Cowon’s new S9 Curve Personal Media Player brings just about everything you could ever want or need to the palm of your hand - with the exception of a phone, that is. By design, it’s actually a great new take on the iPhone’s now virtually ambiguous touchscreen design. Its curves, lines, lights, and features put it in touch with many of the things that have made the world fall so deeply in love with Apple’s pride and joy. Still, the comparison between the Curve and the iPhone ends at first glance; a glance, after all, is the only thread that ties the two together.

The S9 Curve, while disconnected from the massive network that connects all people, places, things, and objects, is in itself a great device. Packing a 500Mhz on-board processor, a digital TV tuner, Bluetooth, and a 3.3″ AMOLED screen, the Curve is a concentrated personal media player that’s designed to simply excel at what it does. Cowon’s new toy is, quite clearly, a distinct departure from the realm of go-anywhere do-anything gadgets and, while a large number of people will be disappointed that the device doesn’t offer a phone, it does offer quite a few features that are notably absent from the phone-based media players of our day.

As of now, Cowon hasn’t announced when it plans to release its S9 Curve nor has it hinted at any details regarding the media player’s price. But, if you happen to like the look of what is sure to be one of the hottest digital media devices in the next year, keep an eye out and your wallet loaded. Given the style, the features, and the technology, the Curve isn’t bound to be cheap.

(Via FlyLyf)

A little over a year from when Apple first began to stock their shelves with iPhones, the iPhone has undergone a revolutionary change that could easily hand it the title of most versatile mobile gadget in a matter of days - that is, of course, in case you don’t already consider it to be. While a mere month ago, the phone did very much the same things that it did on day one, today it can play games, identify music, locate where you are, and help you get things done with the help of Apple’s new App Store. 

Naturally, being the geek that I am, I went crazy when the App Store launched and I’ve now filled my iPhone with a pointless mix of apps that cancel each other out. The first half of the new apps I’ve installed are productivity applications to help remember things, make lists, and keep me on track. The second half, comically, is made up entirely of games. 

These aren’t your standard cell phone games, however. Many of them utilize the iPhone’s accelerometer to deliver similar functionality to the Wii - allowing you to actually wave the phone around in an attempt to control what’s happening on screen. 

In SEGA’s Super Monkey Ball, you control a tiny monkey rolling around in a ball (our prayers have been answered!). Your goal is to get your monkey-filled ball to roll through as many bananas as possible while staying on track. Being the natural balancing act that I am, I’m pretty terrible at keeping my monkey alive, but the game is still incredibly entertaining to say the least.

Of course, you don’t have to spend any money to jump into the world of iPhone gaming. Tap Tap Revenge is essentially a Guitar Hero spinoff that gets you to tap colored dots to the beat of the music. Though the game features only four songs at this point, there is a feature that should allow users to download several more in the near future - making this free title a must have for anyone with an iPhone and at least ten minutes of free time.

View At The App Store: Super Monkey Ball ($9.99) - Tap Tap Revenge (Free)