| Windows CE-based PMP has haptic UI |
Jul. 23, 2008
Cowon announced a portable media player (PMP) with a haptic user interface, vibrating to give the illusion of physical button presses. The "P5" runs Windows CE 5.0, has a five-inch touchscreen with 800 x 480 resolution, and offers 40GB, 60GB, or 80GB of storage, says Cowon.
(Click here for a slightly larger view of Cowon's P5)
 Cowon's Q5W (Click image for further information) | The newly refined P5 represents Cowon's second generation of Windows CE 5.0-based PMPs. Previously, the company used Linux for its PMPs, such as the A2, but adopted the Microsoft operating system last year in the Q5W, seen at right.
Like the Q5W, the P5 once again uses RMI's Alchemy Au1250 processor, but thanks to a revised version of the processor shipped in January by RMI, clock speed has gone up from 600MHz to 700MHz. The device includes 128MB of RAM and 256MB of flash storage, plus a buyer's choice of 40GB, 60GB, or 80GB hard drives.
 The Cowon P5 provides haptic feedback
Available in black, red, or "platinum" brushed-aluminum cases, the P5 has a five-inch display with 800 x 480 resolution. The device's custom user interface (UI) apparently provides haptic (i.e., vibratory) feedback whenever an icon is touched (above), simulating the press of a button.
 The Cowon P5 also offers a more "Windows-like" interface
Alternatively, the device may be operated via a more standard UI (above) that resembles desktop editions of Windows, or via an onscreen keyboard (right). Users can view and edit Microsoft Office documents via the included "OfficeGURU" software. Full-featured web browsing is also possible, via an unspecified web browser that is said to include Adobe Flash 7.0 capabilities.
Unfortunately, the P5 no longer includes the integrated WiFi functionality that was in the Q5W. Instead, Cowon offers an optional, USB-based WiFi dongle. The device does include Bluetooth 2.0, however, except on an entry-level "P5 Study" version.
The P5 also includes an FM radio and, on all but the P5 Study, a T-DMB (terrestrial digital media broadcasting) television receiver. Battery life is said to be up to 14 hours for music playback, nine hours for video playback, and 300 hours in standby.
Finally, the P5 offers a USB 2.0 port, headphone jack, and composite, S-Video, or component video output. The latter presumably requires a special adapter cable, though this was not detailed by Cowon.
Features and specifications touted by Cowon for the P5 include:- Processor -- RMI Alchemy Au1250 clocked at 700MHz
- Memory -- 128MB of DDR2 SDRAM, 256MB of flash
- Storage -- 40GB (P5 Study only), 60GB, or 80GB HDD
- Display -- 5-inch WVGA (800 x 480) touchscreen display, with 450:1 contrast ratio and 420-nit brightness rating
- Audio codecs include MPEG 1/2/2.5 Layer 3, WMA, Ogg Vorbis, Wave, FLAC, APE, MusePack
- Video codecs include DivX, XviD, MPEG4, WMV7/8/9
- Wireless interfaces:
- WLAN -- 802.11b/g (optional dongle)
- PAN -- Bluetooth 2.0 (except on P5 Study)
- FM receiver -- 76MHz to 108MHz or 87.5MHz to 108MHz, depending on market
- T-DMB television receiver (not on P5 Study
- Other I/O:
- USB 2.0 host and device ports
- Headphone jack
- Video output
- Dimensions -- 5.46 x 3.5 x 0.78 inches (138.8 x 88.5 x 20mm)
- Weight -- 13.4 ounces (380g)
The P5 will be available at the end of this month in Korea, with prices ranging from 439,000 Won (approximately $434) for the 40GB P5 Study, up to 599,000 Won (approximately $592).
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(Click here for further information)
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