Cowon D2+ vs D2 ?

[Coolvibes]

I have not browsed so much on the forum so not sure if this has been asked before:

I am going to get a cowon soon and if i get a D2 i am confused if to get the new D2+ or D2.

I know so far the difference are D2+ has a new much better gui and a updated design.

But I am the only one that think the design of D2+ dont look so nice as D2 that is special true with the cowon logo.
also it look more plastic like but i guess is same as D2. (except for the Gui that look nicer in D2+)

So can you name the difference except of Design and Gui to D2+ ?

my questions:

1. What about installing skins on D2+?
I took the time reading a little bit on the forum
and found out you can install skins by renaming the skins, and then there is something like flash skins, are the flash they worth to install?
or is the normal ones best?

2. and if Flash skins is a must then i guess i have to upgrade the firmware to 3.02 is that a more unstable firmware than 2xx?
(or maybe the firmware version is even higher as i write this?)

3. How do you install Skins again, Im sure this is somewhere on the forum but To keep it quick you have to copy a .bin file over to D2 for each skin?
So say you have a Blueskin.bin installed then to change skin you have to copy Redskin.bin to D2 and reboot it right?
and then if you want to change back to blueskin you have to copy blueskin.bin back onto D2?
Or can I once skin.bin is copied to D2 just go into a menu and choose between all .bin skins i installed in a menu?
Cowon should make it easyer to install skins taken that so many user like it.

4. Im planning to get a 8gb or 16gb D2+
is only avaible colors Silver or Black
Would be good if Cowon made a D2+ 8/16gb in Snow white

5. How is the weight of D2+ compared to D2 is D2+ same weight does it feel more plastic is it same material except of design?

6. Name any downside with D2+ compared to D2 for a new user that never have owned a D2 before

Ok thats my question for now.
Have a nice day












.

[Bullseye]

Originally Posted by Coolvibes

I have not browsed so much on the forum so not sure if this has been asked before:

I am going to get a cowon soon and if i get a D2 i am confused if to get the new D2+ or D2.

I know so far the difference are D2+ has a new much better gui and a updated design.

But I am the only one that think the design of D2+ dont look so nice as D2 that is special true with the cowon logo.
also it look more plastic like but i guess is same as D2. (except for the Gui that look nicer in D2+)

So can you name the difference except of Design and Gui to D2+ ?

my questions:

1. What about installing skins on D2+?
I took the time reading a little bit on the forum
and found out you can install skins by renaming the skins, and then there is something like flash skins, are the flash they worth to install?
or is the normal ones best?

2. and if Flash skins is a must then i guess i have to upgrade the firmware to 3.02 is that a more unstable firmware than 2xx?
(or maybe the firmware version is even higher as i write this?)

3. How do you install Skins again, Im sure this is somewhere on the forum but To keep it quick you have to copy a .bin file over to D2 for each skin?
So say you have a Blueskin.bin installed then to change skin you have to copy Redskin.bin to D2 and reboot it right?
and then if you want to change back to blueskin you have to copy blueskin.bin back onto D2?
Or can I once skin.bin is copied to D2 just go into a menu and choose between all .bin skins i installed in a menu?
Cowon should make it easyer to install skins taken that so many user like it.

4. Im planning to get a 8gb or 16gb D2+
is only avaible colors Silver or Black
Would be good if Cowon made a D2+ 8/16gb in Snow white

5. How is the weight of D2+ compared to D2 is D2+ same weight does it feel more plastic is it same material except of design?

6. Name any downside with D2+ compared to D2 for a new user that never have owned a D2 before

Ok thats my question for now.
Have a nice day












.

D2+'s GUI is just a different theme, nothing else. The proof is that we D2 with D2+ FW users have exactly the same GUI as the original D2+ users.

