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Samsung YP-Z5F - "F" is for "Features"
comment: 20 | Thursday, April 06 (2006) 07:56AM | Posted by Robert Sinke
It seems as if Samsung actually cares about certain complaints concerning their YP-Z5 flash unit. Several users and reviewers mentioned that an FM tuner and/or a voice recorder would have added to the YP-Z5's potential as an allround, modern-age DAP. Samsung went to work, and apparently came up with this thing: the YP-Z5F.

Apart from the... err... distinctive color and all, there's a built-in FM tuner and a voice recorder to be found within the same casing as the regular YP-Z5. The other specs haven't been subjected to change from what we can tell right now. Probably ends up being a tad more expensive than its feature-stripped older brother, and we're not sure about availability yet either.

Onwards to the "G"-edition now, boys and girls. That touch pad could use some additional rubbing, you know.

LINK

Thanks, tanny
Comments

Martinp

Comments: 299
 		Apr 06 (2006) 10:13AM  

Onwards to the "G"-edition now, boys and girls. That touch pad could use some additional rubbing, you know.

Oh dear, I have a dirty mind!



Lone

Comments: 973
 		Apr 06 (2006) 10:14AM  

Wow, they generally fix the big complaint of the YPZ5 (lack of features) and then make it pink so no one will buy it. Some weirdos over there at Samsung...



Robert Sinke

Comments: 1221
 		Apr 06 (2006) 10:25AM  

Guess it'll be available in dull-gray too, Lone



Dougiec29

Comments: 23
 		Apr 06 (2006) 10:46AM  

The color was the first thing I thought about, too. Here's a black one from the images section of the link:

[Linky]



X-Nemesis

Comments: 56
 		Apr 06 (2006) 11:15AM  

Well..all find and dandy but if the control method is still a pita, then I wonder how well it will go over with the general public.



Lone

Comments: 973
 		Apr 06 (2006) 11:48AM  

*didn't read link like a dumbass*



konechiwa

Comments: 90
 		Apr 06 (2006) 12:04PM  

it has to be pink. Of all the colors in the world.



PCJ

Comments: 54
 		Apr 06 (2006) 12:11PM  

I like the color :o
But honestly, this player could be sooo good if the controls didn't suck so much.



undesign

Comments: 801
 		Apr 06 (2006) 12:16PM  

This player would be even better if the battery was removable on the fly.



dapperdan

Comments: 4
 		Apr 06 (2006) 12:19PM  

The YP-Z5 I tried at the store has two problems, one minor and one major, in comparison to the iPod Nano sitting next to it. Using the same headphones, iPod Nano puts out more sound than YP-Z5. That's the minor problem, I can live with that.

The major problem is that dumb square touchpad. See the up arrow ('^') area on the touchpad? Depending on how hard (and precisely where) you press that area, the effect is either to select the currently highlighted menu item, scroll up one menu item, or fast scroll up through the menu. Three different possible outcomes when pressing your finger on one specific area of the touchpad. In one instance, all three outcomes happened in rapid succession when I pressed my finger down once on that area. Sound confusing? It is. I still don't know which of the three outcomes will occur whenever the '^' area is touched.

A scenario: I wanted to scroll up quickly through the song list menu to find a song to play. I press '^'. Oops, instead of scrolling up, I just selected the currently highlighted song title I didn't want and now it's playing. (Hit the back button to return to the song list menu.) I'm back to the menu, so I press '^' again to scroll up quickly. Hey, it's scrolling up quickly and ... oops ... I just picked another song I don't want (much higher in the menu list) and now IT'S playing. (Hit the back button to return to the song list menu.) I think I figured it out, I have to press the '^' more softly to scroll up quickly without selecting a song. I press '^' once more. Now it only scrolls up one menu item. I press '^' again. Same thing, it only goes up one menu item. I press '^' slightly harder. Oops ... it plays THAT song I also don't want. (Press back key to return to song menu.) Now I'm frustrated. I move my finger very slightly above '^' and press. Another song plays that I didn't want. (Back key.) I press '^'. Finally, it scrolls up the song menu list quickly and ... oops ... it scrolls to the top of the menu list and plays THAT song at the top of the list. (Back button.) I have to scroll down now because I've scrolled up too far. Now I press the down arrow ('V') and ...

