27 Feb 09 Samsung P3 reviewed by GenerationMP3
Samsung didn't do me any favors when they recently updated the P3. You see, I'm an indecisive person when it comes to doing just about everything. I go back and forth, until I'm finally content with my choice. Even the first few sentences of this post has been edited a dozen times, and I'm still not satisfied! But back to Samsung. Among other additions, they've increased the P3's battery life, improved its UI, and provided native playback of 800 x 600 Xvid files. Combine that with its haptic touchscreen, colorful interface, flash games, and bluetooth support, and I can safely say the P3 is a serious contender to the Cowon S9, and Sony X1000. GenerationMP3 has just published their review of the Samsung P3. It's pretty in-depth, providing multiple videos, appealing screenshots, and a feature-by-feature comparison to the Cowon S9. Here's a selection from their conclusion (translated from French):
"Not surprisingly, the P3 is not a revolution but a good change! It incorporates what has been successful in improving P2. Thus, P3 is the best audio (support for more formats, headphone cleaner) and video (more formats supported, non-compulsory reencoding management subtitles). It adds new features like the flash player for example. And the icing on the cake, it is native UMS! It is thus in size to compete with the Iriver Spinn and the Cowon S9, its main competitors."
Pros:
- Audio quality
- Audio Compatibility (i.e. Format support)
- Video re-encoding and non-compulsory management subtitles (w/ Firmware 2.07)
- UMS or MTP - Your choice!
- RDS FM tuner recording
- Size and quality of the haptic display
- Bluetooth
- Aluminum Finish
Cons:
- Ergonomics. No real control buttons (aside from volume, and power/hold)
- Browsing a bit slow because of visual effects
- "Widget" interface not necessarily practical
- Proprietary connector
- No video output
- Functions are redundant or poorly executed (calculator, Calendar, etc...)
- Battery life for audio a little disappointing (using 2.03 beta FW)
- No memory slot
Score: 4.0/5
It looks like those widgets are doing more harm than good. Many of them seem pretty useless too. There's a cat widget that "meow's" when you touch it, and a gingerbread man widget that crumbles the more you touch it. Thankfully they can all be removed whenever you want.
Samsung P3 review at GMP3
