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Alternatives to the iPod Touch
For better of for worse, MP3 player manufacturers are tripping over themselves to add touch-screen navigation to their portable MP3 and video players in an effort to compete with Apple's iPhone and iPod Touch. There are plenty of benefits to using a touch-screen interface instead of traditional button navigation, including increased screen real estate, a cleaner look, and the potential for new ways of manipulating data using dragging, pinching, and swiping gestures. In practice, however, no one does touch-screen media players as well as Apple. In fact, we're already starting to see some spectacular failures.
With the exception of the Cowon D2, all of the MP3 players shown here also include some type of wireless capability to compliment their futuristic touch interfaces. Whether it's the integrated Bluetooth of the Samsung P2, or the full Opera Web browser of the Archos 605 WiFi, these iPod Touch competitors have more to offer than discounted prices and pretty looks.
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| Product name |
Samsung YP-P2 (8GB, black) |
Slacker Portable Player (8GB/40 stations) |
Archos 605 WiFi (30GB) 
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Cowon Q5W (40GB) |
Cowon D2 (4GB, black) |
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| Review date | November 07, 2007 | February 05, 2008 | August 30, 2007 | January 22, 2008 | February 27, 2007 |
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| CNET editors' rating |
7.7 Very good |
6.0 Good |
8.7 Excellent |
7.0 Very good |
8.3 Excellent |
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| Users' rating |
8.2 Excellent |
4.0 Mediocre (
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6.7 Good |
6.0 Good (
from 8
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8.8 Excellent |
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| Review summary | The Samsung YP-P2 is an excellent-sounding MP3 player that will appeal to those looking for a cool touch-screen interface and stereo Bluetooth capability. | The Slacker Portable Player isn't the best player for audiophiles and control freaks, but its excellent accompanying service makes it perfect for those who want their music provided to them for very minimal effort and cost. | The Archos 605 WiFi portable video player is one of the best mobile distractions money can buy. | The Cowon Q5W aims to do everything a gadget-aholic may want in a portable video player. Unfortunately, its confusing dual interface and high price hold it back from greatness. | If you can get on board with the Cowon D2's PDA-like touch screen interface, the reward is great-sounding audio, a smorgasbord of features, and a fantastic battery life. |
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| Basic Specs | |||||
| PC interface(s) supported | Bluetooth , Hi-Speed USB | USB | Info unavailable | Info unavailable | Hi-Speed USB |
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| Flash memory installed | 8 GB | 8 GB | Info unavailable | Info unavailable | 4 GB |
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| Flash memory form factor | Integrated | Info unavailable | Info unavailable | Info unavailable | Integrated |
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| Dimensions (WxDxH) | 3.9 in x 0.4 in x 2 in | 2.8 in x 0.7 in x 4.2 in | Info unavailable | Info unavailable | 3.1 in x 0.7 in x 2.2 in |
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| Weight | 3 oz | 0.3 lbs | 6.7 oz | 13.4 oz | 3.2 oz |
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| Resolution | 480 x 272 | Info unavailable | Info unavailable | Info unavailable | 360 x 240 |
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| Battery technology | Lithium polymer | Lithium polymer | Lithium polymer | Lithium polymer | Lithium polymer |
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| Mfr estimated battery life | 30 hour(s) | 10 hour(s) | Info unavailable | Info unavailable | 52 hour(s) |
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| Software type | Drivers & Utilities , Samsung Media Studio | Drivers & Utilities | Info unavailable | Info unavailable | Cowon jetShell , Cowon jetAudio VX |
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| Manufacturer warranty | 1 year parts and labor warranty | Info unavailable | Info unavailable | Info unavailable | Info unavailable |
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| Product type | Digital player / radio | Flash player | Info unavailable | Info unavailable | Digital player / radio |
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| Color | Black | Info unavailable | Info unavailable | Black | Black |
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| Sound output mode | Stereo | Stereo | Info unavailable | Info unavailable | Stereo |
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| Width | 3.9 in | 2.8 in | 4.8 in | 5.5 in | 3.1 in |
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| Depth | 0.4 in | 0.7 in | 0.6 in | 0.8 in | 0.7 in |
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| Height | 2 in | 4.2 in | 3.2 in | 3.5 in | 2.2 in |
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| Amplifier total output power | 44 mW | Info unavailable | Info unavailable | Info unavailable | Info unavailable |
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| Digital player (recorder) | MP3 , WMA | Info unavailable | Info unavailable | Info unavailable | MP3 , WAV , WMA , FLAC , Ogg Vorbis , MPEG 1 Audio , MPEG 2 Audio , MPEG 2.5 Audio |
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| Device type | Info unavailable | Info unavailable | Digital AV player | Portable media center | Info unavailable |
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| Key multimedia features | Info unavailable | Info unavailable | Digital audio player , Digital photo viewer , Digital video player , External HDD function | Voice recorder , Digital audio player , Digital photo viewer , Digital video player , External HDD function | Info unavailable |
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| Hard drive | Info unavailable | Info unavailable | 30 GB | 40 GB | Info unavailable |
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| Display type | Info unavailable | Info unavailable | TFT 4.3 in - Color | TFT 5 in - Color | Info unavailable |
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| Supported still images formats | Info unavailable | Info unavailable | BMP , PNG , JPEG | BMP , PNG , RAW , JPEG | Info unavailable |
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| Supported audio formats | Info unavailable | Info unavailable | MP3 , PCM , WAV , WMA , ADPCM , Protected WMA (DRM) | ASF , MP3 , MPC , WAV , WMA , AC-3 , FLAC , Ogg Vorbis , MPEG 1 Audio , MPEG 2 Audio , MPEG 2.5 Audio , APE (Monkey's Audio) | Info unavailable |
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| Video playback formats | Info unavailable | Info unavailable | WMV , MPEG-4 , Protected WMV (DRM) | ASF , AVI , WMV , DivX , XviD , MPEG-1 , MPEG-2 , MPEG-4 , OGM (Ogg Media) | Info unavailable |
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| PC interfaces | Info unavailable | Info unavailable | Hi-Speed USB , IEEE 802.11b , IEEE 802.11g | Bluetooth , Hi-Speed USB , IEEE 802.11b , IEEE 802.11g | Info unavailable |
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| Included accessories | Info unavailable | Info unavailable | USB cable , Carrying pouch , Stereo headphones | AV cable , USB cable , AC adapter , Hand strap , Remote control , Stereo headphones | Info unavailable |
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| Digital player signal-to-noise ratio | Info unavailable | Info unavailable | Info unavailable | Info unavailable | 95 dB |
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| Sound effects | Info unavailable | Info unavailable | Info unavailable | Info unavailable | BBE , Mach3Bass , MP Enhance |
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| Equalizer factory presets | Info unavailable | Info unavailable | Info unavailable | Info unavailable | Pop , Jazz , Rock , Vocal , Normal , Classic |
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| Amplifier response bandwidth | Info unavailable | Info unavailable | Info unavailable | Info unavailable | 20 - 20000 Hz |
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| Product name | Samsung YP-P2 (8GB, black) | Slacker Portable Player (8GB/40 stations) |
Archos 605 WiFi (30GB)
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Cowon Q5W (40GB) | Cowon D2 (4GB, black) |
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| Full specifications | Full Specifications | Full Specifications | Full Specifications | Full Specifications | Full Specifications |
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| Price range |
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latest
prices
$170-280 from 4 stores |
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$270-339 from 14 stores |
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$468 from 1 store |
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$151 from 1 store |
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