If reading that play-by-play account annoyed you, then the annoyance you'll experience actually using the YP-Z5 square touchpad will be much worse.

Samsung designers probably conceded they couldn't beat or match the iPod wheel control, so as a compromise, they apparently decided to completely frustrate potential YP-Z5 customers. Now that's how you become #1 in the MP3 player market by 2007. Good work, Samsung geniuses. Samsung's next MP3 player innovation? Lithium battery (non-replaceable) on the outside of the unit, 260k color screen (replaceable) on the inside of the unit.

Random thought: Why does Apple give their MP3 players catchy names while their competitors use player names like YP-Z5, NW-HD3, .....? To me, Apple is proud of their MP3 players. Their competitors know their own MP3 players are all throw-aways that will be obsolete within a few weeks after they're introduced. Apple competitors are ashamed of their products and don't want their product names to be remembered. People remember Apple product names: iPod Mini, iPod Video, iPod Nano, iPod Pico, iPod Invisa. Who will ever remember YNH-TMJW8901?



Lacene
Location: Standing Here, Confused By Your
Comments: 830
 		Apr 06 (2006) 12:34PM  

If reading that play-by-play account annoyed you, then the annoyance you'll experience actually using the YP-Z5 square touchpad will be much worse.


i can't see how......


Michael
Location: New York City
Comments: 2798
 		Apr 06 (2006) 01:41PM  

Damnd dapperdan that's the most I've ever seen someone write in the comments section!



608zz
Location: DC metro area.
Comments: 270
 		Apr 06 (2006) 03:33PM  

Better start developing a "P" (pro) version that not only addresses the user controls issue, but also addresses the issues with compatability, standard removeable battery, and FM-tuner. Lack of any of these prevents me from buying this.



Allen
Location: Dub Vee Ooo
Comments: 1511
 		Apr 06 (2006) 05:45PM  

I dont mind the black/gray coloured one... but all in all... it seems that the control interface has recieved pretty crap reviews...



Design Fabulous

Comments: 1038
 		Apr 06 (2006) 06:59PM  

I want video!



bubi

Comments: 2
 		Apr 08 (2006) 05:20AM  

The whole thing is like “little development more advertisment”！



Fluidity

Comments: 190
 		Jun 13 (2006) 09:41AM  

Why would you want to remove the battery when you get around 30 hours anyway, doesn't sound quite so important to me! Sansa can be replaced, the neano obviosuly can't, adding this feature would obviously increase the thickness lots which would have you lot moaning even more!



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Pondlife
latest=lasted

Pondlife
Given it's lousy battery life video would've latest seconds anyway

Step666
The S10 was pretty ridiculously tiny, so it makes sense it didn't do video.

Ricardo Dawkins
will DAPreview start doing some "reviews" for this new breed of Android PMPs or what ?

Ricardo Dawkins
Archos 43 looks pretty good with that Froyo...but where is my Samsung Galaxy PMP...

bloodycape
I guess I was mistaken. Maybe I was thinking about the L-Payer. Hmmmm.

zip22
i can't find anything saying the s10 can playback video. the s10 couldn't even to jpg.

bloodycape
True, but they still put it as a novelty. Hell, the iRiver S10 was able to play back video if I am not mistaken.

Interesting enough the new iPod does support photo viewing, and even slideshow support.

Step666
@Pondy: I'd pay through the nose for it if it ticked all the boxes.

@bc: I don''t care about video, I'm after a DAP.
And on a screen that small, I don't see the point.

bloodycape
If Cowon or Sony made it best believe it will do video, and battery life more than 24 hours, with very good sound quality, and in the case of Cowon-codecs galore.


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