1.- I would recommend you keep reading the stickies. Everything is stated there If you wanty another look or different functionality, flash skins are indeed worth using

2. & 3.- To use flash skins you can use either 3.59 or 3.02 (depending on what FW you use. Try read the stickies on the FW thread. Loads of information regarding skins and installing things. As a fast response you do not need to install any file. Just paste the flash skin with the name music.swf on the SYSTEM folder and its done

4.- For colors that is your preference. Choose your favorite one, even if it is pink (doubt there is one though )

5.- Weight of both I think it is the same, if not similar. However even if it is similar weight unless you are very skinny you will be able to lift it without problems

6.- If you are not used to D2's interface (same as D2+) and use of touchscreen .Might be some inconvenience, however this player is great.

As a final comment keep reading (more than just a bit) in the forums. Take your time and search. Read stickies and make your own notes. People have had quite similar questions as yours. You can also use the search function of this site (top bar next to FAQ) or use google with @ iaudiophile at the end if you have no luck with your search.

[Coolvibes]

Thanks i will read more when i have time i just needed some quick answer right now.

One thing you said about skins you said:
"Just paste the flash skin with the name music.swf on the SYSTEM folder"

But then say you have 2 Skins and want to change between them
say you have blueskin.swf and redskin.swf

Every time you want to change theme you have to Paste the flashskin over to P2 or can you just select between them once they both been copyed over?

And thanks again to answer my questions

[nsxviper]

You do know that you can install the 3.02 firmware or the D2+ firmware on the original D2. It takes a little awhile to learn, but if you follow the instructions carefully and exactly, it'll be easy. So you can save yourself some money if you want to buy the original D2 instead of the D2+. Both players are identical.

1) The D2 (3.59) and D2+ (3.02) uses a slightly different firmware, but converting the skin/theme isn't hard at all. Themes for the D2 3.59 firmware is named D2N_rs.bin. while the D2+ is named D2N_p_rs.bin. So if you have the firmware 3.02 and you downloaded a theme for 3.59. Just rename the D2N_rs.bin to D2N_p_rs.bin.

It's also not hard to install the theme or skin, just place that D2N_p_rs.bin file in the "root" of the D2+. If your D2+ flash drive name is F:\, then just put it in the F:\. Don't put it in any folder. Disconnect your player, turn it on, it should do a "firmware" or "resource" upgrade kind of like a firmware update. Then after it's done it'll turn off. Turn it back on and enjoy your new theme.

I don't like the normal theme only because it looks alright to me. I wanted something different. There are so many themes out there. I find Cassini's to be the best.

2) Flash skin support is only for firmware 3.02 and 3.59. 2.XX is the American firmware which doesn't support flash skin. All of the latest firmware should be stable.

3) To install the Flash Skin or Flash UI, download the Flash UI that you want. Rename the file to "music.swf" without the quotes. Place it in the F:\SYSTEM folder. Disconnect your D2+, turn it on (no update will happen which is normal), click on the "Music" icon or the Now Playing screen and enjoy your new flash skin.

Also, if you want to install Startup logo, that will show up a customized Startup logo after the Cowon logo, just place the "Logo.ilb" in the F:\SYSTEM folder. (No update will happen which is normal), it'll show up automatically like the Flash UI.

4) You have to check the Cowon's website for more colors. The original D2 has black, white, and red all with part metal. But only the black is 16GB. The D2+ has Gray, Black, White, Blue, and Pink. But for some reason, only the Black and Gray are on sale. The White, Blue, and Pink were only announced.

5) I don't know about the weight, check Amazon.com or the Cowon site for that information.

6) The only downside I can think of the D2+ is the price and plastic body. The D2+ is more expensive than the D2. They're both pretty much the same player, just different software and slightly different body. I flashed my D2 firmware to D2+ and the upside to it is the better sound from the BBE+. The bass seems to be more improved and the sound quality has gotten better.

[nsxviper]

Originally Posted by Coolvibes

Thanks i will read more when i have time i just needed some quick answer right now.

One thing you said about skins you said:
"Just paste the flash skin with the name music.swf on the SYSTEM folder"

But then say you have 2 Skins and want to change between them
say you have blueskin.swf and redskin.swf

Every time you want to change theme you have to Paste the flashskin over to P2 or can you just select between them once they both been copyed over?

