Sexy Samsung K3 poses challenge to iPod Nano
Sunday, April 29, 2007
IT'S not easy to challenge for a spot in a market dominated by Apple. Not too long ago the 100 millionth iPod was sold. This for a device that was launched only in November 2001. That is a massive milestone considering that the iPod isn't a product that buckles to consumer demands.
So what does the iPod have working for it? Mainly aesthetics, we think. The product looks so good that babies would probably have been named after the iPod if not for the possible trademark infringement lawsuits. Consumers want sleek, sexy looking devices to show off and not boring old functional MP3 players.
Samsung has learned this lesson and since last year has been very active in making their new MP3 players more desirable in terms of design, quality and function. You only have to look as far as the YP-T9 (which was reviewed a few weeks back in this column) and its Bluetooth variation, the YP-T9B. Then there is the impressive YP-K5, which was so heavily promoted that it was even seen on Pussycat Dolls and Fergie music videos.
Then in March, Samsung unleashed the YP-K3, which is almost like the YP-K5, but minus the external speakers.
The K3 is free from bulk without external speakers and that has allowed it to shrink to just below 7mm in thickness and a mere 50g in weight. That's just a bit thicker and heavier than its arch nemesis, the iPod Nano. The overall size of the K3 is 44x96x6.95mm in width, height and depth.
Aesthetically speaking, the K3 is sexy with a svelte body and shiny metallic finish. Added to this is a large 1.8-inch OLED screen (larger than Nano's) that is invisible when the device is not active. The K5's touch interface also makes it to the K3.
There is obviously no tactile feedback since there are no buttons to click and this may be quite a challenge for those who don't want to always look at the MP3 player to know what they are doing. On the other hand, sticking to convention might not be the best marketing strategy either. The interface certainly adds to the K5's coolness.
In terms of audio quality, Samsung has certainly made great progress with their MP3 products. There is no lack of detail and bass from the K3 making it a great delivery platform for music of all genres.
That said however, a respectable pair of earphones are recommended to bring out the greater performance that it's so capable of. It's not that the bundled earphones aren't good; they're just average and don't quite do the K3 justice.
For perfectionists, there are easily-accessible equaliser presets. A highlight of this feature is Samsung's own Digital Natural Sound engine (DNSe) that produces very rich 3D sound the kind that you experience in concert halls. DNSe was originally used in Samsung home theatre products and has now trickled down to their MP3 players. Music file formats supported by the K3 are MP3, WMA and OGG.
Navigating the menus on the K3 is very much like what we've seen before with the T9 and K5. It has the now familiar animated icons that morph to identify with the feature you are using. Menus are so intuitive that there is no need to read the manual to use the device.
In order to further enhance a user's experience, Samsung has improved their Media Studio software bundled with the device. Compared to earlier versions, it now looks less cluttered and is easier to work when creating playlists, sorting music files and also for file transfers.
Design-wise, it looks like Samsung has taken a page off iTunes' success, but very unlike the latter, Media Studio is an option, not a necessity. Music files can still be transferred and played on the K3 simply by dragging and dropping files from a PC. That is freedom for the customer something unheard of from the other side of the fence.
The K3 does many other things, too.
For one, there is a built-in FM radio tuner. Having the ability built-in is a blessing as it removes the costs of getting an add-on, allows users to choose radio instead of their own music and is actually a truly basic feature that everyone else (except Apple) has. As tested, radio reception on the K3 is fantastic, unless you spend most of your time in a vault.
Users can also view jpeg pictures on the K3. There is even a slideshow option and for added dramatic effect, music can be played while viewing pictures. The pictures copied into the K3 can also be selected as a screensaver instead of the default clock view.
Besides picture viewing, there is also a text reader in the device. Copied text files can be viewed on the screen with or without music playing in the background.
This could be anything but it works best for short notes before a presentation or meeting as reading a full fledged novel on the K3's screen would border on masochism.
In summary, the K3 is a feature-rich and powerful device that should make the iPod Nano quiver in fear.
What it doesn't have going for it is multitude. So far, there is only an external speaker jacket built for the K3 while the iPod Nano has hundreds of third-party doodads made solely for it.
It may not be a fair argument given that the iPod Nano has been around for so long but that may be a decisive factor for anyone having to choose between Apple and Samsung.
