Samsung U5 and Q2 MP3 players unveiled for U.S.
During Tuesday's Spring Fever press event, Samsung spilled their guts on two new MP3 players for 2009, the YP-U5 and YP-Q2, both scheduled for an April release.
The Samsung U5.
The Samsung YP-U5 (aka the U5, aka DoReMi) has been roaming the wilds of Europe and Asia for a few months now, making a reputation for its affordable price ($39/2GB) and playful design. The player comes in a handful of colors (black, white, red, pink, blue), and includes a built-in USB stick, FM radio, FM recorder, custom EQ, DNSe audio enhancement, and support for MP3, WMA, and Ogg music formats. Battery life is rated up to 20 hours.
The Samsung Q2.
If you're looking for something with a little more substance, the Samsung YP-Q2 packs audio, video, radio, and photos, and is available in 8GB ($99) and 16GB ($129) capacities, offered in black or white. The standout features on the Q2 are battery life (50+ hours of audio), sound enhancement options (DNSe 3.0, audio upscaling, custom EQ, 3D spatializer), and a 2.4-inch QVGA color screen (320x240). Samsung also throws in an FM radio, FM recorder, and voice recorder, just for good measure. Supported audio formats include MP3, WMA, Ogg, and FLAC. Video support is limited to WMV and MPEG4.
Of course, Samsung's P3 touch screen portable media player is still their most eagerly anticipated player for 2009. During the Spring Preview, Samsung confirmed the pricing and capacity for the P3 (8GB/$149.99, 16 GB/$199.99, 32 GB/$299.99) with plans to release the player in May.
Donald Bell is CNET Reviews' senior editor for MP3 players and portable audio, and one half of the MP3 Insider blog and weekly podcast. He also likes getting his hands dirty with digital audio tools for musicians and DJs. 
