Gadget: Cowon D3 Android MP3 Player

These days any dedicated digital music player has to offer something really special to tempt me away from my HTC Desire HD Smartphone. The Cowon D3 has just arrived from South Korea, promising Android internet loveliness plus sensational sound.

The Cowon D3 looks like a mobile phone, yet scratch below the surface and its funky user interface of big digits, rotating 3D album art and eye-catching mini icons beome apparant. It's no iPhone and it can be a bit slow to respond, but it's fun and functional.

From my perspective, the D3's three main claims to fame were its screen (3.7in AMOLED touchscreen), sound quality (powered by Cowon's Jeteffect enhancement technologies) and internet abilities (wireless WiFi looked after by Android).

The screen is superb - full HD 1920x1080 movies look great. The sound quality was also sensational - the 39 EQ presets were overwhelmingly generous.

I did a blindfolded listening test with an iPod Touch - the D3 howled sweeter than Pavarotti's poodle whilst the iPod was a mixed bag, more mongrel than pedigree - at least in terms of sound.

So far so good for the D3. The problems came with the player's internet abilities.

Surfing the net was fine and dandy, but downloading Apps was a nightmare. As the D3 runs Android 2.1, Google's App Marketplace was sadly not integrated.

With 20 hours of battery life, Bluetooth, a G-sensor, MicroSD expansion slot and an FM radio - the D3 has lots going for it, especially once Cowon release a new software update. With two out of three of its killer features intact, it's still a fine, if slightly flawed, performer.

Cowon D3 Android MP3 Player

Cowon D3 8GB 219, 16GB 239, 32GB 279. Available from www.amazon.co.uk and www.amp3.co.uk, for more information see www.cowon.com

This article was first published in The Scotsman, 19 February, 2011