Though many might complain about a MP3 player without a screen, it can't be denied that they have a secure place in the market.

Manufacturers justify this by saying that they wanted to keep the product simple. Apple even went ahead with their "be surprised by your music" marketing line for the iPod Shuffle. But all said and done, such players do find buyers in the market, who choose form (or style) over functionality.

The players who have ruled the roost include the iPod Shuffle and the Creative Zen Stone. But this new entrant from Samsung threatens to eat up their market share. So does the YP-S2 rock? Let's find out...

The bundle includes the S2 player, the EP-370 lanyard earphones, Software CD, a 3.5mm-to-USB data-transfer adapter, and Instruction Manual.

Design and Construction

The Samsung YP-S2 gets its nickname as the 'Pebble' because of the relatively similar looks. When worn around the neck, people at first find it hard to believe that it is an MP3 player. Owing to its tiny size, it looks more like a pendant. It manages to look cute and elegant at the same time and its build quality is pretty decent. For the fashion conscious, this MP3 Player is a must-see.

The player is available in five attractive shades. The controls include next/previous track, volume control and play/pause on a tactile 5-way D-pad. A multi-function 'Smart button' is placed at the corner.

This 'Smart' button basically shuffles between the 3 sound-enhancing EQ presets while playing a song. When it is pressed-and-held, it selects the play mode (such as shuffle, repeat and normal). One thing I thought was missing is the 'folder-skip' function (available on the Zen Stone). For instance, while playing in the normal mode, one has to go forward track-by-track before moving to the next folder.

The 3.5mm earphone jack is placed on top. It serves to connect the earphones as well as for data-transfers (using the provided 3.5mm-to-USB adapter). A cool-looking LED is placed on the other side of the player.

The multi-colored LED is smartly placed at the tapering end of the player. It glows quite softly and announces the various states of the player. For instance, it blinks a standard 'blue' when the play mode is normal. When set to 'Shuffle', it shifts between three different colors.

the device is very light and weighs just 13.6 gm.

Since the player has to be worn like necklace, it's very comfortable to wear and does not leave long wires dangling from your pant pockets. It is very comfortable to use while working out or jogging. The earphones also fit in the ear quite securely.

As with all screen-less players, one can't view rudimentary information like song title, battery life and custom equalizer settings among others. But then that's the price you have to pay to get a player with a lot more flaunt value. Overall, I'm happy with the design and construction of this player.