We tap the screen on the new Samsung YP-P2, a touch screen video player with some interesting Bluetooth calling features.
Samsung gave us some time with their new YP-P2 media player at a recent press event. The slim player, which is closer in size to an old iPod nano than a new iPod classic, can play videos and music on its 3-inch touch screen. The entire player is devoted to touch. Besides the volume buttons and hold switch, there are no other physical buttons on the device. The small metal circle on the face is a feedback light, not a button, and to control the music and videos you must touch the screen.
This worked fairly well, and the touch sensitivity was as responsive as we've seen on a touch screen. The new menu system was nice, though nothing to scream about, relying on a grid of icons at the top level to access the device's key media functions. Videos looks very good on the screen, very smooth and colorful, even under the events less-than-ideal lighting conditions. On par with our iPhone? We weren't uncooth enough to whip out our Apple device, but we'd say the two are of comparable quality.
Unfortunately, the interface on the P2 was not very interesting, though it was perfectly functional. Sliding our finger along menus didn't seem to get us anywhere, and there were few of the visual flourishes that make Apple's device stand out. Still, the YP-P2 does pack some interesting Bluetooth features that allow it to interact with a cell phone. Once paired with your phone, the YP-P2 will let you know when a call is incoming, and then allow you to take the call on the media player, instead of your phone. Audio is channeled through your headset, and the device features a microphone for speaking. Our Samsung rep even hinted that dialing from the YP-P2's touch screen could be an upcoming feature, though he wasn't positive about this.
This is a very cool feature, one that we think a lot more portable media players should and will adopt, especially as Bluetooth technology on these devices becomes more popular. As long as a device supports A2DP for stereo Bluetooth, why not add some telephone interaction? Ideally, this would allow manufacturers like Samsung to create some excellent phones, focused on call quality and battery life, instead of worrying about multimedia features. In this way, we can see the YP-P2 creating a new category of "divergence" device. Instead of having one device that tries to do everything, you have multiple devices that do their own thing well, and they all communicate and interact with each other in a useful way.
Telephone interaction isn't available on the YP-P2 right away, but it should be available as a firmware upgrade before the end of the year. The device should be available very soon, at an as-yet-unnanounced price.
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