And thanks again to answer my questions

Unfortunately, only one Flash UI or Flash skin can be used at a time. So if you want to use another Flash UI, you have to replace the "music.swf" in the SYSTEM folder.

[Bullseye]

^You can use a multiloader if you want to change between skins

[Coolvibes]

Originally Posted by nsxviper

Unfortunately, only one Flash UI or Flash skin can be used at a time. So if you want to use another Flash UI, you have to replace the "music.swf" in the SYSTEM folder.

Ok, is this the same with Non-flash skin?
and i guess then i can install 2 skins to choose from one flash and one non flash right?
I do hope Cowon release the other colors specialy the White 16/8Gb soon.

You say D2+ is more plastic does this mean the old D2 has a better and more solid quality i though it was same material but from what you said I take it D2+ is using some cheaper plastic material while D2 is more metalic, can you confirm this?

If this is not correct then the only reason to buy D2 over D2+ is price right, and that somehow the Old D2 look better with that Metal cowon logo plate?

I gladly pay a bit more just to not have to bother with firmware update
but from what I understand it does not matter because if i get D2 i have to firmwareupgrade to make it D2+ and if i get D2+ i have to upgrade to get flash skins on it , so upgrade recomended on both right?

[Coolvibes]

Originally Posted by Bullseye

^You can use a multiloader if you want to change between skins

sounds good, How does that work ?
Is this a software you install on D2/D2+?
can it make firmware unstable?

[GTStriker]

Try reading this guide Volume I, Volume II and tell me if it was able to help you.

[nsxviper]

Originally Posted by Coolvibes

Ok, is this the same with Non-flash skin?
and i guess then i can install 2 skins to choose from one flash and one non flash right?
I do hope Cowon release the other colors specialy the White 16/8Gb soon.

You say D2+ is more plastic does this mean the old D2 has a better and more solid quality i though it was same material but from what you said I take it D2+ is using some cheaper plastic material while D2 is more metalic, can you confirm this?

If this is not correct then the only reason to buy D2 over D2+ is price right, and that somehow the Old D2 look better with that Metal cowon logo plate?

I gladly pay a bit more just to not have to bother with firmware update
but from what I understand it does not matter because if i get D2 i have to firmwareupgrade to make it D2+ and if i get D2+ i have to upgrade to get flash skins on it , so upgrade recomended on both right?

I've never used a mutli-loader before, read the links that some of the people here have post about it. I guess to use a non-skin UI, just take out the "music.swf"

I'm not sure if that's a pro and con about the plastic. It's not a big deal for me because I use a white zCover silicone case for it. So regardless of color, I can't really see it with the case. Also, I can't confirm if the D2+ is cheaply made unless I had it on me.

It's up to you to decide if you want the D2 or D2+. If you get the D2, you have to spend a little bit more time to upgrade to D2+. But like I said, it isn't that much of a hassle learning how since there's sticky on the forums that shows you step by step. If you decide to get the D2+, then all you need to do is find the 3.02 or the latest D2+ firmware and flash it.

[oskarthunberg]

There is a significant change made to the D2+ GUI: scrolling is a lot easier. Scrolling in D2 was a pain, but the arrow keys in the D2+ behaves like "page down" buttons. Great!

Another huge improvement is the BBE+. Original BBE was very sibilant and therefore useless to me, but in BBE+, sibilance is gone. It's a far more subtle and less synthetic as well.

I don't know about the plastic thing. The original D2 body indeed IS all plastic. The D2+ might feel cheaper, I don't know. I think the design is cooler though.

You might like to know that the usual firmware update process is easier than the D2->D2+ conversion. I did it on a Vista computer and I ended up in a couple of very nervwrecking siuations during the process before I got it right. I really can not tell you what happened (i don't understand those things) but it did get sorted out in the end.

I have made a new theme for the D2+ with the original D2 icons (with my usual tweaks: i have erased the Cowon logo in the now playing screen and the CD-icons). Let me know if you're interested. I really don't know how to upload it to the theme forum - I have tried but I seem to need to link it to some other web adress (which I don't have). I don't use flash skins (since I like playlists) so it's made for 2.02.