iAUDIO

iAUDIO emerged as Cowon Systems expanded from software and consumer-electronics activities into portable digital audio. The brand's early products competed in a market moving from flash-based MP3 players toward higher-capacity hard-disk devices and increasingly capable multimedia players. Cowon emphasized file-format flexibility, recording features and user-adjustable audio processing rather than limiting customers to a tightly controlled music ecosystem. The iAUDIO M3, introduced in March 2004, marked Cowon's first iAUDIO player with an integrated 1.8-inch hard drive. Its 20 GB capacity and direct-encoding support made it suitable for users with large music libraries, while its ability to transfer files through USB 2.0 supported both PC and Mac workflows. The unusual decision to omit a display from the main unit created a divided response: basic control was possible from the player, but most interaction depended on the supplied remote. Reports of fading text on some overseas remotes led to a recall and free replacement program. Cowon followed the M3 with smaller flash-memory models. The U2, introduced in July 2004, used a five-way joystick and was sold in capacities from 256 MB to 2 GB. The iAUDIO 5 arrived in November 2004 as a successor to the iAUDIO 4 series. It used an AAA battery and promoted extensive backlight-color customization, with memory capacity linked to exterior accent colors. These models represented the brand's compact, music-focused side while retaining support for several audio formats and USB transfer. The iAUDIO X5, released in April 2005, brought hard-disk storage and a color display together in a more conventional multimedia player. It was offered in 20 GB, 30 GB and 60 GB versions, with L variants providing greater battery capacity and longer audio playback. A V variant omitted the FM radio. The X5 shared much of its platform with the M3 but added an on-device color screen and video capability, placing it in competition with other premium hard-disk media players. Cowon announced its discontinuation in May 2007; the expected successor did not arrive on the originally anticipated timetable. The U3, introduced in October 2005, extended the brand into color-screen flash media. It supported video playback, image and text viewing, FM radio, recording and a wide group of audio formats. Its FLAC support was particularly notable, although firmware versions differed in the range of FLAC compression levels supported. Later firmware also added ID3-based browsing and digital-rights-management capabilities. The U3 used a color TFT display and a built-in lithium-polymer battery, combining small size with functions that had previously been more common on larger players. Cowon continued experimenting with form factors in 2006. The T2 was a necklace-style player with a color display, FM radio and recording functions but no video or photo playback. The F2 used a mobile-phone-inspired design and combined a color LCD with audio, video, photo, text, radio and recording features. Both products preserved the broad codec support associated with iAUDIO, including support for Ogg Vorbis and, on relevant models and firmware, FLAC. After a longer interval, Cowon introduced the iAUDIO 9 in November 2009. The player used a slim vertical body, a 2-inch display, a built-in speaker and support for audio and video files. The screenless E2 was also released in 2009, taking a simpler approach based on physical buttons and voice cues. The iAUDIO 9+ followed in July 2013 with similar core specifications, a slightly larger speaker and JetEffect 5. The documented product history does not establish whether the brand was formally retired after this period. Sound customization remained a recurring differentiator. Cowon's JetEffect system appeared on iAUDIO products beginning with the iAUDIO 4 and combined equalization with bass, surround, stereo-enhancement and reverb controls. BBE-derived processing was presented through the BBE+ portion of the interface. JetEffect 5, introduced in 2012 on the Cowon Z2 Plenue, expanded the reverb choices and represented the later generation of Cowon's audio-enhancement software. The relationship between the iAUDIO name and JetEffect was therefore complementary: iAUDIO identified the player family, while JetEffect supplied a common audio-processing platform across Cowon devices.

• 2013

  iAUDIO 9+ released

  [1]IAUDIOen.wikipedia.org

  The iAUDIO 9+ updated the iAUDIO 9 with a larger speaker and JetEffect 5 while retaining the basic design and multimedia feature set.

• 2012

  JetEffect 5 introduced

  [1]IAUDIOen.wikipedia.org

  Cowon's JetEffect 5 audio-enhancement platform appeared with the Z2 Plenue and added expanded reverb options.

• 2009

  iAUDIO E2 and iAUDIO 9 released

  [1]IAUDIOen.wikipedia.org

  The screenless E2 and the vertically designed iAUDIO 9 represented two different approaches to compact portable playback.

• 2006

  iAUDIO T2 and F2 released

  [1]IAUDIOen.wikipedia.org

  Cowon broadened the range with a necklace-style player and a mobile-phone-inspired multimedia player.

• 2005

  iAUDIO X5 released

  [1]IAUDIOen.wikipedia.org

  Cowon released the hard-disk X5 in 20 GB, 30 GB and 60 GB configurations, with color video display and extended-battery variants.

• 2005

  iAUDIO U3 introduced

  [1]IAUDIOen.wikipedia.org

  The U3 added a color screen, video and image playback, recording functions and support for FLAC on a flash-memory player.

• 2004

  iAUDIO M3 introduced

  [1]IAUDIOen.wikipedia.org

  Cowon launched its first iAUDIO player with an integrated 1.8-inch hard drive. The 20 GB M3 supported direct encoding and multiple audio formats.

