Cowon A2 20 GB Portable Multimedia Player
- 20 GB multimedia jukebox plays and records music and video; 4-inch widescreen LCD
- Compatibility with wide range of audio, video, still image, and text file formats
- Record video from camcorder, TV sources; programmable PVR function for television programming
- FM tuner with record capability and voice recorder; line-in recording to MP3
- Internal rechargeable battery; compatible with Windows operating systems
Product Description
With Cowon A2's clear and wide 4" LCD screen, users are able to enjoy realistic movies and also record or watch TV programs through an AV in/output jack. BBE technology is employed to clarify sound to its original clear sound during the digital reproducing. Build a powerful multimedia desktop environment with the world famous integrated multimedia playback software, JetAudio Basic VX. Movie file formats that are not supported by A2 can easily be converted for viewing with simple conversion features of JetAudio VX.
Amazon.com Product Description
Satisfy your music and video cravings wherever and whenever with the Cowon A2 portable multimedia player, which features 20 GB of storage and a crisply colorful 4-inch widescreen LCD. In addition to a wide range of audio, video, and still image compatibility, the A2 also offers an FM radio (with record function), voice recording (via built-in microphone), direct line-in audio recording, text reading, and PVR capability to record your favorite TV programs. Attractively sleek with rounded, ergonomic corners, the A2 measures 5.2 x 3.1 x 0.9 inches and weighs just 10.5 ounces. For music files, the A2 can handle MP3, WMA, Egg Vorbis, FLAC (free lossless audio codec), and WAV (which provides the ability to configure the sound with a 5-band equalizer). BBE sound technology is included to aid in restoring the lost harmonics of digital music to its original clear sound. On the video side, it's compatible with AVI, Windows Media, ASF, and MPEG-4 file formats and DivX 3.11/4/5, XviD, and WMV9 video codecs. Movie file formats that are not supported at first try are easily viewable after a simple conversion using the included JetAudio Basic VX software. You can record video directly from external AV devices (TV, VCR, camcorder)--just connect the A2 with included AV cable and start recording. Video will be recorded in MPEG-4 up to a 640 x 480-pixel resolution at 30 frames per second. The A2 also allows professional-level voice recordings through its built-in high-fidelity microphone and direct encoding through a line-in cable. You can record important lectures or directly transmit sounds from CD players or other audio devices with the line-in cable and save them in your A2 in MP3 (encoded up to 192 Kbps). The FM tuner has 25 station presets, and has immediate and scheduled recording capabilities. The 4-inch widescreen displays provides a comfortable view of text files and image files (JPG, PNG, BMP). Images can be viewed in slide show mode or be magnified for detailed view. You can also use the A2 as a USB mass storage device to store and transfer your most important files. Additionally, it offers USB host support, enabling you to connect external devices such as digital cameras or other MP3 players directly to the unit for easy transfer of music, images and other data files without the need for a PC. It connects to PCs using a super-fast USB 2.0 connection and it's compatible with Microsoft Windows 98SE, 2000, Me, and XP operating systems. It is not compatible with secure/DRM WMA content from online stores or subscription services. The A2's ultra power-saving circuitry enables up to 10 hours of video and 18 hours of audio continuous playback with its built-in, fully charged, 4300 mAh lithium-polymer battery. What's in the Box
20 GB Cowon multimedia player, carrying case, strap, earphones, AC adapter, USB 2.0 cable, line-in recording cable, USB host cable, installation CD-ROM, printed operating instructions
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Cowon A2 20 GB Portable Multimedia Player
- Electronics: 0 pages
- Publisher: Cowon
- Label: Cowon
- Studio: Cowon
- Average Customer Review:
 based on 11 reviews
- Sales Rank in Electronics: #38194
Avg. Customer Review:
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful:
Customer Rating: 
Summary: Cowon A2 - great device - very poor support 2008-02-27
Comment: Bought this product after reviewing several players, including the Apple version. Apple was too $$$ and some of the others couldn't play as many open formats as the Cowon. Bought mine refurbed from this site and it arrived in great shape. The device itself and it's capabilities are impossible to surpass, unless you could get one with a solid state (flash) drive with the same options for the same price (which you can''t).
Cons: Gave it two stars mainly because of Cowon "support." I work in IT and over the past ten years I've spent thousands on all kinds of electronic gear from cell phones to laptops to media players. I do my research, so I rarely run into issues with hardware I buy, but Cowon support has been the most frustrating, annoying and difficult I have ever encountered. Ever.
Major con is that my device never functioned properly at full USB 2.0 speeds, so moving pictures and video files from my PC to the device was impossibly slow. I tried this on several machines at home and at work. What made things even more painful was contacting Cowon USA support. Initial contact with them seemed to indicate they didn't believe me about my issue. My first email support contact was horribly unprofessional, disengenous and, basically, insulting. I responded that I expected better information/ troubleshooting for my three-month old device and the response I got back was even more unprofessional and insulting. My impression of their tech support is that it's run by a bunch of teenagers.
I had to make three email attempts (their "live" chat/ tech support operates on PST, so it's useless to me, and there is no number to call during business hours) to get an RMA because my first two requests were ignored. I sent my device and waited three weeks without a response. I had to email them to find out "it's being worked on." Another week passed with no contact from them. I emailed them again to find out it's still being worked on and I'll be contacted when it's returned to me.
Basically, if you have issues with this device be prepared to be disappointed with support. Inconvenienced hardly begins to explain it all. More than a month to repair a hard drive on a "like new" product? Without further explanation, I can only assume they're either swamped with defective devices or incredibly disorganized. In either case, beware. I only wish I had purchased a small, sleek device from one of their main competitors - the one and only time I had an issue with that product, I took it into one of their national stores, received excellent help and got a replacement in less than an hour. That's impressive.
