The Cowon iAudio F2 review - Comments and Question!

Martinp · 12-09-2006, 11:25

Here you go, the review! I hope you like it :-D

All comments here please and don't hesitate to say nice things. You won't beleive how much work I put into this.

http://www.iaudiophile.net/e107_plug...p?content.93.1

MaxSt · 12-09-2006, 12:41

Very very nice. Finally some pictures. Good job!

page 6 - the video is big, because JetAudio creates videos with only keyframes. That means ridiculously high bitrates to achieve decent picture quality. My VirtualDub build makes much small, better-looking videos.

Martinp · 12-09-2006, 12:55

I might adress this issue with Cowon, but I don't know how much they will do ...

MaxSt · 12-09-2006, 13:17

That's no big deal, because there are alternatives.

What really drives me crazy is that videos without sound would not play at all (I'm talking about my U3, but F2 is very similar so I assume the problem exist there too).

Normally it would not be a huge problem, but in some music videos the audio stream ends like 0.1sec before the video ends, at that moment the player would just freeze. Very annoying.

If you can, let them know, please.

Lighter · 12-09-2006, 19:12

Again, through. You're setting a hard standard for yourself - but it's sure a good thing for the rest of us.

Curious - you've still got the A2? How is life with a small flash player rather than the big HD player?

blairh · 12-10-2006, 00:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lighter

Curious - you've still got the A2? How is life with a small flash player rather than the big HD player?

I've got both the F2 and an A2. Have had the A2 for a while now, and never went anywhere without it. Since I've been using the F2, I've found that I've hardly taken the A2 out at all unless I know I'm going to have time to sit down and watch a movie (on a plane etc)

The F2 is just so small and light, and it's easy to use while it's in my pocket.. love it!

Martinp · 12-10-2006, 02:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lighter

Again, through. You're setting a hard standard for yourself - but it's sure a good thing for the rest of us.

Curious - you've still got the A2? How is life with a small flash player rather than the big HD player?

Well, I always want to set a hard standard, for the simple reason that even though I run a fansite I don't want to look like a biased fanboy. People should be able to trust our reviews just as much, or even more so, than the ones from Cnet etc ...

A2 vs. F2 - sure I love how small this thing is, but it all boils down to capacity. For my likings the F2 doesn't cut it. But this problem will dissapear within the next year or two. Flash Memory will be available in 32 GB modules, and we will see the size of players shrink, their battery life go up and the rest of the features being improved.

Lighter · 12-10-2006, 06:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by eXity

Well, I always want to set a hard standard, for the simple reason that even though I run a fansite I don't want to look like a biased fanboy. People should be able to trust our reviews just as much, or even more so, than the ones from Cnet etc ...

Seems to me you're doing it well. My favorite part are the user experiences from actually using the devices for a longer time than most reviews. The Cnet stuff seems that they sit at their desk with the spec sheets for an hour or so and then write the review. I want to know how the device actually works when you are going about having a life.

Lighter · 12-10-2006, 07:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by blairh

Since I've been using the F2, I've found that I've hardly taken the A2 out at all

Quote:

Originally Posted by eXity

A2 vs. F2 - sure I love how small this thing is, but it all boils down to capacity. For my likings the F2 doesn't cut it.

[toungue]

Lifestyle thing. I guess I've got to figure out my own answer!

blairh · 12-11-2006, 05:29

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lighter

[toungue]

Lifestyle thing. I guess I've got to figure out my own answer!

That's right! I think the safest bet is to just buy both =D haha

WAI · 12-11-2006, 05:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by eXity

Well, I always want to set a hard standard, for the simple reason that even though I run a fansite I don't want to look like a biased fanboy. People should be able to trust our reviews just as much, or even more so, than the ones from Cnet etc ...

A2 vs. F2 - sure I love how small this thing is, but it all boils down to capacity. For my likings the F2 doesn't cut it. But this problem will dissapear within the next year or two. Flash Memory will be available in 32 GB modules, and we will see the size of players shrink, their battery life go up and the rest of the features being improved.

It's just like the T2. We will aspect better things from it as in Storage and Battery life.

12-09-2006, 11:25	#1
Martinp Former iAudiophile/DAPreview editor Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Portsmouth, England Posts: 1,918	The Cowon iAudio F2 review - Comments and Question! Here you go, the review! I hope you like it :-D All comments here please and don't hesitate to say nice things. You won't beleive how much work I put into this. http://www.iaudiophile.net/e107_plug...p?content.93.1 __________________ Proud to be a part of the DAPreview webring: DAPreview \| epiZENter \| iAudiophile \| DAP.db

12-09-2006, 12:55	#3
Martinp Former iAudiophile/DAPreview editor Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Portsmouth, England Posts: 1,918	I might adress this issue with Cowon, but I don't know how much they will do ... __________________ Proud to be a part of the DAPreview webring: DAPreview \| epiZENter \| iAudiophile \| DAP.db

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12-09-2006, 12:41	#2
MaxSt Very Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 1,047	Very very nice. Finally some pictures. Good job! page 6 - the video is big, because JetAudio creates videos with only keyframes. That means ridiculously high bitrates to achieve decent picture quality. My VirtualDub build makes much small, better-looking videos.

12-09-2006, 13:17	#4
MaxSt Very Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 1,047	That's no big deal, because there are alternatives. What really drives me crazy is that videos without sound would not play at all (I'm talking about my U3, but F2 is very similar so I assume the problem exist there too). Normally it would not be a huge problem, but in some music videos the audio stream ends like 0.1sec before the video ends, at that moment the player would just freeze. Very annoying. If you can, let them know, please.

12-09-2006, 19:12	#5
Lighter Think! Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Eastern USA Posts: 296	Again, through. You're setting a hard standard for yourself - but it's sure a good thing for the rest of us. Curious - you've still got the A2? How is life with a small flash player rather than the big HD player?