“Samsung is joining the likes of Sony in a battle to knock the iPod off its MP3 throne. Samsung’s attempt to steal the music player market from Apple continues with the launch of the YP-Z5 . It’s a striking-looking model, a tad thicker and sturdier than its Apple counterpart but still small enough to be pocketable,” David Richards writes for Smarthouse. “The sound quality is excellent, but what could scupper the player is its control system. The YP-Z5 system is controlled by the user gently flicking the player. I constantly ended up on the wrong track. In an attempt to distance itself even further from the iPod, Samsung has achieved Microsoft PlaysForSure accreditation, which means it can play a variety of music formats from different music subscription services.”
“Unlike the Apple product, which will only play DRM ACC files from iTunes, Samsung’s Z5 supports a variety of music formats from different music subscription services. Users will be able to play DRM content transferred from a PC as well as MP3, WMA and DRM10 formats,” Richards writes.
Full article here.
[Thanks to MacDailyNews Reader “MikeR” for the heads up.]
MacDailyNews Take: Unlike poorly-researched reviews, we’ll tell you that the Apple iPod supports a variety of music formats and will not only play “DRM AAC files” purchased from the iTunes Music Store, but also AAC, MP3, MP3 VBR, Audible (formats 2, 3 and 4), Apple Lossless, WAV, and AIFF. That Samsung has “achieved Microsoft PlaysForSure accreditation” is a sure sign that Apple’s seat atop it’s MP3 throne is secure.
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Related articles:
Samsung the latest to try to kill Apple iPod nano – March 09, 2006
Samsung’s iPod nano killer software created by former Apple Mac, iPod designer – February 27, 2006
Samsung: we will take top spot in music players from Apple by 2007 – January 09, 2006
With a name like “YP-Z5”, it has to be good!! I can hear the kids now boasting about their new YP-Z5 in the school hallways. I bet you’ll even see some very cool book covers plastered with “YP-Z5”.
What morons!
the article is incorrect on the format issue
it tries to say ipod is completely closed and samsung is completely open
flood this magazines email with a request for correction
this microsoft sponsored smear campaign must stop !!!
The article wasn’t researched, poorly or otherwise, unless you count reading the press release.
The “Wipe-Z5” …as in another MP3 player that Apple will WIPE off the map. Or, perhaps a certain wiping function that occurs on toilets.
uuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuglyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy
I can’t even be arsed to respond to this sort of crap. I’m an apple fan but irrespective of that it’s just lazy, irresponsible journalism to post crap like that.
The review was written by Dave Richards who is listed under management in the contact info. Know wonder it was such a poorly researched article. And the player is once again, BUTT UGLY. Apple has nothing to worry about.
Here is his contact info.
drichards@4squaremedia.com
What a maroon.
no kidding about the lack of research.. checked the Apple store online for Australia, the 2 gig nano sells for A$299.00, vs the Pos he was checking which sold for A$319.00, which he reports is slightly cheaper than the nano… hmm. don’t think so. did Samsung pay him to lie? say it aint so.
I don’t even care if it works, if it is ugly, or if it is too expensive, I’m buying one. The sooner iPods and iTunes drift into history, the sooner Apple can get back to making great computers.
<i>”Unlike the Apple product, which will only play DRM ACC files from iTunes, Samsung’s Z5 supports a variety of music formats from different music subscription services. Users will be able to play DRM content transferred from a PC as well as MP3, WMA and DRM10 formats,” Richards writes.</i>
As an added bonus, it comes preloaded with Elbonian polkas.
I sent the author a nasty gram telling him that his article was poorly researched and not written clearly – DRM ACC – what is that??
Troll alert! Troll alert!
Methinks “maclove” is really “MacDude”!
Either way–and to quote Bugs Bunny–WHAT A MAROON!
I think the term “butt ugly” insults some of the nice butts roaming around.
One word speaks pretty well of Sammy Sungs industrial design: “Shit”
Now that’s ugly!
My new iPod killer will double as a coffee warmer.
The only way anyone will unseat the iPod is if their “player” does everything an iPod does easier, has award winning industrial design and costs 25% less.
Next.
I had to, err…politely (my mama taught me to be polite..) repond to this guy via email (check contact page on the site).
“Just thought I’d mention that your article, “Samsung takes on Apple iPod,” makes it appear as if the iPod won’t play MP3 files and the Samsung player will. That’s misleading, perhaps unintentional, but misleading nontheless.
Also, I believe iTunes (FREE!! software for Windows and Mac, don’t forget) will convert WMA files to either AAC or MP3, just not the protected ones, so if someone has ripped a bunch of their own cds into WMAs, they can still use them without having to re-rip them into MP3s or AAC files.
You didn’t mention that Microsoft has closed their system to non-Windows users, and sure, many 3rd parties may offer products for that system, but it is just as “closed” as Apple’s, perhaps even more. Can’t use a Mac. Period! IPod users/iTunes users/iTMusic Store users can use BOTH Windows AND Macintosh. Ever wonder why they have the dominant position? Perhaps integration of products, and being available to any computer user might have had something to do with it…
You suggest the Samsung player will play any type of file from any music store, other than iTMS; does it play the Sony proprietary audio format? Google’s for video?”
Why doesn’t everyone bombard this guy’s email with feedback, maybe he’ll be compelled to write a correction, or his editor will make him do it… I HATE lazy journalism!!!
mmmmm…creamy shit……
They are going to get so hammered for this.
i am sick of poorly researched and JUST PLAIN WRONG fud. I have started my email campaign….release the hounds!
Looks like Samsung has taken Apple’s mantra of “Think Different” to a whole new level!
Flicking it to change tracks… I guess if you’re jogging you’ll get the 1st half second of all the tracks in the player.
If it catches on I’ll streak across the 50-yard line at the next Superbowl.
already emailed…next!
Ironic that a major flash memory manufacturer ended up making a device that is thicker than the Nano.
How do these shoddy journalists keep their jobs?!?!?!
Another ugly player no one will want to buy.
I wonder how many times MDN has had to type this disclaimer regarding the iPods?