• 2004

  iAUDIO U2 introduced

  [1]IAUDIOen.wikipedia.org

  The compact U2 added a five-way navigation joystick and flash-memory capacities ranging from 256 MB to 2 GB.

• 2004

  iAUDIO 5 introduced

  [1]IAUDIOen.wikipedia.org

  The iAUDIO 5 succeeded the iAUDIO 4 series and offered extensive backlight customization, AAA-battery operation and capacities up to 2 GB.

A feature-rich portable media-player brand aimed at users seeking broad codec compatibility, removable computer-based file transfer, long battery life on selected models, recording functions and extensive sound customization.

• Hard-disk digital audio player · 2004

  iAUDIO M3

  Introduced in March 2004, the M3 was Cowon's first iAUDIO player with an integrated 1.8-inch hard drive. It offered 20 GB of storage, USB 2.0 transfer, direct encoding and support for MP3, WMA, Ogg, ASF and WAV files. The main unit had no display, so the supplied remote handled most navigation. A fading-text problem affecting some overseas remotes was addressed through recall and replacement.

• Flash-memory digital audio player · 2004

  iAUDIO U2

  The U2 was introduced in July 2004 as a small flash-memory player with a five-way navigation joystick. It was offered in capacities from 256 MB to 2 GB and used a color-coded exterior design. The player included a 128-by-64-pixel display, FM functionality and a built-in lithium-polymer battery rated for up to 15 hours of playback.

• Flash-memory digital audio player · 2004

  iAUDIO 5

  Released in November 2004, the iAUDIO 5 succeeded the iAUDIO 4 line. Its distinguishing feature was extensive backlight customization, with up to 1,000 color combinations. It used an AAA battery, supported up to 20 hours of playback according to the reference material and was sold with capacities ranging from 256 MB to 2 GB.

• Hard-disk portable media player · 2005

  iAUDIO X5

  Released in April 2005, the X5 combined hard-disk storage with a color screen and video playback. It came in 20 GB, 30 GB and 60 GB versions, with X5L models using larger batteries for longer audio playback and an X5V version without FM radio. The series was announced as discontinued in 2007.

• Flash-memory portable media player · 2005

  iAUDIO U3

  The U3, introduced in October 2005, added a 160-by-128 color display to a compact flash-based player. It supported audio, MPEG-4 video, JPEG images and text files, as well as FM radio, voice recording and line-in recording. It was notable for FLAC playback support, although firmware versions changed the supported compression range. Later firmware added ID3 browsing and DRM capabilities.

• Wearable digital audio player · 2006

  iAUDIO T2

  Released in August 2006, the T2 used a necklace-style design and a color display. It focused on audio playback rather than general multimedia, while adding FM radio and voice recording. Its supported formats included MP3, WMA, Ogg and WAV. FLAC support varied by firmware and was not retained in later versions according to the reference material.

• Portable multimedia player · 2006

  iAUDIO F2

  The F2 was released in September 2006 with a mobile-phone-like form factor and a 1.3-inch color LCD. It supported audio, video, photographs and text, along with FM radio, voice recording and line-in recording. The device offered up to 2 GB of flash storage and broad format compatibility, including MP3, WMA, WAV, Ogg Vorbis and FLAC.

• Screenless digital audio player · 2009

  iAUDIO E2

  Introduced in November 2009, the E2 omitted a display and used four physical buttons together with voice cues. It contained 2 GB of memory and supported AAC, FLAC, MP3, Ogg and WAV files. Its simplified interface was designed for sequential or shuffle playback rather than visual browsing.

• Portable multimedia player · 2009

  iAUDIO 9

  Released in November 2009, the iAUDIO 9 used a slim vertical body, a 2-inch QVGA display and a built-in speaker. It supported audio formats including MP3, WMA, FLAC and WAV, as well as selected video formats. FM radio, recording functions and a capacitive control area broadened its use beyond basic music playback.

• Portable multimedia player · 2013

  iAUDIO 9+

  The iAUDIO 9+ launched in July 2013 with the same general physical and technical platform as the iAUDIO 9. Changes included a somewhat larger internal speaker and JetEffect 5 audio processing. It was offered in 8 GB, 16 GB and 32 GB configurations and retained a color display, FM radio, microphone, video connectivity and broad audio-format support.

• 2013

  Launch of the iAUDIO 9+Product launch

  Background

  Cowon continued the iAUDIO 9 platform after the 2009 introduction of the original model.

  Action taken

  The company released the iAUDIO 9+ with a slightly larger speaker and JetEffect 5 while retaining the core form factor and feature set.

  Aftermath

  The available material identifies the 9+ as a later iAUDIO product but does not document subsequent production or the brand's final status.

  Source

• 2007

  Discontinuation of the iAUDIO X5 seriesGeneration change

  Background

  The X5 was an established hard-disk multimedia player, but Cowon announced that the series would leave production as the portable-player market continued to evolve.

  Action taken

  Cowon discontinued the X5 series and indicated that a successor would follow, although the successor's release was delayed until 2010.

  Aftermath

  The X5 remained a documented predecessor to the later X7 generation, but the reference material does not provide sales or market-share consequences.

  Source

1. 1IAUDIOen.wikipedia.org