Cowon is not.
Note: it's April and I got my refurbished Cowon A2 back from them. The USB transfer speeds were fixed, so I downloaded some content onto the drive. Looking forward to using this device at a family gathering this weekend. Several hours later I came back and the device won't boot up (again). Clicking noise coming from the device more than certainly indicates the drive is dead (again).
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
Customer Rating: 
Summary: cowan A2 20 gb portable multimedia player 2007-01-23
Comment: I just gave this to my husband this Christmas, he just loves it, he downloaded some movies into it, took it to a flight to Cancun,he has put music, photos, the screen is big enough even for him who doesn't have very good eyes, he just loves it, and if he loves it must be good, I don't use so but I have seen the photos and movies and it is really quite nice, he bought some headphones to go with it and it is just peachy keen, I recommend it, I bought after some research and readings from other users.
aida
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
Customer Rating:
Summary: I love this thing !!!! 2007-01-17
Comment: I received the cowon A2 (30gb) last year (2005) for Christmas. And it was the best gift ever. Originally I got the Archos but as i looked through the book i realized what a hassle it was going to be to get video content and i sent it back. I'm so glad i did.
Simple and stylish with a fantastic screen and a beautiful leather case. You can plug this pmp player into any TV or stereo or dock that uses a standard mini-plug or RCA cables. You don't need to buy a special dvr station to record, just plug it in. The battery has a long life and if you run low just plug it in. Best thing for me is the variety of file formats it plays, and mainly xvid because online xvid seems to be king, its a high quality video format. If it won't play a particular file the included software will convert it. When i Play music through a stereo with it, the sound quality is better than my wife's ipod. I love it.....I take it everywhere with me. Music, books on tape, movies, TV, i've even made mp3s' of some of my favorite vinyl albums, slide shows of the kids. The people who have developed this did a great job and instead of trying to restrict access, limit content, or proprietize it they a have and continue to, with firmware updates, expand access and usability. There is no better pmp or mp3 player.
After a year of use there are only two cons i can think of; the radio reception is sketchy, out in the country where i live practically nonexsistant and you always need the ear buds for antenea, also they should really develop a wireless remote attachment.
But those are small compared to the pros. I love this thing !!!
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
Customer Rating:
Summary: The real scoop on this little goodie 2006-12-05
Comment: Okay, there are some misconceptions about what this will do and won't do. It will not take any video file and play it. It's never heard of an MP4. AVI seems to be the easiest to get going on it.
Before I tinkered with it, I updated the firmware. Big mistake. Support was really easy. Went online to live chat, re-did the firmware to the previous one, and the AVI's kicked in nicely. Here's the beauty. I own a Mac. All I did was replace the files with Finder (file manager for your MSers), rebooted and that was it. They don't have any Mac progamming, but there really is no need. for 23 dollars you can buy Visual Hub online, which will convert anything to anything. You can re define the aspect ration. I like the full widescreen, but not the black bars, so I stretch/shrink the movie to 480/272, which is the rez for the A2. Plays great.
I have an iPod Video as well, so here's one comparison. iPod scroll wheel is a pain. Every time I have the thing I want highlighted, I go to press enter, but that little movement off the wheel places the highlight somewhere else, and I have to back up and start over. The Cowon A2 is a browser beauty. It recognizes subfolders as well, so you aren't endlessly scrolling through thousands of images, or having to create a slideshow. Just drag and drop the folder from Mac to A2 and you have it. Had I really understood how well this worked, the iPod would still be in the store for the next unsuspecting victim.
The audio browsing is the same. Rather than scroll through long lists, if you have an audio book (meaning hundreds of tracks), just go to the folder and click the first file.
The text reader will do long files, unlike iPod notes. However, it will end the line in the middle of the word and continue it on the next one. If you are good at editing files on your computer, you can probably make this look better. However, I have an eBook reader, which works for all my reading needs.
Summing up the video situation, either use the Windows program to transfer your MP4's and other types into AVI, preferably while you're asleep, and you can go to town. Mac users can get around it all by using Visual Hub. Please note that you can also upgrade quicktime (more expensive than visual hub) to do those conversions, but it is slower than the old gray mare - that ain't what it used to be. QT also faults out on you about half way, and you have just wasted hours.
I have already used it to record video - Flipping marvelous!!
Have not tried the USB server, but it is one other neat thing that the others don't have.
Bottom line. This is the best I have seen. Forget Archos, iRiver, and iPod. Tell the zune to zone out. Give the Gigabeat the BigABoot. You can't do any better than this, unless you want the 30 gig size.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
Customer Rating:
Summary: Edited review, after double-checking the battery life. 2006-07-21
Comment: My cousin brought this baby from Korea 2 days ago, and I love it so much that I would almost steal it from him if only I could use the AC charger in the US. (their electricity is mostly 220v while electricity in US is 110v, I think) I'm so happy that I didn't waste any money on a new mp3 player(the one I have is about 6 yrs old), because this PMP is such a good deal!
pros:
- so easy to use! no need to memorize anything to do what you want. like someone else mentioned, you can even multitask - listen to music or watch a movie while you peek at the playlists, tweak the setup, w/e.
- huge screen. the size and image quality makes you feel like you're actually watching a movie.
- sleek design. you can also make it stand up so it's much easier to watch movies and stuff... like how you'd hold up a book on a desk to read w/o killing your neck.
- sound quality is also good.
- battery life!! i listened to music for about 2 hours and watched 2 movies(each a little over 1 hour). we still got 2 bars left.
cons:
- so far, i could find none. i never saw the softwares and stuff, but all other reviews say that firmware updates are frequent and useful.
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Cowon A2 20 GB Portable Multimedia Player
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