Flash customization possibilities: D2/D2+ vs S9?

[antico]

Hello

I do not yet own any Cowon player, but am considering the D2 (or D2+) or S9.

My main usage, initially at least, would be listening to music rather than watching videos, so probably the D2/D2+ makes more sense; it is cheaper, more compact, and has SDHD memory card expansion. I intend to listen to FLAC files, which are 300-400MB each in size per CD album, so the built-in 16GB memory will not go far.

But the S9 is an attractive machine with a lovely looking AMOLED display, sound quality reputed to be equal to that of the D2+, and equally impressive battery life (even though the S9 screen is larger, the AMOLED is apparently more efficient than LCD.)

An additional attraction of the S9, from what I have read, is that each screen of its its GUI is a fully customizable Flash (.swf) file, which raises many interesting possibilities. If it had an SDHD expansion slot like the D2 then I would definitely go for the S9.

I have downloaded and examined briefly various S9 GUI Flash source (.FLA) files - including the set produced by Raymond Glover (http://www.cynosura.eu/), reverse-engineered from the default S9 firmware. I have also looked at the PDF document from http://www.cowonglobal.com, S9_Flash_FSCommand_guide_1.0EN.PDF, which describes a Flash/ActionScript FSCommand style of application programming interface (API) for interacting with the S9 firmware and hence with many of the machine's controls and settings. This seems to allow for fairly extensive customizations of the S9; modifying some of its GUI functionality, perhaps, rather than just its appearance.

As I am a programmer with some Flash 7 / ActionScript 2 experience from a few years ago (but not yet any experience of producing Flash Lite applets for mobile devices) the apparently open nature of the S9 user/programming interfaces is enticing to me.

What of the D2/D2+? When I look in these forums for the customization possibilities of the D2, they seem to amount to much less; the D2 GUI is not so open and flexible, if I have read things correctly. I take it that not all D2 screens are customizable, that tweaks are limited to changing the icons in the main menu screen and the appearance (and functionality?) of the musc player screen - themes and skins.

One can also load Flash applets onto the D2 to run - such as games, puzzles, calculators. But I presume - correct me if I am wrong - that these .SWF applet files are self-contained and do not interact with the machine's music or video playing controls or settings.

Is the new D2+ any different in this respect? Are there more Flash customization possibilities than on the D2; perhaps something approaching that on the S9? Does the D2+ expose its controls (such as button actions and events) and settings to an ActionScript API (FSCommand type of function) like the S9 does? If so, I would be more inclined to purchase the D2+, both for affordable listening pleasure and as a Flash Lite experimental testbed. Otherwise I may go for the S9 and try and work out some other way to get around its limited on-board memory.

Any replies that shed light are welcome!

Thanks in advance, from Mark

[Bezzers1986]

basically the D2/D2+ menu screens are just icons. You can change the icons and that is it. No real customization to the actual layout.

However the D2/D2+ with 3.xx firmware does allow for flash music players. Allowing you to customize what the music section of the player looks like, but this is just the music player. The main screens are still limited.

Have a look at the two stickies (one with themes, one with flash themes) and you will see more about what you can do.

[GotsOJ]

The D2/D2+ is limited from a customizable point of view, because you can only change the functionality/appearance of the Now Playing screen. As bezzers has mentioned, you can change only the icons of other menus (Main Menu, Video, Picture, Etc.). Also, the processor of the D2 is not as good as the S9's and therefore struggles to run flash apps.

Basically what I'm saying is, if you want a simpler, cheaper package with an sd expansion slot, go with the D2. Otherwise, you could wait for the 32 gb S9 which is coming out soon, and get better BBE features, a better screen, and more customization.

[EddieE]

Originally Posted by Bezzers1986

basically the D2/D2+ menu screens are just icons. You can change the icons and that is it. No real customization to the actual layout.

However the D2/D2+ with 3.xx firmware does allow for flash music players. Allowing you to customize what the music section of the player looks like, but this is just the music player. The main screens are still limited.

Have a look at the two stickies (one with themes, one with flash themes) and you will see more about what you can do.

And 1.xx too.

Also, you can change more than just the icons of the rest - you can change the the appearance of pretty much everything - just not the layout or functionality, and only a limited ability to change the size and shape You can also do away with anything you don't want there with a few exceptions. You can basically change the TGA files that make up the GUI - but this is still very limited as the others say.

The S9 you can change everything and with a lot more freedom. So if that;s an interest of yours - get the S9, 32gb is here now as well, so not as limiting as before in terms of capacity.

[antico]

Thank you, guys (Bezzers, GotsOJ, EddieE), for your replies.
They confirm what I had expected to be the case with the D2's customization limitations, and also it seems with the D2+. But you have also reminded me that the interface capabilities of Cowon players, including user-tweaking possibilities, are very much dependent on what version of firmware is installed on them.
I will probably go with the 32GB S9, when and if I can afford it! I do not think the 32GB model is available yet here in New Zealand.
Once again, thanks for your help.