Blue Wave updates complete the Samsung P2

Click for pics and detailed info on Blue Wave.

When Samsung launched the P2 late last year, it was already a pretty cool device. It impressed me with a super slick interface (albeit touch screen), plentiful features (including stereo Bluetooth-streaming ability), and some of the sweetest sound to hit my ears in the history of MP3 players. Who knew then that the P2 was only three-quarters baked? Actually, it wasn't too tough to figure that out--the inclusion of a built-in mic with absolutely no usability was a dead giveaway.

Fast forward 10 months later, and Samsung finally has a complete P2 on its hands. The company issued update after update in the form of multiple Blue Wave firmware releases, and the tide has finally stopped coming in, giving me a chance to sit down with the player and test it with all features up and running. Samsung will also be relaunching the player as the P2+--with all the firmware fully loaded--starting September 14. Attractive new pricing will accompany the player as well: $149 and $179 for the 4GB and 8GB models, respectively.

Included after the jump is a comprehensive list of all the updates provided throughout the Blue Wave firmware releases. For more detailed information on several of the new features and my experience with them, check out our slide show. There was simply too much information to include in the already lengthy review, although it is worth noting that the feature additions and price drops garnered the Samsung P2 a score raise, from 7.7 to 8.0.

• Support for AAC audio
• Bluetooth cell-phone connectivity
• Bluetooth file-transfer capability
• FM radio recording
• Voice recording
• Support for Starz Play video downloads
• Two new games: Alggagi and Omok2
• New GUI themes (for a total of 12, see above)
• A-B-looping functionality
• Playlist-specific DSNe-assignment ability
• Increased audio-playback speed-control
• Video-playback speed-control
• Calculator
• Full-screen album art and info
• Password protection
• Navigate by album art
• Separate, customizable video-display settings
• Advanced touch sensitivity (such as recognizing the twisting motion)
• Subway maps

[4dthinker]

An additional note to add is that as a media player the user interface, once the shortcuts are known, is more efficient and direct for managing and accessing your media than any iPod is. For example a quick tap on the Music, Video, Photo, or Prime Pack icons will move you one step into their submenus. Hold your finger on the icon for an extra second and it will take you directly to the last song/video/photo/or ebook that had been playing. The back arrow will also take you all the way to the Home menu with a long touch.

Smartly, all the settings for each media are available from pop up menus within each player. You can dim or brighten the screen from within the video player for example. You can change font size, orientation, background, and add a bookmark from within the text reader.

4D

[trkwkr179]

This is all fine and well, and I LOVE the reduction in price, BUT what about the 16gb model that was released? Europe AND Canada have it, why should we not? I would have the P2 if the capacity was there - it's NOT!!! Any way to get this rectified? I don't like the idea of importing from Canada and NOT having a warranty.

[tope33]

16GB announced for October 1

[financyone]

Too bad Samsung can't figure out that most people want decent capacity (16GB or more) in a player. If the capacity was there, everybody would buy one.

[Runner507]

I really love this player, it's a almost does it all player. I won't compare it against Ipod's because it's just not fair... This player its a class on its own. It has tons of more features than the Ipod nano (closer competitor in price) and but it falls out short against the touch (mostly because of networking abilities)

Any way, this is why I choose this player against the touch:

- Sound quality and sound enhancement features are just mind blowing. This player equalizer is GREAT, you can adjust most aspect of your audio with minimun distortion, I'd say I've not noticed distortion even when listening to MTX bass testing tracks. Not only that but its also powerful enough to drive most headphones with no issues.

- Samsung tradition of upgrading firmware and adding new features to the player for FREE!
- Skins and themes customization options.
- Bluetooth abilities.
- The interface is very intuitive.

[krishenparmar]

With all the firmware updates, the Samsung P2 is really one of the best mp3 players out there.

In my opinion, it beats the ipod nano since it has more features like bluetooth, FM radio and more. The P2's screen is 3 inches compared to the Nano's 2inch screen. I like the P2's interface better since the menus are nice and you can customize it with its software exactly how you want it. On the nano, the main menu is displayed in a list with a white background! On the P2 you can put any picture as the wallpaper. The P2 is better in my opinion than the Nano.

You cannot really compare the P2 to the ipod touch, since it has wi-fi and many other features and it isn't like a normal mp3 player. In fact, the touch is more like a pda. Therefore, I think the Samsung P2 is one of the best regular mp3 players out there on the market.

[photobug56]

I was thinking the same thing. I've had my P2 for nearly a year. Short of an Iphone or Itouch it's the nicest MP3 player I've seen. I wish it had more then 8gb, of course. I'd also like to see an updated manual with all the shortcuts properly documented, and I'd like to see more games. As to the programs it does have, I'd like instructions on them as well, including how to exit from them.

One great feature - the ability to set numerous alarms. I set one for each different commuter train that I might take, to wake me up 10 minutes before my station. It cuts the music, beeps loudly until I respond.

I also would like to plug in a stereo headphone with MIC so that when I take calls via the P2 (a feature that is really nice) I wouldn't have to hold the player up to my mouth. Otherwise it does this fine - it cuts the music and cuts in the phone call.

I waited a long time to get a MP3 player. I did use my Palm TX for a while for this, but I prefer a dedicated player, and this one is amazing!