Getting back to the unboxing, Cowon’s packaging is rather unorthodox.  We’re not too sure about the egg shaped container, but hey it’s only packaging.  What’s important is the player found inside. Included with the i9 is a pair of headphones, a USB cable, and operating manual.

If you want to jump on the bandwagon, the iAudio 9 is currently available through Amazon.

Related posts:

1. Cowon iAudio 9 prices disclosed. Now available!
2. Pictures emerge of Cowon iAudio 9
3. Cowon iAudio E2 no longer a mystery

Since the official corporate announcement of the S740,  Sony has kept the release of the player nicely under wraps.  Word has now emerged through SonyInsider that the S740 is hitting retail stores throughout the Asian Pacific region.

This has raised speculation as to whether the U.S. and Europe will get to lay its hands on the holy grail.  Although western consumers have all ruled out the possibility of an A840 stateside release, there is still strong hope for the new S740.

The Asian Pacific region has been short changed in the color department – it’s available in black only.  We’re not quite sure what happened to the purported color choices of gold, green, and violet that are available in Japan. Let’s hope the western allies receive more consideration.

S740 Specs:

• 2.0-inch LCD display
• available in 8GB, 16GB, and 32GB capacities
• features noise cancelling technology with Sony’s Trademarked Clear bass, Clear Stereo, and DSEE sound technologies.
• continuous audio playback of 42 hours and 10 hours video.
• includes FM tuner, TV out (SD), and lyric service.
• available in black, gold, green, and violet.

Related posts:

1. Specs emerge of Sony S740
2. Sony NWZ S740 and S640 officially announced
3. Sony NWZ S740 spotted in Japan

Oh how MP3 players have changed. It might feel like decades ago, but in the not too distant past MP3 players were the size of a brick. They cost the earth and could be confused with explosive devices.  Thankfully, humanity has evolved to produce such magnificent devices like Apple’s iPod, Cowon’s iAudio 9, and iRiver’s N20.

NPR have dedicated an article looking back at what MP3 players used to look like. The picture slide show is a treat. For goodness sake, please don’t get too nostalgic; we don’t wont to hear stories of you digging your dinosaur player out the closet. This could be one to bookmark for the kids…

Read NPR MP3 Player Appreciation

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1. LEGO targets MP3 Player Market

Since the announcement of the Archos Clipper, Vision 2, and Vision 3, there has always been the question why there was no Vision 1.  Was the clipper the first player to intro the Vision series? Well, the question has finally been answered in the form of an announcement of Archos’ newest player – the Archos Vision 1.

This little player makes even the iPod Nano look large.  At just 28 grams, the Vision 1 is truly infinitesimal.

The player supports a host of file types including but not limited to APE, FLAC, MP3, WAV and WMA formats. If you thought this baby was audio-only, think again.  Although the 1.5-inch, 128 pixel display is probably on the small side, the Vision 1 supports AVI video files.

Sporting a small battery in an effort to keep weight and size to a minimum, the player is capable of a whopping 20 hours of continuous audio on a single charge.

Expected to hit stateside with a November/December release date, the Vision 1 will retail for about $40-45 USD – bargain!

[via neuerdings]

Related posts:

1. Archos 3 Vision gets dissected
2. Archos hard at work with 3 new players
3. Archos plans 4 series media player

For those of you who are eager to swap your hard-earned cash in for one of Cowon’s newest players, you might be pleased to know that both the iAudio 9 (or i9) and the iAudio E2 have made their way onto Amazon’s website. Since our exclusive article about the premature upload of the E2 on the shopping giant, the one-stop-shop has rectified its mistake a short two days later.

