Player Blog Category Archives: iAUDIO

Cowon iAudio X5 Info and Photos

The ever-resourceful DAPReview gang has gotten their hot little hands on what might be the only iAudio X5 in the US. They've got lots of photos and even more photos on the new audio/video player. And we're sure they're cranking away on a review as we speak, so stay tuned for that.

As you can see from the picture below, the X5 sizes up very favorably to the iPod while cramming in quite a few nice extra features.

Most noticably, the X5 has a bright, 1.8" color screen. Models will come in a range of capacities from 20GB up to 60GB and will not only play audio, but video as well. Past iAudio models have had excellent support for various music formats beyond MP3s (such as Ogg and FLAC) and we expect no different from the X5. We're not sure yet, though, which video formats the X5 will support.

Another big thumbs up for the X5 comes from its support for USB On the Go, which lets you import photos directly from a digital camera. Neither the iPod Photo or the iRiver H320 (the US version, at least) have this capability out of the box.

No word, however, on when (or IF!) it will be available in the US. Currently the X5 is only sold in Korea.

Related Links:
Cowon iAUDIO M5 Announced

iAudio M3L Review

HWZone has posted a lengthy review of the iAudio M3L, a device that hasn't gotten a lot of press since its introduction. If you're not familiar with the M3L, it's a 20GB audio player marketed under both the Cowon and JetAudio brand names.

Notably the M3L does not have an LCD on the main unit, rather it's on the inline remote control. Also the 'L' stands for Long, as in battery life. The M3L has a higher capacity battery than its cousin, the M3.

iAUDIO M3 Review

Engadget has posted their review of the iAUDIO M3. The M3 is the 20GB audio player that made the creative design decision to remove the LCD completely from the body and move all display to the wired remote. A choice like that probably isn't for everyone and Engadget does show where the M3 fits in the current and upcoming audio player marketplace:

The M3 is still a very strong contender. It's still cheaper than an iPod, and despite being on the market as long as it has, it's still very sleek, compact, easily carried player. The near-microscopic screen, lack of ports without the subpack, and total absence of song sorting features notwithstanding, it's a real pleasure to use. However, be warned: it is certainly due to be eclipsed by a new round of players very soon. While it currently stands up very well against the iPod (in my opinion even winning out against it) and is just shy of the Rio Karma (which ultimately stays my pick with its sorting and jukebox features), the M3 will have a hard time fending itself off against the likes of the Gmini400, and other such overachieving next-generation digital audio players that are due out in droves tomorrow or the day after. So let's put it this way. Right now it's still a great player, but I can't say that we're not expecting (read: greatly anticipating) iAudio's proper follow-up to the M3.