Samsung YP-T9B (4GB)

By Jem Loh
Nov 15, 2006

One may grapple with the slew of impersonal model names assigned to Samsung's various MP3 players, but to know the YP-T9B is to remember its arresting design and impressive functionalities.

Design
The YP-T9B is a classy little number, with its petite profile and glossy black case rivaling that of the iPod nano. Its curved corners are unmistakably Samsung and undeniably sensual.

	Next to the iriver S10.

Weighing in at a barely-there 49g, the YP-T9B is the perfect pocket companion at a sleek 42.6 x 83 x 11mm. Its sturdy case feels unlikely to crack under pressure or unsuspecting buttocks as the case may be.

On the front of the device sits a 1.8-inch screen and five-way directional joypad for quick and easy control selections. The earphone connection jack, a lanyard eyelet and microphone are aligned at the top of the casing, while the main function buttons (recording; A-B section repeat; back; menu; play/pause; power) fall into line on the right. The hold switch is thoughtfully positioned on the top left side to avoid accidental tripping.

On the surface, the YP-T9B is pure eye candy. Bite into it and taste the burst of vivid color pools on its beautiful, brilliant screen. Powering up the YP-T9B brings forth a flamboyant navigation menu with crisp display fonts and circular graphics, outfitted with Flash animation.

Visualizations on the YP-T9B's music mode are downright gorgeous. A psychedelic mirror ball of animated shapes, the sharp juxtaposition of the neon colors against the player's black casing is nothing short of alluring.

	Classy black, no?

Users will delight in the YP-T9B's vibrant and intuitive interface while delving into the player's plethora of features (music player; file browser; FM radio; text viewer; photo browser; video player; games; sound and FM recorder; Bluetooth connectivity; player settings).

Navigation and audio volume are controlled mainly with the five-way directional joypad, while the Back and Menu buttons on the right shuffle between additional mode settings and the main selection menu. The Macromedia Flash interface is generally fast-loading, though it tends to slow down a notch when it is connected to a Bluetooth headset.

The navigation is organic, right along the lines of the YP-K5 and iriver's D-Click menu, which means new users can jump right in. The menu button also serves up a sub-menu which pulls up contextual options relevant to the active menu such as play mode selection and sound equalizer controls.

Though responsive and satisfyingly tactile, the small joypad buttons are at times stiff under big thumbs. Regardless, the organic and organized nature of the player's interface will have any tech neophyte grooving in no time.

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