freshman in college, so my bank account was not thick enough to buy an entire stereo system) 64 kbps was good enough for me.

No, I didn't do a double-blind listening test, because my goal was not to prove which format was better, but rather to find out whether music that took up half as much valuable hard drive space would make a noticable dent in my listening experience.

vinnie97

03-02-2006, 13:19

That explains it..but it should be noted that YMMV (your mileage may vary) in the case of that quality assertion depending on the equipment you're using, your hearing, etc.