The Samsung YP-K3 comes in 2GB, 4GB and 8GB storage capacities. The Brunei Times
So what does the iPod have working for it? Mainly aesthetics, we think. The product looks so good that babies would probably have been named after the iPod if not for the possible trademark infringement lawsuits. Consumers want sleek, sexy looking devices to show off and not boring old functional MP3 players.
Samsung has learned this lesson and since last year has been very active in making their new MP3 players more desirable in terms of design, quality and function. You only have to look as far as the YP-T9 (which was reviewed a few weeks back in this column) and its Bluetooth variation, the YP-T9B. Then there is the impressive YP-K5, which was so heavily promoted that it was even seen on Pussycat Dolls and Fergie music videos.
Then in March, Samsung unleashed the YP-K3, which is almost like the YP-K5, but minus the external speakers.
The K3 is free from bulk without external speakers and that has allowed it to shrink to just below 7mm in thickness and a mere 50g in weight. That's just a bit thicker and heavier than its arch nemesis, the iPod Nano. The overall size of the K3 is 44x96x6.95mm in width, height and depth.
Aesthetically speaking, the K3 is sexy with a svelte body and shiny metallic finish. Added to this is a large 1.8-inch OLED screen (larger than Nano's) that is invisible when the device is not active. The K5's touch interface also makes it to the K3.
There is obviously no tactile feedback since there are no buttons to click and this may be quite a challenge for those who don't want to always look at the MP3 player to know what they are doing. On the other hand, sticking to convention might not be the best marketing strategy either. The interface certainly adds to the K5's coolness.
In terms of audio quality, Samsung has certainly made great progress with their MP3 products. There is no lack of detail and bass from the K3 making it a great delivery platform for music of all genres.
That said however, a respectable pair of earphones are recommended to bring out the greater performance that it's so capable of. It's not that the bundled earphones aren't good; they're just average and don't quite do the K3 justice.
For perfectionists, there are easily-accessible equaliser presets. A highlight of this feature is Samsung's own Digital Natural Sound engine (DNSe) that produces very rich 3D sound the kind that you experience in concert halls. DNSe was originally used in Samsung home theatre products and has now trickled down to their MP3 players. Music file formats supported by the K3 are MP3, WMA and OGG.
Navigating the menus on the K3 is very much like what we've seen before with the T9 and K5. It has the now familiar animated icons that morph to identify with the feature you are using. Menus are so intuitive that there is no need to read the manual to use the device.
In order to further enhance a user's experience, Samsung has improved their Media Studio software bundled with the device. Compared to earlier versions, it now looks less cluttered and is easier to work when creating playlists, sorting music files and also for file transfers.
Design-wise, it looks like Samsung has taken a page off iTunes' success, but very unlike the latter, Media Studio is an option, not a necessity. Music files can still be transferred and played on the K3 simply by dragging and dropping files from a PC. That is freedom for the customer something unheard of from the other side of the fence.
The K3 does many other things, too.
For one, there is a built-in FM radio tuner. Having the ability built-in is a blessing as it removes the costs of getting an add-on, allows users to choose radio instead of their own music and is actually a truly basic feature that everyone else (except Apple) has. As tested, radio reception on the K3 is fantastic, unless you spend most of your time in a vault.
Users can also view jpeg pictures on the K3. There is even a slideshow option and for added dramatic effect, music can be played while viewing pictures. The pictures copied into the K3 can also be selected as a screensaver instead of the default clock view.
Besides picture viewing, there is also a text reader in the device. Copied text files can be viewed on the screen with or without music playing in the background.
This could be anything but it works best for short notes before a presentation or meeting as reading a full fledged novel on the K3's screen would border on masochism.
In summary, the K3 is a feature-rich and powerful device that should make the iPod Nano quiver in fear.
What it doesn't have going for it is multitude. So far, there is only an external speaker jacket built for the K3 while the iPod Nano has hundreds of third-party doodads made solely for it.
It may not be a fair argument given that the iPod Nano has been around for so long but that may be a decisive factor for anyone having to choose between Apple and Samsung.
The Samsung YP-K3 comes in 2GB, 4GB and 8GB storage capacities. The Brunei Times
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