You will be limited to choice. Not only will black be the only “choice” of color, but the the iAudio 9 will only be available in the 16GB capacity while the E2 will only be available in the 4GB capacity. This is expected to change come the end of the year.

iAudio E2 Specifications:

• support for MP3, WMA, FLAC, WAV, and OGG file types
• storage choices of either 2GB or 4GB capacity
• measurements of 26.6 x 64.2 x 7.7 mm with a weight of 16.6 grams
• a choice of 8 colors

iAudio 9 Specifications:

• 2-inch TFT screen with a 320×240 resolution
• support for both audio/video files – MP3, WMA, OGG, FLAC, APE, and WAV audio types and AVI, WMV, XviD, and ASF video files.
• storage choice of either 8GB or 16GB capacity
• FM tuner, a microphone, JetEffect 3.0 effects, a TV output control
• a healthy 42 x 95 x 8.9 mm weighing in at 40 grams

[E2 on Amazon and the i9 on Amazon]

Related posts:

1. Cowon iAudio E2 raises head on Amazon. Available!
2. Cowon iAudio E2 no longer a mystery
3. Cowon iAudio 9 hitting Japan before Christmas

Sony has made its first effort to market the Sony S640 since the company’s official product announcement. In what appears to be a television advertisement, a 15-second promotional video of the S640 has been posted to the web.  Unfortunately, the promo is in Japanese making it almost undecipherable.

Recall, the S640 features a 2-inch LCD available in a hefty 32GB with accompanying 8GB and 16GB options. Battery life is rated at 42 hours of audio or 10 hours of video playback on a single charge. The S640 lacks the noise cancellation technology and an output video option seen on the S740 and the stereo speakers seen on the S540.

Related posts:

1. Sony NWZ S740 and S640 officially announced
2. Sony S740 hits Asia Pacific – U.S. next?
3. Specs emerge of Sony S740

The Cowon iAudio E2, a player doubling as both a keyring and MP3 player, has made its way onto Amazon’s website. Unfortunately, we don’t think the upload process has quite been completed. The Amazon product page lacks not only a product image but any sort of product description. Let’s not forget about the “Temporarily out of stock” status.

Amazon is not currently offering the 2GB version, yet we suspect that it follow suit shortly.  Retailing at $64.99, the 4GB player can be pre-ordered, shipping when in stock.

Recall, that the iAudio E2 features:

• support for MP3, WMA, FLAC, WAV, and OGG file types
• storage choices of either 2GB or 4GB capacity
• measurements of 26.6 x 64.2 x 7.7 mm with a weight of 16.6 grams
• a choice of 8 colors

Related posts:

1. Cowon iAudio 9 & E2 hit Amazon
2. Cowon iAudio 9 hitting Japan before Christmas
3. Cowon iAudio 9 is unleashed

The coming of the Cowon iAudio 9 has been headlined on many sites around the web. This interest has been partly driven by the release of recent photos.

It has now been disclosed that the iAudio 9 will retail for $129 and $169 for the 8GB and 16GB models respectively.  The downside is that the US will initially have a choice of black, and black only.

The soon-to-be-released player expected to hit the U.S. at the end of December or early into the new year, is available on Cowon’s global site providing full specifications and features – yes, in English!

For those of you ready with your plastic, the iAudio 9 can be picked up from JetMall (linked to via Cowon America). Although available from JetMall, other retailers won’t be stocking the device until the aforementioned release dates.

Related posts:

1. Cowon iAudio 9 & E2 hit Amazon
2. Cowon iAudio 9 hitting Japan before Christmas
3. Cowon iAudio E2 no longer a mystery

Still no word on when exactly we will see these players hitting our local stores, but the wait will be worth it. We return once we have completed translating this video…

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1. Samsung YP-CM3 packs TV/MP4 player
2. Samsung unveils M1 at IFA
3. Samsung R0 coming soon, already hitting Russia

While full specs of Cowon’s upcoming iAudio 9 have been released, there has been little in the way of product images. One lucky soul has managed to get exclusive access to the device, kindly sharing his experience with a few images.

The images offer a great insight into the iAudio 9’s control interface. The unique glossy finish combined with a seemingly all-in-one screen display and tactile control makes for a very stylish piece of equipment.

Although the device measures only 8.9mm in depth, the rounded edges give the appearance of an even thinner MP3 player. Unfortunately, the 2-inch screen just feels too small.

[via cowon-news]

Related posts:

1. Cowon iAudio 9 hitting Japan before Christmas
2. Cowon iAudio 9 is unleashed
3. Cowon iAudio 9 prices disclosed. Now available!